NEW HIRES

• Lucas Walker joined Rich Exterior Solutions Inc. He previously worked out of state in the construction management and construction consulting industry.

• Kenneth Albert III was hired at the Maine Department of Health and Human Services as director of its division of licensing and regulatory services. He previously practiced law for several years, specializing in health law, professional licensing, and regulatory and compliance law.

PROMOTIONS

• Jeff Pieske was recently promoted to director of maintenance at Maine Instrument Flight, where he will oversee the upkeep and record keeping for its fleet of aircraft. Pieske will be the go-to person for customer- owned aircraft maintenance.

• John Tarr, a senior electrical engineer at Harriman, was promoted to associate principal. Tarr recently rejoined the firm and has more than 25 years of experience.

• John Bennett and Thomas Brigham, executive vice presidents of Oakhurst Dairy, were named co-presidents of the company.

Bennett joined Oakhurst in 2004 as vice president of sales and marketing. Since then, he has managed multiple areas of the business. He most recently served as executive vice president and chief operating officer.

Brigham has been responsible for all accounting and finance functions at Oakhurst since joining the dairy in 1995. He most recently served as executive vice president, chief financial officer and treasurer.

AWARDS

• The Maine Environmental Education Association recently announced its 2012 Environmental Education Awards.

Oakhurst Dairy was recognized with the Business of Year Award.

Lincoln Middle School in Portland was recognized as the School of the Year.

The Kennebec Land Trust was recognized with the Excellence in Environmental Education Program Award.

Joanne DeFilipp Alex received the Eberhard Thiele Environmental Educator of the Year Award.

For more information about the award recipients, go to maineeeassociation.blogspot.com.

• Burgess Advertising & Marketing was recognized for the quality and effectiveness of its work at the national 9th annual Service Industry Advertising Awards.

The agency was presented with a silver award for client Everett J. Prescott’s “Counterfeit Ad Series;” a silver award for its “Pardon Our Appearance” billboard for the Portland International Jetport; a silver award for an image TV Campaign for Catholic Charities; a bronze award for its “Devil Ducks” TV commercial for the Maine Department of Environmental Protection; a bronze award for its Direct Mail Campaign for Evergreen USA; and a merit award for Androscoggin Valley Hospital’s website home page.

• Hurley Travel Experts was recognized for its outstanding achievement at the 10th annual Travel Agency Recognition Awards event.

The agency was recognized as “Best of the Best” in travel agencies, an award given to agencies that make 75 travel bookings or more in one year with Sandals or Beaches Resorts.

Beth Skypeck of Hurley Travel Experts was honored with an invitation from Sandals Resorts International to join the Chairman Royals Club. There are only 85 travel agents throughout the country given this honor.

• Eileen Skinner, president and chief executive officer of Mercy Hospital in Portland, was selected as the 2012 Grassroots Champion award by the American Hospital Association. Skinner has served as president and chief executive officer of the Mercy Health System of Maine since 2002.

• The Maine State Credit Union in Augusta was recently honored with a Diamond Award, which recognizes outstanding marketing and business development achievements in the industry. The credit union won the Email Marketing category for its entry, titled MSCU Auto Loan Email Offer. The email was part of a campaign to encourage members to act on a low auto rate.

• Verrill Dana recently won second place in the “Total Website Refresh/Overhaul/Rebrand” category of the Legal Marketing Association’s 2012 Your Honor Awards. Verrill Dana’s website was praised for its engaging user experience, its use of client stories and its effective recruiting section. Verrill Dana’s website redesign was also recognized as the “Best of the Web” by TechMaine at its Awards Gala in June, 2011.

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