Nicolaas Bekker, of Lyme, has been named a vice president and Norwich branch manager for Ledyard National Bank. Bekker has nearly 20 years of customer service experience, first in the hospitality industry and then in banking. He earned a master’s degree in film and television studies from the University of Amsterdam. He began his banking career in Fairfield County, Conn. Since arriving in the Upper Valley in 2010, Bekker has served as president of the Rotary Club of White River Junction and is a board member of the Hartford Area Chamber of Commerce.
Wes Van Velsor, of Charlestown, president of Ray-Tech Infrared Corp., which manufactures road maintenance equipment that is used to transport, reclaim and heat asphalt, has been inducted into the Pavement Hall of Fame by Pavement Maintenance & Reconstruction magazine. Van Velsor has more than 30 years of experience in the use of infrared heating technology on asphalt. In 1989, he founded Ray-Tech Infrared Corp. The Pavement Hall of Fame award is presented annually to those companies and individuals who have made a significant impact in the growth, improvement and professionalism of the paving and pavement maintenance industry.
Hal Sheeler, of Lebanon, a Realtor with Century 21 Energy Shield Realty, has been recognized by U.S. Medical Specialties Inc., an international health care consulting firm, as “MD Preferred” for his service to physicians. MD Preferred Services, an online resource center for doctors and other health care professionals, works to help medical providers attract and retain physicians and medical staff. Sheeler has been with Century 21 Energy Shield Realty since 2001.
Alison Bruce, of East Corinth, has been promoted to senior vice president at Ledyard National Bank. Bruce has been with the bank for 16 years, during which time she has served as compliance and Bank Secrecy Act officer, information security officer, Community Reinvestment Act officer, privacy officer and security officer. As senior vice president, she is responsible for overseeing audit and compliance functions and leads cross-departmental risk and compliance committees. She develops compliance policies and procedures and makes presentations to the audit committee and the bank’s board of directors. Bruce is a graduate of the Community College of Vermont and holds diplomas in bank operations, commercial lending, and consumer lending from the American Institute of Banking. She is a certified community bank compliance officer with the Independent Community Bankers Association, a certified compliance manager through the Institute of Certified Bankers, and holds the Wharton Leadership Certificate from The University of Pennsylvania/The Wharton School. In 2014, she completed the Executive Education Program through the ABA Stonier Graduate School of Banking, and last year completed the Executive Leadership and Risk Management Program through the Risk Management Association.
Debbie Johnson, of Newbury, N.H., has joined Lake Sunapee Bank as vice president, commercial loan officer. Johnson will be based in Concord in anticipation of this month’s opening of the bank’s Concord branch. Johnson’s banking career began in 1980 and she has more than 20 years of experience as a commercial lender. She holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration from the University of New Hampshire and has attended the School of Commercial Lending at Southern Methodist University. She also serves on the board of the Lake Sunapee Region Visiting Nurses Association in New London.
Donna Fraser, of Newport, area manager of the Westaff offices in Lebanon and Claremont, has received her certified staffing professional designation from the American Staffing Association. To receive the designation, individuals must successfully complete an exam on labor and employment law principles and ethical practices applicable to the staffing industry, including the Affordable Care Act.
The achievements of members of the local business community are published in the Business & Money section of the Sunday Valley News, and also are collected in Enterprise. Email submissions to: biznotes@vnews.com. High-resolution photographs may be attached in .jpg format. All items are subject to editing.
