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V O L . X X X I N O. I V F E B R UA R Y 2 4 , 2 0 2 5 20 [ N E W H I R E S ] Drummond Woodsum, a law firm in Portland, hired Ari Solotoff as a share- holder and Jennifer Riggle as an attorney in its health care and corporate practice groups. Solotoff will launch and lead the firm's entertainment, media and the arts practice group to expand the firm's legal service offerings, especially in copyright, entertainment law and the arts. Riggle has 30 years of experience in the health care industry. Norway Savings Bank hired Melissa Kraft as project manage- ment officer vice president. Albin, Randall & Bennett, a law firm in Portland, hired Bethany Laverriere as talent acquisition manager. Northern Light Inland Hospital hired Elinor Mody as a rheuma- tologist at Northern Light Rheumatology in Waterville. The Resurgam Group, a public rela- tions firm in Portland, hired Max Rush as a group partner. Rush was previ- ously chief of staff to Maine Senate President Troy Jackson. Partners Bank in Sanford hired Jeremy Deering as senior vice presi- dent, senior com- mercial banker. Skowhegan Savings Bank hired Michael Pietroskias as vice president and com- mercial lender. The city of Auburn hired David Hediger as director of plan- ning. Hediger previously served as director of planning and code enforce- ment for the city of Lewiston. Bristol Seafood in Portland hired Briana Warner as vice president of mar- keting and strategy. Warner was CEO at Atlantic Sea Farms. [ P R O M O T I O N S ] United Way of Southern Maine pro- moted Dan Coyne to president and CEO, effective March 3. Coyne was previously chief impact and gover- nance officer. Norway Savings Bank promoted Jacob Ouellette to vice president and invest- ment officer of the bank's asset man- agement group. [ A P P O I N T M E N T S ] The Maine State Chamber of Commerce in Augusta added Elise Baldacci, president, Maine Credit Union League; Peter Cianchette, vice president, Cianbro; David Daigler, president, Maine Community College System; Sam Hight, dealer principal, Hight Ford Inc., Skowhegan and Hight Chevrolet GMC, Farmington; Nick Ireland, CFO, Seven Islands Land Co.; Melinda Kinney, vice president of government affairs, Martin's Point Health Care; Julie Rabinowitz, communications direc- tor, General Dynamics Bath Iron Works Corp.; Jennifer DeChant, external affairs representing Summit Utilities/Colorado Natural Gas; Barry Doyle, president/ CEO, Kennebec Technologies; and Kristine Ossenfort, senior government relations director, Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield, to its board of direc- tors. Elected officers include: Michael Bourque, president and CEO, MEMIC, board chair; Geoffrey Baur, vice presi- dent of finance, IDEXX Laboratories Inc., first vice chair; Beth Greenlaw, president and chief sustainability officer, Sea Bags, second vice chair; Paul Bolin, executive vice president and chief people and administrative officer, Northern Light Health, treasurer; Ann Robinson, partner, Pierce Atwood LLP, secretary; Melinda Caterine, shareholder, Littler Mendelson P.C., serving as a member on the executive committee; and LuAnn Ballesteros, vice president, external and govern- ment affairs, Jackson Laboratory, past board chair. [ A C H I E V E M E N T S ] Bar Harbor Bankshares, the parent company of Bar Harbor Bank & Trust, announced that it was recognized by Newsweek as one of "America's Best Regional Banks and Credit Unions" for the second consecutive year. Martha Wentworth, a business insur- ance producer at Allen Insurance and Financial, was awarded a cer- tificate of achieve- ment from the Society of Certified Insurance Counselors recognizing 20 consecutive years of successfully maintaining the Certified Insurance Counselor designation. Legacy Properties Sotheby's International Realty, a luxury property company in Portland, announced that it established an organizational record in 2024 with an average sale price of $1.02 million based on clos- ing 1,042 transaction sides. e firm finished the year with $1.065 billion in total property sales, a 23% increase in total sales volume over 2023 to retain its No. 1 ranking for luxury property sales in Maine and ranked as the No. 1 real estate company in Maine for property sales above $2 million, $3 million, $4 million, and $5 million and ranked No. 1 in Maine for waterfront property sales with 305 waterfront property transaction sides totaling $442 million in prop- erty value. VIP Tires & Service in Auburn said that Johnathan Bemis, a technician in Bangor, was honored with a legisla- tive sentiment from the Maine State Legislature. In 2024, Bemis received the "Technician of the Year" award at the 2024 Automotive Aftermarket Products Expo and reached the sta- tus of "World Class Technician," one of the highest honors in the automo- tive service industry. The University of Maine at Augusta was listed No. 107 for "Best Online Bachelor's Programs" and No. 60 for "Best Online Bachelor's Programs for Veterans" in the U.S. News 2025 Best Online Program rankings. e U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's New England Office awarded "2024 Regional Wastewater Treatment Awards" to the York Sewer District and named Patrick Wiley, water treatment technology instructor at Southern Maine Community College, as its "2024 EPA Regional Wastewater Trainer of the Year." The Maine Crafts Association, in partnership with the Maine Arts Commission and the League of New Hampshire Craftsmen, announced eight 2025 mentor/apprentice pairs selected for its Craft Apprentice Program. Maine mentor/apprentice pairs include: Diana Arcadipone and Cordelia Perry, paper; George Brace and Patricia Brace, blacksmithing; Jody Johnstone and Krystal Yavicoli, ceramics; Linda Perrin and Erin Bobo, glass; Martha Grover and Sophie List, ceramics; and Sarah Haskell and Amanda Pearson, fiber. Norway Savings Bank was awarded the "Best of Bauer" distinction from BauerFinancial Inc., recogniz- ing that the bank has maintained "Bauer's 5-Star Superior Rating" for 25 years or longer. Northern Light Health in Brewer said that it achieved "Gold" certifica- tion from the Safe Sleep Hospital Certification Program. e pro- gram, run by the national non- profit Cribs for Kids, recognizes a commitment to best practices in infant safe sleep, ensuring the highest standards of care for young patients. Morgan Stanley announced that the Downeast Group, Doolan/Eldredge Group, Portland Group, Blakeman/ Mavor Group and the Breakwater Newsworthy people and performances I N S H O R T To submit new hires, promotions, appointments, or achievements to Mainebiz, send your press release to editorial@mainebiz.biz. Items are run at the discretion of the editorial staff, and in the order in which they were received. Ari Solotoff Martha Wentworth Elinor Mody Bethany Laverriere Jeremy Deering Briana Warner Jennifer Riggle David Hediger Melissa Kraft

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