In Short from March 3, 2009 | A roundup of new hires, promotions, accolades and appointments from Maine's business community

New Hires

Portland-based Living Wealth Partners, a general agency of The Guardian Life Insurance Company of America in New York, N.Y., recently hired David Tremberth as a field representative and James Kachmar as a career development supervisor.

Runyon Kersteen Ouellette, an accounting, auditing and consulting firm, recently hired John Libby as a staff accountant in its South Portland office. Previously, Libby worked at Sappi Fine Paper in Westbrook.

Portland-based ecomaine, a nonprofit, regional, municipally owned recycling and waste-to-energy operation, recently hired Eric Doane as a director of finance and administration.

The Salvation Army Northern New England Division in Portland recently hired Harland Goodwin as the planned giving director. Previously, Goodwin was co-owner of Spring Hill Restaurant and Banquet Hall in South Berwick.

Guiding Stars Licensing Co., a storewide nutrition navigation system headquartered in Scarborough, recently hired Betts FitzGerald as managing director. Previously, FitzGerald served as vice president, licensing and marketing, at 4 Kids Entertainment in New York, N.Y.

The Maine Audubon, headquartered in Falmouth, recently hired Theodore Koffman as its new executive director. Previously, Koffman served for eight years in the Maine House of Representatives.

Lani Guay was recently hired as the senior network support specialist at Saco and Biddeford Savings Institution’s Operations Center in Saco. Previously, Guay was an information technology officer at Rivergreen Bank in Kennebunk.

The Maine Institute for Human Genetics and Health in Brewer recently hired Claire Deselle as the managing director of business affairs. Previously, Deselle served as president and CEO of cancer diagnostic company Tailored Tactics Inc. in Indianapolis, Ind.

Planet Dog, a developer of dog products in Portland, recently hired Diane Blahusch as an inside sales and business developer. Previously, Blahusch was an asset manager for Olympus Asset Management in Scarborough.

Freeport-based Cold River Vodka recently hired Dawn Marie Herrick as its Massachusetts sales representative. Previously, Herrick was the Massachusetts sales and marketing representative for Chambord Liqueur of Philadelphia, Pa.

Pinnacle Development Group, a software, web application, website and information technology firm headquartered in Waterville, recently hired Troy Gagnon as chief operating officer.

Portland-based law firm Verrill Dana recently hired Steven Rowe as counsel in the firm’s litigation and trial and environmental departments in the Portland office. Previously, Rowe served as Maine’s attorney general.

The College of the Atlantic in Bar Harbor recently hired Heather Albert-Knopp to administer the college’s new sustainable food systems program and Alyssa Mack as the new farm manager at the college’s organic Beech Hill Farm near Somesville.

WBRC Architects and Engineers, headquartered in Bangor, recently hired Shirley Holt in the firm’s Portland branch office.

Saint Joseph’s College in Standish recently hired Brent Wooten as the marketing director for the online graduate and professional studies program. Previously, Wooten was a research director at Central Maine Power Co.

Oakland Family Health Care recently hired Zachary Musgrave, a family medicine physician, as a member of MaineGeneral Medical Center’s ambulatory care staff in Waterville.

Portland-based law firm Pierce Atwood recently hired Raymond Arner as a partner in the firm’s intellectual property group. He will work out of the firm’s Boston office. Previously, Arner was a principal with the law firm Miller, Canfield, Paddock and Stone in Cambridge, Mass.

Camden-based insurance company Allen Agency recently hired Samantha Cloutier as the receptionist in the company’s Camden office.

Blue Hill Women’s Health Care, a practice of Blue Hill Memorial Hospital, recently hired gynecologist Kathleen Obers. Previously, Obers worked at Partners for Women’s Health in Exeter, N.H.

Disability RMS, a reinsurance provider in Westbrook, recently hired Jeanette Kennie, Audra Plummer and Judith Drouin as claims support specialists.

Promotions

Gritty McDuff’s Brew Pub recently promoted Executive Chef Dave French to the position of general manager of the company’s Auburn location. Previously, French served as the executive chef for all three Gritty’s locations.

Portland-based law firm Murray, Plumb and Murray recently promoted Attorney John Shumadine to shareholder and director of the firm.

Norway Savings Bank recently promoted Ray Charest to assistant vice president and network administrator in the bank’s operations center in Norway. Previously, Charest served as assistant network administrator.

Biddeford Savings Bank in Biddeford recently promoted Christopher Bailey to vice president and risk manager and Elizabeth Boudreau to marketing officer. Previously, Bailey served as a commercial lending officer and Boudreau served as vice president and auditor.

Appointments

Craig Gunderson, president and CEO of communications provider Oxford Networks in Lewiston, was recently elected to the board of directors of the Lewiston Auburn Economic Growth Council.

Gov. John Baldacci recently appointed the following people: Adam Cote and W. Donald Hudson to the Midcoast Regional Redevelopment Authority; Susan Snowden and Michael Mahoney to the Finance Authority of Maine Board of Directors; Cathy McKelway to the Maine Rural Development Authority Board of Trustees; and Maryagnes Gillman to the Maine Health Data Organization.

Elizabeth Olivier, an attorney at Portland-based law firm Preti Flaherty, was recently elected co-chair of the Maine State Bar Association’s Women’s Law Section.

The Maine Marine Trades Association in Portland recently elected the following to its board of directors-at-large: Jeff Baker of Sabre Yachts in South Casco; Bill Fletcher of Beaver Cove Marina in Beaver Cove; Ian Kopp of Maritime Marine in Augusta; Skip Robinson of Marine Industries Consultants in Brunswick and Sean Tarpey of Rumery’s Boat Yard in Biddeford.

Common Good Ventures, a nonprofit technical support provider in Brunswick, recently appointed the following people to its board: Christopher Speh, founder and former CEO of Resource Solutions Inc. in Cape Elizabeth; Herb Janick, a partner at Bingham McCutchen in Portland; and John Heald, former president of Harland Printed Products in Decatur, Ga.

Bruce Mallonee of Bangor-based law firm Rudman and Winchell was recently appointed the 2009 chair of the Campaign for Justice based in Hallowell.

Kathy Leighton, a licensed aesthetician of skin solutions from Plastic & Hand in South Portland, was recently appointed to the Biomedic Aesthetic Council.

Portland-based Putney Inc, a pharmaceutical company that develops drugs for pets, recently established a Veterinary Advisory Board and appointed the following board members: Pete Bill, director of the veterinary technology program at Purdue University in West Lafayette, Ind.; Gary Block of Ocean State Veterinary Specialists in East Greenwich, R.I.; Whadzen Carrasquillo of Jones Bridge Animal Hospital in Alpharetta, Ga.; Hugh Lewis, former dean of the School of Veterinary Medicine at Purdue University; and Mark Papich, professor of clinical pharmacology in the College of Veterinary Medicine at North Carolina State University in Raleigh, N.C.

The Midcoast Commerce Connection, a group of area business owners, recently elected the following: Charles Martin, a local writer and editor, as president; Meghan Murphy, a realtor with CHR Realty in Brunswick, as vice president; and Michael Wayshe, a local CPA, as secretary/treasurer. In addition, the Midcoast Commerce Connection appointed Alison Lee Freeman and Kirk Kennedy as co-chairs of the Membership Committee and Harry Hopcroft as editor of the Midcoast Commerce Connection’s Weekly Notes.

Spotlight

Jøtul North America, a global hearth products manufacturer based in Gorham, recently awarded year-end bonuses of 25% of each staffer’s annual salary, totaling $1 million.

According to a company release, Jøtul North America saw a 48% increase in sales in 2008. That increase, combined with successful efforts to streamline the manufacturing process, enabled Jøtul to distribute the bonuses to all non-commissioned employees. Jøtul North America has an annual estimated annual revenue of $34 million, according to Dun and Bradstreet, and employs more than 80 people.

Jøtul North America designs and manufactures gas products and sells over 30,000 wood and gas units annually. It is owned by Jøtul AS, a Norwegian company.

Company News

The Leadership School at Kieve in Nobleboro recently announced the opening of its state-of-the-art indoor climbing wall and challenge course for Maine middle school students.

Two members of St. Mary’s Center for Physical Rehabilitation in Lewiston recently became certified ergonomics assessment specialists. Occupational therapists Alison Almlov Fenton and Jennifer Mower recently became certified in office and industrial ergonomic analysis. The certification allows Fenton and Mower to identify anatomical areas susceptible to injuries and understand the causes, signs and symptoms of muscular-skeletal disorders.

Portland-based Gilchrist Scott, an accounting and back-office software company, recently announced that MAINe Circuit Breaker of Bangor is now live with Microsoft Dynamics GP. MAINe Circuit Breaker Inc. was conceived in 1994 to fill the need of electrical distributors for a full-line supplier of electrical circuit breakers.

Penobscot Bay Medical Center in Rockport has maintained its Tier 1 status from the Maine State Employee Health Commission. Penobscot Bay Medical Center earned blue ribbons in all three of the commission’s rating categories. The blue ribbons are awarded by the Maine Health Management Coalition’s Pathways to Excellence Hospital Measurement and Reporting Initiative.

Susan Young, a diabetes education and infection control nurse at Blue Hill Memorial Hospital in Blue Hill, will travel to Ecuador as part of the 19th annual Hancock County Medical Mission. Hancock County Medical Mission was founded in 1989 to make a difference in the health care of poorer nations.

Brecher and Sealander Architects, with offices in Ellsworth and Bar Harbor, recently bested a field of 12 other design firms to be selected as the architect for the Swan’s Island Library. The new facility will replace the previous library, which burned.

True North, a nonprofit health care practice and research organization in Falmouth, recently announced the following five affiliate members: Joe de Silva, personal fitness trainer; Deb Bergeron, life coach; Jennifer Lunden, mental health and substance abuse counselor; Robert Myers, licensed clinical professional counselor; and Jasmina Agrillo, licensed HeartMath provider. They are True North’s first five affiliate members.

WCSH6 of Portland recently announced a new partnership with Nassau Broadcasting. As of Feb. 2, News Center’s morning and early evening newscasts were simulcast on Nassau’s “Oldies Channel” music format on 870AM and 1470AM frequencies.

Portland-based FetchDog.com, an online destination for dog owners to shop, learn and socialize, recently announced that it has closed a $4 million round of funding led by Borealis Capital Partners and Harbor Light Capital Partners, both of New Hampshire. In addition to its Internet site, FetchDog publishes a catalog for dog supplies.

Sashay, a women’s clothing and consulting store, recently opened at The Shops at Falmouth Village on Route 1 in Falmouth.

O2 Salon & Spa has opened on the ground level of the State Theater building in Portland. In addition to haircutting and coloring, the full-service salon and spa offers waxing, manicures and pedicures, facials, make-up and make-up consultations and several kinds of massage therapy.

Scarborough-based Hannaford Bros. Co. recently presented the People’s Regional Opportunity Program, a nonprofit community action agency in Portland, with a check for $50,000. The check represents proceeds from Hannaford’s recent charity auction.

Kno-Wal-Lin Home Care and Hospice in Rockland recently announced that Ira Mandel, the agency’s hospice and palliative care medical director, has been granted the Certificate of Added Qualification in Hospice and Palliative Medicine.

CovalX AG, a technology service provider in Switzerland, and BioAnalyte Inc., a scientific software company in Portland, announced that they have entered into a co-development agreement that will lead to the release of new software for discovering how proteins interact in large complexes.

Maine Coastal Flight Center, a flight training facility located at the Hancock County-Bar Harbor Airport in Trenton, is now a Cirrus Standardized Training Center as awarded by the Cirrus Aircraft Corp of Duluth, Minn.

The Federal Aviation Administration recently awarded funding to the Bangor International Airport in Bangor and the Eastern Slopes Regional Airport in Fryeburg. The Bangor International Airport was awarded a $460,000 grant for an interactive training system and rehabilitation of the cargo apron. The Eastern Slopes Regional Airport was awarded an $85,335 grant for a master plan update. 

Augusta-based Goold Health Systems, a health care management company focusing on Medicaid services, recently signed a subcontract with Unisys Corp., an information technology consulting services and solutions company headquartered in Philadelphia, Pa., to provide prior authorization, data management and mailroom services for Maine’s Medicaid program.

The Acadia Hospital in Bangor recently earned the Commission’s Gold Seal of Approval from the Joint Commission in Oakbrook Terrace, Ill., for its hospital-based behavioral services. The accreditation process is designed to help health care organizations provide safe, high-quality care, treatment and services by identifying opportunities for improvement and supporting the implementation of improvement plans.

Katahdin Forest Products, parent company of Katahdin Cedar Log Homes in Oakfield, recently purchased SWP Industries’ saw mill in Ashland.

Franklin Memorial Hospital in Farmington recently announced that Larry Labul received subspecialty board certification in hospice and palliative medicine by the American Board of Internal Medicine.

Wright-Pierce, an engineering firm in Portland, recently announced that Brian Cataldo recently received its professional engineering registrations.

Accolades

Eisenhower Fellowships recently announced the selection of John Nutting as the 2009 Agriculture Fellow. Nutting operates Androscoggin Holsteins, a farm in Leeds, with his parents and also works as a government affairs consultant for Maine Street Solutions, a service of Portland’s Verrill Dana law firm.

U.S. Cellular recently awarded Director’s Club honors to the following: Laurel Feeney, sales support specialist in Bangor; Mary Grose, sales manager of the company’s Bangor retail store; Kimberly Bolduc, retail wireless consultant in Bangor; Steve Batchelder, facilities manager for New England; and Krasimra Valcheva, cashier greeter at the company’s South Paris store. The Director’s Club recognizes associates who serve customers with excellence and who exceed business goals.

At the 2009 Governor’s Conference on Tourism in Portland, the following Maine Tourism Awards were presented: The SummerKeys music program of Lubec received Commitment to Innovation and Creativity; Maine Port Authority’s CruiseMaineUSA received Commitment to Tourism Growth; The Bayview of Bar Harbor received Commitment to Customer Service; The American Folk Festival of Bangor received Commitment to Community; and the Convention and Visitor’s Bureau of Greater Portland received the Governor’s Award for Tourism Excellence. 

The Maine Marine Trades Association recently announced a course catalog for its new Marine Industry Owner/Operator College in Thomaston.

The Maine Maritime Museum in Bath, departing from its normal practice of recognizing an individual, recently awarded the Mariner of the Year award to all Bath Iron Works employees for building Arleigh Burke destroyers for the U.S. Navy.

Mindy Ruth Novick, a life path coach and facilitator, recently announced the opening of her practice in Yarmouth.

McClain Marketing Group, a strategic marketing solutions firm in Portland, recently received 18 awards in the sixth annual Service Industry Advertising Awards national competition. Nine were gold awards, three were silver and six were merit awards.

The American Bankers Association recently gave Kennebunk Savings Bank in Kennebunk an ABA Community Bank Award for its community investment program. KSB will be featured in an upcoming issue of the American Bankers Association’s Community Banker magazine.

Berry, Dunn, McNeil and Parker, a public accounting and management consulting firm in Portland, recently announced that Seth Webber has been awarded the Certified Business Appraiser credential and William Enck has been awarded the Certified Pension Consultant credential.

Portland-based dog product manufacturer Planet Dog recently received the 2008 Pinnacle Award for its Slobber-Wick collection of buddies and bones for dogs. The toys were ranked first in the dog toys category of the annual Pet Age magazine awards.