PRESQUE ISLE — Momentum Aroostook is pleased to announce that it has installed new officers and is moving forward on exciting projects and events for 2011.
Scott Violette of Barresi Financial, Inc., has been named chair of the Momentum Aroostook Steering Committee for 2011, and Kari Wells of the law firm Bemis and Rossignol, LLC, has been named vice chair.
Photo courtesy of Rachel Rice
Members of the 2011 Momentum Aroostook Steering Committee include, from left, front row: Chris Maple of MMG Insurance, Grace O’Neal of MMG Insurance, Jamie Chandler of The Aroostook Medical Center, Penny Mints of Northern Maine Community College, Vice Chair Kari Wells of Bemis and Rossignol LLC, and Rachel Rice of the University of Maine at Presque Isle. Back row: Matt Cote of MMG Insurance, John Harvell of Ace Rent-A-Car, Chair Scott Violette of Barresi Financial, AJ Cloukey of MMG Insurance, Chris Locke of MMG Insurance, Kelly Gumprecht of The Aroostook Medical Center and Secretary Heather MacKinnon of MMG Insurance. Not pictured are: Shawn Cunningham of WAGM-TV, Jason Parent of Northern Maine Community College and Treasurer Tim Poitras of Chester M. Kearney.
Violette was born and raised in Presque Isle — he graduated from Presque Isle High School in 1992 and went on to earn his bachelor’s degree from the University of Southern Maine. After living in southern Maine and New Hampshire for several years, Violette returned to the Star City in 2007. He earned his certified financial planner designation in 2010. In addition to his work with Momentum Aroostook, Violette serves in several community capacities; he is on the board of the Wintergreen Arts Center, the Presque Isle Downtown Revitalization Committee and the Presque Isle Rotary Club. He resides in Presque Isle with his wife, Gretchen, and their daughter, Zoey.
Wells was born in Caribou and raised in Presque Isle. She also graduated from Presque Isle High School and went on to earn her bachelor’s degree from Mercyhurst College in Erie, Penn. In 2000, Wells returned to Maine to work for the University of Maine in Orono. She earned her law degree from the University of Maine School of Law in Portland in 2009. In addition to serving on the Momentum Steering Committee, Wells also serves on the Presque Isle Zoning Board of Appeals and the Aroostook County Fund and is a member of the Presque Isle Kiwanis Club. She resides in Presque Isle with her husband, Martin Puckett, and their daughter, Sabine.
Other officers for 2011 include: Tim Poitras of Chester M. Kearney as treasurer, Heather MacKinnon of MMG Insurance as secretary and Chris Locke of MMG Insurance as technology officer. Serving on the Communications team are: Shawn Cunningham of WAGM-TV, Rachel Rice of the University of Maine at Presque Isle and Jamie Chandler of The Aroostook Medical Center.
Joining the group for 2011 as new Steering Committee members are: Matt Cote, Chris Locke, Chris Maple and Grace O’Neal of MMG Insurance, Penny Mints of Northern Maine Community College and Jamie Chandler and Kelly Gumprecht of TAMC. Returning Steering Committee members include AJ Cloukey of MMG Insurance, John Harvell of Ace Rent-A-Car and Jason Parent of NMCC.
Momentum Aroostook is gearing up for another year of exciting events and projects. The group offers two recurring networking opportunities: networking lunches at various local restaurants on the first Friday of each month at noon, and meet-and-greet socials at various lounges in the area on the third Thursday of each month from 4:30-6:30 p.m. Check Momentum’s website or Facebook page for locations. Momentum’s Steering Committee meetings are open to the public and take place on the fourth Thursday of each month at noon at TAMC’s Academy House.
Major returning events for 2011 include the Young Professionals Institute and the Entrepreneur of the Year event. The fourth annual Young Professionals Institute, which Momentum teams up with the University of Maine at Presque Isle and MMG Insurance to host, gets under way on March 23 at UMPI. The institute provides the area’s young professionals with a one-of-a-kind leadership development opportunity. For the third year in a row, Momentum will join forces with Leaders Encouraging Aroostook Development (LEAD) to host a special event on May 26 at Northern Maine Community College to honor the 2011 Entrepreneur of the Year. The goal of the award is to recognize business owners, operators or those in partnerships within Aroostook County who inspire others with their vision, leadership and achievement. Nominations will be accepted until April 21; nomination forms are available at www.leadaroostook.com and www.momentumaroostook.com.
Momentum officials also are planning to bring back the popular Matinee with Momentum event this year, which the group has done in conjunction with the Braden Theatre, as well as host a Harvestfest event in the fall.
“I believe that this could be a great year for Momentum, with a lot of new people on the Steering Committee who have a lot of new ideas,” Violette said. “Coming off our success at our secnd annual St. Patty’s Day Bash, I think there is an opportunity, if you pardon the pun, to gain some momentum with our upcoming events. We are planning a number of exciting activities this year, hopefully with something for everyone, including some great family and charity events.”
Momentum Aroostook is a diverse network of friends, business associates and individuals who are active in the community. Its mission is to provide opportunities for Aroostook County residents through professional and social events that highlight the advantages of working and living in northern Maine. The organization has three areas of focus: business and networking, charity and philanthropy, and sports and social opportunities. The typical member is 21-45 years old, but those young-at-heart are always welcome.
Momentum Aroostook is part of a statewide initiative called REALIZE!Maine, which is composed of more than a dozen similar networking groups across the state that aim to help strengthen the network of young people in Maine professions and workplaces and to help entice more young professionals to locate in the state. In 2009, Momentum received the Maine Development Foundation’s REALIZE!Maine Champion Award, a statewide award of excellence.
For more information about Momentum Aroostook or to become a member, visit www.momentumaroostook.com, check out Momentum’s Facebook page, or e-mail momentumaroostook@gmail.com.
