PRESQUE ISLE — Bangor City Council Chairman Ben Sprague will deliver the keynote address at the Aroostook Partnership for Progress/LEADers Encouraging Aroostook Development annual meeting at 7:30 a.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 1, at the Edmunds Conference Center at Northern Maine Community College.
After breakfast, the agenda will include a recap of APP and LEAD accomplishments from the previous year and a look ahead at opportunities and challenges. The presentations will be followed by the address from Sprague.
“It is important to have an annual meeting to reinforce to all the Partnership investors the focus and priorities we share under the Mobilize Northern Maine economic strategy and to review the progress that has been made from our efforts over the last year,” said APP President Bob Dorsey. “APP will briefly discuss progress in our four economic focus sectors: agriculture, energy, forestry and manufacturing; highlight progress in the Education to Industry initiative; and present plaques to our new investors.”
“This is an opportunity for the LEAD membership to give direct input into the future of LEAD strategies and initiatives and to hear a recap of projects and programs that LEAD has been engaged in over the past year,” added LEAD Executive Director Ryan Pelletier.
“I heard Ben speak at Epic Maine and I was really impressed,” said Dorsey. “He is a young person who returned to Maine and has a great message of how folks can return home and contribute to the success of their region.”
Sprague was born and raised in Bangor and graduated from Bangor High School in 2002. After graduating from Harvard University in 2006, Ben worked for the Boston Red Sox for four years and also taught career development, diploma and computer classes. He then returned to Bangor and today works as a financial adviser with Means Wealth Management.
Sprague was first elected to the City Council in 2011 and was chosen unanimously by his colleagues to be the Council chair for the 2013-14 year. Ben also chairs the Tri-County Workforce Investment Board and serves as race director for Erin’s Run, an annual road race that raises money for Spruce Run — Womancare Alliance in Bangor.
Sprague’s talk is entitled “Working Together to Grow Maine” and will look at efforts to attract young people to northern Maine and incorporates his experiences in returning to Bangor.
The breakfast is free, but pre-registration is required. To register electronically go to www.appme.org.
