|
Now Accepting Applications for the Kennebec Leadership Institute Class of 2025!
Apply to join the over 670 alumni who have completed the oldest leadership Institute in Maine!
View the program overview, class schedule, and print & digital applications below.
Applications are due by July 1st, 2025.
| | Registration open for the 29th Annual Golf Tournament benefiting the Kennebec Leadership Institute | | |
The 29th Annual KLI Golf Tournament is back on September 8th, 2025!
Proceeds from this tournament go directly to providing scholarships to attend KLI, Maine's Oldest Leadership Institute. Register your team, secure your score enhancing package, and sponsor a hole below!
| | |
Business Panel
Lori Dube, Soo Parkhurst, Tiffany Lopes
This event is SOLD OUT! Please contact the KV Chamber to be added to our waitlist.
Kennebec Valley Chamber
105 Second Street, Hallowell, ME
| Register for our June Women's Network Luncheon before it's full! | Happening June 11 from 11:30-1PM with Ellen Miller, Founder of MPowered, LLC! | |  | |
Pouliot Real Estate
Enjoy an evening of networking and learning more about Pouliot Real Estate!
351 Water St.
Augusta, ME 04330
| | | Trivia for a Cause benefiting the Capitol Clubhouse | |
May 8th | 5:30PM - 7PM
$10 per person
The Quarry Tap Room
122 Water St, Hallowell, ME
| | | |
June 12th| 5-7PM
Free admission. Pizza served by Brickyard Hollow.
Island Park Brewing
2541 US-202, Winthrop, ME 04364
| | | Get the Most out of Your Chamber Membership Benefits | | |
Your chamber membership is packed with unique benefits designed to elevate your organization, increase your visibility, and connect you to new people and opportunities.
If you’d like a refresher on all the ways you can engage and take advantage of your benefits, we invite you to join our Membership Refresher presentation on May 15th from 12-1PM.
If you would like to attend, please email Melissa at mlw@kennebecvalleychamber.com. Limited space available.
| | |
Chamber Connection: Protecting Maine Workers & Workplaces
Join leaders of TRC’s National Security and Emergency Management practice, for an informative session on current trends in workplace violence, common risks across industries, practical strategies to protect your team, and steps to build a culture of safety and awareness.
Date: Wednesday, June 4th, 2025
Time: 8:00 – 9:30 AM
Location: KV Chamber, 105 Second St, Hallowell
$20 members | $30 non-members
| | |
Friday Feature: Showcasing Members Across the Kennebec Valley
Each month, the Kennebec Valley Chamber spotlights a local member business through our Friday Feature video series.
For this month’s Friday Feature, we’re stepping inside the Theater at Monmouth —Maine’s official Shakespearean theater! Housed in the iconic Cumston Hall, its part opera house, part library, part community center, and 100% worth the visit!
| | Show your support for local businesses while gaining visibility for your own by sponsoring our Friday Feature series! Contact Melissa at MLW@kennebecvalleychamber.com to learn more! | | Golden Pond Named to Forbes' 2025 Best-in-State Wealth Advisors List for Maine | | |
Golden Pond Wealth Management’s founder and managing director, Brian Bernatchez, CFP®, was recently named to Forbes' Best-In-State Wealth Advisors list for the sixth consecutive year.
“Although Forbes recognizes the individual advisor, being included in the Forbes Best-In-State Wealth Advisors list with a top 4 ranking for Maine is a reflection of our entire team, our clients, and their continued confidence in and support of our efforts to grow and protect their wealth,” said Brian Bernatchez, CFP®.
Golden Pond Wealth Management is based in Waterville, Maine. They provide retirement planning and comprehensive wealth management to individuals and families, and investment & endowment management to non-profit institutions.
Brian Bernatchez, CFP®, is a financial advisor affiliated with LPL Financial, a leading wealth management firm that supports financial advisors — whether they work as independent business owners, with an RIA firm or in a financial institution, so they take care of their clients and run a thriving business.
| | Amtrak Downeaster offering 20% off Coach Fares through June 2025 | | |
The Amtrak Downeaster is offering 20% off coach fares valid for travel through June 30th, 2025. No promo code needed. Visit https://bit.ly/Downeaster20 for more information.
In addition, effective Tuesday, April 1st, 2025, the Amtrak Downeaster will operate on a new temporary schedule. Visit https://bit.ly/EffectiveAprilFirst to view and download a copy today.
| | Thomas College Holds 6th Presidential Inauguration in 131-Year History | | |
More than 350 people attended Thomas College President Jeannine Diddle Uzzi’s inauguration on Friday, April 11 at Thomas College in Waterville.
Uzzi was welcomed and inaugurated in front of Thomas College students, staff, board, faculty, friends of the College, and community members. Uzzi is the sixth President in Thomas College’s 131-year history and officially began her Presidential duties on November 1, 2024.
Speakers during the event included Rabbi Rachel Isaacs, Beth Israel Congregation; Jared Cash, Mitchell Institute; Mary Jane (MJ) Uzzi, President Uzzi’s daughter; Kelley Shimansky, Thomas College Board of Trustees Chair; students Abby Farone and Cole Ellis and Professor Dr. Alicia McCarthy; and President Dr. Jeannine Diddle Uzzi.
“It was an honor to officially welcome and celebrate Thomas College’s new President Dr. Jeannine Diddle Uzzi during her inauguration,” said Thomas College Board Chair Kelley Shimansky. “Jeannine’s demonstrated leadership skills, collaborative nature, and commitment to the value of higher education makes her a great fit at Thomas College. Her energy and enthusiasm over her first several months at Thomas have already made a great impact.”
“Thomas College has the kind of culture you can’t manufacture, and you can’t purchase, and this is why we are here. We gathered together today to foresee the successful future of Thomas College. Like most other institutions of higher education, Thomas is facing challenges we could not have imagined a decade ago. We are small; we don’t have a huge bank account; we have to adapt to an external environment we do not control and that may not favor us. The culture of Thomas College is powerful, and this culture is the thing that will bring us new students, new employees, new partners, and new funding,” said Uzzi.
| | Goodwill NNE AmeriCorps members served over 20,500 hours at 49 community organizations in 2024 | | |
Goodwill NNE AmeriCorps members contributed 20,619 hours of service across 49 community organizations in 2024. Goodwill NNE AmeriCorps programs strengthen communities in Maine, New Hampshire, and Vermont by placing volunteers in local nonprofits, municipalities, and schools. These AmeriCorps members support the long-term health of communities through their selfless commitment. Goodwill NNE has opportunities for additional nonprofit, public and municipal organizations to receive AmeriCorps members to help advance their organizational initiatives this year.
“We’re excited to be able to offer more local agencies the opportunity to host AmeriCorps members,” said Goodwill NNE AmeriCorps senior program manager Steve Niles. “Our members are dedicated, hardworking individuals who genuinely want to make a difference in their communities.”
There are many benefits to being a host site, said Niles, including utilizing members to expand programming, increased access to resources, and having an additional fully funded team member for a whole year.
Goodwill NNE has over 100 AmeriCorps member slots to grant out to partner agencies across Maine and New Hampshire due to successful funding requests. With programs focusing on youth development, public health, and organizational development (for efforts to reduce poverty), many organizations could benefit from an AmeriCorps member serving at their organization for 11-12 months. Examples of the work members are doing at existing organizational partners include grant writing and fundraising and providing public health interventions and mentoring youth.
| | ATV & Snowmobile Safety Course with Maine IF&W | | |
The Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife is hosting an ATV & Snowmobile Safety course on Saturday, May 10th from 9am-4pm at Sam's Italian Foods in Augusta.
In this course you will learn how to properly operate and maintain an ATV & Snowmobile. During the course we will review laws, responsibilities and personal safety. You must attend the full program and pass a final exam to receive your certificate.
$10.00 due day of the class and lunch will be provided.
| | WELCOME TO OUR NEW MEMBERS | | |
30 YEARS
Lake & Denison, LLC
20 YEARS
Friends of the Cobbossee Watershed, Macomber Transportation & Warehousing, Pinkham Insurance Agency, Riverview Psychiatric Center, The Boulos Company, The Foster Agency
10 YEARS
D R Designs, Inc., Kennebec River Dentistry, Kozak & Gayer, P.A., Roger Pomerleau Entrepreneur, United Insurance
5 YEARS
Courtney Policy Group, Damon's Beverage – Augusta
Renew
Generators of Maine, GoNetspeed, James & Whitney Co., Jellystone Park Androscoggin Lake, Listings Direct, LRC Insurance of Maine, NextHome Northern Lights Realty, University Credit Union
| | |
Andrew Silsby, Chair*
Kennebec Savings Bank
Amy Marston, Chair-Elect*
Central Maine Power Company
Lori Dube, Vice Chair*
Sprague & Curtis Real Estate
Matthew Tardiff, Treasurer*
J.S. McCarthy Packaging and Print
Michele Pelletier, Past Chair
PERFORMANCE Foodservice NorthCenter
Cathy DeMerchant, Human Resources*
Capital Area Staffing Solutions, Inc.
Katie Doherty, President & CEO*^
Kennebec Valley Chamber of Commerce
* Executive Committee ^ Full-Time Executive
Randall Anderson
The Meadows Golf Club
Karen Boston
Lipman Katz & Boston, P.A
Dr. Jenifer Cushman
University of Maine at Augusta
| | |
Sue Grenier
G&E Roofing Co., Inc.
Earl Kingsbury
City of Augusta
Robbi Lockhart
Team EJP
Steven Marson
Central Maine Pyrotechnics
Nicole McSweeney
MaineGeneral Health
Stacey Morrison
Ganneston Construction Corp.
Rebecca Pushard
MIKA
Lynn Quirion
Macomber, Farr & Whitten
Alec Rogers
Maine Evergreen Hotel & Maine Gallery of Art
Jessika Williams
Cross Insurance
| | |
Sincerely,
KVCC Staff
Katie Doherty, President & CEO
Lindsay Corbett, Chief Operating Officer & Events
Melissa Walden, Membership & Development Director
Lauren Turcotte, Marketing & Communications Coordinator
Megan Bachelder, Office Administrator
| | | | | |
