Leadership Hancock County

Congratulations Leadership Class of 2017!

Leadership for 2017 wrapped up on May 10th with a special graduation ceremony at Flexit Cafe. Congratulations go out to Rachel Nobel, winner of the Leadership Hancock County SPARKS award.

Leadership Hancock County Mission:

Working to improve Hancock County’s economy and quality of life by building leadership capacity of present and future leaders.

Modeled after Leadership Maine and other county Leadership programs, Leadership Hancock County was launched in 2011 after nearly 10 years of development. Spearheaded by the Hancock Higher Education Center and involving many community business leaders they formed a steering committee to get the program off the ground.  The committee  hired Robert Keteyian of Interpersonal Communication Consulting, and Deb Burwell of Paddling the Rapids as the first program facilitators, 16 participants were accepted into the new program and six businesses across Hancock County agreed to host the classes once a month from January to May.Program History:

In six years 100 participants from various businesses, nonprofits and organizations have graduated from Leadership Hancock County.  Over 25 Hancock County businesses and organizations have been host sites for the classes that take place approximately once a month from January to May.

The day long sessions provide the participants with a facilitated program in leadership and management skills and concepts in the morning.   The afternoon is an introduction to the host site and their role within the business and economic diversity that is Hancock County.  Company representatives are asked to provide tours if possible and real time stories of how things work or don’t within their industry, in our county.

The effect is a multilayered approach that incorporates the participants, and the diverse host sites, building on a program of management concepts and leadership topics that all, increase regional awareness, a network of emerging leaders and a deeper understanding of the challenges our local economy faces.

Sending Companies:

Over 35 different area companies, non-profits, town/city governments, local hospitals, financial institutions, small and large businesses and self-employed entrepreneurs have sent employee(s) to Leadership Hancock County.  Many companies have sent more than one employee over the past 6 program years.

Host Sites:

2011
Schoodic Education and Research Center
MDI Biological Laboratory
Verso Paper
Blue Hill Memorial Hospital
Child and Family Opportunities
Courthouse Gallery

2012
Camden National Bank
Verso Paper
Maine Coast Memorial Hospital
Comfort Inn and Maine Tourism Assoc.
Penobscot East Resource Center
Jackson Laboratory

2013
Hancock County Bar Harbor Airport
Wallace Tent and Events
Verso Paper
Center for Cooperative Aquaculture
Darlings Auto Mall Stanley Subaru
Penboscot East Resource Center

2014
City of Ellsworth
Morris Yachts
Jackson Lab
Verso Paper
Wooden Boat Publishing
Schoodic Arts for All

2015
MDI Hospital
Eastern Maine Development Corp.
Ellsworth American
Maine Maritime Academy
Haystack School of Craft
Acadia National Park at SERC

2016
Ellsworth Fire and Police Dept.
Jackson Lab
Seacoast Village Health Care
Bar Harbor Trust Services
College of the Atlantic
Woodlawn Museum

2017
Moore Community Center
Hancock County Technical Center
Maine Seacoast Vegetables
Opera House Arts
MDI Biological Laboratory
Witham Family Properties
NEH Neighborhood House 

Leadership Hancock County Council: Leita Zeugner, Chair Pamela Karwasinski, Vice Chair; Kim Parrott, Sea Change Resources;  Kitty Barbee, EMDC; Jennifer Wright, Bar Harbor Catering;  Paul Pangburn, Gibson Financial;  Alf Anderson, Bar Harbor Chamber;  Gretchen Wilson, Ellsworth Area Chamber; Lynn Witham, UM Higher Education Center; Rachel Nobel, EMHS.