AUGUSTA – The Maine Rural Health Association, a membership organization with a diverse constituency interested in rural health issues, is holding its annual conference Dec. 11 and 12 at the Samoset Resort, Rockport.

Sessions will include: Maine’s Dirigo Health Reform Act, Emergency Medical Services, Chronic Disease Management, Quality of Care in Rural Maine and Evidence Based Medicine.

Pre-registration is preferred, however people can register at the door. Cost is $75 per day or $125 for both days. For more information contact Sue LeClair at 626-0752.

Bob Stone & Associates formed

Lewiston – Bob Stone announced the establishment of Bob Stone & Associates, a consulting firm that provides comprehensive solutions in sales, customer service, managers coaching and goal achievement for business.

The firm provides a variety of services to business, both in the private sector and public sector, that offer innovative learning processes that build sales, customer loyalty, teamwork and resultant growth.

“I decided to establish the firm because I saw that many organizations are not getting a reasonable return on their training dollar,” Stone said. “Most sales and customer service training is ‘event based’ and often lost on people after a few weeks. It really doesn’t cause behavior changes in employees. Effective training is all about behavior change. We offer training that creates new habits, skills, attitudes and behaviors that positively impact employees for the benefit of the organization’s internal and external customers.”

Stone has more than 30 years of management experience, much of it at the senior level. He is a former senior vice president of New England operations for Fleet and has extensive experience in sales, operations, information technology and product development. Stone entered management with the First National Bank of Boston and has held management positions at the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston and several community banks.

Located in Lewiston, the firm may be reached by mail at PO Box 2515, Lewiston, ME 04241-2515, by telephone at 207-212-3519, fax at 207-784-8100 or by e-mail at [email protected].