Faces&Places

December 2006

Chris Graff, former Vermont bureau chief of the Associated Press, will join the National Life Group in December as vice president of communications. He will succeed Brian Vachon, who is retiring. Graff has served as host of Vermont Public Television’s “Vermont This Week” for 14 years. Vachon, who was the editor of Vermont Life magazine before joining National Life, has been the company’s primary spokesman for 25 years.

DuBois & King Inc. consulting engineers announced that Robert H. Durfee, P.E., has joined the firm as vice president and director of the civil works division. Durfee has 28 years’ experience in transportation and structural engineering.

Jeff Simays was named manager of Meineke Car Care Center at 688 Pine St. in Burlington. Meineke has been in the Burlington area for 28 years.

Steve Habif, executive director of Vermont Children’s Aid Society, announced that Tara Graham has joined the staff as the first coordinator of the grant-funded Family Ties program for families coping with a parent’s incarceration. She will work in the organization’s Winooski office. Graham was with the Baird Center in Burlington.

Hoyle, Tanner & Associates Inc. announced that Heather L. Fuller, P.E., joined the company as transportation engineer in the Burlington office. Fuller has eight years’ civil engineering experience.

Mike Dunn was promoted to the position of production manager at Vermont Public Television. He will be responsible for supervising staff and managing operations of the department that produces series such as “Vermont This Week,” “Profile” and “Public Square.” Dunn joined VPT in 1997. In June of this year, he won a Telly Award for his editing work on “VPT’s Outdoor Journal.”

Spike Advertising has hired Kevin Karn as its creative director. Karn was most recently responsible for brand communications at Crowley Webb & Associates in Buffalo, N.Y. Before that, he was art director at Righteous Babe Records.

John P. Fogarty, M.D., interim dean of the University of Vermont College of Medicine, and Melinda Estes, M.D., president and CEO of Fletcher Allen Health Care, announced the appointment of Polly Parsons, M.D., as E.L. Amidon professor and chair of medicine at the College of Medicine and physician leader of medicine at Fletcher Allen Health Care. Parsons has served as interim chair since June 2005 and has been with UVM and Fletcher Allen since 2000. She is past president of the Fletcher Allen medical staff. Fogarty also announced two appointments in the office of primary care and the area health education centers program. Paula Duncan, M.D., professor of pediatrics, was named medical director, and Charles MacLean, M.D., associate professor of medicine, was named research director. Duncan, who joined UVM/Fletcher Allen in 1984, will maintain her faculty appointment and continue in the department of pediatrics. MacLean, who joined UVM/Fletcher Allen in 1988, will maintain his faculty appointment and continue his activities and research.

Dan Boardman, president of Hickok & Boardman Retirement Planning, announced the hiring of Shaun King as a retirement plan sales and service associate. King, a St. Michael’s graduate, worked with Pension Works for 10 years.

Kristen Lepine is the new administrative assistant/finance for Lyndon Institute. A 1996 graduate of the school, Lepine received a bachelor of science from St. Michael’s College with a major in business administration and accounting. She was with Leach Engineering Consultants in St. Johnsbury.

Lauren Bryant, owner of The Mountain Top Inn & Resort in Chittenden, announced that Will Hollinger was named executive chef. The New England Culinary Institute graduate’s experience includes working as sous chef at The Chanticleer on Nantucket, executive chef at Three Mountain Inn in Jamaica, Vt., and as a private chef for a family with whom he traveled internationally.

HRSentry in Colchester announced two appointments due to its recent expansion. Patrick Williams was named director of marketing and customer relations. Williams’ experience includes work in the property and casualty insurance industry. Bob Berno was appointed director of sales. His experience in retail and financial sales spans 20 years in the Northeast.

Union Bank announced the appointment of Suzanne L. Roberts as vice president and commercial lender for the Lyndonville office. Roberts was with Northern Community Investment Corp. and has more than 20 years’ experience in commercial banking in Vermont and New Hampshire.

Small Dog Electronics, a specialty retailer of Apple personal products, announced the hiring of Geoff Blanck as vice president of sales and marketing and Hannah Parfitt as supervisor and manager of the company’s new flagship retail store in South Burlington. Blanck has international experience in marketing and brand development for major corporations. Parfitt has experience in retail, private labeling and project coordination.

Burlington College has chosen Michael Ohler as its director of student services. Ohler’s background is in residential life, social work, civic engagement and teaching. He has taught at Community College of Vermont and Norwich University and was assistant director of residence life at St. Michael’s College.

HMC2 Advertising LCC announced two staff changes. Nicole L’Huillier Fenton, formerly the public relations director and account executive, was promoted to director of client services. She will oversee the account team and activities for all clients in addition to her public relations role. Annie Bakst, formerly associate creative director, was named creative director.

Thomas Leavitt, senior vice president, retail banking, for Merchants Bank, announced the appointment of Lou S. Chase as branch president for the White River Junction office. Chase, who joined the bank in 1993, succeeds Kyle Thygesen. Lisa J.L. Hart was named branch president of the Groton office. She succeeds Chase. Hart has worked with the bank since 1999.

Lata Agarwal joined Grippin, Donlan & Roche PLC as a staff accountant. Agarwal worked at ECHO and at the northern Vermont chapter of the American Red Cross. She has passed her CPA exam.

Mark R. Chaffee announced that Mortgage Financial Inc. has moved its main office to Water Tower Hill. The address is 354 Mountainview Drive, Suite 105, Colchester. Phone and fax numbers remain the same. www.vtmortgageadvisor.com.