Washington Trust Bancorp Inc. reported record lending of $2.26 billion in the third quarter due mostly to favorable interest rates and increased commercial lending, bank Chairman, President and CEO Joseph J. MarcAurele said last week. more

Mark Crandall has been regional president for Massachusetts and Rhode Island at The Toronto-Dominion Bank and TD Banknorth Inc., since Dec. 31, 2006. He also became regional president for Connecticut in April 2012.Crandall also serves as senior vice president of U. S. personal and commercial banking at TD Bank. He has served as an executive vice president and regional commercial-lending manager of TD Banknorth Inc. Crandall discusses TD Bank’s growth plans and its growing presence in Rhode Island. more

BOSTON – Two female members of Attorney General Martha Coakley’s team have been recognized for making “meaningful and inspiring contributions in the fields of social justice and advocacy.” more

If you have a pressing need to raise some cash, here’s some good news: Rising home values are encouraging lenders to revive a product that imploded during the housing bust years – second mortgages. more

Although all industries and individuals have benefitted greatly from the availability of Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR), perhaps no industry has benefited more than the construction industry. The reasons to use ADR are compelling. more

The Employers Association, a former Rhode Island-based professional organization, has merged with the Employers Association of the NorthEast, based in Agawam, Mass. more

Robert P. Brooks, shareholder at Adler Pollock and Sheehan PC, was recently named one of the top 20 most powerful labor attorneys in the nation by Lawdragon Magazine and Human Resource Executive. Candidates for this list usually have impressive recommendations, a list of noteworthy accomplishments and have practiced for more than 20 years. Brooks has represented employers in employment-discrimination matters and a variety of labor arbitration and administrative proceedings. The current chairman of the firm’s labor and employment practice group and a member of its executive and diversity committees, Brooks holds a B.A. from Rhode Island College and a J.D. from Suffolk University. more

Cari P. Orsi LEED AP-project engineer for Pare Corp., was recently named 2012 Young Engineer of the Year by the Rhode Island Society of Professional Engineers for her achievements in education, employment and professional and public-service activities. Since joining Pare in 2004, Orsi has received her master’s degree in engineering and construction-project management, become a LEED-accredited professional and served as a board member and the first female president of the Providence Engineering Society. more

Lighting a home – or any space, really – is a tricky business. Such design work involves careful and intricate planning, establishment of sourcing, careful product selection and, finally, decoration that celebrates a job done well. more

Cheryl A. Dugas Ethier recently received the certified divorce-financial-analyst designation by the Institute for Divorce Financial Analysts. Ethier is a financial planner at SK Wealth Management LLC and has a master’s of professional accountancy degree from Rhode Island College. In addition, she holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Bryant University and has several other professional certifications. more