People and Business: March 16

MECA honors creative
leaders at annual gala

PORTLAND — The Maine College of Art will hold its 15th annual Art Honors gala celebration and awards ceremony to recognize Maine leaders in the creative sector on Thursday, May 19.

The Award for Entrepreneurship in the Arts will be presented to Roxanne Quimby, founder of Burt’s Bees, for her commitment to creating access to the arts and for supporting sustainable economic development through creative enterprise.

Betsy Evans Hunt and Christopher Hunt will be presented with the Award for Leadership in Art Philanthropy for their generosity and support of cultural programs and institutions in Maine and beyond.

The Award for Leadership in Art Education will be given to Janet Manyan, a painting faculty member for the past 15 years in the Continuing Studies program at MECA. Manyan will be recognized for her commitment as a teacher and encouragement of students to become practicing artists.

The gala will begin at the Porteous Building at 522 Congress St., Portland with a 5:30 p.m. cocktail reception and award ceremony. A formal dinner will follow. Thesis artwork by graduating students will be on display. Tables of eight at $1,500 and individual tickets at $150 are available by calling 775-5098.

New Hires, Promotions

John Gleason of South Portland has joined Atlantic Sportswear as a team sales representative for southern Maine.

Tim Higgins of Brunswick has been named general manager at The Gelato Fiasco in Brunswick.

Dr. Barbara Steinbrecher has joined the medical practice of Freeport-based Southern Maine Geriatrics, and will work primarily at Clover Manor in Auburn, Gorham House in Gorham and at The Highlands in Topsham.

The Portland law office of Fisher & Phillips LLP, has hired Sarah Mullen as an associate attorney.

Odette Galli of Falmouth has joined Maine Audubon as director of advancement.

Jon M. Beekman has recently joined Wright-Pierce, water, wastewater and infrastructure engineering firm, as a senior advisor.

Arthur Birt of Cumberland has been named director of finance and administration for ecomaine.

VNA Home Health & Hospice has hired Catherine Studley of Scarborough as program manager for its new LifeStages service. The recently-launched LifeStages, a private-pay division of VNA Home Health & Hospice, provides in-home care, companionship and non-medical services to clients. Services include errands, meal preparation, housekeeping, light housework, personal care, geriatric care management and elder mediation.

OceanView at Falmouth has hired Catherine J. Wilson as the on-site personal trainer, fitness class instructor, program coordinator and activities assistant, and Elaine DuMais as an assisted living sales associate. Kate Baum has been promoted from activities assistant to sales assistant at OceanView at Falmouth.

Martin’s Point Health Care has hired Dr. Peter Shaw as a cardiologist at its new Portland health care center.

Bath Savings Institution has promoted two employees in its Bath office. Rebecca Launer of Brunswick has been promoted to senior vice president of branch administration and Eleanor Swain of Brunswick has been promoted to vice president loan department manager.

Karen Jones of Falmouth, a member of the Portland Board of Realtors, recently rejoined Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage as an associate broker.

Awards

Richard Pfeffer and Ed Stebbins, co-owners of Gritty McDuff’s Brewing Company, have been recognized as the 2011 Maine Restaurant Association’s Restaurateurs of the Year. The award is determined by nominations from the community, the business’s tenure with and contributions to the MeRA, and its reputation among local patrons and community members.

The Bicycle Coalition of Maine’s board of directors recently presented awards to local individuals and organizations that have contributed to making Maine a better place to bicycle. Chris Carleton and Mike Davies, owners of Allspeed Cyclery & Snow in Portland, earned the Business for Better Bicycling Award for partnering with the Bicycle Coalition and Go Maine to support Commute Another Way Week and Safe Routes to School Program. Julie Fitzgerald, organizer of Portland Slow Ride, received the Jeff Miller Spirit of Cycling Award. South Portland Police Chief Edward Googins, recipient of the coalition’s Just Do It Award for Leadership in Public Service, was recognized for responding quickly to cyclists’ concerns about enforcement of bicycle safety and Share the Road laws.

The financial-services firm Edward Jones, with local offices in Portland, ranked eleventh on Fortune magazine’s “100 Best Companies to Work For 2011.”

RE/MAX By The Bay real estate brokers Lori Garon of the Garon Group, Mark Walton, and Linda MacDonald received the Platinum Level Club award from RE/MAX of New England for sales acheivements in 2010.

The Scarborough office of Stantec recently earned two international awards for their design and installation of an environmental upgrade project for an Ohio-based power plant. The project earned the Construction Project of the Year in the Platts Global Energy Awards, as well as Honorable Mention in Power Engineering magazine’s Project of the Year program.

The Maine Real Estate & Development Association recently held its annual conference where it presented awards to individuals who have made significant contributions to responsible real estate development in Maine. Dennis Keeler of Falmouth, partner at Pierce Atwood law firm, received the Robert B. Patterson Jr. Founders’ Award, for his involvement with MEREDA for more than 20 years as a board member, co-chairman of the legislative committee, secretary and parliamentarian. The Volunteer of the Year Award was given to Michael O’Reilly of Scarborough, vice president of commercial lending for Bangor Savings Bank. The Public Policy Award was given to Greg Payne of Portland, a development officer at Avesta Housing and coordinator of the Maine Affordable Housing Coalition. The Presidents’ Award was presented to Shelly Clark of Portland, MEREDA’s business and operations manager.

The Mensroom Salon and Lounge of Portland, owned by June Juliano and David Stanley, was recently named to the “Salon Today 200” by Salon Today Magazine for outstanding business practices and growth between 2008 and 2009.

Sidebar Elements

Maine Red Claws master of ceremonies, Jason Gibbons, center, raised $200 for the Boys & Girls Club of South Portland through the Shot 4 A Cause Campaign. Bath Savings Institution has partnered with the Red Claws on the campaign to benefit Maine-based charities. Bath Savings will make a donation based on the number of shots Gibbons makes – backwards – from center court. Pictured here is Bath Savings President Glenn L. Hutchinson, on left, presenting a check to Bob Clark of the Boys & Girls Club of South Portland.