From the editor
I always enjoy our Women to Watch issue. It's great fun for us to discover exceptional female executives in Maine and bring them to you, our readers.
Who knew there were bold women leading Wright Express' largest division? Making world-class rope? Leading the charge in health care reform? Shaking the money tree to support the hidden gem of the Gulf of Maine Research Institute? Or reviving old mills with upscale yarn production?
Well, you'll know by turning to page 18 where we introduce our 2012 Women to Watch. More than 75 nominations were submitted this year, and from them we culled the best, vetted them with peers and interviewed them for stories that will inspire and impress you. As an added bonus, we've asked each honoree to offer some advice in their areas of expertise on camera. You can check out their videos at mainebiz.biz/WTW.
You will also be impressed by the folks at Lincoln Academy who bucked a trend and raised big money privately to reinvent what we used to call shop class. Senior Writer Jim McCarthy tells us in his piece, "Bridging the skills gap" on page 26, how the community rallied around the notion that trades, or applied technology, is just as important to a business community's vitality as those college degrees. It's part of this issue's focus on education and training.
We also take a look at what resources are available to businesses to help lower their employees' student loan debt in Contributing Writer Sara Anne Donnelly's story, "Loan overload," on page 28. And Laurie Lachance, the irrepressible former head of the Maine Development Foundation, brings her unique brand of optimism to her new role as head of Thomas College and shares her insights on the wisdom of investing in education in "Prosperity bound," on page 30.
We also check in with the heads of Maine's four biggest chambers of commerce to get a read on how Gov. Paul LePage is doing. Contributing Writer Douglas Rooks captures some surprisingly honest remarks in his piece, "Grading the gov," starting on page 14. Fiscal policy, R&D decisions, regulatory reform … the opinions fly.
And speaking of women to watch, we are very sad to see our Online Editor Mindy Woerter leave for a new job as a communications director with a local nonprofit. Mindy started at Mainebiz right after graduating Colby College and had steadily taken on more responsibilities while simultaneously honing her superb writing skills. She figured mightily in the awards Mainebiz has won in the five years Mindy worked here. We hate to see her go, but wish her all the best.
A savvy businesswoman, Mindy promises to attend the Women to Watch reception Sept. 20 at the Woodlands Club in Falmouth (details and registration info is at mainebiz.biz under the "Our Events" tab). She knows the value of networking, and our WTW events are always high energy. Like the honorees, they are exceptional.
Carol Coultas
ccoultas@mainebiz.biz
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