MaineBusiness.com

NEW FACES

Alice Wilkins has joined Diversified Business Communications as a support analyst. She was previously employed by Hannaford Bros Inc. of Scarborough.

At Norton Insurance Financial:

Leigh Howison of Cumberland has joined the company as a human resources generalist. She has more than 10 years of human resources experience, most recently as a senior business systems analyst at Pierce Promotions.

Jenny Gaghan of Brunswick has joined Norton as a sales producer, serving the midcoast region. She most recently worked as an education technician at Oak Hill High School in the special education department.

David Vazdauskas has been named president of Local Thunder. He has 25 years of experience in marketing, advertising and branding strategy and will help the company grow in the local online advertising category.

Janet Dutson has been appointed executive director of the Belfast Area Chamber and will assume the role after the first of the year. She previously was assistant director with the Camden, Rockland and Lincolnville chamber.

Julia Greenleaf Pitney of Brunswick has joined Drummond & Drummond, LLP, of Portland as an associate member of the firm's litigation team. She has practiced in Lewiston, focusing on personal injury litigation, criminal defense and domestic relations. At the firm she will focus on civil litigation, personal injury, foreclosure and employment law.

Kenneth Corson has been hired as the Waldo County Adult Day Break center coordinator. His duties will include managing the adult day program and the center in Belfast. Corson has 16 years of field work experience at various agencies in Maine and Vermont.

PROMOTIONS

Natalie Jones has been appointed interim executive director at Good Will-Hinckley following the resignation of Neil Colan. She has served the school as the head of human resources for the past two years, focused on streamlining operations to serve the needs of students who experience significant social-emotional and behavioral challenges.

Judy Brogden, Camden National Bank assistant vice president, was named the branch manager for the Camden Square location. In her new role, she will be responsible for business development and the daily operations of the branch. She has been with Camden National Bank since 1998.

Marc Kaplan, DO, of Kennebunk has been promoted to medical director at Sweetser. He had provided psychiatric treatment at Sweetser for the past 12 years.

At Mountain, Ltd.:

Chris Smith of Portland was promoted to senior recruiter. He joined the company in 2008 and focuses on telecom recruiting.

Peter Jellie, a certified temporary staffing specialist, was named senior recruiter. He has worked at the company for two years, specializing in information technology recruiting.

AWARDS AND RECOGNITION

Nancy Pike, Nancy Marsh and Nichole Peaslee received the 2009 Celebrating Excellence in Caregiving Award.

Pike is a certified nursing assistant and medication technician at Maine Veterans' Homes of Scarborough.

Marsh is a licensed practical nurse at Gorham House.

Peaslee is a certified nursing assistant at the St. Andrews Village Gregory Wing in Boothbay Harbor. The award is given annually to 10 long-term care workers statewide who have consistently exemplified a commendable level of caregiving, dedication and professionalism in caring for elderly and disabled citizens.

Joseph Payne, Casco Baykeeper, was recently awarded the Maine Public Relations Council's Lightship Award, presented to an individual outside of the public relations industry for outstanding community engagement.

Jim West, former executive director of operations for the Portland Water District, was presented the George Warren Fuller Memorial Award. It is awarded annually to one member of each section of the American Water Works Association, based on distinguished service in the water supply field. West provided leadership to Portland Water District and the water industry for 34 years.

Bud Stiker, internationally known radio consultant, has been awarded the RadioMedia Award by RadioMedia Finland, a marketing and advocacy organization in the radio industry. This award honors his work in establishing the Radio Advertising Bureau in Finland and his 40-year career in the United States. In Maine, he brought his experience to Maine Public Broadcasting.

Ryan Francis has received the Outstanding Student Award from the New England Recreation Association. This award is given annually to one hard-working student who has developed innovative trends in a professional setting while in pursuit of education. Francis graduated from the University of Southern Maine in 2009 and is now assistant director at Sedgewood Commons.

GENERAL

At Friends of Casco Bay:

Cathy Ramsdell, executive director, has been appointed to the Maine Sea Grant Policy Advisory Committee to oversee the research, education and outreach activities of the state-federal partnership.

Jeff Clements of Peaks Island and Sean Bergen of Yarmouth were elected to the Friends' board of directors. Clements is a co-founder of the organization and an attorney representing private clients and public interests in Maine and Massachusetts. Bergen is North Atlantic Inc.'s vice president of sales and purchasing, a Portland-based seafood processor and importer.

Mary Cerullo of North Yarmouth, Friends of Casco Bay associate director, had her book, "Shipwrecks: Sunken Cities Beneath the Sea," chosen as a pre-publication selection for the Junior Library Guild. She has penned 13 other children's books about the ocean.

The organization was awarded $34,000 for outreach and education from the Gulf of Maine Environmental Compliance and Protection Fund, managed by the National Wildlife Foundation.

The Ronald McDonald House Charities of Maine board of directors appointed new members and elected officers. Gary Eckmann of Bangor was elected president. Outgoing president Sheila Peabody of Yarmouth will be vice president. Tom Perkins of Wells was elected board secretary. Roger Poulin was named treasurer. New board members include Mary Bertolet of Yarmouth and Dan Coker of Brunswick.

Sweetser, Maine's most comprehensive behavioral health organization, welcomed Kathy Macleod of Falmouth and Eric Christenson of Westbrook to the organization's board. During Sweetser's 60th annual meeting, it also recognized Richard Dalbeck of Cape Elizabeth and Patricia Small of Scarborough, who were retiring from the board.

Atlantic Challenge welcomes new board members, Drew Lyman, Fred Boursier, Pay Lydon and Justin McAnaney. Dr. Ralph Siewers of Sedgwick was elected as emeritus director. Atlantic Challenge is a nonprofit educational organization dedicated to traditional boatbuilding and seamanship.