In Short from Jan. 22, 2009 | A roundup of new hires, promotions, accolades and appointments from Maine's business community

New Hires

Penobscot Bay Medical Center in Rockport recently hired hospitalist physician Andrew Lackoff to the medical staff. Previously, Lackoff was an emergency physician at St. Andrews Hospital in Boothbay Harbor.

Key Investment Services recently announced that Sean Langan has been named financial advisor in KeyBank’s Great Falls Plaza office in Auburn.

Sarah Mawn recently joined The Gelato Fiasco in Brunswick as a gelataia. In addition, Mawn serves as a voice teacher and performs as an opera singer.

Eaton Peabody Consulting Group LLC in Augusta, an economic development consulting service, recently hired Mathew Eddy as executive director and John Holden as economic development consultant. Previously, Eddy served as Brunswick’s director of economic development and Holden managed the Community Programs Division of the Lewiston area office of the USDA Rural Development.

Norway Savings Bank recently hired Kelly Sturmer as assistant vice president and Standish branch manager. Previously, Sturmer was branch manager for another financial institution in Wells.

Carole Hallundbaek was recently hired as the director of the Total Health Alliance in Rockport. Previously, Hallundbaek was a television producer and journalist with Maine Public Broadcasting Network.

Bangor-based law firm Eaton Peabody recently hired the following attorneys: Jason Barrett, Ryan Dumais, Rodney Lake, Jonathan Pottle and Thomas Trenholm. Barrett and Pottle work out of the firm’s Ellsworth office and Dumais, Lake and Trenholm are in Bangor.

Franklin Health Pediatrics, located next to Franklin Memorial Hospital in Farmington, recently hired Michele McCormick as a pediatrician. Previously, McCormick provided locum tenens pediatric care in Maine and New Mexico.

Shalom House Inc., which provides mental health support services and affordable housing for people living with psychiatric disabilities in Portland, announced the appointment of Mary Haynes-Rodgers as executive director. Previously, Haynes-Rodgers served as executive director of Providence Services Corp. of Maine.

Front Burner PR in Portland recently hired Ann Ewing as senior account director. Previously, Ewing served as senior vice president and senior account supervisor at Nashville, Tenn.-based Dye, Van Mol & Lawrence.

Promotions

U.S. Cellular recently promoted William Winslow to sales manager of its Brewer store and Jamie-Lee Roach to sales manager of its Rockland store. Previously, Winslow served as sales manager in Waterville and Roach served as a retail wireless consultant in Portland.

Cory Hutchinson was recently named vice president of waterpark operations and development at Funtown Splashtown USA in Saco. Previously, Hutchinson served as general manager.

Norway Savings Bank recently promoted Cindy Hakala to South Paris branch manager, Amy Marshall to assistant vice president and branch manager in Bethel and Melissa Bobalek to assistant vice president and branch manager in Brunswick. Previously, Hakala was a customer relations supervisor at the Oxford branch, Marshall was branch manager at the Oxford branch and Bobalek was branch manager in Brunswick.

The chairman of the board of directors of Camden National Corp. recently announced that Gregory Dufour has succeeded Robert Daigle as president and chief executive officer of Camden National Corp.

Appointments

Brendan Griffiths of New York City, and John Loerchner of Toronto, Ontario, have been appointed as advisory board members for christophermichaelsullivan, a Portland art firm.

Portland-based law firm Verrill Dana LLP recently announced that Kelly Boden and Brett Witham have been named partners in the firm. Both practice in the firm’s Portland office.

The Maine Institute for Human Genetics and Health, a subsidiary of Eastern Maine Healthcare Systems, recently announced the appointment of Shelia Hoar Zahm, deputy director of the National Cancer Institute’s Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, to the Scientific Advisory Board.

Peter Van Alstine, vice president of sales and marketing for Elmet Technologies in Lewiston, recently was elected to the board of directors of Friends of Casco Bay/Casco Baykeeper. Elmet Technologies serves a wide range of industries, including electronics, medical, lighting, semiconductor, energy, aerospace and automotive.

Gibson & Behman PC, a law firm headquartered in Burlington, Mass., recently announced that Daniel J. Gibson has been named director of the firm’s office in Ogunquit. Gibson will continue to serve as director of the firm’s Boston office.

Spotlight

The Bangor Ronald McDonald House located at 654 State St. recently celebrated its 25th anniversary. The 14-bedroom house opened to guests on Dec. 16, 1983, and since that time has served more than 11,000 families in need of short-term accommodations while their children received treatment at nearby medical facilities.

“The Ronald McDonald House has been a treasure for Bangor and the region for the past 25 years,” said Bangor Mayor Gerry Palmer at a ceremony marking the occasion. “The important services it provides are very necessary and appreciated.”

Company News

The University of Southern Maine’s new residence hall has received LEED Gold Certification by the U.S. Green Building Council for its environmentally responsible design. The new 296-bed, 101,000-sq.-ft. residence hall in Gorham was designed by Harriman Associates, an architecture and engineering firm based in Auburn, and constructed by JCN Construction of Manchester, N.H.

Congressman Mike Michaud recently announced that the U.S. Department of Labor has approved the Trade Adjustment Assistance application submitted on behalf of 21 workers at Bell Manufacturing Co., a label manufacturer in Lewiston. The TAA program provides aid to workers who lose their jobs or whose hours of work and wages are reduced as a result of increased imports. 

The Gelato Fiasco has announced a promotion to celebrate the beginning of winter and the company’s second year in Brunswick. Each time the outside temperature falls below freezing this winter, the company’s Maine Street flagship store in Brunswick will offer a discount of one percent off gelato for each degree below 32 degrees.

Allison Pilitsis of Allen & Selig Realty, of North Yarmouth and Bath, recently earned her associate broker license.

The Golden Eagle restaurant has opened on Route 201 in Madison. The Eagle will be open for breakfast, lunch and dinner and will offer seafood and steak dishes, home-baked breads and daily specials.

The Acadia Hospital, a private, nonprofit psychiatric and chemical dependency treatment provider in Bangor, has received a $26,255 grant from the JTG Foundation in Yarmouth to fund development of a treatment program for early psychosis.

Austin Associates PA, an accounting and business advisory firm with offices in Auburn, Windham and Norway, has completed an independent peer review of its accounting practice and has received an “Unmodified Report, Without a Letter of Comment” -- the highest rating possible. The peer review was conducted under professional standards by the American Institute of CPAs.

Portland-based Emery-Waterhouse, a distributor of hardlines and building materials, recently announced that it was selected as the primary distributor for Grand Lumber Co. Inc. Emery-Waterhouse began its relationship with Grand Lumber earlier this year, supplying product and designing the layout for its new lumberyard and home center in Belchertown, Mass.

Saint Joseph’s College marine science professor Gregory Teegarden has been awarded $90,000 in research funding as part of a major National Aeronautics and Space Administration grant garnered by a collaborative team to continue studying red tide in the Gulf of Maine.

Next Day Art, a Portland-based art licensing company, announced that a number of leading gift manufacturers will debut new designs licensed through the company at the Atlanta International Gift & Home Furnishing Market in Atlanta, Ga.

Bangor-based Rosscare, which provides continuing healthcare services for the frail and elderly, has received a $297,426 grant from the Maine Health Access Foundation to offer comprehensive medical care combining mental and behavioral services with primary care for seniors in the Bangor area who receive care at Eastern Maine Medical Center and the Rosscare nursing facilities.

MaineGeneral Medical Center in Augusta is the first hospital in Maine to offer The Period of PURPLE Crying program to new parents in an effort to reduce the incidence of shaken baby syndrome. Offered through the National Center on Shaken Baby Syndrome, the PURPLE Crying program shows parents and caregivers that crying is normal in young babies and gives them tools to deal with it.

Memphis, Tenn.- based Verso Paper Corp., owner of the Androscoggin Mill in Jay and the Bucksport Mill in Bucksport, announced that its paper mills have been independently audited and certified to the Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification chain of custody standard.

A coalition of state and national public health and environmental groups, including the Natural Resources Council of Maine, have filed a lawsuit in federal court seeking a firm and enforceable new deadline for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to require reductions in mercury and other toxic air pollutants emitted from coal- and oil-fired power plants. 

The Preble Street Resource Center/Wayside, a provider of services to people struggling with homelessness, housing, hunger and poverty in Portland, recently announced a major corporate donation of $30,000 from TD Insurance (affiliated with TD Banknorth), headquartered in South Portland.

U.S. Cellular recently completed construction of additional cell sites in Poland, Frenchville, Monticello and Freeport. The Poland site will increase coverage and network capacity in the town of Poland and provide service along Routes 11 and 26. The Frenchville site will increase coverage and network capacity in the town of Frenchville and provide service along Routes 1 and 162. The Monticello site will bring added coverage and network capacity to Monticello and along Route 1. The Freeport site will increase coverage and capacity in Freeport and along Interstate 295, Route 1 between Freeport and Brunswick, and along Route 125.

Androscoggin Bank, headquartered in Lewiston, recently awarded $25,000 to the St. Mary’s Health System of Lewiston With All Our Hearts capital campaign. The capital campaign supports the expansion and renovation of St. Mary’s emergency department and a 30,000-square-foot Auburn medical office building.

When customers of Shaw’s Supermarkets in Maine purchase polar bear reusable shopping bag this winter, Shaw’s will donate a portion of its sales to Maine Audubon, Maine’s largest wildlife conservation organization.

Portland Urologic Associates recently joined Maine Medical Partners of South Portland and changed its name to Maine Medical Partners-Urology. Maine Medical Partners is a subsidiary of Maine Medical Center offering primary care throughout greater Portland, and specialty and sub-specialty care for the state of Maine.

The Pretty Woman recently opened for business in downtown Brewer and features a full line of women’s fashions. The Pretty Woman also sells mother-of-the bride wear, and a wide range of accessories including purses, jewelry and handmade scarves and sweaters.

Five County Credit Union recently opened a retail banking center in Topsham. The credit union location will be open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. six days a week and on most holidays.

Robert Daigle, president and chief executive officer of Camden National Corp. in Camden, recently announced that the board of directors of the company declared a $0.25 per share dividend payable on Jan. 30, 2009 for shareholders of record on Jan. 15, 2009.

The Sunrise County Economic Council of Machias announced that it has received a $10,000 grant from the Eaton Foundation that will provide scholarships of up to $500 for Washington County young adults ages 18-29 to attend training and/or certification programs to increase their opportunities for employment or job advancement.

Portland-based Tilson Technology Management President Mike Dow recently announced that Tilson is a founding partner in a new venture called Construction Change Partners LLC. The company leverages Tilson’s traditional strength in construction company information technology and business process consulting.

Attorney Scot Draeger of law firm Bernstein Shur in Portland has been selected as a panelist for the Investment Management Compliance Outsourcing Roundtable, sponsored by Money Management Executive in Manhattan. The panel will field questions from the investment management community.

At the annual Androscoggin Valley Board of Realtors holiday party recently, the Androscoggin Valley Board of Realtors presented Androscoggin Head Start and Child Care with approximately 75 snowsuits, as well as a cash donation to purchase winter boots and socks, for the children in Head Start’s programs.

Todd Morrissette, founder and owner of Deadhead Lumber Co. in Scarborough, recently designed and custom-built the Aqua-Logger 1 boat, which uses high-tech side scan sonar and underwater video cameras to find and salvage logs at the bottom of Moosehead Lake that were originally cut when the state’s waterways were the primary means of moving logs from the woods to saw mills.

The Ski Maine Association in Portland, a nonprofit trade association representing the Alpine and Nordic ski industry in Maine, reports that Maine’s ski industry is off to an optimistic start with good crowds at both the community slopes and destination resorts.

CB Richard Ellis/The Boulos Co., a commercial real estate brokerage firm in Portland, recently announced the completion of its “2009 Greater Portland Area Office Market Survey,” which is available online. The report reflects on last year’s commercial real estate office market activity and its impact on landlords, tenants and investors.

In response to the growing number of E-ZPass customers, the Maine Turnpike Authority is in the midst of converting all of its automatic coin lanes to dedicated E-ZPass lanes. More than 50% of turnpike users now pay their tolls with E-ZPass. Less than 10% currently use automatic coin lanes to pay their cash tolls.

The Maine Art Museum Trail has launched a new website and brochure that showcases each of the seven art museums featured on the trail. Both the website and brochure include information and artwork from each museum, along with links to regional arts and cultural organizations on the website.

Charlotte Leavitt, owner/designer of CH*ART* Metalworks, recently opened retail space at 605 Congress St. The company focuses on custom-made jewelry, all with a nautical theme.

mWAVE Industries LLC in Windham, designer and manufacturer of standard and custom antenna products, nearly doubled its 2007 sales to over $2 million in 2008. Additionally, mWAVE won a large order from a prime government contractor for a rugged version of its grid antenna to be used by the U.S. military.

Jim O’Clair of the financial services firm Edward Jones, headquartered in St. Louis, Mo., recently opened a new office at 94 Auburn St. in Portland.

The Washington County Committee of the Maine Community Foundation recently awarded $25,000 to area food pantries. Grant awards were made to Calais Ecumenical Food Pantry, Jonesport Food Pantry, Labor of Love Food Pantry in Eastport, Machias Food Pantry, Topsfield Food Pantry, Tri-Town Food Pantry in Cherryfield, Whiting Community Food Pantry, and Woodland Community Food Pantry.

Lewiston-based Androscoggin Bank’s MainStreet Foundation recently awarded two grants of $10,000 each to the Good Shepherd Food Bank and to Community Concepts Inc. The grants will help local families with children cope with the dramatic economic challenges facing many people in Maine today.

In an effort to improve access and reduce extraction time for emergency calls involving snowmobile accidents, LifeFlight of Maine and the Maine Snowmobile Association have formed a partnership to establish landing zones along the main trail system and educate snowmobile clubs across the state on developing a comprehensive rescue plan.

The Maine Technology Institute has announced March 26, 2009 as the application deadline for the next round of Cluster Initiative Program awards. The recently expanded program supports industry-led projects that build on Maine’s strengths and address gaps in its seven technology sectors.

Dead River Co., a home heating oil and propane retailer based in Bangor, is partnering with local Hannaford Bros. Co. supermarkets to initiate the “Share the Warmth” heating assistance campaign to help families in need pay their fuel bills. Dead River Co. plans to match each dollar collected up to a total of $100,000. The campaign will run until Jan. 31 at Hannaford supermarkets in Maine and New Hampshire.

HealthReach Community Health Centers of Waterville has been awarded a $40,000 grant from the Maine Health Access Foundation. The planning grant is aimed at integrating behavioral health into the medical services offered at the health centers of HealthReach that serve 32,000 area residents each year.

Accolades

The University of Maine Student Recreation and Fitness Center in Orono has become one of 10 new building projects throughout the United States and Canada to receive a 2008 Athletic Business Facility of Merit Award from Athletic Business Magazine.

Portland-based KG Partners, an advertising, public relations and interactive agency, announced that it has won three 2008 Golden Arrow Awards from the Maine Public Relations Council. KG Partners won awards in three of the 13 available categories.

Tony Paine, CTO of Kepware Technologies, a communication software developer in Portland, has been inducted into the University of Maine College of Engineering Francis Crowe Society as a “Distinguished Engineer.” The award recognizes graduates “who have made considerable engineering contributions and honored the profession.”

Northeast Bank of Lewiston was recently ranked 10th nationally among all banks that derive a high percentage of noninterest income from insurance. In a study released for the second quarter, Michael White Associates, in conjunction with the American Bankers Insurance Association, ranked bank holding companies across the U.S. by how much noninterest income was derived from insurance.

Michelle Flaherty, an associate broker with Prudential Northeast Properties in Westbrook, recently received the 2008 Realtor Spirit award for the Greater Portland Board of Realtors. Nominees are chosen by their peers and voted on by a committee of former Realtors of the Year.

Jeffrey Lewis, marine and sustainable energy specialist at The Allen Agency, an insurance provider in Camden, has obtained his license to sell commercial insurance. He studied for the state exam through The Allen Agency’s in-house education program.

Cardiovascular Consultants of Maine, and its Scarborough, Augusta and Waterville offices, have been awarded Heart/Stroke Recognition by the National Committee for Quality Assurance and the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association.

The U.S. Green Building Council awarded Taggart Construction of Freeport and Avesta Housing of Portland Green Homebuilder Awards and CB Richard Ellis, partner of Portland-based The Boulos Co., the 2008 USGBC Leadership Award for Organizational Excellence during the annual Greenbuild International Conference.

The American Council of Engineering Companies of Maine presented Wright-Pierce, an engineering firm with offices in Portland and Topsham, with an Honor Award for the Falmouth, Maine Water Pollution Control Facility upgrade project at the recent annual 2009 Engineering Excellence Awards ceremony. The Honor Award recognizes engineering firms for projects that epitomize quality, innovation, value and client satisfaction.