🔒Newsworthy people and performances for May 27, 2024

New hires

UScellular hired Brian Cotlar as local marketing and engagement manager for New England. Cotlar was most recently marketing and business development director for the Bangor Region YMCA.

The town of Paris hired Natalie Andrews as town manager.

Greater Portland Immigrant Welcome Center hired Faisal Khan as executive director. Faisal has 20 years of experience in human rights advocacy.

Legacy Properties Sotheby’s International Realty, a luxury real estate firm in Portland, hired Will and Ally Fuller as real estate professionals in Portland and Amy Keenan as a real estate broker in Damariscotta.

Franklin Savings Bank in Farmington hired Michelle Grimnes as vice president, human resources director.

The city of Bangor’s Community and Economic Development Department hired Biguita Hernandez-Smith as economic development officer, Kyle Mullins as housing officer, Elizabeth Ouellette as community development analyst, Brian Scannell as planning analyst and Brad Wall as business development specialist.

Northern Light Mercy Hospital in Portland hired Richard King as a general surgeon at Northern Light Mercy Surgery. King will also see patients as a physician at InterMed in Portland.

Covenant Health hired Melissa Caccamo as vice president of practice operations for its provider enterprise at St. Mary’s Health System in Lewiston. Caccamo is a certified medical practice executive who was previously with Central Maine Healthcare in Lewiston.

Northern Light Inland Hospital in Waterville hired Christine Miller as a nurse practitioner at Northern Light Women’s Health in Waterville.

The American Heart Association in Maine hired Lindsay Colle as development director for the Go Red for Women campaign. Colle was previously a senior development director for the Association’s Heart Walk campaign in Hawaii.

Bath Savings Trust Co. hired Ashley Daigle as vice president, trust officer.

Marcus Clegg, a law firm in Portland, hired Brendan Barry as an associate.

Promotions

Aroma Joe’s, a coffee shop franchise in Scarborough, promoted Dave Tucci to president. Tucci also serves as COO.

MaineHealth in Portland promoted Susan Doliner to chief development officer. Susan Doliner was previously vice president of philanthropy at Maine Medical Center.

Norway Savings Bank promoted Jacob Gikas to branch manager in Scarborough.

Brann & Isaacson, a law firm in Lewiston, promoted Meghan Myers to partner. Myers provides estate planning and estate and trust administration services to individuals and families.

Penobscot Valley Hospital in Lincoln promoted Melissa Pelkey to CEO, effective July 1. Pelkey, a registered nurse, was previously chief nursing officer.

Achievements

Home Remedies, a home store in Portland, was included on Architectural Digest’s list of “Home Décor Stores to Shop Now and Always.”

New Dimensions Federal Credit Union in Waterville said it finished first in the Morning Sentinel’s “Reader’s Choice 2024 Awards.”

Camden National Bank and Bar Harbor Bankshares, the parent company of Bar Harbor Bank & Trust, were both recognized by Forbes as one of the “World’s Best Banks.” The recognition results from a collaboration between Forbes and Statista to conduct a consumer survey that evaluated feedback from more than 49,000 banking customers across 33 countries.

The Maine Jump$tart Coalition for Personal Financial Literacy in Augusta was named “2024 State Coalition of the Year” by the National Jump$tart Coalition. The award recognizes the sound structure and management of a state coalition; its effectiveness and innovation in reaching, supporting and assisting teachers; its public awareness activities; its effectiveness in carrying out Jump$tart’s State Coalition Common Strategy; and the level of participation and collaboration within the coalition itself.

Woodlands Senior Living said that its locations in Bridgton and Lewiston earned the Joint Commission’s “Gold Seal of Approval” for demonstrating continuous compliance with the commission’s performance standards.

KeyBank in Portland announced that it received a “Greenwich Excellence Award” in the category of Relationship Manager Proactively Provides Advice - Northeast Region. The award recognizes the proactive advice provided to clients throughout the year and reflects our commitment to being a trusted presence in the small and middle market business communities.

Maine Department of Inland Fisheries & Wildlife named Josh Smith, game warden of division A in Gray, as its “Maine Game Warden of the Year” as part of its annual awards. Other award winners included Josh Beal, game warden sergeant of the Downeast region of the state, “Supervisor of the Year;” Roger Wolverton, retired chief pilot, “Legendary Game Warden of the Year;” Preston Pomerleau and K9 Gordon, “2023 K9 Search and Rescue of the Year Award;” Game Warden Chad Robertson and K9 Storm, “2023 K9 Conservation Case of the Year Award;” Game Warden Tennie Coleman, Game Warden Investigator Josh Smith, Harry Wiegman and Cody York, “2023 Meritorious Service Award;” Kevin Slater, Mahoosuc Guide Service founder, “Wiggie Robinson Legendary Guide Award;” Nick Mangino, Andrew Smart, Avery Boucher, Chris Carney, Steve Milton, Charles Brown, Dan Christianson, Matt Tenan, Brad Richard, Alan Curtis, Scott Osgood, Eric Rudolph, Joshua Lugdon, Marc D’Elia, James Gushee, Nick Raymond, Garrett Moody, Josh Theriault, Matthew Norcia, Joe McBrine, Jake Scott, Andy Glidden, Josh Bubier, Jeffrey Spencer, Chris Hilton, Seth Powers, Brandon Sperrey, Paul Mason, Arron Rideout, Jonathan Parker and Kale O’Leary, “2023 Exemplary Service Awards;” and Al Cowperthwaite, former executive director of the North Maine Woods, “Colonel’s Award.” In addition, the Maine Warden Service Association presented awards to Bobbi-Jo Wallace, Ashley Winslow, Alex Michaud, Amos Abbott, Breah Pyburn, Dennis Lowe, Nick Watson, Gerard Zegers and Lillian Amborn.

Husson University in Bangor said Brien Walton, director of the Dyke Center for Family Business, was invited to speak at the White House during a roundtable discussion focusing on tackling the climate crisis through actionable methods of spurring the development of clean energy and climate technologies.

Berman & Simmons, a law firm in Lewiston, said 12 of its attorneys were named “2024 New England Super Lawyers,” including three who were selected as “2024 Rising Stars.”

Budget Document Technology in Lewiston announced it was selected by Xerox to be a member of its “CEO Club.”

Sebasticook Valley Federal Credit Union in Pittsfield announced that James Lemieux, president, was awarded the “Delmar Doody Award” for his outstanding contributions to the business community.

Allen Insurance and Financial in Camden said that Jennifer Fifield and Valerie Robinson earned the Certified Professional Insurance Agent designation from the American Insurance Marketing and Sales Society.

Southern Maine Agency on Aging in Biddeford announced that Marc Boissonneault, a volunteer with the adult day program at the Sam L. Cohen Center in Biddeford, was named “Maine’s National Service Volunteer of the Year” during the annual Governor’s Awards for Service and Volunteerism. In addition, agency volunteers Barbara Bock, Jim Clark and Pat FitzGerald were also recognized as part of the “Roll of Honor” for each serving over 500 volunteer hours in 2023.

St. Joseph Healthcare, a community care hospital in Bangor, said it was named as one of the country’s top “Institutes of Quality for Orthopedic care for Medicare Patients” by major insurer Aetna.

Magnus on Water in Biddeford was listed as a “1 PIN Bar” by the Pinnacle Guide on its list of the globe’s top cocktail bars.

Northern Light CA Dean and Mayo Hospitals announced that Christina Pratley, director of infection prevention, was presented with the Maine Patient Safety Academy’s “2024 Rising Tide Award.”

Consolidated Communications, a national broadband provider that serves parts of Maine, was recognized by BroadbandNow for being in the “Top 10 Fastest Real-World Speeds” among national providers.

Maine Office of Tourism named Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens in Boothbay as its “Governor’s Award for Tourism Excellence” during its annual tourism awards. Craignair Inn by the Sea in Spruce Head won the “Leadership & Growth Award;” Oriental Jade in Bangor received the “Innovation & Creativity Award;” Wayne Davis, chairman of TrainRiders Northeast, captured the “WelcomeME Award;” and the Appalachian Mountain Club was selected as the “Stewardship Award” winner.

Seven Maine hospitals received top honors in the spring Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grades, a safety evaluation of hospitals across the country. Maine Medical Center in Portland, MaineGeneral Medical Center in Augusta, Northern Light A.R. Gould Hospital in Presque Isle, Northern Light Eastern Maine Medical Center in Bangor, Northern Light Inland Hospital in Waterville, Northern Light Mercy Hospital in Portland and St. Mary’s Regional Medical Center in Lewiston each received an “A” grade. “B” grades were awarded to Franklin Memorial Hospital in Farmington, Pen Bay Medical Center in Rockport and York Hospital in York while Cary Medical Center in Caribou, Central Maine Medical Center in Lewiston, Mainehealth dba Southern Maine Healthcare in Biddeford, Mid Coast Hospital in Brunswick, Northern Light Maine Coast Hospital in Ellsworth, Northern Maine Medical Center in Fort Kent and St. Joseph Hospital of Bangor each posted a “C” grade.

Golden Pond Wealth Management in Waterville announced that Chelsey Oliver, relationship manager, completed the requirements for the Series 66 Uniform Combined State Law Exam.

ClimateWork Maine named Wyman’s, a grower and processor of blueberries based in Milbridge, its “Climate Performance Award” winner for commitment to sustainability and eco-friendly practices throughout its operations and supply chain.

Haley Ward Inc., an employee-owned professional engineering, architecture, environmental and surveying consulting firm in Bangor, announced that it was listed No. 459 on the Engineering News-Record 2024 “Top 500 Design Firm” list.