Day’s Jewelers wins annual retailers group award

Day’s Jewelers, headquartered in Waterville, has been named the 2016 Retailer of the Year by the Retail Association of Maine.

The award was presented at the association’s 83rd annual meeting Thursday at the Hilton Garden Inn in Freeport.

The Retailer of the Year Award has three main criteria: continued growth in employees or sales, commitment of company resources to community projects and creation of a positive work environment for all employees. Day’s was chosen for its reputation as a growing family business; patient and careful long-term growth; social, ethical and environmental responsibility; and staff development procedures, according to the association.

Day’s selection for the award was unanimous.

Day’s was one of the first jewelers in America, and currently only one of six independent companies in the United States, to achieve certification by the Responsible Jewellery Council, a nonprofit organization that has established a set of best-practice business standards for the global jewelry industry, requiring audits to ensure certification. In the last few years, Day’s has worked collaboratively with its staff, customers and suppliers to donate to more than 40 charitable organizations and has developed a program, Diamonds for Peace, to help those in need in our own communities by donating $10 for each loose diamond or piece of diamond jewelry sold.

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Day’s, which was founded in Portland, has been in business since 1914.

Winthrop chamber officials get new board positions

Kim Vandermeulen and Kim Stoneton have been appointed president and vice president, respectively, of the Winthrop Lakes Region Chamber of Commerce board, according to a news release from chamber Executive Director Barbara Walsh.

Vandermeulen, CEO of Alternative Manufacturing Inc., and Stoneton, owner of Bloom Salon, were voted into those offices during the chamber’s recent annual meeting. Vandermeulen, the board’s former vice president, replaces Sarah Fuller, of Fuller Ink, who was chamber president for the past two years.

Franklin Savings Bank announces three promotions

Franklin Savings Bank has promoted its controller and its loan processing manager and underwriter at its main office, in Farmington, and added a consumer loan officer at its Skowhegan branch.

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Assistant Vice President and Controller Pamala Dixon has been elevated to the corporate title of vice president and treasurer. Dixon, who has been the bank’s controller since 2012, has managed the daily activities of the bank’s accounting department and supported the reporting requests of senior management, according to bank management.

Dixon is the Franklin County Chamber of Commerce treasurer and is an active volunteer for many bank-sponsored community events. She is a graduate of the University of Maine at Orono with a Bachelor of Science degree in business administration and a concentration in finance. Dixon is also a graduate of the American Bankers Association’s Stonier National Graduate School of Banking.

Loan Processing Manager and Underwriting Officer Bett Hardy was promoted to assistant vice president. Hardy, a Farmington native, joined the bank team in 1998 after completing the bank’s Teller Training Program while attending Mt. Blue High School.

Hardy is working toward a certificate in business from Central Maine Community College.

At the bank’s Skowhegan branch, Sherri Lewis has been promoted to consumer loan officer. Lewis has been working closely with the Skowhegan lending team while also aiding the customer service team when needed. Lewis has been the loan and deposit interview clerk since 2012.

Waterville breakfast topic: boosting state’s business ranking

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The subject of Thomas College and the Mid-Maine Chamber of Commerce’s November Business Breakfast is “Worst to First: How to Turn Around Maine’s Business Ranking.”

The breakfast will be held from 7:15 to 9 a.m. Nov. 10 in the Spann Student Commons Summit Room on Thomas College’s campus, at 180 West River Road in Waterville.

Matt Gagnon, executive director of The Maine Heritage Policy Center, will provide data on how to move the state of Maine to first place.

The Maine Heritage Policy Center publishes a compendium to provide a fact-based look at how Maine compares to other states and the District of Columbia in six areas: demographics, economics, health care, welfare, education, and tax and fiscal. Maine’s totals and ranking are provided alongside the New England states’ average, rural peer state average, national average and the highest- and lowest-ranked state for each entry. The analysis takes a look at two main factors: the income tax and the property tax, which together create the total tax burden that a business is responsible for.

The cost of the event is $17 for chamber members, $19 for registration after Friday, $25 at the door and for nonmembers. Breakfast is included with the reservation. To register, email customerservice@midmainechamber.com or phone 873-3315.

Lambke to address Waterville chamber at luncheon

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Amber Lambke, president of the Somerset Grist Mill LLC and its Maine Grains label, will be the featured speaker Nov. 15 at the Mid-Maine Chamber of Commerce’s Leading Women’s Luncheon.

The event is scheduled for 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Best Western Plus, 375 Main St., Waterville, and is sponsored by Anthem BlueCross BlueShield.

Each event in the Leading Women’s Luncheon series features as a guest speaker a woman who has achieved great success in her field. Though the series focuses on women’s experiences and challenges in pursuing successful careers, men and women are equally welcome to attend the event. The cost is $20 for members who register ahead of time, $25 for registration at the door and $25 for general admission. Registration includes a luncheon buffet.

Lambke’s company’s products are carried or used by specialty food stores, restaurants and bakeries throughout the Northeast. She is also the former executive director of the Maine Grain Alliance. Lambke has worked successfully with local business leaders and community members to bring the cultivation and processing of heritage grains back to Skowhegan. The alliance’s Kneading Conference, co-founded by Lambke, draws thousands of attendees from throughout North America each year and has spawned similar conferences across the country.

Inland Hospital appoints Ducker VP, chief medical officer

Dr. Gavin Ducker has been appointed as Inland Hospital’s new vice president of medical affairs and chief medical officer, succeeding Dr. Michael Palumbo, who retired in June, according to the hospital.

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Ducker joined Inland in 2001 as a board-certified family practice physician in Unity. He was appointed as Inland’s lead primary care physician in 2009 and head of the Inland Medical Group last year. He graduated in 1985 from the Medical School University of Southampton in the United Kingdom and completed a rural medicine fellowship in 1989 in Australia.

Denny’s in Augusta to celebrate remodeling

Denny’s, 123 Civic Center Drive in Augusta, will serve up a celebration at 8 a.m. Monday to unveil its all-new, locally inspired design and diner menu, according to a news release from the company.

Denny’s has undergone an extensive top-to-bottom interior renovation, complete with a hint of Augusta flavor. The recently reopened diner will feature an exclusive Augusta mural, in addition to updated booths, chairs and tables. Modern wall accents, hardwood floor tiles, a fresh coat of paint and landscaping ensure guests will enjoy an all-new Denny’s from every angle.

To kick off the grand reopening festivities, Denny’s will offer select diner classics at a reduced price from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Monday. Cups of Denny’s new signature coffee blends are available for one month with the purchase of a limited-edition Denny’s mug. Hundreds of additional prizes will be given away throughout the celebration.

The remodeling is part of Denny’s new Heritage brand re-imaging campaign, which has been rolled out to more than half of all Denny’s restaurants nationwide.

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The Augusta Denny’s is open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

More cardiac device clinics at Franklin Memorial

The electrophysiology coordinator team from Maine Medical Partners MaineHealth Cardiology is expanding its cardiac device clinics at Franklin Memorial Hospital to meet increasing demand of patients requiring device checks in services area, according to the Franklin Community Health Network.

These specialty services take place in the hospital’s second-floor cardiology clinic on Wednesdays. Upcoming clinic dates for the remainder of 2016 are Dec. 7 and 21; and for 2017, March 1, April 5, May 3, Aug. 2, Oct. 4, Nov. 1 and Dec. 6.

The team members are Lisa Velas, Amanda Bean, Amanda Smith and Fay Saxby, who all will be rotating to provide the service. All are proficient in testing and programming pacemakers and implantable cardiac defibrillators, according to the health network. Pacemakers are cardiac devices that stimulate heart contraction; ICDs are devices that attempt to restore normal heart rhythms. Patients use these devices to treat a wide variety of heart rhythm problems.

These electrophysiology technicians work in conjunction with cardiologists to provide proper device management and optimal function. Both in office and remote evaluation appointments are performed on a routine basis depending on the device type and patient follow-up needs.

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Mainebiz U speakers announced for Momentum Convention

Leaders from Idexx, the Maine International Trade Center and the Maine Department of Labor are scheduled to speak Nov. 9 at the seventh annual Momentum Convention: Navigating Maine’s Future.

The convention is scheduled from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Augusta Civic Center, according to a news release from Mainebiz in Portland.

The convention is for Maine business owners, CEOs, company presidents, entrepreneurs and professionals interested in networking. Workshops and speakers will explore and expand upon this year’s theme, Navigating Maine’s Future. Expert speakers in the legal, human resource and marketing professions will delve into issues affecting today’s CEOs, entrepreneurs and board rooms across the state.

Mainebiz U attendees will join Maine business owners, professionals and CEOs in interactive panel discussions for three sessions. Sponsored by Eaton Peabody, the workshops are offered at 9:30 a.m., 10:50 a.m. and 1 p.m.

Registration is required for some events and recommended for all. For more information, visit www.Mainebiz.biz/momentumconvention.

Compiled from contributed releases


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