Scott A. McCaughey has been named vice president and commercial lending officer at The Washington Trust Co. more

Robert R. Kent Jr. has been named senior vice president and commercial lending team leader at The Washington Trust Co. more

Tom Fitzgerald has been named senior vice president, team leader of the commercial banking division at Bank Rhode Island. more

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

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