🔒Newsworthy people and performances

New hires

NBT Bank in Portland hired John Lufkin as vice president and senior commercial banking relationship manager, Mark Schaub Jr. as vice president and commercial banking relationship manager and Jeremy Deering as senior vice president and senior commercial banking relationship manager. Lufkin was previously vice president and commercial loan officer at KeyBank, Schaub was vice president and commercial loan officer at TD Bank and Deering was senior vice president and team leader of commercial banking and cash management at Bank of New Hampshire.

Assured Solar Energy Inc. in North Yarmouth hired Paul Weiss as vice president of business development. Most recently, Weiss was director and president of Southern Maine Regional Resource Center at Maine Medical Center.

BroGue Insurance & Financial Services in Bangor hired Derek Cole as a licensed insurance agent. Cole previously worked for the firm's sister company Brown, Holmes & Milliken Agency in Ellsworth.

Fathom Cos., owner and operator of the Press Hotel and Union Restaurant in Portland, hired Marieke Thormann as project director of its real estate and development division. Thormann has 10 years of experience with high profile development projects in the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast regions.

Scott Simons Architects in Portland hired Matthew Maiello as an architectural designer.

Bridge Academy Maine program, a nonprofit organization in Bangor that provides high school juniors and seniors dual enrollment, hired Brian Langley as executive director. Langley, a restaurant entrepreneur and retired culinary arts instructor, is a former chair of the Education and Cultural Affairs Committee of the Maine Legislature.

Maine State Music Theatre in Brunswick hired Kyle Coyer as production manager. Coyer previously worked as the technical director of Opera Utah Symphony and Utah Opera.

Maine Small Business Development Centers, a program that provides business advising and training to Maine's entrepreneurs and small businesses, hired Susan Desgrosseilliers as a business advisor in its Portland office located at the University of Southern Maine. Desgrosseilliers previously owned and operated several small businesses including a high-end design showroom and a property development and management company.

Maine College of Art in Portland hired Rachel Somerville as a faculty member of its Master of Arts in Teaching program and Leah Igo as director of marketing and communications. Somerville currently serves as art director for the Westbrook School Department and as an instructor of Art Education at the University of Southern Maine while Igo was senior marketing manager at the University of New England.

Infinity Federal Credit Union in Westbrook hired Steve Richardson as a senior mortgage loan originator for the Greater Bangor area. Richardson was previously a branch manager with HarborOne Mortgage in Machias.

Griffin & Jordan LLC, a law firm in Orono, hired Karen Holyoke to practice in the areas of corporate, real estate, trusts and estate law. Holyoke was previously vice president overseeing legal and regulatory affairs at Emera Maine.

Spring Harbor Hospital in Westbrook, a division of Maine Behavioral Healthcare, hired Cathleen Small as director of behavioral services and Spring Harbor Academy. Small, a child psychologist and behavior analyst, previously provided care through the Developmental Behavioral Pediatrics office of Maine Medical Partners.

Nordic Aquafarms Inc., the U.S. subsidiary of Nordic Aquafarms, an international leader in land-based aquaculture, hired Brenda Chandler as CFO. Chandler was most recently responsible for the global Corporate Real Estate program at ON Semiconductor in South Portland.

New Hope for Women in Rockland hired Rebekah Paredes as executive director. Paredes has 18 years of experience in the nonprofit and community services sector and has experience in advocacy work, community engagement, grant writing and program development.

Bath Savings Institution hired Shannon Anketell as branch manager and assistant vice president in Brunswick. Anketell was previously manager of the KeyBank branch in Saco.

Health Affiliates Maine, an organization in Auburn that provides services and support to Mainers affected by mental health and substance abuse issues, hired Michelle Nadeau as human resources manager.

Penobscot Community Health Care in Bangor hired Michele Broadhurst as a chiropractor at Penobscot Community Health Center in Bangor. Broadhurst has 15 years of experience as a chiropractor.

Promotions

BroGue Insurance & Financial Services in Bangor promoted Heather Kinney to agency manager. Kinney has been a licensed agent since 1999 with experience in both personal and commercial lines.

Colby College in Waterville promoted Jane Phillips to vice president for college advancement and Sandy Colhoun to chief campaign officer. Phillips was previously associate vice president for college advancement while Colhoun was senior philanthropic advisor.

Maine Community Foundation in Ellsworth promoted Jennifer Southard to vice president of donor services and operations. Southard was previously vice president of donor services and gift planning.

Katahdin Trust Co. in Houlton promoted Alison Gould to assistant vice president, commercial services officer. Gould was previously commercial services officer.

Maine College of Art in Portland promoted Nikki Rayburn to interim director of exhibitions for both its Institute of Contemporary Art and the Bob Crewe Gallery. Rayburn, who is an adjunct assistant professor in the woodworking and furniture design program at the college, was exhibitions coordinator.

Baker Newman Noyes, an accounting and consulting firm in Portland, promoted Ilona Davis to principal in the risk and business advisory practice; Nicholas Porto and Kristin Redstone to principals in the firm's tax practice; Gilda Bryand to administrative manager in the tax practice; Jason Emery to managing director in the audit practice; and Brian Sawlivich to IT manager in the operations department.

Sea Bags, Portland-based designers and manufacturers of handmade items from recycled sails, promoted Sean Powers to manager of retail operations and Dana DeOliveira to supervisor of customer service.

Appointments

Maine Municipal Association in Augusta added Jon Beekman and Melissa Doane to its 12-member executive committee, which steers the organization on operational and budgeting priorities. Beekman is chair of the town of Fayette's select board and Doane is Bradley town manager.

Androscoggin Home Healthcare and Hospice in Lewiston elected Alex Roy as chair of its board of directors, Christopher Gagnon as vice-chair, Jeffrey Gosselin as treasurer, Elizabeth Keene as secretary and Michael Martel as officer at large. Roy is with Easy Payment Solutions, Gagnon with Ameriprise Financial Solutions, Gosselin with Mechanics Savings Bank, Keene with St. Mary's Regional Medical Center and Martel with The Fortin Group/SCI Management Corp.

Chief District Judge Jon D. Levy announced that the court appointed Kristin Aiello and Susan Faunce to serve on the Local Rules Advisory Committee, which studies the rules of practice and makes recommendations to the court concerning its rules and procedures and is a link between the practicing bar and the court. Aiello leads the Americans with Disabilities Act team at Disability Rights Maine while Faunce leads the mass tort practice at Lewiston law firm Berman & Simmons.

Achievements

Jensen Baird Gardner & Henry, a law firm in Portland, announced William Dale was named the “Best Lawyers 2019 Lawyer of the Year” for his work in litigation-municipal law and Lee Ivy was selected the “Best Lawyers 2019 Lawyer of the Year” for his work in litigation-trusts and estates. In addition, the firm said 17 of its attorneys were named to “The Best Lawyers in America 2019,” a peer-review publication.

Bar Harbor Catering Co. was chosen as one of the top finalists for the “Catersource ACE” award for achievement in catering excellence, in catering and events for the East region categories.

The New England Commission of Higher Education, the regional accreditation agency for colleges and universities in the six New England states, reaccredited Southern Maine Community College in South Portland for the next 10 years.

The National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition's member organizations, including Maine Farmland Trust, the Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association and Coastal Enterprises Inc., presented U.S. Sen. Susan Collins with an award recognizing her efforts to secure sustainable agriculture provisions in the Farm Bill and her work to champion agriculture priorities as a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee.

Maine Children's Home for Little Wanderers in Augusta earned it a “4-star rating” for the fourth consecutive year from Charity Navigator, America's largest independent charity evaluator.

Skelton Taintor & Abbott, a law firm in Auburn, said attorney Andrew Zulieve served as a judge evaluator at the 2019 Regional Tournament of the National Trial Competition held at the Cumberland County Courthouse. The competition is designed to expose law students to trial practice and develop future trial lawyers.

Kelley Johnson, physician recruitment and retention manager at Southern Maine Health Care in Biddeford, became a fellow of the Association of Staff Physician Recruiters. The fellowship program includes a broad spectrum of topics including provider recruitment, onboarding and retention, human resources, as well as interpreting benchmarking metrics and understanding/implementing medical staff development plans.

Eastern Maine Community College in Bangor was recognized by RegisteredNursing.org, a nursing advocacy organization, as the No. 1 registered nursing program in Maine. Programs were assessed on several factors which represent how well a program supports students towards licensure and beyond.

Green with Envy Salon in Camden was named to the “Salon Today 200” by Salon Today magazine.

The Portland Water District said it was awarded the “Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting” by the Government Finance Officers Association for its Comprehensive Annual Financial Report.

Ecomaine in Portland announced its 2019 eco-Excellence Awards recipients including Gary Glick, Falmouth High School, as its “Individual Lifetime Achievement eco-Excellence Award” winner and Tania Ferrante, South Portland High School, as its “Overall Individual eco-Excellence Award” winner. Individual award recipients include Jennifer Polley, Patty Distasio, Gene Pierotti, Meredith Banker, Michael Caudle, Paul Mathieu, Dennis Brown and Tom Pitman and students at Yarmouth High School. Friends of Scarborough Marsh in Scarborough and Friends School of Portland in Cumberland were named “Nonprofit Award” winners; “Business Award” winners were Chase Street Soap Co., Scarborough, Outside In Maine, Cape Elizabeth and Mainely Worm Bins, Gorham; and the city of Sanford and Sanford Public Works was the “Municipal Award” winner. Ecomaine also said that CEO Kevin Roche presented on successes in landfill diversion at the Solid Waste Association of North America's annual SWANApalooza conference in Boston.

Drummond Woodsum, a law firm in Portland, said attorney Malina Dumas was invited to speak at a Mitchell Institute career development event about how she accessed numerous opportunities to work and study abroad and how those transformative experiences eventually led her back to a fulfilling career in Maine. Dumas is an associate attorney at the firm, where she focuses her practice on tribal governments and entities.

Junior Achievement of Maine in Portland announced it will add three new members to its Business Hall of Fame. Honorees include David Howes, president and CEO, Martin's Point Health Care; Kristen Miale, president, Good Shepherd Food Bank; and Edward McKersie, president and founder, Pro Search Inc. and LiveandWorkinMaine.

Becker's Hospital Review named Marcy Dunn, chief information officer for MaineHealth and Maine Medical Center, to its annual “100 hospital and health system CIOs to know” list. The list features executives from across the U.S. who are leading technology and health IT initiatives for large and small health care providers.

University of Maine Alumni Association selected Sandra Caron as the recipient of its “2019 Distinguished Maine Professor Award,” which recognizes the highest qualities of teaching, research and public service. Caron is professor of family relations and human sexuality at the university.

U.S. Sen. Susan Collins was honored at the National Energy Assistance Directors Association's annual Winter Meeting for her work to support the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program. Collins also received the “Champion of Public Broadcasting Award” from America's Public Television Stations.

Back Cove Financial, a wealth management firm in Falmouth, said that Christine Byrne was named to Forbes' “Best-in-State Wealth Advisors” list for 2019. Byrne is a principal with the firm.

Skelton Taintor & Abbott, a law firm in Auburn, announced Rebecca Webber was scheduled to lead the Medical Leave or Sick Leave HR Workshop hosted by the Oxford Hills Chamber of Commerce, Central Maine Human Resource Association and Oxford Casino Hotel. Webber, whose practice areas include employment litigation, civil rights litigation, employment law, counseling and compliance and employment law training, discussed issues related to family medical leave.

Cushman Creative, a design agency specializing in biomedical and life science marketing in Port Clyde, said it earned a “Platinum AVA Digital Award” for the agency's “Trapelo Knows” video, created for client Intervention Insights, and a “Gold AVA Digital Award” for helping create “The Precision Medicine Podcast,” sponsored by Trapelo, which features clinical conversations with expert guests about the effective use of precision medicine for cancer care.

John Hughes, a private wealth advisor with Ameriprise Financial Services Inc. in Scarborough, qualified for the company's “Circle of Success” annual recognition program.

Sheridan Corp., a general contractor in Fairfield, said it reached the $90 million sales level with Butler Manufacturing, a company that provides design-build construction solutions and building technology to the nonresidential market.

RE/MAX Shoreline in Portland announced that broker Crystal Tropeano received the “RE/MAX 100% Club Award.” The real estate firm also said that realtors Colleen Bedard and Mary Roy have teamed up with Meghan Lambert of Meghan Lambert Design and Meredith Brockington, founder of Amie, to form Together, a group connecting inspired women in business.

Tru Brit Realty Group of Saxby, Meek & Coward at Keller Williams Realty in Portland said it was involved in helping 80 clients purchase and sell property in 2018 with a sales volume of over $22 million to again rank in the agency's “Platinum Award” winning bracket.