Twenty-two Greater Kennebec Valley Area Organizations Honored for Supporting Employee Higher Education

The Maine Development Foundation recognizes outstanding Maine Employers at Waterville event

On April 14, 2010, the Maine Development Foundation and its Maine Employers’ Initiative recognized 22 greater Kennebec Valley Maine employers for their efforts in supporting employee higher education. The awards were presented at the meeting of the Kennebec Valley Human Resources Association at the Waterville Holiday Inn. The celebrated employers have committed to support their employees' educational goals through a variety of actions ranging from celebrating employee completion of a degree or certification program, to creating or enhancing a formal tuition payment assistance program.

“There is no more critical investment to be made to ensure Maine’s future prosperity than the investment in higher education, with the goal of supporting every Maine worker to achieve his or her highest potential,” said Laurie Lachance, president and CEO of Maine Development Foundation. “The Maine Development Foundation is very grateful for the leadership demonstrated by these employers – and all of our 85 committed employers in Maine. We appreciate their commitment and support to their employees’ education.”

Barbara Woodlee, President of Kennebec Valley Community College and honoree, said, "The Initiative is a wonderful partner for employers in Maine seeking to encourage their employees to achieve their full potential through lifelong learning. As educators, we understand the obstacles workers face as they pursue college degrees and certificates that advance their skills, and we recognize the value of organizations like the Maine Employers' Initiative in overcoming those obstacles."

President Woodlee and President Lachance recognized the efforts of the following organizations:

  • Community Pharmacies, Augusta
  • Goold Health Systems, Augusta
  • Inland Hospital, Waterville
  • Kennebec Savings Bank, Augusta
  • Kennebec Valley Chamber of Commerce, Augusta
  • Kennebec Valley Community Action Program, Waterville
  • Kennebec Valley Community College, Fairfield
  • Lohmann Animal Health International, Winslow
  • Madison Paper Industries, Madison
  • Maine Centers for Women, Work and Community, Augusta
  • MaineGeneral Health Systems, Augusta
  • MaineHousing, Augusta
  • Maine State Chamber of Commerce, Augusta
  • Maine Women’s Lobby and Women’s Policy Center, Hallowell
  • Mid-Maine Chamber of Commerce, Waterville
  • Motivational Services, Inc., Augusta
  • MSAD #3 Adult Education, Thorndike
  • Redington-Fairview General Hospital, Skowhegan
  • Sheepscot Valley RSU Whitefield Adult Education, Whitefield
  • Unity College, Unity
  • Valley Distributors, Oakland
  • City of Waterville, Waterville

The Initiative, funded through generous grants from the Lumina Foundation and Ford Foundation, is working in partnership with the Maine Compact for Higher Education and the Maine Community Foundation to increase the educational attainment levels of Maine’s workers. The goal is to have 500 employers take “one more step” to promote education for their employees.

The Maine Development Foundation is a private, non-profit organization that drives sustainable, long-term economic growth for Maine through several programs. MDF stimulates new ideas, develops leaders, and provides common ground for solving problems and advancing issues. For more information please visit www.mdf.org.

Standing left to right:
Dan Brown, VP of Operations, Inland Hospital; Peter Thompson, President, Kennebec Valley Chamber of Commerce; Barbara Gabri, Director of Human Resources, Motivational Services, Inc.; Laurie Lachance, President, Maine Development Foundation – Presenter; Barbara Woodlee, President, Kennebec Community College – Presenter and Honoree; Karen Dostie, Nurse Recruiter, MaineGeneral Health; Kathleen Hale, Director of Human Resources, Unity College; Lisa Madore, Human Resources Manager, Valley Distributors; Pat Hughes, Director, MSAD #3 Adult and Community Education Program; Jane Whitley, Human Resources Director, MaineHousing; Debra Randall, Director, Sheepscot Valley RSU #12 Whitefield Adult Education; Bobbie Jo Green, Human Resources Coordinator, City of Waterville; Lynn Clark, Human Resources Manager, Lohmann Animal Health International; Gilda Nardone, Executive Director, Maine Centers for Women, Work and Community; Donna Wacome, Senior Recruiter, MaineGeneral Health

Seated left to right:
Joyce LaRoche, Vice President of Membership and Marketing, Maine State Chamber; Danielle Chaput, Marketing Representative, Mid-Maine Chamber; Elizabeth Benson, Human Resources Coordinator, Community Pharmacies; Chele Dubois, Training and Development Manager, Motivational Services, Inc.; Roseanna Curry, Human Resources Supervisor, Goold Health Systems; Mary Hammond, Vice President and Human Resources Officer, Kennebec Savings Bank