Movers & Shakers for Oct. 11, 2021

JACOB VAZQUEZ and LINDA CURRY have joined the Greater Worcester Community Foundation. Vazquez, philanthropy officer for the foundation’s scholarship program, will oversee its management and growth. He is a graduate of Assumption University in Worcester and previously served as an economic development associate for the Worcester Regional Chamber of Commerce. Curry will provide office management and clerical support to the foundation’s interim president and CEO. She has previously worked for the insurer Unum, which had an office in downtown Worcester, and volunteered for local organizations including the Worcester County Food Bank.  North Brookfield Savings Bank announced the retirement of trustee RICHARD PLUTA and the promotions of JOHN THOMASIAN and CHERYL ORNE. Pluta has served as a trustee since July 2014. Thomasian, now senior vice president, chief financial officer and treasurer, will lead the finance team. He is a graduate of Nichols College in Dudley and has more than 10 years of banking experience. Orne, now assistant vice president and deposit operations manager, will manage the deposit operations department and assist customers.  Dr. DORA PEPO joined Worcester physician firm Reliant Medical Group’s department of optometry. She received her medical degree from New England College of Optometry in Boston and completed her residency in ocular disease and primary eye care at Edith Nourse Rogers Memorial Veterans Hospital in Bedford. Pepo previously was an optometrist in a private practice in Olympia, Wash.  MARK O’CONNELL has been elected as vice chairman on the board of directors of the trade group Massachusetts Bankers Association. O’Connell, the president and CEO of Avidia Bank in Hudson, will represent Massachusetts banks backed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. in responding to banking needs and trends.  GFA Federal Credit Union in Gardner appointed JAMES VANDER HOOVEN to its supervisory committee. As a member, he will oversee the credit union’s compliance with its regulatory framework and offer recommendations to safeguard assets and member information. Vander Hooven is the president of Mount Wachusett Community College in Gardner and holds a bachelor’s degree from The Ohio State University, a master’s degree from the University of Wyoming, and a doctorate in higher education leadership from the University of Maine.  Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly recognized attorney PAUL BAUER of Worcester law firm Bowditch & Dewey as part of its list of top 20 Massachusetts Go To Lawyers for Commercial Real Estate. His accomplishments include representing a life science company in a historic lease transaction and counseling brewers on leasing and financing their facilities. Bauer is a graduate of Clark University in Worcester and George Washington University in Washington, D.C.  Reliant Medical Group in Worcester welcomed Dr. KATHRYN CHEHADE to its department of optometry. She received her medical degree from New England College of Optometry in Boston and completed her residency at Boston VA Healthcare System. Prior to joining Reliant, she worked in several clinical settings including being a clinical preceptor for optometry students. Clinton Savings Bank appointed nine new corporators: DAVID CHANDLER, JR., owner of Meadowbrook Orchards in Sterling; KIM GERMAN, a Realtor at Quinsigamond Realty in Worcester; BARRY KALLANDER, owner of the Kallander Group in Hudson; LAUREN NANOF, owner of Revive Painting & Finishing in Clinton; MARTIN REISNER, co-owner of Auburn Industrial Development Corp.; LYNN PHILBIN, deputy director at the Museum of Russian Icons in Clinton; PHIL LATINI, vice president and head of the service department at Morris Mechanical Sales & Service in Clinton; DANIEL MERCURIO, a self-employed excavating contractor; and TODD SOLAR, a certified public accountant and partner with Solar & Kilcoyne in Leominster.