Montville farmer named education and field director for New Hampshire organization

KEENE, New Hampshire — Land For Good (LFG), a New England-wide nonprofit focused on farmland access, tenure and transfer, announced that Andrew Marshall, a Maine farmer and leader in beginning farmer education, will join the organization as its education and field director.

Marshall’s work has focused on the design and delivery of innovative education and training in sustainable agriculture. Most recently Marshall served as Educational Programs Director of the Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association’s (MOFGA) from 2003 to 2014, where he specialized in new farmer development initiatives. He led MOFGA’s Apprenticeship Program and spearheaded the growth of its nationally recognized Journeyperson’s training program for new farmers that has supported over 200 new farmers during his tenure.

Marshall also teaches sustainable agriculture at Unity and Colby Colleges. He has a background in agro-ecology and rural sociology, and earned degrees from Bowdoin College and the University of California, Santa Cruz. He is also a farmer in Montville, where he and his family produce organic vegetables and forest products, and manage livestock.

Marshall will be working across New England to advance LFG’s mission to ensure the future of farming by putting more farmers more securely on more land. He will oversee educational programs and coordinate the activities of LFG Field Agents in all six New England state.

 “There is so much going on for us around farmland access and transfer,” says LFG Executive Director, Kathy Ruhf. “Andrew has created vibrant education and outreach models for organizations across the country, and helped hundreds of new farmers establish farms of their own in Maine and beyond. We are thrilled to have Andrew join our team.”

“I've been an enthusiastic admirer, supporter, collaborator, and beneficiary of LFG since I met Kathy Ruhf in 2006. I have seen firsthand how effective LFG's work has been with Maine farmers and landowners. I am thrilled to take on this important new role,” says Marshall.

Marshall will step down as president of LFG’s board of directors to join the staff.

Land For Good is a New England-wide, not-for-profit organization, that is one of the few nationally specialized in farmland access, tenure and transfer. Its Farm Seekers, Farm Legacy and Working Lands programs educate, innovate, advocate and consult to transform how farmers get on to, hold, and transfer farmland . LFG staff educates and consults with farm seekers, established farmers, landowners, and community stakeholders in all six New England states.

State Farm Insurance/Dave Neilson Agency hires licensed office representative

ROCKLAND — Deborah Brady has joined the State Farm Insurance/Dave Neilson Agency in Rockland as a licensed office representative.

Originally from Maine, Brady moved back to Maine in 2006 with her husband and two daughters, and is now a resident of Rockport. Debbie brings more than 25 years of experience in property, casualty, and life insurance to the Dave Neilson Team.

Outside of work, Brady enjoys kayaking, swimming, and biking. She can often be seen riding her bike to and from work along Route 1.

Recently retired from the Board of Down East Singers, Brady still occupies a seat in their tenor section and at the Lincoln County Festival chorus each summer. She attends the First Congregational Church in Camden, sings in the choir, and has served as a deacon and Sunday school teacher.

The State Farm Insurance/Dave Neilson Agency has served the insurance needs of area families and businesses since 1993. Neilson and his team offer auto, home, life, and small business insurance.

For more information about State Farm Insurance/Dave Neilson Agency,  call at 594-8950, or stop in at 103 Camden St. in Rockland.

Dream Local Digital joins with Indiana business

ROCKLAND — The KPC Media Group Inc., a multimedia firm with daily, weekly and monthly publications, and professional digital products, reaching the largest single audience of any media company in northeast Indiana, has joined Dream Local Digital’s expanding Media Partnership Program. With the launch of this new digital agency, KPC will broaden market share, drive new revenue through digital media and provide clients a new suite of online marketing products.

This partnership will help build and strengthen relationships with local business owners interested in marketing with KPC Media Group, providing solutions ranging from website development, content strategy and social media to search engine optimization, reputation management and email marketing. Dream Local Digital expects KPC to become local business owners’ primary resource for advice in marketing, while diversifying their revenue streams to succeed in the new media environment.

“Dream Local Digital is proud to work with KPC Media Group and their Digital Marketing Agency Keyflow Interactive to serve the needs of local businesses in their community and increase their breadth of services.

KPC Media has a strong track record of innovation and excellence, according to Dream Local Digital’s press release.

We’re looking forward to working with them to increase their digital revenue and the local businesses in their community to take advantage of the opportunities online marketing provides,“ says­ Shannon Kinney, founder and client success officer, Dream Local Digital.

Dream Local Digital is holding seminars in Fort Wayne this week, to launch the new digital agency. Dream Local Digital is working closely with The KPC Media Group’s sales team and will continue to provide sales training and social media management and development services to enhance print sales and drive greater revenue through online media. Complementing traditional media strategies with online offerings, will enable the sales staff to provide a more broad set of tools to better serve their advertisers and clients.

KPC Media Group, Inc. is a multimedia firm with daily, weekly and monthly publications, and professional digital products. Since its founding in 1911, KPC Media Group has become a leading news and multimedia production company serving northeast Indiana and northwest Ohio.

KPC Media Group’s multi­platform approach to news and information reaches the largest single audience of any media company in northeast Indiana. Its products include The Star, The Herald Republican, The News Sun, The Garrett Clipper, The Butler Bulletin, The Advance Leader, Greater Fort Wayne Business Weekly, Greater Fort Wayne Family, Times Community Publications, and related properties.

Dream Local Digital is a digital marketing agency specializing in interactive media, marketing, SEO and social media. Dream Local Digital works with newspapers, media companies, ad agencies, and directly with small to medium­sized businesses on all aspects of their online marketing plans, from website development, content strategy and social media to search engine optimization, reputation management and e­mail marketing. Subscribe to the the Dream Local Digital blog to keep up with the latest trends and insights from their team of experts.­­­

For more information about Dream Local Digital, visit the website, send an e­mail, or contact the main office at 207.593.7665. To stay in touch, follow Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and Google+.

Big Brothers Big Sisters hires executive assistant

CAMDEN —  Big Brothers Big Sisters of Mid-Maine has hired Marilyn Nichols as the agency’s executive assistant. In this position, she will work with the CEO and development director to assist with office administration, special events logistics and planning, answer and direct incoming phone calls, and bookkeeping functions.

A Los Angeles native, Nichols graduated from the University of Southern California with a B.S. in English literature and drama. She comes to Big Brothers Big Sisters with a wealth of experience managing corporate offices in Los Angeles and New York.

In this capacity, her most recent experience was working for the CEO of a billion dollar publicly-traded semiconductor company with more than 6,000 employees globally. Within the scope of managing this office, Nichols was closely involved in the Internship Program for Engineers where students were recruited from university and college campuses around the world. As a result, she has a great interest in mentoring programs with a deep understanding of the positive long-term effects it can have on young people as they attempt to establish themselves in life.

“I am proud to be working with Big Brothers Big Sisters and share in the vision to ensure that all children achieve success in life,” said Nichols. “I know how valuable mentors are, especially to children facing adversity in their lives.”

Nichols will be working from the agency’s main office in Camden.

Trekkers hires new program manager

THOMASTON — Hannah Tannebring has joined the Trekkers outdoor-based youth mentoring team as a program manager.

Tannebring grew up in Beverly, Massachusetts, but has considered Maine’s Hupper Island to be her home since before she can remember. She graduated from the University of Vermont in May 2012 with a B.S. in environmental science before moving to Rockland in September 2012. She just completed two years as an AmeriCorps member with the Island Institute, serving as the Service-Learning Fellow out of the Rockland office, and as the After School and Garden Programs Fellow at the Jackson Memorial Library in Tenants Harbor.

Having spent the past two years in many island schools, the Rockland schools, and the St. George School, Tannebring comes to Trekkers with a deep connection to the work the organization is doing, and to the people of the communities. As program manager,Tannebring will be responsible for facilitating programs and leading educational expeditions for 60 students each year.

"We look forward to putting Hannah's good energy and skill set to work for Trekkers. She will help us continue the important work we're doing with young people here in the community," Executive Director Don Carpenter said. "Hannah will also help us take the next step forward in completing the fifth year of our six-year expansion to serve more students. She's going to be great."

Currently celebrating the 20th anniversary of working with local youth, Trekkers connects young people with caring adults through expeditionary learning, community service and adventure-based education. This year, the organization will serve more than 200 youth and involve more than 100 adult mentors from the communities of Cushing, Owls Head, Rockland, South Thomaston, St. George and Thomaston. For more information about the organization, visit www.trekkers.org or call the Trekkers office at 594-5095.