New England Culinary Institute, Executive Chef Tom Bivins, (pictured with his mother, Claudia), was the recipient of the Chef of the Year honor at the Vermont Chamber 2011 Hospitality Award Gala. The dinner was sponsored by the Chamber to honor the Best of the Industry in hospitality and tourism in Vermont. This award recognizes an individual with a proven history of supporting Vermont's agricultural economy through the use of local food and products.

Bret Williams, President and CEO of Vermont Hard Cider Company, handcrafters of Woodchuck Hard Cider, announces the following new hires based out of Woodchuck Cidery in Middlebury, Vermont. These hires are the latest in an exciting period of growth at The Vermont Hard Cider Company. In the last year more than 30 new employees have been hired, bringing the total number of employees to 89. The company’s operation continues to see steady growth, which not only creates jobs and benefits the local economy, but also strengthens the Vermont brand across the country.

TD Bank, America’s Most Convenient Bank®, has named Marino J. Bartolomei the Store Manager of the Waterbury store located at 14 South Main St. in Waterbury, Vt. An assistant vice president, he is responsible for new business development, consumer and business lending, managing personnel and overseeing the day-to-day operations at the store serving customers throughout the region.

Staff, volunteers, community leaders and board members gathered at the Eastside Restaurant in Newport recently to recognize and honor those whose service have contributed to the quality of care the OEVNA&H provides its clients and families in Orleans and Northern Essex Counties. Tina Willey, of East Hardwick, a 10 year employee and OEVNA&H Physical Therapy Assistant, was honored as Employee of the Year for her dedication and contributions during a year of great change in her department.

Green Mountain College is pleased to welcome Bethany Clarke as the College's new sustainability coordinator. Clarke has worked for the past four years in the sustainable energy industry. As an associate project manager for General Electric based in Schenectady, N.Y., she led a cross-functional team during the delivery, installation, and commissioning of 336 wind turbines valued at over $700 million. She received a GE Performance Award for wind projects in 2008.

New Directions Consulting, Inc., of Southern Vermont, partnered with the Albany-Colonie Regional Chamber of Commerce’s Entrepreneur Boot Camp for a fourth class season this fall. The Entrepreneur Boot Camp is a 12 week course for budding entrepreneurs looking to gain critical skills necessary for starting a business in the Capital Region.

Murphy Sullivan Kronk (“MSK”) is pleased to announce that Damien J. Leonard has joined the firm as an associate attorney and that Elizabeth Mullikin Drake has become Of Counsel to MSK.

James Sistare of Earl's Cyclery & Fitness has been promoted to 'Commercial Fitness Equipment Sales Mgr.', James has worked at Earl's Cyclery & Fitness for 6 years and is a 2010 graduate, Champlain College."

Christian Camerota, former associate regional editor at Patch Media, has been named Assistant Director of Marketing for Social Media at Saint Michael's College. Mr. Camerota, a resident of Colchester, started his new position on Nov. 7. A 2004 graduate of Saint Michael’s College, Mr. Camerota started with Patch as a local editor in Wiltonin 2009. In April 2011 he was promoted to associate regional editor in Southwestern Conn., where he oversaw nine of the company’s nearly 900 sites nationwide.