Jeffrey A. Butler, broker-owner of Butler Realty Group, is the recipient of the 2012 National Commercial Award from the National Association of Realtors. The award, which honors outstanding achievement in the commercial realty industry, recognized Butler for his “deep contribution to the industry, which displays the strength of [the association’s] commercial members.” Butler, a graduate of Tollgate High School, serves as treasurer of both the Rhode Island Commercial and Appraisal Board of Realtors and the Rhode Island Statewide MLS. He is active with several other professional associations and has been a member of the Realtors association since 1977. more

Jeremy Crisp and the other managing partners at Nail, a Providence communications agency, like to think of their employees as machines – sort of. more

Tim Monroe has been named director of development at Rhode Island Public Radio. more

James McDonough has been tapped to serve as president and CEO of Randolph Savings Bank, succeeding the retiring Jack Doyle, Chairman of the Board Richard Pierce announced Monday. more

Ken Ayars, chief of the R.I. Department of Environmental Management’s Division of Agriculture, was recently honored with the Rhode Island Nursery and Landscape Association’s Award of Merit. The award was presented during the organization’s annual trade show and seminar held on Jan. 17 at the University of Rhode Island’s Center for Biotechnology and Life Sciences. Ayars, who has worked for DEM’s Division of Agriculture since 1987, has collaborated with RINLA on policy issues and solutions for green-related industry issues and needs. He was also issued a citation from the Rhode Island House of Representatives in recognition of the RINLA merit award, and for providing outstanding service to the state’s horticultural, agricultural and landscape communities. Ayars holds bachelor’s degrees in zoology, agriculture and resource technology, in addition to a master’s degree in plant sciences from the University of Rhode Island. more

Ann Sutherland-Auclair of Auclair & Auclair, a wealth-management firm, was recently named a 2013 Five Star Wealth Manager by Rhode Island Monthly. Sutherland-Auclair was honored for overall client satisfaction on the magazine’s list of Five Star Wealth Managers, which takes into account client evaluations and reviews by peers, regulatory-compliance boards and a Blue Ribbon panel. She holds various insurance licenses, industry certifications and an M.A. in counseling psychology from Assumption College. more

The Interstate 195 Redevelopment District Commission has chosen Jan Brodie, a former vice president of the Armory Revival Co. now working for a Boston nonprofit developer, to be its first executive director, Commission Chairman Colin Kane confirmed Thursday. more

Age: 36 more

The Governor’s Workforce Board has since January awarded approximately $65,000 in “express grants” to 15 Rhode Island companies to improve worker skills, Gov. Lincoln D. Chafee announced Thursday. more

(Updated, 3:50 p.m.) Rhode Island’s unemployment rate fell to 9.9 percent in December 2012, dipping below 10 percent for the first time in almost four years, according to annually revised data released Thursday by the R.I. Department of Labor and Training. more