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W W W. M A I N E B I Z . B I Z 29 D E C E M B E R 1 , 2 0 2 5 Didier Hakizimana, CFO of CEI Capital Management, as board members. [ A C H I E V E M E N T S ] Southern Maine Community College, Kennebec Valley Community College and York County Community College were among eight institutions recognized by the New England Commission of Higher Education for meeting the organization's Noncredit Quality Assurance Framework standards. AARP Maine named Age-Friendly Bowdoinham its "Beacon Community Award" win- ner, Anne and John White as its "Steadfast Advocate Award" winners and Portland Downtown as its "Champion in Aging Award" recipient. Charter Oak Capital Management in Kennebunk said it was ranked No. 85 in CNBC's "Financial Advisor 100" list for 2025 and was recog- nized as a runner-up in Citywire's "50 Growers across America." The Central Maine Growth Council in Waterville named Matthew Boulerice, founder of Boulerice Management and New England Realty Group, as its "2025 Developer of the Year" and Max Kenney, an engineer with the Kennebec Water District, as its "2025 Young Professional of the Year Award" winner. Newly renovated Reiche Elementary School received notice that it attained LEED Silver Certification. The Associated General Contractors of Maine selected Tom Nason as its "2025 M.A.C. Award" winner. Nason is a past board president and retired from Sargent Electric. Maine Downtown Center named its annual award winners including Tara Kelly, executive director, Maine Preservation, "William F. King Jr., Downtown Champion;" Westbrook World Markets, "2025 Downtown Project Award;" and Common Roots Studio in Biddeford, "Downtown Small Business Award." Shaheen & Gordon PA said its Portland-based personal injury litigation — plaintiffs practice area was recognized as "Metropolitan Tier 1" and its Portland-based medical malpractice law — plain- tiffs practice area was recog- nized as "Metropolitan Tier 3" in the 2026 edition of the "Best Law Firms in America" by Best Lawyers. Verrill, a law firm in Portland, said it earned national rankings in five practice areas and 47 of its Maine- based practice areas garnered rec- ognition in the 2026 edition of the "Best Law Firms in America" by Best Lawyers. Pierce Atwood, a law firm in Portland, said it earned 11 national and 73 metropolitan recogni- tions in 43 of its practices area in the 2026 edition of the "Best Law Firms in America" by Best Lawyers. U.S. Sen. Susan Collins received the "Care in Action Congressional Award" from the National Alliance for Caregiving. The Finance Authority of Maine named its annual award recipients including Roselyn North Academy, "Business at Work for Maine Award;" Olympia Snowe Women's Leadership Institute and Betsy Mayotte, president of The Institute of Student Loan Advisors, "Education at Work for Maine Award;" Northern Maine Development Commission, "Partner at Work for Maine Award;" Camden National Bank and Acadia Federal Credit Union, "Lender at Work for Maine Award" (over $1.5 billion in assets); and First National Bank, "Lender at Work for Maine Award" (most enhanced partnership). Avesta Housing in Portland pre- sented "Core Values" awards to Alicia Burnett, senior accounting specialist; Allison Curtis, health services supervisor; Courtney Curtis, lead waitstaff; and Montana Galvan, senior property manager. e Leapfrog Group its "2025 Hospital Safety Grades" ranking Maine hospitals No. 9 in this cycle with 42.9% hospitals in the state listed as "A" hospitals. 207.774.5998 headlightav.com Photo Credit: Edward Budway Courtesy of The Center for Grieving Children