Michele Prince named chief operating officer at KVCAP

The Kennebec Valley Community Action Program’s Chief Executive Officer Suzanne Walsh recently named Michele Prince as the new chief operating officer for the organization.

“I am very pleased that Michele Prince has accepted the position as KVCAP’s chief operating officer,” said Walsh. “Michele has been with KVCAP for more than 23 years in a variety of management and leadership positions. I have worked with Michele during her entire tenure here and have seen firsthand how her leadership skills, strong community connections, and extensive program knowledge benefit our clients and the communities we serve.”

Prince began her career at KVCAP in 1992 as a resource specialist based at the Mid-Maine Homeless Shelter. In 1994 she was promoted to the position of Social Services Program Manager overseeing department operations. In 2002 Prince took over the management of the Health Services Department, administering KVCAP’s two family planning clinics and family life education and outreach programs. Prince has served as KVCAP’s community initiatives director since 2012, where she has been responsible for managing the community services block grant and overseeing operations at the South End Teen Center in the employment services program and other community based initiatives.

Prince graduated from Colby College in 1981, earning a bachelor’s degree in psychology, and has been a licensed social worker for more than 25 years. She has served on the board of directors for the Mid-Maine Homeless Shelter, Healthy Northern Kennebec and Families First (Kennebec County’s Child Abuse and Neglect Council).

“I believe that we all have a responsibility to do what we can to ensure that people are safe, sheltered, warm and fed, and that they are given the opportunity to learn skills and develop their unique talents so that they can have a comfortable, enriching life,” said Prince. “I am fortunate to have worked at KVCAP for many, many years and to experience the fulfillment that comes with knowing that your work makes a difference.”

Prince lives in Winslow with her husband, David. She enjoys spending her free time with family and friends and participating in community and cultural events.

Russ Donahue named marketing director at Kennebec Savings Bank

Andrew Silsby, president and CEO of Kennebec Savings Bank, recently announced the hiring of Russ Donahue as marketing director andcommunications officer. Donahue comes to the bank with more than 20 years of experience in marketing, communications and community relations.

“Russ will be instrumental in continuing the growth of Kennebec Savings Bank as we focus on serving more members of our community,” said Silsby. “We are fortunate to have someone of his caliber join our administrative team. He will bring fresh perspective and depth of experience to our outreach efforts.”

Since 2001, Donahue served as marketing director for St. Mary’s Health System in Lewiston where he handled strategic marketing, internal communications, external relations counseling, project and staff management. He was senior counsel for HDS Consulting, a firm based in Freeport, with clients throughout Maine, New England and the Maritimes. He also worked for Penobscot Bay Medical Center as a director and vice president for marketing, public information and development from 1989 to 1996.

Donahue has been an active member of the Maine Public Relations Council, having served as a conference chair and board director, and earned its prestigious Edward Bernays Award in 2009 from his professional peers. He has been active with the Chamber of Commerce of the Greater Portland Region and Rockland-Thomaston Area Chamber of Commerce, as well as at the chapter and statewide level of the American Red Cross throughout the state.

Donahue has a bachelor of arts degree in political science from State University of New York at Geneseo and a master’s in health care administration from New England College. He is a member of the American College for Healthcare Executives.

He and his wife, Peggy, live in Freeport where their youngest son, Scott, attends Freeport High School. Their older son, Mark, attends Hobart and William Smith College in New York. Donahue enjoys gardening, writing and playing guitar, mandolin and banjo.

Patrick McGowan named president of PK Floats of Lincoln

Patrick McGowan, of Fayette, former commissioner of the Maine Department of Conservation, has been named president of PK Floats of Lincoln, a company that makes aircraft floats.

Patrick Carroll, a director of SR Aviation in Seattle, released a statement saying the company will put “these high quality, dependable Maine-made floats back into the world market.”

The company will offer new float installations for airplanes and an aircraft brokerage service. Replacement parts will be offered at the 14,000-square-foot plant located just off the runway of the Lincoln Regional Airport.

U.S. Cellular hosting hiring events in September

U.S. Cellular will host hiring events on Wednesday, Sept. 16, and Wednesday, Sept. 30, in an effort to fill 12 job openings throughout Maine.

The hiring events run from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on both days at the Augusta Civic Center, 76 Community Drive in Augusta. Full- and part-time retail wireless consultant and store leadership positions are available in a high-energy, professional sales environment, and applicants are encouraged but not required to apply online in advance at www.uscellularretailjobs.com.

“At U.S. Cellular, we strive to provide the best wireless experience for our customers in Maine, so we need a diverse, motivated and collaborative associate base to help us deliver on that goal,” said Matt Kasper, director of sales for U.S. Cellular in New England. “We look forward to hiring new associates in to the exciting and fast-paced world of technology, so we can train and develop their skills and turn their job into a career.”

The open positions offer competitive starting wages and benefits along with incentives or commission. U.S. Cellular looks for empowered professionals with relevant experience, excellent communication skills, accountable leadership qualities and an unequaled commitment to customers. In 2015, U.S. Cellular was named one of America’s Best Employers by Forbes and a top veteran-friendly company by U.S. Veteran’s Magazine.

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