In short from Jan. 24, 2011 | A roundup of new hires, promotions, accolades and appointments from Maine's business community

New Hires

Winxnet, an IT solutions provider in Portland, recently hired Dale Powers as a help desk technician and Thomas Golebiewski as a network support specialist.

Gawron Turgeon Architects, an architecture, interior design and landscape architecture firm in Scarborough, recently hired Daniel Levesque as a building information modeling manager, Brittani Fleury as an intern interior designer and Nikki Evans as a receptionist and administrative assistant.

Friends of Casco Bay/Casco Baykeeper in Portland recently hired Will Everitt as development director. Previously, Everitt was the Maine state director of the League of Young Voters.

Hurley Travel Experts in Portland recently hired Joline Sullivan and Anne Mazer as corporate travel consultants.

iBec Creative, a provider of website and design services in Portland, recently hired Sarah Frisk as a junior web developer.

WCSH 6 in Portland and WLBZ 2 in Bangor recently hired political analysts Ethan Strimling, a Democrat, and Philip Harriman, a Republican, to its News Center team.

Care & Comfort Inc., a statewide home health and mental health care agency headquartered in Waterville, recently hired Jeremy Dube as the hiring and training coordinator for its Bangor branch and Melissa Curtis as human resources supervisor for its Waterville and Wilton offices.

Bridgton Hospital recently hired R. David Frum as president. Previously, Frum was president and CEO of Saint Catherine Regional Hospital in Charlestown, Ind.

Frank Martin Sons Inc., a construction and forestry heavy equipment dealer in Fort Kent and Madison, recently hired John Shoum to cover sales in its southern and central Maine territory.

WMTW-TV Channel 8 in Portland recently hired Erin Ovalle as a weekday morning co-anchor.

Connectivity Point Design and Installation, a communications cabling design and installation contractor in Auburn, recently hired Tim Booth as a sales engineer.

Maine Medical Center in Portland recently hired Heidi Wierman as medical director of geriatrics. Wierman was also appointed the Suzi Osher Chair of Geriatrics at Maine Medical Center.

Pierce Atwood, a law firm in Portland, recently appointed attorneys Lori Desjardins and Liam Vesely to the partnership.

KeyBank recently hired Sheri Quatrale as assistant vice president and branch manager for its Bangor Mid Mall branch, located at 29 Bangor Mall Blvd. in Bangor. Previously, Quatrale was a housing lending officer at Maine Savings Federal Credit Union.

Penobscot Job Corps Academy in Bangor recently hired Rip Shivone as director.

Tilson Technology Management, an information technology project management company in Portland, recently hired Steven Foskett as senior consultant. Previously, Foskett was owner of Foskett Consulting.

Shamrock Sports Group, a sports and entertainment marketing agency in Portland, recently hired Jim Tucker as executive vice president.

Saco & Biddeford Savings Institution recently hired Patrick DeCourcey as a loan officer in the residential/consumer lending department at its South Portland branch, and Michele Tanguay as a customer service representative at its Saco branch.

The York County Community College in Wells recently hired Kristina Wyatt as an institutional research coordinator. Previously, Wyatt was an associate dean at the University of the Arts in Philadelphia.

Promotions

Sellers Publishing Inc., a publisher of calendars, books and greeting cards in South Portland, recently promoted Glen Stimson from business manager to chief financial officer.

Time Warner Cable in Portland recently promoted Paul Schonewolf to area vice president with responsibility for all of its business operations in New England.

Goold Health Systems in Augusta, a health care management company focusing on Medicaid services, recently promoted software engineer Miklos Van Halen to manager of product development. People’s United Bank in Bangor recently promoted Leah Peabody to mortgage manager and vice president.

Care & Comfort Inc., a statewide home health and mental health care agency headquartered in Waterville, recently promoted Joe Tinkham to quality assurance manager and Carol Davis to billing manager.

SystemArchitecture.NET, a technology firm in Windham, recently promoted Sara Andersen to manager of human resources.

Appointments

Sebago Technics Inc., a land development engineering firm headquartered in Westbrook, recently appointed the following to the position of practice development leader in their practice area: Grant Austin, climate change/environmental services; William Conway, land development; Kylie Mason, institutions; Owens McCullough, public services; Troy McDonald, telecommunications; Daniel Riley, energy; and Stephen Sawyer, transportation.

Verrill Dana, a law firm in Portland, recently announced that Adrianne Fouts, a member of the firm’s litigation and trial and intellectual property and technology practice groups, was selected to join the board of directors of Maine Volunteer Lawyers for the Arts. Verrill Dana also announced that Johanna Babb, an associate at the firm, has accepted a four-month fellowship from Mapendo International, and will be working with Mapendo in Nairobi, Kenya.

The Maine Association of Retirees recently appointed Gary Reed as co-chair of its legislative committee.

Gene McKeever, a marine insurance specialist with Allen Insurance and Financial in Camden, was recently appointed to the company’s board of directors.

Don Hanson, co-owner and director of behavior counseling and training at the Green Acres Kennel Shop in Bangor, was recently elected to a three-year term on the Association of Pet Dog Trainers’ board of directors.

The Cumberland County Commissioners recently approved the selection of the following three trustees to serve three-year terms on the Cumberland County Civic Center board of trustees: Neal Pratt, Gary Plummer and Joe Bruno.

The Portland City Council recently appointed assistant city manager Patricia Finnigan as acting city manager effective Feb. 11.

The Associated Builders and Contractors of Maine recently appointed James Cote, director of communications and government relations at the Maine Forest Products Council, as president and CEO.

The Androscoggin Land Trust recently elected the following to three-year terms on its board: Steve Sinisi, John Ackerman, Dana Little, Ed Plourde, Jason Libby and Kevin Fletcher.

Steve Pound, vice chair of the Maine State Board of Education, was recently elected to the board of the National Association of State Boards of Education.

Spotlight

Whitney Wreath Co. recently received a business and industry guaranteed loan of $3.26 million from United States Department of Agriculture Rural Development in partnership with local lender Machias Savings Bank, according to a press release from the department.

Whitney Wreath Co., located in Whitneyville, manufactures holiday wreaths and other decorations for sale worldwide as a vendor for major retailers. It will utilize the funds to make real estate improvements, acquire equipment and refinance existing debt. This funding is expected to help save approximately 455 jobs.

The loan program is designed to improve, develop or finance business and sustain employment, as well as improve the economic and environmental climate in rural communities in Maine. It works by bolstering existing private credit structure through the guarantee of loans by local lenders.

Company News

The Coca-Cola Foundation, the philanthropic arm of The Coca-Cola Co., recently awarded $50,000 to Maine Medical Center in Portland for educational programs.

Ecomaine in Portland, a nonprofit group that handles recycling and waste disposal for area municipalities, recently announced it broke its own recycling record every month for the past 12 months. From December 2009 through November 2010, its recycling facility averaged 5.4 million pounds per month and the organization expects that average to increase into 2011.

Blue Marble Geographics in Gardiner, a developer and provider of geographic software products, recently announced a functional enhancement in its Geographic Calculator v7.5 with the addition of an enhanced area calculation tool.

Ocean Renewable Power Co. in Portland recently signed an agreement with Perry Marine and Construction for construction management and assembly services for its TidGen Power System to be installed in two phases over the next two years in the Eastport and Lubec region.

Bates College in Lewiston recently received a $150,000 grant from the George I. Alden Trust to support the expansion and renovation of Hedge Hall.

The U.S. Department of Transportation recently awarded the Downeaster rail line from Portland to Boston $3.38 million in funding.

The University of Maine at Farmington’s Upward Bound Program was recently awarded a $20,000 grant as part of the newly created Maine College Access Challenge Grant program administered by the Finance Authority of Maine.

Verrill Dana, a law firm in Portland, recently announced that it joined Maine Businesses for Sustainability as a Sustainable Business Collaborative member.

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development recently approved $900,000 in the fiscal year 2010 Consolidated Appropriations Act for the city of Lewiston’s ongoing efforts to revitalize its riverfront.

Saint Joseph’s College of Maine in Standish recently announced that its graduate online family nurse practitioner program will now allow its masters-level nursing students to gain clinical experience in their home areas under the supervision of a local clinical preceptor and a Saint Joseph’s clinical coordinator. The program will allow students to finish their program more quickly and without required on-site clinical residencies in Maine.

SystemArchitecture.NET, an IT consulting firm headquartered in Windham, recently announced it has expanded services to include network engineering, IT support, website design and Internet marketing.

Biovation in Boothbay, a manufacturer of anti-microbial formulations and non-woven fiber products for food packaging and wound care, has launched the BioArmour anti-microbial product platform for the textile and fabric industry.

Pen Bay Women’s Health in Rockport was recently accredited in obstetric and gynecologic ultrasound by the Ultrasound Practice Council of the American Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine.

Gary Kessler, director of training and curriculum development at Augusta-based BitSec Global Forensics, recently earned his PhD in computing technology in education from Nova Southeastern University in Florida.

College of the Atlantic in Bar Harbor recently announced its Environmental Protection Agency’s Green Power partnership. The partnership recognizes institutions and corporations that support the development of renewable energy by purchasing renewable energy certificates from new, renewable energy sources.

The Maine Medical Center Lifeline Workplace Wellness Program recently announced the launch of its new website, www.mmc.org/lifelinewellness.

Barbara Babkirk, founder of Heart At Work Career Counseling and Outplacement Services in Portland, recently presented on work, meaning and purpose in the second half of life at the International Conference on Positive Aging in Los Angeles.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services National Institute of General Medical Science recently awarded The Jackson Laboratory in Bar Harbor $386,385 in research funds to support the laboratory’s biomedical research.

The Maine Public Broadcasting Network recently announced plans to improve the signal strength of its over-the-air television broadcasts in the Bangor viewing area by installing new broadcasting equipment on Blackcap Mountain in Eddington.

Franklin Memorial Hospital in Farmington recently announced its plan to relocate Franklin Health Farmington Family Practice to the ground floor of the Medical Arts Center on the Franklin Memorial Hospital campus. The move is expected to take place in March.

Rachel Larrivee, a licensed massage therapist, recently opened her private practice at 183 Main St. in Lewiston.

Presumpscot Regional Land Trust recently received a $10,000 grant from the Davis Conservation Fund to help in its effort to conserve the 100-acre Randall Orchards in Standish and the surrounding 400 acres in Standish and Gorham with a conservation easement.

The Maine Health Access Foundation recently awarded $265,842 in grants to the following community partnerships addressing health concerns: city of Bangor Health & Community Services Department; city of Calais Blue Devil Health Center; Community Concepts Inc.; Maine Primary Care Association; People Plus; Sacopee Valley Health Center; St. Mary’s Health System Nutrition Center of Maine; Western Maine Community Action Health Services; and Western Maine Health Care Corp. – Healthy Oxford Hills.

The First Bancorp in Damariscotta recently declared a quarterly dividend of 19.5 cents per share. This fourth-quarter dividend, payable Jan. 28 to shareholders of record as of Jan. 6, is equal to the 19.5 cents per share declared in the previous nine quarters.

Gulf of Maine Inc., a marine bio-supply company in Pembroke, was recently hired by Ron Jenkins, director of Maine Indian Education in Calais, to take on a cooperative marine education program. Phase I, which is now complete, was to clean, overhaul and repopulate the 600-gallon coldwater touch tank system. Phase II, which is pending future funding, will allow Gulf of Maine Inc. to train local Native American students as touch-tank guides

Accolades

The Inn by the Sea in Cape Elizabeth was recently named one of the Top 500 hotels in the U.S. in a Travel & Leisure magazine readers’ poll.

Thomas Bickford, executive director of Maine Robotics in Orono, recently received the Phillip Marcoux Award from the Maine Science Teachers Association.

At the Association of State Chamber Professionals’ 2010 fall conference, held in French Lick, Ind., the Maine State Chamber of Commerce was presented with two awards of recognition for the highest retention in dollars, with a 98.8% retention rate; and the highest retention in numbers, with a 97.8% retention rate.

The Maine Innkeepers Association recently presented the following awards: Cornelius Russell, general manager of the Samoset Resort in Rockport, Innkeeper of the Year Award; Carla Lafayette and Danny Lafayette of Lafayette Hotels in Bangor, Community Service Award; Richard Lindgren of Habitat for Humanity of Greater Portland, the Special Service Award; and David Boggs, president and CEO of Acro Global, Allied Member of the Year Award.

Matt Gutshall, a client specialist at Northeast Bank in Lewiston, recently received the Young Professionals of the Lewiston Auburn Area’s Community Involvement Award.

J.S. McCarthy Printers in Augusta was recently honored with the best of show award from Printing Industries of New England.

Terrence Garmey, partner at Saco-based law firm Smith, Elliott, Smith & Garmey, was recently named Lawyer of the Year for Portland in the area of personal injury law by Best Lawyers in America.

Kappa Mapping in Bangor recently received the small projects award at the fourth annual MAPPS Geospatial Products and Services Excellence Awards competition with its Tenant’s Harbor Buoy Counting Project.

Catherine Bruno, chief information officer at Eastern Maine Healthcare Systems in Brewer, was recently awarded the Chief Information Officer of the Year Award from the New England Chapter of the Healthcare Information & Management Systems Society.