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W W W. M A I N E B I Z . B I Z 15 JA N UA R Y 2 7 , 2 0 2 5 F O C U S W E A LT H M A N A G E M E N T / R E T I R E M E N T the past couple of years," she says. "Trying to create an outdoor area seems like the right thing to do." Estes has also been doing a lot of reading, including Ann Patchett's best-selling book of essays "ese Precious Days," with some trepidation about her own next chapter. "It's terrifying to step away from everything I've been working for all these years," she admits. "I made it to the pinnacle and then I'm like, 'OK, I guess let's see what else is out there.'" Riding into the unknown In western Franklin County, Kate Webber Punderson spent 23 years in three different roles at Carrabasset Valley Academy, including 13 as head of school at her alma mater. It's a combination college-prep school and ski and snowboard academy for grades 7-12. Two years before stepping down in June 2024, Punderson told the board about her plans, to allow plenty of time to find a successor for a role she has relished but felt ready to leave. "I believe strongly that change in leadership is healthy for organizations," she explains. "I care so deeply about the school that I was willing to take a bit of a risk in my own career for the health of the school." Re-focusing on her own health was equally important. "With my next job," she says, "it's very important I make sure there's time for my own mental and physical health so I can continue to take care of others and do the things I love for many years to come. If I stayed in that job, I wasn't going to be able to do that." In her first summer off, she and her husband spent two months camping and mountain biking in the U.S. and Canadian Rockies from Colorado, Utah, Idaho and Montana up to central British Columbia. Lamenting the fact that "there's no such thing as a true vacation anymore," Punderson says the trip was the first time in her life without emails hanging over her head. Since getting back in September, she spent two months with a career coach reflecting on her lead- ership and work experience and thinking about what she wants in her next life — both from a career and personal standpoint. Together they cre- ated a list of "satisfiers." Punderson, 53, is now starting to look for her next job and likes the idea and flexibility of remote work. "e easy thing to do is to just stay where you're comfortable, but I think life is a big adventure and you've got to have new experiences and meet new people," she says. Whatever she does next professionally she hopes to do for a long time. "I see myself retiring in 20 years, but not now," she says. C O N T I N U E D O N F O L L OW I N G PA G E » Jessica Estes is stepping back from her leadership role at the Boulos Co. to focus on her own projects. P H O T O / J I M N E U G E R I see myself retiring in 20 years, but not now. — Kate Webber Punderson

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