Lamey-Wellehan named Retailer of the Year 

The National Shoe Retailers Association honored Falmouth-based Lamey Wellehan shoes as its 2018 Retailer of the Year during NSRA’s Annual Leadership Conference, held this fall in Maryland.

In addition to building the LW chain, Jim Wellehan, a dedicated conservationist, earned appreciation for the company’s contributions to the communities it serves. Wellehan first undertook a recycling program that today recycles 95 percent of the solid waste that comes into LW properties. Later, he created a carbon reduction program, committing to a 50 percent reduction in carbon emissions by 2020. LW also reduced its energy costs and eliminated point of sale bags. LW uses the $8,000 per year the company saves on packaging to increase its scholarship fund, which annually supports three Maine students to attend a Maine college with the goal of improving the state’s economy and/or environment. Finally, LW began collecting gently-used shoes for redistribution to people in need. Currently, the company gives away more than 10,000 pairs a year. Recently, Lamey-Wellehan launched its “Boots for Families” campaign, focusing on Maine’s children. 

In presenting the award, past NSRA chairman Alan Miklofsky said, “Jim is passionate about his causes, which keep him involved in his community. Instead of simply running a business, he provides a shining example of leadership for his employees, his customers, his state, the Northeast and the nation. He is an inspiration of unquestioned integrity.”

Hires, promotions, appointments

Brunswick-based Vox Nova Chamber Choir has reorganized as Una Voce Chamber Choir under the direction of Virgil Bozeman IV, a 20-year veteran choral conductor. Bozeman became the artistic director of the Greater Freeport Community Chorus in 2006 and continues in that capacity. An active member of the Maine Music Educators’ Association, Bozeman is chairman of MMEA District III and vice president (Choral Music) for the MMEA State Executive Board. In 2018, the Association named Bozeman the MMEA District III Educator of the Year.

Portland-based hospitality management company Northern Hospitality announced the addition of hospitality and tourism veteran Elissa English-O’Brien as Regional Relationships director.

Maine Life Real Estate Co. in Scarborough announced that Mindy Phillips, who is new to New England, has joined the company’s sales team.

Laura DiBiase of Brunswick has been appointed to as New England Rehabilitation Hospital Case Management Director. 

Beth Wood has joined Bar Harbor Bank & Trust as vice president, Compliance Manager, and will be working from the bank’s Topsham branch.

Recognition

Northern Light Mercy Hospital achieved top marks in the latest patient safety report issued by The Leapfrog Group. For the fifth time in a row, Mercy Hospital has received an A.

Couleur Collection, a retail clothing boutique on Route 1 in Falmouth, was recently awarded a 2018 Silver Collar Award from the State Workforce Board’s Older Worker Committee for hiring a mature workforce and fostering a flexible work environment.

American Council of Engineering Companies of Maine recently announced its  2019 Engineering Excellence Award winners, including South Portland-based firm VHB. The company received the Grand Conceptor Award, ACEC of Maine’s highest award, for its work on the Interstate 95 overpass reconstruction project in Augusta. Also honored was Sevee & Maher Engineers, Inc. of Cumberland, which received an Honor Award for Social and Economic Impact for exemplary work on a project to expand and modernize the Bath municipal landfill. In addition, Wright-Pierce received an Honor Award for Shaping Future Project Procurements for work on the Brunswick Sewer District Wastewater Treatment Facility upgrade.

Granted

The Cumberland County winners of the Town & Country Credit Union Better Neighbor Fund grants include Camp Sunshine in Casco, to support the Family Sponsorship Program; Frannie Peabody Center in Portland to support those with HIV/AIDS; First Lutheran Church in Portland to provide tuition for preschool; Gym Dandies Children’s Circus in Scarborough; Hope House, a residential home to support asylum-seekers in Maine; Spurwink’s Child Abuse Program; and Children’s Museum & Theatre of Maine in Portland.

Continuing its longtime support of STEM education and research at the University of Southern Maine, Nestle Waters North America has awarded a $25,000 Good Neighbor Grant to the USM Foundation. The grant will fund an upland watershed monitoring project conducted by the university’s Environmental Science and Policy program.

University of New England Department of Nursing has been awarded a $1.5 million grant by the U.S. Health Resources & Services Administration to increase the number of nurses in Maine who are trained to respond to reports of sexual assault. 

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