In short from Feb. 7, 2011 | A roundup of new hires, promotions, accolades and appointments from Maine's business community

New Hires

KeyBank recently hired Stevan Stromsky as vice president and manager of its Monument Square branch in Portland and Lori Doak as manager of its Brewer branch at 5 Parkway South. Key Private Bank in Portland recently hired Susan Barnicle as relationship manager and vice president for the Portland market and David Robbins as relationship manager and vice president for the Bangor market.

Tilson Technology Management, an information technology project management company in Portland, recently hired Rudy Lozano as a senior consultant.

Preservation Management Inc. in South Portland recently hired Geoff Green, acting commissioner of the Maine Department of Health and Human Services, as executive director of resident services programs, and Steve Robinson as chief facilities and engineering officer.

Furman Gregory Deptula, a law firm in Biddeford, recently hired attorney Edward Demetriou as principal. Previously, Demetriou was a member of Proskauer Rose’s private investment funds group in Boston.

The Acadia Hospital in Bangor recently hired Ted Helberg as vice president of human resources. Previously, Helberg was vice president of human resources at Myllykoski North America, a global paper corporation based in Finland.

Care & Comfort, a statewide home health and mental health care agency in Bangor, recently hired Robert Schenberger as finance manager and Jane Franchetti as assistant director of nursing. Previously, Schenberger worked for the Maine Department of Administrative and Financial Services and Franchetti worked at Franklin Memorial Hospital.

Franklin Memorial Hospital in Farmington recently hired Heinrich Grube as a provider of cardiology specialty services. Franklin Health Wilton Family Practice recently hired Jeffrey Lourie, a board-certified family nurse practitioner. Franklin Health Farmington Family Practice recently hired Linda Christensen, a certified physician assistant.

Allen Insurance and Financial recently hired Stephanie Griffin as a receptionist in the company’s Camden office.

The Natural Resources Council of Maine recently hired Lisa Pohlmann as executive director.

Dirigo Design & Development Inc., a direct response website strategy, design and Internet marketing company in Portland, recently hired Jessie Lacey as creative director. Previously, Lacey was the art director of Maine Home+Design magazine.

The Belfast Area Chamber of Commerce recently hired Jack Driscoll as executive director.

Unity College in Unity recently hired Joseph Galli as annual fund director and Debora Noone as parent and alumni relations coordinator.

Winxnet, an IT solutions provider, recently hired Brandon Hunley as a senior network engineer.

The Maine Municipal Association in Augusta recently hired Gregory Connors as legislative advocate in the organization’s state and federal relations department.

InfoSecurus, a South Portland-based information security services firm, recently hired Brendan Travis as vice president of business development.

The Institute for Humane Education in Surry recently hired Sarah Speare as executive director. Previously, Speare was a consultant to the nonprofit Art At Work/Terra Moto in Portland.

University of Maine at Farmington recently hired Jamie Marcus as director of admissions.

Katahdin Trust Co. in Bangor recently hired Fred Brown as vice president, commercial services officer in its commercial loan office.

Carrabassett Marketing & Printing in North Anson recently hired Jeniffer Cooley as a graphic designer.

The Kennebunk-Kennebunkport Chamber of Commerce recently hired James Fitzgerald as executive director.

Berry, Dunn, McNeil & Parker, an accounting firm in Portland, recently hired Jonathon Ireland as a tax specialist.

Austin Associates, an accounting firm in Auburn, recently hired Matthew Bennett to provide audit, tax and accounting services.

Piper Shores, a nonprofit retirement community in Scarborough, recently hired Peggy Pineo as administrator.

Promotions

TD Bank recently promoted Shaun McIntyre to vice president, municipal lending in its government banking division in Portland.

Maine Distilleries in Freeport, creator of Cold River Vodkas and Gin, recently hired Joe Swanson as sales manager for its distribution operations in Maine and New Hampshire.

Runyon Kersteen Ouellette, an accounting firm in South Portland, recently promoted Tim Gill and Patrick Sage from in-charge accountants to senior accountants, and Chris Gauvin from assistant accountant to staff accountant.

Saco & Biddeford Savings Institution recently promoted Melanie Lee, branch manager in South Portland, to vice president.

KeyBank in Bangor recently promoted Tristine Currie to senior business services officer, business banking. Previously, Currie was relationship manager, business banking.

Worthing & Going, an accounting firm with offices in Saco and Scarborough, recently promoted Adam Hobson to partner.

The Portland Museum of Art recently promoted Erin Damon from curatorial coordinator to assistant registrar.

Appointments

The Human Resources Association of Southern Maine recently appointed the following directors for 2011: Deborah Whitworth, president; Lisa Noonan, president-elect; Robert Smith, treasurer; and Catharine MacLaren, secretary. Drew Anderson, an attorney and director at Portland law firm Murray, Plumb & Murray, was recently elected to the board of the Immigrant Legal Advocacy Project. Riikka Morrill, an associate at Portland law firm Verrill Dana, also joined the board.

John Paterson, shareholder and trial attorney at the law firm Bernstein Shur in Portland, was recently elected president of the Maine Civil Liberties Union.

The Maine Chapter of the U.S. Green Building Council recently elected the following to the board of directors: Tom Brudzinski, Keith Collins, Ian Houseal, Doug Hunter, Steve Konstantino, Naomi Mermin and John Robinson.

Calais City Councilor Marianne Moore was recently named to the executive committee of the Maine Municipal Association.

Gov. Paul LePage recently nominated David Bernhardt to lead the Department of Transportation and Joseph Ponte to serve as head of the corrections department.

Spotlight

The University of Maine was recently awarded a $512,736 grant from the National Science Foundation for further research of a prosthetic robotic hand, according to a press release from the school. The project is under the direction of professor Ashish Deshpande.

According to the National Science Foundation, the project includes the design and development of a prosthetic robotic hand and technology to substantially improve rehabilitation and quality of life for people with hand disabilities, including amputees returning from ongoing wars.

With an annual budget of about $5.5 billion, the National Science Foundation is the chief funding source for approximately 20% of all federally supported basic research conducted by America’s colleges and universities.

Company News

The Portland Regional Chamber and Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield in Maine recently announced a new program called Business Boosters that enables the first 100 businesses with fewer than 50 full-time employees that join the chamber to receive a 50% discount off the year’s membership dues, courtesy of Anthem.

Lafayette Hotels recently announced that the Holiday Inn Portland West at 81 Riverside St. in Portland has changed its name to Fireside Inn and Suites Portland.

Northcross Group, a Portland-based management and information technology firm, recently announced the opening of its secondary office location in Arlington, Va.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences recently awarded $319,680 in research funding to the Mount Desert Island Biological Lab in Salisbury Cove.

Acadia Insurance in Westbrook recently announced that Michelle Winn, director of training, earned the certified professional in learning and performance credential from the American Society for Training & Development Certification Institute.

National Distributors Inc. in South Portland recently celebrated 50 years of business in Maine.

MaineHousing recently received a $212,500 housing counseling grant to be distributed among 13 nonprofit organizations that provide a variety of assistance to Maine people with housing-related issues.

NEWS 8 WMTW-TV in Portland was recently chosen by The Midcoast Regional Redevelopment Authority as its official television media partner.

Winxnet, an IT services provider in Portland, recently announced that employee Dustin Kirschmann is now Apple Certified Support Professional 10.6 certified.

Nancy Marshall Communications, a public relations and social media marketing firm in Augusta, recently announced it has been selected by Church’s China, a retailer of royal commemoratives in England, to market its line of Royal Wedding memorabilia featuring items for the wedding of Prince William of Wales and Kate Middleton.

Camden National Corp. recently declared a $0.25 per share dividend payable on Jan. 31, 2011, for shareholders of record on Jan. 14, 2011.

The Jordie Lee Co., a Portland-based business and commercial real estate brokerage firm, recently announced that Peter Dunn, a business consultant, obtained his Maine real estate license.

The United Way of York County recently announced it raised $1.3 million in its 2010 campaign.

Skowhegan Savings recently announced the following donations: $3,000 to the United Way of Mid-Maine; $5,000 to Main Street Skowhegan; $5,000 to Jobs for Maine Graduates; $1,000 to Big Brothers Big Sisters of Kennebec Valley; and $2,083 to Hospice Volunteers of Somerset County.

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security recently awarded the town of South Paris $29,830 under the Assistance to Firefighters Grants Operations & Safety program.

The Bangor Savings Bank Foundation recently announced the following third-quarter grants: Androscoggin Home Health Services, $2,000; Big Brothers Big Sisters of Midcoast Maine, $5,000; Cancer Support Center of Maine, $2,000; Challenger Learning Center of Maine, $2,500; Community Financial Literacy, $2,500; Franco-American Heritage Center, $5,000; Frannie Peabody Center, $2,500; Hammond Street Senior Center, $3,500; Main Street Skowhegan, $2,500; Maine Media Workshops, $2,500; Mano en Mano/Hand in Hand, $2,000; Orono Bog Boardwalk, $2,000; Penquis Community Action, $2,000; Somerset Career & Technical Center, $5,000; St. Mary’s Regional Medical Center, $10,000; Tri-County Mental Health, $2,500; Trinity Jubilee Center, $2,000; Wayside Theatre Inc., $2,500; and WinterKids, $2,000.

Accolades

The Portland Museum of Art recently announced that Stacy Rodenberger, coordinator of school programs, was named the National Art Education Association’s 2010 Eastern Division Outstanding Museum Educator of the Year.

The Maine Restaurant Association recently gave Richard Pfeffer and Ed Stebbins, co-owners of Gritty McDuff’s Brewing Co. in Portland, its 2011 Restaurateurs of the Year Award.

Allen and Coles Moving Systems in Portland recently received the National Account Growth Award from Sirva Inc. and North American Van Lines.

The Printing Industries of New England announced that Penmor Lithographers in Lewiston is an award winner in the association’s New England regional Awards of Excellence competition.

Woodard & Curran, an architecture, engineering and environmental consulting firm in Portland, recently ranked 60th in ZweigWhite’s 2010 Hot Firm List.

NorState Federal Credit Union in Madawaska recently presented Tammy Cyr-Wortman, member service adviser, with its 2010 President’s Award.

The Yarmouth Chamber of Commerce recently honored Yes! Marketing Group in Yarmouth with the 2010 Beacon Award for Business Leadership.

The Immigrant Legal Advocacy Project recently presented the following awards: Drummond Woodsum, Pro Bono Firm of the Year; Robyn March of Lambert Coffin, Pro Bono Attorney of the Year; James Wagner, Mentor Attorney of the Year; Lisa Adams, Legal Volunteer of the Year; Jill Welch, Clinic Volunteer of the Year; and Patricia Pora, Community Volunteer of the Year.