Randi Arsenault has been named assistant vice president of admissions and financial aid and dean of admissions at Colby College in Waterville, effective July 1.

A member of the class of 2009, Arsenault began her career at VOX Global, a strategic communications agency based in Washington, D.C. She returned to Colby in 2010 and was named director of outreach and recruitment in 2015. In this role, Arsenault oversaw the design and implementation of a variety of new communications initiatives aimed at expanding and diversifying Colby’s applicant pool and enhancing the College’s yield efforts for admitted students.

Arsenault completed the Yale School of Management’s Women’s Leadership Program and received her master’s of business administration from Thomas College in 2019. In the years since, she has served as assistant vice president of admissions and financial aid, working closely with Vice President of Enrollment and Communications Matt Proto to develop innovative, access-focused enrollment strategies and implementing new project management and analytics systems to better track and assess the efficacy of various admissions and financial aid initiatives. Arsenault has also led efforts to enhance Colby’s holistic review processes, develop creative new recruitment initiatives, and launch a comprehensive early college preparation program for Maine middle school students.

“Randi’s commitment to excellence, strategic vision and meticulous execution have been extraordinary,” said Proto, according to a news release from the college. “Every year our goal is to attract and enroll the most talented and diverse group of students in the College’s history. And the admissions team has realized this goal in each of the past five years in large part due to Randi’s leadership.”

Expanding college access and developing pathways to Colby for students from all backgrounds is personal for Arsenault. As a first-generation college student from Western Maine, she saw her own life trajectory change when she enrolled at the college, where she majored in government and played varsity softball.

“So many alumni, including Randi, have told me about the impact of our financial aid programs on their own experiences,” said President David A. Greene. “The Colby experience can be life-changing for many people, and we want to be able to provide more students from all backgrounds with these incredible opportunities.”

Colby has continuously increased its commitment to financial aid during Arsenault’s tenure. Last year The Chronicle of Higher Education recognized Colby’s financial aid policies as the fourth most generous for the neediest students in the country.

Skowhegan Savings welcomes new vice president and commercial lender

Greg Legier has joined Skowhegan Savings Bank as a vice president and commercial lender to the bank’s Portland Business Center. He brings more than 20 years of banking experience, most recently serving as a regional vice president and commercial loan officer for Franklin Savings Bank in New Hampshire. Legier will focus his expertise in commercial lending by assisting the bank’s customers in southern Maine with their business banking needs.

“We are excited to welcome Greg to our commercial lending team as he has a wealth of experience developing tailored solutions to help businesses grow,” said Andrew Cook, senior vice president regional market leader for Portland, according to a news release from the Skowhegan-based bank. “He will play an instrumental role as we expand our commercial lending presence in southern Maine with our Portland Business Center, opening later this spring.”

Graduate of the American Bankers Association Stonier Graduate School of Banking at the University of Pennsylvania, Legier is active in professional and community organizations. He has served as a board member for New Hampshire Real Estate Investors Association, director of the Greater Concord Chamber of Commerce, board advisor for the Job Creators Network, board advisor for Network for Educational Opportunity, chairman of the Concord Young Professionals Network and as a hunter education instructor for New Hampshire Fish and Game.

Bingham area businesses come together to support Baker Mountain Ski Club

Bingham area businesses came together to raise $3,000 in funds for Baker Mountain Ski Tow Club in Moscow through a community T-shirt fundraiser and a charitable grant from Brookfield Renewable U.S.

Originally established in 1937, Baker Mountain is one of Maine’s oldest ski areas. The Baker Mountain Ski Tow Club has operated as a nonprofit community ski area with volunteers and members since 1959.

“This year has been especially important to give families the opportunity to get outside and enjoy winter recreation activities like skiing,” said Rachel Tremblay, Baker Mountain board member, according to a news release from the club. “We are thankful for the donations from our local businesses and for Brookfield Renewable’s grant.”

With proceeds going to Baker Mountain, Jimmy’s Shop n Save and 201 Power Sports sold Bingham- and Solon-themed T-shirts throughout the summer, raising a total of $500.

“201 Power Sports is proud to support local recreation organizations, like Baker Mountain and our local ATV and snowmobile clubs. We know these organizations are important to the local community and our tourism and recreation economy,” said Scott Hunnewell, the owner of 201 Power Sports.

The custom-designed T-shirts incorporated local elements with themes of “Rollin’ in Solon ATV Adventures” and “Bingham, Gateway to the Maine Forest.” The fundraiser, spearheaded by local community members, created custom designs and utilized Bingham-based Logo Logic to produce the shirts.

“With the onset of the pandemic, local organizations like Baker Mountain have missed out on fundraising events that take place in a typical year, and we wanted to do our part to support them,” said Miranda Kessel, Brookfield Renewable stakeholder relations manager.

Brookfield Renewable provided a $2,500 donation to the Baker Mountain Ski Tow Club through their charitable giving program.

Franklin Memorial Hospital 2021 Top 100 Rural & Community Hospital

Franklin Memorial Hospital in Farmington has been recognized as a 2021 Top 100 Rural & Community Hospital. Compiled by The Chartis Center for Rural Health, this 11th annual recognition program honors outstanding performance among the nation’s rural hospitals based on the results of the Hospital Strength INDEX.

“At Franklin, we strive to provide the best possible care for our patients,” said Trampas Hutches, president at FMH, according to a news release from the hospital. “We take great pride in the work we are doing and will continue to serve our community. We are all in this together.”

Over the last 11 years, the INDEX has grown to become the industry’s most comprehensive and objective assessment of rural hospital performance. Based entirely on public data and utilizing 36 independent indicators, the INDEX assesses rural hospitals across several pillars of performance, including market share, quality, outcomes, patient perspective, cost, charge, and financial efficiency. The INDEX framework is widely used across the nation by independent rural hospitals, health systems with rural footprints and state offices of rural health, which provide access to INDEX analytics through grant-funded initiatives.

Kennebec Savings Bank converts into a Maine mutual financial institution

Kennebec Savings Bank has completed its strategic combination with Kennebec Federal Savings and Loan Association of Waterville.

Today, Kennebec Federal Savings converted into a Maine mutual financial institution under the name of KFS State Bank, and was immediately merged with and into Kennebec Savings Bank, at which time deposit and loan customers of Kennebec Federal Savings became customers of Kennebec Savings Bank.

“By coming together, we are positioned to provide even more value to our customers and community and build on our complementary strengths,” said Andrew E. Silsby, president and chief executive officer of Kennebec Savings, according to a news release from the bank. “We are very pleased at the overwhelming support the combination has received from the customers of Kennebec Federal Savings. We eagerly welcome them to the Kennebec Savings Bank family.”

Brann earns the Certified Financial Planner, CFP Designation

Katie Brann financial advisor at Golden Pond Wealth Management has been authorized by the Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards to use the Certified Financial Planner and CFP certification.

The CFP designation identifies those advisors who have met the rigorous experience and ethical requirements of the CFP board and have successfully completed financial planning coursework and have passed the CFP certification exam covering: financial planning process, risk management, investments, tax planning, retirement planning and estate planning.

Brann is a graduate of Boston University and joined Golden Pond in April 2019. She oversees all of Golden Pond’s financial planning services and is its specialist in ESG (environmental, social and governance) investing.

Cathcart receives 2021 Minerva Award

Mary Cathcart, a senior policy associate at the University of Maine’s Margaret Chase Smith Policy Center, has received the 2021 Minerva Award.

The Minerva award is presented annually by Maine NEW Leadership to recognize a Maine woman who exemplifies the values of the program, including leadership for the betterment of Maine, a commitment to civil dialogue and a passion for civic engagement.

A long-time champion for education and for Maine’s women and children, Cathcart served in the State Legislature representing Clifton, Eddington, Orono and Veazie from 1988 to 1994, and as the Senator from then District 7, part of Penobscot County, from 1996 to 2004.

In Augusta, Cathcart chaired numerous legislative committees and task forces.

She sponsored or co-sponsored legislation guiding state investment in research and development, expanding family and medical leave for employees, defining parental rights and responsibilities in cases of domestic violence, strengthening protection from abuse provisions, and addressing stalking and reproductive rights.

Beyond advocating for education in Augusta, Cathcart served on the New England Board of Higher Education for 15 years, including chairing the Board of Delegates, and was a founding member of the Maine Compact for Higher Education. She is currently the College-University Chair of the American Association of University Women of Maine State Board.

Prior to her legislative service, Cathcart was a hotline volunteer for Spruce Run of Bangor, providing education, support and safety planning to victims of domestic violence or abuse. She was later employed as a community education coordinator with Spruce Run, which is now known as Partners for Peace. Her activism influenced regional policy, contributing to the establishment of Rape Response Services of Bangor and the addition of a victim’s services coordinator in the office of the district attorney in Penobscot and Piscataquis counties.

Cathcart, who was named to the Maine Women’s Hall of Fame in 2013, received UMaine’s Maryann Hartman Award in 2006, the Merle Nelson Women Making a Difference Award from the Maine Centers for Women, Work and Community in 2011, and two awards in 2018 — the Mabel Sine Wadsworth Achievement Award from the Mabel Wadsworth Women’s Health Center and a Doctor of Humane Letters degree from UMaine.

The Minerva Award has traditionally been presented at the Women of Power reception, an annual celebration that brings together legislators, Maine NEW Leadership graduates and aspiring women leaders. Proceeds from the reception support the Maine NEW Leadership program, which is offered at no charge to participants. Janet Mills received the inaugural Minerva Award in 2018, in acknowledgment of her position as Maine’s first female governor. Gov. Mills’ reflection on the Minerva Award and a congratulatory message to Cathcart is available online.

Because of the coronavirus pandemic, there will be no reception in 2021; the Minerva Award was presented virtually. The award presentation and an interview with Cathcart, conducted by the Director of Maine NEW Leadership Amy Blackstone is available on YouTube.

 

For more business news, visit CentralMaine.com.

Comments are not available on this story.

« Previous

Maine senator calls for crackdown on ‘snake oil and fine print’ payday loans

Next »

No internet: The high cost of connecting Maine