Sprague succeeds O’Connor as chairman of Kennebec Savings Bank board

Bill Sprague succeeded Dick O’Connor as chairman of the Kennebec Savings Bank board of directors at the board’s annual meeting. Sprague is the 10th chairman in the bank’s 146-year history, according to a news release from the bank.

O’Connor said in the release that his successor is a seasoned leader. “Bill is not new to leadership, having been the Board Chair for MaineGeneral Health, Augusta Board of Trade and countless other organizations in Kennebec County. He has also been on the Kennebec Savings Bank board for the past 18 years and has served as Vice-Chair of the Board for 9 years before moving into this new role as Chair.”

O’Connor recently stepped down after 22 years as chairman and a previous 10 years as vice chairman.

Andrew E. Silsby, bank president and CEO, said in the release that O’Connor will continue on the board and assist Sprague with the transition.

Also elected during the annual meeting was Chuck Hays, president and CEO of MaineGeneral Health, as vice chairman.

During O’Connor’s time in board leadership, Kennebec Savings Bank has had four chief executive officers and “continuously enjoyed Bauer Financial’s 5-Star Rating for 124 straight quarters, which is a period of 26 years,” the release said.

Kennebec Savings Bank was originally formed as a mutual savings bank on March 7, 1870, in Augusta. It employs 116 people at offices in Augusta, Waterville, Winthrop and Farmingdale

Sprague, who owns Sprague and Curtis real estate in Augusta, lives in Manchester with his wife, Lesley, and their daughter, Katie. Hays also lives in Manchester with his wife, Maria, and their daughter, Katie.

Maine Development borrows Roming from Unity Foundation, hires Ball

The Maine Development Foundation in Augusta and the Unity Foundation have announced a new partnership that is designed to support MDF during a transition period. As part of the relationship, the Unity Foundation is lending its research and program officer, Lori Roming, to MDF to be its interim director of operations.

Roming will be paid by the Unity Foundation while working for MDF. Roming’s experience at Unity and her skills will allow MDF the time and resources to hire new staff members, according to MDF. Roming will be managing and working to improve operations and administration strategically. She primarily will be devoting her time initially to oversight of MDF’s operations, finances and program support.

Roming joining the MDF staff will provide support for MDF’s economic strategy and development during the early tenure of new MDF CEO Yellow Light Breen. It also provides MDF time and resources to build an even stronger staff and improve systems to drive high-impact initiatives.

Roming also will continue her duties as research and program officer at Unity, providing ongoing support for important programs and functions. Roming has worked for the Unity Foundation for more than 15 years. The arrangement for Roming to be a part of the MDF staff will continue through the end of this year and possibly beyond, if needed.

MDF also has hired Anne Ball as interim program director for the Maine Downtown Center. Ball has served as a consultant for the center since 2012 and has been heavily involved in the success of the Healthy Maine Streets Program, Grants to Green, and Making Headway in Your Community.

The center is involved in strategic planning for the organization in the field, and outreach and technical assistance to the dozens of communities the program serves.

In her interim position, Ball will lead the MDC program through 2016, working with stakeholders to finalize strategic and operational planning. She will work closely with Breen to identify and build the capacity necessary to deliver critical day-to-day work and grants initiatives at the Center.

Ball is the former project director of Grants to Green Maine, a partnership of Maine Development Foundation’s Maine Downtown Center, Efficiency Maine and the Maine Community Foundation. In recent years, she was project director for a CDC Grant known as Healthy Maine Streets and worked in the state on other multi-sector projects, including serving as the cultural and heritage tourism coordinator for the state Department of Economic and Community Development for six years.

During the past several years, Ball has been a consultant to many organizations in Maine, including Maine Preservation, the Maine Humanities Council, the Maine State Museum and private architectural firms and communities.

Nurse practitioner Caudell joins Bingham Area Health Center

Bingham Area Health Center has added nurse practitioner Jason Caudell to its providers.

Caudell has a 15-year career in health care with extensive practice in emergency nursing, urgent care and primary care; and has professional affiliations with the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners and the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology, according to a news release from HealthReach Community Health Centers in Waterville.

Caudell moved to the area to join HealthReach.

He earned a Bachelor of Science degree in nursing degree from Piedmont College, in Demorest, Georgia; a Master of Science degree from the University of North Georgia; and a Master of Health Care Administration from Bellevue University in Bellevue, Nebraska. In his free time, he enjoys hunting, fishing, photography and travel, the release said.

Bingham Area Health Center is part of HealthReach Community Health Centers, a group of 11 health centers in western and central Maine.

Augusta Edward Jones advisor accepting school supply donations

Julie Barter Lucas, an Edward Jones financial advisor in Augusta, is supporting Farrington Elementary School by using her office as a drop-off location for a school supplies drive.

Local residents may help support this effort by taking items to the Edward Jones branch office during regular business hours, from 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.

The branch address is 179 Mount Vernon Ave., Suite 5, in Augusta. For more information, call 622-0991, email kristy.vickerson@edwardjones.com or visit www.edwardjones.com.

2 Olive Garden restaurants complete extensive remodeling

Olive Garden has completed the remodeling of its Augusta and South Portland restaurant locations. First built in 1997 and 1992, respectively, the restaurants’ updated designs showcase Olive Garden’s new logo and other new features, according to a news release from Olive Garden, headquartered in Orlando, Fla.

The new “Olive Garden Italian Kitchen” sign outside the restaurant welcomes guests to the remodeled restaurants, which feature updated artwork, fabrics, materials, lighting, seating and flooring.

Specific updated elements throughout the restaurants include distinctive decor, modernized bars, high-definition monitors in the waiting area noting temporary offers, electrical plus in the back bar where guests can recharge phones and laptops, updated plateware, flexible seating, glass-encased floor-to-ceiling wine cabinets, and wine pouring stations in the dining areas.

As part of both restaurants’ commitments to giving back to the communities they serve, Olive Garden donated furnishings from the redesigned restaurants to local Habitat for Humanity ReStore outlets, which use funds to build Habitat homes in local communities.

The Augusta Olive Garden is at 205 Civic Center Drive.

Attorney Collins joins Preti Flaherty in Augusta

Preti Flaherty announced last week that attorney Kristin Collins has joined the law firm, according to a news release from the firm.

Collins will practice in Preti Flaherty’s Municipal Law Group from the firm’s Augusta office. Before joining Preti Flaherty, Collins represented a number of Maine municipalities from a law firm in Belfast. In that role, she focused on a wide range of matters, including administrative, employment, land use, litigation and municipal law. In addition, Collins previously practiced as a staff attorney at the Maine Municipal Association. At Preti Flaherty, Collins will continue to work with small and large municipalities as well as advise individual and corporate clients on litigation, personnel and land use matters.

Collins is a native of Maryland. She obtained her undergraduate degree in international relations from Colgate University in Hamilton, New York, and earned her law degree from the University of Maine School of Law.

Preti Flaherty has offices in Portland; Augusta; Concord, New Hampshire; Boston, Massachusetts; and Washington, D.C. With nearly 100 attorneys, the firm counsels clients in the areas of business law, energy, environmental, estate planning, health care, intellectual property, labor and employment, legislative and regulatory, litigation, technology and telecommunications.

Camden National to honor Maine nonprofit board members

Camden National Bank, through The Bank of Maine Charitable Foundation, is reminding local nonprofits to get their nominations in for the 2016 Leaders & Luminaries Award competition, according to a news release from the bank.

The statewide search honors four of Maine’s leading nonprofit board members and presents them with cash awards for their organizations. The deadline for entries is Sept. 2.

Leaders & Luminaries honors board members who have used inspiration, creativity and ingenuity in board governance and whose contributions have led to the organization’s growth, successful transition or financial stability. Each selected leader will be presented with cash prizes totaling $20,000.

The competition is open to any board director of a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization based in Maine who can demonstrate how inspiration, creativity and ingenuity in governance has led to his or her organization’s success. Four awards totaling $20,000, presented through The Bank of Maine Charitable Foundation, will be awarded to this year’s winners at a special ceremony held during the Maine Association of Nonprofits Executive Leadership Forum, “Building Board Engagement,” on Nov. 10 at the Harraseeket Inn in Freeport.

An independent selection committee, appointed by Camden National Bank, will select the four winners. Each Leaders & Luminaries award winner will receive $5,000 for his or her nonprofit organization. For complete details and entry information, visit the Camden National Bank website at www.CamdenNational.com/leaders-and-luminaries-2016.

Compiled from contributed releases

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