Jeff Desmond, KICTeam’s new online marketing specialist, will be handling all digital projects with an emphasis on SEO, along with managing website traffic, social media and customer awareness.

Previously he worked as a marketing coordinator for a jobs oriented website. Desmond is a volunteer for the Gray-New Gloucester Patriot Parents, and enjoys cheering for his son’s Lewiston Area Youth Hockey League team.

Andrew Turner has been hired as KICTeam’s Web developer. He will develop and maintain Web applications to enhance the company’s global online presence.

Turner is a published children’s novelist and is working on his second novel. He also enjoys performing in local theater productions. He spends his free time with his wife and their eight children, ranging in age from 3 to 20.

For more information about KICTeam, a subsidiary of Enefco USA, visit www.cleaningcard.com.

Andrew Turner

PORTLAND, Maine January 27 2012 – Systems Engineering, the largest independent and employee-owned IT provider in Maine, has developed a niche in the fast growing managed security applications market – attracting companies from brokerage, financial, legal and healthcare market sectors.

The company’s premiere cyber security product, SE Secure®, provides a comprehensive security solution to meet the needs of businesses by delivering a layered, policy-based framework using best-in-class technologies to thwart attacks by cyber criminals. Systems Engineering also delivers an advanced Managed Security option featuring 24-7 monitoring and event correlation for compliance-driven organizations.

“Cyber criminals are getting more and more advanced every day,” said Harry McMann, President of Systems Engineering. “The days of ‘set-it and forget it’ are gone forever. It’s becoming extremely difficult for many companies to maintain IT security that is sophisticated and dynamic enough to stay ahead of the threats. For many companies it has become more cost effective to outsource their IT security to providers like Systems Engineering.”

Information Week estimates that 55% of businesses experience a fraud attack each year, and the Ponemon Institute estimates that the annualized cost of these attacks varies from $284 per enterprise seat for larger-sized organizations to $1,088 per enterprise seat for smaller-sized organizations.  The Systems Engineering portfolio of security services protects customers against these costly attacks by providing 24/7 system monitoring, event management, intrusion prevention, vulnerability scanning, content filtering and compliance reporting as well as appropriate response times designed to protect the network and minimize downtime.

“It’s very important to our clients that their information stay confidential,” said Darryl Hendricks, Director if IT for Preti Flaherty, one of the largest legal firms in Maine. “With SE Secure, we’re saving money, and we’re also saving time in terms of my staff’s resources. It’s one thing to have a piece of hardware in place that’s monitoring something. It’s another thing to have a person who deals with this all the time to understand what that information means.”

In the event of an incident, Systems Engineering’s team of security and network experts has the information and tools necessary to solve the problem quickly, to restore business productivity and to minimize any damage to a client’s reputation.

About Systems Engineering

Systems Engineering, the largest independent and employee-owned IT provider in Maine, is a Northern New England-based information and communications technology consulting company with nearly 100 business technology professionals on staff serving businesses throughout Northern New England for over 20 years. As a leading IT strategy and services leader, Systems Engineering IT professionals have provide comprehensive business technology products and solutions to more than 500 companies and organizations throughout Northern New England. Systems Engineering’s team of technical experts, network engineers, field service professionals, and account managers are available 24/7, 365 days per year. From computer network design, installation, training and administration to a full complement of data management, security, business consultation, and outsource CIO services, Systems Engineering helps business get ahead of IT. Notably, Systems Engineering is 100% owned by the employees of the company. For more information, please visit www.syseng.com or call 207-772-3199.

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Portland, Maine (January 26, 2012) — Art All Around®, a project sponsored by the Maine Center for Creativity, has won the William Johnson Award for outstanding achievement in demonstrating aesthetic merit in industrial or commercial coatings work. The team will accept their award at the national convention in Tampa, Florida.

The award comes from the Steel Structures Painting Council, a national professional society concerned with the use of coatings to protect industrial steel structures. The structure awards program was created as an opportunity to give recognition for outstanding high-performance coating work. The awards are given to recognize the work of teams of contractors, designers, end users and coating manufacturers for excellence on particular coatings projects.

Tank #28, recipient of the William Johnson Award

The William Johnson Award was given to the team that painted Art All Around’s Tank #28 at the Sprague Energy tank farm in South Portland, the third tank of a total of 16 that will be painted, making Art All Around the largest piece of public art in the world. This project has received recognition and praise for its use of color, gloss, texture, and coating that enhances the industrial environment, while representing a design created by a world-renowned contemporary artist, Jaime Gili.

The coatings team involved in this project are Sprague Energy, Sherwin-Williams, AMEX Industrial Coating, Jon Cavallo P.E., ENERCON and the volunteers of the Maine Center for Creativity. The project is visible by air on the approach to Portland’s International Jetport and is fast becoming a major landmark visible from numerous locations in Portland, South Portland and on the water. More than a quarter million people see it on their daily commute on I-295 and annually more than 500,000 Downeaster Amtrak passengers pass it.

Notable people who also contributed to the success of the project include Jean Maginnis, Founder and Executive Director of the Maine Center for Creativity, Gregory W. Boulos, Chair, Governance Committee, MCC and Co-Project Director, Georgia Flanagan, AMEX Industrial Coatings Supervisor and Graphic Designer, Alan Holt, Project Facilitator, Tom Dobbins, Board of Directors, MCC and Sprague Technical Project Director, Katherine Greenleaf, Board President, MCC, Phil Harriman, Chair of the AAA Capital Campaign Committee, Pamela Plumb, Nominating Chair, Lead Volunteer AAA Committee Member, and Chuck Lawton, Chair of the Development Committee, MCC. This award represents the volunteer work and years of effort put in by the entire Board of Directors and Advisory Council of the Maine Center for Creativity.

About Maine Center for Creativity

The Maine Center for Creativity (MCC) is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) led by a volunteer board of directors. Founded in May 2005, MCC is committed to nurturing innovative companies and people in Maine by developing projects and programs that support the growth of creative industries and the arts. Among its educational and creative projects, MCC is organizing Art All Around™, an international design competition to paint the Sprague Energy tanks in South Portland, the Creative Toolbox Series, and Pecha Kucha events in Maine.  For more information, please visit www.mainecenterforcreativity.org

The guide also includes detailed information on each community, school statistics, an overview of the economy, waterfront real estate and of course an overview of what makes Maine special.

Special requests can be complied easily – just let us know what you need.

You can download the complete report at 2012 Greater Portland Relocation Guide.

(Portland, Maine) The Maine Center for Entrepreneurial Development (MCED) announced today that Steve Blank, a renowned entrepreneurship educator in Silicon Valley, would speak via video conference on Wednesday, February 15 at 6:00 PM to Maine libraries and University campuses throughout the state as part of Maine Entrepreneurship Week and MCED’s Top Gun Maine program.

The event presented by MCED and supported by Blackstone Accelerates Growth is free and open to the public. During the program, local entrepreneurs will have an opportunity to listen, ask questions, and discuss his presentation alongside Top Gun Maine program participants. For a complete list of participating locations, please visit the Top Gun Maine web site.

Steve Blank spent 21 years in eight high technology companies. Since 1999, he has written about and taught entrepreneurship at Stanford, Berkeley and Columbia Universities respectively. He developed a new model for startups and worked with the National Science Foundation Innovation Corps. as well as engagements in Chile, Finland, and Russia. Steve Blank has been featured in the New York Times, Nature magazine, and National Public Radio. His book Four Steps to the Epiphany has been translated into Russian, Japanese and French.

Maine Entrepreneurship Week, part of National Entrepreneurship Week, is February 11-18. Now in its 5th year, EWeek Maine has events scheduled throughout the state including panel discussions, workshops and networking events. For a complete list, please visit: www.eweekmaine.org/.

MCED and the University of Maine Foster Center for Student Innovation have partnered to expand the Top Gun program statewide. Top Gun Maine teaches emerging entrepreneurs what they really need to know to manage and grow a successful growth-oriented business. The formal program runs for five months but the mentoring relationships can extend well beyond the confines of the program. For additional information about MCED, please visit: www.topgunmaine.biz

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ABOUT MCED The Maine Center for Entrepreneurial Development (MCED) is a private non-profit founded in 1997 that assists entrepreneurs building scalable innovation based Maine businesses. Historically a traditional incubator that offered entrepreneurs space located on an academic campus, MCED is now a leading edge virtual resource for the most promising startups, regardless of their Maine location.

CONTACT:

Susan Ruhlin 774-8111

sruhlin@mced.biz

Rob Herman, WGTECHWESTBROOK, ME – January 24, 2012 – WGTECH, a value-added reseller that helps companies achieve success with advanced information technology, announces that Rob Herman, formerly the President of Evergreen Technology Group, has joined WGTECH as its Integration Manager. In addition, Evergreen’s Infrastructure Division has merged with WGTECH.

In his new role, Herman will be responsible for leading the WGTECH engineering team and working closely with the sales group to enhance WGTECH’s portfolio of IT solutions, including managed services, IT services, networking, data management, and security. He brings more than 15 years of experience in enabling business growth through technology for clients nationwide in education, public safety, manufacturing and distribution, and general business.

“This move is great for the customers of both companies, as Rob Herman’s addition makes us a stronger team with broader skills and resources to meet the needs of our customers,” says Bill McKeen, VP of Systems and Technology, WGTECH. “We’re pleased that Rob has joined WGTECH and look forward to serving Maine’s businesses together.”

About Workgroup Technology Partners

Workgroup Technology Partners is a systems and network integrator focused on supporting clients in Northern New England since 1994. Its team of professionals is highly qualified to support and consult on any aspect of technology, including networking, security, email, data storage, voice and data communication, and databases. Workgroup partners with leading technology vendors such as Cisco, NetApp, Microsoft, Barracuda, and VMware to design, install, integrate, and support systems that meet specific business objectives.  For more information, visit the company’s website at www.wgtech.com.

Contact:

Alison Harris, Harris Media Services

207-829-4500

alison@harrismediaservices.com

PORTLAND, ME – January 20, 2012 – Casco Bay Technology Hub (CBTH) and Baxter Brewing Company have joined forces to create PubHub, a monthly series of networking events to help Maine’s tech community unite to share ideas, meet new people, and have fun. The inaugural PubHub will be held February 7 at CBTH, a Maine-based tech community space on 30 Danforth Street that provides collaboration, partnerships, and networking opportunities. Baxter Brewing will provide beer it has craft-brewed in Lewiston, ME.

“We founded Casco Bay Technology Hub to provide a physical space to unite our geographically fragmented tech community.  PubHub is another way for us to connect,” says Tom Hall, CEO of Hall Internet Marketing, and member of the CBTH advisory board.

Each month’s PubHub will feature a speaker with real-world business expertise to share insight on technology and how it relates to business development, growth, and entrepreneurship. The February event’s speaker is Jason Cianchette, founder of Liquid Wireless, who will share his experience with growing a lead generation company on the mobile web.  The event’s premium sponsor is Integra Strategic Technologies Consulting, a CBTH member that offers full-service Web design and development, including strategic planning, custom database solutions, ecommerce applications, and SEO optimization. Integra will provide snacks and wine.

What:     Casco Bay Technology Hub’s PubHub

When:   February 7 from 6:00 to 8:00 PM

Where:  Casco Bay Technology Hub, 30 Danforth Street, Portland

Cost:      Free, but attendees must pre-register at http://www.cascobaytechhub.com/tech-hub-events.php

The sponsors of the monthly PubHub are: Integra Strategic Technologies, Baxter Brewing Co., Time Warner Cable Business Class, Hall Internet Marketing, SMBME, and J.B. Brown and Sons.

About Casco Bay Technology Hub

Casco Bay Technology Hub (CBTH) was founded to create a geographic focal point for Portland, Maine-area tech companies to build the relationships and technology culture that fuel business growth. Requirements for membership are the desire to build a tech culture in Maine, and the ability to vote for that desire by leasing space at CBTH at affordable rates. Benefits for Maine technology companies include help with recruitment, building partnerships, networking, education, and funding growth. There is no membership fee or additional associated costs. CBTH is located at 30 Danforth Street on the second and third floors in Portland, ME. If you’re interested in the Tech Hub, please visit http://www.cascobaytechhub.com/leasing-information.php.

“These days, it’s more important than ever to maximize utilization, optimize storage space, and reduce duplicate data,” said Harry McMann, President of Systems Engineering. “NetApp is changing the game with their new Storage Area Network (SAN) solutions for virtual computing environments of all sizes.”

To register, call 207-553-1600 or visit http://www.syseng.com/Events/.

About Systems Engineering

Systems Engineering, the largest independent and employee-owned IT provider in Maine, is a Northern New England-based information and communications technology consulting company with over 90 business technology professionals on staff serving businesses throughout Northern New England for over 20 years. As a leading IT strategy and services leader, our IT professionals have provided comprehensive business technology products and solutions to more than 400 companies and organizations throughout Northern New England since 1988. Our team of technical experts, network engineers, field service professionals, and account managers are available 24/7, 365 days per year. From computer network design, installation, training and administration to a full complement of data management, business consultation, and outsource CIO services, Systems Engineering will help you get ahead of IT. Systems Engineering is 100% owned by the employees of the company. For more information, please visit www.syseng.com or call 207-772-3199.

Designer Thomas Hillman combines poetic writing and technology with new
“Embody Peace and Love” Application for mobile devices.

South Portland, Maine, (December 22, 2011)— Sharing the positive values of peace, love, and social responsibility, designer Thomas Hillman has launched a blending of poetic writing, social media, and technology with his new Embody Peace and Love App.

When launching the Embody Peace and Love® products line in 2009, Hillman sought to spread the messages of love and peace as embodied in the 1960’s era when he grew up. With the explosion of social media and mobile technology, Hillman is now sharing these messages with thousands of people around the world through inspiring and original poetic writings delivered at the touch of a screen through his web based app, functional on Apple, Android and other mobile and tablet devices.

“Everyone needs positivity and encouragement in their lives, especially in our current cultural and economic times. I’ve been posting daily inspirations on our Embody Peace and Love Facebook page with great reception, so I decided to embrace technology further by creating this free app that delivers positive affirmations and inspiring thoughts to anyone wherever they go,” says Thomas Hillman, founder of Embody Peace and Love.

“As for our company, Embody Peace and Love designs bring back the good essence of the 1960‘s, renewed into a fresh and modern look. We’re all about peace, love, giving and going green.

We also give back to charities in a big way. In the spirit of giving, we donate 50% of our net sales to charity so people can feel good about purchasing from Embody Peace and Love.”

The Embody Peace and Love App is available for download and sharing at: http://www.thomashillman.com/tees/app.php

 About Thomas Hillman

As a teenager growing up in the San Francisco Bay Area, Thomas embraced the philosophies of peace, love and flower power. He spent many a day in Berkeley’s People’s Park and many a night at the Fillmore West. Over forty years later, Thomas is sharing those 1960s values with thousands of people around the world through social media outlets like Facebook, Twitter, and a Blog, by sharing his original poetic messages of peace, love, hope and the wonder and awe of life. http://www.EmbodyPeaceandLove.com

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Portland, ME and Portsmouth, NH (December 15, 2011) – Cornerstone Financial Planning teamed with iBec Creative in Portland to launch their new website developed with “responsive design.” This feature allows the site to automatically adjust to a variety of devices used for web browsing, including smart phones and tablet devices.

“With people spending more time on the web via mobile devices, it is essential that companies have sites that are viewer friendly across a wide spectrum of devices, which is why we’re developing all of our new sites with responsive design,” said Becky McKinnell, president of iBec Creative.

Using Responsive Web Techniques, iBec developed a site that will not just resize for various devices, but also prioritize information and design elements so that your experience is optimized for a touch centric device. Using responsive design techniques minimizes the cost of designing and programming a separate mobile site and gives your users access to the full content of the site.

“As financial planners, we have clients that need access to our information quickly, so having a website that adjusts to phones and tablet devices is important. We always want to be within reach for our clients and having a responsive website is one way we can ensure that,” said Jill Boynton, principal at Cornerstone Financial Planning

Cornerstone Financial Planning’s website will also feature a fresh look, designed by iBec Creative’s team, and will provide visitors with information on financial planning and regularly updated insights into the financial world through their blog.

About Cornerstone Financial Planning

Cornerstone Financial Planning has been providing unbiased and client-focused financial planning services in Maine, New Hampshire, and Northern Massachusetts since 2004. As Certified Financial Planner® practitioners and NAPFA Registered Financial Advisors, Cornerstone helps its clients through financial transitions and moves them toward more confident decision making for the long-term. For information, go to www.cornerstoneplanning.com or call (603) 431-1133 in New Hampshire and
(207) 772-8133 in Maine.

 About iBec Creative

Established in 2006 by founder and President Becky McKinnell, iBec Creative is a leading provider of website and traditional design services based in Portland, Maine. iBec Creative brings fresh ideas and an intuitive understanding of technology to its work. For more information, go online to www.iBecCreative.com or call (207) 221-0790.

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