Executive director of FOCB receives award for financial mentoring

Cathy Ramsdell, executive director of Friends of Casco Bay, received the Experienced Leader Award 2017 on Nov. 17 from the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and the Maine Society of Certified Public Accountants in recognition of her financial mentoring of Friends of Casco Bay and other nonprofits. The Women to Watch Awards is a national effort in conjunction with the state societies, designed to highlight the accomplishments of women in the profession and demonstrate to emerging female leaders that success is not out of reach. Ramsdell’s career path has ranged from being a wildlife ecologist studying seabirds in Alaska and tracking whales in the Gulf of Maine to consulting, mentoring, teaching and leading in the nonprofit sector. She has served as executive director of the conservation organization since 2003.

“I do not fit the mold of my licensed professional CPA colleagues, so being honored by the national AICPA and the Maine Society has meant more to me than I can say,” Ramsdell said.

Hires, promotions, appointments

Norway Savings Bank announced that Pam DiPietro Hale has recently accepted the position of vice president, Commercial Lending, based at the 1200 Congress St. location in Portland. Hale volunteers on a number of boards and committees, including the Yarmouth Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors, where she serves as vice president, and the Falmouth Economic Improvement Development Committee.

The MEREDA Board of Directors has approved a board seat for co-chairmen Sam LeGeyt of Harnden Commercial Brokers and Cameron Woodford of Northern New England Housing Investment Fund on a new committee for emerging leaders called DevelopME. The men will each serve one year of the two-year term on an alternating schedule.  

Maine Citizens for Clean Elections and the League of Women Voters of Maine have hired Anna Kellar as the first joint executive director of their Democracy Partnership. As program director of MCCE, she led a grassroots effort that secured funding for Clean Elections in the Legislature and defeated attempts to undermine the law. Kellar ran for the state Legislature as a clean elections candidate in 2016.

Shawn Gorman – the third chairman in L.L. Bean’s century-plus history – is the newest member of the University of New Hampshire Foundation’s board of directors.

Todd J. Zukowski has joined Camden National Bank as vice president, Commercial Banking Officer in Southern Maine, which includes branches in Falmouth, Portland and Brunswick.

Recognition

Verrill Dana has been recognized as a client service leader in the brand new BTI Client Service A-Team 2018. The only law firm ranking based solely on unprompted feedback from corporate counsel, the designation assesses how law firms compare in delivering client service. The firm was also honored in the 2016 and 2017 BTI Power Rankings for excellence in client service.

Granted

Lynne Somerman, owner of The Wiser Miser LLC, in South Portland, outpitched other contestants to be named the winner of New Ventures Maine’s Southern Region Fall 2017 Marketing Mini-Grant Pitch Competition. Somerman will receive $400 to invest in targeted Facebook ads.

New Ventures

An open house Nov. 30 celebrated the opening of Greater Portland Endodontics in Portland, which is led by Drs. Spencer Crook and Daniel Fackrell. According to its website, www.greaterportlandendo.com, the practice, located at 1330 Congress St., “includes an experienced endodontic staff” and “provides the highest standard of professional care in a friendly, comfortable environment.”

Jeff Marks, executive director of the Environmental and Energy Technology Council, will leave the organization he has led for five and a half years at the end of the month to pursue service and volunteer work abroad. Melissa Winne, current project director with E2Tech, will be stepping in as interim director as the organization searches for a new leader. 

Zukowski

Onward Transitions, which helps emerging adults transition to independent living, has leased a 2,500-square-foot office space on the third floor of the historic Hay Building at 594 Congress St. in Portland. The transaction was brokered on behalf of the Fitzgibbons Family Trust by Cheri Bonawitz of Cardente Real Estate.

Cathy Ramsdell, executive director of Friends of Casco Bay, received a Women to Watch Award for Emerging Leaders and Experienced Leaders this fall in recognition of her work as a financial mentor.

MarksHale Kellar