ICL - Institute for Civic Leadership

10/15/2026

Calling all current ICL Haystack classmates and all Alums! Join us for this interactive workshop. TOGETHER we can support each other in harnessing AI.





Yellow Light Breen Pious Ali Hurricane Island Outward Bound School Bangor Savings Bank

Alarming challenges of Artificial Intelligence (AI) are headlining news reports. We are all aware the technology is already an integral part of our business life, our communities, the classroom, and our personal life. How can we support each other to use it appropriately and make sure it is working for us, not against us? How can we collaborate to harness the opportunities it presents and address the challenges it poses?

Let's figure it out TOGETHER! Join us for an interactive workshop facilitated by experts in different areas of AI including Low, Vice Chancellor of Finance & Strategic AI Integration, 's Public Universities / University of Maine System, Rich Brooks, President of flyte new media, and Stein, Partner, Atwood LLP.

🔶 When: Wed. October 21, 8:00-10:00am
🟦 Where: Pierce Atwood, 254 Commerical Street, Merrill's Wharf, Portland
😎 REGISTER: https://www.mdf.org/event/leadership-in-action-breakfast-harnessing-ai-for-teams-communities/?&utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=facebook&utm_campaign=leadership-in-action&utm_content=harnessing_ai

Thank you to our host Atwood LLP and to our Leadership In Action Series Sponsors Savings Bank, Unum, and Mainebiz.

Jan Kearce Julie Beane Yellow Light Breen Pious Ali Kristen Card

10/14/2026

What an opening retreat for MDF's (Maine Development Foundation's) Institute for Civic Leadership (ICL) Haystack Class!

These adventurous and inspirational leaders went all-in and on belay TOGETHER to tackle the intimidating rock climbing course, the sometimes confusing but always fun team-building activities, and the wilderness challenge exercises. !

Special thanks to our partners in all things Hurricane Island Outward Bound School.

We walk with you every step of the way over the next several months of your ICL journey. And we LOVE the this class emanates!

Go Haystack Class:
Jen Marie Belanger Maine Department of Education David Bijoga Family Partners Crokett County Maine Doughty Construction Dowley Department of Fish & Wildlife Ellis Gilbert Healy Houghton Aaron Huotari of Fort Fairfield Johnson Housing Maresh Health Scarmazzo Street Skowhegan Mizero Care Nahimana Mukabutera Residential Care Nguany-Machar Pike Piper Jonathan Priest Frida Savage Simon .L. Bean Stember Development Foundation Teboe Institute Adeline Residential Care Woodsome Southern Maine

08/19/2026

Congratulations to our 2026 ICL Distinguished Alum Award Winner, Shiloh LaFreniere, Town Manager, Town of Jay, and ICL Cadillac Class Alumna.

Help us celebrate all the ways Shiloh is putting those ICL skills and leadership models into practice to make meaningful community-wide impact and improve lives. Join us Friday, September 25th for MDF’s 48th Annual Meeting & Champion Awards and Maine Downtown Center Annual Awards. More info on the event and to register: https://www.mdf.org/event/mdfs-48th-annual-meeting-champion-awards-celebration/?&utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=facebook&utm_campaign=2026annualmeeting&utm_content=2026_annual_meeting&utm_term=openings

Thank you to Androscoggin Bank for sponsoring this award.

And to our Event sponsors: Bangor Savings Bank and Maine Community Foundation.






Jan Kearce Yellow Light Breen

08/13/2026

Calling all Alums and community-minded Mainers in this special, FREE event at Theater in Damariscotta on Sunday, August 23, 7 PM.

For all ICL Alums who joined us June 11 at Beach Retreat and Conference Center for our Leadership in Action Half-day Retreat: Communicating and Leading with Civility - this is the film we viewed and the community-building model we considered in our discussions! This is a chance to continue the peer learning.

Lukensmeyer is the woman in the film who designed the model and facilitated the discussions that ultimately led to the 9-11 Memorial at Ground Zero. She is the founder of the National Institute for Civil Discourse and the featured speaker for this event in Damariscotta.

Jan Kearce Yellow Light Breen Vanadestine Dyer Roach Ali

SCREEN

05/19/2026

It's award season! Who is the classmate or fellow alum who epitomizes the core principles of ICL ? Who demonstrates exemplary leadership in leading teams, and in connecting communites, industry, and entire regions to help increase equitable opportunity across Maine? Nominate them TODAY for this year's ICL Distinguished Alum Award: https://www.mdf.org/2026-icl-distinguished-alum-award/?&utm_medium=facebook&utm_term=openings

The deadline for nominations is this Friday, May 22.

Pictured: Rwaganje, winner of the 2025 ICL Distinguished Alum Award, and Exec. Director of Maine.

Yellow Light Breen Jan Kearce

04/20/2026

Congratulations to Maine Development Foundation's ICL (Institute for Civic Leadership) Goose Eye Class upon your graduation from the program! Your compassion, curiosity, and courage will serve Maine well for years to come. Welcome to the ICL Alumni Family. We are on belay for you now and always. !

Special shoutout to Rwaganje, ICL Omega Class Alum, 2025 ICL Distinguished Alum Award winner, and Exec. Dir. of ProsperityME: The Center for Financial Education for an inspiring graduation keynote address, and to class speakers Laura Briggs, Dir. of Operations of Life Ministries and Leah Batt, Sen. Dir. of Marketing & Communications, Coastal Enterprises Inc..

Special gratitude and love to ICL's fearless facilitator and leadership guru Jan Kearce who continues to lead both the ICL and Leadership Maine programs at MDF. You inspire, energize, and lead the leaders, Jan!

And to Sophie Drew, who coordinates and manages the day-to-day for ICL and so many other MDF programs/iniatitives.

To all Goose Eye Class graduates - we can't wait to continue working with you and be part of all you will continue to accomplish in life, career, and community: Sarah Demers Maine State Department of Economic and Community Development, McKenzie Blanchard The Portland Symphony Orchestra, Kristen Card Batt, Coastal Enterprises Inc., Eileen Bader Hall The Nature Conservancy in Maine, Laura Briggs of Life, Inc., Carey, M.Ed Khanyisile Mncube , Tyler Cary of Southern Maine, Barry Dodd of Westbrook, Maine, Joy Fehl Library, Jade Hayden, Abigail Henry Landing School Maine, Leah Hitchcock, CPCU, WCP, MEMIC, Tam Thanh T. Huynh and Human Rights Education Center, Katherine Kelley, MCE, PE, Nicole Picard Central Maine Power, Ariel Ricci Permanent Commission on Status of Racial, Indigenous & Tribal Populations, Dan Rogan Outdoor Sport Institute, Emily Sampson L.L.Bean, Izzy Siedman flyte new media Brennan Turner Baxter State Park and Kelly Watson

03/20/2026

Spring into Leadership with MDF's ICL experience! Apply, send an employee, or nominate a derserving colleague today.

Apply for the upcoming 2026-2027 classes today: https://www.mdf.org/leadership-development/application/?&utm_source=facebook&utm_term=openings

Alums, help us recruit and fill the upcoming class! If you know a colleague or friend who is ready to step up to the next level of leadership, ready to expand their contributions to their work and community, nominate them today: https://www.mdf.org/mdf-leadership-program-nomination-form/?&utm_source=facebook&utm_term=openings

Alums who nominate by April 13 could win a pass to the 2026 Maine HR Convention!

Jan Kearce Beane Light Breen Savings Bank Marketing and Design Jackson Laboratory Maine Power Company Community Foundation

03/05/2026

Join leaders from across the state for peer sharing and learning on a variety of topics of interest to business, government, and NGO communities.

Yellow Light Breen Jan Kearce

MDF is looking forward to learning and strategizing with partners from across the state at the upcoming ClimateWork Maine’s Summit.

Here's what organizers are inviting us all be part of: "This summit brings together business leaders, innovators, and decision-makers who are focused on what’s next for our state — and how we ensure Maine’s economy remains strong and sustainable. To stay competitive, we must be ready to seize emerging opportunities, adapt to change, and lead with innovation, resilience, and forward-thinking strategy."

For more information and to register: https://www.climateworkmaine.org/summit-2026

Featured speakers include many MDF Members and Alumni of our leadership development programs including Linda Ball, President & CEO, Maine Power Company, Andrea Tetzlaff, Publisher, Mainebiz, Kristina Egan, Executive Director, Greater Portland Council of Governments, Michael Duguay, Commissioner, Maine State Department of Economic and Community Development, and Alan Caron

Yellow Light Breen Martin Grohman

02/17/2026

Calling all business leaders and employers! Please lend your thoughts and perspective to the Maine Economic Vision 2035 Survey.

MDF is working with the Maine State Chamber of Commerce to gather your thoughts and perspectives on the state’s economic climate, challenges, and opportunities. We are asking business leaders and employers to please fill out the Maine Economic Vision 2035 Survey. It should take only about 10 minutes of your time: https://us1se.voxco.com/S2/8/MEV35/?mod=0&dlang=en

Your responses will directly inform the 2026 report (formerly known as Making Maine Work) and help ensure your voice is reflected in future decisions. Participation is confidential. Thank you!

Yellow Light Breen

12/04/2025

We love when ICL experience & network comes full circle in the course of a "regular" workday! Elephant Class members Anne Ball and Jeff Beaule ran into each other yesterday in Official City of Lewiston, Maine. Anne was there for a MDF Maine Downtown Center site visit tour with Downtown Lewiston Maine... and was thrilled when Jeff joined the group to talk about the City's monumental riverfront redevelopment project, which he is leading. The project was the subject of Jeff's stand and deliver ❤️. !