🔒Newsworthy people and performances for July 13, 2026

New hires

Caring Hearts Childcare Center in Falmouth hired Lori Smith as director of the nonprofit early childhood education center scheduled to open this fall. Smith was previously director at Cathance Children’s Center in Bowdoin. Encompass Health Rehabilitation Hospital of Bangor hired Troy Trejo as CEO of the hospital scheduled to open in October. Previously, Trejo was vice president of strategy for the MaineHealth system. Maine Affordable Housing Coalition in Portland hired Emmy Ham as partnerships and coalition director. Spinnaker Trust in Portland hired Sam Lundquist as a portfolio manager. Lundquist was most recently with Fidelity Investments. New Dimensions Business Services in Waterville hired Frank Isganitis. Isganitis is experienced in SBA lending, credit management, entrepreneurship and hospitality operations. Keller Williams Realty Maine in Portland added Allison Curran, Amanda Cray, Connor Slocum, Daniel Kirk, Eliza Alexander, Zainab Abbas, Bo Greta Hermanson and Timothy Brunell to the brokerage. Maine Community Bank in Portland hired Travis Hersom as chief information officer. Hersom was previously chief information officer with Baker Newman Noyes. Avesta Housing, a Portland-based nonprofit developer and operator of affordable housing, hired Anthony Ronzio as vice president of strategic partnerships and Jonathan Greven as vice president of finance and business strategy. Previously, Ronzio directed communications for Gov. Janet Mills while Greven was senior vice president of finance and administration and chief business and finance officer at St. Joseph’s College of Maine in Standish. Maine Historical Society in Portland hired Sam Billings as archives assistant. Billings joined the organization after completing a Master of Library and Information Science at St. John’s University.

Promotions

Opus Consulting in Portland promoted James Kepler and Garrett Krisko to senior consultants. Kepler specializes in fractional CFO services, financial leadership, strategic advisory and operational finance while Krisko specializes in receiverships, turnaround engagements and corporate restructuring. United Insurance promoted Deb Wentworth to partner, COO in Portland; John Jagger to partner, senior vice president in Brewer; and Nicole Knowles to partner, senior vice president in Rumford. Atlantic Federal Credit Union in South Portland promoted Jonathan Stowers to COO and Chris Perry to chief lending officer. Maine Historical Society in Portland promoted Jordis Rosberg to archivist and cataloger. Rosberg was previously archivist.

Appointments

The World Affairs Council of Maine in Portland elected its FY27 board of directors. New members include Michelle Lenihan, deputy commissioner for the Maine Department of Defense, Veterans and Emergency Management, and Riley Worth, transitioning from student board representative to a full voting seat. Returning to the board are Hans Eysenbach, partner at Verrill; Tobin Williamson, Aspen Institute fellow; and Ghomri Rostampur. Maine Historical Society in Portland announced that Michael Bourque, president and CEO of MEMIC, has been elected chair of its board of trustees. The organization also added Glenn Cummings, Daniel Forte and Michael Stillings as trustees. Cummings serves as Maine director of Green Schools in Gov. Janet Mills’ administration, Forte is founder and CEO of Quantum Technology Group and Stillings is a tax principal at Baker Newman Noyes.

Achievements

Drummond Woodsum, a law firm in Portland, announced that nine of its Maine-based attorneys earned a spot on the “New England Super Lawyers” list, including Melissa Hewey, who was also listed as one of the “Top 5 Maine Super Lawyers.” In addition, 13 of the firm’s Maine-based attorneys were ranked among “New England’s Rising Stars.” The New England Council, the nation’s oldest regional business association, announced three recipients of its “New Englander of the Year” award including U.S. Sen. Angus King. The University of New England said it earned an A- financial grade in Forbes’ “2026 College Financial Grades” ranking. The university received a 3.77 grade point average on a four-point scale, placing it among a select group recognized for exceptional financial strength amid a challenging environment for higher education. Nate Moody, a partner and senior financial advisor at Lebel & Harriman Retirement Advisors in Falmouth, was named the “2026 Retirement Plan Adviser of the Year” by PlanAdviser in the Closing the Coverage Gap category. Verrill, a law firm in Portland, said it was recognized as a “Leading Firm” in 14 categories and subcategories by Chambers & Partners. In addition, 25 of the firm’s Maine-based attorneys were individually ranked and the firm earned rankings in Maine in 10 practice area including four “Band 1” designations. The Maine Small Business Development Centers selected Christina Oddleifson as the “2026 State Star.” Oddleifson is a senior business advisor at the center at University of Southern Maine. Greater Portland Landmarks announced its “2026 Preservation Award” winners including 50 Exchange St., Woodhull; “FIRE!,” ChoralArts Singers; David Lloyd, Archetype Architects; Rob Wiener, Historic Preservation Program, city of Portland; the Boyd Block, East Brown Cow; the Portland Show, Greenhut Galleries; and Victoria Mansion. The World Affairs Council of Maine in Portland presented its 2026 awards. Mary Allen Lindemann, co-founder and owner of Coffee By Design, was the recipient of the “Bea Chapman Minott Award” and Khaled Habash, owner of the Scenic Route Tours, was named “Citizen Diplomat Award” winner. Broadreach Public Relations in Portland announced that Autumn Hall, Cassandra Chabot, Chance Viles and Hannah Lilly earned “PESO Model Certification,” reinforcing the firm’s commitment to delivering high-quality communications services. The firm also won three “Golden Arrows” at the Maine Public Relations Council’s annual Awards Ceremony including a “Gold Award – Reputation and Trust” and silver awards for “Integrated Communications” and “Reputation and Trust.” The Maine Community College System in Augusta said that its board of trustees honored former Chief Justice of the Maine Supreme Judicial Court Dan Wathen with trustee emeritus standing for his many contributions and dedication to the students of Maine’s community colleges. Practice Greenhealth, a national membership and networking organization for sustainable health care, presented the “Greenhealth Champion Award” to all nine hospitals within the Northern Light Health system as well as the system itself. Legacy Properties Sotheby’s International Realty said it was listed No. 321 in the nation on the “2026 T3 Sixty Mega 1000” list, which recognizes the largest and most successful residential real estate brokerages in the U.S. based on sales volume. Thomas College in Waterville announced that students Cayo Novaes, Vitor Povoa and Gabriel Guizelini Fortuna won second place on Season 11 of Greenlight Maine’s College Edition business competition for their business, MVP Development, an all-in-one athlete development platform.