EMPLOYMENT

Katherine Ludwig has been promoted by Liberty Bank to Branch Manager at its Quaker Hill location, 31 Norwich Road. She  has more than 20 years of experience in retail banking and started her banking career at Bank of Boston. In May of 2015, she joined the Liberty Bank team as a Community Bank Assistant Manager at its downtown New London office before moving to the Quaker Hill Branch in March of 2017. For more information, visit www.liberty-bank.com.

Judith Gauvain of Westerly is now a sales associate with the Watch Hill office of Randall, Realtors. She has been an active Realtor for the past 10 years and holds Connecticut and Rhode Island real estate licenses. She is a former nurse, including at Lawrence + Memorial Hospital. She can be reached at 401-808-0722 or Judith.gauvain@randallrealtors.com. For more information, visit  www.randallrealtors.com.

EVENTS 

The Chamber of Commerce of Eastern CT will honor the region’s junior-year high school students at its Annual Student Leaders Breakfast on Thursday, May 25, 7:30 to 9 a.m. at the Norwich Holiday Inn, 10 Laura Blvd. Selected outstanding students from 11 high schools will share their thoughts on their educational accomplishments as guests enjoy breakfast provided by the Holiday Inn. Admission is $17 for Chamber of Commerce of Eastern CT members, $25 for non-members. Sign up online at www.ChamberECT.com/events or call (860) 701-9113. This year’s Annual Student Leaders Breakfast is made possible by support from People’s United Bank and the Perkins & Murphy College Admissions Consultancy.

Mary Lenzini, President & CEO of the Visiting Nurse Association of Southeastern CT, will be recognized as eastern CT's Citizen of the Yearat a special award dinner on May 31 at Mystic Marriott Hotel & Spa in Groton. For tickets, visit www.ChamberECT.com or call (860) 701-9113. The 67th Citizen of the Year Celebration is made possible by support from ConnectiCare, CMEEC – CT Municipal Electric Energy Cooperative, Dime Bank, Eversource Energy, Foxwoods Resort Casino, Lawrence + Memorial Hospital, Pfizer, and Mohegan Sun.

WORKSHOPS

SCORE will hold free workshops on:

"The SBA's Role in the CT Small Business Community," Wednesday, June 7, 9:30–11 a.m., Old Saybrook Town Hall, 302 Main St., SBA's Economic Development Specialist Jessica Rivera; more information: Ward Feirer, wfeirer@gmail.com.

“Improving Your Use of QuickBooks to Manage Your Business Finances,” Thursday, June 8, 9:30–11 a.m., Guilford Fire Department, 390 Church St.; presenter is Elizabeth Santaus and the sponsor is Guilford Savings Bank; more information, Bill Ward at longhillbill@gmail.com. 

NETWORKING

The Young Professionals of Eastern CT will host a social paint night on Thursday, May 25, 6 to 8 p.m. at the Drunken Palette, 259 State St., New London. Proceeds raised will support Raising Voices Against Domestic Violence, a project partnership between New London-based Safe Futures and Writer’s Block Ink. Admission is $16 per person; YPECT membership not required. Learn more and register at www.YPECT.com.

The Chamber of Commerce of Eastern CT will hold its next Business After Hours networking event on Wednesday, May 24, 5:30-7:30 p.m. at Jimmy Buffett’s Margaritaville at Mohegan Sun. Admission is $15 for Chamber members, $25 for non-members. Register in advance to avoid an additional $5 walk-in fee at www.ChamberECT.com/events or call (860) 701-9113.

GRAND OPENING

MW Coastal Goods has opened a retail shop in Noank Shipyard. A Grand Opening and Ribbon Cutting was held May 20 hosted by the Greater Mystic Chamber of Commerce. Wendy and Mike Hille have opened the workshop and retail space in an old boat repair shop on the dock in Noank Shipyard, 145 Pearl St.

The new shop features MW Coastal Goods' handcrafted custom buoy and fishing lure bottle openers, wine openers, beverage buckets and glasses. The store will carry other brands that fit with their nautical vibe such as Lemon & Line rope bracelets, Soundview Millworks cutting boards, Webster Road Paper Co. stationery, and In2green blankets and wraps.

HONORS 

The Center for Financial Training recently honored 12 Chelsea Groton Bank employees: Lauren Arpin, Senior Teller at the Norwichtown branch, First in Class Certificate: Principles of Banking; Alyssa Bryan, Senior Direct Banking and eCommerce Representative, Introduction to Financial Services Certificate; Kelly Burke, AT, Senior Credit Specialist, First in Class Certificate: Real Estate Appraisal; Mary Conti, Customer Service Specialist at the Groton branch, Introduction to Supervision Certificate, Introduction to Sales and Service Certificate; Dawn DeCristofaro, VP, Commercial Loan Officer, Financial Services Marketing Diploma; Ruth Eckhoff, BSA Administrator, General Financial Services Diploma, Introduction to Financial Services Certificate, Introduction to Lending Certificate; Colleen Kluberdanz, Risk Management and Compliance Specialist, First in Class Certificate: Law and Banking Principles; Lisa Lamphere, Loan Servicing Team Lead, First in Class Certificate: Supervision; Jessica L’Heureux, teller at the Pawcatuck branch, First in Class Certificate: Law and Banking Applications; Elizabeth Owen, Credit Analyst, First in Class Certificates: Money and Banking, Supervision and Diplomas: Commercial Lending, Consumer Lending, and Advanced Financial Services; Marjarie Perrone, Customer Service Specialist at the Salem branch, First in Class Certificate: Leading Your People to Success; Lori Tracy-Dufficy, SVP, Director of Sales and Service, First in Class Certificate: Principles of Banking.

Byrnes Agency, Inc. was recently recognized by Ohio Mutual Insurance Group President and CEO Mark C. Russell as a “Million Dollar Agency” for 2016 during the company’s 2017 regional Spring Agent Meeting in Groton. Ohio Mutual Insurance Group partners with nearly 400 independent agencies throughout Connecticut, Indiana, Maine, New Hampshire, Ohio, Rhode Island and Vermont.  

Charter Oak Federal Credit Union has received two Chairman’s Awards from the United Way of Southeastern Connecticut in recognition of Charter Oak’s longtime partnership with the Gales Ferry-based social services agency. United Way bestowed its Loyal Company of the Year Award and its Benefactor Award to Charter Oak during the agency’s 2016-17 Campaign Celebration and Chairman’s Awards Presentation on May 5 at the Mohegan Sun.

Charter Oak has been a longtime United Way Gold Level Corporate Benefactor. In addition, Charter Oak awards grants to United Way’s Project Warm-Up and the Gemma E. Moran United Way/Labor Food Center, and each year Charter Oak sponsors a United Way holiday turkey giveaway to those in need in southeastern Connecticut.

Charter Oak also conducts an annual United Way School Supply Drive and employees have adopted United Way’s Mobile Food Pantry site in Salem and volunteer there on a monthly basis, and the credit union is an annual sponsor of the popular United Way AFL-CIO Golf Tournament.

GIVING

The Jewett City Savings Bank Foundation has pledged $25,000 in support of the new healthcare facility in Griswold planned by United Community and Family Services. The donation was announced by Kevin Merchant, Jewett City Savings Bank president and CEO.

PUBLICATIONS

The Chamber of Commerce of Eastern CT is publishing "Business Express," a digital newsletter. Business Express will be published monthly with assistance from the Quinn & Hary marketing agency. Sign up to receive Business Express by emailing Communications@ChamberECT.com or call (860) 701-9113.

Send your business news to businessbriefs@theday.com.