SVHC Appoint Director For Former Southern Vermont College Campus

Print Story | Email Story
BENNINGTON, Vt. — Southwestern Vermont Health Care (SVHC) has hired Brian C. Lent to direct the health system's project to repurpose the former Southern Vermont College (SVC) campus.
 
"Brian was selected for his long experience managing complex projects," said Thomas A. Dee, FACHE, SVHC's president and CEO. "We feel he has the skills and background necessary to drive our efforts with this large and exciting effort and to fulfill our aim to restore the campus as a valuable community asset."  
 
SVHC was awarded the former college campus through a bankruptcy auction in December. The leadership of the health system, through the direction of its Board of Directors, has expressed its commitment to developing a long-range plan to maximize the use of the campus, including considerations as to how the property could enhance community and health-related services for the southern Vermont region.
 
Lent has 34 years of management experience. Most recently, he worked as vice president and general manager of Dailey Precast, LLC/Peckham Industries, Inc. in Shaftsbury, Vt. Within this role, he was responsible for all plant and field operations, sales, estimating, engineering, quality, procurement, safety, and human resources.
 
"Brian is a long-time member of the community and already has connections with many of the people he will be cooperating with," said Dee. "These relationships and his familiarity with the regulatory environment give him a head start on this important work."
 
Notably, Lent earned his bachelor's of science in Business Management and an associate's degree in accounting from Southern Vermont College. He also graduated from the General Motors Assembly Division Supervisor Training Program.
 
"This is an exciting opportunity for me," Lent said. "The work will require me to use my management experience in an entirely new way. Of course, from a personal perspective as a long-time member of the community, I am eager to see the campus put to good use."
 
Lent will begin working with local stakeholders, including the Town of Bennington, to explore opportunities and develop strategies for the former college campus and associated assets.

Tags: SVMC,   

If you would like to contribute information on this article, contact us at info@iberkshires.com.

Companion Corner: Dolly at Berkshire Humane Society

By Breanna SteeleiBerkshires Staff

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — There is an affectionate kitty at Berkshire Humane Society looking for a new home.

Dolly is a 1-year-old domestic shorthair with white and tabby markings who has been at the shelter for a short amount of time.

Feline/small animal adoption counselor Alyssa Petell introduced us to her.

"Her name was actually inspired off of Dolly Parton because she came in on the day that Dolly Parton passed away," she said. 

The shelter doesn't have a lot of information on Dolly as she was a stray, but knows she is very sweet.

"She was originally found as a stray. So we don't have much background information as to exactly what happened and why she ended up becoming a stray," Petell said. "Unfortunately, a lot of times kitties will become abandoned and become strays or get left behind."

Dolly needs a home with no other cats and will prefer somewhere quiet because she can get a little shy and nervous at times.

"She doesn't like other cats. I think a quiet home, older people would be best for her, just because of her shy personality in the beginning," Petell said. "But she eventually will warm up, and she is a lovely lady."

Dolly loves to be pet and might even play with some feather toys. Like any other cat, she will let you know when she has had enough pets but will be back for more shortly after.

"She loves butt scratches. She's super affectionate. She actually does have a little bit of a playful side when she gets used to you, and she just wants to snuggle with you and be loved on all day long," said Petell.

Dolly is healthy and will join your family up to date with all of her vaccines.

"She doesn't have any health issues. She is spayed, and when you adopt a kitty from our shelter, the adoption fee does include everything medically wise. So their spay or neuter, their vaccines, their health certificate from the vet, everything is included. So she will have all of that done before she goes," she said.

One of her ears is clipped to show she has been spayed as she was a part of the Community Cat Program, but since she was so friendly, the Humane Society decided to adopt her out.

"She was originally caught as a stray from our community cat program. They normally work with trap, neuter, return for feral, semi-feral cats, or friendly strays, and when she was caught, they realized that she was very friendly, and she was then brought into our shelter so we could adopt her out," Petell said.

View Full Story

More Vermont Stories