IN SHORT

New hires

The Belfast Area Chamber of Commerce board of directors recently hired Dorothy Havey as executive director. Havey was previously the director of finance with the Penobscot Marine Museum in Searsport.

The Maine affiliate of Susan G. Komen, a breast cancer association in Brewer, recently hired Phyllis Cohn as community and public relations specialist. Cohn was previously with AARP as the communications director for its Maine and New York offices.

BONNEY Staffing Center in Bangor recently hired Heather Mott as branch manager. Mott was previously a human resources specialist with Blue Hill Hospital.

Camden National Bank recently hired Susan Whalen as senior vice president and director of credit administration. Whalen was most recently senior vice president and senior credit officer for TD Bank serving Vermont and upstate New York.

The Damariscotta Region Chamber of Commerce recently hired Toni Crouch as executive director. Crouch was previously vice president of professional development and information at the American Chamber of Commerce Executives in Alexandria, Va.

Pine Tree Society, a statewide organization serving Maine children and adults with disabilities that is based in Bath, recently hired Denise Norko as human resources director. Norko was previously with FHC Inc., as human resources manager.

Eaton Peabody, a law firm in Bangor, recently hired Alfred Frawley as senior counsel in the firm’s Portland office. Frawley is an intellectual property attorney in the firm’s business practice.

The Maine Center for Public Interest Reporting, a nonprofit, nonpartisan investigative news service in Hallowell, recently hired Hildie Lipson as COO. Lipson previously a nonprofit executive at MaineShare.

MKM ENT Associates, a specialty practice focused on otolaryngology within Mercy Health System, recently hired Dr. Kevin Burke to its staff of physicians.

Norton Financial Services, a business insurance and employee benefits company in Cumberland Foreside, recently hired Lori Doustou as marketing software specialist. Doustou most recently worked with Avesta Housing as director of administration.

Burns & McDonnell, an engineering, architecture, construction, environmental and consulting services firm in New Gloucester, recently hired Kevin O’Hara as senior information specialist. Previously, O’Hara was owner of TimePiece Project Solutions LLC.

Putney Inc., a pet pharmaceutical company in Portland, recently hired Ellen Tobias, Elizabeth Potter and Judi Wade. Tobias was hired as vice president of technical operations; Potter as senior director of key accounts; and Wade as distributor sales manager.

Pierce Atwood LLP, a law firm in Portland, recently hired Charles Vrtis as director of human resources. Previously, Vrtis served as director of human resources and administration for Global Novations LLC.

Stepping Stones, a family services agency in Portland, recently hired Laurie Scott as adoption manager. Scott was previously with The Acadia Adoption Center in Kennebunk.

Dream Local Digital, a digital marketing agency in Rockland, recently hired Lucas McNelly as a marketing strategist and video content developer. McNelly was previously an independent film maker.

The directors of Macpage LLC, a CPA firm in South Portland, recently hired Julia Howland as a tax staff accountant. Howland was previously with a Portland-based accounting firm.

Day One, a youth substance abuse agency in South Portland, recently hired Melissa Buchanan as a substance abuse counselor at its residential treatment program; and Chaz Gokas as a substance abuse counselor at Mountain View Youth Development Center.

Sexual Assault Response Services of Southern Maine in Portland recently hired Erin Saul as lead educator. Saul was previously with from STRIVE, a Portland nonprofit that provides services to young adults with developmental disabilities.

EMHS recently hired George Eaton II as associate general counsel and senior governance adviser beginning in January. Eaton is currently a partner with Rudman Winchell, a law firm in Bangor.

Pierce Atwood LLP, a law firm in Portland, recently announced three new hires. Kasia Park and Liam Paskvan joined the firm’s Portland office in its litigation group and energy group, respectively. Sara Benjamin joined the firm’s Boston office in its intellectual property and technology group.

The Maine Real Estate Network, a real estate brokerage firm in South Portland, recently hired Ernie Whitehouse as COO. Whitehouse previously owned Coldwell Banker Harnden Beecher in South Portland.

Promotions

Systems Engineering, an IT strategy and managed services provider, recently promoted Craig Tribuno to president. Tribuno was previously vice president and COO.

Nancy Marshall Communications in Augusta recently promoted Charlene Williams to president. Williams has been with the firm since 1997.

Saco & Biddeford Savings Institution recently promoted Joe Reardon to assistant branch manager at its Old Orchard Beach branch.

Community Credit Union in Lewiston recently promoted Tiffanie Delano to Saturday supervisor at the bank’s Auburn branch. Delano was previously a member representative.

The directors of Macpage LLC, a CPA firm in South Portland, recently announced the following promotions: Benjamin Dailey, John Guarnotta and Adam Warfel to senior manager; Hadje Esmiller, Renee Grant, Christina Nason and Patrick O’Reilly to manager; Emily Baron, Rositsa Gavazova and Erin Hill to supervisor; and Bethany Bougie, Amy Chute, Justin Coffin, Steven Falco, Walker Matthews, Lauren MacAlister, Nicholas Norton, Michael Rankin and Michael Santo to senior.

Sexual Assault Response Services of Southern Maine in Portland recently promoted Angela Giordano to education program manager. Giordano was previously the agency’s lead educator.

Competitive Energy Services, a strategic energy advisory firm in Portland, recently promoted Peter Bartlett to vice president, account management and business development. Bartlett was previously a senior account executive.

Androscoggin Bank recently promoted Paul Collins to lead commercial lending officer for the southern Maine region. Collins was previously a commercial loan officer.

Cheney Insurance in Damariscotta recently promoted Susan Dale to executive vice president of human resources and marketing services.

Boston University’s Henry M. Goldman School of Dental Medicine recently promoted Jonathan Shenkin to clinical associate professor in the departments of Pediatric Dentistry and Health Policy & Health Services Research. Shenkin, who maintains private practices in pediatric dentistry in Augusta and Waterville, was previously a clinical assistant professor.

Appointments

Maine Municipal Association recently announced that Boothbay Town Manager James Chaousis II and Vassalboro Town Manager Mary Sabins won elections to the 12-member executive committee that helps to guide the priorities and operations of the association.

Bernstein Shur, a law firm in Portland, recently named Dan Mitchell, chair, and Joshua Silver, vice chair, of the firm’s data security team. Mitchell is a member of the business law practice and the litigation groups, while Silver is a member of the business law, intellectual property and technology practice groups.

Achievements

The University of Maine at Fort Kent was recently listed by Colleges of Distinction, an education evaluation website, for the 2013-14 academic year. The university is of one of only 200 colleges and universities nationwide to be included in the listing.

The Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education recently announced that Harriman, an architecture and engineering firm in Portland, and Southern Maine Community College received one of four 2013 Sustainability Leaderships Awards for an innovative HVAC system that uses seawater for all heating and cooling needs in a recently renovated academic building. The award recognizes institutions and initiatives that advance sustainability on college campuses across the country.

Skelton, Taintor & Abbott, a law firm in Auburn, recently announced that seven of its attorneys were named to Best Lawyers in America 2014. Jill Checkoway, Bryan Dench, Ronald Lebel, Michael Poulin, Alan Stone, Stephen Wade and Rebecca Webber were recognized. In addition, Dench, Lebel and Poulin were named a Lawyer of the Year.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s GreenChill Partnership recently presented the Turner Hannaford Supermarket & Pharmacy with the organization’s 2013 Best of the Best Award. The honor recognizes the store for using a first-in-the nation refrigeration system that is better for the environment than conventional systems.

McTeague Higbee, a law firm in Topsham, recently announced that four of its attorneys were named to Best Lawyers in America 2014. William Higbee, Karen Bilodeau, Jeffrey Cohen and Jeffery Neil Young were recognized. In addition, Higbee was selected as a Lawyer of the Year.

The Elmina B. Sewall Foundation recently awarded a $10,000 grant to the Greater Topsham Trail Alliance to build a section of downtown trail that will link Community Way with the Topsham Municipal Complex and Monument Way. Construction for this section is scheduled to start in the summer of 2015.

Bangor Federal Credit Union recently awarded nearly $15,000 to nine food pantries as part of the Maine Credit Unions’ Campaign for Ending Hunger.

U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development recently announced that Responsible Pet Care of Oxford Hills Inc., was selected to receive a Community Facilities Grant in the amount of $50,000 to purchase a 5,600-square-foot building at 9 Swallow Road in Paris.

The Maine Credit Unions’ Campaign for Ending Hunger recently made a $25,000 donation to the Good Shepherd Food-Bank’s BackPack and School Pantry programs.

Perkins Thompson, a law firm in Portland, recently announced that 11 of its attorneys were named to Best Lawyers in America 2014.

The Breathe Easy Coalition of Maine recently named MaineHealth the 2013 Smoke-Free Environments Champion. The award recognizes the hospital’s efforts to protect Maine residents from secondhand smoke.

Winxnet, an IT service provider in Portland, recently announced it has attained a Mircosoft Gold Collaboration and Content competency. To earn the recognition, partners must complete exams to ensure a level of staffing capacity, submit customer references that demonstrate successful projects, meet a revenue commitment and pass technology and/or sales assessments.

Jan Fournier, chief financial and administrative officer at Central Maine Orthopaedics in Auburn, recently earned the professional designation of Certified Medical Practice Executive from the American College of Medical Practice Executives.

Secretary of State Matt Dunlap recently announced that Kennebunkport Town Clerk and Registrar of Voters April Dufoe has been selected as the 2013 Lorraine M. Fleury Award recipient. The award recognizes an individual who has made a contribution to the election process and who exemplifies the qualities of fairness, experience, knowledge and service.

Cross family members, founders and owners of Cross Insurance in Bangor, were recently named recipients of the Boy Scouts of America’s 2013 Katahdin Area Council Distinguished Citizens Award for their dedication to, and involvement with, community organizations and activities.

The Maine Children’s Alliance announced they have selected the following individuals and organizations to receive Giraffe Awards for outstanding service for children. Honorees include: The Director’s Award, Maine Early Learning Investment Group, Portland; Individual Awards: Julia Sleeper, executive director, Tree Street Youth Center, Lewiston-Auburn; and Steve Feder, doctor of osteopathic medicine, Miles Memorial Hospital, Boothbay Harbor; Youth Award, Alyssa Withee; Organizational Leader Awards: Adoptive and Foster Families of Maine and the Kinship Program, Old Town; and Environmental Health Strategies Center, Portland.

Don Hanson, co-owner and director of behavior counseling and training at the Green Acres Kennel Shop in Bangor, recently completed a five-day professional animal training seminar at the John G. Shedd Aquarium in Chicago. The course focused on basic and advanced operant conditioning, animal enrichment activities and non-training interactions, husbandry training, problem behaviors and aggression.

Thornton Tomasetti, an engineering firm in Portland, recently announced that Elm Terrace, a 48,814-square-foot, 38-unit apartment complex at 68 High St. in Portland, has achieved LEED Platinum certification from the U.S. Green Building Council.

Verrill Dana, a law firm in Portland, recently announced that four of its attorneys were recognized in Benchmark Litigation’s 2013 edition. Charles Bacall, Chris Caseiro, Karen Frink Wolf and James Goggin were all selected as Local Litigation Stars.

Avesta Housing in Portland recently announced that Pearl Place II, a 54-apartment affordable housing community in Portland’s Bayside neighborhood, was awarded LEED Platinum certification by the U.S. Green Building Council for achievement in green building and design.