Biz Briefs

Meredith resident Melanie Benton was recently honored for her 25 years of service with Citizens Bank. A brick bearing Benton's name was placed in the plaza of company headquarters in Providence, R.I.

Timothy Fitzbag, financial advisor with Ameriprise Financial in Gilford, NH has

been named a recipient of the 2012 Five Star Wealth Manager award by Five Star Professional, a third party research firm.

Gary Lemay, a Renewable Energy Engineer with NH Electric Co-op in Plymouth, joined the board of directors of NH Businesses for Social Responsibility (NHBSR).

Kathleen Beriau, director of finance at Speare Memorial Hospital, has just been awarded the title of Fellow from the Healthcare Financial Management Association (HFMA).

Common Man family CEO Jason Lyon returns to the board of directors for the national Council of Hotel & Restaurant Trainers (CHART) as elected by members at the organization's recent annual meeting in Chicago.

Natures Elite landscaping in Gilford is now a Belgard Authorized Contractor and has announced that a project completed overlooking New Found Lake has been chosen by Belgard Pavers to be in the upcoming 2013 catalog.

Northway Bank, based in Berlin and the largest independent commercial community bank in New Hampshire, has named Armand Girouard as a Personal Banker at its Plymouth Banking Center.

The Bank of New Hampshire, based in Laconia,announced that Karol Smith has joined its team of retail lenders as a mortgage loan officer. Smith will be serving the towns of Moultonborough, Center Harbor, Sandwich, Wolfeboro, Tuftonboro, Ossipee, Brookfield, Wakefield, and surrounding communities.

Dolores Merchant, a New Hampton-based LNA, has been honored as Caregiver of the Quarter for the first quarter of 2012 at Live Free Home Health Care. Involved in health care for over 19 years, Merchant joined the staff at LFHHC a little over a year ago.

EXIT Lakeside Realty Group Broker/Owner, Douglas Rollins, joined real estate professionals from all over North America recently at the headquarters of EXIT Realty Corp. International for an intensive week of training and networking.

Meredith Village Savings Bank announced that Robyn Masteller was recently relocated from Wolfeboro to the Laconia office as regional vice president, branch and business development officer. In her new role, Masteller adds the oversight of operations of the offices in Laconia and Gilford while continuing to oversee Alton and Wolfeboro. Marcus Weeks has been promoted to assistant vice president, branch and business development officer in Wolfeboro, and has assumed the responsibility of managing the bank's office there.

Thom Roy, with RE/MAX Bayside in Meredith and Laconia, is ranked in the Top 25 of RE/MAX agents in New England for sales volume in January of 2012. This is Thom's first award from RE/MAX New England.

Meredith Village Savings Bank congratulated Joanne Pearce, senior vice president, risk management officer, on her June 7th graduation from the prestigious American Bankers' Association Stonier Graduate School of Banking at the University of Pennsylvania.

Janette Gaumer, registered dietitian at Speare Memorial Hospital, has become a Certified Health Coach, promoting patient wellness by helping them establish and achieve individual, long-term health goals.

Live Free Home Health Care’s owner and Clinical Director Jennifer Harvey, recognized the increase of Alzheimer’s disease and dementia in older adults and recently obtained her certification as a Dementia Practitioner from the National Council of Certified Dementia Practitioners.

White Mountain Eye Care & Optical in Plymouth welcomed new optician Jamie Bates. Bates provides a continuation of care, from the exam room to the fitting room where the patients choose their next pair of eye glass frames.

Irwin Toyota located at 59 Bisson Avenue in Laconia, has won Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc.'s prestigious President's Award for outstanding sales and service.

Scarlett O'Harra has been selected as Caregiver of the Quarter at Live Free Home Health Care.

Laconia Area Community Land Trust announces the appointment of Sal Steven-Hubbard as Housing Development Director and Hope Jordan as Resource Development Director.

Christopher P. Williams, of Meredith, was installed on the National Council of Architectural Registration Boards Board of Directors at its 93rd Annual Meeting last week.

Clark Gareau of Belknap Landscape Company Inc. had previously become a certified tree care safety professional, and this season has earned the NH Arborist Certification.

Fluet Engineering Associates in Laconia, a Division of DuBois & King, announce that Nicholas Sceggell, has joined the firm as a civil engineer. Sceggell's experience includes consulting engineering and most recently serving as a water resource specialist with the Granite State Rural Water Association.

EXIT Lakeside Realty Group announced that Marsha Foden has been named Agent of the Month in the Tilton office and Brenda Rowan for the Laconia Office.

Recognizing her compassion and commitment to improving the quality of life for the individuals she cares for each day, Stacy Paquette, of Live Free Home Health Care in New Hampton was named Home Care Nursing Assistant of the Year by the Home Care Association of New Hampshire.

Cybertron Technology Solutions announced the addition of Rob Olsen to the team. Olsen brings with him over ten years of experience in software and technical support including close to seven years as a technical support engineer with Ecora Software.