Spruce Run Association of Bangor has hired Suzanne Saunders Barrett as its first staff attorney. Her work for Spruce Run is intended to enhance the services currently provided to victims of domestic abuse. She will represent clients with complex legal issues such as protection from abuse orders and matters involving child custody when violence has occurred in the home. Barrett’s hiring was made possible by federal funding received in partnership with member projects of the Maine Coalition to End Domestic Violence.

Rick Preti has been appointed senior vice president of strategy and development for FairPoint Communications. Preti and his team will work with company leaders to develop FairPoint’s corporate long-range strategic plans to ensure the best use of the company’s financial resources and operating asset base, the company said. He will also be responsible for reviewing acquisition opportunities and making recommendations to the FairPoint board of directors. Preti, who joined FairPoint in 2007, has 25 years of business experience that encompasses voice, data, online and wireless communications and computer network technology ranging from LAN/WAN systems to optical networking. He was formerly a cable company executive who originated the industry’s first video-data-voice “triple play.” Preti is based in Portland and will have responsibility for operations in Maine, New Hampshire and Vermont.

Public water utility Aqua Maine Inc. has named Tim Hallowell foreman of its Camden and Rockland distribution crew, which includes eight workers responsible for the day-to-day operations and maintenance of more than 156 miles of transmission and distribution mains. The crew is responsible for completing all service work orders requested by more than 7,700 customers as well as providing operation and maintenance services for the neighboring town of Waldoboro. Hallowell and his wife, Terry, live in Thomaston. The Camden and Rockland division serves the towns of Camden, Rockport, Rockland, Thomaston, Owls Head, Union and Warren.

Oxford Networks has named Jackie Birch business service coordinator at its Bangor office. Birch is the first point of contact for business customers. She is also responsible for ongoing account review and maintenance of customer accounts, as well as arranging customer visits. Birch previously was a business account specialist at Mid-Maine Communications and a Verizon service coordinator at Signet Communications. She lives in Holden with her husband, Jeff, their son, Joshua, and two stepsons, Ethyn and Austyn. Founded in Oxford County in 1900, Oxford Networks serves a territory from Bangor to Portsmouth, N.H., with its own high-speed fiber-optic network.