Swafford named bank’s information security officer

WATERBURY — Webster Bank has named Brandon Swafford as senior vice president and director of corporate information security. In his role, he will be responsible for information security, engineering and operations and business continuity. He reports to Chief Information Officer Karen Higgins-Carter.

Swafford, 36, is a security and technology executive with more than a decade of experience, including financial-services security, counterintelligence, and legal electronic discovery. Swafford began his career working on large litigation and Foreign Corrupt Practices Act investigations. Later, he worked for a number of U.S. intelligence community and Department of Defense agencies as a consultant for Booz Allen Hamilton. Leveraging that experience, he built security technology and provided risk management to the world’s largest hedge fund, Bridgewater Associates. Most recently, Swafford served as the chief technology officer for insider threat at Forcepoint, a global security software and services company specializing in data loss prevention and insider threat.

“Swafford, a resident of Greenwich, holds a bachelor’s degree in Legal Communications from Washburn University, as well as certifications in insider threat program management from Carnegie Mellon University. He received the Director of National Intelligence Distinguished Team award and was member of several national-level steering committees. A regular speaker at security technology events, he was granted a patent related to behavioral analysis and blockchains.

O&G recognized as top U.S. Green builder

TORRINGTON — O&G Industries was recently recognized by Engineering News Record (ENR) on their annual Top 100 Green-Buildings Contractor list which ranks the country’s top sustainable building contractors.

O&G ranked 77th overall and tied for 8th place as the largest Green Building Contractor in the Educational market. O&G is managing school construction projects in Colchester, East Lyme, Groton, Hartford, Ledyard, New London, Plainville, Washington, Willimantic and Woodbury.

O&G is the only Connecticut-based contractor recognized on the 2018 list.

RE/MAX to fly hot air balloon at race

NEW HAVEN – The RE/MAX Hot Air Balloon is scheduled to appear at the Denali’s Run the Gauntlet 5K Race, at Lighthouse Point Park Oct. 21. The event was organized by RE/MAX Showcase to help raise money and awareness for the Denali Foundation Scholarship Fund for children attending Soundview Family YMCA.

At 70 feet tall, the RE/ MAX Hot Air Balloon grabs attention wherever it flies. Tethered rides in the

70-foot-tall balloon will be offered for a suggested donation, weather permitting. All proceeds will go to the Denali Foundation.

“We’re honored to help raise awareness and show support for such an incredible organization like The Denali Foundation,” said David Candelora and Mario Friello Owners of RE/MAX Showcase, in a written statement. “As local business leaders we take pride in our community and together we can accomplish anything.”

As the largest hot air balloon fleet in the world, more than 108 RE/MAX balloons carry the distinctive red, white and blue logo in 26 countries on six continents. RE/MAX, LLC adopted the iconic logo as a promotional symbol in 1978 at the Albuquerque Balloon

Fiesta.

RE/MAX Showcase is a new real estate brokerage located at 947 State Street in New Haven.

For more information about the New Haven balloon appearance, contact Allison Biele at 203.263.1111. More information about the RE/MAX Hot Air Balloon can be found at www.remax.com/newsroom.

‘Friends’ defined at Kent Memorial Library

KENT — The Kent Memorial Library now recognizes its large group of volunteers, donors, and supporters as Friends of the Library. Friends of the Library encompasses all individuals or businesses who help at events such as the Gala or bake sale, volunteer at the book sale, or car raffle, participate on committees, and/or provide annual financial support by being a member of the Kent

Library Association.

Roz Molho will continue to serve as Friends chairwoman as well as gala chairwoman. New to the team is Ellen Gutierrez, who will serve as Friends coordinator. In this role she will put together the quarterly Friends newsletter and maintain a centralized repository of information on the various volunteers and supporters, which Friends may leverage as a resource when organizing Library events.

To volunteer in any capacity at the Library, call 860-927-3761. Visit kentmemoriallibrary.org for more information.

Speakers to visit HBA group

The Housatonic Business Alliance in New Milford will offer meetings Oct. 4, 11 and 18 at 7 a.m. at the 19 Main venue at 19 Main St

Guest speakers will include

Michael Giacona of Full Circle Promos, LLC, who has more than 20 years in the promotional products industry, Oct. 4; Dave Seegers of Hudson Valley Preservation, a design, build, and historic preservation consulting company, Oct. 11; and Donald Hicks of North Sky Photography, which combines the classic style with contemporary digital technology, Oct. 18.

Events slated in New Preston

Several businesses in New Preston village will offer special events in the coming days.

They will include a relaunch of Lambertson Truex through Oct. 8 at Privet Lives; and “It’s Only a Paper Shoe” event with Linda Filley Sept. 29 from 1 to 3 p.m. at DK Schulman Design.

Montgomery to be in magazine

WARREN — Peter Montgomery, agri-preneur and owner of Montgomery Gardens, LLC, in Warren, will be featured in the October issue of Connecticut Magazine.

The edition will include information about apples and orchards around the state.

Montgomery is known locally for his colorful stories on apple name origins, the apple’s origin in the Tian Shan mountain range in Kazakhstan and 6,000 year journey from Central Asia to the New World.

In the article, Montgomery provides details on how to properly plant and maintain fruit trees, as well as the background and family history associated with the planting of an heirloom orchard at the Litchfield Law School.

In other news, Montgomery will present an EdAdvance class, “A Seminar on Fruit Trees,” Nov. 5 and 7 from 6 to 8 p.m. at Housatonic Valley Regional High School in Falls Village.

Real estate course planned

The Greater New Milford Board of Realtors will offer a Connecticut real estate licensing 60-hour course beginning Oct. 9 in New Milford.

To register, visit http:// fabrealestateschool.com/ enroll-now/.

Classes will be held Tuesdays,Wednesdays and Fridays from 5:30 to 9:30 p.m., with no class Oct. 31. The exam will be held on or about Nov. 16. Registration, including books, is $425. For more information, call 860-355-0994 or email greater.new.milford@snet.net or visit the website.

Swafford