MDF Presents Champion Awards to Six Individuals and Organizations for Exemplary Leadership in Helping Mainers Thrive and Prosper
Hallowell, Maine — September 28, 2023 — Maine Development Foundation (MDF), is thrilled to announce our 2023 Champion Award winners. These awards recognize exemplary leadership toward economic improvement and systemic change necessary for each and every Mainer to thrive and prosper.
“These awards honor individuals, organizations, and businesses who are involved day in and day out in innovative and critical work that is helping Mainers, thrive, prosper, and realize all that they aspire to,” says Yellow Light Breen, MDF’s President and CEO. “Each of our awardees is leading actionable and scalable efforts that help drive systemic change toward a more equitable, inclusive Maine economy and ensure Maine continues to be a great place to live and work for all.”
MDF proudly bestowed the following awards before an audience of 200 during “Aspire: Unlocking the Potential of Maine to Thrive and Prosper,” MDF’s 45th Annual Meeting & Champion Awards Celebration held yesterday at the Hilton Garden Inn in Bangor:
2023 William F. King, Jr., Downtown Champion Award to Phyllis Young, Ret. Board Chair, Heart of Ellsworth, for her tireless advocacy and strategic leadership that has helped diversify and grow both the culture and economy of her beloved hometown of Ellsworth. This includes countless hours of hands-on volunteering and mentoring dozens of community leaders and entrepreneurs.
2023 Champion of Education and Workforce Development to Inclusion Maine and Exec. Dir. Humza Khan for creating a safe space in the form of their annual conference where Mainers can connect and explore how to be truly equitable and inclusive. Participants come away equipped to implement policies, procedures, and programs that instill a sense of belonging and are helping grow Maine’s workforce.
2023 Champion of Rural Economic Development to LP Building Solutions and Ryan Bushey, Dir. of HR & Safety, for a steadfast commitment to growing Maine’s forest economy and the workforce it needs now and for decades to come. Ryan is committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion and is a member of the FOR/Maine Coalition Steering Committee, Aroostook Partnership, Houlton Rotary, as well as a steadfast supporter of the region’s career & technical education programs.
2023 ICL Distinguished Alum Award to Tony Payne, V.P. of External Affairs with MEMIC, and a member of ICL’s Beta Class, for his career-long commitment to an equitable, inclusive Maine culture and economy. Tony serves on numerous boards, in mentoring roles, and volunteers in hands-on projects aimed at cross-cultural, multi-generational growth for Maine’s workforce and communities.
2023 Kenneth M. Curtis Leadership Award to Claudette Ndayininahaze, Exec. Dir. of In Her Presence, a Portland-based nonprofit working to lift language barriers and support the career trajectory and financial stability of immigrant women and their families. Claudette is a member of Leadership Maine’s Allagash Class and serves on numerous boards and advisory councils for economic development organizations across the state.
2023 President’s Award to the University of Maine System for its wholistic approach to making affordable, quality education and career training available to every Mainer, and for its systemic efforts to incubate and support Maine entrepreneurs, businesses, and industries.
The event also featured a stirring and inspirational Keynote Speech by artist Charlie Hewitt of the Hopeful Project.