Worcester Business Journal

www.wbjournal.com November 23, 2015 • Worcester Business Journal 21 HEIDI M. LANDERS and REBECCA LYNCH were hired by Worcester social service agency The Bridge of Central Massachusetts. Landers is director of nursing. A resident of Barre, she is a graduate of Worcester State University, with a bachelor's degree in nursing and earned a master's degree in healthcare administration from Salem State University. Lynch was named director of development and marketing. Before joining The Bridge, she worked for Natick Visiting Nurse Association and The Price Center in Newton. Lynch has a bachelor's degree from Occidental College in Los Angeles, Calif., and a master's degree from Claremont Graduate University in Claremont, Calif., both in English. Also at The Bridge, EARLE LEITCH was promoted to director of developmental disabilities and rehabilitative services. He was previously a division director of developmental disability services at The Bridge. Over the past 15 years, Leitch served as a therapist, program supervisor and habilitation counselor at Virginia and New York human service agencies. He has a bachelor's degree in professional studies (human services) from the Metropolitan College of New York, in New York City. He completed the Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor (CADC) program. ROBERT BRANDNER was hired as chief information officer at Worcester-based Spectrum Health Systems, a newly created position. He was previously employed by Dell Computers, working in information- technology enterprise architecture. Brandner has a bachelor's degree in political science from Keene State College. SYLWIA CARRIER was promoted by Hometown Bank in Oxford, to customer service representative III, at its Sutton Avenue, Oxford office. She has been an employee of the bank since 2008, serving as a teller, assistant head teller and head teller. Carrier is a resident of Webster. DAVID KAROFSKY was named CEO of Transition Consulting Group, a family- owned consulting firm with offices in Framingham. He will succeed his father, Paul Karofsky, who founded the firm 25 years ago and will stay on as a partner. David Karofsky was previously the company's president. He is president and CEO of The Peer Alliance, a forum group for members of family enterprises. David Karofsky has a master's degree in education, counseling and sports psychology, from Boston University; and an MBA in marketing from Northeastern University in Boston. CYNTHIA GOODNO AYERS was hired as vice president of loan administration and servicing for North Brookfield Savings Bank. She was formerly a credit analyst and assistant vice president of loan administration at Citizens National Bank, and a senior credit analyst at Pawtucket Credit Union. Ayers lives in Dudley. She has an MBA from Bryant University in Smithfield, R.I. Also at North Brookfield Savings Bank, PAM KOZLIK was promoted to commercial credit analyst. She has held positions at the bank including branch manager of the Belchertown branch and most recently as commercial credit analyst assistant. Kozlik has a bachelor's degree in business administration from Western New England University in Springfield. She is a resident of Ware. PHIL GONCALVES was promoted to senior vice president of commercial lending at Country Bank, based in Ware. He has been with Country Bank since 1992, in the commercial lending department. Goncalves has 31 years of experience in the financial services industry. He earned an MBA with concentration in finance and economics from Western New England University in Springfield. Also at Country Bank, SHELLEY REGIN was promoted to senior vice president of marketing and retail banking. She is a graduate of Western New England University in Springfield and a lifelong resident of Ware. RUBY VARGAS and PATRICIA SMITH were hired by Fidelity Bank, based in Leominster. Vargas is vice president and branch and business development manager of the bank's Leominster Connector office. A resident of Leominster, she was formerly a branch sales and service manager at IC Credit Union. Smith is vice president and branch and business development manager of the Millbury office. She was assistant vice president and market manager at Avidia Bank and prior to that held a similar position at Commonwealth National Bank. A Westborough resident, she is a graduate of Assumption College. PAUL JOSEPH, MetroWest Chamber of Commerce president and CEO, was sworn in as a member of the Baker Administration's Economic Development Planning Council. Prior to his current role with the chamber, Joseph founded and ran a local management consulting firm and served for more than six years as the chair of the economic development committee in Natick. n MOVERS & SHAKERS HEIDI M. LANDERS The Bridge of Central Massachusetts REBECCA LYNCH The Bridge of Central Massachusetts EARLE LEITCH The Bridge of Central Massachusetts C YNTHIA GOODNO AYERS North Brookfield Savings Bank PAM KOZLIK North Brookfield Savings Bank RUBY VARGAS Fidelity Bank n Sean McGrath, sales account executive at McGrath Insurance Group of Sturbridge, earned the National Underwriter Company Commercial Lines Coverage Specialist (CLCS) designation. He is the great-grandson of company founder Albert N. McGrath. n Four attorneys from Fletcher Tilton PC in Worcester made this year's Super Lawyers list: Richard Barry, estate & probate; William Jalkut, general litigation; and Rising Stars Marisa Higgins, family law, and Samantha McDonald, land use/zoning. n Tata & Howard of Marlborough, an environmental engineering company, celebrated its 23rd anniversary last month, as well as its one-year anniversary of forming an employee stock ownership plan. n Marlborough Hospital earned an "A" rating from hospital watchdog The Leapfrog Group, for its commitment to patient safety. n The Training Associates of Westborough was named to The Commonwealth Institute's list of 2015 Top 100 Women-Led Businesses in Massachusetts for the second time. n Peter Paolantonio, chief clinical officer of Spectrum Health Systems Inc., was awarded the 2015 Lifetime Achievement Award from the Association for Behavioral Healthcare. n Frank Saba, CEO of Milford Regional Medical Center, and Dismas House of Massachusetts in Worcester have won Edward M. Kennedy Community Health awards. The award program is in its inaugural year. n Reliant Medical Group OBGYN nurse midwives and St. Vincent Hospital's Center for Women and Infants celebrated 25 years of service. n Dr. John Harrington of GVNA HealthCare was honored at the agency's annual Executive Leadership Breakfast for his service. He is medical director and staff physician at the Winchendon Health Center, a satellite facility of Heywood Healthcare. n Brittany Thompson of Evviva Cucina of Westford was named Bartender of the Year by the Massachusetts Restaurant Association at its Stars of the Industry Awards event. n Family Heath Center of Worcester has earned National Committee for Quality Assurance Patient-Centered Medical Home Recognition, at Level 3, the highest level. The Patient-Centered Medical Home is a model of care that combines teamwork and information- technology to improve care, improve patients' experience of care and reduce costs. n Bemis Associates Inc. of Shirley, a 100-year-old adhesives and specialty film manufacturer, was selected as an Employer of Choice Award recipient by the Employers Association of the NorthEast. ACCOLADES & HONORS James J. Piette, Susan A. Howard and Edward F. O'Brien of AdCare Hospital in Worcester were recognized for excellence in patient care and customer service. Piette and Howard won Eunice Roddy awards; O'Brien won an excellence in customer service award. Pictured (from left) are James J. Piette and Susan A. Howard. P H O T O / C O U R T E S Y PATRICIA SMITH Fidelity Bank

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