Two Norwich University professors will receive awards at this year’s Vermont Women in Higher Education (VWHE) Annual Fall Dinner on Wednesday, Oct. 15 at Montpelier’s Capitol Plaza.

When Chemistry Professor Mary Hoppe earned tenure and was promoted to associate professor in 1985, she was the first woman at Norwich University to achieve that academic rank in the Division of Mathematics and Science, academic disciplines historically dominated by male faculty.

Merchants Bancshares, Inc. (NASDAQ:MBVT), the parent company of Merchants Bank, announced that Thomas Meshako has been appointed as Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer effective November 10, 2014. Mr. Meshako comes to the Company from Brookline Bancorp, Inc. (NASDAQ: BRKL) where he has served as the Director of Finance for three years. Prior to joining Brookline, Mr. Meshako was Senior Vice President of Operations of Union Bankshares, Inc. (NASDAQ: UNB), and, before then, Senior Vice President, Financial Planning and Analysis, with Chittenden Corporation for nine years.

Brattleboro Memorial Hospital announced Frederick R. Harrison has been hired as Program Director for the BMH Center for Wound Healing.

Harrison’s responsibilities include oversight and operation of the Center in conjunction with BMH’s partner, Healogics, to promote healing of complex wounds in place of amputation, maintaining quality of life for patients. He will also coordinate outreach and marketing with providers in the service area, stretching west from Bennington, east from Keene, and north from Lebanon, New Hampshire.

Rice Memorial High School announces the addition of Lisa Cunningham as Chief Financial and Operating Officer. Cunningham comes to Rice with experience as an accountant and auditor. She earned a B.S. in Accounting from Indiana University in Bloomington, Indiana. Lisa will oversee Rice's finances, namely, tuition, budgeting, and financial aid. She will also manage the finances of Rice's strategic plan and $12 million capital campaign, Honoring Tradition, Committing to the Future. A resident of Waterbury, Cunningham has two children attending Rice, Griffin’15 and Sawyer‘17.

Perrigo Company PLC, a leading pharmaceutical supplier, has promoted Seth Berghorst to HR Manager to manage the Perrigo Vermont Human Resources staff.

Over the last nine years, Seth has served in multiple human resources roles, including employee relations, benefits administrations, safety, and talent acquisition. Seth joined Perrigo in March, 2012 as part of the Employee Relations team, supporting multiple value streams at Perrigo in Allegan, Michigan.

Perrigo Company PLC, a leading pharmaceutical supplier, has hired Tim Fitzpatrick as packaging manager to work with the infant formula powder lines at the company’s Vermont facility.

Tim brings to Perrigo 28 years of experience in roles such as manufacturing operations manager for a kidney dialysis medical device and pharmaceutical manufacturing company, and as a production manager for a Vermont-based food protein manufacturer.

Two leading statewide associations representing Vermont’s Designated and Specialized Service Agencies have formed a partnership to better serve Vermonters affected by developmental disabilities, mental health conditions and substance use disorders.

The Vermont Council of Developmental and Mental Health Services and the Vermont Care Network (formerly Behavioral Health Network of Vermont) have come together under the partnership of Vermont Care Partners to provide statewide leadership for an integrated, high quality system of comprehensive services and supports.

HowardCenter First Call Director, Charlotte McCorkel, is one of 25 participants chosen nationwide to participate in the National Council for Behavioral Health’s 2014-2015 Addressing Health Disparities Leadership Program.

The National Council’s Leadership Program offers a forum for mental health and addiction recovery professionals to enhance their leadership skills and knowledge regarding change strategies to reduce health disparities and improve health outcomes.

The Burlington law firm of Shoup Evers & Green has announced that all of its lawyers were selected by their peers for inclusion in the 2015 edition of Best Lawyers, the oldest and most respected peer review publication in the legal profession. Tina Shoup was recognized for medical malpractice, John Evers for trial practice and Michael Green for workers’ compensation and personal injury. Shoup Evers & Green has a statewide practice.

Renewable NRG Systems (RNRG), a designer and manufacturer of decision support tools for the global renewable energy industry, has announced the hire of several key staff members in the engineering, sales, accounting, human resources, and production departments.