New director, name change, renovations at Mechanics’ Hall

Annie Leahy has been named the inaugural executive director of the newly renamed Maine Charitable Mechanic Association, effective April 22.

Along with hiring Leahy, the board recently voted to change the name of the organization to Mechanics’ Hall. The name change comes after several years of strategic planning by the board to modernize the use of the building within the arts district, create a more open membership base and promote use by the public.

Leahy was hired as the organization begins a process of planning for major building and facility improvements that will allow for a wide variety of programming to honor MCMA’s mission – to inspire and enrich the community by promoting ingenuity, creativity, innovation, and useful knowledge.

Leahy comes to the organization with over 20 years of experience, working at both for-profit and nonprofit organizations. She’s held senior positions in New York City at ABC News and the Tribeca Film Institute. She moved to Portland in 2009, now serves as board chairwoman at SPACE Gallery and is on the advisory board for Portland Bach Experience.

“… I was struck by the beauty of the building and its rich history as a center for learning, cultural exploration, artistic curiosity and community,” said Leahy. “I’m truly inspired by the enormous potential for us to channel that DNA and emerge once again as a vibrant, diverse, and inclusive cultural institution in the heart of Portland’s art district.”

Mechanics’ Hall will host an open house in the fall of 2019 to introduce the community to Leahy and reveal renovations to the ballroom and the library, including removing a wall in the ballroom to restore the space to its original square footage and symmetry. The library updates include refinishing the floor and installing new lighting.

Recognition

Amy Alward, Allstate agency owner in South Portland, is the first woman in the Northeast region to be inducted into the Allstate Financial Hall of Fame. The honor recognizes Alward’s longstanding commitment to her customers; she and her team of 12 employees have earned multiple Allstate honors and, in 2015, were named “Best in Company” at Allstate.

PC Construction has received its third Build Maine Award from the Associated General Contractors of Maine in the Building category for work on a major renovation and expansion project at three school buildings in Regional School Unit 21 in the Kennebunks.

Kristine Millard of Portland was awarded the Community Honor Award for outstanding contributions to organized camping and to American Camping Association – New England by Michael Katz, executive director of Camp Sunshine at Sebago Lake in Casco. Millard is a writer who contributes to Maine Summer Camps as well as the New England Camp Experience.

Tru by Hilton Portland Airport Area was recently awarded the Connie Award, which solidifies the hotel location as one of the Hilton’s best-in-class properties of the past year. 

The Maine Real Estate & Development Association has selected Developers Collaborative & Sea Coast Management’s The Motherhouse in Portland as one of the top six real estate developments in Maine in 2018, and will present awards to all recipients at its annual spring conference in Portland on May 7 at the Holiday Inn By the Bay.

The American Institute of CPAs announced BerryDunn’s David Stone is winner of the coveted 2018 Elijah Watt Sells Award. The award recognizes a cumulative average score above 95.50 across all four sections of the Uniform CPA Examination on the first attempt. Of nearly 86,000 candidates to sit for the exam, only 110 qualified for the award this year.

Name change 

The Spurwink Child Abuse Program recently underwent a name change to better reflect its expanded services and client base. “The Spurwink Center for Safe and Healthy Families” offers support and services for both children and families affected by abuse.

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