Drawn to the region because of the maple industry, podiatrist Dr. Samantha Harris has joined Gifford Medical Center, specifically the Gifford Health Center at Berlin.

A native of Nashville, Tenn., Dr. Harris started her medical career as a physical therapist, attending Tennessee State University in Nashville and working for seven years in the field before deciding to advance her career. “I wanted to be able to do more for patients and looked into medical school,” she said.

Orthopaedic surgeon David S. Jevsevar MD, MBA, Medical Director of Orthopaedic Clinical Program Development for Intermountain Healthcare in Salt Lake City, UT, has been named Vice Chair of Orthopaedics and Director of the soon-to-be developed Arthritis Center at Dartmouth-Hitchcock.

Leyna M. Jackson has joined Merritt & Merritt & Moulton, a boutique law firm based in Burlington, Vermont, as a Legal/Marketing Assistant. Leyna graduated from Brown University, concentrating in Business, Entrepreneurship, and Organizations. The firm represents emerging growth companies and institutional and angel investors with a focus on financing, mergers and acquisitions, and intellectual property.

Flood Financial Services, Inc. has announced that Richard W. Flood, CLU, ChFC, CRPC, was a featured presenter at the Lincoln Financial Network Mastery of Advice planning forums held in Las Vegas, NV and Chicago, IL.

These annual events provide the platform for planning advisors across the country to gain expert advice and insights from top performers. Flood’s presentation focused on Strategic Alliances and establishing relationships with CPA’s, Lawyers and other service professionals. Approximately 400-500 people attended each forum.

The Abbey Group has partnered with the Vermont Foodbank to educate students on childhood hunger and the hardship of food insecurity. The effort started in May when all lunch menus featured facts about childhood hunger in Vermont and “Kate,” an illustration of a girl who represents the nearly 25,000 Vermont children who struggle with hunger. As a part of the effort, The Abbey Group hosted canned food drives at over 25 schools around the state and donated $2,500 dollars to the Vermont Foodbank.

Environmental Compliance Services, Inc. (ECS) announces Kathleen Parrish has joined the firm as an Environmental Scientist I. Ms. Parrish has six years of experience in the environmental industry and is responsible for site characterization and remediation activities at commercial properties, manufacturing facilities, underground storage tank system release sites, and additional locations involving the release of hazardous wastes.

In May, The Vermont Teddy Bear Co. promoted Deirdre Collins to Product Information Coordinator in the Marketing Analysis department. In this role Collins is responsible for the organization and dissemination of product information within various databases and systems. Collins started with VTB as a seasonal employee in 2009, with her most recent seasonal position as a scheduler in the Distribution Center. Prior to joining the Bear Crew, Collins worked for an agricultural energy efficiency company as a Energy Analyst.

Brattleboro OB/GYN is pleased to welcome new nurse-midwife Meredith Merritt, CNM, to the practice.

Merritt received her Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing from the University of Vermont in Burlington and her Master of Science degree in Nursing from Frontier Nursing University in Hyden, Kentucky. She resides in Brattleboro with her husband Peter, their five-month-old daughter Zora, and their dog Gary who came to them through rescue two years ago. Merritt's hobbies include hiking, running, yoga, traveling, and time spent with her family outside.

Daniel DeLiberato has been named the new assistant director of class giving for Norwich University.

DeLiberato graduated from Seton Hall University with B.A. in Secondary Education and History and an M.A. in Museum Professions. He most recently worked in Seton Hall University Alumni Relations.

He previously worked at the New Jersey State Police Museum on exhibitions and at Hudson County Community College in Student Activities.