CARIBOU — Since announcing in February that it was losing its funding, officials with the Maine Winter Sports Center have been actively engaged in preparing for a re-launch on May 1, with a new funding model and new board. Those efforts include a $1.1 million fund-raising campaign that is scheduled to end on April 30.
“We still have a lot of work to do on the fund-raising campaign in the next few weeks,” said Andy Shepard, president of the Maine Winter Sports Center. “We have a total of $800,000 in funding at this point, but we’re still short of the $1.1 million it will take to run our programs for the full year. We have two weeks to go in our campaign, so if there are people out there who would like to help ensure the MWSC continues to make a difference in Maine, now is the time to do so.”
The MWSC announced in February that a Presque Isle native, Mary Barton Smith, was offering to match up to $400,000 in donations by April 30th. The MWSC has raised a little over $200,000 so far toward that matching gift. Add that to a $100,000 outright gift from Smith, her matching $200,000, and $300,000 in long-term sponsorship revenue, and the center is current at $800,000 in secured funding.
As the MWSC approaches May 1st it will also have a new operating board of directors.
“I was looking for leaders, deeply rooted in their communities and with a passion for Maine and I am proud and humbled by the quality of leadership that has stepped forward,” said Shepard.
“I want to thank the Libra Foundation and my current board for their remarkable support over the years. Together, we have built infrastructure and programming that is respected around the world and is making a profound difference here at home,” said Shepard. “As of May 1st it will be the responsibility of the new Maine Winter Sports Center and our new board to carry on the world-class reputation and I know all of us are excited to begin.”
Among the new trustees are Minal Caron and Kaitlyn Bernard, two young professionals who came through the full range of MWSC programs, went on to college and have started successful careers.
“There are two paths through our programming,” said Shepard.
“Athletes like Russell Currier, who competed in the Sochi Olympics in February, have rightfully gotten a lot of attention for their success along one of those paths. The path that has gotten less attention, but which is worthy of equal celebration, is that represented by Caron and Bernard. On a board full of proven leaders across Maine, I am excited to have two of Maine’s emerging leaders on our new board,” Shepard added.
Jay T. Kearney is a senior consultant for Osprey Leadership Consulting, Inc. and has been working in the area of elite performance for over 30 years, serving both Olympic-level coaches and athletes, as well as senior executives. His work has helped to maximize their potential for world-class performances.
Richard L. Trafton is a partner in the Auburn, Maine law firm of Trafton & Matzen, LLP where he practices estate planning, administrative and business law. He has been a State Senator representing the Auburn area, as well as Mayor of Auburn. He has been active in civic affairs as chair and secretary of municipal charter commissions and president of the Auburn Public Library.
Dana Totman has served as president and CEO of Avesta Housing since 2000. Previously, Totman was the deputy director of Maine State Housing, and has also served as executive director of Coastal Economic Development Corporation in Bath. In 2013, MaineBiz named Totman Business Leader of the Year and the Maine Real Estate and Development Association awarded him the Robert Patterson Founder’s award.
Karen M. Holyoke is the vice president, corporate and legal affairs for Emera Maine. Holyoke was previously corporate counsel and then vice president of legal & regulatory affairs at Bangor Hydro Electric and Maine Public Service. At the outset of her career, she worked in private practice at Eaton Peabody as a corporate commercial attorney, specializing in commercial lending transactions.
Mark Woodward retired in 2009 after a 39-year career in the newspaper business as executive editor of the Bangor Daily News. After retirement Woodward took on the responsibility as co-chairman of the successful May 4, 2011 referendum campaign to approve construction of $65 million arena and convention center in Bangor – the Cross Insurance Center. Bangor voters supported the project 3-1.
He was also the former communications director for U.S. Senator Susan Collins and is currently a board member of Eastern Maine Development Corp. and Board Chairman of Maine Discovery Museum. He brings an expertise in communications, fund raising and public relations to the MWSC board.
Ron Aseltine is an attorney in Wilton, and former chair of the Titcomb Mountain board and very active in the Farmington/Wilton community. Following graduation from the University of Maine in 1977 with high distinction and honors, Aseltine obtained his law degree from George Washington University and was admitted to the Massachusetts bar in 1980. He served as in-house counsel to Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company and later for the State Mutual Life Insurance Company. During this time he also earned a masters of law in taxation from Boston University in 1988. Ron was admitted to the Maine Bar in 1988.
Patricia W. Weigel became the 16th president of Norway Savings Bank in 2011. Weigel joined the bank in 2001 as senior vice president and senior lender in the commercial lending department.
Andy Shepard spent 16 years at L.L.Bean in Freeport working on strategies, products and services to inspire people to spend time outdoors. While at L.L.Bean Shepard and longtime friend, Max Cobb, were co-architects of a strategy to address the emerging childhood obesity crisis and to create a new economic model for northern Maine. Since founding MWSC in 1999, its programs have expanded to include over 140 communities statewide, meeting the needs of thousands of kids and their families, year-round. MWSC also provides world-class coaching that helps Maine kids with Olympic aspirations to fulfill their dreams.
The Maine Winter Sports Center has won awards around the globe, across the country and here at home. Shepard was named the Outstanding Non-Profit Business Executive for Maine in 2010, recipient of the Russell Wilder Award by the U.S. Ski and Snowboard Association in 2009 and was awarded an honorary doctorate from the University of Maine in 2006.
