EMPLOYMENT NEWS

Attorney Timothy Bleasdale of the law firm of Waller Smith & Palmer has been selected to serve as a judicial law clerk to the Connecticut Appellate Court for the 2016-2017 term.

Bleasdale will be on sabbatical from Waller Smith & Palmer and will rejoin the firm in September 2017. Bleasdale will have an opportunity to gain substantive appellate law experience by providing legal research and writing support to the Appellate Court judges. When he returns to Waller Smith & Palmer, Bleasdale will continue to contribute to the firm’s Litigation, Municipal and Appellate Practice groups.

Kenneth Davison has joined Action Advocacy Law Office in Groton as an attorney focusing on consumer law and business finance issues. Davison represents consumers in foreclosure and repossession lawsuits and has brought claims against debt collectors for harassment. He also focuses on tax return preparation, tax resolution, business start-up planning and financial management for businesses. Davison’s background includes serving as a finance manager for corporate and not-for-profit entities and as a finance consultant to the government of the City of Philadelphia. He was most recently the Halo Trust’s national finance and logistics manager for Afghanistan. He is licensed to practice law in Connecticut state and federal court and the U.S. Tax Court.

Frank Fetzer recently joined the residential lending team at Chelsea Groton Bank Lending Center in Glastonbury. He will work to build new relationships throughout Hartford, Tolland and Middlesex counties. He lives in Bolton. For more information, visit chelseagroton.com.  

Rheo Brouillard, President and CEO, Savings Institute Bank & Trust recently announced that eight team members have received promotions: Jennifer Saladin to Operations Officer, Eric Bennett to Branch Officer, Allison Nuhfer to Operations Officer, Nicole Corcoran to Assistant Treasurer, Trevor Wood to Assistant Vice President, Jennifer LaBianca to Assistant Vice President, Sharon McHugh to Assistant Vice President, and Gene Michael Deary to Senior Vice President.

Max Spelman has been promoted to the Deposit Operations Manager at Chelsea Groton Bank. He has worked for the bank in the Deposit Services Department as a Risk Management and Compliance Specialist for over a year. He will oversee tasks and responsibilities assigned to the Deposit Services Department. He lives in Pawcatuck.

For more information, visit chelseagroton.com.

Jodie Bartnicki has been hired as the CorePlus Federal Credit Union’s Human Resources Manager. Bartnicki previously held positions of Vice President of Sales and Service, Vice President of Marketing and positions in corporate Accounting.

For more information call 860-886-0576 or visit www.coreplus.org.

Nancy Cowser, Senior Vice President of Strategy at UCFS has been appointed to the Population Health Council for the Connecticut State Innovation Model. The purpose of the council is to advise on the population health planning initiative by developing strategies to maintain a system of overall population health metrics, establish community-based prevention service centers, and designate health enhancement communities.

Cely O’Brien, a sales associate with Randall, Realtors in Charlestown, R.I., has been named Director of Education for the Randall Family of Companies’ Rhode Island and Connecticut offices. She will be in charge of training more than 200 agents from 8 Randall, Realtors offices in Rhode Island and Connecticut.

The Randall Family of Companies is comprised of Randall, Realtors in Rhode Island and Connecticut, Page Taft Real Estate in Connecticut, Kinlin Grover Real Estate on Cape Cod, Kinlin Grover Commercial in Massachusetts and Pequot Commercial in Connecticut. For more information, visit www.coastalnewenglandliving.com.

Virginia-based Research and Development Solutions, Inc., a veteran-owned defense contractor with business units in North Stonington and Middletown, R.I., has announced the appointment of Robert L. Siegel as Vice President of Operations.

Siegel has been with RDSI since 2007 and more than 30 years' experience in the defense contracting and consulting industry. Customers include the Naval Sea Systems Command, Office of Naval Intelligence, Naval Security Group, and other government organizations including the U.S. Naval Submarine Base, Naval Undersea Warfare Center, Newport, and the Naval Surface Warfare Center Carderock, Potomac, Md.

EVENTS 

Brustolon Motors, Lawrence + Memorial Hospital, Cardinal Honda, RB Kent & Son, Independence Physical Therapy, and Groton Utilities were corporate sponsors of the Groton Rotary Club’s second annual golf tournament, which was held at  the Shennecossett Golf Club and raised more than $10,000 for youth scholars and community non-profit organizations.

The sponsorships of RB Kent & Son, Lawrence + Memorial Hospital, Groton Utilities, Independence Physical Therapy, Stonington Odd Fellows Lodge #26, Affiliated Business Services, AOK Consulting and the Dogwatch Café resulted in 32 military members from the U.S. Naval Submarine Base and from within the community golfing for free.

For more information, visit grotonrotary.org.

The Chamber of Commerce of Eastern CT will host Business After Hours on Wednesday, June 22, 5:30-7:30 p.m. at The Meadows in Stonington, 769 Stonington Road. Co-hosted with Gourmet Galley Catering. $15 admission and $25 non-members includes hors d’oeuvres, wine, beer, soft drinks, and door prize entry. Register in advance to avoid a $5 penalty fee at ChamberECT.com/events or call (860) 701-9113.

Registration is now open for the Sailfest Charter Oak Federal Credit Union 5k Road Race, taking place Sunday, July 10, 7:30-10 a.m. at New London’s Parade Plaza. Organized by the Chamber of Commerce of Eastern CT, this 5k fun run caps off Sailfest weekend with a timed race through historic downtown New London. Registration is $25 per person with military discounts applicable. In honor of Connecticut’s Submarine Century, all Navy service members race free. Participants can check in at Parade Plaza beginning at 7:30 a.m. on July 10 for a 9:15 shotgun start. Timing is officiated by SNERRO with the MyLaps Chip Bib System. Learn more and sign up at ChamberECT.com/race or call (860) 701-9113.

GRAND OPENINGS

Coastal retailer Island Pursuit has opened its fifth location, in Downtown Mystic. The Greater Mystic Chamber of Commerce will host a Grand Opening during regular hours of operation, 10 a.m. to 9 p.m., on Saturday, June 18, at 23 West Main St. A ribbon cutting will be held at 6 p.m.

Since 1983, Island Pursuit has offered upscale brands and coastal-inspired styles in stores in St. Armand's Circle and Sanibel Island, Florida; Chatham, Mass., and Newport, R.I. Michael Valentino is the owner.

Visit www.IslandPursuit.com or call 941-587-5316 for more information.

The Chamber of Commerce of Eastern CT will celebrate Orthopedic Partners' new location at 11 Industrial Park Road, Niantic, at an Open House on Thursday, June 23, 4-7 p.m. Orthopedic Partners' team of providers and therapists have provided orthopedic services in their Norwich location since 1957. This event is free and open to the public with no cost to attend and no need to RSVP. Call the Chamber at (860) 701-9113 or visit ChamberECT.com/events to learn more.

Ben & Jerry's has located to 19 Main St., Old Saybrook. Lyman Real Estate acted as broker for the landlord. The new Scoop Shop is targeted to be open by late summer, serving up Ben & Jerry's specialty ice cream, frozen yogurt, sorbet, smoothies, ice cream cakes and other treats. The building also houses a Starbucks.

HONORS

Jill Sposato of Westerly Community Credit Union was awarded the CUNA Brokerage Services, Inc. "Above & Beyond Service Award." Sposato was one of 11 recipients across the country to receive this award in 2015, and the only recipient in New England. She received the award for excelling in her role as Financial Services Coordinator.

The Denison Pequotsepos Nature Center has received a TripAdvisor Certificate of Excellence for 2016. Now in its sixth year, the achievement celebrates hospitality businesses that have earned great traveler reviews on TripAdvisor over the past year. Certificate of Excellence recipients include accommodations, eateries and attractions located all over the world that have continually delivered a quality customer experience.

Financial services firm Edward Jones moved up on the annual Fortune 500 list, as published by Fortune magazine, in its fourth appearance in four years, according to Linda Brophy, a financial advisor.

Fortune magazine's annual listing ranks the largest U.S. companies by revenue. Edward Jones moved up 18 spots to No. 382 on this year's list, with nearly $6.7 billion in revenue for 2015.

For more information visit www.edwardjones.com, or 240 Main St., Old Saybrook.

Westerly Community Credit has launched WCCU Teacher Grant Program, which will award $5,000 in grants, in values up to $500, for the 2016/17 school year. The grants are available to local teachers, administrators or staff from the following school districts: Chariho, Narragansett, Stonington, and Westerly.

Visit www.westerlyccu.com to download an application. For more information, contact Meg Sisco, WCCU’s Vice President of Marketing, at 401-596-7000 x2117 or msisco@westerlyccu.com.

Send your business news to businessbriefs@theday.com.