NEW FACES

• Kathleen Curley, a registered nurse, recently joined Patient Advocates, LLC, as a nurse advocate. Curley has extensive nursing experience, including six years with an Army Medical Reserve Unit. She also worked on surgical floors of several hospitals, including her most recent post at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston.

• Dennis Wheelock joined the sales team at Magnusson Balfour Commercial & Business Brokers. In 2005, he became a licensed residential appraiser.

• Avesta Housing hired the following individuals to its staff:

Emily Kosnow and Abbie McEwen were named administrative support specialists. Kosnow has experience volunteering with immigrants and in the hospitality and health care industries. McEwen previously worked at AAA.

Evelyne Rusagabandi was hired as a temporary administrative support specialist. She was previously an adviser to the ministry of external relations and international cooperation in Burundi.

Roger Redin was hired as a technology support specialist. Redin previously taught computer classes at the Community College of Rhode Island.

In property management, Avesta hired Darlene Stuart as a property manager. She has 10 years of experience in property management.

Kayla Breese was hired as a resident service coordinator. Breese was previously the community organizer of the Maine Hunger Initiative for Preble Street.

Juana Morcillo Leganes was hired as an accounting specialist. Leganes previously worked as a senior project accountant at ING Real Estate Development in London.

• Cindy Morin joined Fontaine Family — The Real Estate Leader. She has more than eight years of experience in direct sales with Pampered Chef. She has been an advanced director for that company for more than five years. 

• Dr. Can “John” Ilyas joined the Cancer Care Center in Sanford. Ilyas is an oncologist and hematologist at the Maine Center for Cancer Medicine. Originally from Turkey, Ilyas began a full-time practice at the center in November.

• Capt. Jim Harkins of Atlantic Adventures joined Cabela’s pro staff. Harkins has several years of experience working on the ocean and is a registered Maine Guide. 

• Tyler Hews joined Coastal Rehab, LLC, of Cape Elizabeth as a physical therapist. Hews has four years of experience with outpatient orthopedic and geriatric populations.

• Marnie DuBois, Michael Hunter, Marnie Coleman, Malorie Delpero and Kasie-Jo Thornton joined the Steven Chicoine Real Estate Team at Keller Williams Realty in Portland.

DuBois of Auburn was hired as a buyer specialist. She began her career in real estate with Keller Williams Realty in central Massachusetts.

Hunter was hired as a listing specialist. He is an Amato’s restaurant franchise owner and has been a real estate investor since the age of 18.

Coleman of Auburn, an associate broker, was named a team manager.

Delpero was named a marketing specialist. She is a student at the University of Southern Maine studying for a degree in business management.

Thornton joined the team’s buyer division and will assist with showings and open houses. Thornton has worked in the insurance industry for seven years as a senior commercial account manager.

• Tracy Harkins was named executive director of KIDS Consortium. Harkins has been an education consultant with KIDS Consortium for 12 years and currently serves as the education programs manager.

She will take the place of Fran Rudoff, the organization’s leader for the past 14 years. Rudoff is retiring from her position.

PROMOTIONS

• Sue McCarthy was promoted to a commercial services officer at Maine Financial Group. McCarthy joined Maine Financial Group in 1993 as an administrative assistant. She was later promoted to officer manager, and in 2007 was named commercial services specialist.

BOARD APPOINTMENTS

• The Maine State Chamber of Commerce recently confirmed its 2013 board of directors and elected its board officers.

Frank McGinty of MaineHealth was elected board chair.

Melinda Poore of Time Warner Cable, New England Division, was named first vice chair.

Wick Johnson of Kennebec Technologies was named second vice chair and treasurer.

Dana Connors was named chamber president.

Other recently appointed board members can be found on its website, www.mainechamber.org.

• Scott Hess of Elliott & MacLean, and Ted Skowronski of ChelTed Studios were named to the board of directors for the Friends of Maine’s Seabirds.

• Alison Wholey, a nurse attorney, was recently appointed to the board of directors of New Hope for Women in Rockland. Wholey has been practicing law since 1986. She is a partner with the statewide law firm of Briggs & Wholey, LLC.

AWARDS and RECOGNITIONS

• Mark Wright, chief information officer at Inmar, was named one of Computerworld’s Premier 100 IT Leaders for 2013. Wright joined Inmar as CIO in 2010.