In Short from Nov. 3, 2008 | A roundup of new hires, promotions, accolades and appointments from Maine's business community

New Hires

McClain Marketing Group in Portland recently hired Paul Engel as account manager and PR specialist. Engel was formerly director of marketing at the Portland law firm Verrill Dana.

Wright-Pierce, a civil and environmental engineering firm with offices in Topsham and Portland, recently hired Mark Wetzel as senior associate.

Wright-Ryan Construction in Portland recently hired Hadley Schmoyer as marketing coordinator and Scott Cristina as project manager. Schmoyer previously worked as a curator at the Portland Harbor Museum in South Portland and Cristina worked as senior project manager at Ledgewood Construction in South Portland.

Charter Oak Capital Management recently hired Jonathan Cottrell as a principal and senior vice president of corporate development. Jonathan previously worked as senior vice president at Acadia Trust in Portland.

Lee Academy, an independent boarding and day school, recently hired JoAnn Graffam as the school’s first director of campaign and major gifts.

MetLife, a life insurance company with an office in Cumberland Foreside, recently hired Mark Roop as an investment advisor representative. Previously, Roop worked as a senior analyst at the Maine office of Marsh & McLennan of New York.

The Northeast Bank Insurance Group recently hired Kim Collins as a senior personal lines account representative and Becky Nelson as a commercial lines account representative, both at the firm’s Livermore Falls office.

Saco & Biddeford Savings Institution, based in Saco, recently hired Julie Villemaire as manager of its new Westbrook branch, scheduled to open in early 2009. Villemaire previously worked as vice president and branch manager at Rivergreen Bank in Saco. The bank also hired Mike Jean as a commercial lending officer. Jean previously was a development/commercial loan officer for Bedford Lending Company in Bedford, N.H.

Penobscot Bay Medical Center in Rockland recently hired Colin Coor for its active medical staff in the emergency department.

Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage, based in Waltham, Mass., and with offices in Maine, recently hired Jo-Ann Smith as a sales associate in its Yarmouth office.

Child Care Connections, a community service organization in Scarborough, recently hired Debora Schofield as education specialist. Previously, Schofield was the child care program manager at a nonprofit special education program in southern Maine.

Bangor Hydro-Electric Co. recently hired Robert Lysaght as vice president of human services and Michael Clisham as a lawyer.

MaineGeneral Medical Center, which has campuses in Augusta and Waterville, recently hired Katie Chirkova as active medical staff on the Thayer Campus. Chirkova recently finished her residency in emergency medicine at Los Angeles County Medical Center at the University of Southern California. MaineGeneral’s emergency department also recently hired Amelia Randolph as active medical staff. She completed her residency training in family medicine at Mercy-Redding Family Practice Residency Program at the University of California at Davis in Redding, Calif.

Martin’s Point Health Care, a primary care and health plan company based in Portland, recently hired Dan Olsten as vice president of delivery system operations. Olsten previously was director of operations and development at Harvard Vanguard Medical Associates based in Boston.

World Harbors Inc., an Auburn-based maker of gourmet sauces and marinades, hired Dave Anderson as marketing and communications manager. Anderson previously worked as brand director of the King Arthur Flour Co. in Norwich, Vt.

Promotions

Saco & Biddeford Savings Institution, based in Saco, recently promoted Tony LeBlanc from bank secrecy act officer to vice president.

Catholic Charities Maine, a social services organization in Portland, recently promoted Carolee Lindsey to director of substance abuse and co-occurring services. Lindsey previously worked as the clinical director of counseling services.

Port City Architecture, an architectural design firm in Portland, recently promoted John Charette to associate. Charette has worked for Port City Architecture since 2004.

Appointments

The Maine Center for Enterprise Development, a business incubator based in Portland, recently appointed Mark Kaplan to its board of directors. Kaplan is the managing director at CEI Ventures, a socially responsible venture capital funds manager in Portland.

Big Brothers Big Sisters, a national child and family outreach nonprofit with offices around Maine, recently appointed James Keenan Jr. as president of its board of directors. Keenan is an attorney at Bernstein Shur in Portland.

Spotlight

The Seaside Inn and Cottages in Kennebunkport is one of the oldest family-run businesses in the world, according to a recent report from Family Business Magazine. The inn, which was built in1667 and has been run by 12 generations of family innkeepers, was recently listed by the magazine as the fifth oldest family business in the United States and the 46th oldest in the world, alongside winemakers in France, Saki distillers in Japan, tequila producers in Mexico, glassblowers in Belgium and shoemakers in Germany. According to a press release from the inn, Seaside was founded after an Englishman named John Gooch traveled to Maine in the 1640s as a favor to King Charles II. The king’s agent, Fernando Gorges, asked Gooch to settle on the oceanfront peninsula at the mouth of the Kennebunk River to ferry travelers across the river. “Travelers often stayed a night or two, so Gooch provided rooms and operated a tavern,” the magazine claims. The inn is now owned by Patricia Trish and her husband, Ken Mason.

Company news

Abacus Computers and Harbor Audio Video, both in Camden, have merged into a new company, Harbor Digital. Harbor Audio Video sold and installed electronic components, and Abacus Computers designed and supported computer networks.

Five Maine businesses have received a total of $350,000 in grant funds from the USDA Rural Development assistance under the Value-Added Producer Grant program. Catch a Piece of Maine LLC has received $150,000 to expand marketing of its business, which sells lobster directly from the harvester to the consumer. Shamrock Partners LLC will use $50,000 to fund a feasibility study for a wind energy generation project in Fort Fairfield. And High Vale Partners A LLC, High Vale Partners D LLC, and High Vale Partners S LLC will receive $50,000 each to fund feasibility studies for a wind energy generation project in Sherman.

David Moser of Thos. Moser Cabinetmakers in Auburn, which designs and builds heirloom quality hand-crafted wood furniture, has been commissioned to design and create the awards that will be given to the recipients of The Jackson Laboratory’s Lifetime Achievement Awards. The laboratory is in Bar Harbor.

Planet Dog in Portland recently organized a Cover Dog Challenge at Woofminster, the Third Annual Planet Dog Foundation Amateur Dog Show Fundraiser, at Camp Ketcha in Scarborough. The annual event raised more than $6,000 for NEADS: Dogs for Deaf and Disabled Americans, a nonprofit that trains service dogs to help people with disabilities live more independent lives.

The University of Southern Maine has named a new engineering laboratory after Canadian firm Stantec, which has locations in Maine. Stantec donated $100,000 to USM’s School of Applied Science, Engineering, and Technology to help develop the lab. The facility opened in 2004 and is used for computer-aided design, or CAD, to develop two- and three-dimensional technical drawings of buildings and structures.

North Yarmouth Academy has received an anonymous gift of $2 million. It is the largest single gift NYA has ever received. The gift is a lead donation for the advancement of NYA’s 10-year comprehensive master plan for campus improvements.

The Maine Community Foundation in Augusta recently awarded $99,231 in grants to 18 organizations in Maine. Among the funded organizations was the Southern Kennebec Child Development Corporation of Augusta. The grant will be used to plan and build a sustainable community garden at the South Gardiner Head Start Center. Other awards went to: BioDiversity Research Institute in Gorham; A Call to Men in Solon; Eastern Maine Development Corporation in Bangor; Kennebec Valley Art Association in Hallowell; Maine Audubon Society in Falmouth; Maine State Housing Authority in Augusta; Mid Coast Hunger Prevention Program in Brunswick; MSAD #67 in Lincoln; MSAD #75 Education Fund in Topsham; My Friend’s Place in Bangor; New Mainers Workforce Alliance in Portland; Penobscot Nation Boys and Girls Club on Indian Island; Penquis Community Action Program in Bangor; Pine Tree Legal Assistance in Portland; Seasons of Change in Edgecomb; South Bristol Historical Society; and United Somali Women of Maine in Lewiston.

Maine Robotics in Orono, a nonprofit that encourages Maine youth ages eight to 18 to have an active interest in science, engineering, computers and technology, recently received seven grants totaling more than $38,000 to pay for new equipment for Maine Robotics’ summer programs. The largest grant, from the Davis Family Foundation, is $15,000 to develop statewide online training opportunities for Maine primary and secondary teachers and robotics coaches.

Leah Bartley in Merrill Lynch’s Portland office recently completed the Certified Special Needs Advisor program and received CSNA designation. The certified special needs advisor designation is given to financial advisors who complete coursework in advising parents of children with disabilities on strategies to fund the children’s future care and supplemental needs without interfering with their social security benefits.

Businessman Clem Begin and his wife, Rolande, recently donated $1.76 million to four Carrabassett Valley area organizations. The Begins gave $1 million to the Maine Huts & Trails project, which plans to build 12 huts and 180 miles of trail to link Bethel to Greenwood via Carrabassett Valley; $520,000 to Carrabassett Valley Academy to help build a new campus; $170,000 to the Carrabassett Valley Public Library and Community Center and $60,000 to the Sugarloaf Mountain Ski Club to help build a new competition center.

Kepware Technologies in Portland was selected as a strategic provider of communications for Online Development Inc. and its development of a new machine-to-machine communications gateway for use with an Allen Bradley Control Logix controller and as a standalone solution for use between other third party automation controllers.

Eastern Maine Healthcare Systems in Brewer recently said it is launching a five-year childhood obesity project to decrease the rising trend of childhood obesity in rural Maine.

Creative Work Systems in Portland has teamed up with Men’s Warehouse, based in Houston, Texas, to organize a National Suit Drive campaign. The drive encourages people to donate men’s professional clothing in an effort to give underserved men a chance to make a good first impression during an interview.

Maine Maritime Academy in Castine has been listed in the rankings of the nation’s top baccalaureate colleges for the northern region in the 2009 edition of “America’s Best Colleges” by U.S. News & World Report. MMA placed 10th overall in the listing of public and private colleges in the north, a region spanning from Maine to Maryland.

LTC Financial Partners LLC in Portland has been ranked by Inc. Magazine as 1,353 among all companies, and 12th among insurance companies, in the magazine’s annual ranking of the 5,000 fastest-growing companies in the nation. Among insurance companies, LTCFP is the fastest-growing company focusing exclusively on long-term care insurance sales.

InterSpec Inc. in Portland announced that its patented e-SPECS solutions have been selected as the BIM Specification Solution by HMC Architects in California. The e-SPECS solutions, which create construction specification software and services, have also been selected as the BIM Specification Solution by Cannon Design, an international architectural engineering and interior design firm based in New York.

Bernard Featherman, president of the Biddeford-Saco Chamber of Commerce & Industry, recently said he is hosting half-hour television shows on Channel 85 on Thursdays and Channel 13 on Saturdays in Biddeford, and on the Education Channel in Saco and Old Orchard Beach. He will talk about for-profit and nonprofit businesses, covering how local companies got started, what they do, how many people they employ and how they serve their clients and customers.

AT&T’s high-speed wireless broadband 3G network is coming to parts of Maine later this year. The company will bring mobile broadband capability to customers in areas of Cumberland, Sagadahoc and York Counties. In addition, AT&T will build 14 cell sites bringing new coverage to customers in Orono, Cape Elizabeth, Winterport, Shapleigh, Berwick, Orrington, Lewiston, Lisbon, Brewer, York and Wells by the end of the year. These investments are part of a $15 million wireless network investment in the state this year.

Patty Daveluy, account executive of GHM Insurance Agency, with offices in Waterville, Augusta and Auburn, recently completed the Certified Insurance Counselors Commercial Casualty Institute held in Portland.

Saco & Biddeford Savings Institution, based in Saco, recently gave more than $20,000 in donations to local organizations. Among the recipients were: the Maine Chapter of the MS Society in Falmouth; Westbrook Art Walk and Art Festival; Our Father’s House Transitional House in Saco; St. Andre’s Health Care Facility in Biddeford; Maine Military Museum in South Portland; Ferry Beach Ecology School in Saco and Lyric Music Theater in South Portland.

Stephens Memorial Hospital in Norway recently installed a Philips BV Pulsera Mobile c-arm system in its surgical services department. The mobile c-arm was acquired in part from funds raised in a summer fundraiser, and is used in surgical procedures as well as minimally invasive procedures. The c-arm is equipped to handle surgeries ranging from cardiovascular and neurosurgical procedures to orthopedic surgery.

Maine Medical Center in Portland recently dedicated its new 190,000-square-foot East Tower. Barbara Bush, former first lady, and Gov. John Baldacci attended the event, which included tours of the new Prenatal, Labor/Delivery/Recovery, Neonatal Intensive Care and Mother Baby units.

Axiom Technologies of Machias recently received two ConnectME Authority grants totaling $60,625 to increase Washington County’s access to broadband. The grants were submitted in collaboration with Sunrise County Economic Council, Washington County Emergency Management Agency, Washington County and the town of Steuben. In total, ConnectME Authority has awarded six grants of more than $1.75 million to expand broadband communications services to underserved areas in Maine.

Twin Town Homes in Oxford recently began selling modular homes built by Keiser Homes, also of Oxford. Twin Town and Keiser will hold a joint open house when the final two Keiser model homes are available for tours.

Machias Savings Bank, based in Machias with 13 locations statewide, recently contributed $10,000 to Machias-based Sunrise County Economic Council’s Annual Campaign Fund.

Brian Shibles, vice president and chief financial officer for Norway Savings Bank, has received a diploma with high honors from the National School of Banking of the American Bankers Association, in Philadelphia. Shibles graduated with the highest grade-point average in his class.

The Androscoggin County Committee of the Maine Community Foundation in Augusta recently awarded $30,800 in grants to eight Androscoggin County organizations. Among the funded programs was the Downtown Education Collaborative of Lewiston’s “Celebrating Lewiston Photovoice Project” to curate a photo/voice exhibit and host an opening for that exhibit. Other awards went to: the city of Lewiston; the Lewiston-Auburn Neighborhood Network; the Maine Volunteer Lake Monitoring Program in Auburn; Poland Regional High School; Sisters of Charity Health System in Lewiston; Spurwink Institute in New Gloucester and the United Somali Women of Maine in Lewiston.

The Unity Foundation in Unity has awarded a $250,000 challenge grant to the Waldo County YMCA in Belfast, matching new contributions dollar for dollar to support the pool project.

The second annual Rotary Bicycle for a Cure was held Sept. 28 in South Portland. Proceeds from the event benefited the Maine Cancer Foundation, helping to raise funds for Maine-based cancer research, education and patient support.

The town of Wiscasset recently celebrated the installation of solar panels from Kronosport electric vehicles, a collaborative effort by the town, the Office of Community Development, the Chewonki Foundation in Wiscasset, Kronosport Inc. in Philadelphia and others.

Heartwood College of Art in Kennebunk has added two new instructors to its faculty this fall: Jennifer Fields, a member of the International Society of Glass Beadmaking is teaching glass beads; and Amy Clark, head potter at Highland Pottery in Fletcher, Vt., will offer “Ceramics: Wheelthrowing.” Heartwood College also recently presented its annual faculty exhibition, “Speak to the Color,” which is built around the color wheel, with each hue represented by an original piece of faculty work.

Sociologist Amy Blackstone of the University of Maine in Orono recently received a $125,000 grant from the National Science Foundation to fund a two-year study of workplace harassment of older workers in Maine.

MaineHousing in Augusta has sold $25 million of its housing bonds to continue its first-time homebuyer program at current interest rates. The bond sale was timed to occur soon after new federal housing legislation containing tax advantages for people purchasing MaineHousing revenue bonds became law.

Katahdin Valley Health Center in Patten recently received a grant for $11,717 to cover clinical equipment from the Health Services Foundation of Houlton. Katahdin purchased a spirometer, electrocardiogram and two automated external defibrillators.

The Run of the Mill Public House and Brewery in Saco recently celebrated a grand opening.

Emery-Waterhouse, a distributor of hardware and building materials based in Portland, recently celebrated its new Emery Building Materials distribution center in Pennsylvania. The facility, which began operations in June, is located at the CenterPoint Commerce & Trade Park in Pittston, Pa.

U.S. Cellular has built new towers in Readfield and Brownfield with support from the federal Universal Service Fund.

Three contractors for FedEx Ground in Portland recently competed in the National Truck Driving Championships in Houston: Brad Bartlett of Yarmouth competed in the Straight Truck class; Jared Elston of Windham competed in the 5-Axle class; Bob Kierstead of Scarborough competed in the Twins class; and Jimmy Franklin of Falmouth competed in the 3-Axle class.

Springborn Staffing in Portland was recently purchased by Maine native Laura Thibodeau. Thibodeau has worked in sales and marketing at Fortune 500 companies.

InterMed, a physician-owned medical group in Portland, has partnered with the Peaks Island Health Center to offer primary care services. InterMed’s involvement with the Peaks Island Health Center helps patients by eliminating trips to the mainland for care.

Stuart Cayer of Scarborough recently received certification credentials from the International Chiropractic Association. He practices at Scarborough Family Chiropractic.

York County Community College in Wells recently celebrated the success of the YCCC Partners Enriching Lives Major Gifts Campaign, which exceeded its $2 million goal. The money raised will benefit new programs, projects and initiatives at Maine’s youngest community college. The college is also participating in a national Adult Career Pathways Manufacturing and Logistics Benchmark Study. Involvement in this study is the first step in enrolling the college in the pilot program, “Adult Career Pathways: A Second Chance at Education,” which identifies, enrolls, educates and prepares underemployed adults for careers in local industries.

The Maine Women’s Fund in Portland recently launched a campaign,“Making Change Happen: Women Creating a Better Maine,” to celebrate the stories of women creating a better Maine. The campaign began with a video highlighting the power of storytelling and continues over the next twelve months with stories of women who play a fundamental role in making change happen.

Accolades

Ross Manor, a Bangor nursing home, has been named the best nursing facility in Bangor for the 10th year in a row by Marketing Surveys of America.

The SafetyWorks! Program of the Maine Department of Labor has recognized Portland’s Brockway-Smith, a distributor of doors, windows, and other millwork products, for its efforts to provide a safe and healthy work environment. Labor officials presented the company with a Safety & Health Achievement Recognition Program certificate.

Poland Spring received a 2008 Champion of Economic Development Award from the Maine Development Foundation at its 30th annual meeting. The Maine water bottler was recognized for its investment in Maine’s economy and creation of jobs in rural communities.

Hancock Lumber was recently presented the Phillip C. Hastings Award for its efforts to improve the energy efficiency of its Bethel saw mill. The award recognizes a group or individual for work that advances the mission and principles of Efficiency Maine.

Four organizations or people were given Governor’s awards at the Community Development Block Grant’s annual recent 26th anniversary celebration. Alpha One and the town of Fort Fairfield won the CDBG Project of the Year for developing a program to provide portable ramps for low-income handicapped Maine residents. The CDBG Administrator of the Year Award was given to Rodney Lynch, Rockland’s community development director, in recognition of his administration of several CDBG projects including housing assistance, public infrastructure and public facilities. The Community Spirit Award was presented to the Pittsfield Public Library Capital Campaign and Building Committee for restoring and expanding the historic Carnegie Library. The Lifetime Achievement Award was given to Orman Whitcomb, former director of the Office of Community Development.

Jonathan Shapiro, managing director of Moss Shapiro in Portland, has been selected by his peers to be included in the 2009 edition of The Best Lawyers in America for his expertise in labor and employment law. Shapiro regularly represents businesses throughout the Northeast on employment matters.

Portland Water District was recently presented the Maine Economic Growth Council’s Gold Star Award for its achievement in land conservation. The Gold Star Award recognizes PWD’s role in advancing long-term economic growth and a high quality of life in Maine.

Michael Giggey, vice president and senior wastewater engineer at Wright-Pierce, a civil and environmental engineering firm with offices in Topsham and Portland, was recently honored by the Association to Preserve Cape Cod for his contribution to the stewardship of Cape Cod’s sensitive coastal environment. The APCC, which recently marked its 40th anniversary, is Cape Cod’s leading nonprofit environmental advocacy organization.

Katahdin Cedar Log Homes has been awarded the Maine Forest Product Council’s annual Outstanding Manufacturing Award for 2008. The award was presented at the council’s annual meeting on Sept. 30.