MTI Seed Grants

ORONO – The Maine Technology Institute board of directors recently approved 12 seed grants to technology companies across Maine. Some $128,000 was awarded to companies from Oqunquit to Orono to Lubec, leveraging more than $178,000 from other sources.

. Forever Green Laminates LLC of Orono and the University of Maine Advanced Engineered Wood Composites Center are continuing work toward creating a Maine-based manufacturer of structural insulated panels. This second seed grant of $12,500 will help fund a pilot testing program of the panels to produce the structural data required by the building trade.

. Biologically Applied Engineering of Orono will develop new techniques for measuring thermal response and composition of materials used in synthetic horse racing surfaces. The measurements will form a core of new engineering services. Award, $12,500.

Companies funded by MTI are bringing new products to U.S. and global markets, leveraging nearly $200 million from public and private sources and creating jobs faster with higher wages than the average Maine company.

MTI seed grants of up to $12,500 are offered on a competitive basis to support early activities for product development, commercialization or planning and development. A company may be awarded up to a total of $25,000 in seed grants for a specific project.

Each seed grant requires a 1:1 match consisting of cash, salaries, staff time or equipment directly attributable to the proposed project. Seed grants are awarded six times a year. The application deadline for the next round is June 12. For information, visit www.mainetechnology.org.

Relay for Life

BANGOR – Dressbarn in Bangor has begun its annual participation as an American Cancer Society Relay For Life National Corporate Team Program member for 2008. Relay For Life is the largest global cancer-fighting movement that unites communities to raise awareness and funds for the American Cancer Society’s research and programs.

Beyond sales associate and community involvement in the events, Dressbarn in Bangor is introducing its exclusive Heart Key Ring that will be sold for $5 in all stores through Aug. 31, or while supplies last.

Store officials want customers to “have a heart, wear a heart,” and Dressbarn will contribute the net profit of $2.50 to the American Cancer Society.

“Dressbarn believes that people come first, and it is important to embrace organizations and causes that impact our customers, associates and their families. We hope the Bangor community will have a ‘heart’ and help us support such an important cause,” said Lori Angus, district sales manager for Dressbarn in Bangor.

More than 4,900 Relay for Life events will be held across the country. Teams will gather at schools, fairgrounds or parks and take turns walking or running laps to raise funds for cancer research. Last year, more than 250 Dressbarn Inc. teams raised more than $750,000 through team fundraising and in-store promotions.

Tops in truck driving

BANGOR – Five drivers representing FedEx operating companies placed among the winners at the 2008 Maine State Truck Driving Championship in Bangor on May 17.

Bob Kierstead, a contractor for FedEx Ground based in Portland, captured the top spot in the Twins class for his second state title since 2005. He also won the coveted Grand Champion title for achieving the highest score among the winners of each class.

Jared Elston, a driver for FedEx Express in Portland, won the 5-Axle class.

Portland-based FedEx Ground contractor Brad Bartlett earned first place in the Straight Truck class.

Jimmy Franklin, a driver for FedEx Express in Portland, finished second in the 3-Axle.

Bangor-based FedEx Freight driver Roger Scott was third in the Twins class.

Jason Brooks, a driver for FedEx Ground contractor C.M. Doughty Inc. in Bangor, won the top spot in the Step Van class, which is being tested as an additional competition category in select states.

Kierstead, Elston and Bartlett will go on to compete at the American Trucking Associations’ 2008 National Truck Driving Championships known as the “Super Bowl of Safety” Aug. 20-23 in Houston.

Boys and Girls Club

INDIAN ISLAND – Russ Perry of Coca-Cola Bottling of Bangor presented the Penobscot Nation Boys and Girls Club with a check for $1,500 from the Coca-Cola Bottlers Foundation.

The foundation, a division of the Coca-Cola Bottlers Association, invested its earnings in Coca-Cola stock. As the stocks accumulated in value, it was decided that the time was ripe to utilize $20 million of these assets to form a charitable foundation for the benefit of bottler communities.

A three-year plan was initiated in which $20 million of association Coca-Cola stock will be distributed to local bottlers through charitable donations to worthy 501c(3) charities in their territories.

With each charitable donation, bottlers prove that they are truly “committed to their communities.”

“This donation comes at a key time for the club”, said Carla Fearon, club director. “Our computer room is in need of new and technologically advanced equipment so that we may continue to support the educational needs of the youth we serve. Coca-Cola Bottling of Bangor has supported the club’s mission since our very first major fundraiser in 2002 and we are very thankful for their continued support.”

Cellular service technicians

BANGOR – U.S. Cellular recently named Richard Levesque of Bangor, Darren Brawn of Corinna and Steven Nash of Bangor as service technicians in its Bangor retail store.

They are responsible for providing technical assistance, including in-store diagnosis, technical and repair support for customer handsets.

Levesque started his career with U.S. Cellular in 2004 as a service technician. Most recently, he was promoted to lead service technician responsible for all repair shops in central and northern Maine – Farmington, Augusta, Waterville, Bangor, Brewer and Presque Isle. Before working for U.S. Cellular, Levesque was a sales associate for Radio Shack. He has degrees from Eastern Maine Vocational Technical Institute and Eastern Maine Technical College.

Brawn started his career with U.S. Cellular as a service technician at the Bangor retail store. His previous technical experience includes being a store manager for A.E. Robinson Oil Co. and a surface mount technology operator for Edwards Systems Technology, where he built circuit boards.

Nash joined U.S. Cellular as a service technician in early this year. Before his employment at U.S. Cellular, he worked as an insulation installer for more than 10 years.

New store manager

BANGOR – Mark McCrillis has been promoted to the position of manager of the Bangor Bull Moose store.

“I wanted to work at Bull Moose because I just wanted to be surrounded by music all the time. I still have that, of course, and now there’s so much more too, with all the movies, video games – life’s just so much better when you’re doing something you love – and everyone loves music, so it’s always fun,” McCrillis said.

“I’m a bass player in [local band] A Good Night Soundrush, and there’s really no better place to work as a musician. Bull Moose has been so supportive of my band.”

McCrillis, a native of Pittsfield, has been with Bull Moose since he was hired as holiday temporary help during the winter of 2004.

He was hired at the Bangor store, transferred to the North Windham store during the summer of 2007 to take an assistant manager position, and then back to his “first home” at the Bangor store to take over as manager in March.

Bull Moose in Bangor opened in 1999 and is located in Maine Square Mall at 683 Hogan Road. For information about upcoming events at Bull Moose, visit www.bullmoose.com.