IN SHORT

New hires

The MEMIC Group, a workers' compensation specialist in Portland, hired Lara Heal as director of managed care services. Heal has more than 20 years of experience in the health care industry with 10 years as a director, case management and vocational rehab services at Unum.

John T. Gorman Foundation in Portland hired Joy Engel as director of communications. Engel was previously vice president at VOX Global, a public affairs firm in Washington, D.C.

FordMurray, a law firm in Portland, hired Aga Asbury as an immigration attorney.

Maine Medical Partners in Portland announced several new hires including Karen Dmytrasz at Maine Medical Partners, geriatric medicine,and interim medical director at Hospice of Southern Maine; Claudia Picone, Maine Medical Partners, hospital medicine; Forest Sheppard, Maine Medical Partners, acute care surgery; Nathan Aranson, Maine Medical Partners, surgical care; and Toby Fitzgerald, Maine Medical Partners, maternal fetal medicine.

Bangor Savings Bank hired Brett Miller as a wealth management senior portfolio manager and Jana Hanscom as a wealth management relationship manager. Miller most recently served as a senior portfolio manager and investment director at Key Private Bank while Hanscom was with UBS Financial Services.

Camden National Bank hired Jody Hamilton as vice president, retail regional manager for its southern Maine market. Hamilton was vice president, senior regional bank manager at Gorham Savings Bank.

R.M. Davis, a wealth management firm in Portland, hired Jill Hibyan as vice president and portfolio manager and Natalie Solotoff as trust and wealth management services counsel. Previously, Hibyan was vice president and portfolio manager at U.S. Trust while Solotoff was a senior manager at Baker Newman Noyes.

Perry, Fitts, Boulette, and Fitton CPAs in Oakland hired Gail Halliday as an administrative assistant. Halliday was previously a customer service representative and inventory clerk with Dead River Co.

The Pyramid Hotel Group hired Jeff Lidinsky as general manager and Heidi Hamblen as director of sales and marketing at the AC Hotel Portland Downtown/Waterfront, which is scheduled to open in June. Lidinsky was previously hotel manager for Hilton Downtown Indianapolis, while Hamblen was dual director of sales for Courtyard Marriott and Homewood Suites by Hilton in South Portland.

Whole Oceans, a recirculating aquaculture system that will raise Atlantic salmon on the site of the former Verso paper mill in Bucksport, hired Jason Mitchell as COO. Mitchell most recently was director of ground assembly at Bath Iron Works in Bath.

The Viles Arboretum in Augusta hired Kyra Danielowski as collections manager and outreach specialist.

Mercy Hospital in Portland hired Karyn Woelflein as a physiatrist at the Pain Center at Mercy Hospital, a pain management and rehabilitation clinic. Woelflein is board-certified in physical medicine and rehabilitation with 15 years of experience.

The Lawrence Law Firm PA in South Berwick hired Andrew Strosahl as an attorney. Strosahl spent the last three years in Washington, D.C. developing ocean-related legislation and performing government relations.

GWI, an Internet service provider in Biddeford, hired Leisa DuPuy as CFO. DuPuy was finance director at Fiber Materials Inc.

The city of Portland hired Mona Bector as assistant city manager. Bector, who has 12 years of experience as a senior executive in the public sector, most recently ran her own consulting firm in the Greater Boston area, focusing on organizational development and change management.

The Apprenticeshop, a boat building and waterfront organization in Rockland, hired Isabella Feracci as executive director. Feracci was previously on the organization's board of directors, is a graduate of the school's two-year boatbuilding program and owns and operates a furniture design/build studio.

The city of Saco hired Denise Clavette as director of planning and economic development. Clavette was previously assistant city manager with the city of Auburn.

Promotions

The University of Maine at Farmington promoted Sarah Hinman to financial literacy peer education coordinator. Hinman, who was previously an admissions and financial aid counselor, will lead the university's efforts to expand its financial literacy peer education program across Maine's seven public universities.

The MEMIC Group, a workers' compensation specialist in Portland, promoted Karen Flaherty to director, financial operations and Kristen Wintle to director, compensation and benefits. Flaherty was previously manager of financial accounting operations while Wintle was payroll administrator.

Diversified CoHinmmunications, an international media company in Portland, promoted Beckie Kier to event director of Vinexpo. Kier was most event manager of Vinexpo.

Katahdin Trust in Houlton promoted Matthew Nightingale to executive vice president, treasurer and CFO; Bonnie Foster to executive vice president, retail services; and William Lucy to executive vice president, commercial services. Nightingale was senior vice president, treasurer and CFO; Foster was senior vice president, retail services; and Lucy was senior vice president, commercial services.

The University of Maine System board of trustees promoted Eric Brown as interim president of the University of Maine at Farmington for a one-year term, effective July 1. Brown was provost and vice president for academic affairs at the university and has been a member of the university's President's Council and the system's Chief Academic Officers Council.

Environmental & Energy Technology Council of Maine in Portland promoted Melissa Winne to executive director. Winne has been with the organization for three years, with her work focused primarily on policy and legislation that directly relates to the E2Tech community, cultivating connections and content management.

HealthInfoNet, an independent, nonprofit organization in Portland that uses information technology to improve patient care quality and safety, promoted Shaun Alfreds to CEO and executive director. Alfreds had been serving as acting CEO since November.

The Apprenticeshop, a boat building and waterfront organization in Rockland, promoted Terry Moore to seamanship and waterfront director. Moore was previously director of seamanship.

Appointments

Diversified Communications, a Portland media company, said Mary Larkin, executive vice president, was elected president of UFI, the Global Association of the Exhibition Industry, for 2020 and will serve as incoming president as part of the organization's presidential trio for the 2018-19 term.

The Apprenticeshop, a boat building and waterfront organization in Rockland, announced Molly Mulhern will serve as board chair and Jim Cuthbertson as vice chair.

Infinity Federal Credit Union in Westbrook re-elected Sam Novick as chair and Kate Caron as vice chair of its board of directors. Novick is president of HUB Furniture Co. while Caron is a licensed real estate agent with The Real Estate Network.

Pine Tree Society, an organization in Bath serving Maine children and adults with disabilities, named Joseph Drago to its board of directors. Drago has 20 years of experience as a C-level corporate officer in a variety of firms and nonprofits.

The Ecology School in Saco added Tom Merrill to its board of directors. Merrill practiced law in Boston for 30 years, specializing in tax-exempt financing with a focus on nonprofit entities such as schools, colleges, hospitals and nursing homes throughout New England.

Bergen & Parkinson LLC, a law firm in Kennebunk, said Susan Driscoll was named president of the Maine State Bar Association, serving a term of one year. Driscoll is a litigation and trial lawyer with 30 years of experience working to solve complex disputes for individuals, families, businesses and municipalities.

Verrill Dana, a law firm in Portland, announced Benjamin Ford was selected to join the Arctic Economic Council Maritime Transportation Working Group. Ford, a partner in the firm's North Atlantic and Arctic group, was nominated by The Maine North Atlantic Development Office as the first AEC member from the Lower 48, due to his experience in both maritime and Arctic law.

Achievements

The Maine Developmental Disabilities Council in Augusta honored U.S. Sen. Angus King for his advocacy for those with disabilities and for their full inclusion in our Maine communities.

Kleer, a software company for the dental industry, named dentists Norman Medina, Seasons of Smiles in Camden; Travis Buxton, Maine Family Dental Practice in Bangor; and Peter Drews, Drews Dental Services in Lewiston, as the most influential dentists in Maine in its inaugural “2018 Most Influential Dentists in America Program.”

The National Association of Medical Examiners granted Maine's Office of Chief Medical Examiner full accreditation, citing it as “one of the best Medical Examiner Offices in the country.”

Sterling Rope Co. Inc. in Biddeford said it was the winner of the Maine Public Health Association's “Public Health Business Champion Award,” which recognizes business for its leadership and commitment to integrating and promoting public health values into business practices.

Merton Brown, Kennebunk town clerk, was selected as the winner of the “2017 Lorraine M. Fleury Award” during the Maine State Elections Administration Conference in Newry. The award recognizes an individual who has made a significant contribution to the election process and who exemplifies the qualities of fairness, experience, knowledge and service.

GCMD, a web design, branding and marketing agency in Portland, said it was awarded an “American Web Design Award” for its design of the Stockbridge Associates LLC website.

Tree Spirits Winery & Distillery in Oakland said it won a silver medal for its Absinthe Verte and a bronze for its Limoncello at the San Francisco International Spirits Competition.

Mathew Moretti of Bangs Island Mussels and Jonathan Turcotte of Glidden Point Oyster Farms each received a cash award of $5,000 at the Aquaculture Top Gun 2018, a collaborative effort by the Maine Center for Entrepreneurs in partnership with the Gulf of Maine Research Institute, Maine Aquaculture Association and FocusMaine.

The Maine Tourism Association in Hallowell inducted Cyndi Robbins of Poland Spring Resort in Poland into its Hall of Fame. Robbins started her hospitality career as a waitress at the resort, later serving as a short order cook, food and beverage manager, head chef and supervised housekeeping and maintenance. In 1982, she and her husband, Mel, bought the resort and began the restoration all 32 buildings at Poland Spring as well its golf course.

The Philadelphia Furniture Show, produced by Green Tree Events in Saco, was recently “recognized for outstanding artistry in furniture” in Architectural Digest.

Institute for Family-Owned Business recently presented its annual awards. DM&J Waste in Winterport won the “Varney Agency Environmental Leadership Award;” Howe & Howe Technologies in Waterboro, “People's United Bank Innovation & Technology Award;” Washburn & Doughty Associates Inc. in East Boothbay, “Holiday Inn by the Bay First Generation Award;” Blueberry Fields Bed & Breakfast in Washington, “Chalmers Insurance Group Customer Service Award;” Rinck Advertising in Lewiston, “The Shep Lee Community Service Award;” Hardypond Construction in Portland, “Maddy Corson Small Business Award;” and Woodlands Senior Living Center in Waterville, “Renys Large Business of the Year.”

The Maine Windjammer Association in Rockland presented its “Lifetime Appreciation Award” to Meg Maiden, the association's executive director, for 30 years of service.

VNA Home Health Hospice in South Portland received recognition for “Excellence in Quality Leadership” at the first annual EMHS Quality Summit.

Anna Moorman of Allen Insurance and Financial in Camden was recognized by Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Maine as a top Medicare producer in Maine for being the second highest performing broker for Anthem Medicare Supplement sales in 2017 for the state of Maine.

Verrill Dana intellectual property litigation attorney James Goggin was recognized for client service as a “BTI Client Service All-Stars 2018.” Goggin was one of fewer than 330 individual attorneys from 149 law firms nationwide to be identified by corporate counsel as a “Client Service All-Star.”

Danielle Conway, dean and professor of law at the University of Maine Law School; Sun Life Financial; and Richard Tryon, co-founder and former executive director of Community Partners Inc., have been selected as honorees at Spurwink Services' 32nd annual Humanitarian Awards gala being held in October. The event that honors individuals and corporations who exemplify the organization's mission of helping those affected by mental health challenges and developmental disabilities, as well as underserved and vulnerable populations.

U.S. Sen. Angus King was honored with the Maine Education Association's “Friend of Education Award.”

Central Maine Power Co., a subsidiary of AVANGRID Inc., was recognized as a “Tree Line USA Utility” for the third straight year by the National Arbor Day Foundation, the largest nonprofit membership organization dedicated to planting trees.

NorthStar, an ambulance service in Farmington, recently held its annual recognition and awards. Tim Finn was named “Employee of the Year;” Cassandra Purington, Alex Lynch, Carol Pillsbury and Jared Stinson received “Above and Beyond” awards; “Dinosaur Awards” for serving 25 years or more went to Stephen Zanella, Carol Pillsbury, Lee Ireland, Mike Senecal, Wade Browne, Greg Drummond, Rod Koehn, Barry London, Peter Wade, Don Grondin, Kregg Kane, Jeremy O'Neil and Jeff Dresser; and those recognized for serving 15 or more years were Beth Scott, Chuck Twitchell, Earle Albert, Jane Clukey, Sherry Labbe, Harold Schaetzle, Ed Goodwin, Chris French, Corey Morse, Mark Rousseau, Shelby Rousseau, Matt Smith, Abbie Shamp and Stan Wilcox.

Meadowmere Resort in Ogunquit received a TripAdvisor “Certificate of Excellence” for the third consecutive year and the sixth time overall accounting for the quality, quantity and recency of reviews submitted by travelers over a 12-month period.

Michelle Hanson of Frederick's Southside and Mascoto's restaurants in Caribou was named the “2018 Aroostook Entrepreneur of the Year.” Scott Nash and Alan Nash-Pelletier of Orchids restaurant in Madawaska finished second while Michelle Hersey of County Environmental Engineering in Caribou rounded out the top-three.

The Maine Credit Union League recently presented its annual awards. “Alexander Ferguson Award for Outstanding CU Volunteer” went to Theresa Coffin, board member at Katahdin Federal Credit Union; “James M. Gratto Award for Outstanding Credit Union CEO,” Dan Byron, president/CEO of Eastmill Federal Credit Union; “Jeannette G. Morin Award for Outstanding CU Employee,” Christine Allen, vice president of financial services at Central Maine Federal Credit Union; “Diane L. Oceretko 'People Helping People' Award,” Betsy Sibley, vice president of marketing and business development at Community Credit Union; and “League President's Award,” Rick Lachance, president/CEO of Connected Credit Union.