Radio Maine with Dr. Lisa Belisle

Leadership the United Way: Liz Cotter Schlax

Liz Cotter Schlax, is the President and CEO of United Way of Southern Maine. Originally from Maine, Liz graduated from Waterville High School, then completed an undergraduate degree at Harvard University and an MBA from Columbia Business School. She developed her skills in corporate and non-profit settings across the United States, before returning to her home state, with a desire to have a positive and lasting impact on her own community. At the United Way of Southern Maine, Liz oversees initiatives focusing on issues such as childcare, housing, and mental health. Liz champions the notion of collective action, striving to create lasting change and improve the lives of those in need. Join our conversation with Liz Cotter Schlax today on Radio Maine.

Art Gallery Evolution: Emma Wilson

Emma Wilson is the Director of the Portland Art Gallery, which is celebrating ten years of representing established and emerging artists at its expansive, light-filled space in Portland Maine’s Old Port district. The Gallery Director for the past eight years, Emma has been an integral part of executing the gallery’s unique and successful vision. Her focus on artist and buyer relationships and communication have proven critical to the Portland Art Gallery’s ability to support artists at every stage of their career. This approach, coupled with modern marketing techniques, have made the Portland Art Gallery one of the leading art galleries in Maine. Emma and the gallery staff have truly created a place where community and creativity flourish. Join our conversation with Emma Wilson today on Radio Maine.

Stoking the Entrepreneurial Fire at Startup Maine: Katie Shorey

Native Mainer Katie Shorey has become an enthusiastic promoter of her home state, both as the Director of Engagement for the non-profit Live + Work in Maine, as well as the President of the entrepreneurial resource hub, Startup Maine. Katie grew up in the small Western Maine town of Sweden and graduated from nearby Fryeburg Academy, before getting her college degree from St. Lawrence University in upstate New York.  Subsequent experiences with partnerships and consulting in larger locales such Washington, D.C. and San Francisco, combined with a serendipitous experience with Maine Startup & Create Week, convinced Katie of the importance of sharing Maine’s evolving economic landscape and opportunities with a larger audience. Join our conversation with Katie Shorey today on Radio Maine.

Portland Art Gallery Artist: Catherine Breer

Catherine Breer has been a prolific and popular Maine artist for decades, captivating the imaginations of art-lovers with her colorful landscapes and scenes of coastal living.  A child of Christian missionaries, Catherine spent her childhood in Seoul, Korea, and has found herself influenced by the harmony of Buddhist imagery and thinking. She studied painting and drawing at the Atlanta College of Art (now a part of the Savannah College of Art and Design) and School of the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston. A resident of Freeport, Catherine has worked for L.L. Bean as a graphic designer for many years, and recently joined the Portland Art Gallery as a means of broadening her artistic community and reaching a larger audience of those who love Maine art. Join our conversation with Catherine Breer today on Radio Maine.

The Hopeful Journey of Addiction Recovery and Community Support: Carolyn Delaney

Carolyn Delaney is the founder of Journey Enterprises, a media company focused on making recovery from addiction more visible and accessible. Carolyn’s own life-altering experience created an impetus for the significant work she has done supporting individuals and families who are challenged by substance use disorder. While Carolyn encountered a lack of understanding and awareness as a young single mother in early recovery many years ago, she also found hope and encouragement through community.  As a result, Carolyn became convinced of the incredible need to combat stigma through education and storytelling. Her message of amplifying hope and providing resources earned Carolyn the title of Maine’s Small Business Person of Year in 2023. Join our conversation with Carolyn Delaney today on Radio Maine.

Swans Island Company: Maine Blanket Maker Bill Laurita

Bill Laurita is the president of the Swans Island Company, a well known maker of traditional wool blankets. Now located in Northport, Maine, the company had its origins on the picturesque isle that bears its name. Bill, his wife, and brother took over the business in 2004, when its original owners retired. This was a natural progression for Bill and his wife, who began their careers in Waldorf education. They found the work of the Swans Island Company to be holistic and process-oriented, which is very much in alignment with the Waldorf approach. Blankets created by the Swans Island Company  are made of high quality fibers, hand-dyed and woven on vintage looms by skilled craftspeople. Swans Island blankets reflect the quality and authenticity for which Maine has become known. Join our conversation with Bill Laurita today on Radio Maine.

Maine Healthcare Pacesetter: Dr.Robert McArtor

Dr. Robert McArtor is a longtime Maine resident and leader in medicine, who had a significant impact on Maine’s healthcare landscape. One of the state’s first chief medical officers in the newly created MaineHealth system, Bob drew upon his skills in family medicine and teaching to engage clinicians in improving quality measures and the health of the community. Bob models healthy lifestyle behaviors, both as a former marathoner and as a triathlete who earned the honor of representing the United States at the World Triathlon Age Group Championships in 2020. Bob speaks to the importance of community and finding purpose as a means of impacting both personal and professional longevity. Join our conversation with Dr. Robert McArtor today on Radio Maine.

Our Healthcare Heroes are Human: Rebecca Hoffmann

Rebecca Hoffmann is the director for the Maine Health Center for Trauma Resilience and Innovation. As part of this role, Rebecca focuses on the challenges faced by caregivers and staff in the healthcare system. One significant challenge is an underlying cultural belief that healthcare providers should be superhuman, and able to continually put aside their own needs in order to care for others. While this view was prevalent before the COVID-19 pandemic, it has not diminished in the past several years, as health systems address issues such as strained access to services, and increased violence against healthcare workers.  The need for healthcare worker resilience is more important than ever before. While Rebecca recognizes the importance of self-care, she also emphasizes the need for all organizations, but particularly those in healthcare, to prioritize the well-being of their employees. This includes providing resources and support for building teams, and sharing responsibilities to prevent burnout. Join our conversation with Rebecca Hoffmann today on Radio Maine.

Natural Resources Council of Maine: Rebeccah Sanders

Rebeccah Sanders is the CEO of the Natural Resources Council of Maine (NRCM). The NRCM operates within the unique ecological ethic and culture of a state where environmental issues are an integral part of how people live their lives. Rebeccah and her team endeavor to engage stakeholders and build coalitions to achieve important environmental legislation. Rebeccah is understandably proud of the first-in-the-nation legislation that the NRCM has been involved in, such as the bottle bill and the offshore wind bill. In this interview, Rebeccah emphasizes the need to listen to and include myriad voices in decision-making processes. Rebeccah also discusses the importance of mentorship and collective leadership in creating durable solutions and empowering future generations. Join our conversation with Rebeccah Sanders today on Radio Maine.

Running for Stargardt Awareness: Eavan O’Neill

Former high school athlete Eavan O'Neill began running marathons as a result of a life-altering event. During her senior year in college at St. Lawrence University in Canton, New York, Eavan was diagnosed with Stargardt disease, a rare form of macular degeneration that causes vision loss, and often leads to blindness.  Soon after receiving this diagnosis, Eavan’s school closed due to Covid restrictions. Eavan found herself back in her hometown of Yarmouth, Maine. While processing the initial shock of the diagnosis, and attempting to understand the new life in front of her, Eavan found solace and strength through running with a fellow Yarmouth High School graduate. Eavan went public with her condition in order to garner support for organizations such as the Foundation Fighting Blindness. In 2023, Eavan ran her first Boston Marathon, raising money for the research work of Rachel Huckfeldt, MD, PhD, an ophthalmologist in the Inherited Retinal Disorders Service at Mass Eye and Ear in Boston. With the help of another Yarmouth High School graduate, Eavan shared her story with the sustainably-oriented Janji running company, where she was named to the Janji Field Team as a “Marathoner + Advocate for the Blind and Visually Impaired Community.” Join our conversation with Eavan O’Neill today on Radio Maine.