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V O L . X X X I I N O. V I M A R C H 2 3 , 2 0 2 6 32 U S I N E S S M A I N E I N S H O R T N E W S WO R T H Y P E O P L E A N D P E R F O R M A N C E S Kaplan Thompson Architects in Portland promoted Cara Bionde to associate. Bionde joined the firm in 2018. [ A P P O I N T M E N T S ] Levine Planning Strategies in Portland said that Jeff Levine, founder and prin- cipal, was named to the College of Fellows of the American Institute of Certified Planners. Induction to college is the highest honor the institute bestows upon a member. SMRT Architects & Engineers in Portland named Derek Veilleux as chair of its board of directors. Veilleux spent 25 years with the firm before stepping into board governance. Thomas College in Waterville added Jeff Hubert to its board of trustees. Hubert is a 1987 graduate of the col- lege and a now-retired 35-year public accountant with Wipfli LLP. [ A C H I E V E M E N T S ] Morgan Stanley announced that Catherine Cleale, a financial advi- sor at its wealth management office in Portland, earned the Certified Private Wealth Advisor designation. Portside Real Estate Group in Falmouth awarded its "2025 Portside Partner Award," reserved for its top six agents, to Taylor McFarlane, Jim McFarlane, John Fitzsimons, Erin Oldham, Brent Sawyer and Lisa Guerette as part of its annual Portside Summit. In addition, "Circle of Excellence Awards," for agents among the top 7–20 across the brokerage, went to Sarah Delisle, Stacy Salvo, Jen Tabb, Mary Conroy, Cady Toussaint, Matt Sukeforth, Julie Rosenthal, Andrea Galuza, Heather Mayer, Dana Stivers, Stephanie Gardner, Trisha Cheney and Randy Ferrell; "Trailblazer Awards," for agents on the rise, went to Sophia Rosendo, Becky Bassett, Grainne Archer, Sarah Singer, Carly Chasse, Ellen Domingos, Maggie Ellis, Tami Goodrich, Susie Kendeigh, Sierra Boler, Danny Reali, Jaye Gorham, Courtney Sweeton, Cindy DeWitt, Tim Crosta, Jackie Bousequet, Jeff Rioux, Paige Klein and Sue Lessard; Applications now being accepted for Leadership Maine and ICL (Institute for Civic Leadership) 2026–2027 classes. APPLY TODAY: mdf.org/2026-27-mdf-leadership-program-application Sure you're a leader… but are you up for the challenge? Jeff Levine