Business Exposition

BANGOR – The Bangor Region Chamber of Commerce will host a business exposition, Focus on Energy Plus, sponsored by RH Foster noon-4 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 17, at the Bangor Civic Center.

The event will focus on, but not be limited to, the topic of energy in a changing economic environment. The exposition will have 77 booths with vendors offering information regarding energy and energy related themes. RH Foster, Efficiency Maine and others will conduct seminars at the exposition.

The show will commence with Efficiency Maine providing a two-hour program focused on business cost-saving advice and financial incentives for conversion to electricity-saving equipment. A panel of representatives from businesses that have implemented energy-saving programs will share their stories and offer advice.

The event is open to the public.

Organizations interested in booth rental space for the event may call Mike Youngblood at the Bangor Region Chamber of Commerce at 947-0307.

Engineering scholarships

ORONO – The University of Maine Electrical and Computer Engineering Department will offer three new scholarships beginning this fall, thanks to the generosity of a Portland software development company whose CEO says he wants to help keep young people from Maine in the state.

Kepware Technologies founder, president and chief executive officer Corson Ellis is providing UM’s Electrical and Computer Engineering Department three annual scholarships of $7,500 each for the foreseeable future, he said.

Kepware designs and builds drivers and other software that allow automated manufacturing equipment to communicate and is growing at a rate of 30 percent presently. Ellis plans to increase growth to 40 percent in the coming year.

The company employs 45 people, up from 30 last year, and employs several UM engineering graduates.

In the last two months, Kepware has hired two permanent employees and two co-ops from UMaine. Its vice president and chief technology officer Tony Paine is a graduate of the electrical engineering program at UMaine.

Ellis said he was concerned about what he views as “a crisis in education in the United States.”

“There isn’t enough support for engineering education,” he said. “If we don’t create more support, we’re going to lose more jobs overseas. The most important thing is that somebody’s got to step up to the plate and help American engineering students. We want to make it affordable. There are a lot of kids who cannot afford to go to engineering schools.”

Ellis said that investing in the UMaine engineering scholarships is “an investment in the country and an investment for Maine so we can continue generating engineers. We want Maine kids to stay in Maine and work. And we’re interested in having a close relationship with the graduates so that we have a shot at hiring them. It’s a win-win-win situation.”

Information about the new scholarships is available on the Electrical and Computer Engineering Department Web site www.eece.maine.edu.

Mohamad Musavi, chairman of the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, said the department will advertise the scholarships as students return to campus.

“These are among the top scholarships at the university,” Musavi said. “It is also important for people to understand that while low-paying traditional jobs are being lost, new well-paying engineering jobs are being created in Maine by Kepware and other high technology companies.”

Credit union scholarship

HERMON – Eric Ferland, a recent graduate of Hermon High School, has received a $1,000 scholarship from the Maine State Credit Union to attend Central Maine Community College to study automotive technology in the fall.

Ferland is one of 10 Maine high school students who will receive scholarships from Maine State Credit Union to attend a postsecondary educational institution next year.

In April, applicants submitted scholarship applications, including an essay outlining what education means to their financial future and a letter of recommendation. Applications were reviewed by the Maine State Credit Union Scholarship Committee, and the 10 winners were selected.

“We were thrilled with the response from the students in our community and their interest in the scholarship program,” said Mary Dolan, director of marketing and training for Maine State Credit Union. “The scholarship recipients were enthusiastic and thoughtful in their responses and showed great insight into the importance of education to their future.”

The annual scholarship program is available to any Maine State Credit Union member. For more information about the Maine State Credit Union scholarship program, call Mary Dolan at 800-540-8707, ext. 2347, or visit www.mainestatecu.org.

UM employee awards

ORONO – Winners of the University of Maine’s 2008 Employee Achievement Awards represent the university’s Army ROTC program, department of facilities management, Advanced Engineered Wood Composites Center and graduate school.

Two winners were announced recently by the Classified Employee Advisory Council and two by the Professional Employee Advisory Council.

Classified Employee Award winners are:

. Paulette Ferland, administrative assistant for the UMaine Army ROTC.

. Orman Jackson, custodian IV at Estabrooke Hall.

Ferland, who lives in Hudson, has worked at UMaine for 16 years, the last six with ROTC. She also has worked for the department of communication sciences and disorders and the department of modern languages and classics.

She was nominated by commanding officer Lt. Col. Kevin Harris and colleagues. In his letter of recommendation, Harris says he knows of no one on campus who is friendlier and more enthusiastic about student service than Ferland. “Often challenged by the natural professional and operational difference between academic and military, she works as a translator between the two philosophies, grasping the intent and objectives of both while guiding the cadre through university life,” he said.

Jackson of Howland came to work as a custodian for auxiliary services when he was 21 years old and will retire in October after more than 42 years on campus. He was nominated for an Outstanding Classified Employee of the Year Award by Lynn Dexter-Cassidy, assistant director of operations for property management in auxiliary services. “Orman is very well liked on this campus and has a lot of information and knowledge,” she said.

Professional Employee Award winners are:

. Robert Lindyberg, assistant director for boat building and marine composites at the Advanced Engineered Wood Composites Center.

. Graduate school associate dean Scott Delcourt.

Lindyberg, who lives in Orono and has a UM master’s degree and doctorate, has led UM’s efforts, in partnership with the U.S. Navy and Hodgdon Yachts, to create a prototype patrol vessel for use by Navy SEAL teams. In nominating Lindyberg, professor Habib Dagher noted the “talented, tireless and effective manner in which he has made the land grant service mission of the University of Maine an integral part of his work.” Lindyberg joined the wood composite center’s professional staff in 1997 and has served in a variety of roles, including manager of engineering and technical services.

Delcourt of Milford has been at UMaine since 1985. He worked for nine years as a scientist in the department of biochemistry, microbiology and molecular biology, followed by a stint in the office of the vice president for research and public service.

Delcourt has been in the graduate school since 1996. Dan Sandweiss, UMaine’s dean and associate provost for graduate studies, nominated Delcourt on behalf of the graduate school staff. “Scott provides direction, works far beyond any normal hours, resolves problems and does so with unflagging goodwill,” Sandweiss wrote in his nomination letter.

SBA Express designation

Seaboard Federal Credit has been given 7(a) SBA Express designation by the U.S. Small Business Administration. Maurice Dube, district director of the SBA, presented a certificate to Kyle Casburn, CEO of the credit union, on Aug. 5 at the Bucksport office.

As a newly designated 7(a) lending participant, the SBA Express program allows lenders to use their own forms, procedures and analyses to process SBA loan applications on an expedited basis. This is an easier loan product for borrowers and lenders to use. With this simplified procedure, Seaboard Federal Credit Union will be able to serve more small businesses and entrepreneurs.

“Seaboard is pleased to be designated as an SBA Express lender,” said Casburn. “Small business is a very vital part of our economy, and we are always looking to enhance our services to our members. Our participation in the SBA Express lender program will enable us to provide our small business members with the added benefit of the expedited processing of an SBA loan application.”

Seaboard Federal Credit Union serves the needs of small businesses in Penobscot, Hancock, Washington and Waldo counties. For more information, call 469-6341.