Maine Women's Fund leadership luncheon

By: Melanie Brooks

The women of Maine Ahead magazine were in Portland today at the Maine Women's Fund annual luncheon: Melanie Brooks, managing editor; Jennifer Violette, Julie Kaye, and Tracy O'Clair, sales team; and Melinda Hart, administrative assistant. Since Maine Ahead was a cornerstone sponsor, along with the Portland Press Herald/Maine Sunday Telegram, we were all proud to represent our company.

There were some amazing women from across the state that received awards this year and I wanted to take a moment and introduce them to you...

Kellene O'Hara is this year's Samantha Smith Award Recipient. She was chosen for this award because of her active role on the Caribou High School Civil Rights Team. Kellene is currently leading the team in the production of a training video, which the Attorney General's Office will use in Civil Rights student trainings statewide. She has been the project manager for World Aids Day and Teen Dating Violence Awareness Week and has been instrumental in creating and tabulating a school-wide harrassment survey, which shaped several other awareness activities. Congrats Kellene!

Karen Mills, Administrator of the U.S. Small Business Association, was chosen for the Tribute to Women in Industry (TWIN) Award because she has been an active hands-on investor in and successful manager of small businesses for over 25 years. She has distinguished herself as a passionate advocate for small business policy that encourages innovation, economic development, and job creation.



The Sarah Orne Jewett Award Recipient this year is Hannah Pingree. The Speaker of the Maine House of Representatives was chosen because of her political, community, and professional work. In addition to serving in the Legislature, Hannah works as the development director for Waterman's Community Center in her hometown of North Haven. She also serves as a board member for Midcoast Mental Health, as the legislative rep. for the Zone C Lobster Council, as the co-chair of the "Midcoast Magnet" creative economy initiative, as as a member of the State Work Action Tactics Team.