Business briefs

New business? Expansion? Promotions? E-mail information to weekly@bangordailynews.net, or mail it to The Weekly, P.O. Box 1329, Bangor, ME 04402; or drop it off at the front desk of the Buck Street entrance of the Bangor Daily News, 491 Main St., Bangor.

Bangor

B&D Designs

Kevin and Debbie Gendreau have acquired B&D Designs, one of the state’s leading commercial fabricators. Stephen Vlachos of Country Business Inc. of Portland announced the transaction. Vlachos and his firm specialize in the sale of Maine companies.

B&D Designs fabricates and installs solid-surface products for commercial applications, such as countertops and store fixtures. The 20-year-old firm is located in Freedom Industrial Park in Bangor.

“Kevin Gendreau’s experience as national sales manager for Montalvo Corp. will serve him well in creating new marketing and sales opportunities for their new venture,” Vlachos said. The Gendreaus have relocated from Saco to the Bangor area to actively manage the business.

B&D Designs’ founders and sellers, Don and Betty Burgess, built the company over 20 years. They are now pursuing new careers in home construction and real estate, respectively.

UPS honors employee

UPS recently honored Mike Danforth of Holden for completing 30 years of service with the company.

Danforth, who is a safety supervisor with UPS in Bangor, was recognized for his loyal service contribution. Danforth began his career in 1974 as a pre-loader with the company.

KAPPA Mapping Inc.

Stephanie Sturtevant has joined KAPPA Mapping Inc. as a member of its photogrammetric mapping team.

Sturtevant holds a bachelor’s degree in spatial information engineering from the University of Maine. She was previously employed at EarthData in Maryland.

KAPPA Mapping Inc. is owned by Claire Kiedrowski and Lori Phillips. The firm’s photogrammetric services include flight planning, topographic mapping and ortho-photography to engineers, planners, surveyors, land developers and government agencies. For more information about the company, call toll-free (866) 836-8834, 942-5200, or visit www.kappamap.com.

Business ownership class

Penquis Community Action will offer Business Ownership 101, 10-11 a.m. Wednesday, July 7, at Penquis CAP, 262 Harlow St. The class will provide an overview of the pros and cons of operating a small business, what a business plan is and why it is needed, and resources for business development.

U.S. Small Business Administration provides funding for the class. For more information, call Tara Murphy, 973-3618.

GM Dealer of the Year

General Motors honored Dealer of the Year Award winners June 17, with 108 dealers earning recognition for dedication to customer satisfaction and sales excellence.

Winners in Maine included William Varney of Varney Pontiac GMC in Bangor. The prestigious award is a Steuben crystal obelisk symbolizing ultimate dealer achievement.

Old Town

Corporate controller

James W. Sewall Co., announced that Lori Austin-Hess has been promoted to corporate controller. Hess, who has a background in cellular biology, mathematics and statistics, joined the company in 1987 as receptionist-accountant. She has held various accounting positions since then, building extensive knowledge of in-house financial practices, procedures and systems.

In the last five years she has designed and developed database applications to streamline and centralize management of financial information. Most recently, she designed a companywide system for collecting, maintaining and distributing project-related data.

Hess supervises a staff of three and is now responsible for the management, preparation and accuracy of company financial statements.

Currently, Hess is completing a bachelor’s degree in accounting, online, from the University of Phoenix.