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W W W. M A I N E B I Z . B I Z 9 G I V I N G G U I D E 2 0 1 5 – 2 0 1 6 time, they're also teaching. It's the whole 'fixing the air- plane while flying' that sometimes makes it hard." In 2003, Breen moved from public policy and state government to Bangor Savings Bank due to his "insatiable desire to learn." He realized it would be useful to get an understanding of how the private sector works. He also soon discovered that a com- pany like Bangor Savings Bank — headquartered in Maine, with 700 employees scattered across dozens of communities — could have a huge impact on the well-being of communities. "So from the beginning, I never felt I'd given up the chance to make change and be part of the bigger issues. It was just doing it from a different seat," he says. With only two weeks on his new job at the time of this interview, Breen was getting up to speed on the inner workings of MDF's programs. But he says he's excited about the opportunity here to con- tinue to set the stage for long-term investments in Maine's economic future, particularly in growing a highly-skilled workforce and in R&D. "e success of our work in the future will continue to depend on strong relationships with partners such as the Maine State Chamber of Commerce, Maine Community Foundation and other foundations and nonprofits," he says. "e most important element is convening the right players and then working together in a persistent way over the long haul to have an impact. MDF is uniquely positioned to make that happen." L aur i e S c h r e i be r, a w r i te r ba s e d i n B a s s Ha r bo r, c a n b e r e a c h e d a t e d i t o r i a l @ m a i n e b i z . b i z Some long-time executive directors who have recently retired include: Western Maine Community Action's Fenwick Fowler, after 40 years; Mobius Inc.'s David Lawlor, 18 years; York County Shelters Program's Don Gean, 30 years; Crisis & Counseling Centers' Lynn Duby, after 19 years; Maine Municipal Association's Christopher Lockwood, after 36 years. Several long-time leaders getting ready to retire include: Coastal Enterprises Inc. founder and president, Ron Phillips, after nearly 40 years; MANP's Scott Schnapp, after 14 years; Kids First Center's Peg Libby, after 18 years. Abilis Solutions • Amec Foster Wheeler • Androscoggin Home Care and Hospice • City of Auburn • Auburn Public Library • City of Augusta • Augusta Public Schools • Avena Botanicals • Bangor Savings Bank • City of Bangor • Bangor Public Library • Bangor Public Schools • Bates College • Belfast Food Co-op • Borealis Bread • Bowdoin College • Brunswick Housing Authority • Brunswick Schools • Caring Unlimited • CEI • Colby College • cPort Credit Union • DFD Russell Medical Center • Diversified Communications • ecomaine • Evergreen Home Performance • Falmouth Public Schools • Family Violence Project • FEDCO Seeds • Friends School of Portland • HealthReach Community Health Centers • Hope and Justice Project • Husson University • James W. Sewall Company • Kennebec Valley CAP • Lambert Coffin • Lee Auto Malls • MSAD #75 Topsham Area Schools • Maine Coast Heritage Trust • Maine College of Art • Maine Community College System • Maine Community Foundation • Maine Community Health Options • Maine Dartmouth Family Medicine Residency • Maine Housing • Maine Municipal Association • Maine Public Broadcasting Network • Maine Quality Counts • Maine Turnpike Authority • Maranacook Area School District • Martin's Point Health Care • Mt. Blue Regional School District • Murray Plumb & Murray • NL Partners • Pine Tree Legal Assistance • Planning Decisions • City of Portland • Portland Public Library • Portland Public Schools • Portland Water District • Preti Flaherty • Reben, Benjamin & March • RSU #12 Sheepscot Valley • RSU #18 Messalonskee Schools • RSU #26 Orono Schools • Sexual Assault Response Services • City of South Portland • South Portland Public Schools • Spinnaker Trust • Tom's of Maine • Town of Topsham • Thomas College • Unity College • University of Maine System • University of New England • The VIA Agency • Viles Arboretum • Walch Education • Waterfall Arts • Waynflete School • WoodenBoat Publications • York County... and you. Arts• Diversity • Education • Environment • Health • Safety • Social Justice Offer your employees ease and choice in workplace giving. Join these employers and become a Workplace Partner today: 207 - 622 - 0105 • www.maineshare.org Nonprofit leadership changes Often, transitions come from within. Several include: Sue Roche, who was the first staff hire in 2000 at the Immigrant Legal Advocacy Project, founded by Beth Stickney in 1993 as a pro bono project. Stickney retired in 2011, and Roche became interim, and then permanent, executive director in 2013. Kimberly Gates has been with the Bath Area Food Bank for 11 years. She had been performing director duties voluntarily for several years and became the organization's first paid executive director in 2014. At Mobius, Rebecca Emmons started last December as the new executive director after a long stint of previous service that began when she was volunteering there as a high school senior and continued through a direct-support position, then board membership and the board's vice presidency. At Maine Equal Justice Partners, Robyn Merrill served as policy analyst for three years, then senior policy analyst for two years, and was pro- moted to executive director on Feb. 1, 2015, when her predecessor, Sara Gagne Holmes, moved on to new opportunities after eight years on the job.