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THANK YOU<br />
TO OUR SPONSORS<br />
A glimpse of LA’s future through the actions of <strong>40</strong><br />
There can be no doubt that the Lewiston Auburn Metropolitan Area is home to numerous<br />
rising stars that are shaping our future. Whether through creating new businesses, assisting or<br />
creating philanthropic endeavors, or being actively engaged in our communities today’s professionals<br />
are actively working for a brighter future.<br />
They lead organizations and businesses or are employees, customers and residents that flow<br />
through and support the region’s communities, creating links to each other and our future. As<br />
members of the LA Metro area, they are working together building a brighter future with increased<br />
economic activity, more jobs, increased population, better schools and infrastructure.<br />
We are a community of choice— people choose to live, work, learn and entertain themselves<br />
here. New generations of young adults are choosing to stay or move back to LA. We should continue<br />
to be a community of choice where there is place for all people and for businesses of all<br />
size and interest. The LA Metro area is building a<br />
bright future and we are currently on the cusp of<br />
realizing our full potential as a community.<br />
Now is the time to embrace our future as a<br />
larger community; embrace the opportunities that<br />
we are on the brink of and explore our future as a<br />
collective community that attracts visitors, investors<br />
and industry — together.<br />
MARS<br />
SPECIAL EVENT<br />
MARKETING<br />
I am sure with the high quality of people<br />
highlighted within this magazine that we will<br />
achieve everything above and more.<br />
Congratulations to this year’s Uplift LA <strong>40</strong><br />
under <strong>40</strong> award winners! Continue to make us<br />
proud!<br />
Best,<br />
Matt J. Leonard<br />
President & CEO<br />
UPLIFT LA <strong>40</strong> UNDER <strong>40</strong><br />
3
19<br />
CHANGE LEADERS<br />
Lewiston Auburn is on the verge of<br />
greatness. With its many bright spots,<br />
people are taking notice.<br />
by Shanna Cox<br />
48<br />
COMMUNITY JUBILEE<br />
Lewiston’s Trinity Jubilee Center<br />
makes a difference every day.<br />
by Erin Reed<br />
65<br />
WE ARE TREE<br />
Tree Street Youth leads by example<br />
for our area youth.<br />
by Julia Sleeper<br />
Read all about the <strong>2016</strong> Class of<br />
<strong>40</strong> <strong>Under</strong> <strong>40</strong> with 4 winners in each<br />
of 10 categories:<br />
BUILDING LA page 5<br />
CREATIVE GENIUS page 12<br />
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT page 21<br />
EDUCATION page 28<br />
EMERGING LEADERS page 34<br />
ENTREPRENEURS page 43<br />
GOVERNMENT page 50<br />
HEALTH & WELLNESS page 55<br />
LOCAL HEROES page 61<br />
VOLUNTEERS page 67<br />
___________________________________<br />
ON THE COVER:<br />
First glimpse of Uplift LA’s Inaugural <strong>40</strong> <strong>Under</strong> <strong>40</strong>.<br />
This top notch, classy group of emerging leaders left to right:<br />
Sadie Landry, Joseph Philippon & Karley Eretzian<br />
Message from the Chair:<br />
Congratulations <strong>40</strong> <strong>Under</strong> <strong>40</strong> Winners!<br />
Uplift LA is pleased to honor the <strong>40</strong> individuals from across diverse backgrounds<br />
as the <strong>2016</strong> recipients of Uplift LA’s <strong>40</strong> <strong>Under</strong> <strong>40</strong>! The rising professionals represented<br />
throughout this program highlight every aspect of our community that we know and<br />
love. They are individuals who give countless hours of volunteer time toward the continuous<br />
improvement of LA Maine, who are successful and unique entrepreneurs, and<br />
who have stepped into leadership roles both in their professional and personal lives. I<br />
personally would like to congratulate each and every one on the tremendous honor of<br />
representing LA Maine’s emerging professional group!<br />
The year <strong>2016</strong> has proven to be a very special year for Uplift LA! Over the past ten<br />
years, our organization has developed into the voice for local young professionals. From<br />
promoting career, social, and community development and strengthening the vibrant<br />
emerging professional community, to advocating for the strategic revitalization of the<br />
LA downtown as The Young Professionals of the Lewiston-Auburn Area (YPLAA), we<br />
have emerged as the forum for engaged talented professionals. Today, we are proud to<br />
present you with the collaborative efforts of hundreds of individuals before us –<br />
thousands of hours of volunteered time among them – with the next generation of<br />
support for the rising professionals of Lewiston Auburn: Uplift LA.<br />
Uplift LA is the platform for rising professionals in our community. From monthly<br />
personal and professional development seminars to business networking opportunities,<br />
the forum for promoting the needs and careers of emerging professionals has been<br />
solidified. The annual Y-Not? Challenge, a two week scavenger hunt style community<br />
service and civic engagement challenge – designed to educate, motivate, and recruit<br />
the next generation of community leaders, is a staple within the LA community. Y-Not?<br />
has been the spark for many past participants to pursue civic responsibilities in both our<br />
local governments and public schools, to join boards of local non-profit organizations,<br />
and to becoming more involved with the rising<br />
professional movement by shaping the programming of<br />
Uplift LA. We look forward to a future of collaboration and<br />
great partnerships with the rising professionals and<br />
businesses throughout LA Maine!<br />
Best regards,<br />
Dr. Ashlee Vandiver<br />
Uplift LA Chair<br />
4 UPLIFT LA <strong>40</strong> UNDER <strong>40</strong>
Mommy, daughter moment<br />
building LA<br />
Chantel Pettengill<br />
Owner & Director, Pettengill Academy<br />
It was her own struggle to find childcare<br />
that aligned with her philosophies<br />
about early childhood development that led<br />
Chantel to start her own early learning<br />
child care business in her home three years<br />
ago. Today, Chantel is the proud founder<br />
and owner of Pettengill Academy with her<br />
husband, Zachary. Chantel’s family has a<br />
long history of living and doing business in<br />
Lewiston, and opening Pettengill Academy<br />
was her way of carrying on the tradition.<br />
As a business owner, Chantel is responsible<br />
for daily operations, increasing enrollment,<br />
managing employees, and other administrative<br />
duties for the Academy. She loves<br />
her job because it allows her to interact with<br />
many different families, help children grow<br />
and learn, mentor her teachers and, most<br />
importantly, soak up the daily baby cuddles.<br />
Chantel’s favorite thing about LA is the<br />
sense of community. She loves living in<br />
Lewiston, with the local grocery store<br />
nearby and many things to do with her children;<br />
Chantel feels Lewiston is a safe and<br />
diverse place to raise her family. Some of<br />
her favorite places to<br />
eat in LA include Mac’s<br />
Grill, Gritty’s and<br />
DaVinci’s for family date<br />
nights and Fish Bones<br />
and Marche for date<br />
nights with her husband.<br />
Her favorite breakfast<br />
spots include Forage<br />
Market and Hurricane’s<br />
Café & Deli. During her<br />
free time, Chantel loves<br />
spending time with her<br />
family walking and<br />
snowshoeing on the numerous<br />
trails that LA has<br />
to offer and enjoying the<br />
festivals and art walks in<br />
Lewiston.<br />
Chantel is a member<br />
of the Joint City Charter<br />
Commission, an organization looking to<br />
combine LA in efforts to strengthen both<br />
cities. She also participates on the board of<br />
directors for the Maine Association of Educating<br />
Young Children. Apart from her<br />
board activities, Chantel does her best to<br />
give back through her business whenever<br />
possible. One of the biggest challenges<br />
Chantel sees facing LA is what she calls the<br />
“it always has been” attitude. She hopes to<br />
see changes in city ordinances to better attract<br />
and facilitate growth in business. Another<br />
important piece to the puzzle for<br />
Chantel is to get rid of negative attitudes in<br />
our community and encourage our youth to<br />
find their voice and get involved.<br />
In ten years, Chantel will be the parent<br />
of two teenagers. She and her husband<br />
hope to have established five or more locations<br />
for Pettengill Academy in both Maine<br />
and in other states. They also aspire to diversify<br />
their business and to continue creating<br />
and executing new development<br />
projects. Chantel plans to work together<br />
with her husband to make Lewiston more<br />
business friendly and to encourage growth<br />
for LA.<br />
Beautiful day for apple picking All dressed up<br />
UPLIFT LA <strong>40</strong> UNDER <strong>40</strong><br />
5
Judging<br />
Process<br />
<strong>2016</strong> AWARDS MAGAZINE<br />
PUBLISHER<br />
MARS Special Event Marketing<br />
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF<br />
Jim Marston<br />
MARSmarketing<strong>2016</strong>@gmail.com<br />
An annual list of <strong>40</strong> people who have achieved success<br />
in their professional pursuit before turning <strong>40</strong>.<br />
Nearly 500 nominations were submitted for approximately<br />
180 individuals. Uplift LA received almost 5,000<br />
final votes for the <strong>40</strong> individuals represented as the<br />
Uplift LA <strong>40</strong> <strong>Under</strong> <strong>40</strong> honorees.<br />
Who is eligible?<br />
Anyone living or working in the Lewiston Auburn<br />
Metropolitan area that is under the age of <strong>40</strong> as of<br />
May 13, <strong>2016</strong>; the publication date.<br />
Who are we looking for?<br />
Local business and professional leaders who have<br />
achieved success and excelled in their field before the<br />
age of <strong>40</strong>. We're looking for people who have demonstrated<br />
leadership, initiative and dedication in pursuing<br />
their careers, and who are likely to continue to achieve<br />
in the future.<br />
What are the nomination categories?<br />
Building LA, Creative Geniuses, Economic Development,<br />
Education, Emerging Leaders, Entrepreneurs,<br />
Government, Health & Wellness, Local Heroes, and<br />
Volunteers.<br />
ASSISTANT EDITOR<br />
Matt Leonard<br />
matt@LAMetroChamber.com<br />
ADVERTISING SALES<br />
Jim Marston<br />
Matt Leonard<br />
Tim Rucker<br />
GRAPHIC DESIGN / MAGAZINE LAYOUT<br />
Jim Marston<br />
Matt Leonard<br />
WRITERS<br />
Melissa Donahue<br />
Ashlee Vandiver<br />
Erin Reed<br />
Julia Sleeper<br />
Matt Leonard<br />
Shanna Cox<br />
PHOTOGRAPHY<br />
<strong>40</strong> <strong>Under</strong> <strong>40</strong> Winners, Emmie Jones Photography<br />
Beautiful LA, Daniel Marquis Photography<br />
CONTRIBUTORS<br />
Maureen Aube<br />
Anchour<br />
Penmor Lithographers<br />
How do I submit a nomination?<br />
We will open the nominations for Uplift LA <strong>40</strong> under<br />
<strong>40</strong> in late fall / early winter for the 2017 class.
uilding LA<br />
Erin Reed<br />
Executive Director, Trinity Jubilee Center<br />
Erin’s official title at the Trinity Jubilee<br />
Center is Executive Director and Food<br />
Pantry Coordinator, but if you ask her, she<br />
will tell you that everyone at the Center<br />
carries several job titles. She describes her<br />
daily work as a “whirlwind” of various<br />
different tasks, from handing out food to<br />
helping people with job applications, in<br />
addition to her administrative duties. Serving<br />
more than 1,000 people every week<br />
through its meals program, food pantry,<br />
day shelter, resource center, and refugee integration<br />
program, the Center is always<br />
busy.<br />
Erin began volunteering at the Jubilee<br />
Center when she was a teenager. In 2010,<br />
she found an opportunity to return to the<br />
Center working through AmeriCorps. At<br />
the end of her year with AmeriCorps, Erin<br />
was hired for her current position when<br />
another staff member retired. Her favorite<br />
part about her job is that it is always<br />
changing. One day she may be running<br />
food pantry distribution, the next she<br />
could be writing a grant, or helping someone<br />
apply for their green card. Erin also<br />
loves hearing from people who have gotten<br />
jobs or found places to live with the assistance<br />
of the Center, people she describes<br />
as “determined and grateful.”<br />
Growing up in a suburb just outside<br />
of Boston, Erin saw people move in, raise<br />
their children, and move out. There was<br />
no sense of a collective history or of<br />
community. Her favorite<br />
thing about LA is that it<br />
is a real community<br />
where many people<br />
come to, raise their families,<br />
and stay. She loves<br />
that people in LA have a<br />
sense of responsibility to<br />
their neighbors, like the<br />
Lewiston police officer<br />
who taught her how to<br />
shoot, her mechanic who<br />
volunteers to hang up<br />
posters for the Center<br />
fundraisers, or the<br />
friendly strangers who<br />
help unload her truck at<br />
the Center after hours.<br />
She is proud to have a<br />
job that is all about giving<br />
back to the wonderful<br />
community she lives<br />
in. Beyond her work at the Center, Erin<br />
serves on the board of directors for Community<br />
Concepts, another local organization<br />
that provides a myriad of services to<br />
our citizens who need it.<br />
One of the biggest challenges Erin sees<br />
facing LA is the need for more jobs.<br />
Through the Jubilee Center, Erin has<br />
helped more than two hundred people<br />
apply for work over the last six months. A<br />
lot of people were hired, she says, but<br />
many still need work. Many of the people<br />
who rely on the Center for their meals and<br />
other necessities would much rather be<br />
working and providing for themselves,<br />
and Erin wants to help them realize their<br />
goals. The Career Center and Adult Education<br />
programs have done a great job providing<br />
job training and the Center is seeing<br />
more manufacturing and agricultural<br />
jobs opening up. She has her fingers<br />
crossed that the job climate in LA will<br />
continue to improve.<br />
Erin hard at work t the Jubilee Center<br />
Jerry DerBoghosian poses with Erin<br />
Aba Abu, Jamila Jama, Kim Wettlaufer with Erin<br />
UPLIFT LA <strong>40</strong> UNDER <strong>40</strong><br />
7
uilding LA<br />
Gabrielle Russell<br />
Architect, Platz & Associates<br />
Gabrielle was encouraged by her parents<br />
to pursue architecture from a young<br />
age. Though it was a tough program, she<br />
persevered and earned her bachelor’s and<br />
master’s degrees in architecture from Tulane<br />
University. Before she went to work<br />
for Platz & Associates as<br />
an architect in 2014,<br />
Gabrielle was a founding<br />
member and President<br />
of the Board of Directors<br />
for Grow L+A, a local organization<br />
with a mission<br />
to promote a vibrant<br />
urban landscape and access<br />
to sustainable living<br />
resources throughout the<br />
LA area. Through Grow<br />
L+A the idea for the<br />
Bates Mill No. 5 project<br />
was born: studies were<br />
conducted and plans<br />
were made to utilize the<br />
space to create access to<br />
good, local food. As an<br />
architect for Platz & Associates,<br />
Gabrielle feels<br />
fortunate to be involved<br />
in the final execution of<br />
the project.<br />
Previous projects that<br />
Gabrielle was involved<br />
in through Grow L+A include<br />
the “Art Walk<br />
Window,” with Grow<br />
L+A sponsoring a space<br />
during the final Friday<br />
Art Walk each year<br />
where children can go to make art during<br />
the event. Grow L+A also contributed to<br />
the Downtown Auburn Transportation<br />
Center project as well as a project known<br />
as “Friends of Pettingill,” which worked to<br />
create a two acre park in the place of the<br />
old Pettingill School in Lewiston.<br />
Growing up in downtown Auburn,<br />
Gabrielle has always appreciated the people,<br />
the history, and the accessibility that<br />
LA has to offer. When she returned to<br />
Maine after college, she was happy to find<br />
a local internship that offered an opportunity<br />
to get involved in her community and<br />
to make a positive impact. In her spare<br />
time she enjoys many of LA’s excellent<br />
restaurants, with some favorites including<br />
Fuel, Rails, Marche, DaVinci’s, Guthrie’s,<br />
and many more. She likes to spend time<br />
with her family and friends and travels<br />
whenever she can. Gabrielle remains active<br />
with Grow L+A, --and is also involved<br />
with the YMCA and the Auburn Business<br />
Development Corporation. Other passions<br />
of hers include building preservation and<br />
urban space integration, animals, the arts,<br />
and healthy living. Currently, Gabrielle’s<br />
primary focus and interest lie with the<br />
Bates Mill No. 5 project.<br />
In the next ten years, Gabrielle plans<br />
to continue her efforts to preserve history<br />
and architecture in LA while still working<br />
to bring more activity and liveliness to the<br />
area. She hopes to see Bates Mill No. 5 become<br />
a regional destination and for the LA<br />
community as a whole to thrive. In order<br />
to achieve these goals, Gabrielle feels it is<br />
important for those working to better LA<br />
to improve communication and learn to<br />
collaborate more effectively to avoid the<br />
challenges of disconnect. Through her<br />
work at Platz & Associates, Grow L+A and<br />
other local organizations, Gabrielle will continue<br />
to be an integral part of building LA.<br />
Gabby’s family on vacation<br />
2001 Maine Cherry Blossom Princess<br />
Graduation day at Tulane University<br />
8 UPLIFT LA <strong>40</strong> UNDER <strong>40</strong>
uilding LA<br />
Marc Gosselin<br />
Executive Director of Sport Tourism<br />
& Manager of the Norway Savings Bank Arena<br />
Marc’s career in sports business<br />
began with the Lewiston Maineiacs<br />
hockey team, where he worked for four<br />
seasons. After the Maineiacs, Marc<br />
moved on first to the Portland Pirates,<br />
and then for the Maine Red Claws, while<br />
also doing development work for Central<br />
Maine Community College. Two of<br />
his fondest memories<br />
from that time are planning<br />
and managing the<br />
2010 AHL All-Star<br />
Game and being a part<br />
of the Lewiston<br />
Maineiacs team that<br />
won the 2007 President’s<br />
Cup. Last summer,<br />
Marc was hired by<br />
the City of Auburn as<br />
General Manager of the<br />
Norway Savings Bank<br />
Arena and Executive<br />
Director of Sports<br />
Tourism for the City of<br />
Auburn. As general<br />
manager, Marc is in<br />
charge of the overall operation<br />
of the Arena. In<br />
his role as Executive Director<br />
of Sports<br />
Tourism, he assists the<br />
City of Auburn and surrounding<br />
areas with<br />
marketing and development<br />
efforts aimed at<br />
making LA a choice destination<br />
for recreational<br />
and sporting events.<br />
Born and raised in LA,<br />
Marc moved away for<br />
short periods in the past but always<br />
seemed to find his way back here. He is<br />
drawn to the LA community because of<br />
its people, who he feels truly value the<br />
opportunities that the area has to offer.<br />
In a smaller and more tight-knit community<br />
like LA, Marc appreciates the relative<br />
ease with which a positive impact<br />
can be made. He is blessed to have a job<br />
he loves and to live<br />
and work in the community where he<br />
grew up. When he is not working, Marc<br />
enjoys attending sporting events, playing<br />
golf and hockey, and visiting some of his<br />
favorite LA eateries which include<br />
Heidi’s Brooklyn Deli, Wei-Li Restaurant,<br />
Gritty’s and Buffalo Wild Wings.<br />
Beyond the world of sports, Marc is<br />
passionate about helping children. He<br />
participates in the Camp Sunshine Annual<br />
Benefit Golf Tournament to support<br />
the Camp Sunshine mission of providing<br />
a retreat for children with life threatening<br />
illnesses and their families. When time allows,<br />
he volunteers at various local functions<br />
and events and enjoys offering his<br />
professional skills to friends and colleagues<br />
in a combined effort to make positive<br />
impacts on the LA community.<br />
According to Marc, one of the greatest<br />
challenges facing LA today is the need<br />
for community revitalization. He would<br />
like to see a wider range of revitalization<br />
initiatives, including more programs,<br />
events and functions designed to promote<br />
economic development and improve<br />
the physical, social and service<br />
environments in Lewiston and Auburn.<br />
Marc plans to utilize his position as Executive<br />
Director of Sports Tourism to attract<br />
more business and prosperity to LA.<br />
Overlooking one of the two rinks at the arena<br />
Marc interviews Sébastien Piché<br />
On ice at the Winter Classic<br />
10 UPLIFT LA <strong>40</strong> UNDER <strong>40</strong>
creative genius<br />
Colby Michaud<br />
Owner, Praxis Production Studios<br />
Colby co-founded Praxis Production<br />
Studios in 2010 with then-partner, Chad<br />
Sylvester. The original vision for the company<br />
was to start a real estate reality TV<br />
series, however, the two partners soon realized<br />
that they could use their love of<br />
video production to promote the many<br />
different opportunities and services the<br />
LA community has to offer. Last year,<br />
Colby assumed full ownership of Praxis<br />
and Chad moved on to pursue a new business<br />
endeavor. Today, the Studio “exists<br />
to help companies promote themselves by<br />
giving life to their stories and brands<br />
through high quality corporate and promotional<br />
videos.” Beyond the pride and<br />
joy he takes in running his own company,<br />
Colby enjoys the meaningful relationships<br />
his work has enabled him to forge as well<br />
as the satisfaction of his clients when he<br />
delivers a video that successfully captures<br />
the stories and emotions that bring their<br />
own companies to life.<br />
Born at Loring Air Force Base in<br />
Northern Maine, Colby spent much of his<br />
childhood living in different places. His<br />
family’s lifestyle exposed him to various<br />
new cultural experiences as well as a few<br />
“once in a lifetime” opportunities. After<br />
his father retired from the Air Force, the<br />
family resettled in Maine to be near other<br />
relatives. As an adult, Colby chose to stay<br />
in Maine because of its<br />
people, its beautiful<br />
scenery and its diverse<br />
recreational opportunities.<br />
His favorite thing<br />
about the LA community<br />
is its tremendous sense<br />
of community. Like the<br />
two bridges that connect<br />
our cities, Colby finds<br />
that a collective sense of<br />
pride and ownership<br />
bring the people of<br />
Lewiston and Auburn<br />
together. As a local business<br />
owner, a strong<br />
community is key in his<br />
efforts to build deep and<br />
meaningful relationships<br />
and to make positive impacts<br />
that go beyond the<br />
clients he serves directly.<br />
In his free time, Colby enjoys writing,<br />
watching movies and composing music.<br />
He loves outdoor activities, and can be<br />
found skiing, snowshoeing and ice skating<br />
in the wintertime or visiting one of<br />
Maine’s many beautiful state parks when<br />
the weather is warm. Some of his local<br />
restaurants of choice include DaVinci’s,<br />
Heidi’s Brooklyn Deli and Jasmine Café.<br />
Colby has always maintained an interest<br />
in culture and the arts and is particularly<br />
passionate about The Public Theatre in<br />
Lewiston, an organization which he feels<br />
brings truly outstanding art to our community.<br />
He proudly serves on the board of<br />
directors for the Theatre and supports its<br />
mission through marketing and aiming to<br />
bridge the gap between young professionals<br />
and professional theater here in LA.<br />
He is also involved with the LA community<br />
through the Young Professionals of<br />
Lewiston Auburn (YPLAA) and the LA<br />
Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce.<br />
In the future, Colby sees himself creating<br />
jobs and job security for the people<br />
of LA, promoting great local businesses<br />
and strengthening our artistic community<br />
through professional and creative video<br />
production.<br />
Genevieve Hering & Colby Michaud<br />
The Michauds: Colby, Debra, Britni & Ray<br />
Dogs: Pippin, Katie, Jack<br />
Colby, with his sister, in front of Air Force 1<br />
UPLIFT LA <strong>40</strong> UNDER <strong>40</strong><br />
13
creative genius<br />
Karly Eretzian<br />
Creative Strategist, Rinck Advertising<br />
As Vice President of Creative Services<br />
for Rinck Advertising in Auburn, Karly is<br />
responsible for “all things creative” at the<br />
agency. She collaborates with her amazing<br />
team to conceptualize methods for effectively<br />
communicating brand messages for<br />
their clients. Her work requires exploration<br />
of the optimal ways to engage with a<br />
brand’s audience as well as how to best inspire,<br />
entice and intrigue them. Karly believes<br />
the most important part of her job is<br />
figuring out new ways to make people<br />
think. She is excited to be part of a business<br />
that is “moving, shaking, growing and<br />
making things happen.”<br />
Prior to joining Rinck Advertising in<br />
2003, Karly majored in advertising design<br />
at the Syracuse University College of Visual<br />
and Performing Arts. With access to professors<br />
working full-time in the industry as<br />
owners, creative directors, and the like, she<br />
credits her time at Syracuse with teaching<br />
her how to truly think. She stresses the importance<br />
of not only learning how to design<br />
and create art, but also cultivating a strong<br />
focus on strategy in messaging, communication<br />
effectiveness and audience perceptions.<br />
Karly’s vision is to use her work to<br />
reach people in Maine and beyond.<br />
Among Karly’s favorite aspects of LA<br />
are its strong sense of community and the<br />
opportunity living here affords to strike a<br />
balance between work, family, health and<br />
fun. She is motivated by the respect, loyalty,<br />
compassion, commitment,<br />
and drive of local citizens<br />
and businesses alike.<br />
With its close proximity<br />
to many of Maine’s beautiful<br />
mountains and<br />
beaches, and to the City<br />
of Portland, living in LA<br />
provides Karly with access<br />
to all the things she<br />
loves. One of her favorite<br />
LA restaurants is Fish<br />
Bones, where she wrote<br />
her vows and did the majority<br />
of her wedding<br />
planning. Other top spots<br />
include local familyfriendly<br />
restaurants like<br />
Pat’s Pizza, Gipper’s<br />
Sports Grill and Mac’s<br />
Grill, who always welcome<br />
her, her husband<br />
and their boisterous two-year-old daughter<br />
with a smile.<br />
Though most of her free time nowadays<br />
is spent running around after her<br />
daughter, Stella, Karly loves to go skiing<br />
whenever she can. She participated in a<br />
weekly ski racing league at Lost Valley this<br />
season and hopes to return to the mountains<br />
next winter. In the summertime, Karly<br />
and her family enjoy camping, canoeing,<br />
hiking, and simply hanging out by the<br />
water. Local causes she is passionate about<br />
include the Maine Cancer Foundation and<br />
the Patrick Dempsey Center for Cancer<br />
Hope and Healing, Museum LA, The Public<br />
Theatre, Auburn Firefighters Local 797 and<br />
the Androscoggin Humane Society. She has<br />
served on the boards of directors for various<br />
LA nonprofits and played a role in the<br />
creation of Young Professionals of Lewiston<br />
Auburn (YPLAA).<br />
In the future, Karly plans to continue<br />
living and working here in LA and hopes to<br />
make a greater impact on the community.<br />
Her main career goal is to “put LA on the<br />
map” by showing the world that it is a creative<br />
place filled with energy and talent.<br />
Creative Team at Rinck<br />
Karly, with her family: Hubby, Calvin Hunter;<br />
daughter, Stella; and dog, Angus<br />
Stella & Karly painting the town blue<br />
UPLIFT LA <strong>40</strong> UNDER <strong>40</strong><br />
15
16 UPLIFT LA <strong>40</strong> UNDER <strong>40</strong>
creative genius<br />
Melanie Therrien<br />
Owner, Wicked Illustrations<br />
As owner and operator of Wicked Illustrations<br />
Studio & Gallery in Lewiston,<br />
Melanie consistently finds herself doing<br />
something different. She creates lesson plans<br />
for art classes and paintings for art parties,<br />
works on commissions and illustrations for<br />
clients, represents various featured artists in<br />
her gallery and plans events like local art<br />
and sewing camps. In her managerial role,<br />
she maintains an inventory of art supplies<br />
and works on marketing, advertising and accounting<br />
for the business. Apart from getting<br />
to do what she loves each day, Melanie’s favorite<br />
thing about her career is the opportunity<br />
it provides to share her passion for art<br />
with others and to use that passion to make<br />
a positive impact on the LA community.<br />
Melanie’s career in the arts began when<br />
she acquired an interest in creating murals at<br />
the age of fifteen. Wicked Illustrations was<br />
born in 2007 when she began illustrating the<br />
award-winning children’s book series<br />
known as “ElsBeth Adventures,” and grew<br />
into the studio and art gallery it is today beginning<br />
in 2010. Melanie continues to illustrate<br />
for the “ElsBeth” series, among others,<br />
and takes commissions for her<br />
murals and other projects.<br />
To date, her portfolio<br />
boasts over one hundred<br />
paintings. Some of her<br />
main influences are Frida<br />
Kahlo and Dahlov Ipcar,<br />
as well as the Surrealist<br />
and Art Nouveau Movements.<br />
First LA Art Walk in Wicked's new location on<br />
Canal St. in Lewiston<br />
Born and raised in<br />
Lewiston, the history and<br />
sense of community in LA<br />
are among the top reasons<br />
Melanie and her husband<br />
decided to build a life<br />
here. She loves her neighbors,<br />
and presently resides<br />
in the very same<br />
neighborhood where she and her husband<br />
grew up. Some of her favorite local places to<br />
eat include Mac’s Grill, Fish Bones, Simones’<br />
Hot Dog Stand, and Orchid. In her free time,<br />
Melanie enjoys painting and reading for fun,<br />
hanging out with her husband, family and<br />
friends, and snuggling with her pets. In the<br />
summertime, she loves sitting<br />
by the fire outdoors and<br />
playing in her garden.<br />
Melanie is passionate about<br />
using her interest in the arts<br />
to help local causes, donating<br />
paintings, gift certificates,<br />
time and money<br />
whenever she can. She is<br />
also involved with LA<br />
Arts, an organization<br />
dedicated to “engaging<br />
and inspiring a vibrant community through<br />
arts and culture,” as well as the Union of<br />
Maine Visual Artists.<br />
Melanie is very happy and appreciative<br />
to be where she is today. Looking ahead, she<br />
plans to continue serving her community<br />
through her love of art and helping to make<br />
a difference for years to come.<br />
Glenn & Melanie, on their wedding day,<br />
May 19, 2002<br />
“Last Supper” – our last day at Captive Elements Art House<br />
UPLIFT LA <strong>40</strong> UNDER <strong>40</strong><br />
17
creative genius<br />
Vincent Ratsovong<br />
Artistic Director, Community Little Theatre<br />
As artistic director for Community<br />
Little Theatre in Auburn, Vincent works<br />
closely with other theater leaders to create<br />
a “main stage season” with three musicals<br />
and two plays, as well as<br />
fundraising events and a one-act play festival<br />
submission. Once the upcoming season<br />
has been established, he plays a<br />
supportive role to<br />
his fellow directors in their<br />
production efforts. He acts<br />
as a sounding board, resource,<br />
and liaison. Being<br />
part of the artistic team involves<br />
working with the<br />
Director’s Apprentice Program,<br />
a training opportunity<br />
for local citizens who<br />
are interested in theater<br />
leadership roles. Vincent<br />
also directs the Summer<br />
Youth Theatre Project and<br />
Teen Musical Theater<br />
Showcase, serving young<br />
artists throughout the State<br />
of Maine. Some of the high<br />
points of his career have<br />
been performing for famous<br />
composer, Alan<br />
Menken, performing at the<br />
Kennedy Center, and winning<br />
first place at the<br />
Boston NATS Song Festival.<br />
He is also proud to be<br />
a two-time Irene Ryan<br />
nominee and semi-finalist.<br />
Vincent began his artistic<br />
journey as a ballet dancer,<br />
spending a few years with<br />
The Maine State Ballet as<br />
well as the Portland Ballet.<br />
After graduating from the<br />
University of the Arts in Philadelphia as<br />
a dance major, he went on to dance with<br />
The Philadelphia Ballet. When it came<br />
time to launch his career in musical theater,<br />
it made sense for him to return to<br />
Community Little Theatre and give back<br />
to the place that ignited his passion as a<br />
child. He loves the sense of community in<br />
LA, and feels humbled watching local citizens<br />
from all walks of life work together<br />
to create art they can be proud of. Much<br />
like our community itself, the success of<br />
the Theatre is driven by the investments<br />
of each of its members.<br />
A traveler in his free time, Vincent<br />
feels that so much of his work is based on<br />
studying people and their behaviors.<br />
Exploring different places around the<br />
world enables him to do just that. Locally,<br />
he may be found enjoying a meal at his<br />
favorite LA eateries including Fuel, Fish<br />
Bones, Sea<strong>40</strong> and Heidi’s Brooklyn Deli.<br />
Beyond his work with the Theatre, Vincent<br />
gives back to LA by volunteering as<br />
much of his time as possible with local<br />
organizations. He views any time devoted<br />
to community outreach and volunteerism<br />
as time well spent. Some of the causes he<br />
is most passionate about include the Make<br />
a Wish Foundation, the Children’s Miracle<br />
Network and the AIDS Foundation.<br />
Looking to the future, Vincent hopes<br />
to be directing a major equity company<br />
and ensuring that the local artistic community<br />
continues to flourish for future<br />
generations.<br />
Professional Actor's Headshot<br />
Vincent with Derrick Lacasse at Epcot Disney<br />
Caldwell B. Cladwell in Urinetown for The Kennedy Center American College Theater Festival<br />
18 UPLIFT LA <strong>40</strong> UNDER <strong>40</strong>
CHANGE<br />
LEADERS<br />
by Shanna Cox<br />
shanna@gotippingpoint.com<br />
Shanna Cox is the founder of Project<br />
Tipping Point, whose mission is to create,<br />
connect and engage a robust community<br />
network for positive change within Lewiston<br />
Auburn. She chose to buy a house, live in<br />
and raise her three boys in Lewiston, because<br />
she believes in the possibilities of our communities'<br />
future.<br />
W<br />
e don’t need cheer<br />
leaders, we need change<br />
leaders. Lewiston Auburn<br />
is on the edge of something great. After<br />
years of decline from its manufacturing<br />
heyday, one can see the bright spots<br />
breaking through. It can be seen in the<br />
new shops and restaurants, the self-organization<br />
of entrepreneurs and artisans<br />
to promote our downtowns, the<br />
return of the real estate market, and the<br />
young leaders stepping up to helm organizations<br />
and businesses.<br />
This change is being ushered in by a<br />
new group of leaders. These young<br />
professionals simultaneously embrace<br />
the rich heritage and history of their<br />
communities, and rebel against the<br />
often touted reasoning of “because that<br />
is the way we always have done it”.<br />
While these leaders might be some of<br />
the people cheering mostly loudly for<br />
Lewiston and Auburn’s renaissance,<br />
they aren’t the cheerleaders. They<br />
know that standing on the sidelines<br />
and talking about the future and touting<br />
our growth metrics isn’t enough.<br />
These people are change leaders, they<br />
know that to really grab ahold of a<br />
bright future, we must act.<br />
For every one<br />
of our leaders<br />
getting recognized,<br />
there are<br />
another two<br />
working silently,<br />
all of whom are<br />
pushing Lewiston<br />
Auburn<br />
towards a new<br />
future. And they<br />
all have something<br />
in common<br />
they challenge<br />
the status quo.<br />
Instinctively,<br />
they know something about our current<br />
state is a barrier to the future. They can<br />
see and feel where change in our communities<br />
is occurring faster than the<br />
structures, policies and governance<br />
will support. They know things aren’t<br />
working the way they are, and without<br />
pause, they take action.<br />
They are stepping into their leadership<br />
potential.<br />
Each of these leaders have different<br />
approaches. When you talk to them,<br />
they might focus on different aspects of<br />
our future. Some will speak of the importance<br />
of education, while others<br />
will talk of the need to increase the<br />
number of employers and jobs. Some<br />
will talk about the need to change our<br />
physical environment- improving<br />
cityscapes and welcoming new demographics<br />
who live, work and play<br />
downtown. Still others will talk about<br />
the need to expand transportation offerings<br />
and connect to other employment<br />
centers, capturing the opportunity of<br />
Portland’s fast growth rate and restricted<br />
real estate market.<br />
All of these approaches challenge the<br />
status quo, require change, and embrace<br />
new ways of thinking about old<br />
problems. While some of these methods<br />
compete with each other, we know<br />
that competition spurs innovation. Innovation<br />
is needed to overcome our<br />
collective community challenges.<br />
Within our differences, there is a commonality.<br />
Each leader is working towards<br />
a universal vision with a<br />
singular belief- Lewiston and Auburn’s<br />
promising future is within our reach.<br />
We need these change leaders to forge<br />
ahead on their march to a brighter future.<br />
More importantly, they need us to<br />
get off the sidelines, and join them in<br />
the pursuit. Lewiston Auburn needs<br />
change leaders, not cheer leaders.<br />
UPLIFT LA <strong>40</strong> UNDER <strong>40</strong><br />
19
Proud to be part of the<br />
Lewiston Auburn<br />
Community!
economic development<br />
Emmie Jones<br />
Owner, Emmie Jones Photography<br />
Emmie Jones’ professional journey<br />
did not begin with photography. As a<br />
first semester nursing student, she<br />
quickly realized that her true passion was<br />
to someday own her own business. A native<br />
of Greene, Emmie decided to move<br />
out of state after she finished her schooling.<br />
It didn’t take long for Emmie to<br />
grow homesick, as she missed her family<br />
and friends and decided the LA community<br />
was the only place where she could<br />
imagine raising a family of her own.<br />
Shortly after her children were born,<br />
Emmie found herself spending more and<br />
more time behind the camera. In 2010,<br />
she opened her first photography studio<br />
in Lewiston, Maine.<br />
Running her own photography studio<br />
requires Emmie to be versatile and to possess<br />
a varied set of skills. Like many sole<br />
proprietors, Emmie is not only a photographer<br />
but is also charged with marketing,<br />
community outreach and public<br />
relations, bookkeeping and administrative<br />
work, as well as staying up-to-date<br />
with the wonderful and constantly evolving<br />
world of digital photography.<br />
Outside the studio, Emmie spends a<br />
large portion of her “free time” with her<br />
family. Emmie and her husband, Shawn,<br />
can often be found with their children<br />
enjoying many of the<br />
numerous free community<br />
activities and festivals<br />
that LA has to offer.<br />
Emmie and her family<br />
love that every season<br />
in LA offers new things<br />
to do both indoors and<br />
outdoors. They enjoy<br />
skiing in the winter and<br />
hiking, biking and<br />
swimming in the summer.<br />
Some of Emmie’s<br />
favorite local places to<br />
eat include Forage Market,<br />
Fuel, Rails, and<br />
Margaritas, her “ultimate<br />
guilty pleasure.”<br />
Emmie’s passion<br />
for photography introduced<br />
her to the idea of giving back to her<br />
community by supporting homeless and<br />
at-risk students in their efforts to stay in<br />
school. Through the Lewiston STEP Program,<br />
Emmie takes senior pictures for<br />
students who are on track to graduate but<br />
cannot afford professional photos on their<br />
own. She is also involved with a national<br />
nonprofit called “Now I lay Me Down to<br />
Sleep,” taking bereavement photographs<br />
for families facing the loss of an infant<br />
child. Emmie feels it is important for her<br />
to give back to those in her community<br />
and beyond to give thanks for the<br />
blessings in her life.<br />
In the future, Emmie hopes to still be<br />
doing photography and aspires to launch<br />
her own photo project designed to boost<br />
self-esteem in children. Emmie would<br />
like to see continued efforts to improve<br />
the image of our community and plans to<br />
pitch in however she can. She supports<br />
LA by not only running a thriving local<br />
business, but also by investing in its future<br />
helping local high school seniors<br />
succeed.<br />
Emmie’s children, Mason & Kendra<br />
Shawn & Emmie Jones in Aruba<br />
On a family vacation in Aruba<br />
UPLIFT LA <strong>40</strong> UNDER <strong>40</strong><br />
21
economic development<br />
Jenny Ziebart<br />
Director of Marketing & Communications,<br />
LA Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce<br />
Jenny Ziebart, a familiar<br />
and friendly face to<br />
many in the LA community,<br />
began her career at<br />
the LA Metropolitan<br />
Chamber of Commerce as<br />
an intern in 2003. She was<br />
just half a dozen credits<br />
away from earning her<br />
degree in Public Administration<br />
when she was offered<br />
a full-time, paid<br />
position with the chamber.<br />
For Jenny, there was<br />
no question that she had<br />
found the right fit.<br />
Today, as Director of Marketing<br />
and Communications,<br />
Jenny generates<br />
press releases, plans and<br />
executes social media<br />
strategies, manages advertising<br />
and email marketing,<br />
and more, all in<br />
the interest of promoting<br />
the chamber and connecting<br />
its members to the<br />
valuable resources and<br />
opportunities they need.<br />
She also assists local efforts<br />
to coordinate job<br />
fairs and facilitate scholarships<br />
for high school students<br />
and adults alike.<br />
Jenny attributes much of<br />
her success with the chamber to her coworkers<br />
and peers, whom she admires for their<br />
motivation and strong work ethic.<br />
Jenny’s efforts to improve the LA community<br />
are heavily supported by its citizens,<br />
whom she refers to as “wonderful<br />
people devoted to making the LA Metro<br />
area a great place.” Her own devotion to<br />
LA extends beyond office hours, as Jenny<br />
and her family patronize the many local<br />
restaurants and businesses that are members<br />
of the chamber. When she isn’t<br />
working, Jenny loves spending time outdoors.<br />
Some of her favorite outdoor activities<br />
include hiking, swimming, skiing and<br />
snowshoeing. As a parent, her primary personal<br />
goal is “to raise two well-adjusted future<br />
adults.” She particularly enjoys<br />
volunteering at her daughter’s school whenever<br />
she can.<br />
Jenny’s daughter has Alopecia, an autoimmune<br />
disorder that leads to extensive hair<br />
loss. Accordingly, Jenny finds herself most<br />
passionate about a nonprofit organization<br />
known as the Children’s Alopecia Project,<br />
which she says has been a huge help to her<br />
family. With no cure for Alopecia to date, the<br />
organization focuses on supporting children<br />
and their families with building confidence.<br />
For Jenny and her family, the Children’s<br />
Alopecia Project has been “a lifesaver.”<br />
Our community has Jenny to thank for<br />
the well-known local institution known as<br />
“Young Professionals of the Lewiston<br />
Auburn Area,” better known as “YPLAA.”<br />
As its founder and first member, Jenny laid<br />
the groundwork for an organization dedicated<br />
to supporting LA’s young professionals.<br />
Today, YPLAA is responsible for<br />
numerous networking events, education opportunities,<br />
and activities designed to better<br />
connect our young professionals to their<br />
community. Jenny’s efforts through YPLAA<br />
are an invaluable asset to our economic development,<br />
particularly at a time when the<br />
LA area is striving to attract and retain young<br />
professionals.<br />
Looking to the future, Jenny sees herself continuing<br />
her efforts to improve upon the greatness<br />
of the LA area. As many members of our<br />
community are aware, local citizens and business<br />
owners alike are working to improve<br />
upon the perception of Lewiston Auburn.<br />
Jenny believes the first step is to change our<br />
negative perceptions from within and show<br />
the world outside LA what a wonderful place<br />
it is to live, work and play.<br />
Nick, Mya, Jenny & Conner Ziebart<br />
at “Alopeciapalooza” an annual event put<br />
on by the Children’s Alopecia Project,<br />
in North Topsail Beach, North Carolina.<br />
22 UPLIFT LA <strong>40</strong> UNDER <strong>40</strong><br />
Alison Robenstine (sister), Jenny & Nick Ziebart, Vicky & Kevin<br />
Moulton (parents)<br />
Mya & Griffin Ziebart at the lake
CONGRATULATIONS<br />
to our own<br />
Jenny<br />
Ziebart<br />
One of LA’s<br />
<strong>40</strong><br />
UNDER<br />
<strong>40</strong>!
LEWISTON CONGRATULATES<br />
Two of Our Emerging Leaders<br />
Misty Parker<br />
Economic Development<br />
Joe Philippon<br />
Local Hero<br />
For Being Recognized as one of the <strong>40</strong> <strong>Under</strong> <strong>40</strong><br />
&<br />
For Being a Positive Force in LA<br />
The Next Generation is Coming On!
economic development<br />
Misty Parker<br />
Economic Development Specialist, City of Lewiston<br />
As the Economic Development Specialist<br />
for the City of Lewiston, Misty<br />
works to attract new businesses to the LA<br />
area and to assist existing businesses with<br />
their efforts to grow and improve. She<br />
helps local developers and businesses to<br />
bring their projects to fruition, often employing<br />
her problem solving skills to navigate<br />
through the regulatory and<br />
permitting processes. Her particular areas<br />
of focus presently include the revitalization<br />
of downtown Lewiston, development<br />
of the riverfront island area and general<br />
workforce development in LA.<br />
Misty recognized from a young age<br />
that she had a passion for helping to build<br />
and sustain strong communities. Over<br />
time she learned she could do so in many<br />
ways, whether by strengthening a community’s<br />
tax base, assisting local start-up<br />
businesses and entrepreneurs, or simply<br />
by helping those who want to contribute<br />
find their voices. She attributes her success<br />
in these efforts in part to her graduate<br />
work, which focused on community development,<br />
civic engagement and land use<br />
planning. Misty was drawn to the LA community<br />
in particular because of its potential<br />
for growth and the desire of its people<br />
to realize that potential. She felt that LA<br />
was “a community that wanted to grow<br />
and a place that would value her skill set,”<br />
and happily acknowledges that she made<br />
the right choice.<br />
Misty believes that<br />
the greatest thing about<br />
LA is its people. “Our<br />
tight-knit community<br />
makes LA a place where<br />
people can live, work,<br />
and achieve their goals<br />
with the support of their<br />
fellow citizens.” Having<br />
previously spent some<br />
time working in Midcoast<br />
Maine, Misty appreciates<br />
that this type of<br />
community support for<br />
the individual is unique.<br />
As she puts it, “It doesn’t<br />
matter the cause, if you<br />
need help, this community<br />
has your back.”<br />
Apart from the people, Misty is passionate<br />
about supporting the numerous local<br />
restaurants that LA has to offer, with some<br />
of her favorites including Marche, Orchid,<br />
and Rails in Lewiston and 84 Court and<br />
Gritty’s in Auburn. When she isn’t out and<br />
about in LA enjoying the local cuisine,<br />
Misty can be found at home working in<br />
the garden or tending to one of many<br />
farming projects with her husband. She<br />
is passionate about food security and<br />
the restoration of local fisheries, and<br />
feels that any healthy community<br />
needs access to healthy food and<br />
ecosystems.<br />
Looking forward, Misty envisions<br />
herself continuing her work<br />
with the City of Lewiston.<br />
To Misty, the primary obstacle to future<br />
progress and prosperity in LA is a lack<br />
of consensus as to how we might achieve<br />
these goals. Through open dialogue and<br />
collaboration, Misty believes we can work<br />
together to build a strong economy and<br />
make LA a desirable place for all to thrive.<br />
Their wedding day<br />
In Quebec<br />
Molnlycke Groundbreaking Ceremony<br />
UPLIFT LA <strong>40</strong> UNDER <strong>40</strong><br />
25
Sheri with her husband, Stanley Hollenbeck<br />
economic development<br />
Sheri Withers<br />
Owner, Downtown Homemade & Vintage<br />
Sheri and her family returned to LA<br />
after being away for a number of years.<br />
She presently resides on Lisbon Street in<br />
Lewiston, which is also the newest location<br />
of her business, Downtown Homemade<br />
& Vintage. Sheri describes her<br />
work as “creating concepts for tee shirts<br />
for a city that she loves.”<br />
She considers herself<br />
lucky to be able to create,<br />
sew and draw for<br />
her business while also<br />
spending time at home<br />
with her children. In addition<br />
to her design<br />
work, Sheri spends her<br />
time planning social<br />
events around town that<br />
allow LA citizens to<br />
practice arts and crafts<br />
and display their work<br />
in local venues.<br />
On “Shop Local Saturday”<br />
in 2012, Sheri<br />
and a friend hosted an<br />
indie craft fair at Callahan<br />
Hall in the Lewiston<br />
Public Library. The<br />
enthusiasm and positive<br />
feedback she received<br />
from the event soon motivated<br />
her to open<br />
Downtown Homemade<br />
& Vintage. DH&V<br />
started as a place for<br />
local artists to sell and<br />
promote their work.<br />
The following year,<br />
Sheri launched her first<br />
line of “I Love Lewiston”<br />
screen printed tee shirts, with the<br />
initial concept designed to support the<br />
victims of the Bartlett Street fires. Sheri<br />
contributed a portion of her tee shirt sales<br />
to the YWCA. Following that project,<br />
Sheri began creating numerous new designs<br />
for wholesale to local businesses.<br />
Presently, DH&V boasts seven different<br />
tee shirt lines and is developing a concept<br />
for children’s shirts. Last fall, Sheri<br />
founded “The Hive-Artisan Collective.”<br />
She describes The Hive as “a safe space<br />
[for area artists] to create and promote<br />
their art in a positive environment.”<br />
Sheri’s favorite thing about LA is its<br />
strong sense of community. She is inspired<br />
by the citizens of LA and their investment<br />
in the economic and social<br />
growth of the area. Being part of a community<br />
where the people are passionate<br />
about local creations is key to Sheri’s success.<br />
When she is not at work, Sheri can<br />
be found enjoying the perks of living in<br />
downtown Lewiston. She and her family<br />
and friends often engage in “drink and<br />
appetizer hops,” traveling from one local<br />
restaurant to another to sample all the<br />
different types of food and drink. Other<br />
times, they will get takeout and head to<br />
the tap room at Baxter Brewing Company<br />
where Sheri’s husband works.<br />
To give back to her community, Sheri<br />
participates in the Union of Maine Visual<br />
Artists, LA Chapter. The organization,<br />
much like Sheri herself, works to create<br />
opportunities for the promotion of local<br />
art. She is currently working with members<br />
of Lewiston’s City Council to establish<br />
the first “creative crosswalk,” a<br />
project which she hopes will ensure public<br />
safety and boost our local economy.<br />
Sheri hopes her efforts to support the arts<br />
in LA will entice more of our youth to<br />
stay in the area when it comes time to<br />
start their own careers.<br />
Sheri with her mom, Bonita Kenny<br />
With their children, Issaic & Azilee<br />
26 UPLIFT LA <strong>40</strong> UNDER <strong>40</strong>
education<br />
Deanna Etienne<br />
As a Pre-Kindergarten teacher for<br />
Walton Elementary School in Auburn,<br />
Deanna is dedicated to making a difference<br />
in the lives of her students. Learning<br />
through play, her classroom is a place for<br />
young children to grow academically,<br />
socially and emotionally.<br />
She originally came to<br />
Lewiston in 2007 to<br />
teach at Farwell Elementary<br />
School and has been<br />
living in LA ever since.<br />
Pre-K Teacher, Walton Elementary School, Auburn<br />
Deanna always<br />
wanted to be a teacher.<br />
She focused her studies<br />
on Early Childhood Education<br />
while in college<br />
and took a job at a private<br />
preschool after<br />
graduation. Some of<br />
Deanna’s favorite aspects<br />
of teaching include<br />
playing an instrumental<br />
role in the growth and<br />
development of her students<br />
and working with<br />
the diverse families in<br />
LA who have helped<br />
her improve both as<br />
an educator and as an<br />
individual. In addition<br />
to the students<br />
and their families,<br />
Deanna feels fortunate<br />
to be surrounded<br />
by a group<br />
of talented, dedicated,<br />
and loving<br />
colleagues. She is<br />
honored to be part of<br />
the work all the wonderful teachers of<br />
LA do each day to make a positive difference<br />
in the lives of their students.<br />
Living in LA allows Deanna to<br />
be close to all the people and things<br />
that she loves. She is never too far<br />
away from her family in Scarborough,<br />
or the numerous beaches and<br />
snowy mountains of Maine. One of her favorite<br />
things about the area is that it provides<br />
a “big city” atmosphere with a<br />
tight-knit community feel. Some of her<br />
preferred places to eat in LA include<br />
Heidi’s Brooklyn Deli and Jasmine Café.<br />
She loves to stay active and spends much<br />
of her free time working out at WolfPack<br />
Fitness in Auburn. At home, Deanna enjoys<br />
quality time playing and laughing<br />
with her husband and their son. When the<br />
weather allows, she likes to spend time<br />
near the ocean or going for long walks on<br />
Spring Road in Auburn.<br />
Looking to the future, Deanna<br />
envisions herself continuing her career in<br />
early childhood education. She plans to<br />
use her passion in the classroom to make<br />
the most positive impact she can on the<br />
LA community.<br />
Deanna and her husband<br />
Deanna’s Classroom<br />
Deanna’s baby boy<br />
28 UPLIFT LA <strong>40</strong> UNDER <strong>40</strong>
education<br />
Alexandra Hood<br />
Olin Arts Center Operations Supervisor, Bates College<br />
While working toward her undergraduate<br />
degree, Alexandra knew that she<br />
wanted to be part of the fields of art and<br />
higher education. When she was offered a<br />
job as operations supervisor for the Olin<br />
Arts Center at Bates College, she saw it as<br />
the perfect opportunity to be involved<br />
with an esteemed liberal arts college, surround<br />
herself with creative students, and<br />
take a leadership role in the arts. She manages<br />
staff, security and communications<br />
for the Center and plays a key role in the<br />
development and support of Center programs<br />
and procedures in collaboration<br />
with the Departments of Art and Visual<br />
Culture and Music, as well as the Bates<br />
College Museum. Alexandra loves to see<br />
passionate students working to further<br />
their own art careers each and every day.<br />
A Lewiston native, Alexandra returned<br />
to LA after attending college in<br />
New York. She wanted to give back to her<br />
home community by helping it grow and<br />
encouraging its youth to do the same. Her<br />
favorite thing about the LA community is<br />
the strength, perseverance and diversity of<br />
its people. She feels honored to be part of<br />
a group of strong individuals who work<br />
hard to make LA a better place, and to witness<br />
the growth that results from their efforts.<br />
In particular, Alexandra is passionate<br />
about developing the LA art scene, which<br />
she says has “a passionate spark that you<br />
can’t find just anywhere.” She utilizes her<br />
interests to give back to<br />
her community by assisting<br />
the Gypsy Lew Theater<br />
with graphic design<br />
projects, supporting the<br />
Union of Maine Visual<br />
Artists, Lewiston Auburn<br />
Chapter, displaying art<br />
and acting as a live artist<br />
for LA Art Walks in the<br />
summer, and offering<br />
private art lessons to local<br />
adults of all ages.<br />
Alexandra is a big<br />
fan of Mother India,<br />
where the food is delicious,<br />
the service is beyond<br />
exceptional and<br />
the proprietor is a local<br />
family that is passionate<br />
about both the food and the customers.<br />
Other local favorites include Forage Market,<br />
Marché and Wei-Li. She spends most<br />
of her free time creating new works of art,<br />
with a focus on realistic oil paintings and<br />
graphite portraits, as well as exploring the<br />
subjects of lust, human connection, emotional<br />
transparency, and expressions of<br />
power and love.<br />
In the next ten years, Alexandra hopes<br />
to be teaching art professionally, either by<br />
expanding her private lesson offerings or<br />
as a professor in higher education. She believes<br />
that one of the biggest<br />
challenges facing LA today is<br />
the need to attract more ambitious<br />
youth to the community and plans to<br />
help meet the challenge by increasing the<br />
availability of traditional art education for<br />
young adults in the area.<br />
Olin Arts Center<br />
An original painting by Alex titled<br />
“Everybody Wants to Rule the World”<br />
Alex in her senior undergraduate studio<br />
UPLIFT LA <strong>40</strong> UNDER <strong>40</strong><br />
29
education<br />
Derrick Lacasse<br />
Music & Chorus Teacher, St. Dominic Academy<br />
Derrick’s favorite thing about his<br />
work is watching his students experience<br />
what he calls “aha” moments, where all<br />
the hard work they’ve dedicated to learning<br />
to play a new instrument, or to sing a<br />
difficult song, comes to fruition. As the<br />
music and chorus teacher for St. Dominic<br />
Academy, the never ending opportunities<br />
to share in the excitement of these accomplishments<br />
are Derrick’s primary source<br />
of motivation. He is also presently serving<br />
as co-moderator to the school’s Drama<br />
Club and will be directing its production<br />
of James and the Giant Peach this spring.<br />
Derrick grew up in LA and attended<br />
Edward Little High School in Auburn. He<br />
headed to New York for college, obtaining<br />
his degree in Music Education at SUNY<br />
Potsdam. When he graduated, Derrick returned<br />
to LA to be near his family and<br />
start his career. When not at work, he may<br />
be found delighting in his favorite sushi<br />
roll at Bua Thai in Lewiston. In the summertime,<br />
he loves to get outdoors and explore<br />
local areas like Thorncraig Bird<br />
Sanctuary, and is also a fan of playing tennis.<br />
Skiing is one of his favorite activities<br />
during the winter months. Naturally, his<br />
hobbies also include singing and playing<br />
the piano.<br />
Beyond his career at<br />
St. Dom’s, Derrick utilizes<br />
his talents to give back to<br />
the LA community. He<br />
works with Community<br />
Little Theater, a volunteer<br />
organization and one of<br />
the oldest continuous<br />
community theaters in<br />
the State of Maine. The<br />
mission of Community<br />
Little Theater is to provide<br />
education and exposure<br />
to the art of live<br />
entertainment by putting<br />
on both musicals and<br />
non-musical productions.<br />
As a CLT volunteer,<br />
Derrick participates in<br />
various shows and often<br />
acts as musical director when needed. He<br />
started working with CLT when he was in<br />
high school and hopes to expand his involvement<br />
in the future. He also volunteers<br />
with local summer youth theater<br />
camps with fellow <strong>40</strong> <strong>Under</strong> <strong>40</strong> winner,<br />
Vincent Ratsavong. For Derrick, witnessing<br />
the growth of these summer programs<br />
over the last few years has been “an<br />
amazing experience.” He is also a private<br />
voice coach for local students from<br />
many different schools in the LA area and<br />
loves to see his students sharing new musical<br />
talents with their peers and motivating<br />
them to excel.<br />
Next year, Derrick is headed to Cambridge,<br />
Massachusetts, to obtain his master’s<br />
degree in Music Therapy at Lesley<br />
University. Once he earns his master’s, he<br />
plans to begin a career as a music therapist.<br />
He’s not sure where he ultimately<br />
will land, but he is excited for the journey.<br />
With his mom, Robin Robbins<br />
On the CLT stage in Little Shop of Horrors<br />
Derrick with Vincent Ratsavong<br />
UPLIFT LA <strong>40</strong> UNDER <strong>40</strong><br />
31
education<br />
Jen Hogan<br />
President & CEO, Community Credit Union<br />
Jen began her career at Community<br />
Credit Union as the director of marketing<br />
and business development. Finding the<br />
culture, people, ethics and energy of CCU<br />
to be contagious, she soon realized her<br />
passion for working in the world of local<br />
banking. She began actively exposing herself<br />
to other departments and was promoted<br />
to Executive Vice President in May<br />
of 2012. As the newly appointed President<br />
and CEO of CCU, Jen is responsible for<br />
directing overall operations, ensuring financial<br />
stability, establishing short and<br />
long-term objectives, plans and policies<br />
and representing CCU in its relationships<br />
with members, government agencies, and<br />
the local community. Jen’s favorite thing<br />
about her work is the opportunity it affords<br />
to interact with the people of LA on<br />
a regular basis. She is proud to be part of<br />
a local institution that not only deals in<br />
money but is actively involved in community<br />
projects that truly make a difference.<br />
Growing up, Jen lived in several different<br />
states along the East Coast, moving<br />
with her family every two or three years<br />
each time her father was transferred to a<br />
new station by the Navy. Ultimately settling<br />
in Lisbon Falls, she attended college<br />
in Bangor and moved back to LA after<br />
graduation. Today, Jen and her husband<br />
share a home in Turner and spend their<br />
free time having fun in the LA area.<br />
She devotes as much<br />
time as possible to her<br />
husband and daughter,<br />
often engaging in activities<br />
like mini golf, going<br />
to the movies and enjoying<br />
local cuisine. Some of<br />
her favorite places to eat<br />
in LA include DaVinci’s,<br />
Buffalo Wild Wings,<br />
Chick-a-Dee of Lewiston<br />
and Wei Li.<br />
What Jen loves most<br />
about our community is<br />
the plethora of opportunities<br />
it offers. She has<br />
seen incredible growth in<br />
LA over the last fifteen<br />
years and believes that our very best days<br />
lie ahead. With a passion for volunteering,<br />
some of the most important causes to Jen<br />
involve education. She serves as co-chair<br />
of the LA Metro Chamber Education and<br />
Workforce Development Committee and<br />
teaches classes for Junior Achievement of<br />
Maine as well as literary courses through<br />
CMCC. Whenever possible, she includes<br />
her daughter in her volunteer work in an<br />
effort to teach her valuable life lessons<br />
about helping those in need and giving<br />
back to her community. Jen is also a passionate<br />
supporter of the LA Chamber, Androscoggin<br />
United Way and the Greater<br />
Androscoggin Humane Society.<br />
Ten years from now, Jen hopes to be<br />
exactly where she is today—living in a<br />
community that she believes in, working<br />
for an organization she loves and giving<br />
back to those who have given so much to<br />
her.<br />
Chase with her furbuddies, Raistlin & Oreo<br />
The Hogan’s: Nick, Chase & Jen<br />
L to R: Jen, April Savio, Michelle Simard<br />
& Kelly Sutton. Photo bombing is<br />
Nick Hogan & Steve Sutton<br />
UPLIFT LA <strong>40</strong> UNDER <strong>40</strong><br />
33
emerging leader<br />
Aimee Labbe<br />
Manager of Special Events & Development for the Patrick<br />
Dempsey Center for Cancer Hope and Healing<br />
Aimee & Chris with their furbabies, Molly & Jack<br />
Aimee’s career in<br />
fundraising for nonprofits<br />
began by accident.<br />
Needing part-time work<br />
to support herself in college,<br />
Aimee took a job<br />
with the Student Union,<br />
a meeting and event<br />
venue for student groups<br />
on campus. After participating<br />
in planning for<br />
several student events<br />
and activities through the<br />
Student Union, she spent<br />
nearly four years working<br />
for Bates College in<br />
the Alumni and Parent<br />
Programs Department.<br />
Through her experience<br />
in college and working at<br />
Bates, Aimee built a solid<br />
foundation in the areas of<br />
fundraising and event<br />
planning. Today, she is<br />
the Manager of Special<br />
Events and Development<br />
for the Patrick Dempsey<br />
Center for Cancer Hope<br />
and Healing.<br />
Born and raised in<br />
Lewiston, like many of<br />
her peers Aimee wanted<br />
to go away for college<br />
and make a life for herself<br />
in one of the “big cities.” Attending college<br />
in downtown Boston, it didn’t take<br />
long for her to grow homesick. She missed<br />
the strong sense of self and the feeling of<br />
belonging that she so enjoyed in LA. Once<br />
she graduated from college, Aimee returned<br />
home and has remained in the<br />
area ever since. When she isn’t working,<br />
she frequents many of LA’s popular<br />
food establishments like Marche, Fuel,<br />
DaVinci’s, and more. She loves the outdoors,<br />
whether she is snowshoeing in<br />
the winter or hiking and kayaking in<br />
the summer.<br />
Aimee and her husband share a passion for<br />
good food and drink and spend much of<br />
their free time exploring local breweries and<br />
restaurants. At home, Aimee’s hobbies include<br />
spending time with her two dogs,<br />
Molly and Jack, as well as cooking, writing<br />
and binge-watching her favorite TV shows.<br />
What Aimee likes most about LA is its<br />
history. She loves to connect with family<br />
and friends by sharing stories of the local<br />
people and places from her childhood. Like<br />
many others, Aimee is excited by all the<br />
positive energy around her and loves to see<br />
the progress it brings to our community.<br />
She is an ardent supporter of the Greater<br />
Androscoggin Humane Society and is also<br />
involved with the Hope Haven Gospel Mission<br />
and Androscoggin Home Care & Hospice.<br />
Aimee believes that with good fortune<br />
comes a responsibility to help those in need.<br />
In the future, Aimee envisions herself<br />
raising a family in LA while continuing the<br />
work she is most passionate about. She<br />
finds her work with the Dempsey Center to<br />
be extremely rewarding and is motivated<br />
by being part of a collaborative effort to improve<br />
the lives of people in the LA area who<br />
have been affected by cancer. Aimee believes<br />
that the positive energy and hard<br />
work of our citizens will continue to bring<br />
progress and success to the LA community.<br />
Aerial view of the Dempsey Challenge<br />
On their wedding day<br />
34 UPLIFT LA <strong>40</strong> UNDER <strong>40</strong>
emerging leaders<br />
Ben Chin<br />
Political Engagement Director, Maine People’s Alliance<br />
When Ben came to LA to attend<br />
college at Bates, he planned to complete<br />
his studies and move on to a seminary to<br />
become a pastor. Plans changed when a<br />
construction project known as the “Heritage<br />
Initiative” threatened to displace<br />
hundreds of families in the LA area.<br />
Ben joined the efforts of<br />
The Visible Community<br />
to stop the project and<br />
quickly discovered his<br />
passion for community<br />
organizing. As Political<br />
Engagement Director for<br />
Maine People’s Alliance,<br />
Ben presently leads a<br />
team of community organizers<br />
and volunteers<br />
to raise Maine’s minimum<br />
wage and to fully<br />
fund public education in<br />
our state from Pre-K<br />
through Grade 12.<br />
A love of community<br />
organizing work was not<br />
all Ben discovered while<br />
in college. He also<br />
learned the joys of living<br />
in a “real community”<br />
like Lewiston, where<br />
neighbors know one another<br />
and you can never<br />
go too long without running<br />
into a familiar face<br />
around town. While the<br />
world around us is continuously<br />
dividing along lines of race,<br />
class, religion, and the like, Ben appreciates<br />
that LA is a diverse but tight-knit<br />
community where working class families<br />
can successfully coexist.<br />
Some of his favorite places to grab<br />
a bite in LA include Guthrie’s or<br />
Gridiron for a quick stop or to<br />
wind down from the week, and<br />
Mother India, Marche or Fuel<br />
for date nights with his<br />
wife, Nicola. He spends much of his free<br />
time running and biking and is currently<br />
training to participate in the Ironman<br />
Triathlon later this year. He also takes part<br />
in swimming workouts hosted by fellow<br />
Bates grad, Vanessa Williamson, whose<br />
weekly classes he characterizes as “one of<br />
the secret gems of LA.” Most importantly,<br />
Ben devotes as much time as possible to<br />
his wife and their adorable baby girl, Anjali.<br />
Beyond his work with Maine People’s<br />
Alliance, Ben gives back to his community<br />
by serving on the boards of directors for<br />
Trinity Church and the Jubilee Center, as<br />
well as running for office in an effort to<br />
craft a vision for LA based on the aspirations<br />
of his neighbors. No matter what he<br />
is doing for his community, Ben’s goal is<br />
always the same: “to create a world where<br />
everyone has what they need, contributes<br />
what they can, and no one gets left out.”<br />
Through the Jubilee Center, he works to<br />
prevent hunger and homelessness and to<br />
help recent immigrants integrate into the<br />
LA community. With Maine People’s Alliance,<br />
he works against the root causes of<br />
issues facing local people in need. When<br />
the work gets tough, and it often does, Ben<br />
finds his faith restored each Sunday at<br />
Trinity Church.<br />
Ben plans to continue his life in<br />
LA with his wife and daughter, where<br />
he can do the work he believes in for a<br />
community that he loves.<br />
Nicola & Ben Chin<br />
Ben’s campaign launch<br />
Nicola, Ben and baby, Anjali<br />
36 UPLIFT LA <strong>40</strong> UNDER <strong>40</strong>
Emily, volunteer firefighter<br />
emerging leader<br />
Emily Butterfield<br />
Student Navigator at Central Maine Community College<br />
Emily joined the LA community as a<br />
freshman living on campus at Central<br />
Maine Community College in 2008.<br />
Through her studies and extracurricular<br />
activities Emily became a strong leader, a<br />
key trait for her present occupation as Student<br />
Navigator for the “Maine is IT!”<br />
grant at CMCC. As Student Navigator,<br />
Emily focuses on recruitment and success<br />
by assisting with college and<br />
career fairs, providing<br />
academic support, and<br />
helping students plan<br />
their futures beyond the<br />
classroom.<br />
Apart from her career<br />
at CMCC, Emily is a<br />
proud volunteer firefighter<br />
for the Town of<br />
Turner, Maine. She attributes<br />
her interest in<br />
volunteer firefighting to<br />
the large number of firefighters<br />
in her family.<br />
For Emily, fire service is<br />
about honor, integrity,<br />
family, duty, courage,<br />
leadership, and strength.<br />
She hopes to continue<br />
volunteering and finding<br />
more ways to serve<br />
and support her community<br />
in the future.<br />
Currently, Emily gives<br />
back to her community<br />
by supporting local charity<br />
events like “Stuff the<br />
Bus” and the “Rancourt<br />
5k Run,” teaching fire<br />
prevention and awareness<br />
in our schools, and<br />
volunteering at her<br />
church, Pathway Vineyard in Lewiston,<br />
among others. One day, you may even<br />
find Emily representing the City of<br />
Auburn in the world of local politics.<br />
Emily presently resides in Auburn<br />
with her fiancé, Lance Robinson. The two<br />
thoroughly enjoy outdoor activities, particularly<br />
on the Androscoggin River,<br />
which Emily affectionately calls “Androscoggin’s<br />
hidden secret.” She loves<br />
swimming, kayaking and boating on the<br />
River and hopes someday to see new activities<br />
like white water rafting, as well as<br />
shops, introduced to the area. When she<br />
isn’t being active with her fiancé outdoors<br />
or in the gym, Emily loves spending time<br />
with her family and with her dogs. For<br />
fun, she likes to visit some of her favorite<br />
LA restaurants, which include Firehouse<br />
Grille, Mac’s Grill, DaVinci’s, and Jasmine<br />
Café. In the wintertime, she can be found<br />
snowboarding at Lost Valley, snowshoeing,<br />
snowmobiling or ice fishing.<br />
A lifelong learner, Emily is currently<br />
pursuing her Master’s Degree in Leadership<br />
at the University of Southern Maine<br />
LA, an accolade that she hopes will prepare<br />
her to take on new and challenging<br />
leadership roles in the future. In ten years,<br />
Emily sees herself married and raising a<br />
family here in LA with Lance, advancing<br />
her career at CMCC, and maintaining her<br />
passion for physical activity by participating<br />
in local sports and recreational programs.<br />
She plans to continue serving as a<br />
volunteer firefighter and aims to complete<br />
her Firefighter I & II Certifications. Emily<br />
wants to help improve the LA community’s<br />
image by fostering support for our<br />
local police and fire departments in their<br />
efforts to improve safety and quality of life<br />
and increasing the presence of local businesses<br />
to provide more jobs and combat<br />
poverty in Lewiston and Auburn.<br />
Emily with her fiancé, Lance Robinson<br />
Emily at work, pictured with current students:<br />
Wally Morris (brother) & Anna Quinlan<br />
Photo: LAD Photography<br />
38 UPLIFT LA <strong>40</strong> UNDER <strong>40</strong>
emerging leaders<br />
Melissa Simones<br />
Policy Director for Senate President, Michael Thibodeau<br />
Melissa has worked in federal and<br />
state government offices for most of her career.<br />
She began her journey handling administrative<br />
and legislative work for<br />
Senator Susan Collins in<br />
Washington, DC. After<br />
several years on Capitol<br />
Hill, she returned to<br />
Maine to work for an<br />
Augusta law firm as its<br />
government relations liaison.<br />
Just one year later,<br />
she was asked to join the<br />
staff of then newly<br />
elected Senate President<br />
Michael Thibodeau. As<br />
Policy Director for Senator<br />
Thibodeau, Melissa<br />
provides legislative research<br />
on bills, attends<br />
various meetings, public<br />
hearings and work sessions,<br />
answers committee<br />
questions about<br />
legislation, and monitors<br />
the budgeting process.<br />
She loves her work for its<br />
challenging, fast-paced,<br />
social and demanding<br />
nature.<br />
A native of Lewiston,<br />
there was never a question<br />
for Melissa that she<br />
would return to LA after<br />
college. She loves the<br />
people here, which include<br />
her family and<br />
many friends, as well as<br />
all the activities available. Some of her favorite<br />
things to do in LA include participating<br />
in trivia nights at Pedro O’Hara’s,<br />
attending art walks in the summer, enjoying<br />
the numerous walking trails in the area<br />
and attending events at Bates College. She<br />
is also a fan of golfing and kayaking when<br />
the weather is nice.<br />
When it comes to local cuisine,<br />
Melissa loves the food and the atmosphere<br />
at Fuel, where she can often be found enjoying<br />
conversations with the “regulars”<br />
on Friday nights. Rails, Mother India, Orchid,<br />
and Sea <strong>40</strong> are among other favorites.<br />
Last but certainly not least, some of<br />
Melissa’s favorite food adventures involve<br />
“socializing over a chili dog” at her family’s<br />
restaurant, Simones’ Hot Dog Stand<br />
in Lewiston.<br />
Outside her work in Senator Thibodeau’s<br />
office, Melissa is passionate<br />
about her home parish, Holy Trinity Greek<br />
Orthodox Church, presently serving on the<br />
Parish Council and the Ladies Society.<br />
Through these groups, Melissa and fellow<br />
members work to develop ways to support<br />
the Church, which includes assisting with<br />
various spiritual needs and organizing<br />
fundraisers. She also enjoys participating<br />
in functions that benefit LA whenever she<br />
can.<br />
Looking to the future, Melissa sees<br />
herself working on economic development<br />
projects for the LA area. She believes that<br />
the number one challenge facing LA today<br />
is its stigma and the negative impact it has<br />
on our community. According to Melissa,<br />
this challenge can be overcome by continuing<br />
to promote the positive and showcasing<br />
our local assets, working on the areas<br />
where we struggle, and speaking up when<br />
others speak negatively about LA. With<br />
this type of devotion, she says, “our best<br />
days are ahead.”<br />
Melissa with her niece<br />
Melissa at the Courthouse<br />
Trivia Finale<br />
<strong>40</strong> UPLIFT LA <strong>40</strong> UNDER <strong>40</strong>
entrepreneur<br />
Abdikadir Negeye<br />
Co-founder, Maine Immigrant & Refugee Services<br />
Abdikadir always knew he wanted to<br />
be a teacher, a social worker, and a leader.<br />
In the past, he served as a local youth soccer<br />
coach, taught English as a second language,<br />
and worked for L.L. Bean as a<br />
learning specialist. He was also employed<br />
with the Lewiston school system as a language<br />
facilitator, all the while working toward<br />
his degree in Social and Behavioral<br />
Science through the University of Southern<br />
Maine, Lewiston-Auburn. In 2008, he<br />
co-founded Maine Immigrant & Refugee<br />
Services (MIRS) and currently serves as its<br />
human resources director. His responsibilities<br />
include regularly interacting with employees,<br />
clients and community members<br />
and attracting and retaining talent for the<br />
organization, as well as doing case management<br />
and closely collaborating with<br />
fellow award winner and executive director,<br />
Rilwan Osman.<br />
Born in Somalia, Abdikadir lived in<br />
two different refugee camps for roughly<br />
fourteen years before he and his family<br />
were relocated to Atlanta, Georgia. Like<br />
many others who share a similar history of<br />
immigration, he loves living in LA primarily<br />
because it is a safe community with a<br />
“small town” atmosphere where he feels<br />
comfortable raising a family of his own.<br />
For Abdikadir, living in LA is a privilege<br />
after enduring the difficulty, violence and<br />
hardships of both his home country and<br />
the refugee camps. His<br />
favorite thing about LA<br />
is its sense of community—he<br />
is amazed by<br />
the accessibility of our<br />
teachers, government<br />
leaders, and the like. He<br />
is also a huge fan of the<br />
annual LA festival and<br />
frequently enjoys meals<br />
with his family at local<br />
restaurants like Applebee’s,<br />
Margaritas,<br />
Denny’s and Mother<br />
India. The family consciously<br />
chooses to eat at<br />
places that are known<br />
for supporting LA by<br />
participating in fundraising<br />
for local nonprofits<br />
and schools.<br />
In his free time, Abdikadir enjoys<br />
being with his family, reading, playing<br />
soccer and running. He is passionate about<br />
local organizations that serve immigrants<br />
and refugees, as well as both the elder and<br />
youth populations. He serves on the<br />
boards of directors for some local nonprofits<br />
and lends a hand to his community as<br />
a volunteer whenever he can.<br />
Abdikadir is proud of all he has<br />
accomplished in his career. He feels fortunate<br />
to meet great people through his<br />
work and is motivated by the love and<br />
support he receives from them. One of his<br />
most treasured achievements was witnessing<br />
the Lewiston High School soccer team<br />
win the State Championship, having<br />
coached and mentored nearly half of the<br />
players through a community sports program<br />
sponsored by MIRS. He hopes to<br />
continue his service to our community<br />
through MIRS and his personal efforts and<br />
to maintain a happy and sustainable life in<br />
LA with his family.<br />
The Negeye’s<br />
Abdikadir with his mom<br />
At a recent speaking engagement<br />
UPLIFT LA <strong>40</strong> UNDER <strong>40</strong><br />
43
Luke and his boy, Everett<br />
entrepreneur<br />
Luke Livingston<br />
Founder & CEO, Baxter Brewing Company<br />
Luke has maintained a passion for<br />
craft beer and brewing since his twentyfirst<br />
birthday, when he received his first<br />
homebrewing kit as a gift. Shortly after<br />
graduating college, he created a beer blog<br />
and learned about “west coast<br />
styles” of beer and marketing as<br />
well as the then-revolutionary<br />
idea of canning<br />
craft beer. After losing<br />
his mother to breast cancer<br />
in January, 2009,<br />
Luke quit his day job to<br />
write a business plan for<br />
his own canned craft<br />
brewery. As founder and<br />
CEO of Baxter Brewing<br />
Company, he is most<br />
heavily involved in sales<br />
and marketing and is<br />
particularly focused on<br />
building and maintaining<br />
the brewery’s chain<br />
sales channel. His favorite<br />
part of his job is<br />
having the privilege<br />
every day of getting to<br />
make and sell beer for a<br />
living. Also, he says, “it’s<br />
always great to see your<br />
friends at the bar!”<br />
A 2003 graduate of Edward<br />
Little High School<br />
in Auburn, Luke traveled<br />
away for college and ultimately<br />
settled in South<br />
Portland with his wife<br />
and their two-year-old<br />
son, Everett. When it<br />
came to a location for the<br />
brewery, however, he says there was no<br />
other option than LA. Having grown up<br />
locally, most of his business<br />
connections were here and he was excited<br />
at the idea of breathing some life back into<br />
the mills he watched sit vacant for many<br />
years before. There was also a competitive<br />
advantage to doing business in LA, as for<br />
some time Baxter Brewing Company was<br />
the only production brewery in the area.<br />
Luke’s favorite thing about LA is its<br />
small town vibe. He enjoys enormous support<br />
from the LA community and especially<br />
the municipality itself, which he<br />
says has always far exceeded the support<br />
he could get in a larger, more crowded<br />
market. He loves his “mill-mates,”<br />
DaVinci’s and Fish Bones, as well as the<br />
restaurants on Lisbon Street like Forage,<br />
Marché and Orchid. Though most of his<br />
time off work is spent chasing his twoyear-old<br />
around, when he can Luke likes<br />
to play disc sports. He also juggles, is a<br />
huge baseball fan, and spends as much<br />
time as possible outside exploring Maine.<br />
The two causes Luke is most passionate<br />
about relate to animals and the environment.<br />
He gives back to his community<br />
through his involvement with the Androscoggin<br />
Hospice House and the Androscoggin<br />
Humane Society.<br />
In the future, Luke plans to still be living<br />
and working in Maine, making beer<br />
and continuing to learn new things in his<br />
business.<br />
Luke enjoys a Baxter<br />
Baxter on tap<br />
44 UPLIFT LA <strong>40</strong> UNDER <strong>40</strong>
• Real Estate Loans<br />
• Home Equity Loans<br />
• New/Used Vehicle,<br />
Motorcycle, Boat,<br />
Camper or RV Loans<br />
• Lifestyle Line of Credit<br />
• Personal Loans<br />
• Fuel Loans<br />
• Technology Loans<br />
• Business Loans
entrepreneur<br />
Marlo Hewitt<br />
Founder & Operator, Hair Station<br />
Marlo is a third generation hairstylist,<br />
growing up with a mother and grandmother<br />
who both worked cutting and styling hair in<br />
their home-based salons. As a highly artistic<br />
person, she quickly realized her natural talent<br />
for hairstyling and decided to begin her<br />
journey by pursuing a business degree.<br />
She earned her bachelor’s<br />
degree from the University<br />
of Southern Maine.<br />
During her first semester<br />
as an MBA student, Marlo<br />
decided she could no<br />
longer sit behind a desk<br />
and set out to make her<br />
passion for hairdressing a<br />
reality. Last year, she<br />
opened Hair Station Hair<br />
Salon on Turner Street in<br />
Auburn. She is responsible<br />
for overseeing the<br />
daily operations of the<br />
salon, but her primary<br />
focus is customer satisfaction.<br />
Marlo describes her<br />
work “behind the chair”<br />
as “transforming art onto<br />
living canvases, making<br />
people look and feel their<br />
very best.”<br />
Growing up in Mechanic<br />
Falls, Marlo and<br />
her family frequently<br />
traveled to LA for shopping,<br />
dining, and most<br />
other activities. When it<br />
came time to buy her first<br />
home, she found Auburn<br />
to be the perfect fit<br />
with its close proximity<br />
to her family and<br />
potential to support her new business<br />
venture. She feels she has “the best of both<br />
worlds” living on a dead-end street in<br />
Auburn where she enjoys a private backyard<br />
and is just minutes away<br />
from the city. Her favorite things about LA<br />
are its sense of community and its size. As<br />
she says, “the cities are large enough to serve<br />
you but small enough to know you!” You<br />
may find her at Heidi’s Brooklyn Deli enjoying<br />
a quick meal. For a night out, she frequents<br />
Mac’s Grill, Gritty’s, Orchid, and<br />
more.<br />
Marlo loves spending time with her<br />
family and friends. She’s fond of relaxing<br />
nights at home with her many “fur babies,”<br />
and is just as happy going out on the town<br />
to dance, dine and enjoy life. Beyond her<br />
work at the Salon, she explores her passions<br />
for interior decorating and the arts. As a vegetarian<br />
and an animal lover, Marlo supports<br />
the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to<br />
Animals (SPCA). Another cause close to her<br />
heart is breast cancer awareness, as the disease<br />
took her grandmother a short time ago.<br />
To give back to her community, Marlo works<br />
through her business to raise money to help<br />
LA families in need during the holidays and<br />
is an avid supporter of local animal charities.<br />
Marlo is extremely happy with the life<br />
she’s building for herself and plans to continue<br />
her work in LA. She aspires to eventually<br />
expand her business and hopes one day<br />
to settle down with a family of her own.<br />
Marlo at the Hair Station<br />
Hair Station "pit crew": Brittany, Devin, Jamie, Katy & Marlo<br />
The Hewitt’s: Ken, Alex, Marlo & Terry<br />
46 UPLIFT LA <strong>40</strong> UNDER <strong>40</strong>
MAINE’S #1 STEAKHOUSE<br />
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1052 Minot Avenue, Auburn 207-783-6885<br />
www.MacsGrill.com
COMMUNITY<br />
JUBILEE<br />
by Erin Reed<br />
trinitylewiston@gmail.com<br />
Erin Reed is the Executive Director of the Trinity<br />
Jubilee Center in Lewiston. A center dedicated to<br />
advocacy for those in need in Lewiston Auburn,<br />
serving an average of 1,000 people per week.<br />
E<br />
ach day Lewiston's Trinity Jubilee<br />
Center is packed full of<br />
Androscoggin County residents<br />
seeking help. For 25 years this<br />
community center’s programs have helped<br />
people survive difficult situations and improve<br />
their lives. Today the Center’s operates<br />
five programs. The Meals Program<br />
serves 100 meals each day (about 3,000<br />
meals every month) to people struggling<br />
with mental illness, physical and developmental<br />
disabilities, and homelessness. The<br />
Food Pantry distribute thousands of pounds<br />
of fresh fruits and vegetables, as well as diapers,<br />
to more than 300 low-income families<br />
every week. The Day Shelter provides<br />
warmth, bathrooms, and a place to rest for<br />
the homeless. The Resource Center offers a<br />
free medical clinic, phone, fax, and internet<br />
access, a mailing address for those without<br />
a home, clothing and household goods, an<br />
AA meeting, and connections to outreach<br />
workers and resources at partner agencies.<br />
The Refugee Integration Program is the<br />
county’s largest immigrant integration<br />
program, helping<br />
people access employment,<br />
housing, and education. Every<br />
week more than 1,000 people<br />
receive services through the Jubilee<br />
Center.<br />
Daily life at the Center is<br />
a whirlwind. Dozens of neighborhood<br />
volunteers prepare<br />
the day’s lunch, sweep floors,<br />
and wash dishes. Volunteers in<br />
the Center’s Food Rescue Project,<br />
which partners with local<br />
stores and cafeterias to accept<br />
donations of leftover or aboutto-expire<br />
foods, arrive with deliveries.<br />
A daily sign-in sheet<br />
for people requesting help<br />
writing their resume and<br />
searching for job openings<br />
often passes 30 people, each patiently waiting<br />
their turn. At lunchtime the smell of<br />
fresh coffee, savory meat, and spices fills the<br />
air and every seat in the lunchroom is full.<br />
Once a week a doctor donates time to treat<br />
those in need and the office fills with medical<br />
charts and nurses. On Thursdays the<br />
Food Pantry line begins forming at 6:00<br />
AM. Every day the phone is in constant use<br />
as people call to follow up on job applications,<br />
call Togus, and call family members.<br />
Comprehensive support is key to the<br />
Jubilee Center’s anti-poverty work. Almost<br />
all clients participate in multiple programs<br />
and can access support both meeting their<br />
immediate needs and building a stronger future.<br />
Hundreds of people have found jobs,<br />
hundreds of children have been connected<br />
with athletic programs, hundreds of<br />
thousands of pounds of food has been<br />
distributed, and thousands of people know<br />
that the Center’s programs and staff will<br />
be there for them if they are in need.<br />
This year the Trinity Jubilee Center marks<br />
25 years of caring for and empowering our<br />
community.<br />
48 UPLIFT LA <strong>40</strong> UNDER <strong>40</strong>
entrepreneur<br />
Nicholas Benoit<br />
Principal: Benoit’s Bakery, Orchard & Pretentious Pie Co.<br />
Members of the Benoit family have<br />
proudly owned and operated businesses in<br />
the LA area since the opening of US Steam<br />
Laundry in the 1930s. For Nick, becoming<br />
an entrepreneur in LA was in his blood.<br />
Returning to Lewiston after prep school,<br />
he had no idea what he wanted to do. He<br />
tested the waters with various different<br />
jobs but couldn’t find work that excited<br />
him. His true career began when he<br />
opened a small farm stand in Lisbon that<br />
soon transformed into a full baking facility<br />
boasting up to twenty employees.<br />
Benoit’s Farm Stand came about by<br />
happenstance—not yet knowing what he<br />
would do with the space, Nick formed a<br />
habit of leaving apples from his family’s<br />
orchard outside the building for convenient<br />
pick-up by local markets and farm<br />
stands. When passers-by began taking the<br />
apples and leaving money in their place,<br />
he was inspired to open his own stand and<br />
quickly got to work. After just three years,<br />
he opened Benoit’s Bakery and Wine Cellar<br />
in the same location. Today, as the<br />
owner and operator of multiple businesses<br />
in LA, Nick is always facing new challenges<br />
and views himself primarily as a<br />
creator of solutions.<br />
with the “amazing” people<br />
of LA. It is important<br />
to Nick to patronize LA<br />
area restaurants and<br />
businesses to return the<br />
support he receives for<br />
his own. In his free time,<br />
he likes playing golf and<br />
being out on the water<br />
whenever possible. He<br />
also maintains a hobby<br />
collecting antique automobiles,<br />
but finds his<br />
greatest pleasure derives<br />
from helping others in<br />
the LA community to<br />
thrive and live their<br />
dreams. A big fan of supporting<br />
our youth, some<br />
of the causes Nick is<br />
most passionate about include the Special<br />
Olympics, the Ronald McDonald House<br />
and Barbara Bush Children’s Hospital. He<br />
does a lot of mentoring and working with<br />
children in local schools. Having been<br />
given many chances to succeed in his own<br />
life, Nick feels strongly about providing<br />
LA youth with opportunities to show the<br />
world what they can do.<br />
Nick is a firm believer that tomorrow is<br />
never promised to anyone and focuses on<br />
living for today. He sets personal goals for<br />
himself in both the long and short-term,<br />
but ultimately just wants to be happy in his<br />
life and in his work and contributing to the<br />
growing success of LA.<br />
Naturally, one of Nick’s favorite<br />
things about the LA area is its plethora of<br />
restaurants. He also enjoys access to local<br />
sporting events and loves interacting<br />
Nick out & about<br />
Nick posing next to a cannon<br />
Nick on the mic<br />
UPLIFT LA <strong>40</strong> UNDER <strong>40</strong><br />
49
Jama ready to get to work<br />
government<br />
Jama Mohamed<br />
Program Director, Maine Immigrant & Refugee Services<br />
When they were relocated to the<br />
United States, Jama and many fellow Somali<br />
Bantu refugees first lived in larger<br />
cities like Denver and Chicago. These<br />
locations proved to be quite an adjustment<br />
from the small villages Jama<br />
and his peers grew up in. Many decided<br />
to move to LA, viewing it as a<br />
smaller community and a safe<br />
place to raise their families.<br />
When Jama and his<br />
family arrived in Lewiston,<br />
however, they soon<br />
discovered a gap in<br />
services to support assimilation<br />
into the local<br />
culture and saw many<br />
Somali Bantu youth<br />
dropping out of school<br />
as a result. To address<br />
this urgent need, he cofounded<br />
the Somali<br />
Bantu Youth Association.<br />
Today, Jama works<br />
with Maine Immigrant<br />
and Refugee Services<br />
(MIRS) as Program Director<br />
for Youth Literacy<br />
and Citizenship Services.<br />
His job responsibilities<br />
include program<br />
development, education<br />
and management of the<br />
organization’s numerous<br />
volunteers. He finds<br />
his career most rewarding<br />
because it enables<br />
him to help others build<br />
promising futures for<br />
themselves and their<br />
families.<br />
Jama’s favorite thing about living<br />
in LA is the wealth of friendship he has<br />
found here—friends who support him in<br />
achieving his goals through teaching and<br />
encouragement. He is a big fan of local<br />
cuisine, often stopping at 84 Court Pizza<br />
& Restaurante for some “amazing” bruschetta<br />
or enjoying a family meal at Applebee’s.<br />
He spends most of his free time<br />
with his lovely wife and their children<br />
and often hosts large get-togethers with<br />
extended family members. Some of the<br />
local organizations he is most passionate<br />
about include the Trinity Jubilee Center,<br />
Lewiston Public Schools and the Sustainable<br />
Livelihoods Relief Organization<br />
(SLRO). The SLRO uses farming as a<br />
means of helping immigrants, refugees<br />
and asylum-seekers alike build sustainable<br />
livelihoods by growing and selling<br />
produce.<br />
Having served on the Lewiston<br />
School Committee, Jama is honored to be<br />
the first African-born elected official in<br />
Lewiston. With the Committee, he helped<br />
establish new policies in efforts to ensure<br />
that our local schools are providing the<br />
best education possible to their students.<br />
He gives back to LA through his work<br />
with MIRS, helping immigrants gain<br />
their citizenships and teaching them the<br />
importance of being involved in the community.<br />
While he prefers to focus on what<br />
he can do to help LA thrive in the present,<br />
Jama plans to continue building relationships<br />
within the community in the future<br />
and hopes to see more of its people coming<br />
together across lines of diversity and<br />
enjoying each other’s company. With<br />
more communal conversations,<br />
he believes the people of LA can<br />
work and learn together to build<br />
something great.<br />
Steven Aden, Kristen Cloutier & Jama Mohamed<br />
Jama with Linda Scott<br />
50 UPLIFT LA <strong>40</strong> UNDER <strong>40</strong>
government<br />
Eric Brakey<br />
Maine State Senator, District 20<br />
As a State Senator, Eric is an impassioned<br />
servant of Maine’s people. Believing<br />
that our citizens prosper most when they<br />
are free to make their own life choices, too<br />
often he saw “big government” treating<br />
adults like children by encouraging dependency,<br />
strangling innovation and dictating<br />
personal decisions. In 2014, Eric<br />
decided to run for office to advocate for<br />
personal freedom and responsibility. In his<br />
role as a Maine senator, he is responsible<br />
for fostering an environment where companies<br />
can grow and thrive. As chairman of<br />
the Health and Human Services Committee,<br />
he oversees over $3 billion in funding<br />
each year. Eric is grateful for the opportunity<br />
to lead growing efforts for welfare reform,<br />
saving money for Maine workers<br />
while still providing services for those who<br />
need it most. His favorite things about<br />
being a Maine senator are using his own<br />
perspective to solve the statewide challenges<br />
and passing major reform to decrease<br />
the role of the government in the<br />
lives of individuals.<br />
Born and raised in New Gloucester,<br />
Eric worked for several years as a professional<br />
actor in New York City. He eventually<br />
returned home to Maine to be closer to<br />
his relatives and to work in the family business.<br />
Wanting to live in an area with a tightknit<br />
community that offered the<br />
accessibility of a larger city, he chose to settle<br />
in Auburn. When thinking about what<br />
he most enjoys about the LA area, Eric feels<br />
that the little things make the biggest difference.<br />
Some examples of<br />
the “little things” he<br />
loves about LA include:<br />
seeing citizens work to<br />
transform a giant snowbank<br />
into a sled hill for<br />
local children, enjoying a<br />
first-rate musical production<br />
at the volunteer-driven<br />
Community Little<br />
Theater, and witnessing<br />
community members<br />
picking up litter along<br />
the side of the road in efforts<br />
to beautify our<br />
neighborhoods. He can<br />
often be found enjoying<br />
breakfast at Rolly’s<br />
Diner, enjoying conversation<br />
with a friendly face.<br />
In the past, Eric spent a lot of his free<br />
time performing through Community Little<br />
Theatre, playing various roles including<br />
Felix Unger from “The Odd Couple,” Mortimer<br />
Brewster in “Arsenic and Old Lace”<br />
and several small parts in a production of<br />
“Monty Python’s Spamalot.” His work as a<br />
senator prevents him from having the time<br />
to participate on stage, so he remains active<br />
with the Theatre as a member of its board<br />
of directors. In addition to the Theatre, he<br />
is passionate about “Big Brothers, Big Sisters”<br />
an organization that enables local<br />
adults to make a positive impact on youth<br />
facing adversity in Maine through community<br />
and school-based mentoring programs.<br />
As a “Big Brother,” Eric most enjoys outdoor<br />
activities with his “Little Brother” like<br />
hiking Mount Appetite and walking the LA<br />
Riverwalk. The two also enjoy the occasional<br />
movie at Flagship Cinemas in<br />
Auburn.<br />
Eric hopes to continue making his efforts,<br />
whether through the public or private<br />
sector, to strengthen the liberties of Maine’s<br />
people and empower them to create their<br />
own opportunities to live, work and play.<br />
Eric on the campaign trail<br />
Eric on the senate floor<br />
Eric & Roger Philippon as Oscar & Felix in<br />
The Odd Couple at CLT<br />
UPLIFT LA <strong>40</strong> UNDER <strong>40</strong><br />
51
Nate, Andrea and their son<br />
government<br />
Nate Libby<br />
Maine State Senator, District 21<br />
Nate credits his time at Bates College<br />
with playing a significant role in shaping<br />
his career. Through the study of history<br />
and economics, he refined his skills in research,<br />
communication, organization and<br />
critical thinking. Whether he is working<br />
on securing financing for a start-up company<br />
or shepherding a major piece of legislation<br />
through the public process, the<br />
experience he gained in college plays an<br />
important part in his success. As a representative<br />
of the City of Lewiston in the<br />
Maine State Senate, Nate<br />
works on enacting public<br />
policy, providing<br />
oversight for the activities<br />
and spending of the<br />
State government, and<br />
assisting Lewiston residents<br />
in accessing programs<br />
and services. In<br />
his second job as an economic<br />
development consultant,<br />
he focuses on<br />
helping local governments<br />
connect with businesses<br />
to establish, grow<br />
and create jobs. His favorite<br />
thing about the<br />
work he does is that it requires<br />
taking a complex<br />
problem and collaborating<br />
with others to work<br />
out a solution.<br />
Growing up in a small<br />
town just outside of Waterville,<br />
Nate was the<br />
first in his family to attend<br />
college. He moved<br />
to Lewiston at the age of<br />
eighteen when he was<br />
offered a substantial needs-based scholarship<br />
to attend Bates College. He immediately<br />
fell in love with the community<br />
because of its welcoming and diverse citizenry.<br />
Deciding to remain in Lewiston<br />
after earning his degree, he has been living<br />
and working in the LA area ever since.<br />
When he has the time, Nate engages in<br />
hobbies like carpentry, gardening and<br />
landscaping, and enjoys going on outdoor<br />
excursions with his wife, Andrea, their son<br />
and two dogs.<br />
As a state senator, Nate is an ardent<br />
supporter of the vast array of nonprofit organizations<br />
that serve the LA community.<br />
He is especially passionate about early education<br />
and services for children with special<br />
needs, serving on the board of<br />
directors for Androscoggin Head Start and<br />
as chairman of Lewiston’s Universally Accessible<br />
Playground Committee. Through<br />
the Playground Committee, he supports<br />
ongoing efforts to raise funds to build the<br />
first playground in Maine where children<br />
can play together regardless of their cognitive<br />
and developmental abilities. Nate<br />
also serves on the board of the Lewiston<br />
Auburn Economic Growth Council<br />
(LAEGC).<br />
In the long term, Nate hopes to be<br />
working in economic development on a<br />
professional level and giving of his time<br />
for public service. He is motivated by the<br />
progress he sees in LA and enjoys taking<br />
part in the continuous growth and redevelopment<br />
happening here. He is excited<br />
to see what the future holds for our<br />
community.<br />
Nate in the Senate<br />
Nate addresses the Lewiston High School state champion soccer team<br />
52 UPLIFT LA <strong>40</strong> UNDER <strong>40</strong>
government<br />
Jared Golden<br />
Maine State Legislator, City of Lewiston<br />
Jared’s started his career in politics<br />
working for Senator Susan Collins on the<br />
Senate Homeland Security and Governmental<br />
Affairs Committee. He has a passion<br />
for finding solutions for the issues<br />
and challenges that face the City of Lewiston<br />
and the State of Maine, and loves attending<br />
community events to meet new<br />
people and learn about the great work<br />
they are doing. Today, he represents the<br />
City of Lewiston in the Maine State Legislature<br />
and serves on the Transportation<br />
Committee and the Committee for Veterans<br />
and Legal Affairs.<br />
Moving back to Maine after four<br />
years of active duty with the U.S.<br />
Marines, Jared attended Bates College<br />
and earned his degree in politics. He is<br />
happy to be living in LA, where exciting<br />
and inspiring revitalization efforts are<br />
being made all the time. He also likes<br />
being close to his friends and family and<br />
met his wife, Isobel, in Lewiston. Some of<br />
his favorite things about LA include the<br />
character of its people, the strong architecture<br />
and the beautiful<br />
skyline. Access to entertainment<br />
and other<br />
downtown activities,<br />
coupled with close proximity<br />
to great locations<br />
for hiking, fishing and<br />
exploring the coast, are<br />
among others.<br />
When it comes to<br />
local cuisine, you may<br />
find Jared enjoying a<br />
meal at Fuel, Marche,<br />
George’s Pizza, or Bear<br />
Bones. In his free time<br />
he enjoys hanging out<br />
with his wife and their<br />
cats, as well as hiking,<br />
exercising, brewing beer<br />
and reading. This coming summer, the<br />
couple is looking forward to working in<br />
their garden and completing a variety of<br />
home improvement projects. With his<br />
background in the military, which included<br />
deployments to both<br />
Afghanistan and Iraq, Jared is most<br />
passionate about supporting his fellow<br />
veterans through his legislative<br />
work. He also maintains an interest in<br />
working to increase access to<br />
multiple different forms of<br />
transportation for the LA<br />
community. Dedicated to<br />
improving the lives of his<br />
constituents, he participates in numerous<br />
meetings at both the local and state levels<br />
and has served on the boards of several<br />
neighborhood organizations.<br />
Jared and his wife are excited to build<br />
a life together in LA. Although he believes<br />
that life has a way of leading you in unexpected<br />
directions, Jared envisions himself<br />
continuing his work as an activist for<br />
our community far into the future.<br />
Isobel & Jared Golden<br />
Jared representing Lewiston<br />
Jared discussing ideas<br />
UPLIFT LA <strong>40</strong> UNDER <strong>40</strong><br />
53
CONGRATULATIONS<br />
Dr. Ashlee Vandiver!<br />
We appreciate all you do at<br />
Sandcastle & L/A Hearing Center and within our community!
health & wellness<br />
Ashlee H. Vandiver, Au.D.<br />
Audiologist, L/A Hearing Center<br />
As an audiologist for L/A Hearing<br />
Center, Ashlee evaluates, diagnoses and<br />
treats people with hearing loss and balance<br />
disorders. She sees a wide range of<br />
people, from newborns to geriatrics, helping<br />
patients and their families better understand<br />
the nature and impact of hearing<br />
loss and providing custom treatment options<br />
to suit individual listening needs. For<br />
the children she treats, Ashlee collaborates<br />
with early intervention providers, educators<br />
and other school professionals to ensure<br />
access to language in the classroom.<br />
She is honored to have the opportunity to<br />
witness so many life-changing moments<br />
and is passionate about helping her patients<br />
regain their hearing independence<br />
so they can play a part in important conversations<br />
with family, friends and colleagues.<br />
Midway through her undergraduate<br />
career, Ashlee decided she wanted to pursue<br />
a specialty in the medical field. She<br />
was studying biology and enrolled in premed<br />
when she enrolled in an “Intro to Audiology”<br />
course by chance. Ashlee knew<br />
audiology was her calling and hasn’t<br />
looked back since. She often recalls a special<br />
moment from the beginning of her<br />
professional career when she witnessed a<br />
child she’d fit with hearing aids hear her<br />
own footsteps for the first time. It is the<br />
connection to her patients and their families<br />
that drives Ashlee in her work each<br />
day.<br />
Ashlee and her family<br />
love living in the LA<br />
community because it is<br />
close to so many important<br />
people and things in<br />
their lives. The family<br />
visits with nearby relatives,<br />
enjoys trips to<br />
Maine beaches and<br />
mountains, and spends<br />
time exploring local cuisine.<br />
Some favorite<br />
places to grab a bite include<br />
Fuel, Fish Bones,<br />
Orchid and Gritty’s.<br />
Ashlee is an ardent<br />
supporter of hearing loss<br />
education and often joins<br />
forces with different local and national<br />
agencies to provide educational seminars<br />
for those who could benefit from a greater<br />
understanding of ear and hearing disorders.<br />
She particularly enjoys collaborating<br />
with SeniorsPlus in Lewiston, tapping into<br />
some of the tremendous educational opportunities<br />
for our community’s elders.<br />
Over the past three years, Ashlee has been<br />
heavily involved with Young Professionals<br />
of Lewiston Auburn (YPLAA) and<br />
presently serves as chair of the organization<br />
as well as co-chair of the Y-Not<br />
Committee. She feels lucky to be able to<br />
work with local young professionals and<br />
learning why they have chosen the LA<br />
area as their home.<br />
With a family history of heart disease,<br />
Ashlee also supports The American Heart<br />
Association as a member of the executive<br />
leadership team for the annual Central<br />
Maine Heart Walk.<br />
Ten years from now, Ashlee plans to<br />
be living in the LA community continuing<br />
to do the work she loves. She cannot imagine<br />
living or practicing anywhere else!<br />
Enjoying a Patriot’s game<br />
with friends at Gritty’s<br />
Ashlee’s children<br />
UPLIFT LA <strong>40</strong> UNDER <strong>40</strong><br />
55
health & wellness<br />
Sara Goodrich<br />
Massage Therapist, Renew You! Massage & Yoga<br />
As a self-employed massage therapist<br />
and instructor of yoga and meditation,<br />
Sara’s job is to help people who are sore<br />
and stressed and who want to improve<br />
upon their physical and emotional wellbeing.<br />
She discovered her interest in massage<br />
therapy while working in an office<br />
that offered massage to its employees as<br />
part of a generous health benefit program.<br />
Bored and unmotivated<br />
in her work, the therapeutic<br />
office massages<br />
started Sara on the path<br />
to her present profession.<br />
She would later incorporate<br />
yoga and<br />
meditation, a decision<br />
she says was largely<br />
driven by her love for<br />
Kundalini Yoga, commonly<br />
known as the<br />
“Yoga of Awareness.”<br />
Sara is fond of the<br />
challenges of self-employment,<br />
which she<br />
finds often test her and<br />
keep her on her toes. She<br />
has learned a lot over the<br />
years and has seen herself<br />
grow strong and<br />
confident in areas where<br />
she was felt weak. Her<br />
passion lies in helping<br />
people. A self-identified<br />
idealist, she believes we<br />
all share a responsibility<br />
to make the world a better<br />
place. For Sara, it all<br />
begins with improving<br />
your own mind, body<br />
and life. Her goal is to<br />
employ massage therapy, yoga and meditation<br />
to support local individuals in their<br />
efforts to heal themselves and the world<br />
around them. A strong proponent of<br />
integrity, Sara feels fortunate to have<br />
the power to run her own business in<br />
a fashion that best reflects her own<br />
personal values.<br />
Sara moved to LA when her husband<br />
got a job making furniture in the area. She<br />
loves that the LA community boasts a<br />
unique combination of an “urban feel” in<br />
the downtown area and easy access to natural<br />
resources both in the mountains and<br />
along the coast. She also finds a wealth of<br />
opportunity in LA for a young person to<br />
“make their mark.” Sara believes that if<br />
you “roll up your sleeves and dig in,”<br />
you’ll see that your work is appreciated<br />
and find enormous potential to make a<br />
positive impact. With a strong interest in<br />
urban development, Sara was part of the<br />
group that started Grow L+A, a volunteer<br />
organization that has been a driving force<br />
behind the redevelopment of Bates Mill<br />
No. 5 in Lewiston. She ascribes to a philosophy<br />
known as “New Urbanism,” which<br />
examines the history of a community with<br />
downtown areas and neighborhoods that<br />
were once prosperous, connected and<br />
lively and asks the question, “what were<br />
they doing right?”<br />
Outside her career and community<br />
work, Sara enjoys gardening, hiking, reading<br />
and traveling. Some of her favorite<br />
local eateries include Marche, Boba, Thai<br />
Dish and Forage Market. Looking to the<br />
future, she plans to continue working to<br />
fully develop her business so it can flourish.<br />
Beyond that, she finds it important to<br />
leave a little room for serendipity.<br />
members of Grow L+A<br />
Sara with her sister, Frannie<br />
vacationing in Yellowstone<br />
56 UPLIFT LA <strong>40</strong> UNDER <strong>40</strong>
health & wellness<br />
Rosemarie G. Sheline, DDS<br />
Dentist, Center Street Dental<br />
Commonly known in the LA community<br />
as “Dr. Rose,” Dr. Rosemarie Sheline,<br />
DDS, is a dentist and owner of<br />
Center Street Dental in Auburn. A native<br />
of the Philippines, Dr. Rose graduated<br />
from the University of Baguio in 2001.<br />
When she met her husband, Carl, she decided<br />
to immigrate and continue pursuing<br />
her dental career in the United States.<br />
After passing her dental exams, she attended<br />
Loma Linda University in California<br />
and graduated in 2005. Her current<br />
services include treating cavities and oral<br />
infections as well as providing cosmetic<br />
and family services with implants, veneers,<br />
crowns and routine wellness<br />
checkups. She is passionate about helping<br />
her patients feel good about themselves<br />
so they can start smiling and<br />
enjoying their lives again.<br />
Dr. Rose and her husband wanted to<br />
live in Maine because of its natural<br />
beauty and sense of community. They<br />
were happy to find a practice in Auburn<br />
and a place to live in Lewiston that they<br />
enjoy. Her favorite things about living in<br />
LA are all the great local people and the<br />
availability of a wide variety<br />
of activities. She truly<br />
appreciates the opportunity<br />
to work with her<br />
wonderful staff that<br />
plays a key role in her<br />
efforts to improve the<br />
lives of her patients. Dr.<br />
Rose feels that by providing<br />
great oral health<br />
care for our community,<br />
she can contribute to the<br />
overall wellbeing and<br />
happiness of its people.<br />
When she isn’t<br />
working at Center Street<br />
Dental, Dr. Rose can be<br />
found spending time<br />
with her husband and<br />
their two beautiful children,<br />
John and Danika. A big music fan,<br />
she is currently taking piano lessons as<br />
well as voice lessons to improve upon her<br />
skills. She also loves to exercise, with a<br />
particular passion for hiking. She supports<br />
the LA community through her<br />
business, providing numerous dental<br />
health bags to local elementary schools<br />
and at various community<br />
events. Center Street Dental also<br />
supports several events and nonprofits<br />
in the LA area through<br />
sponsorships and participation<br />
in fundraisers.<br />
Through its own wellness program, Center<br />
Street Dental staff often take part in<br />
local 5K races and do their best to promote<br />
overall health and wellness in LA.<br />
Dr. Rose is particularly interested in the<br />
efforts of The Auburn PAL Center, The<br />
Dempsey Center and Tree Street Youth,<br />
all local organizations that provide valuable<br />
services and resources to those who<br />
need support and compassion.<br />
Looking ahead, Dr. Rose plans to<br />
continue her life and her practice in LA<br />
and has no doubt that the place she calls<br />
“home” will continue to grow and thrive<br />
in the future.<br />
Carl & Dr. Rose Sheline<br />
at the Great Falls Balloon Festival<br />
with her children, Danika & John<br />
UPLIFT LA <strong>40</strong> UNDER <strong>40</strong><br />
57
health & wellness<br />
Sadie Landry<br />
Sensei and Owner, Pelletier’s Karate<br />
As a sensei at Pelletier’s Karate in<br />
Lewiston, Sadie teaches a variety of classes<br />
including yoga, “yogalates,” cardio kickboxing,<br />
and self-defense. As an owner, she<br />
focuses on marketing, community involvement<br />
and special events for the dojo. It is<br />
Sadie’s philosophy that the most important<br />
part of her role as a teacher is her duty<br />
to act as a positive role model to all of her<br />
students and to provide them with the necessary<br />
tools to be successful members of<br />
society.<br />
Sadie started practicing karate when<br />
she was thirteen years old as a means of<br />
exercise. Over the years she grew to love<br />
the art of the sport, developing a passion<br />
for teaching and competition. She is proud<br />
to have been the number one female competitor<br />
in the State of Maine in her late<br />
teens, but her favorite moment in her<br />
karate career was earning her black belt.<br />
Now that she has been teaching karate in<br />
the LA community for over fifteen years,<br />
one of the most rewarding aspects of her<br />
work is seeing former students return to<br />
the dojo to enroll their children and grandchildren.<br />
She loves to see her students become<br />
more confident, stronger and<br />
happier in their lives through the practice<br />
of martial arts, yoga and general fitness.<br />
Sadie has grown to love the state<br />
of Maine since she moved here from<br />
the Midwest with her family as a<br />
child. Her favorite things about LA<br />
include the diversity<br />
of its people, the<br />
widespread energy to<br />
improve and grow, and<br />
the strong sense of community.<br />
She spends<br />
much of her free time<br />
with her family and<br />
friends playing indoor<br />
and outdoor activities.<br />
She enjoys camping and<br />
white water rafting and<br />
is a proud “hockey<br />
mom.” Local places<br />
where Sadie likes to grab<br />
a bite to eat include<br />
Dubois Café and Rolly’s<br />
Diner for breakfast, Pure<br />
Thai, Guthrie’s and Forage<br />
for lunch and Pat’s<br />
Pizza, Jasmine Café, and<br />
Fish Bones for dinner.<br />
To support her community, Sadie is<br />
actively involved in Montello and Geiger<br />
Elementary Schools by teaching karate,<br />
going on field trips and planning local festivals<br />
and events. She also serves as President<br />
of the Auburn Lewiston Exchange<br />
Club, an organization she feels provides<br />
many great opportunities to give back to<br />
the LA area. Other causes she supports include<br />
the local Boys and Girls Club,<br />
Tree Street Youth and the Community Little<br />
Theater. In general, Sadie and her family<br />
are very active in a wide variety of<br />
community events.<br />
Looking to the future, Sadie plans to<br />
remain active in teaching health and wellness.<br />
She hopes to become more involved<br />
in the LA community, which she calls “the<br />
world’s best kept secret,” and to be a role<br />
model for all.<br />
Sadie & Jason Landry<br />
Summer fun<br />
Sadie with her children,<br />
Rocco, Cecilia & Fiona<br />
UPLIFT LA <strong>40</strong> UNDER <strong>40</strong><br />
59
The Board, Staff and Veterans of Veterans Inc.<br />
congratulate Alley Smith on being selected to the <strong>2016</strong><br />
Lewiston Auburn’s inaugural class of <strong>40</strong> <strong>Under</strong> <strong>40</strong>.<br />
We salute the entire<br />
group of <strong>40</strong> <strong>Under</strong> <strong>40</strong><br />
recipients!<br />
Offices Located In: ME, MA, NH, RI, VT, CT<br />
800-482-2565<br />
www.veteransinc.org
local heroes<br />
Alley Smith<br />
Supportive Services for Military Veterans, Veterans, Inc.<br />
Alley began her career in veterans’<br />
advocacy after serving ten years’ active<br />
duty in the military, which service included<br />
being deployed to combat in<br />
Afghanistan. Her love for working with<br />
the service members and their families<br />
led her to her current position at Veterans,<br />
Inc., an organization dedicated to<br />
ending homelessness among veterans.<br />
At Veterans, Inc., Alley is responsible for<br />
grant programs like “Supportive Services<br />
for Military Veterans and their Families”<br />
and the “Homeless Veteran Reintegration<br />
Program.” She also supervises the day-today<br />
operations and works together with<br />
her incredible team to assist homeless, atrisk<br />
and transitioning veterans with<br />
housing, employment, training and benefits<br />
assistance. As a Marine, Alley was<br />
taught to know her fellow Marines and to<br />
look out for their welfare. Her work with<br />
Veterans, Inc. is her way of maintaining<br />
that spirit as a civilian.<br />
Apart from her work with Veterans,<br />
Inc., Alley gives back to her community<br />
through her work with the Maine Military<br />
& Community Network Regional<br />
Committee, Healthy Androscoggin,<br />
Catholic Charities of<br />
Maine’s Path Program<br />
and the Lewiston Career<br />
Center, among others.<br />
She also volunteers her<br />
time to local food<br />
pantries and churches,<br />
and is part of both the<br />
American Legion and<br />
Maine Army National<br />
Guard as a Chaplain<br />
and Chaplain’s Assistant,<br />
respectively.<br />
Causes she is most passionate<br />
about include<br />
AmeriCorps, Community<br />
Anti-Drug Coalitions<br />
of America, IAVA:<br />
Iraq and Afghanistan<br />
Veterans of America,<br />
Maine Team RWB, Internity, and Sexual<br />
Assault Prevention & Response Services.<br />
In her free time, Alley likes to stop at<br />
Guthrie’s and Pop Shoppe Diner for a<br />
good bite to eat. She is a big fan of staying<br />
active, often working out at Orange Circuit<br />
Fitness or going for a run at Thorncraig<br />
Bird Sanctuary.<br />
In the future, Alley sees herself continuing<br />
her work with Veterans, Inc. and<br />
completing her Master’s Degree in Biblical<br />
Counseling. In ten years, she hopes<br />
to retire from the military reserve. She<br />
believes the greatest<br />
challenge facing the LA community<br />
today is the need to build resilience. To<br />
Alley, this challenge can be overcome by<br />
boosting personal accountability and responsibility,<br />
positive mentoring and role<br />
modeling, peer to peer support and individual<br />
enthusiasm.<br />
Alley in Afghanistan<br />
Sporting Moxie t-shirts in Afghanistan<br />
Dynamic Dirt Challenge<br />
UPLIFT LA <strong>40</strong> UNDER <strong>40</strong><br />
61
local heroes<br />
Joel Furrow<br />
Director, Root Cellar in Lewiston<br />
right path by equipping<br />
them with the life skills<br />
for a successful future, to<br />
the Friends and Neighbors<br />
Network (“FANN”),<br />
a collective designed to<br />
facilitate and promote LA<br />
neighbors in need providing<br />
food for one another.<br />
Joel feels honored<br />
to be able to work alongside<br />
the “small army” of<br />
volunteers at The Cellar.<br />
He characterizes those he<br />
works with as a diverse<br />
group of people, all sharing<br />
a common goal of engaging,<br />
equipping and<br />
empowering LA citizens<br />
in need through high<br />
quality programs and<br />
services. Joel feels humbled<br />
by the love, dedication,<br />
and faith of those he<br />
works with.<br />
offered his current position at The Root Cellar<br />
in 2012, Joel saw it as a new and exciting<br />
opportunity to learn how to engage, equip<br />
and empower others to be better neighbors.<br />
The job offer came just before he and his<br />
wife, Hilary, welcomed their first daughter,<br />
and they both felt that the time was right to<br />
“put down some roots” and see what God<br />
had planned for them in LA.<br />
One of Joel’s favorite things about LA<br />
is its central location in the State of Maine;<br />
he and his family love being close to both<br />
the mountains and the coast. When he isn’t<br />
working, Joel spends as much time as he<br />
can with his beautiful wife and their two<br />
adorable daughters, Annaleigh and Jane.<br />
The family is fond of outdoor activities,<br />
spending time at local lakes whenever possible.<br />
Joel also enjoys fishing, playing basketball,<br />
and watching the Red Sox. For a<br />
bite to eat, his favorites include The Italian<br />
Bakery, Fielder’s Choice Ice Cream, Forage<br />
Market, and Boba.<br />
As Director of The Root Cellar, Joel’s<br />
job carries with it numerous responsibilities.<br />
On a typical day, he may be writing or<br />
designing a newsletter, leading a teen<br />
group, updating the Cellar’s website, working<br />
alongside volunteers in the various programs<br />
offered to adults, teens and children<br />
by the organization, or planning a fundraising<br />
event. The Root Cellar boasts programs<br />
for local citizens of all ages, from “Project<br />
Rooted,” a program designed to engage<br />
at-risk youth and get them on the<br />
Joel’s work is<br />
motivated primarily<br />
by his<br />
faith in God.<br />
During college,<br />
he became interested<br />
in learning to live out the<br />
teachings of Jesus—“to love our<br />
neighbor, love our enemies, care<br />
for the needy and welcome the<br />
stranger.” His pursuit led him to<br />
work with refugees in Jordan and<br />
Atlanta, before spending nearly<br />
five years in Boston working<br />
with at-risk youth. When he was<br />
Ice cream at the Fielder’s Choice<br />
Joel & Hilary Furrow<br />
Joel with his daughters: Annaleigh & Jane<br />
62 UPLIFT LA <strong>40</strong> UNDER <strong>40</strong>
local heroes<br />
Joseph Philippon<br />
Lewiston Police Officer<br />
Joe joined the Lewiston Police Department<br />
in the summer of 2005 after graduating<br />
from the University of Maine in Augusta<br />
with his bachelor’s degree in Administration<br />
of Justice. Raised in Lewiston, he stayed connected<br />
to LA during college through his<br />
work as a security officer for St. Mary’s Hospital<br />
and Bates. Joe has always found LA to<br />
be welcoming, safe, and rich with history,<br />
which is why he decided to stay here with<br />
his wife, Katie, to raise their growing family.<br />
The couple resides in Lewiston together with<br />
Joe’s stepson, Isaha, and their exciting new<br />
addition due to arrive in the fall.<br />
As a Community Resource Officer for<br />
Lewiston PD, Joe focuses on outreach by participating<br />
in community meetings and developing<br />
positive relationships with LA<br />
citizens. He is responsible for education, recruitment,<br />
and grant management, as well as<br />
developing initiatives for long-term solutions<br />
to community problems and emphasizing<br />
the importance of community policing<br />
and relationship building. Joe also oversees<br />
the Lewiston Project Lifesaver Program, a<br />
program that aims to provide timely responses<br />
for those affected by Alzheimer’s<br />
disease and similar conditions that cause<br />
them to wander. Individuals enrolled in the<br />
Program wear a transmitter and can be<br />
found more quickly, which means<br />
more lives are saved and<br />
many potential injuries<br />
may be avoided.<br />
Outside of his career,<br />
Joe has a passion for all<br />
things relating to education.<br />
He gives back to his<br />
community by serving on<br />
the board of directors for<br />
the Androscoggin Head<br />
Start Program, and is<br />
signed up to be an assistant<br />
coach for the upcoming<br />
eighth grade Lewiston<br />
Middle School baseball<br />
team. In the past, he<br />
served as President of the<br />
Elliott Ave. Little League<br />
and has been an assistant<br />
coach for several little league teams in the<br />
area. Based on his life experiences, Joe believes<br />
that an accessible and quality education<br />
plays a significant part in ensuring<br />
success for the future of LA’s youth.<br />
Joe’s favorite thing about LA is its sense<br />
of community. He is motivated<br />
by growing local efforts<br />
to effect positive change and<br />
continued development in the<br />
area. When he is not at work<br />
or volunteering his time, Joe<br />
can be found enjoying a bite<br />
to eat at Fuel Restaurant,<br />
where his wife is general<br />
manager. He enjoys traveling,<br />
eating out, playing<br />
hockey, and watching his<br />
stepson’s baseball and<br />
hockey games.<br />
Looking forward, Joe hopes to play a<br />
more significant role in the continued<br />
growth and development of the LA community<br />
through public service. He believes that<br />
we all must advocate for the community<br />
where we live, work, and raise our families.<br />
birth announcement (l to r): Joe’s stepson Isaha L’Heureux,<br />
wife Katie Palmer & Joe Philippon<br />
(l to r): Joe, wife Katie Palmer, stepson Isaha L’Heureux, Rep, Mike Michaud,<br />
mother Celeste Philippon, and father Roger Philippon<br />
with Rep. Mike Michaud in Washington D.C.<br />
Joe at the<br />
trainingvisiting<br />
Trunk or Treat event in Lewiston with an<br />
officer in<br />
UPLIFT LA <strong>40</strong> UNDER <strong>40</strong><br />
63
local heroes<br />
Julia Sleeper<br />
Executive Director, Tree Street Youth Center<br />
Julia found her passion working with<br />
Lewiston’s youth population while she was<br />
an undergraduate at Bates College. She fell<br />
in love with the LA community and decided<br />
to stay in Lewiston after graduation<br />
to continue her work with LA youth by cultivating<br />
opportunities through the development<br />
and creation of the Tree Street Youth<br />
Center. As Executive Director, she oversees<br />
the daily operations of Tree Street, supervises<br />
its staff, collaborates<br />
with the<br />
board of directors and<br />
maintains the ever-growing<br />
vision of the agency.<br />
Her favorite thing about<br />
her work with Tree Street<br />
is seeing local youth and<br />
their families challenging<br />
themselves to try new<br />
things. To Julia, it is a<br />
privilege to witness these<br />
powerful moments.<br />
Some of the projects<br />
Julia is involved in<br />
through Tree Street include<br />
the “StreetLeaders”<br />
program, through which<br />
high-achieving LA high<br />
school students serve as<br />
role models and tutors<br />
for younger children, and<br />
the “B.R.A.N.C.H.E.S.”<br />
program that focuses on<br />
increasing overall graduation,<br />
college acceptance<br />
and college retention<br />
rates for at-risk<br />
youth in LA.<br />
Tree Street further<br />
offers after<br />
school programs<br />
and summer<br />
youth programming,<br />
as well as<br />
arts and athletics.<br />
Julia is highly motivated by<br />
the LA youth population and<br />
finds their energy, pride, and<br />
drive to lead improvement efforts<br />
in their community to be<br />
“very unique and powerful.” She is passionate<br />
about all the LA area agencies that<br />
work so hard to support our youth and<br />
families in need. She is proud to be a part of<br />
the “huge web of support” these agencies<br />
provide. For Julia, the greatest challenge<br />
facing LA today is the need for its citizens<br />
to come together and cross all lines drawn<br />
by their differences. With time, patience,<br />
and a collective willingness to learn, listen<br />
and keep an open mind, she believes this<br />
challenge can be overcome.<br />
In her free time, Julia is happy to stay<br />
home and watch a movie, enjoy the outdoors<br />
by camping or going for a hike, and<br />
engaging in the various fun activities LA<br />
has to offer with her family. For a bite to eat,<br />
Julia favors many of the delicious restaurants<br />
that downtown Lewiston has to offer.<br />
She has a special interest in supporting local<br />
youth sports programs, particularly the<br />
teams her children play for. Julia plans to<br />
continue raising her family in LA while<br />
working to make The Tree Street Youth Center<br />
even greater and more sustainable.<br />
Julia congratulates a graduate<br />
at Tree Street Youth Center<br />
Julia poses with her campers<br />
64 UPLIFT LA <strong>40</strong> UNDER <strong>40</strong>
WE ARE<br />
TREE<br />
by Julia Sleeper<br />
julia@treestreetyouth.org<br />
Juvenile Justice Initiative, and many collaborative<br />
school partnerships. Each year Tree<br />
Street also hosts a group of 10-12 post-graduate<br />
or college interns through the Intercultural<br />
Community Exchange experience.<br />
These young people commit an academic<br />
year or summer of service to Tree Street and<br />
the Lewiston community while living and<br />
learning as a cohort immersed in the surrounding<br />
Downtown Lewiston-Tree Street<br />
Neighborhood.<br />
Julia Sleeper is the Co-Founder and Executive Director<br />
of Tree Street Youth Center. Born and<br />
raised in the Bangor area, she initially moved to<br />
Lewiston as an undergraduate at Bates College.<br />
That’s when she began connecting to the Downtown<br />
Lewiston community.<br />
T<br />
ree Street Youth supports the<br />
youth of Lewiston-Auburn,<br />
Maine through academics, the<br />
arts and athletics. We provide Lewiston-<br />
Auburn youth with a safe space that encourages<br />
healthy physical, social, emotional, and<br />
academic development while building unity<br />
across lines of difference.<br />
Founded in 2011, Tree Street Youth grew its<br />
roots from a local homework help program.<br />
Thanks to the continued support of the<br />
local community, individual donors, and<br />
foundation grants, Tree Street is able to offer<br />
all of the programming at<br />
no cost to families. We<br />
strive to eliminate economic<br />
barriers by providing<br />
a space of equal<br />
opportunity and advancement.<br />
At Tree Street, we believe<br />
that true empowerment begins with the<br />
self, but then transcends it to create a<br />
greater, collective harmony. Our holistic approach<br />
to youth development integrates a<br />
restorative justice model that demonstrates<br />
leadership, accountability, and life skills,<br />
both strengthening youth and bringing<br />
them together. We aim to empower the individual<br />
self, as well as the<br />
collective whole. We<br />
blend the focus on the individual<br />
with an equally<br />
important emphasis on<br />
building unity by creating<br />
bridges across lines of difference.<br />
We believe in<br />
this model because we ultimately<br />
believe that the<br />
most important thing<br />
that our youth learn is<br />
acceptance – of themselves<br />
and of each other.<br />
Tree Street serves 120-<br />
150 youth grades Pre-K through 12 daily<br />
through its various programs which include<br />
the After school Academic Enrichment program,<br />
StreetLeader Teen Leadership Program,<br />
Arts and Cultural Enrichment<br />
Classes, BRANCHES College Prep, Sequoia<br />
In Autumn 2014, the organization purchased<br />
the entire building which housed the<br />
center thereby gaining an additional 5,424<br />
square feet of space for future growth. Tree<br />
Street has raised approximately $800,000 towards<br />
its $1.3 million building renovation<br />
which will include a logistically sound layout,<br />
a large multi-purpose space complete<br />
with stage and kitchenette as well as a new<br />
suite of classrooms for older youth.<br />
For the last 2 years running Tree Street’s<br />
BRANCHES College Prep has boast a<br />
100% high school graduation rate with the<br />
class of 2015 having a 95% college acceptance<br />
rate!<br />
UPLIFT LA <strong>40</strong> UNDER <strong>40</strong><br />
65
Congratulations<br />
to all of the<br />
<strong>40</strong> <strong>Under</strong> <strong>40</strong> winners!<br />
Roux Insurance is Excited<br />
about its <strong>Under</strong> <strong>40</strong> Staff<br />
Safe Voices is proud to be part of the L/A<br />
community for over 38 years!<br />
Kay<br />
Roux<br />
Selena<br />
Churchill<br />
Zac<br />
Gayton<br />
PO Box 713, Auburn • 207-795-6744<br />
24 hour helpline: 1-800-559-2927 • www.SafeVoices.org<br />
185 Webster Street, Lewiston • 207-784-9358<br />
www.rouxinsurance.com
volunteers<br />
Elise Johansen<br />
Executive Director, Safe Voices<br />
Elise believes the path to leadership is<br />
not a straight line, but rather a winding<br />
road that, if you are willing, open and positive,<br />
will be worth every twist and turn.<br />
She avoids limiting her aspirations and<br />
keeps an open mind when it comes to trying<br />
new methods of achieving her goals. It<br />
was her positive “just say yes” attitude that<br />
led Elise to her current position as Executive<br />
Director of Safe Voices. By being clear<br />
about her vision and not afraid to ask for<br />
help, she was able to turn a department of<br />
three staff members into a robust program<br />
that boasts up to twenty-four staff members<br />
with numerous new sources of funding.<br />
She views her primary duty as<br />
carrying out the mission of Safe Voices in<br />
working to end domestic violence. Her regular<br />
responsibilities include serving as<br />
spokesperson, setting the leadership model<br />
for the agency and ensuring that all agency<br />
activities are held to the highest possible<br />
standards.<br />
Apart from her work with Safe Voices,<br />
Elise’s favorite thing about LA is enjoying<br />
the view on her daily commute to work.<br />
Seeing birds of prey and turkeys, along<br />
with other wildlife along the river is a wonderful<br />
way to begin her day.<br />
A huge coffee fan, she<br />
often sets meetings at<br />
Forage Market so she can<br />
indulge in their delicious<br />
brews. For lunches and<br />
other events at Safe<br />
Voices, Lewiston House<br />
of Pizza is always a hit.<br />
Personally, she favors<br />
Marche and DaVinci’s<br />
and recently became a<br />
fan of Margarita’s after<br />
enjoying their food at a<br />
benefit for Safe Voices.<br />
Elise is a lover of animals<br />
and nature, and often<br />
spends the weekends<br />
hiking, gardening, or exploring<br />
the tidal pools at<br />
the beach with her wife.<br />
Indoors, she is a self-proclaimed<br />
“major book nerd” and enjoys<br />
watching reality TV. Elise and her wife are<br />
also committed to supporting local businesses,<br />
purchasing many goods from local<br />
farmers and artisans.<br />
In the next ten years, Elise envisions<br />
herself running a large, successful nonprofit,<br />
being a best-selling author, or both!<br />
Causes she is most passionate about include<br />
fighting for the rights of women, animals,<br />
the LGBTQ community, and the<br />
environment.<br />
She has worked hard throughout her career<br />
to collaborate with community stakeholders<br />
to create new services and enhance existing<br />
ones and to ensure that all people are<br />
treated fairly and holistically. She plans to<br />
continue her efforts to create a culture of<br />
kindness and empowerment in the LA<br />
area. For Elise, the keys to success are to<br />
dream big and say “yes.”<br />
Elise enjoys a summer day<br />
live on the set<br />
Elise & Shaun<br />
UPLIFT LA <strong>40</strong> UNDER <strong>40</strong><br />
67
volunteers<br />
Matthew Shaw<br />
Business Development Officer, Community Credit Union<br />
As the Business Development Officer<br />
for Community Credit Union, Matt’s job<br />
is to improve the Credit Union’s competitive<br />
position through business development<br />
functions and working closely with<br />
local dealers and realtors to help secure<br />
lending for various projects in LA. He is<br />
also closely involved with LA area<br />
schools, facilitating financial literacy<br />
courses for students of all ages, and serves<br />
as a representative of CCU at local<br />
fundraisers and community events.<br />
Born and raised in Lewiston, Matt enrolled<br />
in accounting and technology<br />
courses in high school and worked for a<br />
local bank while attending college at St.<br />
Joseph’s. Envisioning a future for himself<br />
helping others and giving back to his community,<br />
he built a strong foundation in<br />
marketing and business ethics and eventually<br />
earned his bachelor’s degree in<br />
Business Administration. Prior to joining<br />
CCU, Matt worked with United Way of<br />
Androscoggin County as Director of Campaign<br />
and Marketing. When he was offered<br />
the job at CCU, Matt saw an ideal<br />
opportunity to combine his commitment<br />
to and admiration for our community<br />
with his passion for building relationships.<br />
He feels fortunate to live and work<br />
in LA with its rich history and beautiful architecture.<br />
agent, banquet bartender<br />
and manager on<br />
duty. When he’s not at<br />
work, he loves to be out<br />
and about in the community.<br />
Whether he’s attending<br />
Business After<br />
Hours around town,<br />
tasting new foods at locally<br />
owned restaurants,<br />
volunteering for events<br />
or participating in local<br />
fundraising efforts, Matt<br />
finds it “engaging and<br />
rewarding” to be a part<br />
of building LA by helping<br />
his fellow citizens<br />
whenever possible. He is<br />
an active presence in<br />
both the LA Metropolitan<br />
Chamber of Commerce and Uplift LA<br />
and loves that so many local businesses<br />
are members of the Chamber and consistently<br />
contribute to efforts to draw more<br />
people to the LA area to live, work and<br />
play.<br />
Some of Matt’s favorite places to eat in LA<br />
include Marche, Jasmine Café, Sea<strong>40</strong> and<br />
DaVinci’s. Outside his community work,<br />
he has an interest in taking scenic photographs,<br />
traveling and sitting by the ocean,<br />
and spending time on Sebago Lake with<br />
family and friends. In the future, he sees<br />
himself continuing to build the LA community<br />
as well as the surrounding area.<br />
He hopes to be able to make lasting positive<br />
impacts and maintains an attitude<br />
that “when you help one, you help<br />
everyone.”<br />
Beyond his career with CCU, Matt<br />
works for the Hilton Garden Inn in<br />
Auburn as a guest services<br />
Matthew Shaw, Deborah Carroll,<br />
Maureen Aube & Jenny Ziebart<br />
Like Family... Jonathan Ogden, Kayleigh Jameyson, Annette Jo &<br />
Matthew Shaw at Sea <strong>40</strong><br />
Richard "Pete" Shaw, Dad; Greg Begin, Brother-In-Law;<br />
Cassandra "KC" Begin, Sister; Karen Shaw, Mom<br />
UPLIFT LA <strong>40</strong> UNDER <strong>40</strong><br />
69
volunteers<br />
Maura Moody<br />
Public Relations Coordinator, LAEGC<br />
She characterizes her job<br />
as a fast-paced, multifaceted<br />
position. She is<br />
responsible for marketing<br />
LA and the efforts of<br />
the Council locally and<br />
nationally, planning and<br />
organizing local events<br />
like the Business to Business<br />
Trade Show, and<br />
supporting efforts to<br />
publicize new and existing<br />
businesses in the<br />
area.<br />
“mom and pop” restaurants to enjoy. She<br />
believes it is important not to get so caught<br />
up in her career that she forgets to enjoy<br />
all the rest that life has to offer. To give<br />
back to her community, Maura volunteers<br />
her time helping those in need. Her greatest<br />
passion lies with the local homeless<br />
community and she commends the New<br />
Beginnings Youth Shelter for its efforts to<br />
lead our youth down the path of positivity<br />
and determination. Volunteerism is extremely<br />
important to Maura, whose basic<br />
philosophy is “you can never go wrong<br />
being nice.”<br />
Maura began her academic career in<br />
Auburn and quickly returned to LA after<br />
college. A self-proclaimed “true and<br />
through ‘Mainah,’” her favorite thing<br />
about LA is the plethora of community<br />
events that are always going on. It is inspiring<br />
for Maura to live in a city that is<br />
constantly working to get more citizens involved<br />
on all different levels. Almost a<br />
year ago, she was hired by the Lewiston<br />
Auburn Economic Growth Council as its<br />
Office Manager and Public Relations<br />
Coordinator.<br />
Opportunities for<br />
community involvement<br />
and consistent exposure<br />
to new endeavors and<br />
challenges are Maura’s<br />
favorite aspects of her<br />
work with the LAEGC.<br />
She also feels fortunate<br />
to live and work in an<br />
environment where familiar<br />
faces are found almost<br />
everywhere she<br />
goes. Maura finds marketing<br />
LA to be a fun<br />
venture, motivating her<br />
peers to see the growth<br />
and development in the area by encouraging<br />
them to attend local events.<br />
Outside of her job, Maura loves to<br />
experience new places. She spends<br />
much of her free time exploring, whether<br />
it be hiking, traveling someplace new in<br />
Maine, or searching for undiscovered<br />
For the future, Maura sees herself<br />
working hands-on in the LA community<br />
to advocate for our youth, and is presently<br />
in the process of applying to get her master’s<br />
degree in Social Work. Whether it be<br />
in the school systems or through our local<br />
shelters, she wants to be reaching out and<br />
making a difference.<br />
Maura on the coast of Maine<br />
Maura loves making new friends<br />
Kevin Morin, Joe Philippon, Sandy Marquis & Maura Moody<br />
70 UPLIFT LA <strong>40</strong> UNDER <strong>40</strong>
Congratulations<br />
to all of the<br />
<strong>40</strong> <strong>Under</strong> <strong>40</strong><br />
Winners!<br />
AUSTIN ASSOCIATES<br />
CERTIFIED PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS<br />
Auburn & Norway<br />
1-800-605-9263<br />
austinpa.com
volunteers<br />
Rilwan Osman<br />
Executive Director, Maine Immigrant & Refugee Services<br />
Maine Immigrant & Refugee Services<br />
was built upon a shared vision to educate,<br />
support and empower immigrant and<br />
refugee youth in the LA area. The first step<br />
that Rilwan, co-founder and executive director<br />
of MIRS, and his colleagues took<br />
was to establish monthly meetings for<br />
local youth to discuss problems they were<br />
facing and work together to generate positive<br />
solutions.<br />
The monthly meetings<br />
became so popular that<br />
MIRS expanded its services<br />
to include soccer<br />
programs, academic<br />
support, cultural programs<br />
and tradition<br />
counseling. Today, MIRS<br />
not only serves immigrant<br />
and refugee youth<br />
in LA, but also offers a<br />
myriad of services to<br />
their parents. The Citizenship<br />
Program, which<br />
helps immigrant and<br />
refugee parents study for<br />
the literacy portion of<br />
their naturalization<br />
exams, boasts an impressive<br />
success rate and has<br />
become so popular that<br />
people are traveling<br />
from other parts of the<br />
State to be a part of it.<br />
Other services for parents<br />
include<br />
courses on job<br />
searching, parenting<br />
and advanced<br />
reading,<br />
writing and oral<br />
skills.<br />
As Executive Director,<br />
Rilwan oversees all day-to-day<br />
activities of the agency. He helps<br />
facilitate English as a Second<br />
Language courses, juvenile<br />
justice programs, after school<br />
programming, mental health<br />
services, and more. He started MIRS as a<br />
group of volunteers and has seen it<br />
quickly grow into an agency that employs<br />
over thirty people.<br />
Born in Somalia and raised in a<br />
refugee camp, Rilwan had never lived in a<br />
big city when he and his family relocated<br />
to Atlanta, Georgia. Not finding Atlanta to<br />
be a great fit, Rilwan and his family moved<br />
to LA after hearing from other family and<br />
friends that it was a small and safe place<br />
to live and raise children. His favorite<br />
thing about the LA community is the availability<br />
of a support system for those who<br />
need it. Some of his favorite places to eat<br />
include Dunkin’ Donuts and local Somali<br />
restaurants. When he isn’t working, Rilwan<br />
enjoys being with his family and volunteering<br />
his time and money to help<br />
others when he can. Looking to the future,<br />
he plans to work toward more integration,<br />
offering increased multicultural activities<br />
to connect Maine citizens, old and new.<br />
Rilwan’s children<br />
Rilwan with his daughter, Qamar<br />
Abdikadir, Jama, Rilwan & Fatuma<br />
72 UPLIFT LA <strong>40</strong> UNDER <strong>40</strong>
Cheers!<br />
Congrats to all the<br />
<strong>40</strong> <strong>Under</strong> <strong>40</strong> Winners<br />
You make Lewiston Auburn Proud!<br />
5 LOCATIONS FOR RETAIL • WHOLESALE • REDEMPTION • LIQUOR STORE<br />
www.roopersbeverage.com
Congratulations<br />
to the<br />
Honorees!<br />
<strong>2016</strong><br />
Abdikadir<br />
Negeye<br />
Co-founder<br />
Maine Immigrant<br />
& Refugee Services<br />
Aimee<br />
Labbe<br />
Manager at Patrick<br />
Dempsey Center for<br />
Cancer Hope & Healing<br />
Alexandra<br />
Hood<br />
Olin Arts Center<br />
Operations<br />
Bates College<br />
Alley<br />
Smith<br />
Supportive Services for<br />
Military Veterans<br />
Veterans, Inc.<br />
Dr. Ashlee<br />
Vandiver, Au.D.<br />
Audiologist<br />
L/A Hearing Center<br />
Ben<br />
Chin<br />
Political Director<br />
Maine People’s Alliance<br />
Chantel<br />
Pettengill<br />
Owner & Director<br />
Pettengill Academy<br />
Colby<br />
Michaud<br />
Owner<br />
Praxis Production Studios<br />
Deanna<br />
Etienne<br />
Pre-K Teacher<br />
Walton Elementary<br />
School<br />
Derrick<br />
Lacasse<br />
Music & Chorus Teacher<br />
St. Dominic Academy<br />
Dr. Rose<br />
Sheline, DDS<br />
Dentist<br />
Center Street Dental<br />
Elise<br />
Johansen<br />
Executive Director<br />
Safe Voices<br />
Emily<br />
Butterfield<br />
Student Navigator<br />
Central Maine<br />
Community College<br />
Emmie<br />
Jones<br />
Owner<br />
Emmie Jones Photography<br />
Eric<br />
Brakey<br />
Maine State Senator<br />
District 20<br />
Erin<br />
Reed<br />
Executive Director<br />
Trinity Jubilee Center<br />
Gabrielle<br />
Russell<br />
Architect<br />
Platz & Associates<br />
Jama<br />
Mohamed<br />
Program Director<br />
Maine Immigrant &<br />
Refugee Services<br />
Jared<br />
Golden<br />
State Legislator<br />
City of Lewiston<br />
Jen<br />
Hogan<br />
President & CEO<br />
Community Credit Union<br />
Jenny<br />
Ziebart<br />
Director of Marketing<br />
LA Metro Chamber<br />
Joe<br />
Philippon<br />
Police Officer<br />
City of Lewiston<br />
Joel<br />
Furrow<br />
Director<br />
Root Cellar<br />
Julia<br />
Sleeper<br />
Executive Director<br />
Tree Street Youth Center<br />
Karly<br />
Eretizen<br />
Creative Strategist<br />
Rinck Advertising<br />
Luke<br />
Livingston<br />
Founder & CEO<br />
Baxter Brewing Company<br />
Marc<br />
Gosselin<br />
Manager<br />
Norway Savings Bank<br />
Arena<br />
Marlo<br />
Hewitt<br />
Founder & Operator<br />
Hair Station Hair Salon<br />
Matthew<br />
Shaw<br />
Business Development<br />
Officer<br />
Community Credit Union<br />
Maura<br />
Moody<br />
Public Relations<br />
Coordinator<br />
LAEGC<br />
Melanie<br />
Therrien<br />
Owner & Operator<br />
Wicked Illustrations<br />
Melissa<br />
Simones<br />
Policy Director<br />
for Senate President,<br />
Michael Thibodeau<br />
Misty<br />
Parker<br />
Economic Development<br />
Specialist<br />
City of Lewiston<br />
Nate<br />
Libby<br />
Maine State Senator<br />
District 21<br />
Nick<br />
Benoit<br />
Principal<br />
Benoit’s Bakery<br />
Rilwan<br />
Osman<br />
Executive Director<br />
Maine Immigrant &<br />
Refugee Services<br />
Sadie<br />
Landry<br />
Sensei & Owner<br />
Pelletier’s Karate<br />
Sara<br />
Goodrich<br />
Massage Therapist<br />
Renew You! Massage<br />
& Yoga<br />
Sheri<br />
Withers<br />
Owner<br />
Downtown Homemade<br />
& Vintage<br />
Vincent<br />
Ratsovong<br />
Creative Director<br />
Community Little Theatre<br />
74 UPLIFT LA <strong>40</strong> UNDER <strong>40</strong>