The Buzz Online

Bellwether Community Credit Union in Manchester promoted Kerri Sarette as VP of operations, a newly created role for the credit union. Sarette oversees loan servicing, deposit services, electronic services, and fraud. She also serves as the Bank Secrecy Act (BSA) officer for the credit union. She previously served as assistant VP of operations.

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Plan NH appointed Alissa Del Tufo as the organization’s first program manager, primarily focused on the InvestNH Municipal Planning & Zoning Grant Program. This program is administered jointly by NH Housing, Plan NH, and UNH Cooperative Extension, and is funded by the NH Department of Business and Economic Affairs as part of the $100 million InvestNH Initiative with ARPA State Fiscal Recovery funds. This program is aimed at increasing local housing opportunities. Del Tufo will support applicants and grantees who are awarded financial assistance through this program. She has a background in engineering, business, and project management and is currently a selectwoman in Raymond. She previously served on the Planning Board and Zoning Board as well as the CIP and Historic District Commissions in Raymond.

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Joelle Donnelly Wiggin, who served as an advocate with the NH Department of Justice’s Office of Victim and Witness Assistance, has joined the law firm of Nixon Peabody LLP in Manchester as a victim specialist/paralegal in its Government Investigations & White-Collar Defense practice. She previously spent more than 15 years in roles with the NH Attorney General’s office. 

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Northeast Credit Union in Portsmouth appointed Katherine Kennedy to the Supervisory Committee of its Board of Directors. She is a senior business analyst, specializing in insurance compliance and underwriting. 

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Bar Harbor Bank & Trust donated $5,000 to New London Barn Playhouse to provide tuition assistance to youth from low- and moderate-income families who want to participate in the organization’s Arts Education programs.

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New Hampshire Businesses for Social Responsibility (NHBSR) celebrated the leading efforts of the state’s most environmentally and socially conscious businesses at the NH Sustainability Awards, held on March 8 at Southern NH University. Fiona Wilson, the deputy chief sustainability officer at the University of NH in Durham was honored with the Cornerstone Innovator Award for her work to build strong partnerships between businesses dedicated to advancing sustainability practices and sustainability engagement students. Other 2023 Sustainability Award Finalists Include: Coca-Cola Beverages Northeast won the Community award; NH Community Loan Fund won the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion award; MAYO Web & Marketing Services won the Environment award; Worthen Industries won the Climate and Energy award; Goodwill Northern New England won the Governance award; Red River won the Workplace award; and Hypertherm won the Systemic Leadership award.