People and Business

New Hires, Promotions and Appointments

The Coastal Humane Society, a Brunswick-based nonprofit animal shelter, last week named Joe Montisano as executive director. Montisano most recently served for 11 years as chief executive officer of the Central Florida Zoo and Botanical Gardens, and has 25 years of experience in animal protection. He replaces Mary Fifield, who served as interim executive director.

Global Spectrum, which recently contracted to operate the Cross Insurance Arena, has named Matthew Herpich as the facility’s new general manager. Herpich has worked with Global Spectrum since 2006, and recently held a similar position at the Wolstein Center, in Cleveland. He holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of South Carolina.

The Maine Historical Society recently named Kate McBrien as chief curator. In that role, she will lead the MHS exhibition program and oversee its artifact collections, including the landmark Wadsworth-Longfellow House in Portland. Before coming to MHS, McBrien served as curator of historic collections at the Maine State Museum in Augusta.

Inn by the Sea, a 61-room luxury resort in Cape Elizabeth, has hired Shahida Keen as spa director. Previously, she held similar positions at resorts including Wentworth by the Sea, in New Hampshire, and the Waldorf Astoria, in Park City, Utah. Keen is certified by the Downeast School of Massage, and is a graduate of Fisher College.

Maine Medical Partners, a physician group affiliated with Maine Medical Center, has added Dr. Heather Gillespie to its orthopedics and sports medicine practice. Gillespie previously was an associate professor at the David Geffen School of Medicine at the University of California, Los Angeles, and team physician for the UCLA Department of Intercollegiate Athletics. She received her medical degree from Duke University, and completed a sports medicine fellowship at MMC in 2007.

The University of Maine School of Law in Portland has named Richard Chen to its faculty as an associate professor. He most recently served as a visiting assistant professor at Pepperdine University School of Law in California. He previously worked as an attorney in private practice, and is a magna cum laude graduate of Harvard Law School.

Grants

Catholic Charities Maine recently awarded grants totaling more than $16,000 to 11 parishes throughout the state, to help local parishioners serve people of all faiths in their local communities. Grants ranged from $1,000 to $4,000, and recipients included St. Maximilian Kolbe Parish in Scarborough, St. Bartholomew Parish in Cape Elizabeth, and St. John and Holy Cross Parish in South Portland. The three parishes will use the funds to develop a community garden, which will grow produce for residents and for the South Portland Food Cupboard.

People’s United Community Foundation, the philanthropic arm of People’s United Bank, this month awarded $47,500 in grants to nearly a dozen nonprofit organizations throughout Maine. They include The Opportunity Alliance, of Portland, which received $5,000; Easter Seals of Maine, headquartered in Portland, which received $7,000; and the Maine Special Olympics, based in South Portland, which received $3,500.

Recognition

Hilary Hayner, of South Portland-based Seacoast Hand Therapy, recently was accredited as a certified hand therapist. Hayner, of Portland, is also a certified lymphedema therapist, and serves as the practice’s lead therapist for patients receiving cancer care.

New Beginnings

The Old Bean, an antiques store, recently opened at 735 Middle St., Bath. The shop specializes in primitive, country, industrial and architectural items.

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