NEW FACES

• J. Hilary Billings has been hired as assistant federal public defender for the District of Maine. Billings was previously in private practice in litigation, criminal defense and family law.

• Rebecca Cohen has been hired as an investigator for the Federal Public Defender’s Office of the District of Maine. She was previously a staff investigator in the capital habeas unit of the Federal Public Defender’s Office in Atlanta.

• Nathaniel Cram has joined the office of Scott Simons Architects LLC as an architectural designer. He previously worked for Atkin Olshin Schade Architects in Santa Fe, N.M.

• John Wright has been hired as sales manager for SymQuest in the Portland region. He previously worked as a sales representative for Canon Business Solutions in the Boston area.

• Deb McPhail has joined Mortgage Network, Inc. as a loan officer at the Naples office. She has more than 25 years experience in the financial industry.

• Denise Saaf of Portland has been hired by Planet Dog as marketing manager. She previously worked in the marketing department for DeLorme.

• Ann Armstrong has been named senior business officer for Gorham Savings Bank’s Falmouth Foreside location opening this summer. She previously worked as director of marketing and business development for SYTDesign Consultants.

AWARDS and RECOGNITION

• Northern Maine Distilling Co. of Houlton has received a gold medal for vodka in the 2010 San Francisco Spirits Competition for its ultra-premium Twenty 2 Micro Distilled Vodka.

• Becky McKinnell has been named 2010 Small Business Administration Maine Young Entrepreneur of the Year. She is recognized as founder of iBec Creative, a creative design business she began while still a student at the University of Southern Maine.

• Lori Brooks, owner of Reflections Hair Studio in Sanford, is one of only four technicians in the country to be invited to join the Framesi Italian Style Team to teach the latest Italian-style cutting and coloring techniques to stylists across the country. She has been a hair stylist for 23 years.

• Maj. Gen. John Libby, Maine Army National Guard adjutant general, has been presented the Heart of Gold Award by the Community Counseling Center as part of the organization’s annual Heroes with Heart event. The award recognizes his commitment and dedication to the well-being of those serving in the Maine Army National Guard and their families.

• News 8 WMTW-TV has been honored with the Edward R. Murrow Award for the best newscast for the third consecutive year. The award is one of the most prestigious awards a news organization can win.

• Ginnie Konan of cPort Credit Union has been recognized for her 50 years of employment with the credit union. In 1960, she began her tenure as a teller and has since held various positions, currently managing the IRA program.

• John Lortie and Steven Pelletier, both environmental scientists at Stantec Inc. in Topsham, have received an Award of Professional Excellence from the University of Maine’s Department of Wildlife Ecology. Lortie is a vice president at Stantec, and Pelletier is a principal with the environmental consulting firm. The award celebrates graduates of the wildlife program who have distinguished themselves throughout their careers.

GENERAL

• Erich Hunter of Bangor, Jerry Pieh of Arrowsic, Steve Symonds of Belgrade and Art Thompson of Limestone have been appointed to the Board of Directors of the Maine School of Science and Mathematics in Limestone.

• Dr. David Walter, medical director of Spurwink Services, has been selected to participate in a yearlong Psychiatric Leadership Development Program, along with colleagues from community behavioral health organizations in 10 states. Sponsored by the National Council for Community Behavioral Health, the program is an effort to improve the retention of psychiatrists in community organizations and enhance the quality of care.