NEW HIRES

• Ashley Craig joined Maine Media Workshops + College as director of its new photography program.

Craig is an artist, educator and entrepreneur, who lives in Rockport. She previously worked as adjunct professor of photography at Barry University and at Miami International University of Art and Design, where she taught and designed curriculum for digital photography. In addition, she is co-founder of TICKA ARTS, a nonprofit that gives emerging photographers a venue to display and exhibit their work.

• John Miller joined Millennium Marine USA as communications director.

Miller is a former TV anchor and producer for ABC and NBC affiliates. His most recent work in television was for the BBC and Fox. He was the administrator of the Eastport Boat School which was part of Husson University. Most recently, he worked for U.S. Sen. Angus King in Washington, D.C., and Maine.

• Apothecary by Design pharmacy hired Kayla Stewart, Sarah DeRaps and Justin Levesque as full-time pharmacists.

Stewart, of Windham, DeRaps, of Fairfield, and Levesque, of South Portland, are 2014 graduates of the University of New England’s College of Pharmacy.

• Kathy Young joined the Cancer Community Center as executive director.

She comes to the center from the Androscoggin Land Trust, where she served as director of development and marketing. Prior to that, Young spent 15 years in New Zealand, most recently working as the major gifts manager and director of communications and fundraising for the University of Otago.

• Kendray Rodrigues joined the YMCA of Southern Maine as camp director at its Otter Pond Camp in Standish.

Rodrigues previously worked for Bonney Staffing Center as a talent and training coordinator.

• Sam Spina joined Putney Inc. as director of national channel sales.

Spina has more than 25 years of sales and marketing experience, including 19 years at Idexx Laboratories, where he recently served as information management channel manager.

PROMOTIONS

• Mark Ross was promoted to vice president, retail market manager, at Kennebunk Savings.

Ross, of Arundel, joined Kennebunk Savings in 2008 as a financial services specialist in Sanford. He was later promoted to assistant branch manager in the Wells office and then branch manager.

• Patricia Ireland was named dean of undergraduate studies at St. Joseph’s College.

Ireland previously served as program director of St. Joseph’s online theology program. She has undergraduate and graduate degrees from Boston College, and master’s degrees from Andover Newton Theological School and Drew University, where she also earned her doctorate.

• Saco Valley Credit Union promoted the following people:

Steve Curran to senior vice president of lending; Sean Ready to vice president of lending; and Kelly LaBrecque to executive assistant.

• Shannon Lancaster was promoted to senior director of new business development and strategy at Putney Inc.

James Morin was also promoted to sales analyst, and Chris Kelly to inside sales representative.

BOARD APPOINTMENTS

• David Presby was re-elected to the Saco Valley Credit Union board to a three-year term.

The following board members were elected to officer positions: Roberta Manning, chairperson; Debra Choroszy, vice chairperson; Paul Gosselin, treasurer; and Vincent “Ed” Polito, secretary.

Manning, Choroszy, Presby and Robert Denton were elected to the executive committee.

• The “2211” Maine Toastmasters Club, located in Unum’s HO-3 building has announced its new slate of leaders.

The new officers are: Donelle Caselden, president; Heather Clark, vice president, education; Cathy Nelson, vice president, membership; Michael Whittaker, vice president, public relations; Amanda Hoegen, secretary; Leah Wallof, treasurer; Stephanie Hansen, sergeant at arms.

• Portland’s Downtown District named the following people to its board of directors:

Josh Benthien, partner at Northland Enterprises; Denine Leeman, chief operating officer of East Brown Cow; Eric Urbanek, principal broker of commercial properties; Kim Volk, investment adviser for Aurora Financial Group LLC; Jeffrey Packard, of Alodyne LLC; and June Usher, assistant vice president and branch manager of Bangor Savings Bank.

• Anna Edgerley, senior vice president of Norton Insurance Agency, was named president-elect of the Maine Insurance Agents Association.

Edgerley, of Brunswick, joined the agency in 1992, and became partner in 2004. She will assume the role of president in 2015 and serve in this capacity until 2016.

AWARDS and RECOGNITIONS

• Bridgette Vermette, a broker at Keller Williams Realty in Portland, recently received the “Top Individual Production for 2013” and “President’s Club Award.”

Vermette is a relocation and luxury home specialist. She was recognized for assisting 49 families in 2013 and generating a sales volume of $17 million.

• Pat Parent, a teacher at Massabesic Middle School, was recognized with the Gulf of Maine Research Institute’s first annual McCarthy Award for exemplifying leadership in science education.

Parent has been a supporter of Vital Signs, GMRI’s field research program that engages Maine students and teachers in a collaborative effort with scientists and the public.

• Matthew Bampton, a professor of geography-anthropology at the University of Southern Maine, was named a Fulbright Scholar, allowing him to continue his research into what caused the destruction of a village in the Shetland Islands during the 17th century.

Bampton, of Portland, will be based at the University of Edinburgh, beginning in August. He worked at USM since 1992.

• Five Eastern Maine Medical Center members were recognized for exceptional performance in 2013 from Avatar Solutions, a national organization that measures and compares hospital safety and patient satisfaction.

Eastern Maine Medical Center received the highest award for Exceeding Patient Expectations. For the second year in a row, the hospital received Exemplary Service – Overall Best Performer.

Other EMHS members receiving 2013 awards from Avatar Solutions include: Sebasticook Valley Hospital, TAMC, Blue Hill Memorial Hospital and Inland Hospital.

• Two Salty Dogs pet store in Boothbay Harbor won “Best Pet Store in Maine” for the second year in a row from Downeast Dog News.

• Baxter State Park was selected as one of the Top 10 parks in America by Country Magazine.

It’s featured in the magazine’s June/July issue “Hidden Gems: Best Parks in the United States.”