Emerge Maine

Emerge Maine welcomes the next generation ---- its seventh class---a group of 18 dynamic women hailing from all over the state. When our six month training program begins in September this talented pool will travel to Portland from Biddeford, Livermore Falls, Bryant Pond, Lincolnville, Surry, Kennebunk and seven other towns.

“One of our goals has been to draw women from diverse parts of the state---from north as well as south and downeast along the coast, “ says Katie Mae Simpson, executive director of Emerge Maine. “Each year we’re extending our reach and that means a stronger base for statewide Democratic politics with every class we graduate.”

The Class of 2013 doesn’t only reflect geographical diversity but also a range of professional backgrounds from farming to nursing to teaching to consulting.  There is one college student in the group and one college professor.  

These women will get to know each other well during the six month program. (Actually two members of the new class already know each other well. They are domestic partners!) They will spend over seventy hours in a classroom learning the ins and outs of running a campaign. The group will work with national and local political experts and meet with many of the state’s top political leaders in order to learn what it takes to run a winning campaign.  

Here is the complete list of members of the Class of 2013:

Tammy Ackerman, Biddeford.  Tammy is self-employed and the executive director of an arts organizations in Biddeford called North40Creative/Engine Inc.
Robin Beck, Livermore Falls. Robin owns a farm and holds a Masters in Community Planning.
Vanessa Bell,  Topsham. Vanessa is a researcher and works with the University of Maine system and Maine Adult Guardianship Services.
Christine Burstein, Lincolnville. Christine is a nurse practitioner.
Nicolle Carbone, Topsham. Nicolle is an Attorney/Children's Advocate.
Diane Denk, Kennebunk. Diane is a teacher/tutor with Maine Regional School Unit 21 and a delegate to the national Democratic convention.
Kristina Egan, Freeport. Kristina is a consultant with Harraseeket Strategies Group, a consulting practice for non-profit organizations and government agencies. She also serves on the Freeport Town Council.
Diane Gilman, Woolwich. Diane is a consultant.
Nicole Golden, Bangor. Nicole is a graduate of Maine NEW Leadership program in 2012 and a 2012 Truman Scholar. She is planning to go to law school.
Ellen  Harris-Howard, Lebanon. Ellen is a retired RN manager and will be in the program with her partner Bettie.
Bettie Harris-Howard, Lebanon. Bettie is a retired nursing home administrator and in the program with her partner Ellen.
Katy Jayne, Portland. Katy works as an organizing consultant for Leadership for Educational Equity, a non-profit organization aimed at improving the quality of public education.
Dora McCarthy, Bangor. Dora is a college student.
Moira O'Neill, Surry. Moira is an Assistant Professor of Nursing at Husson University.
Gayle Russell, Bryant Pond. Gayle is a registered nurse.
Melanie Sachs, Freeport. Melanie is a licensed clinical social worker.
Donna Searchfield, Ellsworth. Donna works as a database administrator for Maine Regional School Unit 24.
Kathy Willette, Portland. Kathy graduated from University of Maine School of Law in 2011 and the Muskie School of Public Service in 2012.

The first training session of the program is the weekend of September 15-16th in Portland.