Sidney’s Young earns ASE Truck Technician of Year honor

Michael Young, an ASE master medium/heavy truck technician from Sidney, was recently named Western Star/ASE Master Medium/Heavy Truck Technician of the Year.

Young, a shop foreman at O’Connor Motors in Augusta, has been a technician for 28 years. He was one of 47 automotive professionals recognized last month at the fall Board of Governors meeting of the National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence, held in Ft. Lauderdale, Fla., according to a press release from the organization.

The ASE annual awards spotlight top scorers on the ASE certification tests from among the ranks of the more than 300,000 ASE-certified professionals nationwide, according to the release. Dragan Brocilo, manager, training programs and marketing; Glenn Dahl, chairman of the ASE Board of Directors; and Timothy Zilke, ASE president and CEO, presented the award to Young.

“Mike is one of the outstanding ASE-certified professionals recognized annually by different segments of the automotive service and repair industry. Each of these elite technicians is presented with an industry-specific award recognizing their achievement,” said Zilke in the release.

In addition to looking for top scores on ASE tests, award sponsors examine on-the-job excellence, community service and other factors when selecting honorees, according to the release.

MSAD 3’s Perry on JMG board, MSAD 74’s Coville elected vice president

Jobs for Maine’s Graduates has named several new board of directors members and elected officers to the board, according to a press release from the organization.

Among the new members is Heather Perry, superintendent of Unity-based Maine School Administrative District 3. Ken Coville, superintendent of North Anson-based MSAD 74 was elected vice president of the board.

“The group brings a fresh perspective, experience and passion to an organization striving to improve the state’s economy by preparing Maine students for success in the workforce,” according to the release.

Aside from Perry, new board members include Chris Cimino, executive vice president of business development, C.M. Cimino Inc.; Heather Douglass, export development manager and marketing coordinator, Shipyard Brewing Co., and a JMG alumnus; Jeremy Fischer, an attorney with Drummond Woodsum; Ryan Low, vice president for administration and finance, University of Maine System; Leona Michelsen, director of marketing, Central Maine Power.

Along with the new members, Steve Byrnes, executive vice president and chief sales officer at Kennebunk Savings Bank, has been elected chairman of the board.

Aside from Coville, also elected to the board were Cary Olson-Cartwright, assistant vice president corporate social responsibility at Unum, secretary;d Chris Amann, a nonprofit financial consultant, treasurer.

JMG is a statewide, private nonprofit group working with students who face barriers to education, according to the release, which said it provides 5,000 students a year with the skills and experience they will need to succeed in high school, post-secondary education, and careers.

Franklin Hospital’s Davis lead clinical instructor in Maine Nurse Preceptor Education Program

Taffy Davis, MSN, RN-BC, a clinical instructor at Franklin Memorial Hospital, has additionally added part-time duties as a lead clinical instructor for the Maine Nurse Preceptor Education Program. The program is offered by Lunder-Dineen-Health Education Alliance of Maine, in collaboration with Massachusetts General Hospital, according to a press release by Lunder-Dineer.

Davis is additionally authoring an online module for a charge nurse program that is in development by the Association of Nurses in Professional Development.

“These programs show the evolution of education for hospital-based nurses,” Davis said in the press release. “It’s exciting to be a part of developing and providing education, not only for nurses at Franklin Memorial Hospital, but for Maine nurses and even those nationwide.”

Davis has worked at Franklin Memorial Hospital since 1987, including in the emergency department, managing several nursing departments, and currently works in the education department. Davis has a master of science in nursing, is board-certified in nursing professional development, and has completed classes in online learning and instructional design.

The Maine Nurse Preceptor Education Program began as a pilot in 2013 and was developed by several Maine nurse educators under the Maine Partners in Nursing Education and Practice. It included online coursework and a face-to-face workshop, according to the release.

MNPEP offers free, easily accessible and evidence-based education to Maine health care professionals. Its goal is to improve the overall health of Maine residents by expanding their health knowledge and by advancing the skills and expertise of Maine health professionals.

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