Rutland - The ribbon is cut by Tim VanEpps, President, Sandri Sunoco during the Chamber Ribbon Cutting Celebration of their Grand Re-opening. Sandri Sunoco is located at 278 South Main St. in Rutland.

Pictured:

Dave Correll, Board of Directors, Rutland Region Chamber of Commerce

Marleen Cenate, President, Rutland Region Chamber of Commerce

Amber Fredette, Sandri Sunoco

Alderman William Notte

Michelle Senecal, Manager, Sandri Sunoco

Amy Hayes, Assistant Manager, Sandri Sunoco

John Taylor, Trail Programs Director with the Upper Valley Trails Alliance in Norwich, VT was awarded the 2012 David Kingsbury Smith Award from the Vermont Trails and Greenways Council. The David Kingsbury Smith Award is given to the individual who exemplifies a life-long dedication to trail stewardship and who has, through their efforts, made a significant contribution to trails in Vermont.Taylor received the award in late 2012 at the Trails and Greenways Symposium. Taylor was unaware of his nomination and impending award.

The independent, non-partisan coalition Campaign for Vermont today announced the formation of a new Grassroots Advocacy Team.

Throughout the summer, the seven-member team, with Partners of Campaign for Vermont, will be participating in community events such as parades, festivals, fairs and field days to encourage more Vermonters to join Campaign for Vermont’s effort to transform state government with transparency and advance policies that will help build an economy where every Vermonter is secure and can prosper.

Northwestern Medical Center is pleased to announce that Joel Benware accepted the position of Vice President of Information Systems and Compliance at the hospital.

Benware most recently worked at Alice Hyde Medical Center in Malone, NY and prior to that worked as the Chief Technical Officer at the Albany College of Pharmacy. He holds two Master’s degrees: one in Instructional Technologies and another in Healthcare Administration, has worked on the strategic planning, implementation of Meditech and Medent systems and facilitated many interface projects.

Erin Fernandez, executive director of Vermont Adaptive Ski and Sports, recently announced the addition of two new staff members to her team. Kim Jackson has been named the new director of outreach and communications for the organization, the largest year-round disabled sports non-profit organization in Vermont.

Heather Timins has been hired to manage the winter programs at Bolton Valley and summer programs in northern Vermont including the Burlington waterfront and bike path.

Vermont author John Caruso received two coveted awards from the 2013 New York Book Festival, on June 21st in New York City. Caruso’s self-published young adult novel Hard Magic garnered a second-place award while his first novel, Lightbearer, took top honors in the Wild Card category.

Children’s Literacy Foundation (CLiF) has hired Katie Titterton as its Communications Director. Titterton will manage and strengthen CLiF’s public relations and overall communications as well as the organization’s corporate and donor outreach. Before moving to Vermont in 2008, Titterton worked in the marketing department of non-profit publisher Beacon Press. For the last five years she worked in the development office of Shelburne Museum, managing the museum’s membership base of over 7,000 and developing new outreach programs. She lives in Richmond with her husband.