Dr. Barbara Crowley is the leader of the Peter Alfond Endowment Programs at MaineGeneral Health in Augusta. Barbara’s background in pediatrics and community health has contributed to her transformational approach to broadening the definition of health beyond clinical settings. From pioneering school-based health centers to leading initiatives that …

Rebecca Hatfield is the CEO and president of Avesta Housing. With a background in finance and tech, Rebecca brings a unique blend of analytical prowess and compassion to her role at one of Maine’s most well-recognized affordable housing non-profits. Raised on the West Coast, Rebecca spent time all over the world before moving to her husband’s home …

Colleen Barry is the CEO of Gibson Sotheby's International Realty. Originally a documentary filmmaker and graphic designer, Colleen found her employment options limited in 2002, in the financial aftermath of the burst dot-com bubble. She gratefully accepted a position answering phones in a rental office. By working hard and repeatedly saying “yes” …

Megan Jo Wilson is the founder of Rockstar Camp for Women, a transformative leadership program held at the Portland House of Music in Maine’s largest city. Growing up in nearby Cape Elizabeth, Megan felt drawn to the arts at an early age. From performing Tina Turner tunes on her parents’ front lawn to becoming a professional singer and musician, Me…

By Dr. Lisa Belisle

Carrie Levine is a certified functional medicine practitioner, author, and owner of Whole Woman Health. A Certified Nurse Midwife, Carrie honed her skills in multiple Southern Maine locations, including Maine Medical Center in Portland, Miles Memorial Hospital in Damariscotta, and Women to Women in Yarmouth. She founded Whole Woman Health in 2014. …

Andy (Andrea) Patstone is the Coastal Region President of MaineHealth, the state’s largest healthcare organization. Andy brings a unique perspective to leadership, emphasizing the importance of being adaptive, having self-awareness and understanding others' needs. She highlights the challenge of leading in a clinical field as a non-clinician, and s…

Bud Stiker is an internationally recognized radio professional and creative consultant who now uses his communication background to benefit medical learners and patients. Originally from upstate New York, Bud gained extensive experience in radio across the U.S. before eventually moving to Maine. Bud’s winding professional path from disc jockey to g…

By Dr. Lisa Belisle

By Dr. Lisa Belisle

Chelsie DiConzo is the Community Events Director for the Yarmouth Clam Festival. Originally from Rumford, a riverfront mill town located in the foothills of western Maine, Chelsie has dedicated herself to showcasing Maine’s cultural landscape. Chelsie drew upon her well-honed skills as a seasoned event organizer when reviving Yarmouth’s beloved tra…

By Dr. Lisa Belisle

Heather Shields is a self-made individual who is a Senior Vice President and Broker with Legacy Properties Sotheby's International Realty. Growing up on the island of North Haven in Maine’s Penobscot Bay, Heather spent many years working with fellow island resident, and U.S. Congresswoman, Chellie Pingree. Heather's journey from island life to main…

Kristin Eckhardt is a co-founder of Notice, a boutique consulting agency that specializes in educational startups and other entrepreneurial ventures. A graduate of Bowdoin College in Brunswick, Maine, Kristin's education and professional background encompass diverse realms from visual art and architecture to technology and small business ownership.…

Sonia Cook-Broen is a trailblazing innovator whose focus is the intersection of technology and art. A former software engineer and longtime Maine resident, Sonia is the founder of TheTechMargin, which embraces “coloring outside of the lines, creativity, mindfulness, and allyship,” through its online classes and other content. Sonia advocates for di…

Page Eastburn O’Rourke spent decades developing a successful career based on a creative style she called “Pop Folk Art,” that became beloved by loyal collectors of her work. She hopes that her new work will be even more appealing to those who have come to love and appreciate her approach. Page recalls a “lightning bolt” moment while exploring the L…

Raised in Winslow, Maine, Addiction Medicine specialist Dr. Nick Gallagher is the latest in a long line of family members to provide care for his community. He began his employment with the local hospital when he was a teenager, scrubbing floors and emptying trash cans, as a member of the environmental services team. After working his way through t…

Coffee by Design owner and co-founder Mary Allen Lindemann is a pioneering force in the coffee industry, and a longstanding supporter of arts and community in Maine. Her deep connection to the state dates back to 1971, when her family first began summering on Chebeague Island in Casco Bay. Mary Allen would go on to pursue fashion marketing and adve…

Emerging artist Miriam Webber found her way back to art as a means to rediscover herself after becoming a mother. Miriam has long enjoyed painting and drawing. A friend who featured Miriam’s work at her local business catalyzed Miriam’s shift toward sharing her art publicly, and the subsequent sell-out show affirmed Miriam’s artistic path. Currentl…

Dr. David Salko is a family physician and medical leader dedicated to community health. A graduate of Franklin & Marshall College in Lancaster, Pennsylvania and the Jefferson Medical College of Thomas Jefferson University in Philadelphia, Dave completed his family medicine residency at Maine Medical Center in Portland. He and his wife, Jen, have fo…

Dianne Ballon is a sound artist. A graduate of the Massachusetts College of Art in Boston, Dianne originally worked with visual mediums, but became intrigued by the creative possibilities of audio elements, and soon changed her focus to sound. Her current exhibit at the Maine Maritime Museum in Bath, titled Lost and Found: Sounds of the Maine Coast…

An experienced leader across various industries, Alex Sydnor brings a unique perspective to the healthcare sector, where he has served as a Chief Strategy Officer for more than a decade. With a background in education and the arts, Alex recognizes the pivotal role creativity plays in problem-solving. Alex emphasizes the value of cross-disciplinary …

When George Matelich began his career, he intentionally moved to the West Coast to be in the center of tech entrepreneurship. He understood the importance of spending time with others who were on the cutting edge. Drawing on this exposure, and experience as a software engineer, this former self-described “pizza-influencer,” developed invaluable ins…

Dr. Sheila Carroll is a former practicing pediatrician who is finding new joy as a certified life and weight coach. A Maine native, and graduate of Bowdoin College and the University of Vermont College of Medicine, Sheila worked as a physician for two decades. After experiencing professional burnout and recognizing the limitations of traditional me…

Stacey Dietsch specializes in human potential. After almost two decades with a national consulting firm, Stacey became the Executive Vice President of Talent at Liberty Mutual Insurance earlier this year. Drawing upon her educational background in psychology, Stacey has developed an expansive understanding of the nuanced world of human resources ov…

Kristine Newell is an author and professional speaker known for her transformative insights on gratitude. With a background in real estate and executive leadership, Kristine's journey includes multiple familiar challenging events, including the financial stress caused by the 2008 global economic downturn, and subsequent impact on her personal life.…

Liz Cotter Schlax, is the President and CEO of United Way of Southern Maine. Originally from Maine, Liz graduated from Waterville High School, then completed an undergraduate degree at Harvard University and an MBA from Columbia Business School. She developed her skills in corporate and non-profit settings across the United States, before returning…

Emma Wilson is the Director of the Portland Art Gallery, which is celebrating ten years of representing established and emerging artists at its expansive, light-filled space in Portland Maine’s Old Port district. The Gallery Director for the past eight years, Emma has been an integral part of executing the gallery’s unique and successful vision. He…

Native Mainer Katie Shorey has become an enthusiastic promoter of her home state, both as the Director of Engagement for the non-profit Live + Work in Maine, as well as the President of the entrepreneurial resource hub, Startup Maine. Katie grew up in the small Western Maine town of Sweden and graduated from nearby Fryeburg Academy, before getting …

Catherine Breer has been a prolific and popular Maine artist for decades, captivating the imaginations of art-lovers with her colorful landscapes and scenes of coastal living. A child of Christian missionaries, Catherine spent her childhood in Seoul, Korea, and has found herself influenced by the harmony of Buddhist imagery and thinking. She studie…

Carolyn Delaney is the founder of Journey Enterprises, a media company focused on making recovery from addiction more visible and accessible. Carolyn’s own life-altering experience created an impetus for the significant work she has done supporting individuals and families who are challenged by substance use disorder. While Carolyn encountered a la…

Bill Laurita is the president of the Swans Island Company, a well known maker of traditional wool blankets. Now located in Northport, Maine, the company had its origins on the picturesque isle that bears its name. Bill, his wife, and brother took over the business in 2004, when its original owners retired. This was a natural progression for Bill an…

Dr. Robert McArtor is a longtime Maine resident and leader in medicine, who had a significant impact on Maine’s healthcare landscape. One of the state’s first chief medical officers in the newly created MaineHealth system, Bob drew upon his skills in family medicine and teaching to engage clinicians in improving quality measures and the health of t…

Rebecca Hoffmann is the director for the Maine Health Center for Trauma Resilience and Innovation. As part of this role, Rebecca focuses on the challenges faced by caregivers and staff in the healthcare system. One significant challenge is an underlying cultural belief that healthcare providers should be superhuman, and able to continually put asid…

Rebeccah Sanders is the CEO of the Natural Resources Council of Maine (NRCM). The NRCM operates within the unique ecological ethic and culture of a state where environmental issues are an integral part of how people live their lives. Rebeccah and her team endeavor to engage stakeholders and build coalitions to achieve important environmental legisl…

Former high school athlete Eavan O'Neill began running marathons as a result of a life-altering event. During her senior year in college at St. Lawrence University in Canton, New York, Eavan was diagnosed with Stargardt disease, a rare form of macular degeneration that causes vision loss, and often leads to blindness. Soon after receiving this diag…

Dr. Hermann Haller is the President of the MDI Biological Laboratory (MDIBL), located in Salisbury Cove, Maine. Born and raised in Germany, Hermann trained there as a nephrologist (kidney specialist), before completing post-doctoral work at the Yale School of Medicine in New Haven, Connecticut. In addition to being a practicing physician, medical s…

Poet and artist Andy Gelinas lives on North Haven island off the coast of Rockland, Maine, where he spends his (non-winter) days working for the local golf course. Andy’s journey into poetry began as a child, growing up in Athens, Maine. Although Andy was diagnosed with cerebral palsy at birth, he doesn't view this as an obstacle, but rather a sour…

Jewelry designer Cat Bates began his life as an artist on Maine’s Monhegan Island. His keen observational skills yielded inspiration for future creativity, as he found beauty in the discarded fishing ropes and marine hardware that would eventually become the basis of his work. Cat would go on to pursue formal education in jewelry design at the Main…

Dr. Chuck Radis is a Maine author and physician who has a passion for understanding people. A practicing rheumatologist (specialist in the immune system and disorders that impact primarily the joints and muscles), Chuck has experience with many aspects of health care. He previously worked in traditional internal medicine–facing the unique challenge…

Dr. Jacey Goddard takes a holistic approach to her work with patients. A longtime osteopathic physician, Jacey uses integrative medicine and gentle alignment techniques to facilitate healing and self-awareness, while also helping patients to redefine their connections between mind and body. Although patients often seek her out to address pain and o…

Rebecca Hoffman helps children and families become the best they can be, by providing them with tools that assist in easing the pain caused by trauma and grief. As the director of the MaineHealth Center for Trauma Resiliency and Innovation, Rebecca has recently needed to lean more heavily upon her expertise. On October 25, 2023, Maine became the la…

Originally from New Hampshire, Brian Emerson moved to Maine to be closer to his future wife. In marrying Colleen Barter, and in spending time with her family, Brian would end up inspired to follow in his artist brother’s footsteps and pursue art more seriously. The Barters, including Colleen’s father, Philip, and brother, Matt, are a prolific and w…

Maine native Lexi Doudera is committed to ocean education and environmental stewardship. Founder and executive director of the Saltwater Classroom, Lexi’s nonprofit offers week-long workshops and community programs for learners of all ages. Their curriculum covers a broad range of topics, including ocean science, conservation, and our connection to…

Laura Mrazik has had to figure out how to integrate her art practice with a full-time healthcare career and parenting two small children. Her solution (at least for now) is painting in the evenings after the kids go to bed. Laura’s artistic style has evolved over time incorporating both detail and organic elements in her pieces, which have primaril…

Raised in Raymond, Maine, Holden Willard found himself significantly influenced by the work of artists from his home state while studying for his bachelor’s degree in fine arts at Montserrat College of Art in Beverly, Massachusetts. Painters like American Modernist Marsden Hartley (born in Lewiston, Maine), and the state’s long history of plein air…

Entrepreneur Ethan Nestor began his career in the basement of his parent’s Cape Elizabeth, Maine home in 2012. While still a teen, Ethan created his first YouTube channel, where he uploaded content consisting of his gaming narrations. This channel, CrankGameplays, launched Ethan’s Los Angeles-based entertainment career. His latest YouTube channel, …

Art consultant Suzi Hlavacek co-founded Alchemy Station as a means of strengthening the “magical and mystical human connections” created by an art-filled life. With extensive training at Christie’s auction house and the Museum of Modern Art in New York, as well as a master’s degree in art administration, Suzi is well suited to the task. Suzi and Al…

By Dr. Lisa Belisle

Dr. Louis Nadelson has had an impressive career as a university professor, but perhaps even more striking is his broad range of personal interests–including playing the mountain dulcimer and welding sculptures from repurposed metal farm implements. Dr. Nadelson has spent a lifetime learning and teaching. He has authored hundreds of peer reviewed ac…