2024 SPEAKERS

I am Omolola Achuba, an Outreach Career Consultant with the MDOL Bureau of Employment Services at the Greater Portland Career Center. Over the past two years, I have dedicated my career to working with underserved populations in the community. Under the ARPA Funds, the target groups for this project are people who will be released from incarceration, women of color, and tribal communities. Also, with people who are work-ready in recovery centers or close to being work-ready, such as people living in shelters that are impacted adversely due to COVID-19, I specifically focus on New Mainers, including asylum seekers and refugees. My role involves providing support, training, career guidance, interview preparation, job search, and connecting individuals with resources available within the state. I am deeply committed to helping individuals navigate the job market and achieve their career goals, and I am dedicated to positively impacting the lives of those I work with.

Gia Drew (she/her) is the Executive Director at EqualityMaine, whose mission is to protect and advance full equality for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer Mainers by creating an inclusive and intersectional movement through political action, community building, education, engagement and collaboration. Gia has been with EqualityMaine since starting as a volunteer in 2012. She serves on multiple committees and boards, including on the Maine Advisory Board to the US Commission on Civil Rights, MainCare Advisory Committee, a Trustee of Maine Health Access Foundation, and board chair of Equality Federation, a national LGBTQ+ organization. Born and raised in the Boston area, Gia was previously a high school teacher and coach for 20 years, and has called Maine home for nearly 25 years.

I am a experienced store manager for Walgreens in Central Maine. I have been employed with Walgreens since 2018 when they had acquired several Rite Aid locations in the Northeast. I had been employed with them beginning 1994. With a passion for networking and engagement I have been successful with onboarding and retention of employees and delivering training opportunities for individuals with workforce entry. I enjoy watching the success of individuals gain skills, inclusion opportunities, and develop career goals.

With over 20-years of facilitation, training and coaching work, Mattox has been significantly involved in the evolution of the restorative justice landscape in the state of Maine since 2011. To everything, she brings a trauma-informed, strengths-based focus and an enduring dedication to asking 'what's possible' in terms of individual and collective well-being, safety, healing, and community development. These days, she is launching her own practice; check it out at widercircles.org.

David Pease is SVP - Director of Talent, Diversity & Inclusion at Bangor Savings Bank. His HR career spans 38+ years in business, healthcare, academia and corporate America. He has a Master’s degree in HR Management from Lesley University and a BS in Political Science/Communication from the University of Southern Maine. David earned the Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR), Senior Certified Professional (SCP-SHRM) Certified Diversity Profession (CDP) national designations. David is the former State Director of Maine SHRM and has received the Maine HR Leader of the Year, Kenneth Curtis Leadership Award from MFG for his state-wide leadership contributions and selected the Unsung Hero of the Year by PROPEL for creating a safe and inclusive work culture. David is on numerous boards to advance Workforce development, Education and Equity. He is a frequent speaker at state and national conferences. David serves as mentor and coach to numerous professionals in all stages of their careers.

Tarlan Ahmadov is Director Division of Programs at the Bureau of Employment Services, Maine Department of Labor. Previously, Tarlan was overseeing the Office of Maine Refugee Services as the State Refugee Coordinator. Prior to his immigration to the USA, Tarlan worked in the education field in Baku, Azerbaijan, and later joined the non-profit sector, combined with a consulting business to the Consulate of Azerbaijan in Tehran, Iran. Tarlan had the privilege to work in various capacities with local and international NGOs, such as IFES (providing training to the newly established municipalities in Azerbaijan), and Social Research Center (by screening refugees from Chechnya, Afghanistan, Iran, and Iraq). He graduated from the Baku State University with a Masters in History and Social Sciences. He is the father of two children. Tarlan speaks several languages. Travel is one his passions: he has visited over 45 countries for business, training, and teaching purposes.

Hannah is a Senior Workforce Development Specialist at Educate Maine. She works with employers, education providers, and community-based organizations to create, implement, and spread information about, registered apprenticeship and certified pre-apprenticeship programs as a workforce development strategy and alternative career pathway. She is passionate about connecting youth with resources and opportunities that lead to personally and professionally fulfilling careers here in Maine. Prior to her current role, Hannah worked for the nonprofits The Island Institute and Downeast Institute on public engagement, environmental education, and community development projects. She earned her B.A. in Environmental Science from Wheaton College and is a proud Mainer.

My name is Caleb Jones and I work with Alpha One. We help people with many areas of disabilities to be as functional, indepednet, and comfortable as we can. We help people with many things such as grants and loans to make their home accessible or get the piece of equipment they need. We care coordinator in home health programs that provide caregivers in their homes. We assist with accessible design, information and referrals about other services, and driver evaluations. If we don't have the resource for the person's need we either know of who might or will be willing to look into it for them to see if we can find that resource.

Michael McKernan is Director of Government and Community Relations, The Jackson Laboratory, Bar Harbor, Maine. For nearly 25 years he has focused on creating opportunities for Maine people to participate and work in biomedical research and development. He represents JAX at the local, state and national levels, advocates for public policy and investments to expand Maine’s biotechnology sector, and builds statewide partnerships between JAX and organizations large and small. Prior to his current role, Mike served as Director of STEM and Undergraduate Education, JAX.

I am a Dedicated Human Resource professional with a passion for fostering a positive workplace environment and supporting employee development. Enthusiastic team player with exceptional leadership skills, a strong work ethic, and advanced problem-solving skills. A result driven Human Resource professional. I have played a key role in building high-performing teams. I am known for being very passionate and involved in helping others. In my free time, I enjoy gardening, cooking, and spending time with my dogs.

Joe stepped into his role as manager of the Center for Workforce Development for MaineHealth in spring of 2023. In this role he works to create and maintain programs, relationships and partnerships across the region, preparing the workforce for a variety of clinical and non-clinical careers within MaineHealth. Prior to this role, Joe worked with the Talent Acquisition Team where he was responsible for both recruitment as well as outreach to partners to grow the pipeline of talent into MaineHealth. Previously, Joe has held director positions at multiple non-profits, working to create programs that build leadership skills alongside other community development initiatives. Throughout his career, Joe has been a strong advocate for others, and continues to work to create opportunities for growth.

My name is Railey, and I am the State of Maine Accessibility Coordinator. I work to ensure that the State of Maine government is accessible to Mainers with disabilities. I graduated from the University of Alabama with a master’s degree in Rehabilitation Counseling. I am a Certified Rehabilitation Counselor and I hold ACTCP certification as an Americans with Disabilities Act Coordinator. For the last fifteen years, I have worked with individuals with disabilities to assist them in achieving their goals of employment and access to independence in the home and community. My past roles have included Job Coach, Rehabilitation Counselor, Vocational Consultant, and Independent Living Case Manager. My goal is to help individuals with disabilities continue to address barriers in the workforce and community.

Molly Louison-Semrow is the Associate Director of Pinetree Institute. Molly provides facilitation and leadership for the Greater Portsmouth Recovery Coalition, the developing York County Recovery Coalition, and Maine's Recovery Friendly Workplace Initiative. Molly has been leading multidisciplinary community coalitions for the last 8 years and has worked in Nonprofit social services for 11 years. Molly's career has centered on incorporating trauma-informed best practices into community response to pervasive social issues such as substance use disorder, family trauma, and adverse childhood experiences.

Bruce Noddin: Executive Director of The Maine Re-Entry Network or MERN, a state-wide non-profit focused on providing peer support and coordinated community resources for hundreds of individuals returning to Maine communities from prison, jail, and treatment courts. Bruce was appointed to the Maine State Workforce Board by Governor Mills in April 2022 and appointed by Senate President Jackson to the Maine Recovery Council in August 2022. Bruce is a “6 Who Care”, “Rising Tide”, and Spirit of Goodwill Award winner, and the recipient of multiple awards for MERN’s community collaboration. Bruce and his wife Susan have 4 grown children between them and three grandchildren. Bruce is a person in long term recovery, a former small business owner, internet retailer, and political organizer. When Bruce isn't working, volunteering, or enjoying family time you can find him fly fishing, hiking, skiing, cycling, mountain-biking, or playing guitar and singing with his dad.

Jessi Wright, Director of Maine CITE, the state assistive technology program in Maine, has worked in the disability field for over 15 years in various capacities around the country. This includes residential programs, providing autism services, teaching in special education, university disability services, and working closely with vocational rehabilitation. Jessi enjoys problem solving and helping others achieve their goals and independence through the use of assistive tools. Through the years, she has worked with all ages and abilities to create safe, inclusive environments for people of all abilities. After working with state assistive technology programs for over 10 years, Jessi is now the director of the program in Maine, Maine CITE. The position provides an opportunity to educate others on accessibility concerns and increase the independence of Mainers with disabilities.

Carolyn Delaney is the founder and publisher of Journey Enterprises - a media company on a mission to make recovery from addiction visible in places where people live, eat, work and shop. After spending 20 years leading IT departments, she saw an opportunity to elevate and promote inspiring personal recovery stories, recovery programs and resources in order to save lives by amplifying a message of hope and reducing addiction stigma. She envisions a world where all options for recovery are known and accessible. A world where people are celebrated for reclaiming their lives from addiction and positively impacting those around them. She does that now with a print magazine, community events and speaking.

Jen has been in the Human Resources industry for 18 years, the past five being the HR Director at The Holy Donut. As a non-traditional student, she received a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Management from Husson University and received a Master’s Degree in Human Resources Management from Colorado State University. Jen prides herself on being the Human Resources professional that builds meaningful relationships with all levels of the organization; she’s not HR that only shows up when something is wrong. By getting out of the office and listening, she’s able to coach daily interactions and guide strategic initiatives in a meaningful manner. Employees and leaders can chat freely about what’s on their mind: wins can be celebrated & shared; opportunities can be supported; pain points can be eliminated. Outside of work, Jen loves to be in nature. She’s an avid runner, hiker, biker, triathlete, and fitness enthusiast.

Lisa Madore, SHRM-CP, PHR, MBA has been in human resources management and leadership roles in a variety of industries for twenty years. Lisa offers a wealth of knowledge in multiple areas of human resources. Lisa is an active member of prominent human resources organizations on national, state, and local levels. A current and active member in the Society for Human Resources Management (SHRM), Lisa has also served on the Maine State SHRM council and is a past board member and past president for her local human resources association. Lisa also has served on the Board of Directors for multiple nonprofits in her community (please refer to the list below) and has been a guest lecturer at the local business college for graduate classes in human resources. Lisa also volunteers her time mentoring individuals new to human resources as well as women in business growing their careers.

Julie Oakley is an integral part of the Walgreens Field Disability Inclusion team, where she passionately advocates for disability inclusivity and accessibility in the workplace. Julie is deeply committed to creating an environment where every individual's abilities are recognized and valued. She brings dedication and expertise to her role and tirelessly implements policies and initiatives that foster a more inclusive workplace culture. Julie collaborates with colleagues across the United States to ensure that Walgreens' training, hiring, and retention programs help those with disabilities achieve their full potential. Julie firmly believes in the power of diversity and inclusion to drive innovation and success. Through her work, she strives to eliminate barriers and promote equal opportunities for all employees.