Recognition

Kristin Korda, of Saco, was crowned Miss Maine 2013. Korda will represent the state throughout the next year and earns a spot in the 2014 Miss America Pageant, which will be held in Atlantic City, N.J. Korda, 21, is a graduate of Thornton Academy and attends Southern Maine Community College. She presented a vocal selection for her talent and her platform is Big Brothers, Big Sisters: Start Something Big. She will spend the next year travelling the state to spread the message about her platform and the Miss America Organization, a nonprofit organization awarding more scholarship money for young women than any other organization in the world. First runner-up was Marisa Butler, of Standish, second runner-up was Audrey Thames, of Topsham, third runner-up was Kelsey Earley, of Lebanon and fourth runner-up was Michelle Vegliante, of Biddeford.

The Maine Association of Special Education Directors chose Patti Dyer, of the Portland Public Schools, as the Special Education Support Person of the Year. She was honored at the group’s annual awards banquet June 24 at the Hilton Garden Inn in Bangor. Dyer has worked as executive assistant in the district’s student support services office since 1996. She now supervises six special education compliance secretaries, handles the Medicaid/MaineCare billing and other budgeting and provides executive secretarial support for the special education director.

Wilbur’s of Maine Chocolate Confections was named Best Chocolate and Best Candy Store in this year’s Best of Maine Down East issue. Wilbur’s of Maine has been in business for 30 years and offers a wide variety of chocolates, confections and panned products.

Kelly McDonald earned the Maine State Bar Association’s Vincent L. McKusick Award for 2013 for his article “Attachment On Trustee Process: A Primer For The Practitioner.” McDonald is an attorney at Murray, Plumb & Murray. The Maine Bar Journal Editorial Advisory Committee presents the award, named after former Chief Justice Vincent L. McKusick, annually for the best article published in the preceding year.

David Hamilton was named sales manager of the Clark Insurance Employee Benefits Group for Maine and New Hampshire. Hamilton, a vice president and stockholder in the agency, has more than 25 years of experience in designing health and benefit plans for large and small employers. He will lead a 10-person team that has experienced dramatic growth in recent years.

New Hires, Promotions and Appointments

Tilson, a Portland-based IT and telecom services company, added Jason Sacco, of Dudley, Mass., Cameron McNutt, of Brunswick, Jeff Coffin, of Rockland, and Ben Guerette, of Portland.

Fluid Imaging Technologies hired Barry Godowsky as vice president of industrial sales at the firm’s Yarmouth, headquarters. Godowsky, of Yarmouth, will  lead the industrial markets sales team in developing new business worldwide with a focus on the pharmaceutical, chemical, food and biotechnology markets. 

Terry Hackett joined the facilities management team at Cheverus High School as a custodian. Hackett comes to Cheverus with many years of experience in maintenance and custodial services for The Meat House in Scarborough and as a truck driver transporting freight throughout the country.

The Rev. Kathleen H. N. Towns is the new pastor of Thornton Heights United Methodist Church in South Portland, effective July 1. Towns has been serving the Pleasant Street United Methodist Church and Hannah Tenney United Methodist Church in Salem, N.H., for the last six years. Towns lives in Westbrook, and has two adult sons, Lytfi and Kip, who both live in the Portland area.

The Brunswick Rotary Club inducted a new president, treasurer and board of directors for the 2013 – 2014 fiscal year. New president Claudia Frost, from Harpswell, replaces Dave Gleason, of Brunswick. Jim Pearce, of Topsham, became the treasurer, taking over for Carol Taylor, from Freeport. Stan Primmer is secretary, Gary Torow is president-elect and Val Campbell is vice-president. Brandon Hussey, Chris Klimash, Peggy Siegle, Stacy Frizzle, Allison Chapman, Dee Perry, David Taft and James Whitten were named to the board of directors.

Frank J. Gallagher has joined ecomaine as communications director, filling the position left vacant by the retirement of Shelley Dunn. Gallagher has 16 years of experience in journalism and public relations, most recently as proprietor of F.J. Gallagher & Associates, and is a graduate of the University of Maine. Portland-based Ecomaine is a nonprofit, recycling and waste-to-energy operation owned by 21 communities and 25 percent of Maine’s population.

Dick Prentice, of Yarmouth, was elected to the board of directors of the Maine Real Estate & Development Association. Prentice joined Pierce Atwood in 2000 as a partner in the real estate group, after practicing in New York City and in New Jersey for over 20 years.

Good Deeds

Supporters of Make-A-Wish Maine raised $120,000 on June 27 at the nonprofit’s annual charity auction, held at Falmouth Country Club. The money will grant 20 wishes to Maine children facing life-threatening medical conditions. Make-A-Wish Maine grants a wish to a Maine child every five days, on average, and the average cash cost of each wish is approximately $6,000.

People’s United Community Foundation, the philanthropic arm of People’s United Bank, has awarded a $4,000 grant to Camp Sunshine in Casco. Camp Sunshine offers respite and support to children with life-threatening illnesses and their immediate families. The funding from People’s United Community Foundation will be awarded specifically to the Family Sponsorship Program, which provides families with therapeutic recreation and psychosocial counseling in a supportive environment year-round.

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