The Buzz Online

This Week's Spotlight: Robert Zakon, co-founder of technology consulting firm Zakon Group in North Conway and web startup OpenConf, was named to the U.S. Department of the Treasury as an innovator-in-residence to advise on emerging technologies as part of a year being spent in Washington, DC as a White House Presidential Innovation Fellow. Zakon has been supporting various innovation initiatives across the federal government as an advisor and lecturer on agile methodologies, blockchain, open data, cybersecurity, and machine learning.

Nobis Engineering Inc., an employee-owned company based in Concord and provider of engineering and environmental services throughout New England and the Mid-Atlantic region, opened a new office in Naugatuck, Conn.

The American Dental Hygienists Association’s Institute for Oral Health and the Wrigley Company Foundation awarded Families First Health & Support Center in Portsmouth a $5,000 community service grant. This grant will be used for Families First’s school-based dental program “Seacoast Healthy Grins.”

Merrimack County Savings Bank (the Merrimack) and Meredith Village Savings Bank (MVSB) collected cold weather items, such as hats, mittens, gloves and scarves for the recent annual Mitten Tree drive. More than 2,000 pieces were collected and distributed to local schools and nonprofits. The banks donated $2 for each item given, raising more than $4,000 for the NH Food Bank to be used at food pantries in the Concord, Nashua and Lakes Region areas.

Premiere Properties Inc. in Concord named Claudia Walker as VP of sales and leasing. Walker has more than 30 years of experience in banking and commercial real estate brokerage and recently retired from Merrimack County Savings Bank as senior VP, commercial and construction loan officer.

Northeast Credit Union in Portsmouth promoted Andrea Pruna to senior VP, chief marketing and retail officer and Steve Giguere to senior VP, CFO.

Anytime Fitness, a 24-hour health and fitness club, leased 5,400 square feet at the Hudson Mall at 77 Derry Road in Hudson. Andy Levy of the MEG Companies represented the lessor, Hudson Vickerry Leasing, LLC, and Lisa Ferrari and Mark Prolman of Prolman Realty represented Hudson Health, Inc., the lessee.

The Merrimack Chamber of Commerce elected new board members: Meryl Sullivan, owner of Elite Rehab & Sports Therapy; Steve Morabito, director of sales at Courtyard by Marriott Nashua; and Kathryn Poliseno, branch service manager with Enterprise Bank.