Deborah Felder of Gardiner has been hired as the new communications coordinator for the Maine Center for Economic Policy. Felder is the former executive director of Maine Initiatives, a public foundation for social and economic justice. The Maine Center for Economic Policy, or MECEP, is a research organization that advocates for public policies to help Maine people prosper in a strong, fair and sustainable economy. Felder has an undergraduate degree in media from the University of Southern California and a master’s degree in public administration and public policy from the University of Maine. Before joining Maine Initiatives, she spent 20 years as a media and communications professional with public, private and nonprofit organizations.

Scott Blake has joined the Bangor office of A.G. Edwards & Sons Inc. as a financial consultant. Before joining the firm, he worked in information security for 12 years. A graduate of Simon’s Rock College and Brandeis University, Blake recently moved to Bangor with his wife, Liz, and their two children. A.G. Edwards’ Bangor office has been serving investors in the area for 24 years and has 10 financial consultants on its staff. The office is located at 23 Water St. in Key Plaza.