TrainRiders Northeast hires executive director

TrainRiders Northeast, the nonprofit, volunteer, rail advocacy organization founded in 1989, has hired its first executive director, George O’Keefe Jr., of Winthrop, according to a news release from the group.

O’Keefe is a master’s degree candidate in the Policy, Planning and Management Program, with a concentration in organizational leadership and management, at the Muskie School of Public Service.

O’Keefe will work alongside TrainRiders’ longtime chairman and co-founder, Wayne E. Davis, to help the organization expand its mission of bringing “modern and efficient” passenger rail service to the Northeast.

O’Keefe is a member of the Maine Army National Guard’s 133rd Engineer Battalion, serving as the battalion intelligence sergeant, and has deployed twice with his unit to Afghanistan, most recently to Bagram Airfield from 2013 to 2014. He got his start in the transportation policy field while working as a freelance writer for railroad.net and has since helped build partnerships between Northern New England Passenger Rail Authority and a variety of community groups that focus on veterans and youth.

In 1991, TrainRiders, through its political action committee, RailVision, spearheaded the passage of Maine’s Passenger Rail Service Act, the first citizen-initiated bill ever approved by the Maine Legislature, leading to the creation of Amtrak’s Downeaster passenger rail service. In 1995, TrainRiders also worked with MDOT and the Maine Legislature to create the NNEPRA to manage the then-proposed passenger train service. Through the ongoing efforts of TrainRiders and many others, the Downeaster passenger rail service now runs between Brunswick and Boston. TrainRiders’ members also volunteer thousands of hours every year as hosts at stations along the Downeaster route and on board the trains to provide assistance to rail travelers, Amtrak conductors and NNEPRA.

Twin Pines Family Medicine hires 3 for Oakland staff

Katharine McNutt, Cora Reny and Kassie Reutlinger have joined the staff at Twin Pines Family Medicine, according to a news release from the Oakland practice.

McNutt received her Bachelor of Science degree in nursing from Quinnipiac University in Hamden, Connecticut, and Bachelor of Arts in public policy with a concentration in children from Hobart and William Smith Colleges in Geneva, New York. She received her Master of Science in nursing, family nurse practitioner track, from the University of Southern Maine in Portland.

She completed her clinical experiences at Midcoast Primary Care Center in Brunswick, Midcoast Center for Diabetes and Endocrinology in Brunswick, Southern Maine Healthcare Center (pediatrics) in Biddeford, Medical Partners in Portland, General Express Care in Augusta and Waterville, and Cote Family Practice in Waterville. McNutt is a member of the American Association of Nurse Practitioners and Maine Nurse Practitioner Association.

Reny completed her associate degree in nursing through the Central Maine Medical Center College of Nursing and Health Professionals in Lewiston. She received her Bachelor of Science degree in nursing from the University of Maine at Fort Kent and her Master of Science in nursing family nurse practitioner from the University of Maine, in Orono. Reny is certified through the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners.

Reutlinger received her Bachelor of Arts degree in medical biology and Master of Science in physician assistant studies from the University of New England in Biddeford. During her schooling, she completed eight clinical rotations including general surgery, family medicine, internal medicine, emergency medicine, pediatrics and neonatal intensive care unit.

In addition to being a certified physician assistant, Reutlinger is also a licensed emergency medical technician. She is a member of the American Academy of Physician Assistants and Maine Academy of Physician Assistants.

Waterville Creates! appoints King VP of programs, operations

Patricia King has been appointed vice president of programs and operations of Waterville Creates!, according to a news release from the Waterville arts and cultural organization. Her appointment is effective Feb. 6.

King is a founding board member of Waterville Creates! and its programmatic arm, Common Street Arts, as well as chairwoman of the development committee. Most recently, she served as the Waterville Creates! interim executive director in 2016.

King now is the associate director for the Colby College Museum of Art. For the past 25 years, she has been employed by academic and museum institutions including the Museum of Fine Arts, in Boston; the School of the Museum of Fine Arts, in Boston; and the Addison Gallery of American Art, in Andover, Massachusetts. Her experience includes work in strategic and organizational planning, administration, collections, website management, budget planning, publications, marketing, development, technology and curatorial areas. She has been a peer reviewer for the American Alliance of Museums. King is a graduate of Sarah Lawrence College and attended the Getty Leadership Program at Claremont Graduate University.

Belfast IT group to take part in Maine Nonprofit Day

The Belfast-based Information Technology Exchange plans to take part Feb. 7 with the Maine Association of Nonprofits at the 14th annual Maine Nonprofit Day, to be held at the State House in Augusta, according to an ITE news release.

The event is scheduled for 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the Hall of Flags. Nonprofit Day provides an opportunity for nonprofits to educate lawmakers about the nonprofit sector and to discuss ways to work together to serve the people of Maine.

The Maine nonprofit sector employs 1 out of every 6 Mainers, and it paid over $4.3 billion in wages in 2015, or 17.5 percent of the state’s total payroll, according to the release. Those earnings produced an estimated $264 million of personal income tax revenue for Maine’s state and local governments.

ITE’s mission is to increase technology access and literacy for individuals and nonprofits in Maine.

“We recognize the importance and difficulties nonprofits face when it comes to technology. Mission and expenses usually come first before technology infrastructure, but ITE is here to help ease that burden nonprofits face. Collaboration between funders, nonprofits and ITE would ensure a digital bridge for all nonprofits,” said Jodi Martin, executive director of ITE, according to the release.

Other exhibiting nonprofit organizations at the Feb. 7 event include Advocates for Children, Lewiston; Adaptive Outdoor Education Center, Carrabassett Valley; American Red Cross, statewide; Androscoggin Homecare and Hospice, Lewiston; KidsFirst Center, Portland; Literacy Volunteers of Greater Augusta, Augusta; Maine Indoor Air Quality Council, Augusta; Maine Jewish Film Festival, Portland; Multilingual & Multicultural Center, Portland; Penquis CAP, Bangor; and Silent Sidekicks, Lincoln.

Management, decision-making focus of Bangor seminar

Management and formalizing the decision-making process will be the focus of the second workshop in the Smart Business Seminar Series sponsored by Husson University and the law firm of Eaton Peabody, according to a Husson news release.

The seminar will be held from 9 to 11 a.m. Feb. 15 at the Richard E. Dyke Center for Family Business on Husson’s Bangor campus.

“When small business owners launch their companies, they often begin operating in an informal format. As the business grows and prospers, owners need to create a framework where others assume responsibility for meeting organizational goals for short and long term success,” said Husson University College of Business Dean Marie Hansen, according to the release. “Our seminar will help small business owners better understand how to create a process that streamlines decision-making by defining roles and procedures. This in turn, drives efficiency and accountability within businesses, while empowering employees.”

The upcoming seminar features two presenters from Eaton Peabody, whose five Maine offices include one in Augusta, and Husson University.

A continental breakfast will be available at the seminar. People interested in registering should contact Nate Levesque via email at nlevesque@eatonpeabody.com. The seminar is free and open to the public.

CMMC achieves Baby-Friendly status under global program

Central Maine Medical Center in Lewiston has been designated as a Baby-Friendly birth facility, according to a Baby-Friendly USA Inc. news release.

Baby-Friendly USA Inc. is the U.S. authority for the implementation of the Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative, a global program sponsored by the World Health Organization and the United Nations Children’s Fund. The initiative encourages and recognizes hospitals and birthing centers that offer an optimal level of care for breastfeeding mothers and their babies. Based on the Ten Steps to Successful Breastfeeding, this international award recognizes birth facilities that offer breastfeeding mothers the information, confidence and skills needed to initiate breastfeeding their babies successfully and to continue it.

CMMC has a Breastfeeding Matters program, which offers the services of lactation consultants — certified health professionals who specialize in educating and supporting breastfeeding mothers — to inpatients and outpatients. CMMC also provides prenatal education about breastfeeding, a weekly breastfeeding support group, a lactation consultant support phone line (795-2528), newborn office visits at Central Maine Pediatrics and pump rental and sales.

As part of CMMC’s Baby-Friendly practices, the hospital features 24-hour rooming in, where the baby stays in the mother’s room during the full hospital stay. CMMC also promotes mother and infant bonding by encouraging skin-to-skin contact.

To see upcoming childbirth education events and courses, log on to www.cmmc.org/events-and-classes-all.

Portland accounting firm hires Cornville resident

Katrina Lyons, of Cornville, has been hired as a staff member in the Baker Newman Noyes tax practice firm in its Portland office, according to the accounting and consulting firm.

Lyons earned bachelor’s degrees in accounting, criminal justice and psychology and a master’s degree in business administration from Husson University. Lyons previously interned with the firm during the 2016 tax season.

Compiled from contributed releases

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