People in the news

Christine Brown has been promoted from director to acting deputy commissioner of the Captive Insurance Division at the Vermont Department of Financial Regulation. In her new role, she is responsible for the administration and regulation of captive insurance companies and risk retention groups in the state.

Paul Heintz, former senior adviser to the University of Vermont's Center for Community News, where he helped establish the Vermont Journalism Coalition, has joined The Boston Globe as a reporter. He will cover Vermont and the northern border for the paper, New England's largest daily.

Health Care and Rehabilitation Services, a community mental health agency serving Windsor and Windham counties, has appointed Chief Operating Officer Anne Bilodeau as the organization’s next CEO, effective April 1. She will succeed George Karabakakis, who is retiring at the end of June.

The American Red Cross of Northern New England has welcomed Dr. Mark Levine, Elise Polli and Ryan Rothstein (pictured) to the Board of Directors of its Vermont chapter, headquartered in Burlington.

State Reps. Chloe Tomlinson, P/D-Winooski, and Dara Torre, D-Moretown, have been named recipients of 2026 Environmental Rising Star Awards by Vermont Conservation Voters, a nonpartisan organization that works to elect environmentally friendly public officials.

Col. Mark Denton, executive officer to the undersecretary of the Army, has been named the 57th commandant of the Corps of Cadets and vice president of student affairs at Norwich University, effective June 15.

Community Bank, a subsidiary of Community Financial System, has promoted President of Commercial Banking Matt Durkee to chief banking officer, effective Jan. 2. He succeeds Jeff Levy, who retired at the end of the year following a distinguished banking career.

Vermont Adaptive Ski and Sports has named Program Director Felicia Fowler as recipient of its 2025 Kellen Sams Memorial Leadership Award.

Sanborn, Head & Associates, a New Hampshire-based engineering and technical consulting firm with a Burlington, Vermont, office, announced year-end promotions for Jonathan Hillman and Derek Long, and appointed Sean Murphy, and reappointed Barret Cole and Charlie Head to its Board of Directors.

Alex Halpern (pictured), president at Freeman French Freeman, has been elected chair of the Lake Champlain Chamber Board of Directors, effective Jan. 1. He succeeds Heather Ross, director and shareholder at Sheehey, Furlong and Behm, who completed her term as chair at the end of 2025.

The High Fives Foundation, a national leader in outdoor safety education and adaptive sports support, has named Essex Junction para-athlete Ryan McLaren as its 2025 M. Scott Roberds Athlete of the Year — one of the organization's highest honors.

Nick Charyk, a strategic communications leader with more than 15 years' experience in Vermont policy, politics and campaigns, has joined the Burlington law firm Downs Rachlin Martin as manager of government and public affairs.