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26 Fact Book / Doing Business in Maine Q UA L I T Y O F L I F E VO L . X X X I I N O. X I X "I just found it fascinating that electricity is such a lifeline service for people," Young says. "ere's obviously a technology and a physics piece behind it, but there's so much that goes into how you get it delivered to people." at interest eventually led her into renewable energy development, includ- ing wind energy projects in Montana and a transmission line connecting Alberta and the United States. e experience demonstrated the power of collaboration between countries since the electric grid transcends state or national borders. "e grid just operates almost irre- spective of borders," Young says. "And it's a very integrated system that is prob- ably the most sophisticated machine in the world." Young notes that the Canadian and American electric systems are con- nected through dozens of transmission interconnections that allow electricity to move where it is needed and help utili- ties support one another during emer- gencies. at broader perspective has proven valuable as she leads Versant. Growing up near the U.S. border in northwestern Ontario, Young regularly visited Minnesota and Wisconsin with her family, making Maine feel familiar long before she moved here. As president of Versant Power, Young is focused on helping the util- ity balance reliability, affordability and the state's long-term energy goals. One example she described is advanced metering infrastructure which gives customers more informa- tion about their energy use. Young also hopes her career demon- strates what is possible for future genera- tions of women entering the workforce. Growing up with brothers, she says her parents never treated her differently because she was a girl. "I didn't really grow up thinking that there was something I couldn't do because I was female," she says. at experience shaped her approach to leadership and mentor- ship. roughout her career, Young has worked to support women and others who may not see themselves in leader- ship roles. While she notes there are still more men than women leading utilities, she sees a growing number of women rising through the industry, including in executive roles across both the United States and Canada. As Maine's energy needs evolve, Young says her focus remains on main- taining a grid that provides consistency for the homes it powers. "I'm really excited to be here at this time with the team, working with the state on its ambitious goals and trying to make sure that we balance all of the real concerns and come up with the best solutions for customers," she says. Sloane M. Perron , a freelance writer, can be reached at editorial @ mainebiz.biz invested in BUILDING A BETTER MAINE SINCE 1952 O U R S E R V I C E S : CM@RISK DESIGN-BID-BUILD VALUE ENGINEERING RENOVATIONS We are pleased to announce Richard Brothers Financial Advisors has joined Savant Wealth Management. We are a national fee-only wealth management firm that oers integrative investment management and financial planning solutions to individuals, families, foundations, trust funds, retirement plans and non-profit organizations. Richard Brothers Financial Advisors joined Savant Wealth Management on 6/30/26. Savant Wealth Management ("Savant") is an SEC registered investment adviser headquartered in Rockford, Illinois. Past performance may not be indicative of future results. Di‰erent types of investments involve varying degrees of risk. See Important Disclosures at savantwealth.com. INVESTMENTS | FINANCIAL PLANNING | TAX | PRIVATE TRUST | RETIREMENT PLANS 207.879.2352 50 Donald B. Dean Drive, Suite 1 South Portland, ME 04106 I just found it fascinating that electricity is such a lifeline service for people. There's obviously a technology and a physics piece behind it, but there's so much that goes into how you get it delivered to people. — Erica Young Versant Power » C O N T I N U E D F RO M P R E V I O U S PA G E P H O T O / C O U R T E S Y V E R S A N T

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