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June 16, 2014
Holding Named Director Of Information And Education for IFW
For Immediate Release: June 16, 2014
Holding Named Director Of Information And Education For IFW
AUGUSTA, Maine -- Bonnie Holding, a master Maine guide and small business owner, was named the Director of Information and Education at the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife. Holding begins her new position today.
"We are pleased to have Bonnie join our team here at IF&W. She is widely known and respected in a variety of arenas. She will be a wonderful asset to our department," said Chandler Woodcock, IFW Commissioner. "Bonnie brings a great deal of experience in the outdoor education field, as well as strong leadership and communication skills."
Holding is a well-respected, accomplished Master Maine Guide with 28 years of experience. She has guided for many years at the Megantic Fish and Game Club and Tim Pond Camps and has also served as fly fishing instructor at LL Bean. For the past 23 years, Holding has also owned and operated her own business, the Gold/Smith Gallery at the Sugarloaf Ski Resort. Before beginning her own business, she was the first woman employed as a sales associate in the LL Bean Hunting and Fishing Department.
Holding is well known in Maine's outdoors. She serves as the coordinator for the Casting for Recovery Program in Maine for the past 16 years, is an active volunteer at the Maine Special Olympics Winter Games for the past 20 years, and is a volunteer fly fishing instructor for the Becoming an Outdoors Woman Program for the past 12 years. She has also served as a member of the IF&W Brook Trout Working Group. Holding's awards and accomplishments include the Great Women of Maine Award in 2011, the LL Bean Outdoor Hero?s Award in 2010 and the Grassroots Advocate Award in 2009. She was featured in Outdoor Life Magazine in 2005 as one of the top female guides in North America.
As Director of the Information and Education division of the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife, Holding will oversee the marketing and communications of the department. The Information and Education division also oversees the Maine Wildlife Park in Gray.