Recognition

The 2017 Maine Society of CPAs Women to Watch awards were announced recently and BerryDunn’s Sarah Belliveau made the list. Belliveau is a principal in charge of BerryDunn’s general audit staff and leads the firm’s not-for-profit practice area.

The American Institute of CPAs initiated the Women to Watch award program in 2005 in partnership with several state societies to honor outstanding women in the profession. The MECPA honored four Maine CPAs at an awards banquet in November. “These women are actively engaged in multiple circles and are committed to making themselves positive forces for change,” said MECPA Executive Director Trish Brigham.

“It’s an honor to be recognized for doing work for and with people you enjoy every day,” Belliveau said . The young women I have the privilege to work with will accomplish things we can’t even begin to imagine.”

Belliveau also develops internal and external training sessions and guides new staff members at the outset of their careers as a mentor and adviser.

The federal government awarded Mercy Hospital its highest possible quality rating of five stars Dec. 21, making it one of only five hospitals in Maine to receive the designation from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid. The ratings are based on nearly 60 quality measures spanning everything from patient experience to the value and outcomes of services provided.

Salvation Army Bath-Brunswick campaign just shy of goal 

When the Salvation Army Bath-Brunswick Red Kettle 2017 campaign ended Dec. 23, SA officers added up the results and announced 82 percent of the organization’s $80,000 goal was met. The money raised in the Bath-Brunswick area stays in the community to assist those who need help with food, heat, utilities, and rent/security deposits, along with youth character-building programs such as Camp Sebago in Standish.

According to a release from the Salvation Army, some of the shortage is due to a lack of kettle workers/volunteers, bad weather, and not having Red Kettles out on Christmas Eve, which was Sunday, a day of rest and worship for The Salvation Army. Lt. Neil Childs said, “Despite the shortage, we’re excited about the new partnerships and opportunities to serve and help the underserved and marginalized in our community while continuing our outreach to youth in our community and providing assistance to neighbors in need throughout the year.”

Dating back more than 126 years, the kettle has been an important source of revenue in addition to being an iconic symbol of the holidays.

New Ventures

The former Plummer School officially reopened Dec. 18 as Plummer Senior Living at a ribbon-cutting ceremony attended by project partners and local dignitaries. The new independent senior living community is adjacent to OceanView at Falmouth Retirement Community. 

Hires, promotions, appointments

Michael L. Lane of Preti Flaherty has been named co-chairman of the Maine Real Estate & Development Association Board of Directors Public Policy Committee. MEREDA is a nonprofit organization of commercial real estate owners, developers and related service providers.

Androscoggin Valley Soil and Water Conservation District recently elected Steve Sinisi of Durham to the post of supervisor for a three-year term and chairman of the board of directors. Sinisi owns a pasture-based livestock operation in Durham and has conserved his 70 acres as a Forever Farm. He has been working with AVSWCD for about a year and is considered a key player and an important voice for the board of supervisors.

Sinisi has been involved in and working with agriculture since he was 15 and he continues to work tirelessly on bringing a focus to agriculture in our community.

Mortgage Network Inc. announced that Linda Murray has joined the company’s Portland branch as a mortgage loan officer. Murray is a Portland native and now lives in Scarborough. 

Save the date

Join Portland Buy Local Wednesday, Jan. 17 for a conversation many businesses are struggling with – recruiting and retaining employees. During the roundtable discussion entitled “Recruiting for Restaurants and Retail” participants will discuss what’s worked, avenues for recruiting, and ways to retain staff. All restaurant and retail managers, owners and those in the recruiting industry or interested in this challenge are invited to attend. The event will be held 3-4 p.m. at Portland Regional Chamber of Commerce, 443 Congress St. For more information, visit www.portlandbuylocal.org.

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