Nicholas R. Mancini has been named partner at Hanson Curran. more

Sara Fontes has been named partner at Hanson Curran. more

Charles E. Parker has been hired as executive vice president of property management at Corvias Group. more

Edward Milch has been hired as senior vice president of construction operations at Corvias Group, where he will be responsible for all aspects of construction. more

Matthew Godino has been promoted to supervisor at Sullivan & Co. more

Michael DiStefano has been promoted to supervisor at Sullivan & Co. 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

While employment edged up in Providence County by 0.6 percentage points during the second quarter of 2012, average weekly wages declined by 1 percent as compared to second quarter 2011. more

Michael Baduira has been named a retirement plan adviser with Cornerstone Retirement Plan Administrators. more

Lynne Fraser has been named assistant vice president for development in Providence College’s Office of Institutional Advancement. more