Speakers

Laura serves as vice president of philanthropy for the Maine Community Foundation, a position she has held since 2005. She oversees the foundation’s statewide advancement, marketing and communications and works directly with donors to help them pursue their philanthropic goals. Prior to joining the Maine Community Foundation, Laura worked as senior vice president and director of corporate philanthropic initiatives at Demont & Associates, a Portland firm providing philanthropic counsel and related services to not-for-profit organizations. Prior to moving to Maine in 1995, Laura worked in Washington, D.C. at the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee and as a staff member for George Mitchell during his time as U.S. Senate majority leader.

Laura has served on the boards of her alma mater, Bates College, Portland Rotary, the Center for Grieving Children and on the United Way’s Greater Portland Community-Wide Goal Setting Council. Currently, Laura is immediate past-president of Portland Rotary Club and co-leads the club’s Childhood Hunger and Education initiative in Portland, serves on the board of the Boys and Girls Clubs of Southern Maine and Cheney Society Co-Chair for Bates College.

Carrie Jones is the New York Times and internationally bestselling novelist of books for young adults and children. She participates on many boards in her community, and across the nation. Much of her service is focused on literacy, diversity in children’s books, and ending human trafficking.

Jones is a former award-winning newspaper reporter, photographer and editor. She currently serves Rotary as the Public Image Coordinator for Zone 24 E  (Eastern Canada, and parts of the United States), the Public Image Chair of District 7790, and President for the Bar Harbor (MDI) Rotary Club.