In short from Dec. 28, 2009 | A roundup of new hires, promotions, accolades and appointments from Maine's business community

New hires

Pierce Atwood, a law firm in Portland, recently hired Lauren Ketchum as a marketing and business development coordinator.

The Wilderness House, an outdoor specialty sports retailer at Sunday River ski resort in Newry, recently hired Kevin Thurston as general manager. Previously, Thurston was director of special projects in the Office of the State Treasurer in Augusta.

Maine Prep, a test prep company in Brunswick, recently hired Bo Gallup as a teacher.

The JTG Foundation, a private foundation in Yarmouth, recently hired Gail Kezer as a program manager. Previously, Kezer was an associate with Kutak, Rock and Campbell in Washington, D.C.

BitSec Global Forensics, a computer forensics and information security trainer in Augusta, recently hired Gary Kessler as development director.

L/A Arts recently hired Jeanelle Demers as curator for the L/A Arts Gallery 5 in Lewiston.

Day One in South Portland, an agency preventing and treating youth substance abuse, recently hired Trish Yale as director of human resources.

KeyBank recently hired Joe Manning as assistant vice president and manager of its Scarborough branch. Previously, Manning was district manager for American General Financial Services Inc. in South Portland.

Central Maine Moving and Storage in Bangor recently hired Patrick Brown and Nick Jilek as household and corporate relocation specialists.

Hillary Massey as an attorney. Previously, Massey was a law clerk in the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court and U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts.

Libby O’Brien Kingsley and Champion, a law firm in Kennebunk, recently hired

Adele LeBorgne of Portland has become an independent consultant with Tastefully Simple Inc., a national direct-sales company featuring easy-to-prepare food products based in Alexandria, Minn.

Promotions

CES Inc., a professional engineering consulting firm in Brewer, recently promoted Denis St. Peter to president of the firm; Jeff Teunisen to executive vice president; Travis Noyes to director of civil engineering; and Pete Tuell to director of structural engineering.

Disability RMS, a reinsurance provider in Westbrook, recently promoted Kate O’Brion, Chris Anthoine and Eric Greenberger to managed disability analysts. The company also promoted Sheila Bellerose to technical claim expert.

Pierce Atwood, a law firm in Portland, recently promoted Amber Elliott to assistant marketing manager in charge of events and communications.

Lynco Incorporated/Lynch Logistics Inc., a Bangor-based transportation, logistics and information management firm, recently promoted Aaron Huotari to director of human resources and safety. Previously, Huotari was operations manager and human resources administrator.

Blue Hill Memorial Hospital recently promoted Kathleen Ober to chief medical officer.

Bergen and Parkinson, a law firm in Kennebunk, recently promoted Leah Rachin to a member of the firm. Previously, Rachin was an associate.

Appointments

The Environmental and Energy Technology Council of Maine in Portland recently elected the following to its board of directors: David Ertz, John Ferland and James Katsiaficas.

The Maine Public Broadcasting Network recently announced that Marjorie Medd, Tom Platz and Anna Thron have been appointed to its board of trustees.

Charles Miller, attorney and managing shareholder of Portland law firm Bernstein Shur, was recently chosen by the Lex Mundi board of directors to serve as North America regional vice chair of the Lex Mundi Managing Partners Committee. Carol Willoughby, also an attorney at Bernstein Shur, was appointed to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation’s Leadership Council.

The Maine chapter of the U.S. Green Building Council in Portland recently announced the following board appointments: Allison Barton, marketing manager of Wright-Ryan Construction in Portland; Asha Escheverria, a member of Bernstein Shur’s litigation and energy and environmental practice groups in Portland; and Cynthia Thomashow, director of the Center for Environmental Education in Unity.

Spotlight

Oakhurst Dairy in Portland recently launched its annual holiday campaign to support the Salvation Army of Northern New England by raising money through sales of Oakhurst egg nog, according to a company press release.

Five cents from every container of Oakhurst egg nog and light egg nog sold during the holiday season will be given to the Salvation Army, according to the company. The money is being raised throughout this holiday season and into January 2010.

This holiday season marks the 10th year of the campaign. To date, the annual campaigns have raised and donated more than $170,000 to the Salvation Army from the sale of more than 3 million containers of Oakhurst egg nog products.

Company news

Maine’s technology industry association, TechMaine in Westbrook, recently completed a census of Maine’s technology work force skills.

First Federal Savings, headquartered in Bath, recently announced plans to open a branch in Wiscasset.

The Oxford Hills Food Collaborative Indoor Farm Market in Norway recently announced it offers online shopping at www.westernmainemarket.com/oxfordhills.

RainWise Inc., a manufacturer of weather stations in Bar Harbor, recently renovated its factory store on Federal Street.

Yarmouth-based Fluid Imaging Technologies, a laboratory and ocean research instrumentation manufacturer, recently celebrated its 10th anniversary.

The Wal-Mart Foundation recently awarded a $25,000 grant to the Good Shepherd Food-Bank in Auburn. Funds will be used to provide equipment and food supplies and to cover startup costs at up to three priority sites. The food bank also recently launched the Feeding Maine Youth program to address childhood hunger and food insecurity throughout the state.

The Maine Technology Institute recently announced three Cluster Initiative Program awards totaling $140,000 to the following organizations: The Technology Association of Maine in Westbrook received $49,500 for its online education program; Bangor-based Heart of Maine Resource Conservation and Development Area received $50,000 for its Farm Fresh for ME agricultural cluster enhancement project; and the University of Southern Maine School of Applied Science, Engineering and Technology in Portland received $40,500 to expand its Manufacturing Applications Center to serve Maine companies.

Pine Tree Society in Bath recently received a $10,000 grant from the Elmina B. Sewall Foundation. The grant will support operations of Pine Tree Camp, a summer camp for Maine children and adults with disabilities.

Franklin Health Women’s Care in Farmington recently announced that employee Susan Kearing received board certification by the American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology, a specialty board recognized by the American Board of Medical Specialties.

Camp Sunshine in Casco recently received $55,000 from the Wal-Mart Foundation to support its retreat for sick children and their families.

The Bingham Program’s advisory committee recently awarded the Acadia Hospital Aware Program in Bangor a two-year, $60,000 grant to broaden efforts at early detection of psychosis. The funds allow program staff to provide training to primary care, pediatric and family practices, and to school personnel on recognizing early warning signs of mental illness.

Down East Community Hospital in Brewer was recently inspected by the Maine Department of Health and Human Services on behalf of the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services. The hospital received a clean bill of health.

Gov. John Baldacci recently nominated the Kennebec Valley Community Action Program’s Head Start in Augusta for the federal Center of Excellence in Early Childhood Award. Programs chosen to receive the federal award will receive $200,000 a year for three to five years.

Mark Curdo, a DJ at Portland-based radio station WCYY, recently stayed on air for 100 hours and, by doing so, raised $25,000 for the Center for Grieving Children in Portland.

Portland-based AIKO Biotechnology Inc., an early-stage drug discovery company focused on pain management and opioid addiction, recently closed on a series A financing.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services recently announced it will award the Bucksport Regional Health Center in Bucksport a $2.5 million grant and the Sacopee Valley Health Center in Porter an $803,000 grant.

Mindy Noonan, an account executive with GHM Insurance Agency in Waterville, recently completed a program at the Certified Insurance Counselors Agency Management Institute.

Accolades

MaineGeneral Health in Waterville recently received the George R. Keller Award from the United Way of Mid-Maine for contributing $50,000 to the United Way’s annual campaign.

William Robitzek, Julian Sweet and Steven Silin, attorneys at Portland law firm Berman and Simmons, were recently included in the New England Super Lawyers list.

Eastern Maine Health Services in Brewer recently received the National Health System Patient Safety Leadership Award from the National Business Group on Health and the VHA Foundation.

Portland-based Martin’s Point Medicare Advantage plans, called Generations Advantage, recently received a five-star rating for both health and drug plan quality and performance by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.

Kappa Mapping Inc. in Bangor, a provider of photogrammetric services, recently received the Small Projects award from MAPPS, a national association of photogrammetry, mapping and geospatial firms.

The Maine Development Foundation and its Employers’ Initiative recently recognized the following organizations for their efforts in supporting employee higher education: Central Maine Healthcare Corporation in Lewiston; Coastal Enterprises Inc. in Wiscasset; Creative Work Systems in Portland; Finance Authority of Maine in Augusta; Maine Civil Liberties Foundation in Portland; Maine Compact for Higher Education in Portland; Maine Humanities Council in Portland; Maine Public Employees Retirement System in Augusta; Mercy Hospital in Portland; Northern New England Housing Investment in Portland; Pratt & Whitney in North Berwick; Sanford Adult Education in Sanford; town of Wells; and Windham Adult Education in Windham.

The Maine Coalition for Excellence in Education in Freeport, an education advocacy group, recently honored outgoing Chairman Peter Geiger with the MCEE Education Leadership Award.

Bruce Coggeshall and Dennis Keeler, partners at Portland law firm Pierce Atwood, were recently selected as Lawyers of the Year by Best Lawyers 2010.

Camden National Corp. was recently named one of the 2009 Best Places to Work in Maine by the Maine State Council of the Society for Human Resources Management, placing second in the large company category.

The American Council of Engineering Companies of Maine recently made the following awards: Stantec of Scarborough received the Grand Conceptor award; Kleinschmidt Associates of Pittsfield received the Honor Award for Engineering Excellence; and Becker Structural Engineers of Portland received the Honor Award for Engineering Excellence.

DennyMike’s ‘Cue Stuff in York, the manufacturer of Texas-style barbecue sauces and rubs, was recently featured on NBC’s “Today” show’s list of “The Tastiest Mail Order Items Available This Season.”

Oxford Networks in Lewiston recently announced that Becky Downey, technician, received a community service award from the Independent Telecommunications Pioneer Association.