Newsworthy people and performances

New hires

Eaton Peabody recently hired Bruce Hochman for its Portland law office. Hochman brings nearly 30 years of business and commercial law experience and will continue his general corporate and business law practice.

Troubh Heisler, a law firm in Portland, recently hired Cynthia Dill. Dill, a civil rights lawyer and former Maine state senator, will focus her practice on commercial and civil litigation; federal employment law and representing veterans; government relations for individuals and businesses; and assisting Internet-based companies and startups.

SymQuest Group, an accessible network infrastructure and document technology services company in Auburn, recently hired Nicholas Knowlton as a virtual chief information officer, Nancy Farrington as account executive and Robert Whytock as networking account executive. Knowlton, a Microsoft Certified Software Engineer, was the owner of Ketch Networks in Lewiston. Farrington was formerly a business development executive with OfficeMax Inc.

Know Technology LLC, a provider of IT services in Portland, recently hired Tom Hamlin and Thomas Golebiewski in its managed services division. Hamlin, previously a field engineer with Unified Technologies, has 15 years of experience in technical service. Golebiewski, previously an internal systems administrator with Winxnet, has 10 years of technology experience.

Albin, Randall & Bennett, a CPA firm in Portland, recently hired Melanie Mason, Keith Denecker and Joseph Violette. Mason, previously a staff accountant with Macpage LLC, was hired as a senior tax accountant while Denecker, previously an insurance agent with AAA Northern New England, and Violette, an intern with Macpage LLC, were hired as staff accountants.

Central Maine Orthopaedics in Auburn recently hired Wendy Riebe as an ambulatory clinic manager. Riebe, previously the director of nursing at Newton Center Care and rehabilitation in Sanford, has nearly 25 years of experience in the medical field.

Camden National Bank recently hired Cynthia Bergin as branch manager for the bank's Brewer location. Bergin most recently served as a small business relationship manager at KeyBank in Brewer.

Winxnet, an IT service provider in Portland, recently hired Gary Lowell, Jeremy Hutchinson, Becca Campbell and Douglas Cuffman. Lowell, previously a network administrator for the Sanford Public School system, was hired as a technical support specialist; Hutchinson, previously the lead software developer at Ability Resources, joined the company as an application/SharePoint developer; Campbell, previously a production assistant for performers, was hired as an administrative assistant; and Cuffman, previously with information services at L.L.Bean, was hired as a senior information architect.

Preti Flaherty, a law firm in Portland, recently hired Kevin Haskins as an associate. Haskins, previously with Pierce Atwood, will practice labor and employment law.

Northeast Security Systems in Wiscasset recently hired Stacy Welner as its marketing promotions coordinator. Welner will be responsible for developing campaigns, assisting system designers and representing the company at events within the community.

Portland Webworks, a web application and software development firm in Portland, recently hired James Donaghue and Diane Bienkowski. Donaghue, previously with Vertafore, was hired as a software developer while Bienkowski was hired as a quality assurance engineer. She has 15 years of experience in the financial sector.

Finance Authority of Maine recently hired Sally Garand as a commercial loan officer. Garand was previously a commercial loan officer at KeyBank and Bangor Savings Bank.

Mid Coast Health Services in Brunswick recently hired Stacey Schmidt as an asthma educator with its Community Health Education team. Schmidt is a registered respiratory therapist.

Systems Engineering, an IT service provider in Portland, recently hired Jon Henderson and James Richards as business development managers. Henderson, previously the senior vice president of sales and marketing at Otelco Inc., will cover the greater Bangor area. Richards, most recently an account manager at EarthLink Business, will cover the greater Merrimack Valley area of New Hampshire.

Westbrook Housing, a nonprofit agency that provides affordable housing for senior, low-income and disabled residents, recently hired Chris LaRoche as executive director. LaRoche was most recently the housing director of the York County Community Action Corp.

Efficiency Maine in Augusta recently hired Anne Stephenson as a communications specialist. Stephenson was most recently a Maine-based energy efficiency communications and education consultant.

Gannett Broadcasting recently hired Mike Redding as news director for WCSH 6 in Portland and WLBZ 2 in Bangor. Redding, who starts his new position on Feb. 25, was previously an executive producer at WFMY-TV in Greensboro, N.C.

Dead River Co. in South Portland recently hired Charlie Hahn as vice president and CFO. Hahn was formerly a managing principal at Baker Newman Noyes.

Maine Energy Marketers Association in Brunswick recently hired Staci Best as coordinator of marketing and events. Best was previously the public relations and events manager for the Convention + Visitors Bureau of Greater Portland.

Maine Community Health Options, a not-for-profit, co-op health plan in Lewiston that expects to provide health insurance to individuals and small businesses beginning January 2014, recently hired Gillian Baruso as a special project manager. Baruso most recently worked at Humana as a business analyst, consultant and manager.

Johnson Outdoors Watercraft Inc. in Old Town recently announced three new hires. Lucas LaBree was hired as the marketing communications manager for Old Town Canoes & Kayaks, Ocean Kayak, Necky Kayaks and Carlisle Paddles; Bob McDonough, previously vice president of design and senior designer with Confluence Watersports, joined the company as director of research and development; and David Hadden, previously with Freedom Hawk Kayaks, Emotion Kayaks and Dagger Kayaks, was hired as brand director, watercraft.

Unity College in Unity recently hired Melik Peter Khoury as senior vice president for external affairs. Khoury was most recently the senior vice president for strategic positioning at Upper Iowa University in Fayette, Iowa.

Promotions

CEI Capital Management LLC, an investor of New Market Tax Credits in Portland, recently promoted Leah Thibault to director of operations. Thibault was previously the firm's operations specialist.

Baker Newman Noyes, an accounting and consulting firm in Portland, recently named Dayton Benway and Andrew Smith as principals. Benway was named principal in the health care management consulting division while Smith was named tax principal.

PeoplesChoice Credit Union in Saco recently promoted Shannon Kashinsky to vice president of human resources. Kashinsky was previously a human resources specialist with the bank.

KeyBank recently promoted David Butler to branch manager for its Ellsworth location. Previously, Butler was relationship manager at the branch.

TD Bank recently promoted Ryan Nadeau to manager of the bank's Westbrook branch located at 835 Main St. Nadeau most recently served as the assistant manager at the bank's Market Street branch in South Portland and managed the branch inside Shaw's Supermarket in Scarborough.

McTeague Higbee, a law firm in Topsham, recently announced that Benjamin Grant is now practicing workers' compensation under the State Workers' Compensation and Federal Longshore Acts in central and midcoast Maine.

Norway Savings Bank recently promoted Ray Charest to vice president, IT network manager and administrator. Charest, who was previously the assistant vice president, network administration, will assume additional responsibilities in the bank's IT department as part of his new position.

Finance Authority of Maine recently promoted Elizabeth Vanderweide to director of business development and customer relations. Vanderweide, previously the Harold Alfond College Challenge program manager, oversees customer relations, outreach and marketing.

Appointments

Franklin Memorial Hospital in Farmington recently appointed Tracy Harty as nurse navigator for its Franklin CARES program. Harty has been employed by Franklin Community Health Network affiliates, Franklin Memorial Hospital and Healthy Community Coalition, for a nearly 30-year span with most of that time in leadership roles.

MaineGeneral Health recently elected William Sprague as board chair and David Hay, Mark Johnston, James LaLiberty and Gary Peachey to its board of directors. Sprague is president of real estate broker Sprague & Curtis; Hay is a gastroenterologist with MaineGeneral Gastroenterology in Waterville; Johnston is president and CEO of Kennebec Savings Bank; LaLiberty is an attorney at Jabar, Batten, Ringer & LaLiberty in Waterville; and Peachey is the owner and president of Peachey Builders in Augusta.

The Greater Bangor Convention & Visitors Bureau recently announced its new board of directors: chairman of the board, Lee Speronis, Husson University; vice chair, Jonathan Plummer, Bangor Savings Bank; secretary, Tom Palmer, Lafayette Hotels; treasurer, Mike Anderson, Winterport Winery, Penobscot Bay Brewery, and Pairings; membership chair and past board chair, John Osborne, Hollywood Casino Hotel & Raceway; marketing chair, Risteen Bahr, Bangor International Airport; and fundraising chair, Bob Bangs, Windswept Gardens. Newly appointed board members are: Mike Dyer, Cross Insurance Center; Tracy Willette, city of Bangor Parks & Recreation; Christine Parker, BangorMetro and Real Maine Weddings; Elizabeth Hansen, Bangor Daily News; Kim Reid, Bangor Mall; Mark Stephens, The Brewster Inn; Chris Torrey, Fairfield Inn; Kelly Cotiaux, Sephone Internet Solutions; David Walker, Rudman & Winchell; and Sue Hawes, member at large.

Ronald Lebel, an attorney at Skelton, Taintor & Abbott in Auburn, was recently named to the board of directors of Museum L-A, The Story of Work and Community in Lewiston-Auburn. Lebel, a shareholder and director at the firm, concentrates his practice in family law and civil litigation.

The American Institute of Architects, Maine recently announced its new board of directors: president, Judy Johnson, principal, Harriman; vice president, Robert Tilllotson, Oak Point Associates; secretary, John Charette, Charette Design; treasurer, John Morris II, John Morris Architects; and immediate past president, Scott Brown, Maine Department of Education.

Accolades

The Bangor Region Chamber of Commerce recently honored seven community leaders at its annual awards dinner held at the Bangor Civic Center. Award recipients included: The Bion & Dorain Foster Entrepreneurship Award, Geaghan's Pub & Craft Brewery; Arthur A. Comstock Professional Service Award, Andrew Hamilton; Nonprofit of the Year, Children's Miracle Network Hospitals of EMHS; Community Service Award, Hammond Street Senior Center; Catherine Lebowitz Award for Public Service, Richard Rosen; Business of the Year, WBRC Architects-Engineers; and Norbert X. Dowd Award, Peter Vigue, Cianbro Cos.

Burns & McDonnell, an engineering, architecture, construction, environmental and consulting services firm in New Gloucester, was recently named one of America's 100 Best Companies to Work For by FORTUNE magazine. The firm ranked 18 on the publication's 16th annual list, up from No. 26 on the 2012 ranking.

DiMillo's Yacht Sales in Portland was named the No. 1 Sabre Dealership of 2012 by Raymond-based Sabre Yachts. It's the sixth straight year the company has captured the honor.

The Maine Real Estate & Development Association announced 2013 award recipients at its annual real estate conference held in Portland. The winners included: Robert B. Patterson Jr. Founder's Award, Dana Totman, president and CEO, Avesta Housing; Volunteer of the Year Award, Jessica Estes, general manager and partner, CBRE|The Boulos Co.; Public Policy Award, Rick Licht, principal, Licht Environmental Design; and Presidents' Award, Paul Peck, attorney, Drummond & Drummond.

Maine Equal Justice Partners recently recognized Jennifer Archer with the Equal Justice Hero Award, which honors legal professionals who have made a significant contribution to strengthening access to justice in Maine during the past year. Archer, an attorney at Kelly, Remmel & Zimmerman in Portland, was honored for her work with on a federal class action case seeking to guarantee access to critical health care services for legal immigrants living in Maine.