In short

New hires

Franklin Health Internal Medicine recently hired Beth Hartsock, a board-certified family and adult nurse practitioner. Hartsock has provided primary care for patients since 2002, most recently at York Family Practice.

PenBay Vets in Rockport recently hired Sandy Belinky as practice manager. Belinky, an active member of the Veterinary Hospital Managers Association, holds a B.S. in zoology and is a licensed veterinary technician.

GWI recently hired Pat Sweeney as CFO. Sweeney, previously the CFO, COO and interim-CEO at MaineToday Media, has over 30 years of experience leading financial as well as marketing and sales functions at different types of businesses.

Fluid Imaging Technologies Inc., a Yarmouth-based tech firm, recently hired Regina Farren as office manager. Previously, Farren was a catalog project manager and image asset manager at FetchDog.

Bernstein Shur, a law firm based in Portland, recently hired Roma Desai as an associate. Desai, who previously served as a federal law clerk for the Hon. Michael Deasy and the Hon. Mark Vaughn of the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of New Hampshire, joined the firm's business restructuring and insolvency practice group.

Pierce Atwood LLP, a law firm in Portland, recently hired Kyle Glover in the firm's intellectual property and technology group. Previously, Glover served as law clerk for the Hon. Jon O. Newman of the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit and for the Hon. F. Dennis Saylor IV of the United States District Court for the District of Massachusetts.

Winxnet, a Portland-based IT service provider, recently hired Chris Friel as senior engineer. Friel was previously the president and CEO of VoDaVi Technologies.

Blais Civil Engineers, headquartered in South Portland, recently hired Jennifer Williams as a project engineer. Williams specializes in providing site design and redevelopment, highway/roadway design, transportation planning, construction specification writing and management, municipal peer review services and state and local permitting.

Dr. Newton's Naturals, a South Portland firm offering natural health products, recently hired Zachary Hobbs as inbound sales manager. Hobbs was previously in automobile sales.

Dead River Co., headquartered in South Portland, recently hired Chris Turner as senior manager of business applications and project management. Previously, Turner was the vice president for information technology at Downeast Energy.

BerryDunn, a CPA and management consulting firm in Portland, recently hired Rory O'Brion as a senior accountant in the firm's health care/not-for-profit group.

Camden National Bank recently hired Elliott Barry as vice president, commercial banking officer. Barry, previously the vice president, relationship manager with People's United Bank, will be based in the Portland branch.

Murray, Plumb & Murray, a Portland law firm, recently hired Sara Hellstedt as an associate attorney. Hellstedt, who most recently practiced law at Drummond Woodsum, will focus on education, disability and employment law.

Allen Insurance and Financial recently added Dan Bookham to the company's business insurance department. Bookham, previously the executive director of the Penobscot Bay Regional Chamber of Commerce, will be based in the company's Camden office.

Connectivity Point Design and Installation, a voice, data and video application company in Auburn, recently hired James Marshall as audio-visual sales director. Previously, Marshall was the sales director for Maine Video Systems of Portland.

Penobscot Community Health Care in Bangor recently hired Philip Higgins Jr. as the dental director for the Dental Center. Higgins is currently president of the State of Maine Board of Dental Examiners and will continue his private practice on a part-time basis. The health center also hired Mary Moore to provide integrated psychiatric services at the Penobscot Community Health Center. Previously, Moore served as a substance abuse counselor at Wellspring Inc.

The Houlton Community Arts Center Board of Directors recently hired Kristen Wells as managing director. Wells, the center's first employee, previously was the director of development at Catholic Charities Maine.

Community Credit Union recently hired of Brittni Foss as a member representative in its Lewiston branch.

United Way of York County recently hired Lauren Anderson, Lindsay Copeland and Victoria Swerdlow. Anderson, previously an environmental economic analyst with Abt Associates in Cambridge, Mass., was hired as manager of resource development. Copeland, hired as the 2-1-1 resource coordinator for York County, is responsible for the development and maintenance of health and human services information and resource data for 2-1-1 Maine. Swerdlow was hired as the director of administrative operations and is responsible for finance, technology, human resources and operations.

Bar Harbor Bank & Trust recently hired Chris Perry as vice president/regional market manager for its Topsham, Augusta and South China locations. The bank also hired Michelle Curtis as branch relationship manager in Topsham.

Eaton Peabody recently added Adria LaRose to its litigation department. LaRose was previously an adjunct professor at the University of Maine Orono.

Good Shepherd Food-Bank, headquartered in Auburn, recently named Kristen Miale as president. Miale is the founder of Cooking Matters for Maine, a local chapter of Share Our Strength's nationally recognized cooking and nutrition education program for low-income families.

The Greater Bangor Convention & Visitors Bureau recently hired Danielle Dorrie as membership and convention sales coordinator. Dorrie was previously a wedding and event coordinator at the Lucerne Inn.

PFBF CPAs, a certified public accounting firm headquartered in Oakland, recently hired Melissa Sawyer as marketing manager.

Portland Financial Planning Group, a financial planning firm in Portland, recently hired Teri Coviello as operations manager. Coviello was previously the manager of faculty and custom programs at CIEE.

Synernet, a MaineHealth member organization in Portland, recently hired Pamela Haney as director of coding services. Previously, Haney was the director of health information services and privacy officer for Lincoln County Healthcare in Damariscotta.

Promotions

U.S. Cellular recently promoted Matthew Kasper to director of sales for New England. Kasper, previously the company's director of sales in Indiana, will lead all sales activities in Maine, New Hampshire and Vermont.

The Conservation Law Foundation recently named Sean Mahoney executive vice president and director of programs. Mahoney, previously the foundation's vice president and director of the Maine office, will assume management responsibilities for the foundation's advocacy throughout the New England region.

Camden National Bank recently promoted Leslie Eaton to senior vice president, corporate and government services manager. Eaton was previously the bank's deposit and sales manager and manager of the bank's corporate services division.

Appointments

Harvard Pilgrim Health Care recently appointed Richard Perry as associate medical director at its Portland office. Perry will engage providers and supports improvement and innovation efforts in the quality and value of health care for members.

The Martha B. Webber Breast Care Center, a program of Franklin Memorial Hospital in Farmington, recently appointed Katrina Tozier and Kelly Alley as breast care support nurses.

The University of New England recently appointed Douglas Wood as dean of the College of Osteopathic Medicine. Wood most recently served as senior vice president of academic affairs at A.T. Still University, where he also co-chaired the institution's strategic planning initiatives.

Company News

Ground was broken recently for The Bay House condominium project, located on the site of the former Village Café at 15 Middle St. in Portland. The project, scheduled for completion in December 2013, is the first new residential condominium complex on the Portland peninsula in over 20 years.

Maine Oxy, a supplier of gases and welding supplies headquartered in Auburn, is launching an Advanced Cylinder Management system in all 13 of its locations. The system will track and manage the company's cylinder fleet and will allow customers to save time and money.

The opening session of the Midcoast Leadership Academy, Leadership Experiences, Activities & Practices, was held recently at the Hutchinson Center in Belfast. This year's class consists of leaders from Knox and Waldo counties who will spend nine months learning leadership skills and working with three nonprofits on year-long regional projects. Participants include: Marydale Abernathy, Bangor Daily News; Christine Anderson-Morehouse, Midcoast Superintendent's Professional Development Center; Jeff Charland, Camden National Bank; Rob Dietz, PICA Design & Marketing; Erica Hughes, UMaine Hutchinson Center; Patty Kitchen, Picker Family Resource Center; Diane Laliberte, Unity College; Michael Leonard, GreenME Inc.; Chris Lobley, Bangor Savings Bank; Katie MacDonald, Dear Pauline + Ninefifteen Enterprises; Marina Macho, Durango Business Support; Sarah McLean, Global Packing & Shipping; Kathryn Snow Mills, Snow Sport & Spine Inc.; Stacey Palmer, Maine Boats, Homes & Harbors; Ian Robertson, New Leaf Construction; Kimberly Scott, Camden Conference; and Megan Williams, PenBay Healthcare.

KP's Place, a casual dining restaurant in Auburn, recently celebrated its grand opening. Located at 245 Center St., the 1,600-square-foot location is the latest addition to Auburn and Lewiston's growing restaurant scene.

Spiritwind Farm in Lebanon recently announced it has begun operations as a farm wedding and event venue. The property, owned by Kathy Ossinger, can also be used for reunions, birthday celebrations, hayrides and sleigh rides.

Sebago Technics Inc., a multi-discipline and services consulting firm, recently celebrated the opening of its new principal offices at 75 John Roberts Road in South Portland.

Digital Research Inc., a Kennebunk company that provides decision support research services to private and public sectors, recently announced that founder and Chairman, Bob Domine, has resumed responsibility for day-to-day operations of the company.

Winxnet, a provider of IT services in Portland, was recently named to Inc. Magazine's annual "Inc. 5000" list, a ranking of the fastest-growing privately held companies in America. The list recognizes revenue and industry growth on local and national levels according to percentage revenue growth from 2008 to 2011.

U.S. Cellular recently built a new cell site in Bowdoin, which will increase coverage along Route 201 in the town of Bowdoin and on I-295.

The University of New England's College of Pharmacy was recently selected for the Community Pharmacy Residency Expansion Project, awarded by the National Association of Chain Drug Stores. The $50,000 educational grant will expand post-graduate community pharmacy residency opportunities for pharmacy school graduates.

Tannery Street Wine Co. recently opened a wine distributorship on Tannery Street in Norway. The proprietor, Dan Reavis, has been involved with several companies in western Maine for over 25 years.

Maine Huts & Trails recently opened a new hut. Stratton Brook is the fourth of 12 planned backcountry huts and eco-lodges connected by 180 miles of trails in Maine's western mountains region. This planned hut-to-hut trail will be the longest groomed ski trail in America.

The Wells National Estuarine Research Reserve and Laudholm Trust recently honored the late Dr. Michele Dionne, the reserve's lead scientist and research director, by placing her name on the research laboratory of the Maine Coastal Ecology Center at the Wells Reserve at Laudholm.

Sanford Institution for Savings recently opened a new branch in Waterboro. The branch at Waterboro Crossing Shopping Center, 40 Sokokis Trail, provides a full range of services.

McAuley Residence, a transitional housing program in Portland for at-risk women and their children operated by the Mercy Health System of Maine, recently announced that it is preparing to double its capacity by moving to the former Portland's Children Hospital at the corner of High and Danforth streets. The new location for the program is currently under renovation by Community Housing of Maine.

Simmons Ardell, a South Portland-based communication design firm, has been engaged by the University of Maine School of Law to provide branding and design services.

Bernstein Shur, a law firm in Portland, recently launched a data security team. The team is made up of six attorneys who provide clients with legal and technical support before and after a data security breach.

Back in Motion Physical Therapy will open a third location at 1041 Brighton Ave. in Portland.

Avesta Housing recently celebrated the grand opening of Cascade Brook, a new, 30-apartment affordable community in Saco for residents 55 and older.

The Advanced Wound Center recently opened at 210 Western Ave. in Portland. The location provides an alternative to those individuals suffering from chronic wounds.

Perrt, Fitts, Boulette & Fitton, an accounting firm headquartered in Oakland, recently opened a new office at 259 Front St. in Bath.

The RAM Cos., based in Scarborough, recently completed the purchase of 900 Middlesex Turnpike, Building 4, in Billerica, Mass. The 94,174-square-foot facility is long-term leased to Lasermax Roll Systems.

The Bangor Symphony Orchestra Board of Directors recently announced that Executive Director David Whitehill will leave his position in December. Whitehill has accepted a position as the executive director of the Asheville Symphony Orchestra in North Carolina.

Matthew Sholl, Maine EMS medical director, Maine Medical Center – Department of Emergency Medicine, and Robert Ecker, associate professor of Neurosurgery, Tufts University School of Medicine and director of Cerebrovascular/Endovascular Surgery at Maine Medical Center, recently presented at the 7th annual Summit of The NorthEast Cerebrovascular Consortium in Boston.

Androscoggin Bank recently announced that Wendy Bean and Jean Mattimore joined its board of directors. Bean is a CPA specializing in the taxation of individuals, trusts and estates. Mattimore was most recently the executive director of the Center for Career Development for the Maine Community College System.

Frosty's Donuts recently opened a third Maine location at 740 Broadway, Suite 500, in South Portland.

Blue Marble Geographics recently exhibited its products at the U.S. Geospatial Intelligence Symposium in Orlando, Fla., and the INTERGEO Conference and Trade Fair in Hanover, Germany. The company's geospatial data manipulation, visualization and conversion products are used by GIS analysts at software, oil and gas, mining, civil engineering, surveying and technology companies, as well as governmental and university organizations.

Actuarial Designs & Solutions Inc. in Scarborough announced that Tony Ornatek and Christopher Whitney were recently awarded the Accredited Investment Fiduciary Designation from the Center for Fiduciary Studies, the standards-setting body for fi360. Ornatek, principal and executive vice president, is an actuary specializing in the design and administration of qualified and non-qualified retirement focused plans and ESOPs. Whitney, vice president and director of marketing, specializes in 401(k) plan design and sales.

Portland Buy Local recently announced the winners of the 5th Annual Indie Biz Awards. The awards recognize leaders among Portland's independent businesses and community organizations. The 2012 winners were: Soul of Portland, Micucci Grocery Co. Inc.; Flavor of Portland, Rosemont Market and Bakery; Portland's Best Kept Secret, The Honey Exchange; Environmental Hero, Portland Trails; Community Hero, Planet Dog; Out of Sight, Not out of Mind, Close Buy Catalog; Artistic Leader, SPACE Gallery; Global Hero, Portland Museum of Art; Best New Business, The Holy Donut; and Portland Icon, Longfellow Books.

Maine USDA Rural Development recently introduced a new website design. The redesign was implemented to allow visitors to navigate more easily through its pages and locate information on programs, news, staff and other items.

Maine Women's Network recently announced its elected 2012-2013 officers and board members: President, Vicki Worden, Worden Associates Inc.; vice president, Karen Ruggiero, Judith Grossman Decorating; second vice president, Catherine Cleale, Merrill Lynch; secretary, Jennifer Gaylord, American Red Cross; and treasurer, Fran Vicario, Accounting Solutions. Additional board members include: Amanda Austin, 2A Architects LLC; Luanne Cameron, Luanne Cameron State Farm; Judy Crosby, The DaVinci Experience; Betty Gensel, Women's Business Center at CEI; Molly Gray, Dream Local Digital; Nancy Kennedy, Kieve-Wavus Education Inc.; Marianne Russo, Nellie's Teas & Gifts; and Brenda Smith, TD Bank N.A.

Wright-Ryan, a construction firm in Portland, recently announced that Site Assistant Carlene Fassett was awarded the Construction Planning and Management Constructor's Scholarship by the Associated General Contractors of Maine. Fassett is pursuing her bachelor's degree in construction management at the University of Southern Maine.

Scottrade recently announced that it will be relocating its Portland branch office in November. The new office will be in the Western Avenue Crossing shopping center located at 85 Western Ave.

Landry/French Construction, in Scarborough, was recently awarded its second project for Allagash Brewing Co. in the past year. The project, scheduled for completion by April 2013, will expand the existing brew house, retail store and the brewery's exterior fermentation tank structure.

Accolades

Skelton, Taintor & Abbott, a law firm in Auburn, recently announced that Adam Lee was named one of the Top 40 Under 40 trial lawyers in the state of Maine by The National Trial Lawyers, a professional organization composed of trial lawyers from across the country. The firm also announced that shareholder Alan Stone was recently selected by his peers for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America 2013 as a Maine energy law Lawyer of the Year.

Bernstein Shur, a law firm based in Portland, recently announced the selection of five attorneys as a Lawyer of the Year in The Best Lawyers in America 2013 listing. The following were recognized in the firm’s Portland office: Robert Crawford, litigation: land use and zoning; Joan Fortin, municipal law; Linda McGill, labor law: management; and Nelson Toner, tax law. Lee Bragg, land use and zoning law, was honored in the firm’s Augusta office.

The Maine Manufacturing Extension Partnership recently announced that FHC Inc., a neuroscience equipment manufacturer in Bowdoin, was named the 2012 Manufacturer of the Year. The award is given each year to a Maine company that has demonstrated outstanding vision, leadership and manufacturing excellence.

The University of Southern Maine’s School of Business was recently listed in the 2013 edition of The Princeton Review’s annual guidebook, The Best 296 Business Schools. The top schools, 280 of which are in the United States and 16 international, were selected based on institutional data and survey results of more than 19,000 students worldwide.

Fisher & Phillips LLP, a Portland law firm, recently announced that five of its attorneys were recognized in the 2012 edition of New England Super Lawyers. The group was recognized for work in labor and employment law.

Penobscot Community Health Care recently announced that Penobscot Pediatrics and Penobscot Community Health Center achieved Level III Certification as a Patient-Centered Medical Home by the National Committee for Quality Assurance, the highest level awarded for certification.

Vreeland Marketing & Design in Yarmouth was recently honored by the Maine Public Relations Council at the 2012 Golden Arrow Awards. The agency captured four awards including Best in Show for the website redesign of Lewiston shoe manufacturer Rancourt & Co.

Kiplinger’s Personal Finance recently announced that four Maine colleges were included on its list of Best Values in Private Colleges for 2012-2013. College of the Atlantic (Bar Harbor), Bowdoin College (Brunswick), Bates College (Lewiston) and Colby College (Waterville) appear on the list based on academics and economic value.

Rudman Winchell, a law firm in Bangor, announced that four of its attorneys were recognized by New England Super Lawyers for 2012. The honor is awarded through a statewide nomination process, review of resumes and peer evaluation.