Maine Senate Confirms New Members to Maine's State Workforce Board

March 30, 2022

For Immediate Release: March 30, 2022

Maine Senate Confirms New Members to Maine's State Workforce Board

AUGUSTA - The Maine Senate confirmed five new nominees to the State Workforce Board (SWB), as well as five returning members, in a vote held Tuesday morning. The five new SWB members, nominated by Governor Janet Mills, are Aileen Huang-Saad of Falmouth, Christopher S. Morley of Dedham, Gordon McAleer of Rockport, Jennifer O'Leary of Brunswick, and Robin Wood of West. The five reappointed members are Guy Langevin of Scarborough, Grant Provost of Brunswick, Jason Shedlock of South Portland, The Honorable John L. Patrick of Rumford, and Luann Ballesteros of Glenburn.

"With yesterday's confirmation vote by the Maine Senate the State Workforce Board has gained five exceptional leaders who will work to address the pressing needs of both Maine employers and workers, including connecting them with a skilled workforce and high demand jobs," said Labor Commissioner Laura Fortman. "These five individuals are qualified, and well respected in their fields. I am confident their expertise will be beneficial to the Workforce Development Board as it tackles the important work ahead. We are also glad to see experienced leaders returning to the Board that have added valuable insights."

The State Workforce Board (SWB) is an employer-led board whose purpose is to ensure that Maines workforce development system helps Maine people and businesses compete successfully in the global economy. The SWB advises the Governor on workforce policy and the development and evaluation of the Workforce Development System (WDS), which includes other state agencies such as Department of Education and the Department of Health and Human Services along with the Community College System, University of Maine System, and Maine employers.

Guy Langevin joined Dead River Company in 2009 as Vice President of Human Resources and Organizational Development. In 2018, he was promoted to his current role as Chief Administrative Officer overseeing Human Resources, Information Technology, Legal, Safety and Risk Management, Strategy Planning and Business Optimization. Langevin has been a member of the State Workforce Investment Board for five years, becoming Chair in 2019. Additionally, he serves as Chair of the Board of Directors for Junior Achievement of Maine, Vice-Chair of the Board of Directors for Maine Education Services and as a Board Director for Maine and Company. This will be Langevin's third term on the State Workforce Board.

Grant Provost is the Business Agent for the Ironworkers Local 7 in Maine. Provost has been with the Ironworkers Local 7 for over 20 years. Provosts work currently works on the day-to-day operations of the Ironworkers Local 7 in Maine and also focuses on recruitment of new members into the Maine Registered Apprenticeship Program through his work. This will be Provost's second term on the State Workforce Board.

Jason Shedlock is the Regional Organizer for the Laborers International Union North America New England Regional Organizing Fund. Shedlock was previously executive director of the Maine State Building and Construction Trades Council and a special assistant to former Portland Mayor Ethan Strimling. In addition to the State Workforce Board, Shedlock also serves on the Maine Apprenticeship Council and is a Trustee and Executive Board Member of the Maine AFL-CIO. This will be Shedlock's second term on the State Workforce Board.

LuAnn Ballesteros serves as the Vice President of External and Government Affairs for The Jackson Laboratory in Bar Harbor, Maine. Ballesteros joined The Jackson Laboratory in 2005 as a senior development officer, responsible for planning, organizing and implementing individual and corporate philanthropy activities in Maine, Florida, and California. In 2011, she was promoted to director of government affairs, where she helped grow the government relations program. Before joining The Jackson Laboratory, Ballesteros held an executive position at Bangor Hydro-Electric Company. This will be Ballesteros' second term on the State Workforce Board.

The Honorable John Patrick served as a member of the Maine House of Representatives and the Maine Senate for 14 years. Prior to his first election in 2000, John worked for 29 years as a journeymen mechanic in the NewPage Paper Mill in Rumford. While working as a journeyman mechanic, Patrick eventually became President of the United Paperworkers Union Local 900, the mill's union. He also served on the board of directors of the Maine AFL-CIO. Patrick graduated from Mexico High School in 1972.This will be Patrick's second term on the State Workforce Board.

Aileen Huang-Saad is associate professor of bioengineering and director of life sciences and engineering at the Roux Institute. Huang-Saad leads the programs within the College of Science at the Roux Institute including Bioinformatics and Biotechnology. Huang-Saad has a fourteen-year history of bringing about organizational change in higher education, leveraging evidence-based practices at University of Michigan. This will be Huang-Saad's first term and appointment to the State Workforce Board.

Christopher S. Morley is the owner and Brewer at Masons Brewing Co. in Brewer, Maine, which he started in the spring of 2016. Morley was previously a mortgage development officer at Bangor Savings Bank and a police officer. This will be Morley's first term and appointment to the State Workforce Board.

Gordon McAleer is the Compliance Director of Bixby & Company, which is an artisanal chocolate making company in Rockland, Maine. McAleer's professional career was spent working in hospital administration and worked as the CEO of several hospitals during a 40-year career before joining his wife and daughter at Bixby & Company, which they co-own. This will be McAleers first term and appointment to the State Workforce Board.

Jennifer OLeary serves as Director of MaineHealths Center for Workforce Development. OLeary's work within the position is to facilitate, partner and lead outreach and program support and development on healthcare career awareness for workforce development efforts. Prior to OLeary's time at MaineHealth, she worked for the University of Maine in Orono and worked extensively on workforce and economic development needs. This will be OLeary's first term and appointment to the State Workforce Board.

Robin Wood is the Director of Human Resources for Reed and Reed, Inc, which is Maine based general contracting firm. Wood has worked for Reed and Reed, Inc for 27 years and has been heavily involved in the construction industry and has been involved in the Maine chapter of the National Association of Women in Construction, including time spent as the President of the Maine Chapter. Wood also serves on the Maine Apprenticeship Council. This will be Wood's first term and appointment to the State Workforce Board.