Appointments 

The World Affairs Council of Maine, a nonprofit educational organization that serves as a public forum and resource for understanding, analyzing and debating international issues, recently elected the following three new members to its board of directors: Jacob Acker, international student support coordinator with CIEE; John Doughty, vice president and associate director of research at R.M. Davis; and Ellen Moy, adjunct professor of history and political science at Husson University and Southern Maine Community College. Board members elected to renewed terms are Gordon Erikson, Matthew Gardner, Trisha Mason, Tak Suppasettawat and Kathleen Sutherland. The board of directors elected the following officers for the upcoming year: Clifford Gilpin as president, Michael Wygant as first vice president, Tim Honey as second vice president, Joseph Keaney as treasurer, Gino Nalli as assistant treasurer, Lynne Houle as secretary, and Jacob Acker as assistant secretary.

Openings

RE/MAX By the Bay is recently announced the grand opening and transition into two new office locations. The original RE/MAX By the Bay office, located at 281 Veranda St., Portland has re-opened after 12 years and a new office has opened in Portland’s Old Port at 88 Middle St. 

New Hires and Promotions

People’s United Bank recently announced that Pamela DiPietro Hale has been promoted to market manager for the business banking team in southern Maine. Hale is the team leader for southern Maine and will be responsible for coaching and managing a three person business banking team. Hale began her banking career in 1995, in branch management. 

Modern Pest Services recently announced the hiring of Katie Gagnon as administrative manager. Gagnon will lead the company’s administrative team in the Brunswick corporate offices, overseeing accounts receivable, accounts payable, collections and reporting. Gagnon will also be responsible for assisting, coaching and developing the administrative team members, as well as advancing the company’s administrative processes and ensuring client satisfaction.

Amy Holland was recently named executive director of the World Affairs Council of Maine. Holland joined the Council two years ago as administrative director. She has previously worked and volunteered for several nonprofit organizations and served as staff to the Maine Legislature.

Sergio A. Gaddar, a Maine licensed architect specializing in project design development and process management, has joined WBRC Architects/Engineers as project manager of its Portland office. Gaddar has extensive recent experience on projects throughout southern Maine across many sectors, including healthcare, hospitality, educational, residential, and mixed use. He is also an experienced master planner and is a LEED Accredited Professional in building design and construction.

People’s United Bank announced recently that Ann Marie Swenson has been promoted to senior vice president and regional manager of business banking for Maine and New Hampshire. Swenson will be responsible for a team of 16 lenders who manage commercial relationships of up to $1.5 million. Swenson began her banking career in December 2002, with People’s United Bank as a senior credit analyst and has held several positions since including market manager and manager of business banking in southern Maine.

Colin Eaton recently joined Winxnet, a Portland-based IT solutions provider, as a technical support specialist. Having attended Worcester Polytechnic Institute and the University of Southern Maine, Eaton brings to Winxnet more than five years of technical experience. Most recently, he worked at Best Buy. 

Drummond Woodsum recently hired Adrianne Fouts as a new member of the litigation and trial services group, concentrating her practice in the areas of commercial litigation and appellate matters. Prior to joining Drummond Woodsum, Adrianne practiced with another Portland law firm and clerked for the Hon. Ellen A. Gorman of the Maine Supreme Judicial Court.  She is a member of the Immigrant Legal Advocacy Project’s pro bono panel and serves on the board of the Maine Volunteer Lawyers for the Arts. She resides in Falmouth.

Designation

The Joint Commission, in conjunction with The American Heart Association/American Stroke Association, recently recognized Mid Coast Hospital with Advanced Certification for Primary Stroke Centers. The certification demonstrates the hospital’s ability to provide the most appropriate, evidence-based stroke care a community hospital can offer its patients. MidCoast is one of only four hospitals in Maine that has achieved this status.

Harvey Melnick, principal coach at Aucocisco Coaching, recently earned certification as a Certified Gestalt Coach by the Gestalt International Study Center. To achieve certification, Melnick completed an extensive training program at GISC headquarters.  As a coach, Melnick supports families and children in bringing about meaningful and practical changes in their lives by
learning new ways to relate to and interact with each other more effectively. Coaching is designed for each person involved in the family system: parents, children, teens and young adults. 

Good Deeds

Verrill Dana, LLP recently donated more than 150 bags of goods to St. Elizabeth’s Essentials Pantry. The firm’s attorneys and staff contributed clothing, toys, diapers, soap and many other needed items over the course of their two-month donation drive.  The donation drive was a part of its “150 Project,” an initiative designed to commemorate the firm’s 150th anniversary. Throughout the year, Verrill Dana will facilitate and recognize the donation of time, money or property, in increments of 150, by attorneys and staff. Teams from the firm’s offices around New England have assembled to create their own “150” initiatives to benefit a range of causes.