NEW HIRES

The Portland Water District has named Seth Garrison, a nationally known utility consultant, as general manager. Garrison has spent over two decades working with water and wastewater systems, and has served utilities including the Pittsburgh Water and Sewer Authority, Boston Water and Sewer Commission and New York City Department of Environmental Protection. In addition, he ran the water and wastewater programs for the U.S. State Department’s Agency for International Development in Afghanistan. Garrison is a past trustee of the Portland Water District, representing Scarborough for nine years. He succeeds Carrie Lewis, who was general manager at the district for over five years before she retired this month.

Greg Karlik has joined the benefits division of Allen Insurance and Financial, headquartered in Camden, and will work with individual and group health insurance clients. Karlik worked for the past three years as a licensed insurance professional in the individual health insurance marketplace, and earlier held various positions in the television broadcasting industry over a span of 30 years. He is a graduate of the University of Vermont and of the University of San Francisco, where he earned a Master of Business Administration degree.

The United Way of Southern Maine has made two hires. Alexandra Turnbull has joined as donor engagement manager for Women United and will oversee fundraising and membership engagement for the Giving Circle. She comes to the role with experience in volunteer management and in direct service behavioral health. Ellen Agnew was recently named director, marketing and communications, at UWSM. Agnew first worked for the nonprofit in 2021 as a marketing manager, and has a diverse background in digital marketing, social media, data management, research and communications.

PROMOTIONS

Saco & Biddeford Savings Institution has promoted Mike Rague to branch manager in its Old Orchard Beach location, after he served there as assistant branch manager. He is a graduate of Old Orchard Beach High School and Emmanuel College. In addition, Tyler Lebel has been promoted to assistant branch manager. He previously was a customer relationship associate, and graduated from Thornton Academy and Merrimack College.

SMRT Architects and Engineers, based in Portland, has promoted four employees to associate principals and members of the firm’s ownership team. The new owners are: Benjamin Halleck, associate principal and senior mechanical engineer, Mechanical Group leader; Jeana Stewart, associate principal and Workplace Market Sector leader; Lura Wade, associate principal and senior electrical engineer; and Peter Rand, associate principal and senior structural engineer, Structural Group leader.

RECOGNITIONS

In recognition of American Pharmacists Month in October, SingleCare, a prescription drug savings service, announced its fourth annual Best of the Best Pharmacy Awards. This year’s honors included the “Most Dedicated Technician” award, presented to Ingrid Zelenyanszky, a pharmacy technician from Hiram. She works at the Walgreens pharmacy in North Conway, New Hampshire.

Berman & Simmons, a Lewiston-based personal injury law firm, received a “Highly Recommended” rating from Benchmark Litigation, a national legal publication. In addition, it named two attorneys with the firm as “Local Litigation Stars”: Steven Silin and James O’Connell. Attorneys Susan Faunce and Jodi Nofsinger were recognized as “Future Stars.”

The Maine Public Relations Council recently presented the 2022 Midge Vreeland Public Service Award to Jon Paradise, senior vice president of communications, marketing and community outreach at Town & Country Federal Credit Union in Scarborough. The award, named in honor of the late PR practitioner Midge Vreeland, recognizes a professional in the field for dedicated commitment and service to the community. Paradise has been active in the MPRC and with the Annual CU Swish-Out Childhood Cancer Challenge, a three-on-three basketball tournament that has raised more than $650,000 for the Maine Children’s Cancer Program.

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