People and Business: Dec. 30

Recognition

The American Nursing Association-Maine, the state’s professional organization of registered nurses, presented awards to two Maine Medical Center nurse leaders during the annual membership business meeting and awards luncheon held Dec. 4 in Portland at the DoubleTree Hotel.

MMC Senior Vice President of Patient Care Services Marjorie Wiggins received the President’s Award for being “instrumental in promoting professional nursing practice at MMC, Maine, and nationally.” Her efforts were recognized for moving ANA-Maine forward, and helping to double the organization’s membership.

MMC Nursing Director Deborah Bachand received the Agnes Flaherty Leadership Award, which recognizes “a registered nurse leader who demonstrates leadership, courage, and dedication in his or her interactions with patients and families, staff and coworkers, the profession and the community.”

Greater Portland Convention + Visitors Bureau has been recognized as a winner in the TripAdvisor Travelers’ Choice awards for Destinations on the Rise for 2016, ranking ninth of 10.

The Maine Public Relations Council recognized exceptional public relations professionals and organizations, as well as the 2015 Golden Arrow Awards, showcasing exemplary communications work in Maine.

Linda Varrell, president and chief strategist at Broadreach Public Relations, was awarded the Edward L. Bernays Award, which recognizes achievement and outstanding leadership. Jillian Kanter, account executive and client operations coordinator at Broadreach Public Relations, was presented with the Rising Star Award, which recognizes a young public relations professional who has exhibited achievement and outstanding work. The President’s Award honors an MPRC member for substantial, long-term contributions to the organization, and was presented to MPRC’s administrator of 25 years, Art Marcoux of Services Four for his service to MPRC since 1990 and to congratulate him on his retirement in 2016.

The Maine Cancer Foundation was named the 2015 recipient of the Midge Vreeland Public Service Award. MCF received the award based on the foundation’s commitment to fight cancer through education, outreach and events such as the Twilight 5K, Mary’s Walk and the Tri for a Cure.

The Maine Outdoor Film Festival recognized nine filmmakers for their excellent work in outdoor filmmaking, including Tim Ouillette of Portland for “Snapshot of a Skatepark,” which was named Best Maine Film, and Stephen Underwood of Scarborough, who received the Conservation Award for “The Hunt for Aquatic Invaders.”

Hires, Promotions, Appointments

The following local officers were among 60 that graduated from the Maine Criminal Justice Academy in Vassalboro recently: Nicholas A. Green, Bath Police; Rafael M. Mendoza, Cumberland County Sheriff’s Office; Ayaovi B. Alognon, Blake Cunningham, Kyle A. Knutson, Morgan G. MacLean and Brent M. Ross, Portland Police; Caleb R. Gray, South Portland Police; and Donald R. Cowles, Topsham Police.

Brunswick resident Bill Audette, a retired Brunswick High School honors math teacher for 36 years and 1996-97 Educator of the Year, is joining Maine Prep, Maine’s largest test-prep company. Audette will help students master their math skills in preparation for the new SAT, which begins in March.

Laura Kim Lee of Brunswick has been named program officer at the Maine Community Foundation. Lee coordinates grant making, advancement, and donor service activities in southern Maine.

Bowdoin International Music Festival in Brunswick announced that Daniel Nitsch has been hired as the new director of operations and admissions. Nitsch will be replacing Jen Means, who has been with the festival for 15 years.

Kaela L. Jalbert has joined Powers & French, P.A. in Freeport as an associate attorney. Jalbert’s practice areas include family and domestic litigation, criminal defense and civil litigation.

Regan Flaherty of Portland joined the Rogers/Norton Wealth Management Group of Raymond James in Portland as a registered sales associate.

Portland law firm Murray Plumb & Murray has hired attorney Amy Phalon, who will focus her practice on special education matters.

Steve Martel joined Winxnet, a Portland-based IT outsourcing and consulting firm as a consulting CIO and senior executive.

Giving Back

L.L.Bean announced its year end Charitable Giving Program will allocate $2.1 million in grants ranging from $5,000 to $225,000 to more than 80 organizations. Recipients include organizations involved in the areas of conservation and recreation, health and human services, education, and culture and the arts. L.L.Bean’s corporate gifts to United Ways in Maine total over $550,000; through the generosity of employees an additional $1.1 million was donated to this year’s campaign.

The Brunswick Emblem Club donated $100 to the Coastal Shores Nursing Home to use for their activities. The Club chooses a nursing/assisted living home each year as one of its many community projects.

The Maine Technology Institute awarded grants to Coast of Maine Organic Products, Inc. of Portland for $5,000 and Interphase Energy of Portland for $5,000. The grants are given to Maine entrepreneurs to advance new product and process development in aquaculture and marine technologies, composite materials and information technology.

Morrison Center was selected as the beneficiary of the first annual Maine Commercial Association of Realtors (MCAR) Golf Tournament. More than 100 golfers turned out for the tournament that took place at Prout’s Neck Country Club in Scarborough this fall.

Sales, Mergers and Partnerships

MaineHealth of Portland has formed a partnership with Dana-Farber Cancer Institute of Boston, by which cancer patients at the 11 MaineHealth member and affiliated hospitals will have streamlined access to Dana-Farber for complex specialty care and clinical trials. MaineHealth is a not-for-profit family of providers that is ranked among the nation’s top 100 integrated health care delivery networks.

Re/Max Integra, New England announced Derrick Buckspan and Rachel Reed have opened Re/Max Shoreline with locations in Portland and Portsmouth, New Hampshire. Buckspan and Reed acquired the offices from Re/Max broker/owner David Banks, who will continue to operate his team out of the Re/Max By the Bay office at 281 Veranda St., in Portland.