Business People: Great American Downtown, Lia Sophia, Boys & Girls Club and the Humane Society

Great American Downtown

Great American Downtown has announced the addition of nine new members to its board of directors.

Joining the board are Gary Arnold, store director of Shaw’s Supermarket at 300 Main St.; Judith Bennett, director of communications at Southern New Hampshire Medical Center; Kerrie Diers, executive director and CFO of the Nashua Regional Planning Commission; Tamara Johnson, manager of Just Lights; Edward John Lecius, community policing and emergency management coordinator of the Nashua Police Department; Tia Phillips, senior property manager for S-C Management at Clocktower Place; Elizabeth Racioppi, Elizabeth Grady Skin Care Salon; Greg Stevens, owner of Stella Blu American Tapas restaurant; and Steve Williams, co-owner of Unums restaurant. Great American Downtown is Nashua’s non-profit revitalization organization.

Lia sophia

Lia sophia has recognized new advisers for meeting sales and professional goals in their first 15 weeks.

The five local advisers named Excellent Beginnings Program Achievers were: Norma Otero of Merrimack, Ashley Steele of Nashua, Christine Hardy of Nashua, Keri Harrison of Nashua and Jennifer Joy of Nashua. Lia sophia is a direct seller of fashion jewelry through in-home parties.

Robert Sullivan

Nashua resident Robert Sullivan has been promoted to senior vice president and chief financial officer of Providence, R.I.-based Textron Systems Corp. Effective Jan. 4, Sullivan will take over responsibility for the accounting, financial planning, analysis and reporting activities of Textron.

Sullivan has held leadership, finance and accounting positions of increasing responsibility within Textron Systems over the past 25 years, including finance director. For the past three years, Sullivan has served as vice president of finance and administration for Textron Defense Systems, an operating unit of Textron Systems.

Textron makes high-tech equipment for the defense, homeland security and aerospace industries. The company is known for its unmanned aircraft systems, advanced marine craft, armored vehicles, intelligent battlefield and surveillance systems, intelligence software, precision smart weapons and piston engines, among other products.

Boys & Girls Club of Greater Nashua

The Boys & Girls Club of Greater Nashua recently welcomed new board members and officers and thanked those departing for their service.

Board member Donald Winn was recognized as the year’s most outstanding supporter of the club. CEO Norm Bouthilette presented him with the Man/Woman & Youth award, given to the person in the community who best exemplifies volunteerism, passion and support of the Boys & Girls Club. Winn began volunteering in the Club’s youth development programs in 1988 by starting a Toastmasters public speaking course for teen members. In 2001, he joined the board of directors and has continued his work with teens in Toastmasters.

Several board members and staff were recognized for years of service to the club, including Andy Dillman, Arnold Garron, Andy James, and Tim Whitaker for five years of service; David Elliott for 10 years; John Ireland for 15 years; and Mary Jane King for 20 years. Staff members Ginger Bailey and Marcia Brown were recognized for five years of service; and Cathy Klisz for 10 years of service. Stepping down from his term as 2008-09 president, Maurice Simard, Jr. passed the gavel to new President Andy Dillman. Other officers elected for 2009/10 were vice presidents David Elliott, Todd Sullivan, and Thanasi C. (“TC”) Liakos; secretary, Sal Magnano; and treasurer, Ken Sheldon.

Newly elected board members include Melanie Levesque, president of TCS of America and a state representative; Fred B. Roedel, III, partner with the Roedel Companies; Richard Rowe, president of Technical Graphics; and Fred Tausch, financial adviser.

The Humane Society for Greater Nashua

The Humane Society for Greater Nashua recently selected its employees of the year at the annual employee appreciation night at Villa Banca in Nashua.

Employees of the Year for 2009 were Laura Graham, animal care/adoption counselor, and Joan Maione, Proctor Cemetery coordinator and self-proclaimed ‘Cemetarian.’

Graham has been with the shelter since Jan. 2008 and Maione started in Aug. 2007.