Overview: Enterprise: Upper Valley hires, promotions, awards, grants and other honors

Upper Valley businesses and nonprofit organization announce hires, promotions and other honors.

New hires and promotions

Rachel Buchanan is the new executive director of Court Street Arts, a performing arts organization in Haverhill. (Courtesy Court Street Arts)

Rachel Buchanan is the new executive director of Court Street Arts, a performing arts organization in Haverhill. Buchanan is a Woodsville High School graduate who is returning to the Upper Valley after working in the hospitality industry in the Washington, D.C., area and Florida.

Norwich Technologies, a White River Junction-based renewable energy company, hired the following employees: Jennifer Walker, business analyst; Rachael Chicoine, development project manager; Paul Laferriere, lead electrician; and Chase Von Tersch, project manager.

Bryant Dole has been promoted to main office branch manager at Claremont Savings Bank.

Jonathan Hobbs is the new senior vice president of lending at Wells River Savings Bank in Wells River, Vt.

Business changes

Patricia H. Morse, a Lebanon-based accounting firm, has merged with TSS Advisors, a Lebanon-based professional advisory firm.

LC Design Concepts, a kitchen and bath design firm, will relocate from downtown Wells River to 2858 Dartmouth College Highway in North Haverhill this fall.

Nonprofit board appointments

Zachary Haines, vice president, digital product manager at Claremont Savings Bank, is the new chair of Turning Point Network‘s Board of Directors. The Claremont-based nonprofit organization assists survivors of domestic violence.

Josephine Moran, president and CEO of Ledyard Bank, is the new chair of Granite United Way‘s board of directors.

Enfield resident Dan Regan, who also chairs the town’s Zoning Board of Development, has joined the board of NH Lakes, a nonprofit organization that promotes the health of the state’s lakes.

Randy Hill was inducted into the Cold Regions Research and Engineering Laboratory’s Gallery of Distinguished Employees. With his induction, Hill became the 65th member of CRREL’s Gallery of Distinguished Employees, which was established in 1966 to honor employees who accomplished their duties in an exceptional manner while contributing to the reputation and honor of CRREL and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. (Photo courtesy Joseph Bara, ERDC/CRREL)

Grants, awards and other honors

The Vermont Aging Network Consortium earned a two-year, $450,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Administration for Community Living to modernize its statewide helpline, according to a July news release. The project, titled “Modernizing Vermont’s No Wrong Door (NWD) Older Vermonters Helpline and Information Systems Network Infrastructure,” will make changes to Vermont’s Senior Helpline, and will involve the state’s five Area Agencies on Aging.

The Lake Sunapee Protective Association was selected as the 2025 Nonprofit Winner of the Aquarion Environmental Champion Award. Aquarion a water and wastewater treatment company that operates in New Hampshire. The Lake Sunpaee Protective Association earned a $5,000 grant to put toward education programs and environmental initiatives as part of the award.

Delsie Hoyt, who chairs the West Fairlee Selectboard, was named Two Rivers-Ottauquechee Regional Commission‘s volunteer of the year.

Lake Sunapee VNA, a New London-based nonprofit organization, earned a “superior performer” honor from Strategic Healthcare Programs, which evaluates home health agencies and hospice providers.

Granite Air Center, a full-service fixed-base operator at the Lebanon Municipal Airport, has earned a Stage 2 certification under the International Standard for Business Aircraft Handling for its safety management system.

The Clara Martin Center Community and Teen Center, Hartford Community Coalition, Second Growth and Valley Court Diversion Programs earned grants from The Collaborative, a prevention lead organization for the Vermont Department of Health, Division of Substance Use Programs.

Woodcrest Village Assisted Living in New London earned Colby-Sawyer College’s 2025 Community Award for its contributions to the New London college, including providing students with internships.

Dartmouth College earned a 2025 Sustainability Leadership Award from Casella Waste Systems.

Physical scientist Randy Hill, of Hanover, has been inducted into the Cold Regions Research and Engineering Laboratory’s (CRREL) Gallery of Distinguished Employees. Hill worked at CRREL for 21 years, including 17 spent as associate technical director for the laboratory’s Geospatial Research and Engineering business area. Prior to joining CRREL, Hill served in the U.S. Army for 20 years as an active-duty engineer officer.

High Horses Center for Equine-Assisted Services in Sharon has raised $2.5 million for its Community Impact Campaign to expand services at the nonprofit organization.

Email business and nonprofit news items to biznotes@vnews.com before Dec. 26 to be included in the Jan. 17 edition of Enterprise.

Liz Sauchelli can be reached at esauchelli@vnews.com or 603-727-3221.