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V O L . X X I X N O. X I X 60 Fact Book / Doing Business in Maine B U S I N E S S R E S O U R C E S B U S I N E S S R E S O U R C E S n September 2022, Hamilton became Island Institute's interim chief programs officer, overseeing cli- mate, economic resilience and leader- ship programs. Originally from North Yarmouth, she lives on Chebeague Island. We asked Hamilton what brought her to the institute and how she envisions its future. Here's an edited transcript. Mainebiz: What are some of your accomplishments with FocusMaine? Kim Hamilton: I'm so proud of what we accomplished in a relatively short period of time. I stepped into a new organization that had a very well- grounded and forward-looking strat- egy. Working with a terrific board, we turned that strategy into an organiza- tion that's delivering great programs for Maine. is work was driven by strong partnerships with many groups across the state. Programs that we launched related to aquaculture and Maine's food economy are already delivering jobs and opportunities for the people of Maine. MB: How did you come to be with Island Institute? KH: When I left FocusMaine, I set up a consultancy to work with founda- tion and nonprofit leaders. Island Institute approached with the oppor- tunity to help them develop and con- tinue their important programmatic efforts as their interim chief programs officer. During that process, I fell in love with the mission and developed a deep connection to the staff and the communities we serve. MB: What attracted you? KH: I knew of Island Institute and many of their programs. It's a very well-respected organization in Maine. But I didn't appreciate the full constel- lation of its work. I learned that its extraordinary, 40-year history has truly changed people's lives. For example, our Island Institute Fellows program is in its 25 th year and has place nearly 150 young people in island communi- ties to help with important community projects. Even before aquaculture had taken off in Maine, the Island Institute had already launched a program for budding aquaculturalists. Today, our efforts to help communities adapt to climate change—from transitioning to clean energy to preparing for sea level rise—and our pioneering efforts to ensure the most remote commu- nities have access to broadband are building on that legacy. We also have one of the largest newspapers in the state, the Working Waterfront. It's our way of ensuring that matters of local importance along the coast have a megaphone. I also connected with Island Institute on a very personal level. I live on Chebeague Island so I understand the demands of island life. I know people who have benefited from our scholarship programs or from our grants for that support small busi- nesses. Added to that, my father was a dockworker. anks to the working waterfront, I was able to go to college. is has given me a deep apprecia- tion for people who make a living in marine industries. MB: How does your work with FocusMaine translate to the Island Institute's mission? KH: I had a strong understanding of the marine economy through my work with FocusMaine, our deep engagement with SEAMaine to sus- tain Maine's seafood businesses, and from serving on the governor's 10-year economic development strategy team. ese provided a good foundation for moving into this particular role. On April 1, Kim Hamilton became the president of the Island Institute and first woman to lead the Rockland-based nonprofit, which works to sustain Maine's island and coastal communities and operates on an annual budget of $9.5 million. Hamilton served for nearly five years as the president of FocusMaine, an economic development organization that works to create quality jobs and build a thriving workforce with a focus on the agriculture, aquaculture and biopharmaceutical sectors. She has also served as the chief impact officer at Feeding America and director of strategy, planning and management at the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. I Island Institute president Kim Hamilton: 'We're built for the challenges the coast is facing in this particular moment' B y L a u r i e S c h r e i b e r P H O T O / C O U R T E S Y O F N I C O L E WO L F On April 1, Kimberly Hamilton became the president of the Island Institute, a 40-year-old nonprofit in Rockland that works to sustain Maine's island and coastal communities. C O N T I N U E D O N PA G E 6 2 »

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