PROMOTIONS

Denise M. Vachon, left, and Lorri W. Sommer

Lorri W. Sommer has been appointed as the new CEO of the Park Danforth, a not-for-profit provider of housing and services for older people in Portland. Sommer succeeds Denise M. Vachon, who has retired after 40 years with the Park Danforth and leading it through major changes including two campus expansions. In 2015, Sommer joined as chief financial officer, with her role growing to include operational oversight of sales and marketing, admissions and human resources. She holds an MBA in finance from New York University Stern School of Business and a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Williams College. Sommer is also a licensed residential care administrator and is a certified public accountant.

Walker Matthews, Lacy McMoarn and Katie Palmer have been named partners at Portland-based Dufour Tax Group. Matthews is a certified public accountant who started his career in 2011 at a large regional accounting firm. He co-founded Dufour Tax Group in 2015 alongside Peter Dufour and Kelly Dufour, and focuses his practice on tax planning and compliance for business clients. McMoarn is a certified public accountant who began her career in 2014, and worked for another local firm before joining Dufour Tax Group in 2020. She provides planning and compliance services to high-net-worth individuals and businesses. Palmer joined Dufour Tax Group in 2017 as an administrative assistant and has helped lead the firm’s growth. As chief operating officer, she manages daily business operations and oversees human resources, billing, accounts receivables and reporting.

NEW HIRES

Jonathan Poole

Sarah Nadeau-Balducci

The Finance Authority of Maine has named Jonathan Poole as director of strategic growth and Sarah Nadeau-Balducci as deputy general counsel. Poole formerly worked at the Maine Department of Economic and Community Development. A graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy, he also served in the Navy as a surface warfare officer on a Bath-built destroyer in the Pacific. Nadeau-Balducci previously worked as a criminal prosecutor and at a large international investment bank. She brings more than 10 years of experience in financial investigations and regulatory compliance to her role at FAME.

Skowhegan Savings Bank has named Rich St. Pierre as senior vice president and regional commercial banking manager and Susan Desgrosseilliers as vice president and commercial lender. Both serve in their new roles at the bank’s Portland Business Center on Marginal Way. St. Pierre has over 30 years of financial and business experience across a variety of Maine industries. He earned a bachelor’s degree in accounting from the University of Southern Maine and is a certified public accountant. Desgrosseilliers comes to the bank from the small business and real estate development sectors, and has held a Maine real estate license for over 30 years. She previously served in a variety of positions, including as the certified business advisor for the Maine Small Business Development Center. Desgrosseilliers holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration with a concentration in marketing.

BOARD APPOINTMENTS

Winnie LaRochelle

The Maine Community College System has named Winnie LaRochelle as the new student trustee and member of its board of trustees. LaRochelle recently graduated with an associate degree in criminal justice from Central Maine Community College in Auburn. She plans to continue her studies at CMCC next year, pursuing an advanced certificate in police operations, and to ultimately become a Maine game warden. LaRochelle, who will serve a two-year term, was nominated by Gov. Janet Mills and confirmed by the Maine Senate.

RECOGNITIONS

Amy Bowen

Amy Bowen, a member of the business insurance team at Allen Insurance and Financial, has earned the Certified Professional Insurance Agent designation from the American Insurance Marketing and Sales Society. The designation recognizes skills in insurance underwriting, coverages marketing and client services. Bowen is also an accredited adviser in insurance and an accredited customer service representative. In 2013, she joined Allen, which has offices in Belfast, Camden, Rockland, Southwest Harbor and Waterville.

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