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35 W W W. M A I N E B I Z . B I Z M A R C H 1 8 , 2 0 1 9 M aine Veterans' Homes, a nonprofit, is building a $90 million, 138-bed home in Augusta. At his office elsewhere in Augusta, CEO Kelley Kash can literally feel the pace of construction. "We can feel the tremors over the hill," he says. It's a good metaphor for the impact Kash has had in 12 years leading the organization, which was founded in 1977. Maine Veterans' Homes has six veterans' homes and 600 beds. e new home in Augusta and renovations to sites in South Paris and Bangor illustrate the changes that have swept the industry. With veterans making up 10% of Maine's population, and many of those aging, the need for modern housing is pressing. With upgrades to existing homes and the Augusta veterans' home under construction, Kash's leadership is making a difference for a large seg- ment of Maine's population. He is also president of the National Association of State Veterans' Homes. "If I could sum up Kelley in one line it would be 'Service before self,'" says the nonprofit's chief operating officer, Deb Fournier, who has worked alongside Kash for more than eight years. "at is his core value, through and through. Serving veterans and other people is just part of his fabric. It's how he leads. It's who he is." A military background with a humanitarian touch Kash, 60, was the offspring of a marine aviator and moved from place to place. He was born in Texas and went to high school in Ohio. He came to Maine to attend Colby College, which is where he met his wife, Ann. ey now live in the farm house that Ann's family owned, in Nobleboro. Offering dignity to aging veterans Kash has changed the culture of veterans' homes B y P e t e r V a n a L L e n C O N T I N U E D O N F O L L OW I N G PA G E ยป Protecting dreams. Building assets. TheFirst.com/WealthManagement Individual | Nonprofit | Municipal RESPONSIBILITY FIRST Securities and investment products are not bank deposits, are not insured by the FDIC or any other government agency, are not obligations of, nor guaranteed by, any bank or bank affiliate, and may involve investment risk, including the possible loss of value or principal amount invested.