Firms invited to compete for ‘Best Place to Work’

Any company in Maine with at least 15 employees is being encouraged to participate in this year’s “Best Place to Work in Maine” competition.

Past first-place winners include Westbrook-based Cintas, in the large company category, and PeoplesChoice Credit Union in Saco, in the small-medium category.

The Maine State Council of the Society for Human Resources Management is starting the seventh annual competition.

Gov. Paul LePage praised the program Wednesday for recognizing companies that foster outstanding workplace environments.

Companies can apply to participate in the program online at www.bestplacestoworkme.com.

The deadline for registration is May 24.

Maine executive to head national health network

Elizabeth Mitchell, CEO of the Maine Health Management Coalition and Foundation, has been selected to lead the Network for Regional Healthcare Improvement.

The national organization supports the efforts of regional collaboratives to improve the quality and reduce the cost of health care, the coalition said Thursday.

Since Mitchell took the helm of the Maine coalition in 2008, it has become one of the nation’s most respected and effective regional health improvement collaboratives, said Harold Miller, outgoing president and CEO of the national network.

Last week, the coalition was named the state’s primary partner in a $33 million, three-year federal grant to fund health care innovation in MaineCare, the state’s version of Medicaid.

The coalition includes health care providers and insurers.

The foundation publishes the getbettermaine.org website listing quality ratings for Maine hospitals and most of the state’s physicians’ practices.

Mitchell will assume her new duties May 1 but will remain with the Maine coalition part-time to assist in implementation of the federal MaineCare innovation grant.

Jolie-Pitt wine brand sells 6,000 bottles in hours

Nine little letters on the back of the bottle set this rose wine apart from other fruits of the Provence grape harvest: Jolie-Pitt.

The Miraval Rose 2012 was produced at the southern French estate of Chateau Miraval – property of Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie.

It’s the first Miraval vintage stamped by the Hollywood couple, in a joint venture with established vintner Marc Perrin.

The back label reads “bottled by Jolie-Pitt and Perrin.”

The Perrin family spokesman said the first 6,000 bottles put on sale online Thursday were bought within five hours.

The wine sold for $139 for a 6-bottle case.

The wine, in a bottom-heavy, champagne-like bottle, goes on sale to restaurants and wholesalers later this month.

– From staff and news services

 

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