Vermont College of Fine Arts, a graduate school for visual art and writing based in Montpelier, Vermont, today announced that Cornelius (“Con”) Hogan has been named chairman of its Board of Trustees. Hogan, a well-known figure in Vermont, has served on the Board of Trustees since 2007. He is currently a senior fellow with the Center for the Study of Social Policy, and he is recognized nationally for his work in public and human service, including engagements with the Annie E. Casey and Robert Wood Johnson foundations and the National Center for Children in Poverty.

The BBA Board of Directors elected Al Gobeille of Gobeille Hospitality Group to a three year term to the Board of Directors. He is a returning board member, having served two terms from 1999 to 2005.

Gobeille, along with his wife Kim Gobeille own/operate Burlington Bay Market, Shanty on the Shore, Breakwaters Cafe, a Cafe at General Dynamics and Northern Lights. He came to Vermont as an undergraduate at Norwich University and has been involved in downtown business for over a decade.

Christopher R. Bernier of Waterbury Center, formerly with Tubbs Snowshoe Company in Stowe, has been named Assistant Director for Alumni & Parent Relations at Saint Michael's College. The 2004 Saint Michael’s College graduate started at the college last week.

Erica Masi, a senior psychology and biology double major from New Hartford, N.Y., was awarded a $1,500 research grant from Psi Chi, the national psychology honor society that gives only 12 to 16 of these highly competitive grants each semester to students across the country, and those primarily at large universities.

Joan Goldstein has been named the new Executive Director of Green Mountain Economic Development Corporation (GMEDC). Mrs. Goldstein comes to the position after several years as a Business and Technology Advisor for the Vermont Small Business Development Center and as an adjunct accounting, economics, and small business management instructor for Community College of Vermont and the Vermont Technical College.

Stantec engineer Gary Santy has been promoted to principal. Santy, who leads Stantec’s South Burlington office, has also been appointed leader of the company’s North Springfield, Vermont, office. Santy has worked as a transportation engineer for over 30 years on dozens of projects, including such high-profile efforts as the Bennington Bypass on Route 7 in Vermont and the Hillsborough Bypass in New Hampshire. Santy earned a degree in applied science from the Vermont Technical College and is a registered professional engineer in Maine, New Hampshire, and Vermont.

Erin Collins, a 2006 magna cum laude graduate of Saint Michael’s College, was named assistant director of Edumundite Campus Ministry for Community Service, with principal focus on the MOVE program (Mobilization of Volunteer Efforts). A member of Phi Beta Kappa, Ms. Collins earned her BA in English, with a minor in biology, and won an SMC Community Service Award in 2006. A resident of Colchester, she worked at Maitri Healthcare for Women in South Burlington from 2006 to 2008, with focus on assisting non-English-speaking patients.

Larry Sudbay, President and Chief Executive Officer of SymQuest Group, Inc., announced today that Ryan W. Manewich has been hired as a Connectivity Engineer. Manewich is the co-owner of Green Mountain Powersports in St. Albans, Vermont. He was formerly employed as a Network Support Engineer at Western New England College in Springfield, Massachusetts.

NRG Systems, Inc., a manufacturer of wind measurement equipment, announces the addition of Abdou Tahirou as electronics technician. Tahirou comes to NRG Systems from Alstrom Transport Telecite in Williston where he assembled electrical communication systems and tested printed circuit boards. Prior to this he worked in electronics at other local firms, including Liquid Measurement Systems and IBM. Tahirou received an Associates Degree in Electrical Engineering from Vermont Technical College and holds certificates in basic electrical and electro-mechanical assembly.

The Board of Directors at Yestermorrow Design/Build School has announced Kate Stephenson as the School’s new Executive Director. Stephenson has a long history with Yestermorrow. She first came to the School in 2002 as a design/build intern and has held a variety of positions within the organization. She has served as an Associate Director and then Director of Operations. She has been serving as the School’s Interim Executive Director since October of 2008.