COLUMN: BUSINESS PEOPLE

CMEA The Employers Association announces the promotion of Mark G. Patrick to president. Mr. Patrick, of North Grafton, has served CMEA membership since 1990, providing consultation on labor, employment and human resources issues. He has been a frequent presenter

The Worcester Sharks announce the promotion of Michael A. Mudd from vice president and assistant general manager to senior vice president in charge of hockey and business administration. He has 14 years of professional hockey experience and spent the last eight seasons with the Sharks. A former goaltender, Mr. Mudd attended the St. Louis Blues training camp and played professional hockey for two seasons, splitting his time between the ECHL and the IHL. He graduated from St. Lawrence University and received a master's degree from Miami University in Ohio, where he was assistant coach of the hockey team from 1992 to 1994. He lives in Shrewsbury.

Dr. Howard N. Fixler of Worcester has joined the Trustmark Insurance Disability and Long Term Care benefits division as medical director and second vice president. For the past eight years, he served as chief of medicine at Fairlawn Rehabilitation Hospital. He also served as medical director for utilization management for St. Vincent Hospital from 2006 to 2008, and as medical director of University Commons, a Worcester nursing home, from 1998 to 2001. He previously was a primary care physician at the Fallon Clinic from 1986 to 1997. Dr. Fixler, who is certified by the American Board of Internal Medicine, graduated from Michigan State University and received his medical degree from the University of Massachusetts Medical School. He will work in Trustmark's Worcester office.

Lorie Cahill of Spencer has been promoted to IT officer at Spencer Savings Bank. She joined the bank in 2006 and is a graduate of DeVry University.

Sunshine Sign Co. of North Grafton announces that James N. Rieger of Upton and Jason M. Barthe of Marlboro have been named senior technical sales consultants. Both men previously were senior project managers with Sunshine's Production Development and Engineering division. Mr. Rieger previously worked at ViewPoint Sign and Awning in Marlboro and Architectural Graphics in Virginia Beach, Va. Mr. Barthe, a graduate of Northeastern University, previously worked at XTreme Grafix in St. Albans, Vt., Back Bay Sign in Somerville, and Cyr Sign and Banner in Medford.

To have company promotions or new hires published in Workplace, send information and a color picture to Dave Greenslit, Telegram & Gazette, Box 15012, Worcester, MA 01615-0012, or send an e-mail to dgreenslit@telegram.com. Please include full name, middle initial and town of residence. Electronic photos should be in a high-resolution JPEG format.

ART: PHOTOS

CUTLINE: (1) Mr. Patrick (2) Mr. Mudd (3) Dr. Fixler (4) Ms. Cahill (5) Mr. Rieger (6) Mr. Barthe