Canning named Girl Scouts of Maine’s 2015 Woman of Distinction

Celebration to be held December 4, 2014 at Sable Oaks Marriott

Gena Canning, managing Partner at Pine State Trading Co., will be honored at the 18th Annual Women of Distinction Gala on Dec. 4 at the Portland Marriott at Sable Oaks in South Portland, according to a press release from Girl Scouts of Maine, which sponsors the event.

The annual event celebrates women whose individual excellence and high levels of achievement distinguish them as outstanding members of their communities and exemplary role models for today’s girls, according to the release.

“Women of Distinction are determined and courageous leaders who impact the way we live today and who nurture and inspire the young women who will shape our tomorrow,” said Joanne Crepeau, interim CEO, Girl Scouts of Maine, in the release. “We are proud to honor Gena for all her accomplishments.”

With more than 24 years of experience at Pine State Trading Co., Canning has extensive knowledge and experience in customer service, external relations, human resources and marketing, according to the release. She manages the Pine State Human Resources Team that serves more than 1000 employees and oversees corporate giving. She is highly regarded for her interpersonal skills, strategic thinking, and team building, according to the release.

She serves on the Government Affairs Board for the National Association of Wholesale Marketers, Maine Grocer’s Association and the New England Convenience Store Association. She is also serves a vice chairwoman of the Bangor Savings Bank Board of Directors. Gena holds a BA in communications from American University.

As an avid wellness advocate within Pine State Trading and in the community, she is actively involved with Girls on The Run, the Kennebec Valley YMCA, the Gardiner Area Boys and Girls Club and the Maine Cancer Center Foundation’s “Tri for a Cure,” according to the release

She lives in Yarmouth and has three children.

FCNH’s Arsenault honored with health care award

Rebecca Arsenault, president and CEO of Franklin Community Health Network and Franklin Memorial Hospital, received the 2014 American College of Healthcare Executives Senior-Level Healthcare Executive Regent’s Award at the Northern New England Association of the AMHE’s annual meeting in Portland Nov. 7.

The award recognizes ACHE members who have made significant contributions to the advancement of healthcare management excellence and the achievement of the ACHE’s goals, according to a press release from the organization. Members are evaluated on their leadership ability, innovative and creative management, executive capability in developing their own organization and promoting its growth and stature in the community, contributions to the development of others in the healthcare profession and leadership in local, state, and health association activities.

Arsenault has been at FCHN since January 2009. During this time both the hospital and network have been the recipients of numerous national awards for innovation, high quality care, and partnering with the community and other local organizations to improve health. Most recently, her hospital was named as a most-wired hospital for the fourth consecutive year, according to the release.

Arsenault earned a master’s degree in community health nursing from Boston University and a bachelor’s degree in nursing from the University of Southern Maine. Her health care career began as a practicing nurse and led to advancements in hospital administrative roles spanning more than 30 years in several well-known health care systems across the country including: Intermountain Health Care in Utah, Providence Health Services in Washington, and Universal Health Services in Texas, according to the release.

Arsenault is a fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives and is a doctoral candidate in the health care administrative program at Capella University. In June, she was installed as chair of the Maine Hospital Association Board. As chair, her primary duties are leading the governance process of the association, according to the release.

In 2013, the American Hospital Association, in partnership with the Maine Hospital Association, awarded Arsenault with the Grassroots Champion Award for her leadership in health care advocacy at the national level, the release said.

Bonenfant marks 20 years with Coldwell Banker Plourde Real Estate

Sheila M. Bonenfant, an associate broker with Coldwell Banker Plourde Real Estate in Waterville, recently marked her 20th year with the company, according to a press release from the company.

She is a member of the Northern Kennebec Valley Board of Realtors and the National Association of Realtors.

Bonenfant received her real estate license in Nevada in 1992 and two years later she returned to Maine with her husband, Don. Over the past 22 years, she has helped hundreds of buyers and sellers reach their goals, the release said.

Spurwink Services opens downtown Augusta office

Spurwink Services has opened a new outpatient and community services program office in the Federal Building at 295 Water St., in downtown Augusta.

Services based out of the office include children’s targeted case management, home and community treatment and outpatient therapy for children and adults, according to a press release from the mental health care provider.

Spurwink President and CEO Eric Meyer said in the release that the move to downtown Augusta “as part of Spurwink’s efforts to increase mission impact within the communities we serve…will enable us to serve families in a convenient, central location.”

“This is an exciting development for us,” he said.

Spurwink Services is a nationally accredited provider of behavioral health and education services. Founded in 1960, Spurwink serves more than 5,000 Maine children, adults and families annually, according to the organization.

Marketplace of Augusta hosts holiday events

Several holiday events are planned for the Marketplace of Augusta, on Civic Center Drive, in November and December.

Events include Salvation Army Angel Trees, which provide children with presents for the holiday season. Trees are in some Marketplac stores from retailers Thursday, Nov. 20 to Wednesday Dec. 17, according to a press release from WS Development, owner of the shopping complex.

A Black Friday Midnight Celebration will begin at midnight on Thanksgiving night until 5 a.m. Friday, Nov. 28, and will include food trucks, DJs, light shows and sales and promotions.

A family fun day will be held from noon to 3 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 13, and will include Santa’s reindeer, free Santa photos, mini neck massages, face painting and carolers, live music, a petting zoo and pony rides, and other events.

Target opens its Augusta store for indoor walking

Healthy Communities of the Capital Area announced in a press release that the Target store in Augusta is open for indoor walking weekdays from 8-10 a.m. through the winter. The effort is part of a Healthy Maine Partnership initiative. Promoting healthy lifestyles is a pillar to the Target Corporation, according to the release.

“In one recent survey, 21.2 percent of Maine’s adults reported that they had not participated in any leisure physical activity during the past month,” said Joanne Joy, director of HCCA, in the release. “We want to encourage Mainers to take advantage of indoor walking facilities through the winter months to be safe and warm as they walk.” Heart disease is the country’s number one cause of death, according to the American Heart Association. Walking for as little as 30 minutes a day can reduce your risk of heart disease, the release said. Regular walking also reduces risks and symptoms from a wide range of health related issues, from depression to diabetes. In the winter months cold, snow and ice can make it difficult to walk safely, especially for older adults and the very young. The walking program at Target gives folks of all ages an indoor place to exercise regularly, the release said.

University of Maine at Augusta makes Best for Vets list

The University of Maine at Augusta has been named by Military Times magazine as one of the country’s 2015 Best for Vets colleges, according to a press release from UMA. It’s the the third straight year the school has made the list.

The school is ranked 54th out of 100 four-year colleges on the list (the magazine also ranks two-year colleges). The school has 397 veteran students out of an enrollment of 4,990, according to the list. The top school on the list is the University of Nebraska, Omaha. The ranking means UMA provides “the very best services for veterans and military personnel in the nation,” according to the release.

The rankings come from a detailed survey that requires schools to meticulously document a tremendous array of services, special rules, accommodations and financial incentives offered to military and veteran students, the release said. For the full list, go to www.militarytimes.com/bestforvets-colleges2015.

UMA has been named on Military Times Best for Vets Colleges lists since 2013 and also received recognition on the 2011- 2015 Military Friendly Lists, and by U.S. News and World Reports in the 2014 Best Online Bachelor’s Programs for Veterans, according to the release.

Copy the Story Link