The Buzz Online

104,000-square-foot manufacturing facility at 25 Production Ave. in Keene. Photo: North Branch Construction

This Week’s Spotlight: North Branch Construction in Concord began renovating a 104,000-square-foot manufacturing facility at 25 Production Ave. in Keene for the Monadnock Economic Development Corporation (MEDC), also in Keene. The project, designed by Catlin + Petrovick Architects in Keene, will convert space previously occupied by medical equipment supplier Smiths Medical into a manufacturing facility for pre-fabricated homebuilder Unity Homes, a subsidiary of Bensonwood Woodworking Company in Walpole that develops timber frame, hybrid and panelized homes using off-site construction and on-site assembly. The project is funded in part by a $300,000 Community Development Block Grant subgranted to the MEDC, who will lease the property to Unity Homes.

***

Brookstone Builders in Manchester will perform a 3,000-square-foot interior renovation and fit-up project for Aberdeen Growth’s office building at 288 South River Road in Bedford. Architecture will be handled by Dennis Mires in Manchester.

***

Budget Blinds in Amherst opened a new retail location at 520 Amherst St. in Nashua. The company offers window treatments, including blinds, shutters, shades and window film.

***

Capital Regional Development Council in Concord hired Chris Wellington as business development/project management officer, effective June 19. Wellington was most recently CEO of Grafton Regional Development Corporation in Plymouth, and previously worked for the NH Division of Economic Development in Concord and City of Manchester’s Economic Development Office.

***

Over this past school year, Catholic Medical Center in Manchester donated CPR kits and sponsored CPR training for students and staff at several NH schools, including Auburn Village School, Belmont High School, Belmont Middle School, Berlin Middle School, ConVal Regional High School in Peterborough, Manchester High School (Central), McKelvie Intermediate School in Bedford, Plymouth Regional High School and Winnisquam Regional Middle School in Tilton. Nearly 450 people were trained during the school year.

***

Harvard Pilgrim Health Care hired Robert Paul Hockmuth as NH associate medical director. Hockmuth has clinical and managed care experience as a family practice physician in Maine and NH and as senior market medical executive for Cigna Health Insurance in NH.

***

Ledyard National Bank hired Jennifer Hall as branch manager of its Hanover location.  Hall has 20 years of experience, most recently working as branch manager for Citizens Bank in Hanover.

***

Donna Talbot, executive director of client Services and client integrations at Merchants Fleet Management in Hooksett, retired on June 9. The company’s Client Services team will now be run by Steve Curt, assistant director of client services, and Michelle Dillman, associate director of client services and integrations.