The Buzz Online

In the spotlight: NBT Bank promoted Malindra Ratnayake and welcomed J. Chad Richards to the company’s NH commercial banking team as commercial portfolio managers. Ratnayake joined NBT Bank in 2013 and most recently served as the credit support team leader. Richards brings more than a decade of commercial banking experience, including a background in credit analysis and relationship management.

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Megg Acquilano has joined the NH Bar Association as director of professional development. Prior to joining the NHBA, she was employed with the Londonderry School District as the district-wide technology trainer for approximately 750 faculty and staff. 

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Bonnie Walshaw was confirmed as the new director of the Collection Division of the NH Department of Revenue Administration. Walshaw, who is a 33-year veteran of NHDRA, replaces Ora LeMere, who was recently promoted to Assistant Commissioner.

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Shannon Sullivan has joined The Palace Theatres as its new director of corporate and community partnerships. Sullivan comes to the organization from Consolidated Communications where she served as corporate communications manager.

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Elbit Systems of America, with significant operations in Merrimack in defense, commercial aviation, homeland security and medical diagnostic instrumentation markets – has again been recognized with an Ethics Inside Certification after a comprehensive evaluation conducted by Ethisphere. The company has received this honor each year since 2015.

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NHTI – Concord’s Community College named Aladdin Campus Dining as its new dining services management company, taking over operations at NHTI’s on-campus facilities including its Capitol Commons dining hall and Bistro. Capital Commons will also receive a refresh, including digital menus that will provide allergen and nutritional information.

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Employees of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Central NH who work a minimum of 30 hours per week are now eligible to participate in a free childcare program. The goal of this initiative is to help parents get back into the workforce by covering the cost of reliable, safe child care.

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Breezeline, the nation’s eighth-largest cable operator, has extended its advanced fiber network into Dover and Madbury. Fiber-to-the-Home will be available for the very first time in many of these communities. Breezeline began its fiber expansion in NH this year with activations in Somersworth and Concord with deployment in Durham planned for later this year.

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Unitil Corporation presented $5,000 scholarship awards to five high school seniors pursuing degrees in STEM: Cassie Murphy of Dunbarton, who will attend Evangel University; Ayden Lang of North Hampton, who will attend Merrimack College; Quintin Lemek of Gardner, Mass., who will attend Fitchburg State University; George Lawton of Dover, who will attend Northeastern University; Kevin Kieu of Scarborough, Maine, who will attend UMass Lowell. As part of the program, a sixth student who is the child of a Unitil employee was also awarded a scholarship. Emma Sprague will attend University of Rhode Island.

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The NH Association of Broadcasters awarded $18,000 in scholarships for the 2022-2023 school year. A $5,000 Al Sprague Memorial Scholarship was awarded to Amanda Goyette of Nashua who attends Southern New Hampshire University. Student Broadcast Scholarships of $2,500 went to: Drew Hallett of Dover who attends Husson University; Payton Cavanaugh of Troy who attends Emerson College; Benjamin Weed, of Exeter, attending High Point University; and Benjamin Adams of Hampstead, who will attend Syracuse University.

Additionally, six students were chosen to receive $500 Families in Broadcasting Scholarships, created in 2013 to aid NHAB members as their children pursue higher education. Scholarships were awarded to Abigail Mitchell attending UNH, Alexandra Bessette attending Endicott College, Seneca Baldi who attends College of the Holy Cross, Makenna Lord attending University of Hartford, Ella Lange who studies at University of Rhode Island, and Owen Young who attends Colorado State.