People in the news

IPJ Real Estate in Middlebury, VT announces the addition of two associates to the boutique firm on Main Street. Courtney Houston DeBisschop, a real estate broker with 16 years of sales experience, comes to IPJ Real Estate after years of practicing and a year of managing the Four Season's Sotheby's International Realty office in Middlebury.

Gregory Wight, P.E., has been named Vermont’s 2016 Engineer of the Year. Professor Wight, who has served as both associate dean at Norwich University and director of the David Crawford School of Engineering, is a recognized expert in the field of air quality engineering. He is the author of numerous papers in this field and a widely-used textbook.

The Visiting Nurse Association of Chittenden and Grand Isle Counties (VNA) has announced the appointment of Tara Graham as Executive Director of Hospice and Palliative Care for Vermont’s oldest and largest home health and hospice agency.

The J. Warren & Lois McClure Foundation, a supporting organization of the Vermont Community Foundation which aims to improve access to college and career education for all Vermonters, welcomed Tim Donovan to its board of directors in January.

Barb Lassen has joined Davis & Hodgdon Associates CPAs as Branch Manager for the firm’s Rutland office. Barb has more than 30 years of experience in the customer service and financial services industries, including office management and as a business owner. She will be managing the daily operations of the firm’s Rutland office, formerly known as Siliski & Buzzell.

Bond attorney Daniel Sharpe has been admitted to practice law in the state of Vermont. Daniel has 40 years of experience as a tax and employee benefits (ERISA) attorney. His primary area of experience lies in the area of qualified pension and retirement plans, including 401(k) and 403(b) plans as well as ESOPs, traditional defined benefit plans, and collectively bargained plans.

VNA & Hospice of the Southwest Region which includes (Rutland Area VNA & Hospice, Bennington Area VNA & Hospice and Dorset Area VNA & Hospice) received a 4 star rating on a 5 star scale in the Center for Medicare & Medicaid Services first patient experience of care star ratings, landing in the top 26% of home health agencies in the country to receive that score or better.

Don George, President and CEO of Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Vermont, has been honored by the American Heart Association (AHA) for helping improve the health and wellness of Vermonters and Vermont businesses through Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Vermont’s (BCBSVT) Accountable Blue program.

Dr. Mario Potvin has joined Gifford Medical Center’s general surgery team. A board-certified surgeon, he has lived in Minnesota for the last 19 years and most recently practiced at the Fairview Lakes Medical Center, in Wyoming, Minnesota.

Nisid Hajari has won the 2016 William E.

Keisha Pollard, CSP, Personnel Supervisor at Westaff in Barre, VT, recently received her Certified Staffing Professional designation from the American Staffing Association.

Mobius hosted its annual Mentoring Celebration at the Vermont Statehouse on Thursday, January 14. Nearly 100 adult volunteer mentors, youth mentees, program staff and supporters from across the state gathered together to officially recognize January 2016 as Mentoring Month in Vermont.