People in the news

Cigna (NYSE: CI) has named Mark Butler as president and general manager for its New England market. Most recently he served as the market’s senior vice president of sales since 2006. He will be based in Boston and replaces Don Curry, who is retiring after leading the market since 2002.

On Thursday, December 18, The Society of Saint Edmund and Saint Michael’s College celebrated the ordination to the priesthood of Lino Alejandro Oropeza, SSE, to be conferred by the Most Reverend Terry R. LaValley, Bishop of Ogdensburg, N.Y., in the Chapel of Saint Michael the Archangel on campus.

Jim Merriam announced that Liz Gamache will succeed him as Director of Efficiency Vermont beginning January 19, 2015. Efficiency Vermont is a nationally acclaimed statewide energy efficiency utility, which currently helps meet more than 13% of Vermont’s electric supply needs, and has helped reduce heating costs in more than 4,500 homes since 2008.

With a fan base that has expanded all the way from VT to NYC and LA, where her career has taken off, Myra Flynn hasn’t forgotten her Vermont roots. She will be at home in VT this holiday season where Shelburne Vineyard will welcome her back for a post-holiday house concert beginning at 6 PM Saturday, December 27.

Brattleboro Memorial Hospital held its First Annual Vermont Handmade Decorated Wreath Challenge today. While hospital employees will be vying for the grand prize of a catered luncheon, other winners will include local farmers and underserved families in the community.

The Vermont State Colleges (VSC) Board of Trustees announced Thursday that the Community College of Vermont’s Winooski academic center would be renamed the Tim Donovan Academic Center to honor VSC Chancellor Tim Donovan.

Donovan has served the VSC with distinction for 38 years and in varying positions. He will retire at the end of this month.

The People’s United Community Foundation, the philanthropic arm of People’s United Bank, announced today that it has awarded $5,000 to Life Bridge, Inc.

The Automaster announced that sales consultants Spencer Campbell and Zack Philbrook , have been recognized and certified by Mercedes-Benz as product concierges.

The concierge program was introduced to dealers in May at the brand’s annual dealer meetings at the Mercedes-Benz factory in Vance, AL, near Tuscon.

For the past 2 ½ years, Sweet Simone’s has been Waitsfield's favorite bakery for the freshest, delectable pastries, cakes, pies, fresh bagels, and seasonal baked goods all made from scratch (The New York Times even wrote about their amazing coconut cake!). And now they are poised to become Richmond’s new hot spot.

The Association of General Contractors of Vermont (AGC/VT) recently announced new appointments to its Board of Directors for 2015. Judy Desrochers of J.A. MacDonald will lead the Association as its new President. Ms. Desrochers has been with J.A. MacDonald for over 30 years, and an active member of AGC/VT.

The Vermont Manufacturing Extension Center (VMEC) has announced the results of its December 9th annual election of VMEC Advisory Board members.

Jackie Majoros, the State Long Term Care Ombudsman for Vermont, received the Cernoria Johnson Memorial Advocacy Award at the National Consumer Voice for Quality Long-Term Care (Consumer Voice) Annual Conference in Arlington, Virginia on November 16.