WMCA Provides Career Counseling for Recent Manufacturing Technician Graduate

 

Photo caption:  Cathy Stairs, from Western Maine Community Action, provided on-going career counseling to recent NTI Manufacturing Tech graduate , Anderson Council resulting in a full-time hire with a local employer.  Photo by Monica Millhime.

 

Lewiston – Western Maine Community Action (WMCA) Case Manager, Cathy Stairs, has been assisting Anderson Council, a recent NTI Manufacturing Technician graduate with career options.  Council has secured full-time employment with International Door in Lewiston as a result of the work search guidance.  Council was one of eight candidates who participated in the Northeast Technical Institute Manufacturing Technician program supported through funding by WMCA, and the Bureau of Employment Services’ Competitive Skills Scholarship Program (CSSP).  The 14 week training program valued over $5,000 for each eligible participant, included 60 hours of WorkReady and 350 hours of manufacturing training.  The program promoted pathways to employment and advancements within the manufacturing industry.  “The success of this program is a result of forward-thinking modeling with course content, collaboration among business partners, and the students’ dedication to completing the course.  Students were engaged and recognized the manufacturing industry is experiencing an up-tick in the demand for skilled labor in the job market offering attractive wages and benefit packages,” said Patti Saarinen,  WIOA Site Coordinator WMCA – Lewiston CareerCenter.  “The integration of education and training is the best-practice model for success.”  FMI on future training programs call 753.9005.

L-A ROTARY LUNCH CLUB TO WELCOME STEPHANIS GELINAS MARCH 1

Auburn - On Thursday, March 1, from noon to 1:00 p.m. at The Village Inn, 165 High Street, Auburn, Stephanie Gelinas will be the featured guest speaker at the Lewiston-Auburn Rotary Lunch Club.  Gelinas, M.S, CCC-SLP is the founder and executive director of Sandcastle Clinical and Educational Services and LA Hearing Center in Lewiston. She has been practicing in the field of speech and language pathology for 33 years.  Stephanie attended the University of Maine at Farmington, graduating in 1984 with a dual degree in elementary education and speech correction. She went on to obtain her Master’s Degree in Communication Sciences from Syracuse University in 1986. In 1996, she opened Sandcastle. The agency’s team of 50 professionals focuses on early detection, diagnosis and intervention, both clinically and educationally. Born and raised in Lewiston, Stephanie is proud of and engaged in the community where she still resides. She is the immediate past president of the LA Metro Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors, as Paul Harris Fellow award recipient and Rotarian, Stephanie is also a past president of the Lewiston-Auburn Rotary Club, serves on the Health Advisory Committee for Promise Early Education Center and is on the board of directors for Tri County Mental Health Services. Stephanie is a 2007 graduate of the Androscoggin Leadership Development Institute. In her free time, Stephanie enjoys spending time with her husband, Gerry, 6 children and 8 grandchildren. Her passions include the outdoors, traveling, and participating in triathlons.  Reservations are not required at the luncheon.  FMI on future Rotary speakers, contact President and Program Chair, Monica Millhime, 713.7045 or email millhime@myfairpoint.net.  Events and other club information are posted at www.lewistonauburnrotary.org and www.facebook.com/lewistonmainerotary/.

Rotarian Roger Philippon to address L-A Rotary Lunch Club April 5 at CMCC

Auburn - On Thursday, April 5, from noon to 1:30 p.m. at the Central Maine Community College Campus, 1250 Turner Street, Auburn , Roger Philippon will be the featured guest speaker at the Lewiston-Auburn Rotary Lunch Club.  A Lewiston native, Philippon, is dean of planning and public affairs at Central Maine Community College. He earned a bachelor’s degree in public administration from the University of Maine and a master’s degree in adult education from the University of Southern Maine. Long active in local civic affairs, Philippon is a former Lewiston City Councilor and Planning Board member. He served for many years as chair of the Advisory Board for the Franco-American Collection at USM/L-A College. Roger serves on the LA Metro Chamber of Commerce Education Committee, and is a member of the Maine Public Relations Council. He and his wife, Celeste. live in Lewiston and devote much time and energy to the Community Little Theater, where Philippon also serves on the board. They are the proud parents of son Joseph, who serves as the Community Resource Officer for the Lewiston Police Department, and proud grandparents to grandsons Isaha and Jackson. The Rotary meeting will be held in the conference room TWR 405, on the fourth floor of The Tower, the newest building on the campus.  Tours of the campus will be held directly following the luncheon.   Reservations are requested for the off-site luncheon by calling 713.7045 by April 1.  FMI on future Rotary speakers, contact President and Program Chair, Monica Millhime, 713.7045 or email millhime@myfairpoint.net.  Events and other club information are posted at www.lewistonauburnrotary.org and www.facebook.com/lewistonmainerotary/.

L-A Rotary Lunch Club to Welcome Peter Baker January 18

Auburn - On Thursday, January 18, from noon to 1:00 p.m. at The Village Inn, 165 High Street, Auburn, Peter Baker  will be the featured guest speaker at the Lewiston-Auburn Rotary Lunch Club.  Peter Baker is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and Program Director, for Alzheimer’s Association, Maine Chapter.  Baker holds a master’s degree in social work from the University of Southern Maine and has been working in dementia care since 2006. He has worked in long-term care centers as a Social Services Director, Dementia Program Director and as an Executive Director.  As the program director for the Alzheimer’s Association, Caron oversees the care and support services provided by our Maine Chapter serving the entire state of Maine. His areas of expertise include family care consultations, information and referral services, crisis support, safety services, care planning, and emotional support. Externally, his work focuses on educating professionals and community members about the disease, facilitating support groups and training support group leaders. Reservations are not required at the luncheon.  FMI on future Rotary speakers, contact President and Program Chair, Monica Millhime, 713.7045 or email millhime@myfairpoint.net.  Events and other club information are posted at www.lewistonauburnrotary.org and www.facebook.com/lewistonmainerotary/.

L-A Rotary Lunch Club to Welcome Warren & Amy Shaw January 25

Auburn - On Thursday, January 25, from noon to 1:00 p.m. at The Village Inn, 165 High Street, Auburn, Warren and Amy Shaw  will be the featured guest speakers at the Lewiston-Auburn Rotary Lunch Club.  Warren and Amy Shaw are the founders of At a Bend in the Road, a non-profit organization whose mission is to provide a place where Adoptive, Foster, and Kinship families in Maine can find specialized support for their unique needs. Warren works in Product Development at Thos. Moser Cabinet Makers where he has been employed for the past 25 years.  Amy is a stay at home Mom and Program Director for ABR.  The Shaw family personally experienced the great need for appropriate and specific supports for families who were raising a child with a history of trauma, neglect, and abuse. In 2001 they adopted their 9-month-old daughter from a Siberian orphanage.  Due to her young age, they expected to bi-pass many of the challenges common in raising a child with a history of neglect and abuse.  They discovered this was not the case, and through the years of tremendous struggle, they met other families who had similar unmet needs for unique and specific supports.   ABR was formed in 11/2012 in response to this need.  Reservations are not required at the luncheon.  FMI on future Rotary speakers, contact President and Program Chair, Monica Millhime, 713.7045 or email millhime@myfairpoint.net.  Events and other club information are posted at www.lewistonauburnrotary.org and www.facebook.com/lewistonmainerotary/.

Rotarian Joanne Bollinger to address L-A Rotary Lunch Club February 1

Auburn - On Thursday, February 1, from noon to 1:00 p.m. at The Village Inn, 165 High Street, Auburn, Joanne Shea Bollinger will be the featured guest speaker at the Lewiston-Auburn Rotary Lunch Club.  Bollinger was sponsored as a new member to the L-A Rotary Club by President, Monica Millhime, and induced was into the Club on October 19, 2017.  She is a Board member of WISE-Women’s Initiatives that Strengthen and Empower, a non-profit in Maine since 2005, to move vulnerable women and children in western Zambia to self-sustaining lives. Her first trip to the project in 2013, intended as a one-time immersion experience in a small African town, inspired her to become involved in a deeper way. She now travels to Zambia at least once a year to advise, collaborate and learn from the local women who do the actual work on the ground. Much of her time in the US is focused on fundraising, sharing the WISE story around the country. Her passion is WISE’s scholarship program which currently supports 150 secondary students who would have no options for school beyond 7th grade, especially young girls at risk of early marriage. A special connection has been forged with the Nkwazi Rotary Club in Lusaka, Zambia’s capital: a trip to Zambia must include a visit with them.  Bollinger grew up in Auburn (EL ’63), never expecting to return. Following a career in music, teaching in Camden, Woolwich, Brunswick and singing throughout New England, she spent 12 years in Illinois with her second husband. Returning to Maine with her husband and following his death from Alzheimer’s Disease, the circle to Auburn was closed in 2014, when Joanne came “home” to be near her son and his wife.  Reservations are not required at the luncheon.  FMI on future Rotary speakers, contact President and Program Chair, Monica Millhime, 713.7045 or email millhime@myfairpoint.net.  Events and other club information are posted at www.lewistonauburnrotary.org and www.facebook.com/lewistonmainerotary/.

L-A Rotary Lunch Club to Welcome Candace Sanborn February 15

Auburn - On Thursday, February 15, from noon to 1:00 p.m. at The Village Inn, 165 High Street, Auburn, Candance Sanborn  will be the featured guest speaker at the Lewiston-Auburn Rotary Lunch Club.  Sanborn is the Chief Marketing Officer for Community Concepts, a non-profit organization providing a variety of family, transportation and housing support services to residents in Androscoggin, Franklin and Oxford Counties. Prior to joining Community Concepts in January 2016, Sanborn had an extensive 30 year career in strategic planning and marketing in business and as a consultant to a variety of for-profit and non-profit organizations in Maine and the Northeast.  She has a BA in Journalism from the University of Maine and an M.B.A. from the University of Southern New Hampshire.  Active in her community, Sanborn has served on numerous state and local non-profit boards and currently serves on the Board of Directors for Central Maine Medical Center (CMMC) and the Maine Community Foundation. A native of the San Francisco Bay Area, she has two grown children and lives in Auburn with her husband. Reservations are not required at the luncheon.  FMI on future Rotary speakers, contact President and Program Chair, Monica Millhime, 713.7045 or email millhime@myfairpoint.net.  Events and other club information are posted at www.lewistonauburnrotary.org and www.facebook.com/lewistonmainerotary/.

L-A Rotary Lunch Club to Welcome Tim Gallant February 8

Auburn - On Thursday, February 8, from noon to 1:00 p.m. at The Village Inn, 165 High Street, Auburn, Tim Gallant  will be the featured guest speaker at the Lewiston-Auburn Rotary Lunch Club.  Gallant  is a Maine Staff Assistant for Congressman Bruce Poliquin. When he is not representing Congressman Poliquin at events or working on local Veterans’ benefits and claims, he volunteers at his church- Pathway Vineyard, serves the community through organizations such as the Lewiston ELKS Lodge, and more.  Gallant served in the Navy for 19 years from 1975 through 1994. He attended boot camp in Great Lakes, IL and Navy Aviation Electrician School in Millington, TN. He has served with the Blue Angels in Pensacola, FL, Patrol Squadron 23 in Brunswick, ME- where he was one of the first to earn the Air Warfare Designation in the Navy (AW), Naval Recruiting District New Jersey in Iselin, NJ, Naval Air Facilities AIMD in Lajos, Azores, Portugal, on the USS Destroy Peterson (DD 969) Norfolk, VA while attached to Helicopter Squadron 34, and as the Senior Instructor at the Naval Air Station Oceana in Virginia Beach, VA. Upon retirement from the Navy, Gallant used his GI Bill to attend Concordia University, earning a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Management. He returned to Maine in 2001, and accepted a positon as Building Grounds and Transportation Director at Maine School District 43 in Western Maine. He then became the Parks Superintendent for the Town of Rumford. Gallant retired in 2009 and returned to school to earn a second degree in Applied Science as a Drug and Alcohol Counselor. During this time and as a disabled veteran himself, he was also helping Veterans receive benefits through his local VFW and American Legion Posts. Since 2016, he has worked as a Staff Assistant to Congressman Bruce Poliquin out of his Lewiston Office. While he focuses primarily on helping Veterans with their benefits, the Congressman’s Lewiston Office also helps constituents in dealing with the federal government and all federal agencies. The Congressman’s district offices in Maine, including at 179 Lisbon Street here in Lewiston, regularly assist with VA issues and claims, immigration applications and problems, Social Security and Medicare, the IRS, and much more. Gallant and the entire staff in Congressman Poliquin’s office are happy to help the local community in any way they can.  Reservations are not required at the luncheon.  FMI on future Rotary speakers, contact President and Program Chair, Monica Millhime, 713.7045 or email millhime@myfairpoint.net.  Events and other club information are posted at www.lewistonauburnrotary.org and www.facebook.com/lewistonmainerotary/.

Training Partners Support St. Mary’s Medical Assistant Program

 

Photo caption:  Pictured (l-r):  front row – Marie Blessing, Audrey Condon, Dancile Nshimirimana, Francis Nguyen, Kassandra Hebert, Katie Hamilton, Darcy Goyette, Mary Ann Gowell, instructor.  Second row – Jessica Biron, Dinah Morris, Tracy Crossman, Sandra Barnich, Trisha Newcomb, Justine Gray, Lori Adkins, Melissa Dalton, Kelsa Brennan, Kayla Caron, Patti Saarinen, WIOA Site Coordinator WMCA – Lewiston CareerCenter.  Third row – Paula Bolduc, Julian Kirouac, Brittany Wilkins, Miranda Hutchinson, Cathy Stairs, WMCA Employment & Training Specialist.

 

Lewiston – St. Mary’s Health System, 96 Campus Avenue, held a celebration ceremony on Tuesday, November 28 at the facility recognizing  19 local students for completion of their Medical Assistant classes.  Instructor, Mariann Gowell,  welcomed administrators, staff, family, friends, and community partners for the presentation of certificates.   Brittany Blais, St. Mary’s Talent Acquisition Partner & Human Resources, also shared remarks and thanked partners for making the program possible.

Students successfully completed a fast paced, condensed curriculum offering training to assist physicians with the clinical responsibilities of a medical office. The program included 140 hours of classroom/lab training with routine lab procedures, phlebotomy, EKG, diagnostic testing, etc.  Following the classwork, students are completing the final weeks of an Externship schedule of 160 hours.  Many of the students also earned a WorkReady certificate covering the topics of effective workplace communication techniques, resume and interviewing skills, conflict resolution, teamwork, and other important soft skills. This St. Mary’s employer driven project was made possible through the collaborative support and grant funding provided by Western Maine Community Action, Bureau of Employment Services/Competitive Skills Scholarship Program, and Gray/New Gloucester Adult Education.  The combined curriculum empowers students with the skills and knowledge essential to the specific job field.  “This graduation class is not only the result of the students’ dedication but also a prime example of train-to-work where business, education, and workforce development collaborate,” shares Patti Saarinen, WIOA Site Coordinator WMCA – Lewiston CareerCenter.  “The integration of education and training is a best-practice model for success.” 

"St. Mary’s Health System is proud of the success of the students that have completed this course,” shares Brittany Blais at St. Mary’s.  “This program was designed and executed in collaboration with Western Maine Community Action, Maine Department of Labor, and Gray-New Gloucester Adult Education after we recognized a need in our system for Medical Assistants.  It was a wonderful opportunity that will hopefully fulfill our need for qualified medical assistants and allow these students an opportunity to grow professionally in a rewarding career.  We are very appreciative of the efforts that all parties contributed to make this successful and wish the best of luck to these students." 

 

Monica M. Millhime

Employment & Training Business Specialist

L-A Rotary to Welcome Peter Kowalski November 2

Auburn - On Thursday, November 2, from noon to 1:00 p.m. at The Village Inn, 165 High Street, Auburn, Peter Kowalski, will be the featured guest speaker at the Lewiston-Auburn Rotary Club. Kowalski is the long-serving Executive Director of John F. Murphy Homes. Over nearly three decades he has worked with the board of directors, staff, stakeholders, and the surrounding communities to build an agency with the resources and expertise to be a premium provider of services to adults and children with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities and Autism Spectrum Disorder.  Kowalski’s commitment to service and advancements in practices led to leadership roles with state and national organizations.  He served two terms as the president of the American Network of Community Options and Resources (ANCOR), a Washington, D.C.- based trade association with a membership of more than 800 agencies nationwide serving 385,000 people with disabilities.  At the state-level he served as the president of the ANCOR Maine, which merged with another organization to form the Maine Association of Community Service Providers. Kowalski is a member, and  past-president of the Lewiston-Auburn Rotary and on the board at The Public Theatre.  He graduated magnum cum laude from University of Maine with a B.A. in Psychology. He lives in Turner with his wife, Gail. Together they have two grown children and one grandchild. They enjoy hiking and camping, spending time every summer in and around Maine’s Baxter State Park. Reservations are not required at the luncheon.  FMI on future Rotary speakers, contact President and Program Chair, Monica Millhime, 753.9040 or email mmillhime@wmca.org.  Events and other club information are posted at www.lewistonauburnrotary.org and www.facebook.com/lewistonmainerotary/.

L-A Rotary to Welcome Matt Leonard & Mark Cater November 9

Auburn - On Thursday, November 2, from noon to 1:00 p.m. at The Village Inn, 165 High Street, Auburn, Matt Leonard and Mark Cater, will be the featured guest speakers at the Lewiston-Auburn Rotary Club. Leonard is the Founder & CEO of Military Talent Source, LLC. Military Talent Source is a specialized firm that conducts military recruiting and veteran employment consulting as a full focus; matching talent with opportunity. They provide a personalized service to both separating military service members and corporate clients in order to match talent to specific opportunities in the civilian corporate sector.   He is a retired United States Navy Senior Chief Petty Officer with 21 years of service and former president & CEO of one of Maine’s largest chambers of commerce. Matt has a Master of Professional Studies in Political Management from George Washington University as well as several undergraduate degrees. Mark Cater is a new Veteran Employment Consultant of Military Talent Source (MTS), LLC. MTS is a specialized firm conducting military recruiting and veteran employment consulting as a full focus; matching talent with opportunity. MTS provides a personalized service to both separating military service members and corporate clients in order to match talent to specific opportunities in the civilian corporate sector.  Cater’s experience includes affiliation with the  Local Veterans Employment Representative, Disabled Veterans Outreach Program, the Maine Military Family Assistance Center, assisting military families of deployed service members and their families.  Cater spent 26 years serving his country, being stationed at FT. Carson; Berlin, Germany and the Maine Army National Guard as an Active Guard Reserve (AGR)    He retired as the State Recruiting Sergeant Major (SGM). Volunteer work includes serving as past President of the Augusta Area Military Association.  He continues as a member of the VFW and American Legion.  Cater holds a Master Level Human Resources Certificate; Bachelor of Science in Multi-Media Visual Communications; and an Associate Accreditation in Business. Cater is also a 2017 graduate of Dale Carnegie Maine “Skills for Success” Course.  Reservations are not required at the luncheon.  FMI on future Rotary speakers, contact President and Program Chair, Monica Millhime, 753.9040 or email mmillhime@wmca.org.  Events and other club information are posted at www.lewistonauburnrotary.org and www.facebook.com/lewistonmainerotary/.

 

Monica M. Millhime

Lewiston  Auburn Rotary Club President

L-A Rotary to Welcome Victoria Stanton November 30

Auburn - On Thursday, November 30, from noon to 1:00 p.m. at The Village Inn, 165 High Street, Auburn, Victoria Stanton, will be the featured guest speaker at the Lewiston-Auburn Rotary Club. Stanton is the Director of Development and Engagement at Safe Voices, the domestic violence resource center based in Lewiston. In her role, Victoria helps corporate partners and community members connect to Safe Voices in meaningful ways, including awareness-raising events, volunteerism, sponsorship, and philanthropy. Prior to Safe Voices she worked as Chief Advancement Officer for the YMCA of Auburn-Lewiston and was an advancement writer at Bates College. Victoria has been involved in anti-sexual assault and anti-domestic violence work for the last 11 years. She is a certified fundraising executive and received her bachelor’s degree from Williams College. She currently lives in Lewiston.  Reservations are not required at the luncheon.  FMI on future Rotary speakers, contact President and Program Chair, Monica Millhime, 753.9040 or email mmillhime@wmca.org.  Events and other club information are posted at www.lewistonauburnrotary.org and www.facebook.com/lewistonmainerotary/.

 

Monica M. Millhime

L-A Rotary to Welcome James Parakilas

 

Auburn - On Thursday, November 16, from noon to 1:00 p.m. at The Village Inn, 165 High Street, Auburn, James Parakilas will be the featured guest speakers at the Lewiston-Auburn Rotary Club. Parakilas has recently retired as the James L. Moody, Jr. Family Professor of Performing Arts at Bates College, where he taught music for 37 years and where he served terms as chair of the Music Department and the Humanities Division.  He regularly gives classical piano performances in the community and beyond, and he has written several books on music, including a cultural history of the piano, Piano Roles: 300 Years of Life with the Piano (2000), and an undergraduate textbook on opera, The Story of Opera (2012).  In 2015 he joined the board of directors of L/A Arts; this past March he became chair of the board.   Reservations are not required at the luncheon.  FMI on future Rotary speakers, contact President and Program Chair, Monica Millhime, 753.9040 or email mmillhime@wmca.org.  Events and other club information are posted at www.lewistonauburnrotary.org and www.facebook.com/lewistonmainerotary/.

 

Monica M. Millhime

Training Opportunities Provided by Collaboration of Organizations

 

Photo pictured (l-r):

Members of the Lewiston Construction Training Program celebrated with graduates of the second cohort.  Misty Parker, City of Lewiston; construction student graduates Emmanuel Musanganya and Christ Nikouzololo; Patti Saarinen, WMCA; back row:  Michael Pleau, Northeast Painting; Monica Millhime, WMCA; Tim Hebert, Hebert Construction; John Ferland, Hahnel Bros.; Brian Demshar, H. E. Callahan Construction and Sara Gagne-Homes, Gorham Foundation.  Photo courtesy of Jennifer Tiner, Lewiston Adult Education.

 

Lewiston – Tree Street Youth Center hosted a graduation ceremony on August 22 for two local students who successfully completed a construction training

WorkReady and Work Experience program.   Emmanuel Musanganya and Christ Nilouzololo participated in the second Lewiston Construction Training Project completing a 12 week program consisting of 160 hours of classroom time, and a work experience with local contractors.  The program was designed through the collaboration of local and regional agencies of Lewiston Adult Education, Western Maine Community Action (WMCA), Lewiston CareerCenter, John T. Gorman Foundation, City of Lewiston, Tree Street, Root Cellar and the Maine Immigrant and Refugee Services.  Area contractors, H. E. Callahan, Hahnel Bros., Hebert, Northeast Painting and Fortin joined the partnership providing hands-on construction site work experiences.  The program initiative was designed to provide training and skills necessary for entry-level career paths in construction.  Training included safety, an introduction to power and hand tools, construction math and terminology along with work readiness skills.  Candidates earned a WorkReady, OSHA 10, Lead, Scissor Lift Training, and a Renovation, Repair, Painting (RRP) certifications.  “These graduates represent dedication and are the result of a best practice model for train-to-work.  Such a model brings business, education, and workforce development agencies in collaboration to provide training for a high wage, high growth career path,” shares Patti Saarinen, WMCA-Lewiston CareerCenter Site Coordinator.  FMI on work-driven educational opportunities and partnerships, contact the nearest CareerCenter or call 753.9040. 

 

 

One Stop Operator Status Awarded to Western Maine Community Action

Photo caption:  Steven Johndro, Executive Director of Western Maine Community Action (left) and James Trundy, Program Manager, met to review the specifications of work to be performed as the new One-Stop Operator for the Central/Western Maine Workforce Development Board.  Photo courtesy of Katherine Lary, WIC Program Manager.
Lewiston – Jeff Sneddon, Executive Director of the Central/Western Maine Workforce Development Board has announced the One-Stop Operator (OSO) for services in Androscoggin, Franklin, Kennebec, Oxford and Somerset counties has been awarded to Western Maine Community Action.  The Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) calls for an integrated service delivery system requiring local area coordination of services for grants and sector-partnership programs.  One of the primary goals of WIOA is to provide customers with access to high-quality one-stops that are customer-centered and provide access to a full range of partner services including adults, dislocated workers, Veterans, Job Corps, employment services, Vocational Services, Senior Community Services, career and technical education programs, Trade Adjustment Assistance, and employment and training programs.  The one-stop operator is integral in the coordination of WIOA core and required partners  for the delivery of their services on behalf of shared customers.  In addition to the five county coverage, the Central Western Maine One-Stop delivery provides services in four full-service CareerCenters located in Lewiston, Augusta, Skowhegan and Wilton and two satellites in South Paris and Rumford.
John Ferland, Vice-President, General Manager of Hahnel Bros. shares, “Hahnel Bros. is proud to be one of the first companies to partner with WMCA, the Lewiston CareerCenter, and other community partners, in a construction training program to teach people entry-level construction skills along with work preparedness and safety.  The first round of this project brought us three new employees.  The staff from WMCA helped us navigate the various government funding systems that enabled us to learn about the trainees and reduce our initial new hire costs through on-the-job-training.  They took time to learn our concerns and provided assistance customized to meet our challenges.  Their understanding of the various services available through the CareerCenters and ability to make those services accessible make them a valuable asset to companies such as ours.   We look forward to our continued relationship in putting people to work.” 
 The over-arching goal of the One-Stop operator is to ensure the coordination of services among the WIOA core and required partners so that applicable career services are available to system customers, regardless of whose door they enter.  WMCA has operated job training programs in the tri-county area since 1981 and managed training contracts in the five county area for the past three years.  Their work has afforded them the opportunity to form strong partnerships with One Stop partners as well as the business community.   
FMI contact WMCA Executive Director, Steve Johndro, 860.4474, sjohndro@wmca.org or Program Manager, James Trundy, 743.7763, jtrundy@wmca.org or visit https://wmca.org/.

L-A Rotary to Welcome Betsy Sibley October 12

Auburn - On Thursday, October 12, from noon to 1:00 p.m. at The Village Inn, 165 High Street, Auburn, Betsy Sibley, will be the featured guest speaker at the Lewiston-Auburn Rotary Club. Sibley is the Vice President of Marketing/ Business Development at Community Credit Union. She has been with the Credit Union for 5 years. She oversees the sales, marketing, advertising, community outreach, internal staff training and event planning for the Credit Union.  She has a Bachelor’s degree in Marketing Management from Thomas College, has been a licensed insurance agent since 2002 and has been working in the financial industry in various capacities since that time. Sibley is involved in the community serving as the Public Relations Committee Chair for the L-A Rotary Club, Secretary for the Turner Ridge Riders Snowmobile Club, the President of the Turner Parent Teacher Committee, Member of the Statewide Awareness Committee for the Maine Credit Union League as well as an Ambassador and Committee Member for the Androscoggin Chamber of Commerce. Sibley has a passion for youth sports and volunteers as a coach for the Turner Athletic Association also.  Some achievements include earning the designation of Certified Insurance Counselor in 2008, being recognized with a Paul Harris Fellow award from Rotary in 2015 and being a 2015 graduate of the Androscoggin Leadership Development Institute.  Betsy was recently nominated in the “Creative Genius” category for Uplift LA’s 40 under 40.  Reservations are not required at the luncheon.  FMI on future Rotary speakers, contact President and Program Chair, Monica Millhime, 753.9040 or email mmillhime@wmca.org.  Events and other club information are posted at www.lewistonauburnrotary.org and www.facebook.com/lewistonmainerotary/.

 

L-A Rotary to Welcome Roger Theriault October 5

 

Auburn - On Thursday, October 5, from noon to 1:00 p.m. at The Village Inn, 165 High Street, Auburn, Roger Theriault, will be the featured guest speaker at the Lewiston-Auburn Rotary Club.  Theriault was born in Lewiston.  He graduated from St. Dominic’s Regional High School in 1970. He attended the University of Maine, graduating in 1975 with his Bachelor’s Degree in Secondary Education. In 1975 married his wife, Lorraine, and raised four children and now enjoying eight grandchildren.  In addition to teaching, Theriault owned an automotive business, and owned/operated the Civic Center. Following the sale of the Civic Center, and retired from teaching, Theriault began working for The Fortin Group. He graduated from the Pittsburgh Institute of Mortuary Science, and recently completed his apprenticeship and became a Licensed Funeral Director. Theriault is active in area hockey,  a member of the Knights of Columbus, attends Prince of Peace Parish, and enjoys golf, travel, and wine. He was recently inducted into the St. Dominic’s High School Hall of Fame for his athletic and academic achievements.  Reservations are not required at the luncheon.  FMI on future Rotary speakers, contact President and Program Chair, Monica Millhime, 753.9040 or email mmillhime@wmca.org.  Events and other club information are posted at www.lewistonauburnrotary.org and www.facebook.com/lewistonmainerotary/.

L-A Rotary to Welcome Dr. Tara Coste October 19

Auburn - On Thursday, October 19, from noon to 1:00 p.m. at The Village Inn, 165 High Street, Auburn, Dr. Tara Coste, will be the featured guest speaker at the Lewiston-Auburn Rotary Club. Dr. Coste is a Leadership and Organizational Studies professor at the University of Southern Maine and teaches courses in communication, group dynamics, and research methods, among others. Her research focusses on deliberate creativity and innovation in multicultural, multinational environments, with a particular emphasis on work in larger corporate enterprises and communities in Africa and Asia.  Most recently, she is concentrating her attention on how ancestral belief systems drive modern behavior and The Montagu Project, the development of a multi-decade global leadership lab in South Africa. This work aims to refine the training processes that enhance creativity in teams and to provide professionals tools that will allow them to enhance their global leadership abilities. She has published numerous articles and presented her work at venues around the world. She is a Colleague of the Creative Education Foundation, a Visiting Scholar at Singapore Management University’s Wee Kim Wee Centre for Cultural Studies, and Past-President of the American Creativity Association.  Reservations are not required at the luncheon.  FMI on future Rotary speakers, contact President and Program Chair, Monica Millhime, 753.9040 or email mmillhime@wmca.org.  Events and other club information are posted at www.lewistonauburnrotary.org and www.facebook.com/lewistonmainerotary/.

L-A Rotary to Welcome Marcel Gagne October 26

Auburn - On Thursday, October 26, from noon to 1:00 p.m. at The Village Inn, 165 High Street, Auburn, Marcel Gagne, will be the featured guest speaker at the Lewiston-Auburn Rotary Club. Gagne is a Business Ownership Conversion Specialist with the Cooperative Development Institute, a New England non-profit.  CDI assists and supports a Cooperative Economy with locally grown food, affordable housing/ownership, and business ownership solutions to existing businesses into co-ops through employee and community buy-outs. Business Ownership Services can assist with succession planning strategies, and/or business expansion solutions. CDI can also help with financial, feasibility, market, and business planning. He also has an extensive background in workforce development and worked in community & economic development for a decade with a nationally known organization, CEI. He has a training background in customer service, interviewing skills, supervisory implementation & coaching, as well as being a qualified Myers-Brigs’ Type Indicator facilitator. He also has a certification as a Continuous Improvement Practitioner through Bend the Curve. He is heavily involved in the Institute for Continuous Improvement (ICI) at the Univ. of So. Maine Lewiston/Auburn College and is serving as a technical advisor in an undergraduate Certificate Program on LEAN & Process Improvement.  Reservations are not required at the luncheon.  FMI on future Rotary speakers, contact President and Program Chair, Monica Millhime, 753.9040 or email mmillhime@wmca.org.  Events and other club information are posted at www.lewistonauburnrotary.org and www.facebook.com/lewistonmainerotary/.

Laura Keller to Address L-A Rotary May 4

 

Lewiston - On Thursday, May 4, at the Ramada Inn, Lewiston, Laura Keller, will be the featured guest speaker at the LA Rotary from noon to 1 p.m.  Keller joined Nestle Waters North America (NWNA) in February 2015. Keller moved to Maine in March 2010 from Wilmington, Delaware and quickly found that Maine is her “true home”. In 2014 Keller was recruited to join the NWNA Poland Spring Factory as the Human Resource Manager. She supports the Poland and Kingfield Plant Locations, which also includes Natural Resources and the Northeast Logistic Department. Prior to her joining NWNA, Keller was the Regional HR Manager for the East Division for TruGreen. She had been with the company supporting the operations from Maine through Virginia. Laura was instrumental in strategic planning of the operations, inclusive of executing and developing mentoring programs to assist in development of talent internally. She was the Business Partner supporting two Divisional VPs, and 4 Regional VPs. Prior to TruGreen Lawncare, Keller had worked for several “Big Box” retail chains including Target, Sports Authority and Office Depot as a Regional HR Manager in the Mid-Atlantic, and East Coast. She has a proven record to achieve results through human capital. She is known for her ability to identify gaps in recruitment, training, and retention in organizations and work with senior leadership to build strong plans on closing those gaps. Laura has a BS from Pennsylvania State University in Labor and Industrial Relations. She holds a SPHR and SHRM-SCP certification, and is a member of both SHRM and HRASM.  Reservations are not required to attend the Rotary meeting.  Lunch is available for $10 in the Fusion Restaurant at the Ramada, 490 Pleasant Street, Lewiston.   FMI on future Rotary speakers, contact President-Elect and Program Chair, Monica Millhime, 753.9040 or email mmillhime@wmca.org.