Charles MacLean, M.D., interim associate dean of primary care in the Office of Primary Care and Area Health Education Centers (AHEC) Program at the University of Vermont College of Medicine, has announced the selection of Denis Barton, M.A., M.B.A., as the new director of the Office of Primary Care and AHEC Program. Barton replaces Elizabeth Cote, who served as director for seven years and recently left to become executive director of the Vermont State Dental Society.

Sugar River Bank, with headquarters in Newport, New Hampshire, is pleased to announce the recent naming of Brackett L. Scheffy as a member of its Board of Directors.

Mr. Scheffy has been an attorney for forty years and has been a State Court judge for twenty-six years. He now presides in the District Court and Family Division of the Sixth Circuit Court in Henniker which serves nine towns. Until 2007, he maintained a full time private law practice in Warner, across from Sugar River Bank’s branch office.

Stephan Morse, former Speaker of the Vermont House of Representatives, recently accepted a seat on the Board of Directors of the Vermont Telecommunications Authority. Stephan re-joins the VTA after a brief hiatus. A lifelong Vermonter and resident of Newfane, he is highly engaged at the state and local levels in education, economic development, and as an Environmental Commissioner for the Act 250 Board. He is also currently Chairman of the Redistricting Committee for the Board of Education.

Brandthropology continues to grow with the addition of a new account manager, John Coburn. John comes to Brandthropology from Jvillage where he oversaw website development and client service as a project manager. Prior to that, John worked with Eternity Web Development as an account manager. John’s years of experience in account management and interactive marketing will help us meet the needs of our expanding set of local, national and international clients,” noted Matt Dodds, Chief Brandthropologist.

Larry Sudbay, President and Chief Executive Officer of SymQuest® Group, the region’s leading provider of network and document technology solutions and services, is pleased to announce Account Executive Diane Hill-Watts has joined the document solutions team in West Lebanon, New Hampshire.

Tuipate Mubiay of Colchester received the 2011 achiever award sponsored by Vermont Educational Opportunity Programs (VEOP), a coalition of providers of federally funded programs serving low-income and first-generation college-bound students.

The VEOP award is given to an individual who was served by one of the state’s educational opportunity programs, has achieved academic success, and has made significant contributions to his or her community or profession.

Addison County Home Health and Hospice is pleased to announce that Kim DeGray, RN has been awarded national certification as a Home Care Coding Specialist – Diagnosis (HCS-D) by the Board of Medical Specialty Coding and Compliance. Kim prepared for the certification exam both independently and through intensive course work and successfully passed the exam earlier this year. She is one of only eight certified home care coders in Vermont.

The Vermont Republican Party held its annual organizational meeting on Saturday, November 19th in Montpelier. Pat McDonald was re-elected to the post of Party Chair, and the Vermont Republican State Committee members also chose the following Vermonters to serve as VT GOP officers:

- Paul Carroccio, Vice-Chair

- Mark Snelling, Treasurer

- Steve Webster, Assistant Treasurer

- Rob Roper, Secretary

- Senator Randy Brock, At-Large Delegate to the Executive Committee

- Mary Daly, At-Large Delegate to the Executive Committee

Creative Office Pavilion’s Burlington location welcomes Renato Wakim as their Senior New Business Development Manager. Renato comes to COP with over 20 years of experience in developing sales and marketing strategies and contracts negotiation. Before joining COP, Renato spent over 10 years in the contract furniture industry, where he was actively involved in workplace consultation and project management. COP is delighted to add Renato to their growing Vermont team.

ECHO Lake Aquarium and Science Center, at the Leahy Center for Lake Champlain, rounds out its recent list of new hires with the addition of Brian Potvin as the Director of Animal care and Facilities Management and Bill Elliston as the Public Education Manager.