🔒Movers & Shakers for September 28, 2020

KAREN ARES has been announced as the executive administrator of the Blackstone Valley Education Hub. Ares is a former high school science teacher and was the assistant superintendent of teaching and learning and STEAM director at the Dudley Charlton Regional School District. During her time at the school district, she acquired more than $600,000 in grant funding, including Project Lead the Way STEM pathway for grades 6-12 in engineering and biomedical science. Ares was a leader in the charge for Shepherd Hill Regional High School becoming one of the 11 schools in Massachusetts acquiring Innovation Pathway designation in 2019. She holds a bachelor’s degree in biology from Eckerd College in Florida, and a master’s degree in occupational and environmental health and safety from Anna Maria College in Paxton. 

CAMI GERVAIS of Putnam, Conn., has been appointed the new branch manager of bankHometown’s Worcester office. She was previously the assistant manager of the bank’s Putnam branch. Gervais has more than 10 years of banking experience, joining bankHometown in 2018 from Eastern Connecticut Savings Bank. She earned certificates in economics and banking and principles of banking at the Center for Financial Training in Connecticut.  

Middlesex Digestive Health & Endoscopy Center in Acton has hired SANDRA PECK to work with patients on the nutritional aspects of treatments for digestive diseases and Dr. ARPAN H. PATEL, who has an expertise in gastroenterology care. Peck previously oversaw her private practice InBalance Nutrition in Acton, where she counseled individuals and families on how to improve eating habits to live a healthier life. She has done extensive work to help patients with gastrointestinal issues and counseling for all types of diets. She has previously spent several years at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston, where she completed a dietetic internship, and has led workshops for nutrition for health professionals and teachers while at New England Dairy and Food Council. Peck obtained her master’s degree at Harvard University in Cambridge. Patel is an expert in endoscopic ultrasound procedures, allowing the center to provide the procedure in a partnership with the Mass General Cancer Center at Emerson Hospital in Concord. He received his medical doctorate from Northwestern University in Illinois and joins Middlesex Digestive from the gastroenterology department of Mid-Atlantic Permanente Medical Group in Maryland. 

CARLA JACKSON of Worcester has joined the Newton firm DangerLaw with a focus on family law matters including divorce, custody and prenuptial agreements, and asset protection. She previously held a communications and community affairs role with Planned Parenthood of Southern New England. Jackson graduated from Suffolk University Law School in Boston, has an MBA in marketing from Southern Connecticut State University, and a bachelor’s degree in English literature from Boston College. 

MARISA GREGG has been named the vice president for communications and marketing at College of the Holy Cross in Worcester. Gregg, who joined Holy Cross as director of marketing and communications in 2014, has served as interim vice president since September. Prior to joining Holy Cross, Gregg worked in brand development at the Boston Beer Co., holding positions of increasing responsibility over her 10 years with the company. She has an undergraduate degree from the University of Notre Dame in Indiana and an MBA from Duke University in North Carolina. 

MICHAEL CONNORS has been promoted to general manager of Emily’s Interiors in Framingham. After starting at Remodelwerks, in Shrewsbury in 2015, Connors moved to Emily’s Interiors in 2018 as a lead designer. After his promotion, his job will include being in charge of day-to-day operations at Emily’s, and managing the team of kitchen and bathroom designers, as well as being the liaison between Remodelwerks and Emily’s Interiors. He has 15 years of experience in cabinetry and residential design, and construction. Connors graduated with a bachelor’s degree in architectural building and engineering technology from the New England Institute of Technology in Rhode Island. STEVE CARIGULO has been added as a new member to the Remodelwerks management team. He will be working as a chief technology officer and marketing executive for both teams. Before his new job, Carigulo worked at AKUITY Technologies in Auburn as a business development representative. He graduated from Florida Gulf Coast University with a bachelor’s degree in entrepreneurship.

STEVE MURPHY is being celebrated for his career and his retirement by Worcester nonprofit Open Sky Community Services. He has worked for Open Sky Community Services for 38 years through several agency mergers. Murphy began his career in 1984 at the Bridge of Central Massachusetts at the Northborough Community Residence, the first department of mental health program of the agency. Through Murphy’s efforts, the Bridge was able to expand and excel. There are now more than 35 departments of mental health programs under Open Sky. Murphy’s other notable accomplishments include the creation and expansion of the Bridge Training Institute, and his role in Open Sky’s awardment of housing vouchers from the U.S Department of Housing and Urban Development. 

The Webster branches of bankHometown have a new branch manager and assistant branch manager, its new Worcester branch has a new manager, and its main office has a new commercial portfolio manager. TARESE LOPRIORE of Webster has been named branch manager of the bank’s offices on Gore Road and Main Street in Webster. She joined bankHometown in 2007 as a teller and over the years was promoted to customer service representative and assistant branch manager. CAITLIN LANG of Webster has been named assistant branch manager of the two offices. She joined bankHometown in 2017 as a teller and was promoted to personal banker and now assistant branch manager. Prior to joining the bank, she held several positions in the retail industry. JOEL LAUREANO of Paxton is the new manager of the bank’s new 270 Grove St. branch in Worcester. Laureano had been the branch manager at the 1001 Millbury St. branch in Worcester since 2015 and was promoted to bank officer in 2017. He has more than 25 years of banking experience, having previously worked as a branch manager with Bay State Savings Bank in Worcester and Citizens Bank of Providence, and as an assistant branch manager with the former Bank of Boston and Fleet Bank. SEAN COVENEY of Worcester has been promoted to commercial portfolio manager, a role in which he will manage and maintain commercial relationships and support the commercial lending team. Coveney joined bankHometown in 2018. He earned his bachelor’s degree in resource economics & his MBA at UMass Amherst. 

Reliant Medical Group has added specialists to its Worcester Medical Center office at 123 Summer St. in Worcester. JOSHUA CLAUNCH has joined Reliant’s neurology department. Claunch received his medical degree at Florida State University College of Medicine and completed his residency at UMass Memorial Medical Center in Worcester. Dr. AMANDA SAINI has joined the obstetrics and gynecology department. She received her medical degree at Rowan University School of Osteopathic Medicine in New Jersey and completed her internship and residency at Lankenau Medical Center in Pennsylvania.

Dr. ANTHONY ROTHSCHILD, a professor of psychiatry at UMass Medical School in Worcester, will become an editor-in-chief of the Journal of Clinical Psychopharmacology on Jan. 1. Rothschild has been the journal’s editor-in-chief and has served on the board of the Journal of Clinical Psychiatry, Depression and Anxiety, and Current Psychiatry, and as a journal referee for numerous publications including the American Journal of Psychiatry, Journal of Clinical Psychiatry, the New England Journal of Medicine and the Harvard Review of Psychiatry. He received his bachelor's degree from Princeton University in New Jersey, his medical degree from the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, and did his psychiatry residency at McLean Hospital and Harvard Medical School. 

TASHEENA LALIBERTE has been promoted to unit manager at Life Care Center of Auburn. She is a graduate of Bay Path Practical Nursing Academy in Charlton, where she received certifications in dementia care, mental health first aid, infusion therapy, and suicide prevention. 

CHRISTOPHER BRUNELL has joined GFA Federal Credit Union in Gardner as vice president and commercial lender. He brings 28 years of experience in the financial services industry including commercial lending, relationship management, underwriting and business development. He holds a bachelor’s degree from UMass Amherst and a certification of commercial banking from the Massachusetts Bankers Association and Babson College in Wellesley. 

BERNARD GAGNON of Auburn has joined Clinton Savings Bank’s commercial lending team as senior vice president and commercial relationship manager. Gagnon most recently served as first vice president and east region team leader for Country Bank in Ware, where he developed and maintained successful customer relationships and coordinated all aspects of commercial lending.