Issue link: https://nebusinessmedia.uberflip.com/i/880214
W W W. M A I N E B I Z . B I Z 25 O C T O B E R 2 , 2 0 1 7 agreed right away. "We then quickly realized that to have the capacity to be able to really build this program, and help people on a larger scale through- out the state of Maine, we really needed somebody to take the time to build it and pull the team together," she says, "so I raised my hand." Fullmer became executive direc- tor in March 2016, two months before Boots2Roots gained offi cial 501(c)3 nonprofi t status. She takes no salary for her full-time job while pursuing an online master's in human services through Kaplan University that she hopes to complete in January. Originally working from her Biddeford home, she recently moved into a Portland offi ce, where she keeps color- coded wall charts of all teammates listing their return and employment dates. For confi dentiality purposes they're identifi ed only by their initials, but of the nine who are employed she's able to say that one is a police offi cer, one is at Bath Iron Works, one is working in the fuel propane gas industry, one has purchased a leadership consulting fran- chise, one is working for a nonprofi t in Biddeford and one is in Veterans Aff airs at the Togus Medical Center in Augusta. Of the 13 other teammates on the board, three arrived here in August and are interviewing for jobs. Ideally, Boots2Roots starts working with teammates six to 12 months before they leave active duty. As she seeks more board members and Mainers who have recently left the military to act as mentors, Fullmer remains focused on the mission. "What motivates me to do this is that I love to see people succeed. is is a win-win situation, because Maine is struggling to fi nd and retain talent, and the folks that I've been working with are motivated, ready to join the civilian community, ready to give back to the community, ready with energy and ideas, and a humility to listen to how they can use their experiences to move the missions forward for the companies that hire them." R C , 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 @ . a n d @ Boots2Roots 428 Fore St., 3rd Floor, Portland Executive director: Jen Fullmer Contact: (207) 329 5077 / director@boots2roots.org / www.boots2roots.org Portland, ME dunham-group.com 207.773.7100 Local Knowledge. Regional Focus. Global Reach. American Roots needed a new space for their growing apparel company... So, they chose The Dunham Group to tailor a seamless deal. The Dunham Group is proud to stand behind clients like Whitney Reynolds & Ben Waxman, crafting commercial real estate deals to help Mainers realize their vision and achieve business goals. Call or visit us online.