Ken Gibbons, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Union Bank is pleased to announce the addition of Louise Kowalewitz to the lending team at the Loan Center in South Burlington as Senior Mortgage Loan Originator. Kowalewitz is uniquely qualified to help people buy homes with conventional, FHA, VHFA, USDA and construction loans and with refinancing their present mortgages. Kowalewitz has been serving the real estate industry for more than 25 years and understands the needs of first-time homebuyers, empty nesters and all those in between.

The Vermont Symphony Orchestra has announced that music director, internationally acclaimed violinist Jaime Laredo, will continue to serve as artistic leader of the orchestra though the 2013-2014 season. Laredo has led Vermont’s professional orchestra as music director since 1999.

Dave Thurlow has been hired as the new Development Director at ReSOURCE: A Nonprofit Community Enterprise. Dave will take a lead role in completing ReSOURCE’s $1.7 million Social Enterprise Expansion Capital Campaign, scheduled to close at the end of this year. The campaign supports the construction of a new facility in Barre, Vermont.

Dave has nearly 20 years experience in nonprofit education, outreach, fundraising, and management with organizations such as the Appalachian Mountain Club, Mount Washington Observatory, and the Vermont Foodbank.

Team Leader, Brian Armstrong is pleased to announce that Kevin Pearo of South Burlington has joined Eric Jarvis and Company at Keller Williams Realty Green Mountain Properties.

DuBois & King, Inc., consulting engineers, announces that RuthAnne S. Daniels, E.I., has joined the firm as a Design Engineer in the firm’s Transportation Division. Ms. Daniels is an Engineer Intern (E.I.) who holds a B.S. in Civil Engineering from the University of Vermont. Ms. Daniels resides in Northfield, V.T., and works out of the firm’s Randolph office. DuBois & King is a multidiscipline consulting engineering firm with offices in Randolph, Williston, and Springfield, V.T., and Bedford and Laconia, N.H.

Dr. Sandy Craig brings his 17 years of family, inpatient and emergency medicine experience to Gifford Medical Center as the newest member of the hospitalist team.

Dr. Craig, who grew up in Ripton and Johnson, most recently was a family physician at The Health Center in Plainfield.

He took an indirect road to becoming a Vermont physician, however.

A 1982 graduate of the University of California at Santa Cruz, Dr. Craig studied biology and psychology but put medical school on hold while he traveled to Indonesia and Africa.

The Vermont Ski Areas Association is pleased to welcome Sarah Neith as Director of Public Affairs. She will be working closely with Vermont ski resorts to strengthen winter tourism through Ski Vermont’s public relations efforts and the association’s youth and agricultural programs.

“We are thrilled to have Sarah on board,” said Ski Vermont President Parker Riehle. “With her strong background in public relations and her lifelong passion for skiing, Sarah will be a great addition to our team as we gear up our efforts to ideally position the ski areas for next season.”

Abbott D. Abbott II of 89 Magic Hill Road, Hinesburg, VT has been named Executive Director of Western New England & North Country New York State with Aim High Inc. Aim High is a web based company which connects talented middle & high school athletes with Junior College through Division 1-3 University/College Coaches & Recruiters. Aim High uses a state-of-the-art computer program where student-athletes view and download their personal & scholastic information, game film, game highlights, statistics, references and recommendations.

Allan M. Faxon, Jr., of Manchester, Vt., has been recognized by Southern Vermont College as the 2012 Distinguished Alumnus. The Distinguished Alumni Award is given to an alumna or alumnus of Southern Vermont College or its predecessor, St. Joseph College, in recognition of a combination of career, community service and personal achievements.

David Bergh, dean of students at Johnson State College, has been accepted into the American Association of State Colleges and Universities’ (AASCU) Millennium Leadership Initiative (MLI) as a protégé in the MLI Class of 2012.

The recognition by AASCU is a major honor. Many past MLI graduates have moved into higher positions at U.S. colleges and universities; 59 graduates have assumed presidencies.