In short from Oct. 4, 2010 | A roundup of new hires, promotions, accolades and appointments from Maine's business community

NEW HIRES

College Solutions, a college consulting firm in Portland, recently hired Kimberly Morrison as a consultant.

Trask-Decrow Machinery in South Portland recently hired Adam Marquis as a service technician.

MACTEC Engineering and Consulting Inc. in Portland recently hired Brandon Caliendo as a staff geotechnical engineer in its design center; Vincent Grassi as a project engineer in its design center; Alicia Robinson as a senior scientist in its environmental business management group; and Corey Theriault as a senior engineer in its design center.

FISC Solutions, a third-party financial services provider in Lewiston, recently hired Michael Splane as account executive.

Gorham Savings Bank recently hired Frederick Proctor and Kim Donnelly as vice presidents and commercial loan officers. Previously, Proctor was a commercial lender at TD Bank and Donnelly was a credit analyst at TD Bank.

True North, a nonprofit integrative health care center and research organization in Falmouth, recently hired Catherine Galida, an osteopathic family physician, as an affiliate practitioner.

The Maine International Trade Center recently hired Annette Bossler as the state’s foreign investment attaché and managing director of the Invest in Maine initiative.

Macdonald Page & Co., a certified public accounting firm in South Portland, recently hired Melissa Lavoie as a senior IT auditor.

The Penn Mutual Life Insurance Co. recently hired Timothy Thompson to manage its Dougherty Agency office in Portland. Previously, Thompson was a general agent at Guardian Mutual.

KeyBank in Falmouth recently hired Philip Giordano as branch manager.

Communication Technologies Inc. in Falmouth recently hired Tom Cianchette as an account executive and Bruce Foss as a level III technician for PBX Systems.

Acadia Trust, an investment advisory and trustee firm in Portland, recently hired Amy True as assistant vice president and manager of operations.

The Portland Museum of Art recently hired Christina Razzi as the director of institutional giving. Previously, Razzi was a development officer at the Bowdoin International Music Festival.

Aetna in Portland recently hired Robert Downs as a senior manager.

AlliedCook Construction, a Scarborough-based commercial construction management firm, recently hired Deney Morganthal as director of business development.

Pierce Atwood, a law firm in Portland, recently hired attorney Janice Moore as a partner in its energy practice group.

The Environmental Health Strategy Center in Portland recently hired Rachelle Curran as a development and marketing associate.

Bangor Savings Bank recently hired Scott Blake as senior vice president and project management officer.

Bates College Museum of Art in Lewiston recently hired Dan Mills as director. Previously, Mills was director of the Samek Art Gallery at Bucknell University in Lewisburg, Pa.

Nancy Marshall Communications in Augusta recently hired Katie Greenlaw as an account executive.

PROMOTIONS

Broadreach Public Relations in Yarmouth recently promoted Kate Bachman to account coordinator.

JobsInTheUS.com in Westbrook, an operator of multi-state job boards in New England, recently promoted Thomas Hinman to director, sales and marketing, and Jeremy Haskell to senior sales manager.

Macdonald Page & Co., a certified public accounting firm in South Portland and Augusta, recently promoted the following: Laurie Brochu, Durward Ferland, Michele Giggey, Alison Herrick and Tara Wheeler to senior manager; Nancy Chase to manager; and Renee Bissonnette, Cynthia Bouchard, Lindsay Buteau, Elena Casey, Melissa Coy, Kristina Emmons, Michelle Gauthier, Patrick O’Reilly, Krista Salvas and Adam Warfel to senior accountant.

Communication Technologies Inc. in Falmouth recently promoted Carrie Gravel and Kerianne Leo to project coordinators and Steve Morgan to Nortel/Avaya PBX systems engineer.

Allen Insurance and Financial in Camden recently promoted Samantha Cloutier from receptionist to business insurance processor.

Consigli Construction Co. Inc. in Portland recently promoted Timothy Schneider to assistant project manager.

PDQ Door Co. Inc. recently promoted Ron Cadran to store manager for its West Bath location.

The Portland Ballet Co. recently promoted Nell Shipman from resident choreographer to associate artistic director.

APPOINTMENTS

Gov. John Baldacci recently appointed Beth Nagusky as acting commissioner of the Maine Department of Environmental Protection.

Gene Libby of Libby O’Brien Kingsley & Champion, a law firm in Kennebunk, was recently elected president of the Maine Cancer Foundation.

Waterville-based nonprofit Hardy Girls Healthy Women recently named Lindy Graham to its board of directors.

L/A Arts in Lewiston recently appointed Kate Casparius, business manager of Maine Public Broadcasting Network, and Marnie Coleman, listings manager and a licensed realtor with Jan Jacques and Co. at Keller Williams Realty Mid Maine, as board members.

Richard Petersen, president and chief executive officer of Maine Medical Center, was recently elected to the JTG Foundation board of directors.

Kenneth McCall, associate professor and chair of the University of New England’s Department of Pharmacy Practice, was elected president of the Maine Pharmacy Association.

COMPANY NEWS

The following organizations received funding from the U.S. Department of Agriculture: $40,000, Dexter Regional Development Corp. to purchase equipment for a farmers’ market; $110,600, Indian Township Passamaquoddy Reservation Health Center for renovations to the health center; and $84,000, The Progress Center Inc. in Norway to renovate a community soup kitchen.

Kents Hill School recently announced that headmaster Rist Bonnefond will step down at the end of the 2010-2011 school year.

Planet Dog, a manufacturer of dog products in Portland, recently announced the release of its Wood Chuck, a sustainable ball-tosser.

University Credit Union recently announced the opening of its sixth branch at the University of Maine in Presque Isle.

mWAVE Industries, a designer and manufacturer of standard and custom antenna products in Windham, recently received a $2.2 million order for newly developed 80 gigahertz antennas from E-Band Communications of San Diego.

Winxnet, a provider of systems management and software development solutions in Portland, recently announced that it will be expanding its help desk services by phone and through an online portal.

U.S. Cellular recently announced the addition of a new cell site in Columbia Falls to improve call quality and network capacity in the towns of Columbia Falls and Jonesboro, as well as provide service along Routes 1 and 187.

Acadia Hospital in Bangor recently announced it has changed the license for the narcotics treatment program to a non-hospital-based program within Acadia Healthcare, a related community-based entity separate from the hospital.

The Maine Center for Constitutional Studies recently announced the launch of its streaming Internet radio station, wMCCS.

Rinck Advertising in Auburn recently collaborated with actor Patrick Dempsey to create a custom Hincapie cycling jersey for him to wear at the upcoming Dempsey Challenge in Lewiston.

Landry/French Construction in Scarborough recently announced it is now open for business.

The Southern Maine Agency on Aging, United Way of York County and the Washington County Children’s Program have successfully completed the three-year Program for Nonprofit Effectiveness. The program, a partnership between Common Good Ventures and the Maine Community Foundation, provides technical and financial assistance to nonprofits seeking to increase their ability to deliver services.

The Portland Regency Hotel & Spa recently announced its partnership with Stash Hotel Rewards, a program that enables travelers to earn free nights at independent hotels.

Fluid Imaging Technologies Inc. of Yarmouth, recently announced that its imaging particle analysis instrument, FlowCAM, was recently used in a collaborative educational and research project by Cornell University and University of New Hampshire scientists at the Shoals Marine Laboratory on Appledore Island, Isles of Shoals.

The Franklin Health Medical Arts Center in Farmington recently announced that Franklin Health Pediatrics, Surgery and Urology have reoccupied their offices.

Modern Pest Services in Brunswick recently invested in a thermal remediation system to provide a green alternative to conventional chemical treatments for bedbugs.

The Alliance for Biking & Walking in Washington, D.C., recently awarded an $18,000 grant to the Bicycle Coalition of Maine for its Community Spokes Program, which plans to recruit and train rural citizen-advocates to work for local improvements in bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure, as well as state policies that encourage bicycling and walking.

The U.S. Department of Labor recently awarded a $1 million grant to the state of Maine to make technology improvements leading to more accurate unemployment insurance benefit payments.

The U.S. Department of Energy recently awarded $4.53 million to support energy-efficiency retrofit projects designed to lower energy bills for Maine families and businesses, boost job growth and increase investment in companies that deliver energy-saving technologies.

Downeast Energy in Brunswick recently announced it is now offering home energy audits.

AlliedCook Construction of Scarborough recently completed the University of New England’s new residence hall, Sokokis Hall, which opened for the fall 2010 semester.

Quantrix, a Portland-based company that makes business intelligence and modeling software, recently announced it is developing a new online collaboration and reporting feature of its business modeling and analytics software solution, Quantrix Modeler, which enables users to develop models and share them via an online portal.

Thorotrends LLC, a market research consultancy based in Scarborough specializing in the Thoroughbred racing industry, recently announced it is open for business and will offer services including market research, survey research and predictive analytics.

U.S. Cellular recently announced its partnership with the Portland Regional Chamber as the exclusive endorsed wireless provider.

The U.S. Department of Energy recently announced it is awarding Ocean Renewable Power Co. up to $10 million in matching funds to advance the company’s tidal energy technology on a commercial scale at its project site in Cobscook Bay off Eastport and Lubec.

Mechanics Savings Bank in Auburn recently hosted six senior-level bankers from the country of Azerbaijan for a two-day study session focused on American banking operations.

The U.S. Department of Commerce’s National Telecommunications & Information Administration recently announced that Axiom Technologies in Machias will receive a $1.43 million recovery act investment to expand broadband adoption and utilization, as well as education and employment initiatives, in Washington County.

Lighthouse Imaging Corp., a designer and manufacturer of medical optical devices in Portland, recently announced it sold a controlling interest in the company to ANANIA & Associates Investment Co. LLC, a Gorham-based investment fund.

Allen Insurance and Financial in Camden recently announced a partnership with US SAILING, the national governing body of the sport, to provide health insurance to sailors and sailing instructors around the world.

Evergreen Behavioral Services recently announced it has become part of Franklin Memorial Hospital and its Franklin Health medical practices and has changed its name to Franklin Health Behavioral Services.

Unity College recently received a $389,000 grant from The Kendeda Fund to construct a cottage-style residence based on principles of passive house design.

HomeHealth Visiting Nurses recently opened its third Books ReVisited bookstore at 477 Congress St. in Portland.

ACCOLADES

Garrand, a communications firm in Portland, was recently named one of Advertising Age’s 2010 Best Places to Work in Media and Marketing.

The Maine State Council of the Society for Human Resources Management recently announced the following companies have been named in its fifth annual Best Places to Work in Maine program: Affiliated Healthcare Systems; Albin, Randall & Bennett; Androscoggin Bank; Androscoggin Home Care & Hospice; athenahealth; Bangor Savings Bank; Bernstein, Shur, Sawyer & Nelson; Burgess Advertising & Marketing; Center Point Large Print; Central Maine Healthcare; Consigli Construction Co. Inc.; Day One; Edward Jones; Eastern Maine Health Systems; Evergreen MGA; Garrand; Geiger; GreenPages Technology Solutions; Holden Agency Insurance; Jobs For Maine’s Graduates; Jøtul North America; Kennebec Savings Bank; Kennebunk Savings; Machias Savings Bank; Maine Savings Federal Credit Union; Moody’s Collision Centers; Mountain LTD; MPX; New Balance Athletic Shoe Inc.; New England Life Care; Oxford Networks; PeoplesChoice Credit Union; Portland Color; PowerPay; Skowhegan Savings Bank; SMRT; T-MobileUSA; Turner Barker Insurance; Unum; and Woodard & Curran.

Drummond Woodsum, a law firm in Portland, recently announced that 23 attorneys have been included in the 2011 edition of The Best Lawyers in America. Of the 23 firm members, George Dilworth and David Sherman were included for the first time. Randall Smith, senior partner at Smith, Elliott, Smith & Garmey in Saco, was also selected for inclusion in the 2011 edition of The Best Lawyers in America.

Dean French, owner of Fish Window Cleaning in Saco, recently received the Navigator Award at the national Fish Window Cleaning convention in St. Louis.

Gifford’s Ice Cream in Skowhegan recently received the World’s Best Chocolate award and the Grade A and Ice Cream Grand Champion award at the 2010 World Dairy Expo.

Dawn Belisle-Marston, Judy George, Peter Hawkes, Linda MacDonald and Mark Walton with RE/MAX By The Bay in Portland were recently presented with the RE/MAX Hall of Fame Award.

Woodard & Curran, an engineering firm in Portland, recently announced it has moved up to No. 79 on Engineering News Record’s Top 200 Environmental Firms list.

The Maine Town and City Management Association recently recognized Old Town City Manager Peggy Daigle with its 2010 Leadership Award.

Shalom House Inc., a social service provider in Portland, recently honored James Maier with the Johnson & Korda Innovation Award.

The Maine Development Foundation recently awarded Axiom Technologies, a broadband service provider in Machias, with its 2010 Champion of Economic Development award.

GHM Insurance Agency in Waterville recently announced it has been selected as a 2010 Best Practices Agency by the Independent Insurance Agents & Brokers of America Best Practices Study Group.

The Southern Midcoast Maine Chamber recently selected the following recipients of its 2010 annual awards: Cook’s Lobster House in Harpswell, the Business of the Year Category — large business; Thomas Point Beach in Brunswick, the Business of the Year Category — small business; and Coastal Enterprises Inc. in Wiscasset, the Business of the Year Category — nonprofit. Robert Davis received the Citizen of the Year award and Matt Rice received the Rising Star — Young Professionals award. Other awards presented were the Chairman’s award, presented to the Midcoast Regional Redevelopment Authority, and Chamber Volunteer of the Year award, presented to the 2010 SMMC Membership Committee.

The University of New England recently honored the following prominent Maine women at the 49th annual Deborah Morton Convocation and Awards Ceremony: Ruth Foster, former legislator and mayor of Ellsworth; Deborah Carey Johnson, president and chief executive officer of Eastern Maine Medical Center; Katherine Pope, anesthesiologist; and Jean Wilkinson, a retired finance industry executive.

The Maine Health Access Foundation was recently named a 2010 nonprofit Champion of Economic Development by the Maine Development Foundation.

Planet Dog, a dog product manufacturer in Portland, recently announced the following winners of its annual employee awards: Jessica Hussiere, Top Dog award; Kristen Smith, Our Hero/Community award; Pete Dubuc, Casey Warren, Vicki Regier and Diane Blahusch each received the Agility award; and Denise Saaf, HOT Dog award.

Robinson, Kriger & McCallum, a law firm in Portland, recently announced that attorneys John McCallum and Richard van Antwerp were selected by their peers for inclusion on the list of The Best Lawyers in America 2011.

Verso Paper Corp., with mills in Jay and Bucksport, recently received the Manufacturer of the Year award from the Maine Forest Products Council.

Camden Harbour Inn was recently selected as a Recommended Hotel Guide 2011 by Condé Nast Johansens, an international hotels guide.

Washington Hancock Community Agency recently won the national Community Action Partnership’s Entrepreneurship Encouragement award for its Incubator Without Walls small business training program.

The Society of Certified Insurance Counselors recently recognized Gene McKeever of Allen Insurance and Financial in Camden with a certificate honoring his 30 years of participation in advanced insurance education.

SPOTLIGHT

The University of Maine School of Forest Resources in Orono recently received a $25,000 U.S. Department of Agriculture research grant to look at the Northeast region’s logging industry and examine its infrastructure, capacity, work force and issues that affect its economic health and future, according to a press release from the school.

The research is designed to acquire a better understanding of how various sectors of the logging industry respond to the significant challenges facing them.

Using a variety of survey techniques, such as mail-out surveys and face-to-face interviews, the researchers will identify and assess key industry metrics that can be tracked over the long term to identify future opportunities and challenges facing the logging industry across the entire northern forest region.