Newsworthy people and performances for June 14, 2021

New hires

The Marc Gup Real Estate Group at Keller Williams Realty in Portland hired William Van Wickler and Sandy Shapiro-Hurt as real estate consultants.

Five County Credit Union in Bath hired Randy Mitchell as relationship manager, assistant vice president.

Maine Preservation in Yarmouth hired Tara Kelly as executive director. Kelly, who has 10 years of experience in historic preservation, nonprofit management, policy and advocacy initiatives, public and education programming and fundraising, was previously vice president of policy and programs for The Municipal Art Society of New York.

Auburn Savings Bank hired Cara Hingey as vice president and loan officer.

Final Draft CAD LLC, a BIM and CAD consulting firm in Portland, hired Rich Lewis as BIM/CAD technician. Lewis was formerly inside sales specialist at the Hussey Seating Co. in North Berwick.

Bangor Savings Bank hired Christopher Bolduc as a mortgage loan officer.

Eastern Maine Development Corp. in Bangor hired Lisandro Jimenez as senior accountant and Peter Jamieson as Katahdin Region economic development director.

MaineHealth in Portland hired Aileen Mickey as president of the MaineHealth Medical Group. Mickey is currently chief administrative officer with Evergreen Health Medical Group in Kirkland, Wash.

Watershed Center for the Ceramic Arts in Newcastle hired Tamsen Brooke Warner as finance and operations manager. Warner was previously executive director of the Waterville Opera House.

Maine Source Homes & Realty in Auburn hired Zachary Lutick as a sales agent and Realtor.

Northern Light Pediatric Specialty Care in Bangor hired Kirsten Graff as a pediatric cardiologist.

Mission Broadband, a broadband consulting firm in Bangor, hired Lee Willette as project and operational support manager. Willette has 40 years of experience in the telecommunications industry.

Paquin & Carroll Insurance in Biddeford hired Dave Gash as a commercial account executive. Gash has 20 years of experience in the insurance industry.

Maine Policy Institute in Portland hired Katherine Revello as a reporter for The Maine Wire, the organization’s online news and opinion service.

Ada’s Portland restaurant hired Brendan Levin as executive chef. Levin most recently opened Lure Kitchen and Bar in Portsmouth, N.H.

Kennebec Savings Bank hired Paige O’Donnell as vice president of retail banking and Amanda Dyer as branch manager and loan officer in Freeport. O’Donnell was previously with TD Bank while Dyer was with Norway Savings Bank.

Habitat for Humanity of Greater Portland hired Tara Hill as executive director. Hill was most recently director of community development at Town & Country Federal Credit Union.

Promotions

Waterville Creates announced the promotion of Michelle Sweet to interim executive director of the Waterville Opera House. Sweet was previously assistant executive director.

Covetrus, an animal-health company in Portland, promoted Sarah Twomey to senior director, risk management and insurance, Katie Drake to senior manager of global cash management and Andrew McDonnell to director of global financial services.

Golden Pond Wealth Management in Waterville promoted Holly Caron to director of client services.

KidsPeace, a nonprofit in Ellsworth that serves the behavioral and mental health needs of children, families and communities, promoted Rachel Bousquet to executive director of the organization’s Maine operations. Bousquet was previously director of the organization’s Maine residential and education programs.

Clark Insurance in Portland promoted Deb Wentworth, Gregg Ritter, Bret Cote and Mona Freeman Wilkinson to senior vice presidents.

Bar Harbor Historical Society named Deborah Dyer as the organization’s formal historian. Dyer previously served as volunteer curator.

Katahdin Trust in Houlton promoted Angela Butler to executive vice president, retail and business banking and Krista Putnam to executive vice president, chief marketing officer. Butler was previously senior vice president, retail and business banking while Putnam was senior vice president, marketing.

Appointments

Harpswell Capital Advisors in New Gloucester added David Russ to its advisory board. Russ was most recently chief investment officer for Dartmouth College’s endowment.

Verrill, a law firm in Portland, named Jim Cohen as chair of its energy, telecommunications and natural resources group. Cohen, a former mayor of Portland, is a long-time firm partner who currently serves as the board president of the Portland Community Chamber of Commerce and as a board member of the Northern New England Passenger Rail Authority.

Machias Savings Bank voted Marci Booth, LIHC Investment Group, Portland; Seraphina Erhart, Maine Coast Sea Vegetables, Hancock; Luke Holden, Luke’s Lobster, Portland; Cathy Manchester, Keller Williams Realty, Portland; Paul Paradis, Paradis True Value, Bar Harbor; Hugh Reynolds, Greenhead Lobster, Stonington; and Drew Sigfridson, The Boulos Co., Portland as corporators.

Murray Plumb & Murray, a law firm in Portland, announced that Stacey Neumann was appointed to the Criminal Law Committee for the United States District Court for the District of Maine. Neumann is a partner at the firm and chair of the firm’s criminal/white collar defense and employment practice groups.

The University of Maine System elected Mark Gardner as chair and James Donnelly as vice chair of its board of trustees for the 2021–22 board year.

Readiness Associates, an emergency preparedness and business continuity solutions provider in Portland, elected Kay Aikin, CEO of Introspective Systems/Dynamic Grid, as board chair. In addition, the organization added Cliff Chen, CFO of Martin Defense Group, and Lionel Derriey, director of Alesar Limited, to its advisory board.

Achievements

RE/MAX Shoreline in Portland said Nick Guerrette ended the first quarter of 2021 as one of the “Top Five Individual RE/MAX Agents in Maine,” John Robinson was the No. 1 “RE/MAX Commercial Individual Agent in Maine” and the No. 4 “RE/MAX Commercial Individual Agent in New England” in quarter one and Erin Finley and Peter Hawkes shared the “Top Performing RE/MAX Luxury Specialist in Maine” recognition in the first quarter.

Hardshore Distilling Co. in Portland said it received a “Silver Medal” for its rosemary-forward flagship Hardshore Original Gin and a “Double Gold Medal” for its North Oak Barrel Rested Gin at the 2021 San Francisco World Spirits Competition. In addition, the Devil’s Half Acre Distillery in Hermon said its Jigger & Jones American Gin was awarded a “Bronze Medal” at the competition.

The Collins for Senator campaign won three gold awards and two silver awards at the 2021 Pollie Awards ceremony, hosted by the American Association of Political Consultants. The campaign received gold recognition for “Best Television Campaign – Republican,” “Best Radio Ad” and “Best Use of Humor, Radio Ad” and silver for “Best in Show — Television Advertising, Republican” and “Best Use of Personality or Celebrity – Television Advertising.”

Forbes rated Bangor Savings Bank second and Camden National Bank seventh in the U.S. in its annual “World’s Best Banks” list.

Fontaine Family – The Real Estate Leader in Auburn named David Foster and Michelle Gosselin as its “Rookies of the Year” at the agency’s 2020 award reception. Others recognized included Sally Christner, “5-Year Milestone Award;” Charmaine Raby and Gosselin as the “#1 Agent Team Award;” Clayton Larochelle, Bill Bergeron, Kelly Webb, Cindy Morin and Maria Morrissette as the “Top-5 Producers;” and “Multi-Million-Dollar Producers” Teri Campbell, Foster, Pat Long Cressey, Paul Rondeau, Mary Ellen Burgess, Chad Doucette, Gail LaPrino, Tim Cyr, Kathy Lee Cook and Nick Blais.

The Society for Human Resource Management awarded the Central Maine Human Resource Association in Auburn its “Silver EXCEL Award” for 2020.

Coffee Review, an international coffee buying guide, scored Coffee By Design’s Ethiopia Yirgacheffe Heyilu Butiya and Kenya Kiambu Kiriga AA as 93 indicating “exceptional originality, beauty, individuality and distinction, with no negative issues whatsoever.”

Channel 8 WMTW in Portland said it won a regional “Edward R. Murrow Award” for its pursuit of excellence in journalism.

KeyBank said it was listed No. 23 on the 2021 DiversityInc “Top-50 Companies for Diversity” list. The bank was also listed No. 4 on the “Top Companies for Executive Diversity Councils,” No. 7 on the “Top Companies for Philanthropy,” No. 21 on the “Top Companies for Employee Resource Groups” and was also named a “Top Company for ESG.” The bank also said it received six “National Greenwich Excellence Awards” and seven “Regional Greenwich Excellence Awards.”

The University of Maine at Augusta Nursing Program presented Emily Clemons with a “DAISY Award for Extraordinary Nursing Students,” Lisa Heald with a “DAISY Award for Extraordinary Faculty” and Terry Colby with a “DAISY Lifetime Achievement Award.” as part of National Nurses Week. Clemons is a third-year nursing student, Heald is assistant professor of nursing and Colby is professor of nursing.

Northern Light Eastern Maine Medical Center in Bangor recognized numerous staff members during National Hospital Week. “Caring Spirit Award” winners were Denisa Brozman, hospitalist, “Overall Caring Spirit Award;” Lindsey Bradley, emergency department, “Seeing the Individual Caring Spirit Award;” Joe Harkins, gastroenterology, “Making Access Easy Caring Spirit Award;” Darleen McLaughlin-McGarrigle, cardiac intensive care unit, “Guiding the Way Caring Spirit Award;” Zachary Schmidt, Merritt 3, “Rookie Caring Spirit Award;” and Brad Waddell, chief of surgery, Northern Light Eastern Maine Medical Center and surgeon, Northern Light Surgical Specialists, “Raising Quality Caring Spirit Award.” The “Team Caring Spirit Award” went to the Medical Center’s COVID-19 Vaccination Clinic Team including Marybeth Boudreau, director of pharmacy residency and interim clinical manager; Robert Cattan, clinical pharmacist; Lorrell Clements, administrative assistant II, inpatient pharmacy; Stacey Coventry, director, volunteer services; Whitney Jandreau, clinical pharmacist specialist; Jordan Lorenz, intern, volunteer services; Mark Severance, director, facilities; and Katelyn Stoddard, volunteer coordinator, volunteer services. “Daisy Award” recipients were Ng Christopher, acute rehab; Chris Gerry, cardiac care unit; Rena Schaefer, labor and delivery; Kathleen Stewart, ICU and pediatric ICU; and Robin Woodard, OB/Gyn.

Jennifer Coffin, a member of the personal insurance team at Allen Insurance and Financial in Camden, earned a Certified Personal Risk Manager designation issued by the National Alliance for Insurance Education and the Council for Insuring Private Clients.

Franklin Memorial Hospital in Farmington recognized four staff members with “Nursing and Direct Care Professionals Excellence Awards” as part of National Nurses Week. Marian Hastings was named the “Office Practice Nursing Excellence” award winner; Jen Nuttall was the winner of “Hospital Nursing Excellence” award; Crystal Marchetti was selected as the “Hospital Direct Care Professional” award winner; and Emily Wiggins-Rider was the winner of the “Office Practice DCP” award. The hospital also announced that it was recognized by Healthgrades in its “2021 Patient Safety Excellence Awards.”

VIP Tires & Service in Auburn said that five of its Maine-based master technicians earned Automotive Service Excellence Master Technician designation including Alvin Martin, Biddeford; Dustin Collins, Auburn; Lyle Labadour, Augusta; Bruce Morin, Bangor; and Kevin Norris, Arundel.

Eastern Maine Community College in Bangor announced that Lisa Larson, president, was selected to join the Education Design Lab’s Designers in Residence program.

University of Maine at Augusta announced that Jonathan Henry, vice president of enrollment management and marketing, received the “Martin Gallant Distinguished Counseling Professional Award” from the Maine Counseling Association.

The Maine Real Estate & Development Association selected six of Maine’s most noteworthy and significant real estate projects, completed in the previous year, during its Virtual Spring Conference. The Association’s “Top 6 Most Notable Projects of 2020” were: Rock Row Phase 1 Retail Center, Waterstone Properties Group, Westbrook; 82 Hanover Street, Port Property Management, Portland; Hospice of Southern Maine, Zachau Construction/SMRT, Scarborough; Solterra, Portland Housing Authority, Portland; One Merchants Plaza, Sky Villa Properties, Bangor; and Puritan Medical COVID –Building Expansion (P2), Puritan Medical Products, Pittsfield.

Preti Flaherty, a law firm in Portland, said 13 of its Maine-based attorneys and five of its practice groups were selected for inclusion in the “2021 Chambers USA Guide to America’s Leading Lawyers for Business.”

Norway Savings Bank named Kurt Garascia, vice president and senior investment officer, as its “President’s Award” winner during its virtual 2020 Employee Awards Banquet. Other award winners included Vicky Libby, vice president, business intelligence team manager, “Employee of the Year;” Zach Emmons, IT lead technician and support coordinator, “Best Supporting Role Award;” and Jessica Johnston, deposit operations representative, “Culture Champion of the Year.” “Culture Awards” winners included Sarah MacDonald and Cheryl Powers, “Open Honest & Transparent Communications Award;” Erin Mowery and Michelle Morse, “Thinking Differently Award;” Dan Bernard and Michelle Wickham, “Ownership & Accountability Award;” Mike Grant and Jesse Shand, “Fun & Humor Award;” Randy Easler and Tricia Brooks, “Inclusivity & Collaboration Award;” Blake Ivers and Jill French, “Strong Financial Stewardship Award;” Amanda Amadon and Liz Hatch, “Positivity – Attitude is Everything;” Chris Wilcox, Mariah Martin and Janice Brown, “Making it Happen Award;” Mary Hewett, Jillian McTiernan and Sequoia Hoinsky, “Supporting Greatness Award;” and Shelly Stevens and Melissa Rock, “Employees, Customers and Community Award.” “Length of Service Awards” went to Janice Brown, 25 years of service; JD Garey, Vicki Leighton, Wanda Pollard and Dana Myles, 20 years of service; Richelle Wallace, Jennifer Cook, Heidi Edwards, Chuck Williams and Kelcey Kimball, 15 years of service; Angie Morse, Tricia Lathrop, Mike Noble, Lou Paquet and Donna Gray, 10 years of service; and Powers, Aleigh Weymouth, Lindsey Lombardo, Cassidy Wilson, Johnston, Katherine Deshaies, Tanya Damon, Dana Fields, Millie Trent, Jane Watson, Mike Grass, Derek Bergner, Scott Smith, Megan Merrifield and Beth Garza, five years of service.