Mascoma Bank

Coming back from vacation, I have had the ability to reflect and transition into my new role as immediate past chair for the Portland Regional Chamber of Commerce as my term as chair officially ended on June 30th. I look forward to my last two years on the board before I will term off at the end of June in 2026. I still remember my first board meeting in 2012 and how excited I was to get involved with such a vital business organization. The chamber represents over 1,300 businesses with a collective workforce of 70,000 employees in its membership. The chamber is doing amazing work in helping to advocate for businesses and their employees, to help and create housing solutions to attract needed workforce to the area, to address the challenges of childcare that continue to be a barrier for many people, and to work with businesses large and small to address the challenges they face. I am fortunate that I had the opportunity to learn from amazing business leaders in our community and follow in the footsteps of prior board chairs during my tenure that included James Cohen, Michael Bourque, Jim Erwin, Al Swallow, and Asha Echeverria. I am also thrilled to watch Georgia Wraight step into the role as chair as I know she is another remarkable leader and have been honored to get to know her over the past several years. To all of those I have served on the board with, thank you for your time and energy and all that you do for the region. I want to recognize the amazing staff of the chamber: Eamonn Dundon, Estela Pineda, Rachel Carruthers, Riley Legere and Tommy Johnson. Small but mighty is an understatement for all the work that you accomplish. You are all incredible individuals that are helping move Maine forward and cannot thank you enough for all you do. I would also like to thank Quincy Hentzel for the countless lunches at the Cumberland Club, executive meetings at the chamber offices and coffee meetings to discuss the organization. I am forever grateful for your unmatched leadership in the community and am happier to call you a great friend! Lastly, I would like to thank my family for accommodating early morning meetings, meetings during days off and many nights I got home late. As immediate past chair, I have the distinct pleasure of stepping into the role of board chair for the Greater Portland Business Education Collaborative, a 501c3 organization established by the Portland Regional Chamber. I thank Asha Echeverria for all her work in establishing this entity and being the founding chair for the past two years and Jack Lufkin for agreeing to not only take over as Treasurer for the Portland Regional Chamber when Al Swallow asked me to be Vice Chair in 2020, but for also agreeing to be Treasurer for this new entity.

The Camp Starter Kit Program in the Upper Valley launched 3 years ago! Thanks to the efforts of Granite United Way and our local community partners, we've ensured that children are prepared for camp with items like sunscreen, bug spray, water bottles, beach towels, etc. A huge shoutout to Mascoma Bank for their generous support—projects like this wouldn’t be possible without you! Thank you, Mascoma Bank! 🙏

CFTEA Council Spotlight: Christina Howe Residential Loan Closing Team Lead Mascoma Bank CFTEA welcomes Christina Howe of Bank to the CFTEA Regional Advisory Council! Christina is a CFTEA advocate and has personally benefited from the programs in her career. “I have used CFTEA courses to help with my personal professional development which helped expedite my promotion to team lead within three years of becoming a loan closer. I have also taken many leadership and communication classes that have helped me step into my role smoothly. By doing so, I met challenges in a professional and prepared manner. I think having the option to enroll in CFTEA classes helps Mascoma Bank employees use their self-motivation skills to pursue the careers and positions they desire while staying current with the ever-changing banking standards.” Christina speaks from her experience in how CFTEA has supported her career growth. “While seeking a path for a promotion during a time when new positions weren’t being created, I was enrolled in a CFTEA leadership program, and the timing couldn’t have been better. I gained many tools that helped me remain persistent, fine-tuned my communication skills, and assisted me in advocating for myself. By having CFTEA as a resource, I gained the trust of my peers and leaders. I am happy to say that I earned the promotion!” CFTEA wants to hear from those who take courses so it can continue to grow and thrive for the next generation in the banking industry. Christina noted being drawn to serve on the CFTEA council, “This will be a wonderful opportunity to learn more about CFTEA and network with peers to gain diverse perspectives, make connections, and continuously improve our industry.” CFTEA Regional Advisory Council members provide valuable insights allowing for a unique leadership experience with tangible benefits for all involved. “I think it will be wonderful to act as a liaison between CFTEA and Mascoma Bank with the opportunity to improve our industry, the trajectory of peers and co-workers, and myself.” Council members provide a strong voice to CFTEA with learning on all sides as opportunities and challenges are discussed and appreciated. CFTEA values adding Christina as she joins board member, Casey Dillingham from Mascoma Bank to this inclusive learning community! Welcome aboard, Christina!