Jennifer R. Wheelehon has been hired as director of development for Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Ocean State, where she will be responsible for building and diversifying philanthropic support. more

Melissa Husband has been named executive director of Providence Community Action. more

Private-equity backed, temporary staffing firm BG Staffing has acquired Pawtucket-based American Partners Inc., BG Staffing announced Tuesday. more

Monica Restrepo, a certified nursing assistant, was recently awarded the Imogene Higbie Service Award – Bronze Level for her service and dedication to the residents of St. Clare Home in Newport. The award is presented by Rhode Island Generations to an outstanding direct-care worker in the nursing home industry. Restrepo, who became a CNA while living in a shelter through a program offered by the Women’s Resource Center, is a graduate of Central Falls High School. She has worked at St. Clare for 15 years. more

Changes in health care laws and labor relations will affect businesses dramatically next year, but many human resources managers at a Providence Business News-sponsored Employment Trends 2013 summit said they consider social media a contender for a top spot on the list of concerns. more

PROVIDENCE – General Treasurer Gina M. Raimondo this month announced the hiring of Anne-Marie Fink as the state’s new chief investment officer/deputy treasurer of finance. more

Kathleen Ceseretti has been named director of national accounts at the Providence Warwick Convention & Visitors Bureau. more

Kris Holla has been named chief sales officer, data center products, at Nortek Inc. In this newly created position, Holla will be responsible for developing and expanding Nortek’s presence in the mission critical data center and server markets. more

Laurie MacDonald has been appointed director of business development at Hinckley, Allen & Snyder LLP. She will focus on the development and implementation of firm-wide and individual attorney business development initiatives. more

Adam W. Kiracofe has been named an associate in the trusts and estates law group at Hinckley, Allen & Snyder LLP. His practice will focus on advising individuals on estate planning matters, and designing gift, estate and generation-skipping transfer tax planning strategies. more