Business News in Brief

CAI aligns company organization

Currier & Associates Inc. (CAI) has recently updated its company organization and added new team members, setting the firm up for continued success in the upcoming year.

CAI's organizational changes include new titles for three team members. Senior designer, Melanie Conant has been appointed CAI's director of design; Susan Mailhoit, formerly the financial services manager, is now the firm's director of operations; and Suzanne Cap is now the firm's director of purchasing. These changes reflect more accountability for each area of operations, and combining CAI's finance and administrative departments.

CAI also brought on two new members to their design team. Kate MacAulay originally of Naugatuck, Conn., and a graduate of Endicott College in Beverly, is a designer. She started as an intern for the firm, and then joined CAI a year later, where she now applies her skills and talents serving on multiple design project teams. Also new to the CAI team is Amanda Shaw from Bristol, Vt. Another alumnus of Endicott College, who completed an internship with CAI, she serves as the firm's interior design assistant and marketing/communications specialist. Her creative approach is applied to both design projects and the rebranding of CAI's logo and overall design of printed material and the construction of a new website for the firm which is scheduled to launch this year.

Breakfast Speaker Series Feb. 2

The Greater Newburyport Chamber of Commerce and Industry will host their monthly breakfast speaker series on Thursday, Feb 2. The topic for February's series is "The Business of Google — Innovation, Collaboration and Culture in the Workplace" and the guest speaker will be Steve Vinter, director at Google. The dizzying pace of innovation with the internet is changing the way people connect personally and professionally, the way people collaborate, the opportunities to conduct business, and the culture of the workplace. They will explore how these four factors intersect in the work at Google, from the perspective of how to collaborate and the services that they've launched, and then draw insights into how innovation, culture, and collaboration are relevant to us all.

The February Breakfast Speaker Series is being sponsored by the First National Bank of Ipswich. The breakfast is scheduled for 7:30 to 9 a.m. at The Phoenix Room, 19 Inn St. A continental breakfast will be served to all who attend, and reservations are required. Admission is $15 for members and $25 for non-members. To reserve a seat, call 978-462-6680.

Reed earns life underwriter designation

The American College in Bryn Mawr, Pa., has awarded Derek J. Reed, a managing partner in the Gloucester-based Beauport Financial Services LLC, the Chartered Life Underwriter professional designation, adding a high level of insurance expertise to his financial services capabilities.

Reed earned status as Certified Financial Planner in 2007, and has specialized in investment counseling and financial planning to Beauport's clients for over 15 years. In earning CLU designation, he joins a select group of over 100,000 individuals worldwide who have been awarded that professional status by The American College since its founding in 1927.

A board member of Pathways for Children in Gloucester, Reed also serves as a member of the Essex County Estate Planning Council, the National Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors Boston Chapter and a qualifying and life member of the Million Dollar Round Table organization. He resides in Groveland with his wife Karen, sons, Nathan and Jeremy, and daughter, Katherine Rose.

PCI Synthesis completes expansion

PCI Synthesis, Inc. (www.pcisynthesis.com), a 12-year-old custom chemical manufacturer of new chemical entities (NCEs), generic active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs), and other specialty chemical products, announced the successful completion of a major expansion at its Devens research and development facility.

The expansion, which includes several new research hoods, analytical instruments, additional support equipment, additional staff and a major expansion to the site's existing kilo lab capacity, was initiated to support PCI's expanding activities in early- and late-stage clinical candidate programs. Since Sept. 1, the company has brought on board 20 new staff members in several functional areas to further support its growth in development of new compounds.

All together the additional staff and capacity enables PCI to offer its biotech and pharmaceutical customers a bridge from lab scale development to commercial manufacturing. This represents an important intermediate step as customers work on new compounds for new therapies, conduct clinical trials and seek to bring products to market. The 30-percent capacity increase positions PCI to handle increased customer demand.

Part of the expansion was driven by a new collaboration agreement with Biogen Idec to work closely with its process research group to augment its internal small-molecules capabilities and optimize a number of new compounds.

This expansion follows last month's announcement of an eighth successful FDA inspection of PCI's Newburyport facility and its sixth product pre-approval.

O'Leary joins Harvard Vanguard

Dr. Alice O'Leary of West Newbury has joined the pediatrics department of the Peabody office of Harvard Vanguard Medical Associates, a multi-specialty physician practice with offices across eastern Massachusetts and an affiliate of Atrius Health.

O'Leary received her medical degree from the Georgetown University School of Medicine in Washington, D.C. She completed a pediatric internship and residency at the Brown University Department of Pediatrics in Providence, R.I., and a pediatric gastroenterology and nutrition fellowship in a joint program between Children's Hospital Boston and Massachusetts General Hospital. Prior to joining Harvard Vanguard, O'Leary was a practicing pediatrician in Salem. She is board certified in pediatrics.

The Peabody practice of Harvard Vanguard is located at 2 Essex Center Drive, 978-977-4000, and is welcoming new adult and pediatric patients. For more information, visit www.harvardvanguard.org.

Napolitano joins Salem State University

Salem State University announced the appointment of Amesbury resident Richard Napolitano to the position of associate vice president for institutional advancement. Napolitano comes to the university from Newburyport's Anna Jaques Hospital, where he most recently served as vice president and executive director of the Community Health Foundation. Previously, he held alumni, fundraising and development positions at Boston Latin School, The Lawrence Academy and UMass Lowell.

A graduate of St. Michael's College in Vermont, from which he also holds a master's degree in administration, Napolitano has been active in a number of professional organizations, including the Council for the Advancement and Support of Education, the Planned Giving Group of New England and the New England Association of Healthcare Philanthropy. A basketball aficionado, he is also a member of the College Basketball Officials Association and the International Association of Approved Basketball Officials.

Greencore USA awarded 'Grade A' standard

Greencore USA's chilled prepared foods facility in Newburyport has been awarded the BRC "Grade A" Global Technical Standard in recognition of the site achieving the high standards set by the leading global safety and quality certification program. Greencore now joins a very select group of a handful of sites in the U.S. to achieve this high standard.

The BRC standard is one of the most challenging and complete GFSI (Global Food Safety Initiative) standards, demanding a well-developed and extensive food safety and quality system. This achievement represents a significant milestone for the Newburyport site and Greencore USA in general.

The Newburyport site manufactures Retailer Label sandwiches, wraps, Panini's, green salads and chilled meals for many leading retailers, as well as a large range of Weight Watchers fresh meals.

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Mechanica promotes Arabella Plum

Arabella Plum is being promoted to lead Mechanica's rapidly growing client services team as principal and director of client services. Plum, who joined Mechanica as one of its early members nearly eight years ago, will be responsible for leading and growing the core group of seasoned brand directors, as well as contributing to overall business strategy and development.

Mechanica, an eight-year old Newburyport-based firm, employs over 20 strategists, creative directors and brand directors dedicated to creating compelling, profitable brand experiences. Current and recent clients include: Saucony, Disney, Weight Watchers, FCHP, Communispace, Breathable Foods, American Heritage, Kronos, PTC and Abt and Associates.

Soucy named as GNAR board secretary

The Greater Newburyport Association of Realtors¬Æ (GNAR) named Jean Soucy as secretary of the board of directors.

Elected to the position on Oct. 10, Soucy assumed her duties at an installation ceremony on Jan. 10. As a Greater Newburyport Association of Realtors¬Æ officer, she will serve on the Grievance, Professional Standards and Events Committees, and will chair the organization's Public Relations Committee.

Soucy's numerous professional activities and industry contributions are complimented by a long history of community involvement and leadership in the Newburyport area, most recently serving as president of the board of trustees for Unity on the River.

Born in Haverhill, Soucy has two children and is a 20-year resident of Newburyport. She holds a business management degree from Merrimack College and is a broker with William Raveis — The Dolores Person Group.

Fayre appointed chief medical officer of AJH

Dr. Gail B. Fayre was been named chief medical officer of Anna Jaques Hospital in Newburyport.

She currently serves as the residency program director at NH-Dartmouth Family Practice Residency in Concord, N.H., where she is responsible for budgetary and human resources oversight in two community health center sites, dental services, behavioral health services and residency education. She also oversees a pediatric hospitalists group.

Previously, she was a member of the family practice residency teaching staff and clinic chief of family medicine residency at Erhling Bergquist Hospital, Occult Air Force Base, in Nebraska. She is a highly decorated veteran who served as a family practice staff physician, director of emergency services and medical director of three different programs with the 39th Medical Group Hospital at Incirlike Air Force Base in Turkey. She has been awarded the Air Force Commendation Medal, the Joint Meritorious Unit Award, the National Defense Ribbon, the Southwest Asia Defense Ribbon and the Overseas Long Tour Ribbon, among others.

Fayre received her medical degree from the University of Miami, School of Medicine. She completed her family practice residency at David Grant Medical Center at Travis Air Force Base in California and is a graduate of the Faculty Development Program at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

She is a diplomate of the American Board of Family Practice Certification and the National Board of Medical Examiners.

Fayre and her wife, Judy, a registered nurse and lactation consultant, have four children, ages 17 to 25. She will begin her new post at Anna Jaques in April.

Georgetown Therapeutic Massage welcomes new massage therapist

Georgetown Massage, which has been providing massage therapy since 2003, welcomes Barbara Hill to its highly trained staff. In addition to providing massage for the traditional relaxation and sore muscle relief benefits, Hill specializes in orthopedic and sports massage, with focus on the neck, upper body and lower back.

She is a graduate of Spa Tech Institute, is licensed by the commonwealth of Massachusetts and is a member of Associated Massage and Bodywork Professionals. She is certified in Meagher Sports massage and Cervical Orthopedic Massage. She also practices sports massage on equine athletes, which has enhanced her intuitive touch.

Georgetown Massage can be contacted at 978-352-7677 or www.GeorgetownMassage.com. Georgetown Therapeutic Massage, LLC, is located at 20 West Main St., and is open Monday through Saturday.

High Tail Acres named Horse Farm of Distinction

High Tail Acres, LLC of Newbury is one of 33 horse farms and stables in the state recently earning the designation of 2012 Horse Farm of Distinction from the Massachusetts Farm Bureau Federation.

High Tail Acres is a training, lesson, boarding and show stable located at the end of High Tail Lane in Newbury. It hosts a winter tournament every January, offers horsemanship programs throughout the year for all ages and abilities, hosts birthday parties and is available for clinics and demonstrations. Its horses and students have earned numerous regional and national awards.

The 6,000-member Massachusetts Farm Bureau Federation represents farmers involved in all facets of agriculture. The Horse Farm of Distinction program began in 1990 to recognize and present to the public horse farms and stables that set high standards and achieve a level of excellence in overall horse health, farm management and compliance with public safety.

For more on High Tail Acre, stop by the farm Monday through Friday after 3 p.m. or visit www.hightailacres.com.

Amesbury Chamber of Commerce salutes two local businesses

The Amesbury Chamber of Commerce & Industrial Foundation congratulated two local businesses at its Chamber Breakfast Series held on Wednesday, Jan. 18, at the Amesbury Sports Park.

The breakfast, sponsored by Edward Jones — Todd Schell and Tom Streep, saluted the Lake Gardner Improvement Association and Morrill Electric for their service to the community. Joan Miller of the Amesbury Educational Foundation served as guest emcee. She discussed the salutees' commitment and contributions to the community. Mayor Thatcher Kezer congratulated the salutees and presented them with certificates of appreciation.

The keynote speaker, Michael L. Dawson of the MFS Speakers' Bureau, discussed municipal bonds and investing in today's market.

Door prizes were donated by the Amesbury Sports Park and Seaport Signworks.

Valentine's Day wine and chocolate pairing

Jewell Towne Vineyards will hold a "Valentine's Day Wine and Chocolate pairing" on Saturday, Feb. 11, noon to 4 p.m., at the winery located in South Hampton. Partnering with the Lindt Chocolate Shop located in the Industrial Park in Stratham, N.H., they will be sampling a variety of premium chocolates paired with Jewell Towne wines. Both chocolate and wine will be available for purchase during the event. The event is open to the public, free of charge, and no reservations are needed. For more information, visit their website at www.jewelltownevineyards.com or call 603-394-0600.

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