In Short from April 20, 2009 | A roundup of new hires, promotions, accolades and appointments from Maine's business community

New Hires

TD Banknorth in Portland recently hired Jeffrey Lane as a portfolio loan officer in the commercial lending department. Previously, Lane was a commercial lender at Rivergreen Bank in Kennebunk.

Northeast Historic Film in Bucksport recently hired Jessica Hosford as its external affairs director. Previously, Hosford was a campaign manager for BHC Consulting Group in Bangor.

Portland-based Hall Web Services, a web development and Internet marketing firm, recently hired Scott Gaw as director of Internet marketing strategy. Previously, Gaw was director of channel marketing at Sage Software, headquartered in Irvine, Calif.

Harold Alfond Center for Cancer Care in Augusta recently hired Ronald Hart as a member of MaineGeneral Medical Center’s active medical staff. Previously, Hart practiced at Oncology Alliance in Milwaukee, Wis.

Wright-Pierce, an engineering firm providing water, wastewater and infrastructure engineering services in Topsham, recently hired Jason Wise as manager of the firm’s GIS services. Wise is a member of regional GIS professional associations and cofounder of the New England ArcGIS Server User Group and Seacoast GIS.

Tastefully Simple Inc., a national gourmet food direct-sales company headquartered in Alexandria, Minn., recently hired Jennifer Roberts of Saco as a regional independent consultant.

Saco and Biddeford Savings Institution, headquartered in Saco, recently hired Francine Anton as a loan officer in the residential and consumer loan department and Stephanie Paquet as a retail retirement program manager. Previously, Anton worked at Biddeford Savings Bank as an administrator of retail lending and Paquet worked for Pepperell Bank and Trust in Bangor.

Inland Hospital recently hired Dana Law-Ham, a family nurse practitioner, at New Horizons Health Care, its family practice division in Waterville.

Augusta-based Nancy Marshall Communications, a full-service website strategy, design and marketing firm, recently hired Amy Rowbottom as project manager for the company’s Marshall Interactive division. Previously, Rowbottom worked as a marketing coordinator at Ashgate Publishing in Burlington, Vt.

The Maine Center for Economic Policy in Augusta recently hired Garrett Martin as economic policy analyst. Previously, Martin was the director of program strategy at the Maine Community Foundation.

Spectrum Generations in Augusta, a provider of information and advice, referrals, programs and activities for older adults, recently hired Rebecca Reynolds as a family caregiver specialist and Daniel Ehlers as the information systems manager.

The Hampton Inn in Presque Isle recently hired Joshua Cushing as its general manager. Previously, Cushing served as general manager of the Residence Inn in Scarborough.

Living Wealth Partners in Portland, a general agency of The Guardian Life Insurance Co. of America, New York, N.Y., recently hired Gene Waters as a financial professional. Previously, Waters was an insurance sales representative with Baystate Financial Services in Boston.

Rinck Advertising, a marketing, promotion and public relations firm in Auburn, recently hired Kevin Mitchell as an associate. Previously, Mitchell worked seasonally as a brand ambassador for Dick’s Sporting Goods Outdoor Adventure Tour.

Oxford Networks, a communications provider headquartered in Lewiston, recently hired David Dumais as a graphic designer in the marketing department and Kaitlin Morgan as a customer service representative. Previously, Dumais worked as an artist for SML Bell Manufacturing in Lewiston and Morgan worked at ING in Lewiston.

Portland-based O’Hearn Insurance Agency recently hired Celeste Zelasko, an insurance agent in Portland. 

CEI Capital Management, a community development corporation headquartered in Wiscasset, recently hired Tom Dolan as asset and relationship manager. Previously, Dolan was general counsel for Fannie Mae American Community Fund.

Southwest Harbor-based Soyatech, a global media, marketing and event company, recently hired Mark Dineen as vice president of sales and marketing. Previously, Dineen was vice president of business development and director of HA Bruno LLC in Paramus, N.J.

Portland-based law firm Verrill Dana recently hired Robert Hirshon in the firm’s litigation and trial department. Previously, Hirshon served as president of the American Bar Association.

Promotions

Portland-based law firm Landis and Arn recently promoted Marcus Jaynes to equity owner. Previously, Jaynes was an associate.

U.S. Cellular in Portland recently promoted Darrell Caron to area sales manager for southern Maine. Previously, Caron served as associate relations manager for U.S. Cellular’s northern New England market.

Colin Coor, a physician at Penobscot Bay Medical Center in Rockport, was recently promoted to regional medical director for the Maine Emergency Medical Services for Knox, Lincoln and Waldo counties.

Gov. John Baldacci recently promoted Beth Bordowitz to the position of chief executive officer of the Finance Authority of Maine. Previously, Bordowitz served as acting chief executive officer.

Portland-based insurance company Clark Associates recently promoted Jeffrey Shaw to vice president. Shaw was also elected to Clark Associates’ board of directors. Previously, Shaw served as a sales manager.

Martin’s Point Health Care, a nonprofit regional health care provider in Portland, recently promoted Sandra Monfiletto to chief administrative officer, Dan Olsten to chief delivery system officer and Laurie Minott to vice president of human resources. Previously, Monfiletto worked as a human resources manager, Olsten worked as a clinical operations manager and Minott worked in human resources.

MaineGeneral Health recently promoted Michael Koziol to the position of senior vice president and chief financial officer. Previously, Koziol was interim chief financial officer.

Appointments

Michael Traister, a director at the Portland law firm Murray, Plumb and Murray, was recently named to the North Yarmouth Zoning Board of Appeals.

Steven Mueller, president of International Woodfuels in Portland, was recently appointed treasurer of the board of directors of the Biomass Thermal Energy Council.

Town and Country Federal Credit Union recently named Paul Chamberlain, director of finance and operations at Alpha One in South Portland, to its board of directors.

The Good Life Center, a nonprofit in Harborside established to preserve the Harborside house, library and garden of Helen and Scott Nearing, recently appointed Diane Fitzgerald, Gwyneth Thomas and Nancy Caudle-Johnson to its board of directors.

The United Way of Aroostook recently appointed Gary Hebert, store manager for U.S. Cellular in Presque Isle, to its board of directors.

Bath Savings Institution recently appointed John Voorhees, who operates a private law practice in Bath, to its board of trustees.

The Maine Insurance Agents Association recently appointment Jason Beever, owner of Gorham-based insurance company C.E. Carll Agency, as its 2009-2010 president.

Robert Keach, a shareholder at the law firm Bernstein Shur in Portland, was recently elected president of the American Bankruptcy Institute, a national association of insolvency professionals.

Kim Laramy of Ethos Marketing and Design in Westbrook was recently appointed to the board of directors of Portland-based Northeast Hearing and Speech Center.

Company News

Gene McKeever, marine insurance specialist, and Rick Bagnall, voluntary benefits specialist, both of the Camden-based Allen Agency, a benefits and insurance planning service provider, were featured speakers at annual regional meetings held this winter by the American Sail Training Association in San Diego, Calif., Newport, R.I., and Chicago, Ill.

Portland-based Maine Center for Enterprise Development, a business incubation center for startup technology companies, recently was awarded a Cluster Initiative Program Award of $49,377 from the Maine Technology Institute. The award supports entrepreneurs working to commercialize new technologies in targeted sectors.

Simmons Ardell Design, a Portland-based design firm, was recently hired by the Maine Cardiology Associates of South Portland to provide advertising, marketing and design services.

Employment Times, headquartered in Auburn, recently partnered with the Maine State Council of the Society for Human Resources Managers to kick off the fourth annual “Best Places to Work in Maine” program. The event recognizes companies that have established and consistently fostered outstanding workplace environments.

Correct Building Products LLC, a producer of sustainable, attractive and durable outdoor building products in Biddeford, recently announced plans to reduce the number of products it offers to simplify ordering and management for lumber distributors and to improve the company’s ability to respond to peak demand during the upcoming deck-building season.

Westbrook-based Disability RMS, a provider of disability risk management products and services, recently said that Ronald Farr, assistant vice president, and Christopher Austin, sales manager, presented at the Benefits Selling Expo 2009 Conference April 1 in Austin, Texas. Farr and Austin outlined how to develop a plan that addresses the untapped first-time buyer market.

Blue Marble Geographics, a developer and provider of geographic software in Gardiner, recently announced the release of 64 Bit versions of its GeoCalc 6.4 software development kit, a fully object-oriented class library for software developers.

Elizabeth Monaghan, mortgage broker and owner of Monaghan Mortgage and Finance in Portland, recently became a certified mortgage consultant by passing the National Association of Mortgage Brokers written certification examination.

Auburn-based Harriman, an architecture and engineering firm, recently said that Daniel Diffin, Jessica Johnson and Daniel Ellingson have received their Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design accreditation from the U.S. Green Building Council. Diffin also received his professional license to practice civil engineering in Maine.

Kristina Libby recently launched her eco-friendly bath and body product company, For the Love of…, in Damariscotta.

Washington, D.C.-based Marriott International Inc. recently opened a 100-suite Residence Inn by Marriott in Auburn.

Sage nonprofit software company Soft Trac, whose Yarmouth office was destroyed by fire, recently announced the opening of its new office in Falmouth.

South Portland-based Town and Country Credit Union recently joined the Credit Union Shared Branching Service Network, which allows credit union members to make a variety of in-branch transactions such as deposits, cash/check withdrawals, money transfers, loan payments, account inquiries at no charge from their financial institution.

Gold Star Honeybees, a manufacturer of beehive kits and services in Bath, recently announced its new Gold Star Top Beehive Kit, which helps promote strong and healthy bees in a natural way.

Biddeford Savings Bank recently completed renovations at its 24 Main St., Biddeford, branch and re-opened the branch.

Gregory Dufour, president and chief executive officer of Camden National Corp., a Camden-based bank, recently announced that the bank’s board of directors declared a $0.25 per share dividend payable on April 30, 2009 for shareholders of record.

KeyBank in Portland recently partnered with local ABC affiliate WMTW-TV in Portland by becoming a supporter of the Keep Maine Strong initiative, a statewide program that encourages consumers to spend money in Maine.

TD Banknorth in Portland recently chose Newry-based Maine Handicapped Skiing, a nonprofit organization that promotes year-round education and training for Maine children with physical disabilities, as the beneficiary of this year’s TD Banknorth Beach to Beacon 10K Road Race.

Saddleback Motor Lodge in Rangeley recently changed the name of its year-round destination property located on Route 4 to Rangeley Saddleback Inn and launched a website at www.rangeleysaddlebackinn.com.

Oxford Networks, a communication provider headquartered in Lewiston, recently launched a 10-gigabit optical ethernet network for businesses across Maine.

Sandcastle Preschool Program Foundation in Lewiston, a private, nonprofit agency that serves children through 5 years of age, recently opened a second location in Lewiston. 

Spotlight

Westbrook-based JobsInTheUS.com, operator of the websites JobsInME.com, JobsInNH.com, JobsInVT.com and JobsInRI.com, recorded nearly 1.8 million visits in March 2009, a 13% increase over February 2009 and one of the single largest months in the company’s history. Employers posted nearly 8,000 open positions on the JobsInTheUs.com network in March. This marks a 10% increase over February and is the second consecutive month of growth in this category.

“We only allow job postings from legitimate, in-state employers, so the increase in postings is truly reflective of the increase in actual employment opportunities,” said Jason Blais, director of business development, in a company press release.

JobsInTheUS.com has been operating state-specific employment websites since 1999.

Accolades

Town and Country Federal Credit Union in South Portland was recently honored with a merit award by the Credit Union National Association Marketing and Business Development Council, a national network comprised of more than 1,000 credit union marketing and business development professionals.

Gritty McDuff’s Brewing Co. in Portland was recently singled out by Forbes.com as a contributing factor to Portland, Maine, becoming number one on Forbes’ 2009 “America’s Most Livable Cities” list.

Ray Pelletier, associate professor of French and chair of the Department of Modern Languages and Classics at the University of Maine in Orono, recently received the first Richard Williamson Award for Leadership in Modern and Classical Languages.

Dot Lamson, director of the Chewonki Center for Environmental Education in Wiscasset, recently received the outstanding leadership and achievement award from the Maine Environmental Education Association.

The Maine International Trade Center recently announced the following winners of the 2009 Maine International Trade and Investment Awards: Elmet Technologies Inc. of Lewiston received the 2009 Exporter of the Year Award; St. Albans, Vt.-based A.N. Deringer, with regional offices in Calais, Jackman and Bangor, received the 2009 Service Provider of the Year Award; Lee Academy of Lee received the 2009 International Innovator of the Year Award; and Cathy Lee, president of Westbrook-based Lee International, received the 2009 President’s Award.

The Southern Midcoast Maine Chamber of Commerce recently announced the recipients of its annual awards: Sigurd Knudsen of Brunswick received the Lifetime Achievement Award; Elena Vandervoort of Bath received the Citizen of the Year Award; the Brunswick Business Center in Brunswick received the Small Business of the Year Award; the Sebasco Harbor Resort in Sebasco Estates received the Business of the Year Award; Steve Hatt and Steve Saucier received the Volunteer of the Year Award; and the town of Brunswick and JHR Development of Maine in Brunswick received the Chairman’s Award.

Norway Savings Bank recently honored the following employees: Katie Letourneau, branch manager of the Norway branch, received the Employee of the Year Award; Tania Paul, a teller in the South Paris branch received the New Employee of the Year Award; and Brian Shibles, vice president and chief financial officer, received the President’s Award.

Susan Steele, director of the Safe and Drug Free Schools program for the Portland Public Schools, recently received the Business Person of the Year Award from Future Business Leaders of America.

The Maine Innkeepers Association in Freeport recently received Habitat for Humanity’s Golden House Award in recognition of its “Hospitality for Habitat” program that raises funds  to build homes for low-income families in Maine.

Eastern Maine Medical Center in Bangor recently received the Outstanding Achievement Award from the Commission on Cancer for its CancerCare of Maine program.

Weichert, Realtors — Waterglen Group in Portland recently recognized Diane Churchill, Waterglen Group’s marketing director, as its top producer for February.

Eastern Maine Healthcare Systems in Brewer recently honored Josephine Beckwith from Lakewood Continuing Care Center in Waterville, Mary Flynn of Dexter Health Care in Dexter, Edwin Needham of Ross Manor in Bangor and Rowena Nelson of Charles A. Dean Memorial Nursing Home in Greenville during the Maine Health Care Association “Remember ME” ceremony.