Updated: December 24, 2024
Leadership transitions changed the face of Maine businesses, nonprofits in 2024
Leadership changes were among the top stories in Mainebiz this year, with good reason.
As much as the pandemic created shifts in where people lived and worked, the post-pandemic years have created another seismic shift in the top ranks of management. Leaders retired, resigned, switched jobs and sought time to recharge at an unprecedented rate in 2024.
Law firms, banks, nonprofits, health care institutions, universities and businesses in Maine were all affected by changes in top management.
Top leadership departures, changes:
Professional services firms
- Martin Eisenberg stepped down as managing partner of Brann & Isaacson. Stacy Stitham took over as managing partner on July 1.
- Preti Flaherty named Michael S. Smith as managing partner, effective July 15. He succeeded David Van Slyke, who is resuming his role as chair of Preti’s environmental practice group.
- Joan Fortin, CEO of the law firm Bernstein Shur, announced in May she would step down at the end of 2024; a successor has not been named.
- Dayton Benway, managing principal at the accounting firm Baker Newman Noyes, is set to retire at the end of 2024; Darren Hurlburt, CFO and chief risk officer, will become president.
- David Austin stepped away from the managing partner role at Eaton Peabody, returned to full-time practice within the firm he led for 12 years. Michael A. Hodgins, who joined Eaton Peabody in 2019, took over as managing partner, effective Oct. 1.
Universities
- Jerry Paul, president of Maine Maritime Academy, stepped down in May, citing extenuating family circumstances; the interim successor is Craig Johnson.
- Robert Clark, Husson University's longtime president, retired; he was succeeded by Lynne Coy-Ogan, effective July 1.
- Tim Crowley, president of Northern Maine Community College since 2002, retired on Aug. 1 after almost four decades with the college. Angela Buck, academic dean at the college, is serving as interim.
- Norm O’Reilly left the UMaine graduate business school to become dean of the UNE Business School, effective July 1.
- Laurie Lachance, President, Thomas College, was succeeded by Jeannine Diddle Uzzi, a former provost at the University of Southern Maine.
Nonprofits, health care
- Liz Cotter Schlax, CEO of United Way of Southern Maine, will step down in January 2025.
- Rebecca Hatfield, president and CEO of Avesta Housing, left to become head of strategy at Hancock Lumber.
- Crystal Landry, CEO, Penobscot Valley Hospital (announced in April); Melissa Pelkey was named to take over July 1.
- Gretchen Johnson took over as director of the Center for Grieving Children, stepping in for the retiring director, Anne Heros.
- Julie Marchese, co-founder and race director for the Maine Cancer Foundation's Tri for a Cure, stepped down; a successor has not been named.
Businesses
- Ellen Belknap, president and CEO of SMRT Architects and Engineers, retired in January; her successor: Brad Hodges.
- Matt Tonello, managing partner of Consigli Construction, moved into a new position in May, taking on client relationship role. His successor was Dave Thomas.
- Fortunat Mueller, president of ReVision Energy, took a year-long sabbatical; in the interim, Daniel Clapp will lead the company.
- David Geiger will take over as president of Lewiston-based Geiger, effective Jan. 1, 2025; Jo-an Lantz, is stepping down from the president role but will remain CEO.
- Lisa DeSisto resigned as managing director at Maine Trust for Local News, publisher of the Press Herald, after 12 years, effective the end of 2024; her replacement will be Stefanie Manning, who has led the consumer revenue arm of Maine Trust.
Financial services firms
- After two decades as president and CEO of Fort Kent-based Acadia Federal Credit Union, David Desjardins will retire on July 1, 2025. Joey Cannan, the current executive vice president who joined the organization in 2021, will succeed Desjardins next year, the credit union said.
- Bradford Paige is set to retire as president and CEO of Kennebunk Savings, effective at the end of the year; Lex Meagher, now president, will take over the CEO role on Jan. 1.
- Jeanne Hulit, president and CEO, Maine Community Bank plans to retire within a year of the merger with Gorham Savings; Steve deCastro of Gorham Savings will lead the merged entity.
- David Cyr, president and CEO of Skowhegan Savings, will retire at the end of 2025. Dan Tilton took over as president, and will add the CEO title at the end of 2025.
Government, quasi-government
- Jeanne Lambrew, the state Health and Human Services commissioner, resigned in May; Sara Gagne-Holmes was named the interim commissioner.
- There were also a host of new town managers in Maine — in Freeport, Yarmouth, Gray, Cumberland and Saco.
- Paul Schumacher retired as executive director of the Southern Maine Planning and Development Commission; Stephanie Carver was named as successor in June.
- Scott Dionne stepped down as president and CEO of Aroostook Partnership in early December; his successor is being sought.
- Matthew Burns left his position as executive director of the Maine Port Authority and has returned to the Maine Department of Transportation as deputy director of the Office of Freight and Business Logistics, effective Sept. 23.
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