Explore how collaboration among employers, higher education, and nonprofit organizations can support career-connected learning through internships. Featuring perspectives from an employer partner, higher education, internship program leadership, and a program alumnus, this session will highlight approaches to building sustainable partnerships, strengthening connections across sectors, and creating opportunities that benefit students, employers, and Maine's workforce. Participants will leave with practical ideas for fostering partnerships that create meaningful experiences for students and support long-term workforce development.
Director of Health Professions Advising, Bowdoin College
Valerie joined Bowdoin as Director of Health Professions Advising in 2024. She brings draws upon her teaching experience to advise and guide students through their exploration, preparation for and application to not only medical schools, but dental, vet, PA, nursing and many other... Read More →
Marketing & Logistics Coordinator/Internship Program Coordinator, Hanley Center for Health Leadership and Education
Kaitlynn is the Marketing & Logistics Coordinator for the Hanley Center, where she has led the coordination of the organization’s internship program for the past three years. She is committed to pipeline work that strengthens Maine’s healthcare workforce and helping emerging leaders... Read More →
Russ is the Director of Community Engagement at Martin’s Point Health Care. In this role, he is responsible for leading the development and execution of Community Engagement and Partnership strategies for the organization. He has worked with non-profits for over 20 years and has... Read More →
Executive Director, Hanley Center for Health Leadership and Education
Judiann is the Executive Director of the Hanley Center. Judiann joined the Hanley Center in April of 2015 after playing a variety of roles at Spurwink, Maine’s largest non-profit mental health agency, over a period of 18 years. At Spurwink, Judiann served in 3 progressively... Read More →
What happens when a school district removes the walls between learning and the real world, and hands students the map? ASPIRE Gorham is a preK–12 learning initiative built entirely on the belief that the most powerful education happens when the classroom and community intersect. ASPIRE Gorham integrates career exposure, exploration, and experiences into every classroom, for every student. As part of Aspire 2.0, intentional play-based education prek to grade 2 is setting the foundation, while over 200 high school students are choosing to do ELOs, with some earning college or even core content credits.
Career Aspirations and Community Coordinator, Gorham School Department
A veteran Maine educator, former Associate Commissioner for Public Education Kelli Deveaux went from supporting the work of Maine DOE's ELO implementation Team to stepping into the role of districtwide coordinator for prek-12 career aspirations in her home community. She is a lifelong... Read More →
Heather J. Perry is Superintendent of Schools for the Gorham School Department, Gorham, ME. where she has served the community for the past 11 years. The Gorham School Department serves approximately 2,800 students in Cumberland County, ME. In her 31 years of experience as ... Read More →
The workforce is changing faster than ever. How are we going to encourage students to follow career paths that we don’t know the future of? What about careers that do not exist yet? In this interactive session, Live + Work in Maine will facilitate a conversation between educators, Maine employers, and Maine Universities on preferred methods for keeping educators informed about career options and Maine sectors, what employers are anticipating in their sectors, and how we keep Maine students excited (and not concerned) about their futures. The goal of the session will be to create partnership opportunities between Maine’s educators and Maine’s workforce to help ensure Maine students do not fall behind on career trends. Alongside this, educators will leave with practical insights on the latest happenings in Maine’s workforce and sectors, as well as what Universities are looking for to take back to their classrooms.
Moderator:Katie Shorey is the Director of Engagement at Live + Work in Maine (LWM) and a proud boomerang to the state. She returned to Maine after gaining experience in the political, nonprofit, and consulting sectors in Washington, D.C., and San Francisco. Prior to joining LWM, Katie... Read More →
Many students are unaware of the high-demand technical careers available in Maine, including careers in advanced manufacturing, robotics, automation, and industrial technology. This session will explore how partnerships among CTE programs, employers, industry associations, nonprofit partners, and workforce leaders can help students move from career awareness to exploration, technical education, work-based learning, and apprenticeship pathways. Panelists will discuss CTE IGNITE pilot opportunities, teacher externships, employer engagement, and student-facing strategies that make career pathways more visible, relevant, and connected to Maine communities. (Session 2 of 2 related submissions)
Discover how collaboration among schools, Career and Technical Education, higher education, businesses, and community organizations can transform student success by creating individualized pathways for every learner. This session highlights practical strategies for building partnerships that expand opportunities through career exploration, dual enrollment, apprenticeships, work-based learning, and student-centered learning experiences. Learn how elevating student voice and choice empowers young people to explore their interests, develop career goals, and take ownership of their futures while creating a seamless connection between education and the workforce.
David Dorr is the Director of the Somerset Career & Technical Center (SCTC) in Skowhegan, Maine. Since 2012, he has led the expansion of career and technical education by developing innovative partnerships with schools, colleges, businesses, and community organizations to create career... Read More →
Dawn Fickett, M.A. is the Director of Afterschool and Summer Learning Programs for MSAD 54, where she leads the district's REACH Afterschool Program, Camp REACH, and K–8 Summer Learning initiatives. She has developed a trauma-responsive out-of-school time model that expands student... Read More →
Valerie McNamara is a dedicated leader with JMG (Jobs for Maine's Graduates), where she is committed to expanding opportunities for Maine students through career exploration, education, and workforce development. Passionate about building strong partnerships among schools, employers... Read More →
Jonathan D. Moody is the Superintendent of Schools for MSAD 54 in central Maine and a respected educational leader with more than three decades of experience as a teacher, coach, principal, assistant superintendent, and superintendent. A graduate of the University of Maine at Farmington... Read More →
Supporting Opportunity Youth in today's workforce requires strong partnerships and innovative, cross-sector collaboration. Join the Catherine Cutler Institute and Educate Maine for a dynamic, dual-perspective workshop exploring how two organizations with trusted relationships—one with systems-involved youth and one with employers—have built a lasting partnership that strengthens outcomes for both. Discover practical strategies for engaging youth and employers, fostering stakeholder buy-in, and creating pathways that promote wellness, retention, and long-term success. Through real-world examples and lessons learned, participants will leave with actionable tools to build sustainable collaborations and expand meaningful employment opportunities for Opportunity Youth.
Discover how Maine is creating seamless pathways from education to employment through the power of partnership. This interactive panel brings together leaders from K–12 schools, Adult Education, the Maine Community College System, and Educate Maine to share how pre-apprenticeship can successfully lead to Registered Apprenticeship. Using Maine's educator apprenticeship model including the Gorham School District, as a real-world example, participants will learn practical strategies for building "grow your own" talent pipelines, leveraging funding, engaging partners, and launching apprenticeship programs in their own communities. Leave with actionable ideas to strengthen workforce development in any industry.
Wendy Kostenbauder is a focused leader with nearly two decades of experience in program administration, strategic planning, and business operations. Currently serving as a Program Manager for the Maine Apprenticeship Program, she excels in overseeing grant activities, developing performance... Read More →
This breakout session will be an interactive look at how to reframe career development through the voices of recent college graduates and young professionals. Building on the impact of last year’s session, “Reframing Career Development – From What We Do to Who Do We Want to Be,” this proposal asks a new question: What do students wish they had learned before they graduated? Participants will hear from recent college graduates and young professionals responding to a single prompt: “If you could go back and speak to yourself as a junior or senior in high school, what would you tell yourself?” Their answers will help educators examine how schools and partners can better prepare students for life after graduation. The focus will be not only academically, but professionally, financially, and personally.
Senior Vice President/Director of Talent, Diversity, and Inclusion., Bangor Savings Bank
David Pease is Senior Vice President - Director of Talent, Diversity, Inclusion & Belonging at Bangor Savings Bank. His HR career spans 40+ years in business, healthcare, academia and corporate America. He has a master’s degree in human resources management from Lesley University... Read More →
The 2026 Bangor Savings Bank Management Trainees are a group of emerging banking professionals participating in the Bank's leadership development program. Through rotations across multiple departments, collaboration with senior leaders, and involvement in strategic projects, the trainees... Read More →
Discover how the Maine Career Pathways (MCP) initiative is supporting workforce development through a powerful statewide collaboration and framework. This session explores how our innovative pilots in healthcare and early childhood education are bridging the gap between learners and high-demand careers. Participants will gain firsthand insights into our four-part framework and help shape the next phase of MCP. Together, we will identify new sectors and strategic partnerships to expand career-connected learning and support Maine’s workforce goals.
Samantha Dina is a workforce and education policy leader with deep experience building statewide career pathways systems. As Associate Commissioner at the Maine Department of Labor, she convened and led the Workforce Cabinet to align workforce, education, and economic development... Read More →
Education Pathways and Early College Coordinator, Maine Department of Education
Jason C. Libby, Ph.D. is the Education Pathways and Early College Coordinator in the Office of Workforce Development and Innovative Pathways at the Maine Department of Education. Libby administers two early college programs funded by the Department, the State’s education disruption... Read More →
Director, Office of Workforce Development and Innovative Pathways, Maine Department of Education
Tamara Ranger serves as the Director of the Office of Workforce Development and Innovative Pathways at the Maine Department of Education. Tamara oversees a comprehensive portfolio including Adult Education, Career and Technical Education (CTE), Education Pathways & Early College... Read More →
In this session, we share success stories and lessons learned from our recently completed CTE Satellite Center at Edward Little High School, which integrates 12 program areas into a 280,000 SF high school. Leveraging leading-edge technology, the new Center equips students with skills in a variety of disciplines. We detail what it takes to successfully plan, design, engineer and deliver a robust CTE Center—creating spaces that equip students with valuable skills while creating a sense of pride, ownership and community inside and outside the school.
Mark is a passionate designer and leader. He guides new build, renovation, consolidation, and long-range planning for education clients throughout New England. Focused on balancing 21st-century learning environments with durable, long-lasting buildings, Mark works closely with clients... Read More →
Principal, Pre K - 12 Education Studio Leader, Harriman
A gifted communicator, Lisa Sawin is a Principal and leads Harriman’s Pre K-12 Education Studio. Passionate about developing learning environments that support educators and students alike, Lisa is a hands-on project leader, working with school leadership, administration, and facilities... Read More →
The Maine State Board of Education is an autonomous agency that formulates policy, advises the commissioner, and enforces regulations relating to pK-12 and higher education. Our four standing committees address school construction, certification and higher education, career and technical education, and student voices and we partner with organizations, higher education institutions, teachers and administrators, the Legislature, and the MDOE. We work in a public, transparent way on issues that matter to every student, teacher, administrator and staff member of all public schools in Maine. Yet many Mainers are unaware or uncertain of our work.
Paulette Bonneau is a resident of Biddeford. She attended Stonehill College and received her bachelor's degree in Psychology. Upon graduating, Paulette became a Licensed Clinical Social Worker focusing on Mental Health and Substance abuse. At the same time, Paulette worked as a School Socia... Read More →
Member, Chair of the School Construction Committee, Maine State Board of Education
Fern M.Y. Desjardins is a resident of St. Agatha. Fern had a 43-year career in PK-12 education as an elementary school teacher, principal, and Superintendent of Schools in the rural, small school system of MSAD 33. During her principalship, Dr. Levesque Elementary School was designated a Blue Rib... Read More →
Vice Chair, Chair of the Certification and Higher Ed Committee, Maine State Board of Education
Thomas E. (Tom) Keller is a resident of Newcastle. Tom has worked in education for over three decades. He was a Senior Research Scientist at the Maine Mathematics and Science Alliance in Augusta, Maine, as well as director of the Reach Center project on science out-of-school learning from 2011 until... Read More →
Member, Chair of the CTE Committee, Maine State Board of Education
Edmond Morin is a Maine native who graduated from Mt. Blue High School in 1970 before going to the University of Maine Orono where he received his BA in speech with a broadcast concentration. It was during that time he first became involved with public broadcasting. He served as an intern for w... Read More →
This session will spotlight Let’s Get Ready (LGR’s) approach and our experience partnering with The University of Maine Systems- Early College. We will share insights into how we leverage near-peer coaching to address barriers to enrollment and improve college enrollment and completion rates, and how we use technological solutions to scale human relationships through near-peer coaching. Our model allows us to identify key barriers and early indicators of student setbacks in Dual Enrollment and Early College Pathways.
We will spotlight our partnership with The University of Maine System- Early College, showcasing how their work serves as an intentional on ramp into educational and career pathways. With LGR’s support, their approach supports students in navigating both high school and college systems simultaneously, providing access to two educational systems within one platform. Through a strengths-based advising framework, students are guided in course selection and equipped with the tools needed for a more seamless transition into their educational and career interests and it highlights the power of partnerships through advising and students support through the near-peer coaching and how our cross sector collaboration and partnership aligns institutional supports to expand opportunities for Maine students to explore potential educational and career pathways with purpose, skill, and confidence.
In addition, we will share data describing the student success and equity challenges being addressed, with attention to key metrics and equity gaps. LGR’s work addresses these gaps by providing near-peer coaching and differentiated supports designed to improve outcomes across the postsecondary pipeline. Early results demonstrate promising impact. For example, 88% of UMS Early College students with an LGR coach achieved on-time college enrollment, exceeding both the 81% national average and the 74% average last reported for all UMS students. These outcomes highlight both the challenges students face and the opportunity to address them through scalable, relationship-based supports that strengthen enrollment, persistence, and completion. These outcomes are possible because of deep integration between LGR and our partners. This includes proactive collaboration and engagement strategies designed to identify student needs early and drive targeted outreach. We focus on utilizing partner-provided data and LGR-sourced data that shapes how LGR designs and delivers student support. This includes building data-sharing systems, identifying key indicators that flag student needs, and developing customized coaching strategies, curricular interventions, and staff outreach plans aligned to partner-specific trends and challenges. Specific collaborative practices will be outlined, including:
Whole cohort enrollment and integrated data-sharing agreements that expand access to support at scale
Customized and differentiated curriculum, and individualized interventions and escalation supports that address challenges earlier and more effectively
Consistent, collaborative data reviews leading to continuous improvement practices that strengthen advising and student support structures.
Together, these strategies not only improve student outcomes
Director of Partner Success & Enrollment, Let's Get Ready
Miah Lugrand serves as the Director of Partner Success & Enrollment at Let’s Get Ready, bringing over 20 years of experience across K–12 and higher education. Throughout her career, she has supported students through special education leadership, served as a Director of Special... Read More →
Director of Early College Programs, The University of Maine Systems-Early College
A passionate learner, leader, and advocate for helping people reach their potential, Kari Suderley, originally from Ohio, relocated to Maine in 1999 and has spent her professional career helping individuals navigate educational, career, and life transitions while working to create... Read More →
Audiences for this session will explore how to identify and collaborate with workforce mentors in ways that connect their students with local topics and opportunities in clean energy and energy efficiency. We will share strategies from the Rural Energy Futures program that has effectively integrated career connections and energy topics in middle and high school classrooms with the authentic participation of professionals in the field. Attendees will adapt strategies to their context and exchange feedback, leaving with ready-to-use tools, relationships, and strategies.
Research Team Lead, Maine Mathematics and Science Alliance
Heidi Cian is the Research Team Lead at the Maine Mathematics and Science Alliance (MMSA). She is nationally recognized for her research in formal and informal STEM education through committee appointments at the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine and her editorial... Read More →
Workforce Development Coordinator, Maine Department of Energy Resources
Kristine McCallister is the Workforce Development Coordinator at the Maine Department of Energy Resources (DOER). She brings 10 years of experience in workforce development, grant management, and conservation education. At Maine DOER, Kristine serves as an analyst and coordinator... Read More →
Teacher, Belfast Community Outreach Program (BCOPE)
Lindsey Schortz has been teaching at Belfast Community Outreach Program (BCOPE), RSU 71’s alternative high school program, for the past seven years. She is the Lead Science and Math teacher in the program and has become integral to the success of the students while engaging them... Read More →
In a panel discussion moderated by Junior Achievement of Maine’s Program Team members, the panel will hear diverse perspectives from a school district partner, a business volunteer partner, and a student participant. Together, these panelists will share their experiences and insights, illustrating what is possible when schools, employers, volunteers, and nonprofit organizations work together to create scalable, meaningful experiences that strengthen career readiness and expand student’s awareness of future education and career opportunities.
Senior Program Manager, Junior Achievement of Maine
Jesseca Steele, Senior Program Manager for Junior Achievement of Maine, leads and delivers educational programs that inspire and prepare young people for their future work and career success. Jesseca is passionate about creating impactful learning opportunities and leverages her experience... Read More →
Mikaela Ziobro joins JA as a Program Manager coming from a two-decade career in higher education. Mikaela has a passion for expanding educational access and career exploration pathways for youth. She holds a bachelor’s in business administration from the University of Southern M... Read More →
