The Board of the Grafton, Vermont-based Windham Foundation announced today the appointment of Robert (Bob) Allen as Interim President, following the retirement of Dr. John Bramley. The selection follows a unanimous vote of approval by the full board. The Windham Foundation is an operating foundation with the primary mission of promoting Vermont’s rural communities, including support for indigenous enterprises including Grafton Village Cheese Company and The Old Tavern at Grafton, an historic inn.

TwinState//Voice.Data.Video. has announced the addition of Alex Insley as a Network Engineer to the firm’s rapidly growing team. Alex’s addition to the team is in concert with the recently announced strategic partnership between Lockrows and TwinState//Voice.Data.Video.

Mortgage Financial, Inc. is pleased to announce that Mark Chaffee, Vice President of Mortgage Financial Inc., has been ranked 22nd of the top 200 Mortgage Originators in the country in 2010 by the leading Mortgage industry publication, the Scotsman Guide. Mr. Chaffee, who has been active in the mortgage industry for close to two decades, achieved this professional recognition by closing 453 loans last year. A native Vermonter, Chaffee is also a founding member of the Vermont Mortgage Bankers Association and is a Certified Mortgage Professional (CMP).

It is with great pleasure that the Board of Directors of the Humane Society of Chittenden County announces the selection of Tom Ayres of Burlington to become its first President & CEO. Tom will assume the leadership position of HSCC on Monday, April 25th.

Vermont Secretary of State Jim Condos was invited by President Obama to the White House on March 25, 2011 for an official ceremony marking Greece’s independence in 1821. Secretary of State Jim Condos was invited as an elected official of Greek heritage. Among other dignitaries were Congressional members Michael Grimm, Carolyn Maloney, John Sarbanes, and former Senator Paul Sarbanes.

Members of the Stafford Technical Center chapter of Family, Career and Community Leaders of America (FCCLA) attended an FCCLA Spring Leadership Conference in Bartlett, NH on March 31 and April 1, 2011. The theme of the conference was “Get Wild about FCCLA.” Students competed in STAR (Students Taking Action with Recognition) Events, presenting projects related to their work in the Human Services program. The results of these competitions are as follows:

Gold Medal: Alyssa Hartwell (RHS)– Illustrated Talk (individual); Brittany Hance (Otter Valley)– Job Interview (individual)

Sinking to her haunches to meet 96-year-old Bertha “Bertie” Garand’s gaze, Gifford Medical Center nurse practitioner Kim Ladue spends a few minutes in easy banter with Bertie and her spry 95-year-old husband, Leo of Williamstown, before listening to Bertie’s heart and lungs.

Ladue repeats the stance with 43-year-old Randy Sicely of Berlin, who, like Bertie, is in a wheelchair. An amputee, Sicely has an infection where his prosthetic leg rubbed his skin, creating a wound.

Ladue checks the wound to ensure it’s healing.

Small Dog Electronics named Rebecca Kraemer to the position of Director of IT and Consulting. She had previously been working at Small Dog in the role of Technician, Consultant and IT Support. This promotion makes Ms. Kraemer a member of the firm’s senior management team. Kraemer has been at Small Dog Electronics for three years, and has over 16 years of experience in Apple® consulting.

Hood to become President of National Doctors’ Organization

Virginia L. Hood, MBBS, MPH, FRACP, FACP, has been elected 2011-2012 President of the American College of Physicians (ACP), the nation’s largest medical specialty organization. Her term will begin during Internal Medicine 2011, ACP’s annual scientific meeting in San Diego, Calif., April 7-9.

The Humane Society of Chittenden County has elected two new members to its Board of Directors, Barbara E. Cory, an attorney and shareholder of the law firm of Dinse, Knapp & McAndrew, and Jeanne C. Blackmore, an attorney and special counsel to the law firm of Gravel and Shea. The HSCC has served the animals and people of Chittenden county for over 100 years in pursuit of its mission tofoster compassionate treatment of animals and to prevent animal suffering.