PRESQUE ISLE, Maine — Aroostook Partnership is pleased to announce that Kiersten S. Purington, PhD, MBA, has been hired as president & CEO effective May 5. Aroostook Partnership is a unique nonprofit, private and public partnership whose mission is to ensure economic strength, growth and resilience of The County.
Purington brings with her a wealth of experience, including her most recent position as both founder and principal of Blue Dragonfly Solutions, LLC, a firm that offers project and program management solutions for global life sciences clients. Her previous leadership experience at Vertex Pharmaceuticals and background in grant writing, research and organizational effectiveness will be tremendous assets in her new role.
“We’re thrilled to welcome Kiersten to our team and gain her valuable perspective,” said Jennifer Buckingham, board chair of Aroostook Partnership and leader of the search committee. “Her passion for community and economic development aligns perfectly with our mission, and her scientific background will allow her to quickly grasp the intricacies of many businesses in our County. She’s joining us with a shared commitment to working for the greater good, and we can’t wait to see her contributions unfold.”
Purington had been looking for a career change when she learned of the Aroostook Partnership opening. This was inspired by her volunteer work supporting injured and orphaned animals at the Center for Wildlife in Cape Neddick.
“It’s important for me to do meaningful work that is grounded to a greater purpose,” she said. “I was drawn to the mission and commitment of the Aroostook Partnership to address some of the key challenges impacting our local communities including increasing the availability of affordable housing, improving workforce training and access to jobs, and supporting new business. We are at an inflection point to effect significant change and I look forward to working closely with business and community leaders to accomplish these goals. I’m excited to lead an organization that’s dedicated to supporting the economic health of The County and am looking forward to drawing from my academic, business, and leadership experiences to drive this next chapter of growth.”
Purington was first introduced to Aroostook County by her husband, who has roots in Houlton, on a snowmobiling trip. She quickly fell in love with the area’s commitment to hard work, entrepreneurship, and rural beauty.
Purington earned her bachelor of arts in psychology from Barnard College and her doctor of philosophy in behavioral and neural science from Rutgers University. She earned her MBA from Boston University.
