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W W W. M A I N E B I Z . B I Z 29 N OV E M B E R 1 6 , 2 0 2 6 [ N E W H I R E S ] The Central Maine Growth Council in Waterville hired Leslie Wilson as grants and operations administra- tor and Nathan Bernard as project manager of technology, innova- tion and infrastructure. Previously, Wilson ser ved as finance director for the Alfond Youth & Community Center while Bernard was a project manager at Code for America. Knickerbocker Group, a design-build firm in Portland, hired Herb Beherrell as director of construction. Beherrell was previously senior construction superin- tendent at Turner Construction Co. Maine College of Art & Design in Portland hired Kerrie Bellisario in a senior leadership position focused on community develop- ment and innovative art and design learn- ing programs. The Farnsworth Art Museum in Rockland hired Frances Lazare as associate curator of art created after 1950. Lazare was previ- ously in the modern art department at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art. ConvenientMD, an urgent care provider based in Portsmouth, N.H., hired James Morse as district medical director for Maine. Most recently, Morse served as regional medical director for BlueWater Health. Northern Light Mercy Primary Care in Portland hired Cassandra Farrell as a doctor of osteo- pathic medicine at its South Portland practice. Maine State Credit Union in Augusta hired Reeva Wyman as branch man- ager in Belfast. MaineHealth hired Isaac Bromberg as a mem- ber of its Palliative Care Rockport practice, Jacob Quaytman as an endocrinologist at MaineHealth Endocrinology and Diabetes prac- tices in Belfast and Rockport and Angelica Mushenko as a physician assistant at its Ear, Nose and Throat Care Rockport practice. The Maine Redevelop- ment Land Bank Author- ity in Augusta hired Kelsey Shepherd as program coordinator. Casco Bay Food & Beverage in Lewiston hired Chris Perry as president. Most recently, Perry served as chief lending officer at Atlantic Federal Credit Union. Absolute Title and the Law Office of Matthew W. Neuman in South Portland hired Molly Litz as an attorney. Litz has 15 years of legal experience from practicing in Maine and New York. Bernstein Shur, a law firm in Portland, hired Maura Kelly as direc- tor of pro bono. Kelly most recently served as director of career development at the University of Maine School of Law. United Insurance in Portland hired Bryce Lausier as a financial representative and Andrew Price as a retirement plan account executive at its Bangor location. e town of Lisbon hired Bradley Boulet as code enforcement officer. [ P R O M O T I O N S ] Knickerbocker Group, a design-build firm in Portland, promoted Derek Libby to field operations practice leader. InterMed PA, a physician-owned primary care and specialty practice in Portland, promoted Anthony Bustamante, Caroline Foust- Wright and Andrea Higgins to shareholders. Bustamante practices family medicine, Foust-Wright practices urogynecology and Higgins practices internal medicine. [ A P P O I N T M E N T S ] The Yellow Tulip Project, a Portland-based nonprofit dedicated to reducing mental health stigma, added Justin Chenette to its board of directors. Chenette is chief com- munications officer for Sweetser. Skowhegan Savings Bank added Nick Begin to its board of directors. Begin is co-founder and COO of Veritas Prime, a global con- sulting firm special- izing in systems, applications and products in data processing and cloud-based human capital management solutions. Thomas College in Waterville named Virginia Dearani chair of its Lunder School of Education. Dearani also serves as assistant professor of early childhood education at the college. Pierce Atwood, a law firm in Portland, announced that Griff Leschefske, trusts and estates partner, was elected a Fellow of the American College of Trust and Estate Counsel, a national orga- nization of experienced trust and estate lawyers recognized for their professional excellence and contributions to the field. The American Heart Association announced that Brian King, presi- dent of Bank of America in Maine, will chair the 2027 Maine Heart Walk, leading a year-round effort to rally companies and community members to raise critical funds and expand CPR education. [ A C H I E V E M E N T S ] e town of Lisbon said that Lee Jay Feldman, assistant town manager, was named a "Catalyst Award" winner by the Maine Redevelopment Land Bank. Feldman served as the land bank's inaugural board of com- missioner's chair. At the 2026 Maine Lobster Chef of the Year competition, Chef Cullen Stileski of Ugly Duckling, the food truck at Rising Tide Brewing in Portland, earned the "Judges' Selection" award; Chef Sam Helmke of Sur Lie in Portland won the "People's Choice" award; and Chef Nick Kimball of Brix + Brine in Ogunquit was selected as the "People's Choice" runner up. Nichole Fecteau, a Realtor with Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate/the Masiello Group in Berwick, won the "2026 Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate Technology Award." The award recognizes Fecteau's use of technology to market homes and generate listings and her eagerness to teach others. Maine Association of Realtors named Julie Cromwell as "2026 Maine State Realtor of the Year." Cromwell is a broker and owner of Cromwell Coastal Properties in Woolwich. Channel 8 WMTW in Portland said it was named "Station of the Year" at the 2026 Maine Association of Broadcasters News and Creative Awards Gala taking took top honors in categories including Best Spot News, Continuing Coverage, Public Affairs, Enterprise and Promotion. SNZweig Group recognized SMRT Architects & Engineers in Portland with a "Platinum Marketing Excellence Award" in the Brand Identity category for Precision & Acceleration, a campaign that shared les- sons from the firm's design of the RayzeBio radiopharmaceutical manufacturing facility in Indianapolis. Mainelove, a water brand in Westbrook focused on sustainability and community, said it earned "Double Gold" in the non-car- bonated water category for its Perfectly Still Water at the 2026 Water Choice Awards, presented by the Daily Pour. Northern Light Mercy Hospital and Gary's House in Portland honored Jeff Holden and the Holden family of Luke's Lobster with the "2026 Forsley Award," recognizing their longstanding commitment to strengthening Maine communities through generosity, service and opportunities for others. Drummond Woodsum, a law firm in Portland, announced that 10 of the firm's attorneys were recognized in the 2027 edition of "Benchmark Litigation," a leading guide that identifies the nation's top litigation attorneys and law firms. Eight were named "Litigation Star" while two others were named "Future Star." Verrill, a law firm in Portland, said that 14 of its Maine-based attorneys were recog- nized in the 2026 edition of New England Super Lawyers, including four named to the "Rising Stars" list. e attorneys recog- nized represent a broad range of practice areas across the firm. The Maine Ambulance Association recognized U.S. Sen. Susan Collins for her many years of support for Maine's emergency medical services agencies and professionals. 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. Cassandra Farrell Derek Libby Leslie Wilson Brian King Frances Lazare Maura Kelly Griff Leschefske Herb Beherrell Nathan Bernard Nick Begin Kelsey Shepherd Reeva Wyman

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