Kennebec Savings Bank appoints leadership team

The leadership team that will be responsible for executing the Kennebec Savings Bank’s strategic plan has been appointed by Andrew Silsby, president and chief operating officer, according to a press release from the bank.

“The formation of the leadership team is part of the Bank’s management transition plan,” Silsby said in the release. “We are fortunate to have individuals of this caliber working to move the Bank forward.”

In conjunction with these appointments, the board of directors promoted the members of the leadership team to senior vice presidents.

Working with Silsby will be M. Cheryl Brandt, senior vice president and chief retail banking officer; Craig J. Garofalo, senior vice president and chief operations officer; Debra A. Getchell, senior vice president and chief financial officer; Sandra P. Goodwin, senior vice president and chief loan officer; David A. Grenier, senior vice president and chief commercial banking officer; Kevin M. Healey, senior vice president and chief human resources officer; James R. Lagasse, senior vice president and chief technology officer; and David J. Roy, senior vice president and chief risk officer.

“This leadership team includes accomplished individuals with strong experience and expertise as well as a good mix of longer-term Kennebec Savings Bank employees with institutional knowledge and new team members with strong experience and valuable outside perspectives,” Silsby said. “It is a great group of people who will help me build on the Bank’s legacy and continue its success.”

Richard D. O’Connor, chairman of the board, added, “Andrew has put together an outstanding team of professionals. The directors and I are excited to work with them and watch them grow the bank.”

Kennebec Savings Bank is a $792 million state-chartered community bank, part of a mutual organization with a team of 110 employees and offices in Augusta, Waterville, Winthrop and Farmingdale as well as 24-hour electronic banking centers in Manchester, Augusta and Farmingdale.

Conference to highlight potential for Maine local wood markets

A daylong conference will focus on advancing sustainable forest-based local economies is set for next month at the Augusta Civic Center.

The conference is a combined effort of the Kennebec Land Trust, the Maine Forest Service, GrowSmart Maine, CEI, Maine Coast Heritage Trust and the Kennebec Woodland Partnership, according to a press release from the Local Wood Works Initiative.

The conference, to be held Friday, Nov. 14, is open to the public, woodland owners, innovators and students. It will be followed by Maine Local Wood Day on Saturday, Nov. 15, which features open houses at sawmills, successful wood products businesses and private woodlands, including land sustainably managed by Maine’s land trusts, according to the release.

The Local Wood WORKS Conference is the first in the state and will address the value of locally produced wood products, the supply of regionally sourced wood in New England and forestland stewardship, according to the release. In addition to expert presentations on these topics, Maine companies will share their success stories, there will be workshops for landowners, panel discussions focused on local wood business opportunities, policy and research, and a woodland trade show/expo.

Speakers for the conference include Collin Miller, former director of the Wood Products Initiatives for the Northern Forest Center; Chip Bessey, of E.D. Bessey and Son; Brian Donahue, associate professor of American Environmental Studies at Brandeis University and environmental historian at Harvard Forest; Ken Laustsen, biometrician, Maine Forest Service; Rich Merck, president, Small Woodland Owners Association of Maine; Eric Kingsley, Innovative Natural Resource Solutions LLC; Spencer Meyer, Yale School of Forestry and Environmental Studies; Keith Bisson, senior vice president of CEI; and Bob Perschel, forester and executive director, New England Forestry Foundation.

Event registration is open, with discounted rates in effect until Oct. 24 and expo space still available. The full schedule, list of speakers and conference topics, and the registration is available at: localwoodworksmaine.com.

Hallowell Board of Trade elects officers

Chris Vallee was elected president and Ruth LaChance vice president at the annual meeting of the Hallowell Board of Trade.

Officers elected at the Oct. 9 meeting were, Vallee, of Remax Capital/Chris Vallee Associates; LaChance, Boynton’s Market; secretary, Josselyn Skehan, Walker & Jennings Law Offices; treasurer, Cary Colwell, The Root Cellar Recording Studio.

Board members elected were Christopher Cart, g-Blu Design; Lynn Irish, Whippersnappers; Mellissa Walker, Kennebec Pizza Co.; Chris Walters, Chris Walters Productions; Janet Merrill, Reappearances; Bob McIntire, Black Mac Media; and Kevin Cerroni, Bank of Maine.

The Hallowell Board of Trade was established in 1892 and has been and will be an active voice of Hallowell businesses in the governmental and promotional affairs of the city, according to a press release from the group. Each member gets a listing on www.hallowell.org.

The Board of Trade, using resources generated by dues and fundraising projects, supports citywide celebrations and promotes retail and commerce in the community, according to the release.

Vallee said his goal is to get every Hallowell business to join the group, the release said. His goals also include adding new events to downtown Hallowell, such as a triathlon using kayaks, bikes and running to take advantage of the Kennebec River.

Ninety Nine Restaurant & Pubs raise money for Boys & Girls clubs

The Ninety Nine Restaurant & Pub has started its annual October Boys & Girls Club fundraiser for local Boys & Girls Club chapters throughout New England and New York, according to a press release from the Woburn, Mass.-based restaurant chain.

All Ninety Nine Restaurant & Pubs are participating, and will donate $1 to local Boys & Girls Club chapter when customers order the Boys & Girls Club Sandwich, entrée or a slice of pie. The Ninety Nine will donate $3 if customers take home a whole pie. Customers can also buy a commemorative bracelet for $5 or add $1, $3, $5 to their check to benefit the clubs.

Each restaurant has a local relationship with a Boys & Girls Club chapter and all proceeds from the fundraiser will be donated to the local clubs, according to the release.

Last year, the restaurant chain raised $450,000, according to the release.