People and Business

Local entrepreneurs bring technology to winter plowing services

Patrick Doyle and Paul Johnson have founded PlowMaine.com, southern Maine’s only complete online resource for driveway snow removal. Doyle is a University of Southern Maine student studying engineering and computer science. Johnson is a local business owner and USM alumni. “Every year I’ve heard constant complaints about the difficulty, hassle and lack of reliability of snow plowing, from both customers and contractors,” Doyle said, who has worked at Lowe’s in Scarborough for the past few years. PlowMaine will operate in the science building at USM in Portland for its inaugural winter, seeking to connect local snow-removal companies and communities. Partnerships with local landscaping companies have already been established. Doyle and Johnson believe that these companies stand to make more per storm while reducing gas expenses and mileage. The greatest benefits will go to the customer. “All the customer needs to do is log in, click ‘sign-up’ and give us basic information. PlowMaine will take care of the rest,” Doyle said.

Expansions

Dow’s Law Office, a third generation western Maine law firm, has opened an office in Falmouth on U.S. Route 1 to service clients in the Greater Portland area. Dow’s practice areas are elder law, estate planning, probate, and Social Security disability appeals. The firm is full-service, however, and handles real estate transactions, personal injury, family law and criminal cases.

Giving Back

Portland kids, families and volunteers will host a 4-5:30 p.m. Nov. 9 packing party at the Deering Center Community Church for Operation Christmas Child, a project that fills shoe boxes with toys, school supplies and hygiene items for needy children overseas. Participants hope to pack 200 boxes toward the expected 600 shoebox gifts to be collected from Greater Portland residents this year. During National Collection Week, Nov. 18-25, shoebox gifts can be dropped off at one of five local area locations. These collection centers are the first stop on a journey around the world for thousands of gifts packed by local residents. The boxes are then processed, prepared and delivered to children overseas. For more information on how to participate in Operation Christmas Child or to find the nearest drop-off site, call Kathleen McInerny at 318-7525 or visit samaritanspurse.org.

New Hires, Appointments and Promotions

Berry Talbot Royer a certified public accounting firm in Falmouth, has added Diana Locke to its management team. Locke will act as a member of the management team as well as facilitate general management functions and business development.

Verrill Dana law firm welcome four new associates to the firm’s Portland office, Braden M. Clement, Colin W. Hay, Spencer R. Thibodeau and Mathew J. Todaro. Clement is a graduate of University of Maine School of Law and holds a master’s from Tufts University’s Graduate School of Arts & Sciences and a bachelor’s from Bowdoin College. Hay earned his law degree from Boston University School of Law and his undergraduate from Bowdoin College. Thibodeau is a graduate of Northeastern University School of Law and Todaro is a recent graduate of Boston College Law School.

Rebeccah Schaffner and Robert Gerber were recently named to the Casco Bay Estuary Partnership board of directors. Schaffner is the director of land use planning at the Greater Portland Council of Governments. Gerber is a senior engineer and geologist at Ransom Environmental Consultants Inc. and specializes in groundwater modeling, wave and estuarine circulation modeling.

The YMCA of Southern Maine has appointed three members to its board. The new members are Mary Wright, vice president of marketing and brand strategy for Hannaford Supermarkets, Scarborough School Superintendent Dr. George H. Entwistle III, and Unum Global Human Resource Operations Vice President Kathi Ewen.

New Beginnings

Letterpress Books, a family-owned bookstore, is now open in the Northgate Plaza, located in the North Deering neighborhood of Portland. The store offers top-quality books and book-related products, specializing in new releases, regional authors, mystery, history, New England bestsellers and a wide range of popular children’s titles. Owner/manager, Katherine Osborne, is a seasoned book buyer with 24 years of experience in southern Maine bookstores. She will work with local schools and libraries, including a weekly story hour for the kids.

Recognition

Broadreach Public Relations, a communications firm on Portland’s waterfront, recently received the 2013 President’s Award and the 2013 Rising Star Achievement Award, as well as six Golden Arrow Awards from the Maine Public Relations Council for its exemplary work in public relations and strategic communications.

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