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Real estate leadership

BANGOR – Raymond J. Cota Jr. of Orono is the new president of the Maine Real Estate and Development Association, or MEREDA, a statewide organization of commercial real estate owners, developers and related service providers.

MEREDA promotes responsible development and ownership of real estate in Maine through legislative advocacy, educational programs and professional networking opportunities.

Cota is vice president of Webber Oil Co., where he has worked for the past 24 years. He served as town manager of Orono from 1979 to 1984.

He succeeds Roxane Cole, a commercial real estate broker and principal in Ram Harnden Commercial Real Services in Portland, who has led MEREDA for the past two years.

“MEREDA has seen tremendous growth in its membership, programs and statewide presence under Roxane’s leadership,” Cota said. “We have a solid foundation to build on as the organization continues to address the many challenges and opportunities facing the Maine commercial real estate industry.”

Cota, who has served on MEREDA’s board of directors for the past 22 years, most recently as president-elect, said that Maine’s commercial real estate sector remains strong, but the overall economic downturn, coupled with the rising costs of fuel and materials, means that developers and owners will have to work smarter and be more creative in putting projects together.

Cota is a graduate of Husson College and a U.S. Army veteran who served in Vietnam. He is a member of the Orono Library Foundation, and chairman of its building committee. He also serves on the board of the Target Industrial Corp., is a member of the Maine Overseers of the Bar Grievance Panel A, and is a past president of the Action Committee of 50.

Cota is married with two grown children.

Homeless shelter donation

BANGOR – Bangor Historic Track Inc. and Hollywood Slots and Raceway have become a leading community supporter of the Bangor Area Homeless Shelter on Main Street, said shelter executive director Dennis Marble. Using a portion of the proceeds from its opening VIP Night, general manager Jon Johnson and his team provided $5,000 to support the shelter and those in need who seek help at that facility.

“Jon Johnson, Amy Kenney and others at Hollywood Slots have repeatedly demonstrated that they understand and deliver on doing good business,” said Marble. “Since opening in the temporary facility across the street, they have shared their resources and success with many members of the community, including a number of nonprofit agencies operating in the community.

“They have helped us numerous times with significant gifts, including this one. Hollywood Slots made it possible for us to renovate our kitchen and that little kitchen puts out 35,000 meals each year. With demand being as high as it is, and most forecasts calling for a tough, economic winter, we really appreciate this latest shot in the arm.”

Communications manager

The Cianbro Corp. announced veteran television reporter and anchorman Alan Grover assumed the duties of Cianbro’s public relations and corporate communications manager on July 21.

Grover has spent 20 years as an award-winning journalist, beginning with a stint at WWMJ-FM radio before moving on to WVII-TV in 1989. For the last 13 years, he has worked as an investigative reporter and anchorman for WABI-TV, helping to earn record-breaking ratings for the station.

Grover will be a liaison between Cianbro and the media throughout the East Coast. He will chronicle Cianbro’s plans and accomplishments for the corporation’s 2,500 team members, and make public information about jobs and educational programs Cianbro offers.

“The Cianbro team is very lucky to have someone of Alan Grover’s capabilities to lead our public relations and communications efforts,” said Cianbro Vice President Alan Burton. “His direct and honest approach in dealing with others fits well with the Cianbro culture. We couldn’t be happier that he chose to continue his career with us.”

“I’ve been like a tree in a flower pot for the past few years,” Grover said. “This new position at Cianbro will give my roots some space to grow.”

Grover grew up in Monroe, attended local schools, and graduated cum laude from the University of Maine with a degree in broadcast journalism.

“Nobody cares about the state of Maine or my neighbors here more than I do,” he said. “That’s another reason why I feel that Cianbro is a good fit for me. I feel it’s a company that cares about local people, the local economy and the local environment.”

“Cianbro’s new manufacturing facility in Brewer is a good example of that,” Grover said. “The company has revitalized an idle mill, put hundreds of people to work there, paid people to learn new skills, and all after cleaning up a toxic mess that was left behind on the site by the previous industry.”

Company members in communities from northern New England to Virginia contribute to Cianbro’s success. Grover’s job will include telling their stories.

“I feel it will be an easy task telling Cianbro’s story. The company already has a terrific reputation throughout the region. The firm is loaded from top to bottom with first-rate team members who’ve never known a task they can’t accomplish. I believe Cianbro is a company citizens can be proud of, and I’m happy to come aboard.”

Master floral designer

BANGOR – Linda Murphy of Lougee and Frederick Florists has earned the Maine Master Floral Designers designation given to florists who are members of the Maine State Florist and Growers Association.

Students must pass the course with a score of 80 or higher. They are graded on the evaluation of nine floral designs plus a surprise design challenge, theme category development, designer’s notebook, three written tests and a final exam. Those who earn master designer status have proved they understand the art of floral composition and can design with creative flair.

Bank personnel changes

BANGOR – Merrill Bank announced that Jeannette “Jean” Hafford of Hermon recently joined the bank as assistant branch manager at its 727 Broadway location. The Broadway branch is scheduled to open on Monday, Aug. 4.

Hafford brings with her more than 28 years of experience in the financial services industry, most recently as customer service representative at Bangor Savings Bank where she worked for 10 years.

Her previous experience includes five years at Fleet Bank as a customer service representative; 10 years at Wells Fargo Bank in California as personal banking officer; and three years at Mid Maine Mutual as operations specialist.

A 1975 graduate of Mt. Diablo High School in Concord, Calif., Hafford attended Diablo Valley College and Palomar College in California. She also attended the University of Maine at Augusta. She holds a certificate in banking from the American Institute of Banking.

Hafford is active in her community as a Red Cross volunteer.

Merrill Bank also announced that Chris Pushor of Old Town, AVP-commercial lender, has accepted the position of branch manager at Broadway.

Pushor has more than 13 years of experience in the banking industry. Before joining Merrill Bank, he was a branch manager at the Broadway branch and later the Hammond Street branch for Bangor Savings Bank. He also served as branch manager and commercial lender at Bar Harbor Bank and Trust for four years and as relationship manager and client relations manager at KeyBank for six years.

Pushor is a graduate of the New England School of Banking and the Key Sales School. He attended Eastern Maine Community College where he received the 1990 Student Citizenship Award. He is a graduate of Piscataquis Community High School.

Sustainable design

ORONO – A Maine architectural firm received honors for excellence in sustainable design at this year’s Integrated Design-Integrated Development Conference at Plymouth State University, Plymouth, N.H. A Merit Award was presented to Oak Point Associates of Biddeford and Portsmouth, N.H., for the Foster Student Innovation Center at the University of Maine, Orono.

American Institute of Architects New Hampshire chapter Executive Director Carolyn Isaak said, “These are very prestigious awards, indeed and recipients should feel extremely proud of their contributions to a greener world, and a more sustainable environment. Projects of all scopes were solicited, and winners were based on the project’s beneficial impact on the physical environment as well as its positive effect on the cultural landscape.”

Awards were given for outstanding architecture, landscape architecture, planning and historic preservation projects demonstrating excellence in design and sustainable design principles and that highlight the benefits of an integrated approach to site planning, building design, construction and building performance. Architects in the New England region were eligible to enter any project in the world, and architects outside the region could submit projects located in New England.

The Foster Student Innovation Center at the University of Maine was designed to reflect the surrounding environment through the use of natural stone, reflective glass and a band of copper that suggests the color of oak leaves in the fall.

Oak Point Associates’ design team and the University of Maine’s building committee worked together to integrate university-developed technology and educational programming in the design and construction process.

The project also used local materials. Windows were constructed to provide the multiple benefits of daylight, passive solar heating, summer heat-gain avoidance, ventilation and a visual connection with the surrounding natural environment. Jurors commended the design team for “its efforts to integrate the end users in the design project and for its innovative roof systems and a real-world testing opportunity for the continued development of green technologies.”

For more information, visit www.aianh.org.

Donation to Red Cross

OLD TOWN – Allstate agent Mark Farnham presented Bangor American Red Cross with a $500 grant as part of the Allstate Foundation’s Agency Hands in the community program.

The program, which began in 2003, recognizes Allstate agents’ volunteerism within the community and provides financial support to organizations through The Allstate Foundation. Every Allstate agent who volunteers for a charitable organization in the community may qualify for the award.

Allstate “parents” honored with an agency Hands in the Community Award may serve nonprofit groups in many capacities – as volunteers, mentors, program partners and leaders.

Party for ‘Breaking Dawn’

BANGOR – Borders will celebrate the release of “Breaking Dawn,” the fourth and final book in Stephenie Meyer’s best-selling vampire-inspired “Twilight” series, with an in-store book release party at 9:30 p.m. Friday, Aug. 1, at Borders, 116 Bangor Mall Blvd. The party will culminate at midnight when the book officially goes on sale.

The party, themed “From Twilight til Dawn: A Night with a Bite,” will include costume contests, trivia contests and debates on themes from the book series.

Customers are encouraged to attend the free party dressed as characters from the book series or in formal vampire attire to participate in the Supernatural Soiree costume contest and the Vampire Ball.

The fun begins with the “So You’re in Love with a Vampire?” trivia contest using questions supplied from the editors at www.TwilightLexicon.com, the official Stephenie Meyer fan-sponsored Web site.

Customers also will have the opportunity to decide which character Bella will choose for her true love – Jacob or Edward – during the “Love Is Perfectly Paranormal” debate. Throughout the party, there will be prizes for contest winners, including special souvenirs and a chance to be first in line at midnight to purchase the book.

New business

BREWER – Staci Watkins of Brewer has opened My Color Lab, a boutique located at 114 South Main St. She sells purses and carries jewelry crafted by local jewelry makers, sunglasses and makeup. She also holds home parties where she sells purses. From more information, call 745-6830.