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Janet Benedict, deputy chief librarian for public services, and Matthew K. Poland, deputy administrator, will assume additional joint responsibilities as interim directors of the Hartford Public Library. The library is seeking a new leader to replace retiring Louise Blalock, Hartford’s chief Librarian since 1994. Benedict joined the Library in 2006 as deputy chief librarian for public services. Previously, she was with the Harford County, Md. library system, where she was librarian of its main branch. Prior to joining Hartford Public Library in June 2008, Poland, a native of Hartford, spent five years at Fidelity Capital Investments in Boston. Poland also served as vice president for human resources and community affairs, vice president for operations, and production director at the Hartford Courant.
William Sanders, professor of multimedia Web design and development, is one of the University of Hartford’s most prolific faculty members, having recently published his 59th and 60th books. “Flash CS4 All-In-One” (Wiley, 2009), co-authored with Doug Sahlin, examines the newest version of Flash and ActionScript 3.0. “ASP.NET 3.5: A Beginner’s Guide” (McGraw-Hill, 2009) examines the ASP.NET structure for creating online databases and other back-end elements in server-side computing. Sanders’ books, which are in the fields of sociology and computers/technology, have been translated into more than a dozen languages. Since coming to the University of Hartford, Sanders has published 18 books, beginning in 2000.
The Prudential Real Estate Affiliates Inc. quarterly award for its second highest sales executive in Connecticut for Residential Units closed was awarded to Pia Ciccone in the company’s Farmington office. Over the years, Ciccone has been distinguished as a multimillion dollar producer and has been awarded for her performance in the top 3 percent nationally.
Mahoney Sabol & Co. has promoted Mary Kay Godiksen to the newly established position of firm administrator. It comes in response to Mahoney Sabol’s continued growth that now includes four office locations in central Connecticut and more than 45 employees. Godiksen has been with Mahoney Sabol since 2005 in the firm’s Essex office. In her new role, she will be responsible for the day-to-day management of the firm.
Centerplan Development Co. of Hartford has hired Tim Sears as vice president of retail development. Sears comes from Rite Aid Corp. as its real estate director for the upstate New York and New England markets, a position he held for more than 13 years. His background includes extensive real estate management and leasing experience as well as working with national food retailers.
The state Department of Environmental Protection has named David Simpson as its new director of marine fisheries in the agency’s Bureau of Natural Resources. Simpson is a 28-year veteran of the DEP. He had been serving as acting director of marine fisheries following the recent retirement of former director Eric Smith. Prior to working at the DEP, Simpson was employed as a research assistant at the University of Rhode Island and worked as the captain of a large party fishing vessel located in South Eastern Connecticut.
Solomon Schechter Day School in West Hartford recently hired Peter B. Orschiedt as their new director of development. Solomon Schechter Day School is a private Jewish day School with 188 students from preschool to the eigth grade. SSDS draws from 12 towns in the Hartford area. Orschiedt comes to Solomon Schechter Day School from Cornell University, where he served in a number of capacities including development, alumni affairs, and athletics. Orschiedt is also an accomplished swimmer and has coached at Cornell, Syracuse, and Harvard universities.
