Belfast Water District receives award

BELFAST — The Belfast Water District has received the Outstanding Water Operation Award for 2014 from the Maine Rural Water Association.

Each year at their annual December conference, Maine Rural Water Association acknowledges the hard work and effort water utilities invest in providing clean, safe drinking water. 

This year, Belfast Water District was recognized for their continued effort in wellhead protection, energy conservation, and proactive capital improvement planning using Maine Rural Water as a partner in much of this. 

Pen Bay Healthcare Foundation selects Deborah Schilder as director of grant and foundation relations

ROCKPORT — Pen Bay Healthcare Foundation announces the addition of Deborah Schilder to their team.

In her role, Schilder will play a key role in expanding the grant program to support health system priorities across the region, according to a news release.

Schilder brings extensive experience in administrative, management and development in the nonprofit sector; most recently as director of planning and development, Broadreach Family and Community Services in Belfast.

Camden National Bank names Stephen Lawrence director of newly-formed Commercial Real Estate Group

CAMDEN — Stephen Lawrence, senior vice president and commercial real estate lender, has been named director of Camden National's newly formed Commercial Real Estate Group.

Tim Nightingale, executive vice president, commercial lending for Camden National Bank, said in a news release: "I am excited to have someone of Steve's caliber oversee this group and further enhance our ability to provide dedicated service to commercial real estate investors in Maine and northern New England. Steve brings over 30 years of experience in commercial real estate lending to this new position as well as a proven track record as a leader in the market. He has also been instrumental in the success of our first location outside of Maine."

In addition to Lawrence, other members of the Commercial Real Estate Group will include Richard Littlefield, senior vice president and commercial real estate lending officer, based in Portland, and Dena Parker, vice president and commercial portfolio manager, based in Manchester, New Hampshire.

Since joining Camden National last year and opening the New Hampshire location for the Bank, Lawrence has been instrumental in broadening Camden's commercial real estate expertise and has helped to strengthen and solidify the Bank's reputation as a leader in the commercial real estate markets in New Hampshire, Vermont and northern Massachusetts.

Joined by Littlefield and Parker, Lawrence's group will concentrate on driving the commercial real estate efforts for Camden National in all of northern New England.

Lawrence said in the news release: "Camden National has been very active in the commercial real estate arena for a long time, both in Maine and beyond. Based on the size of the portfolio and on the Bank's commitment to growing it further, it makes sense to create a specialty lending group to manage it. I am thrilled at the opportunity to oversee this new division and to build on the great legacy that preceded me."

Lawrence received his bachelor's degree from Middlebury College in Middlebury, Vermont and is a graduate of the Kent School for Boys in Kent, Connecticut. He an active member of his community and serves on the New Hampshire Investment Committee of the Northern New England Housing Investment Fund and is vice president on the board of the Capital Regional Development Council.

He resides with his wife and children in Bedford, New Hampshire.

About Camden National Bank

Camden National Bank is a full-service community bank with a network of 44 banking offices throughout Maine plus a commercial lending office in Manchester, New Hampshire.

Camden National Corporation is the holding company of two financial services companies including, Camden National Bank and the wealth management company, Acadia Trust, N.A. Acadia Trust offers investment management and fiduciary services with offices in Portland and Ellsworth.

Located at Camden National Bank, Camden Financial Consultants offers full-service brokerage and insurance services. Learn more at www.CamdenNational.com. Member FDIC.

The New England Real Estate Company welcomes longtime Midcoast broker Abby Enggass to its new Camden office

CAMDEN — A. Flint Decker, president, designated broker of The New England Real Estate Company has announced that after almost twenty years serving as a broker in the Midcoast Maine market, Abby Enggass has joined The New England Real Estate Company.

"I am so happy to have joined Flint and the team this past year at our new office at 98 Elm St in Camden. The New England Real Estate Company is known for its friendly professionalism and skillful marketing with a concentration on client satisfaction. They put the client first at every step. This is consistent with the way I've always practiced real estate, so it's a great union," said Abby Enggass in a news release.

Enggass brings a wealth of real estate experience along with a deep commitment to her clients.

After graduating from the University of Maine, she began with a local Camden firm and throughout her career has remained active with the Realtor Association. Enggass has served as president of both the Midcoast Board of Realtors and Coastal Mountains Council of Realtors, receiving the Realtor of the Year award from the Coastal Mountain Council of Realtors.

Additionally, Enggass has directed local fundraising efforts for affordable housing in the Midcoast area. "I believe it is important to give back to the community in which we all live, work, and play," said Enggass.

"Our entire team is very excited about Abby joining the company. As one of the areas strongest listing and buyers agents, Abby has proven herself an exceptional real estate professional and brings this same professionalism in real estate to all of her clients each day. We are extremely pleased and proud to welcome her to our company," said A. Flint Decker in the news release.

Abby Enggass can be reached at (207) 236-7000, or 1-888-236-7015, extension 20 or on her cell phone (207) 542-1973, or by email; Abby@TheNewEnglandReCo.com.

For more information on The New England Real Estate Company: www.TheNewEnglandReCo.com. 

Nominations for business excellence

AUGUSTA — The Maine Department of Economic and Community Development (DECD) is now accepting nominations for the 2015 Governor's Award for Business Excellence.

"Every year I look forward to recognizing those businesses that go above and beyond and demonstrate a commitment to investment, innovation, employees, and communities," said Governor Paul R. LePage in a news release. "I am proud to present the Governor's Award for Business Excellence to companies with outstanding leadership and direction. These businesses are a model of success in our state and deserve recognition."

Business excellence is epitomized by a balanced combination of manufacturing and service excellence and a steadfast commitment to employees, customers and the community. This award is presented to for-profit companies that consistently demonstrate high levels of attentiveness and dedication in each of these areas.

"For the past 24 years, the Governor of the State of Maine has been honoring Maine's premier employers with the Governor's Award for Business Excellence," said DECD Commissioner George Gervais in the news release. "We encourage any of Maine's for-profit businesses to consider applying for recognition this year."

Companies that have been in business in Maine for five or more years may be nominated or may nominate themselves. DECD strongly encourages businesses of all sizes to apply. Completed nomination forms, available on DECD's website at www.maine.gov/decd/start-grow/business-excellence, are due to the department by Friday, March 27. Winners will be notified prior to an award ceremony to be scheduled in the summer of 2015.

The Governor's Award for Business Excellence was created in 1991, and 132 companies to date have received the award. 

For more information on the award, visit www.maine.gov/decd/start-grow/business-excellence or email Brian Doyle, Governor's Account Executive, at brian.doyle@maine.gov.