Issue link: https://nebusinessmedia.uberflip.com/i/1531703
V O L . X X X I N O. I I JA N UA R Y 2 7 , 2 0 2 5 16 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 F O C U S The long and winding road For Liz Cotter Schlax, 53, leaving her job as presi- dent and CEO of United Way comes exactly a decade after she started at the organization then known as United Way of Greater Portland. Back when she interviewed for the job, she said she intended to stay for about 10 years. "at was always the plan," says Cotter Schlax, who anticipates finishing in February as the board does final interviews for her successor. "I always felt that 10 years was the right amount of time to cre- ate some stability in an organization and have an impact, but not too long to get tired." Joan Fortin feels the same way about her former employer, saying that "anyone who's been around me knows I bleed Bernstein Shur." While saying good-bye was emotional, she's having the time of her life in New Zealand. "One thing that continually catches my eye is the farming pastures," says Fortin, who grew up on a dairy farm in the Kennebec County town of Benton, where she helped build and maintain fences. In her current surroundings, she's amazed that no matter how steep the terrain, there are sturdy fences in every direction for livestock grazing on hillsides. Her take on the rest of the scenery: "It is simply breathtaking and provides an unending feast for my eyes and my heart." R e n e e C o r d e s , M a i n e b i z s e n i o r w r i t e r , c a n b e r e a c h e d a t r c o r d e s @ m a i n e b i z . b i z ยป C O N T I N U E D F RO M P R E V I O U S PA G E Kate Webber Punderson, the former head of school for Carrabasset Valley Academy, is an avid mountain biker. P H O T O / P ROV I D E D