Women We Admire is pleased to announce The Top 50 Women Leaders of Maine for 2023. Despite holding the position as the least densely populated state in New England, Maine has no shortage of notable women leaders. Its diverse economy, including the tourism, forestry, and agriculture industries, as well as a thriving technology sector, points to the state’s history of resilience and innovation. Many of this year’s awardees are leading some of Maine’s largest entities including L.L.Bean, IDEXX, and Central Maine Healthcare. Their unwavering commitment to leadership has been a driving force behind the success and growth of the organizations they serve.
Among this year’s awardees is Heather Higgins, the Executive Director of IBM and a seasoned leader with over 30 years of tenure, who leads a global quantum team that is driving enterprise adoption of quantum technology. Awardee Margaret Angell, Head of Partnerships and Strategic Initiatives at the Roux Institute of Northeastern University, spearheads the development of strategic relationships with Maine businesses, academic institutions, community groups, and government partners to foster exceptional economic opportunities across the state.
Also awarded is Kris Chaisson, Vice President of Nursing and Patient Care Services at Central Maine Medical Center, who oversees nursing operations in acute care, emergency, perioperative services, laboratory services, and LifeFlight, bringing her experience from various roles since joining the center in 2016.
Please join us in celebrating the accomplishments of The Top 50 Women Leaders of Maine for 2023.
2. Rebecca Talley
Chief of Staff to AM CEO & VP of Sales Transformation & Operations, NTT
Rebecca Talley is the Chief of Staff to the AM CEO and VP of Sales Transformation & Operations of NTT. She first joined the company in 2021. NTT is a leading global technology company providing services to consumers and businesses as a mobile operator, infrastructure, network, application, and consulting provider. Talley is a results-oriented and accomplished business leader with over 20 years of go-to-market operations experience. She has had success building and leading hyper-growth and mature businesses with a proven track record in multiple disciplines including sales strategy, business management, merger integration, auditing, sales resource optimization, business operations, marketing & sales operations. Known for being execution oriented and analytical, she has a strong servant leadership style with a desire to collaborate and create world-class teams executing on go-to-market strategy and vision.
Previously, Talley was an assistant VP of internal audit at Wells Fargo and before that, a senior auditor at Grant Thornton LLP. She earned an undergraduate degree in accounting from Providence College.
3. Kierston Van Soest
Chief Financial Officer, L.L.Bean
Kierston Van Soest is the Chief Financial Officer of L.L.Bean. She first joined the company in 2002 serving as a senior vice president of finance. L.L.Bean, Inc. is a leading multi-channel merchant of quality outdoor gear and apparel. Founded in 1912 by Leon Leonwood Bean, the company began as a one-room operation selling a single product, the Maine Hunting Shoe.
Prior to joining L.L.Bean, Kierston served as a director of financial control and analysis for Time Inc. and before that as a manager for Arthur Anderson. She earned an undergraduate degree in accounting from Lehigh University. In addition to her work with L.L.Bean, Kierston serves as a director for the United Way of Southern Maine, as a council member for the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston, and as a director for the Portland Development Corporation.
6. Katherine Rolfe
Chief Claims Officer, Keystone Insurers Group
Katherine Rolfe is the Chief Claims Officer of Keystone Insurers Group. As a senior-level insurance executive, she has broad expertise across commercial and personal insurance claims, pre-trial authority resolution, and litigation management at leading insurance companies. Optimizing claims operations and customer experiences while minimizing exposure is her top priority. She thrives on leading teams in the evaluation, planning, investigation, and resolution of complex cases.
Rolfe is passionate about leading, coaching, and mentoring staff to achieve their full potential. She is equally passionate about creating efficiencies to ensure the highest levels of customer service and client satisfaction. Driven to lead with integrity and add value, she leverages her knowledge and skills in a dynamic and growing organization.
Before joining Keystone Insurers Group, Rolfe was a vice president of claims at Acadia Insurance and before that, a director of home office claims quality audit at The Hanover Insurance Group. She graduated from Husson University with an MBA in risk management, from the University of Southern Maine with a master's degree, and from Castleton University with an undergraduate degree.
7. Margaret Angell
Head of Partnerships & Strategic Initiatives, The Roux Institute, Northeastern University
Margaret Angell is the head of partnerships and strategic initiatives at the Roux Institute. As a member of the institute’s founding leadership team, she leads strategic relationship development with Maine businesses, academic institutions, community groups, and government partners with the mission to create extraordinary economic opportunities throughout Maine. In addition to her work at the Roux Institute, Angell currently serves as a member of the board of trustees of the Maine Community College System.
Prior to joining the Roux Institute, Angell served as the deputy director of the Institute for Digital Engineering and Life Sciences (IDEALS), where she focused on bringing a new, world-class graduate school to Portland. She has also held positions at the District of Columbia Public Schools and Boston Public Schools, is a graduate of the Broad Residency in Urban Education, and served as a White House Fellow. Angell has an MBA from Columbia Business School, an MPA from Harvard’s Kennedy School, and an undergraduate degree in economics from Harvard University.
8. Molly Slotznick
Chief Operating Officer, Office of MaineCare Services, Maine Department of Health and Human Services
Molly Slotznick is the Chief Operating Officer in the Office of MaineCare Services of the Maine Department of Health and Human Services. In her role, Molly oversees operations, compliance, provider services, contract management, change management, and care coordination. This includes the relationship with the fiscal agent for MaineCare (Maine’s Medicaid program), which provides health care coverage to 390,000 Maine residents, works with a network of more than 6,000 provider professionals, and operates a >$3B medical assistance budget and >$130M administrative budget.
Before joining the Maine Department of Health and Human Services, Slotznick was a strategy and operations senior consultant for state and local government at Deloitte Consulting, and before that, a food justice and go! chefs facilitator at Children's Aid Society. Earlier in her career, she worked with the World Food Programme as a regional public information assistant. Slotznick graduated from Columbia with an MPA in development practice and from Princeton University with an undergraduate degree.
9. Janette Kirk
Chief of Federal Programs, State of Maine
Janette Kirk is the Chief of Federal Programs for the State of Maine. She first joined the organization in 2014 as ESEA director. Kirk is an international early childhood educator continuing her passion in the field of education through the oversight and implementation of the Title I program in the State of Maine. The purpose of Title I is to ensure that all children have a fair, equal, and significant opportunity to obtain a high-quality education and reach, at a minimum, proficiency on challenging State academic achievement standards and state academic assessments.
Kris has volunteered as a team manager at the Pharma Hockey Association and as a fundraising chairperson at the Skating Association of Maine, where she had to coordinate fundraising initiatives for the hockey steering committee within the Skating Association of Maine.
Previously, she was a program specialist for outreach ministries at the Salvation Army. Kirk earned a master's degree in education from Cleveland State University and an undergraduate degree in primary education from Liverpool John Moores University.
10. Christina Barss
Chief Transformation Officer, Problem Solutions
Dr. Christina Barss, an accomplished executive, educator, and researcher, excels in Human-Centered AI Transformation, Organizational Change, and Design Thinking. With a deep understanding of Improvement Sciences, she has led transformative initiatives across healthcare, manufacturing, and education, emphasizing employee empowerment and adaptability in the face of change.
Notably, Dr. Barss was instrumental in redefining healthcare delivery at Cleveland Clinic, emphasizing patient-centered care as one of the first Lean/Six Sigma industrial engineers. Her tenure at Hitchiner Manufacturing demonstrated her adeptness in operational excellence and innovation in the metallurgy field.
Dr. Barss obtained her PhD in Organizational Development and Sustainable Systems Design from Case Western Reserve University. She holds a Master of Education, Instructional Design Technology, a Master of Science, Strategic Leadership, and a postgraduate certificate in Applied Positive Psychology.
As a speaker at various industry events and webinars, Dr. Barss shares her insights on strategic organizational development and the nuances of integrating AI and human-centric approaches, ensuring technology serves to enhance and uplift human potential.
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11. Nichole Kelley-Sirois
Compensation Executive Director, Wells Fargo
Nichole Kelley-Sirois is a Compensation Executive Director for Wells Fargo. As a dedicated and results-driven Total Rewards, Compensation, and Risk executive, she brings a unique blend of collaboration, leadership, and expert strategy to the table. Her career has been defined by a commitment to making impactful decisions and fostering a culture of action and accountability.
With a 25-plus-year track record of success in building forward-thinking total rewards strategies, Kelley-Sirois has led and influenced large, complex, and globally distributed organizations. She has successfully balanced the needs of diverse employee groups, from corporate to front-line teams. Her approach is grounded in confidentiality and diplomacy, which has allowed her to build trust and partnerships across all levels of an organization.
Kelley-Sirois has previously served at Bank of America in a variety of executive roles. She earned her undergraduate degree in civil engineering from the University of Maine.
16. Kristie Demarco
Global Head of AML Operations, TD
Kristie Demarco began her professional career 25 years ago. Today, she is the Global Head of AML Operations at TD. TD is the sixth-largest bank in North America by branches and serves approximately 22 million customers in several locations in key financial centers around the globe. Over 85,000 TD employees represent the strongest team in banking.
Demarco is a self-motivated, analytical problem solver with a 25+ year record of achievement and demonstrated leadership. She has also succeeded in delivering multimillion-dollar initiatives while providing comprehensive leadership to large and diverse teams. Demarco is an excellent mentor and coach and also has an exceptional ability to forge strong relationships with internal and external business partners. She graduated from Cornell University with an undergraduate degree in hotel/motel administration/management.
17. Patricia Laughren
Vice President of Operations, Value-Based Strategies, Humana
Patricia Laughren began her professional career 29 years ago. Today, she is the Vice President of Operations, Value-Based Strategies, at Humana. The mission of Humana's Value-Based Strategies Department is to develop and deploy best practices and capabilities that assist their customers in creating successful value-based provider relationships with a focus on improving the provider experience and advancing value-based health care. Laughren is an executive-level leader with extensive experience in managed care network development, pay-for-performance reimbursement models, risk contracting, and digital population health management applications. She has proven expertise in the design and implementation of shared and full-risk accountable care networks.
Laughren first got her start in 1994 as a network manager at Aetna US Healthcare. From there, she went on to United Healthcare. Laughren graduated from Babson College with an undergraduate degree in finance and investments.
18. Robin Hodgskin
Senior Vice President, Family Wealth Director & Financial Advisor, Morgan Stanley
Robin Hodgskin is a Senior Vice President and Family Wealth Director with Morgan Stanley. She has spent over 30 years as a financial advisor including 13 years as a branch manager. She has worked with clients to align their investments with their values to help with achieve financial goals and dreams.
Robin has developed her credentials including, Certified Financial Planner (CFP® ), Investing with Impact Director (IWID), and Financial Planning Specialist. She has also been awarded Forbes 2023 Top Women Advisors and Forbes Best-In-State Wealth Management Teams.
19. Kirsten Ismail
Senior Vice President of Wealth Management, UBS
Kirsten is a Senior Vice President and Financial Advisor with Argosy Wealth Management at UBS Financial Services. She began her career in the securities industry in 1995 with Merrill Lynch before joining Smith Barney in 1997. In 2009, she joined UBS Financial Services in Boston and last year joined the Argosy Wealth Management team located in her home state of Maine.
Kirsten works primarily with corporate executives and busy families to develop, implement, and monitor a financial plan reflective of their priorities and unique situations. Kirsten prides herself on her attention to detail and ability to listen carefully to her clients' needs. She believes that money touches every part of our lives. Therefore, it is essential to have a financial plan that adapts to the ever-changing world of finance and can adapt and evolve with each family's financial life needs, wants, and wishes. She believes successful financial planning is created and cultivated through continuous evaluation and good communication, and she pledges a lifelong dedication to helping her clients explore and realize their financial goals.
Kirsten obtained her CFP® certification in June of 2011. She is FINRA Series 7, 63 & 65 licensed. She also maintains her life insurance and variable annuity licenses in several states CA license # 0D89459. Kirsten is a cum laude graduate of the University of Maine in Orono.
Kirsten has been actively involved with the Financial Planning Association® for nearly 10 years. She served as the Chair for the FPA's Retreat Conference in 2019. Kirsten is actively engaged in her community. She currently serves as Secretary on the Board of Trustees of John Bapst Memorial High School. She also sits on the investment committee for the Bangor YMCA. She previously served as the Chair of the Steering Committee for the Bangor Region Leadership Institute and is a graduate of the Class of 2013.
21. Heather Higgins
Executive Director, IBM
Heather Higgins is a growth-minded entrepreneur and inspirational executive at IBM. She has served in global leadership roles during her 30-year tenure with a consistent focus on empowering C-Suite executives to capture business value through emerging technologies.
Today, Heather leads a world-class team of global IBM research scientists, industry domain and technical quantum experts working with pioneering enterprises who are preparing their organizations to capture business value with the arrival of quantum computing – a revolutionary computing paradigm that harnesses the laws of quantum mechanics to solve business and societal problems that are too complex for today's classical computers.
As quantum computing technology matures, the market is starting to expand from a research-centric era of discovery to a utility-centric era with a growing number of enterprise industry leaders around the world collaborating with IBM to design and develop industry workflows and applications of quantum to capture business utility. As a business thought leader within IBM Quantum, Heather is uniquely qualified to explain to C-Suite executives why the technology matters using real-world examples, to provide insight on the path to value associated with the technology, and to define skill gaps to be addressed across the global workforce.
While she is well known as a results-driven business leader who helps commercial clients advance their transformation agenda, she is equally passionate about giving back to her community and enjoys collaborating with local industry, academic, and government leaders across Maine to innovate and prepare the workforce of the future. In her spare time, she enjoys traveling with her husband and spending time with her 5 children who are scattered across the United States in Alaska, Florida, Louisiana, Maine, and Massachusetts.
Heather is a proud alumni of Northeastern University in Boston Massachusetts where she earned an undergraduate degree in International Business Management and Management Information Systems.
22. Lydia Sy
Managing Director, Manpower Group
Lydia Sy is the Managing Director at Manpower, with responsibility for the operations of the Mid-Coast and Central Maine branches, including Augusta, Auburn, and Rockland. A 30-year veteran of the staffing industry, Lydia has a broad knowledge of human resources, including recruiting, staffing, workforce development, safety, training, management, and sales. Prior to joining Manpower, she was a small business owner in Central Maine and worked extensively in the restaurant industry.
Sy served as Chair of the Coastal Counties Workforce Investment Board, Past President of the Midcoast Human Resource Association, and is the current Director for the SHRM Maine State Council. In these roles as well as her position at Manpower, she works closely with small businesses and large corporations to develop workforce solutions and partnerships that effectively connect people to work.
Sy is a member of the Kennebec Valley Human Resource Association and a member of the Mid-Maine and Kennebec Valley Chambers. She has done volunteer work with JMG, Work Ready, and various youth and community agencies. Sy holds an undergraduate degree in business administration from Thomas College and resides in Waterville with her family.
28. Lory Davis
Vice President & Head of Organizational Effectiveness, Prudential Financial
Lory Davis is a Vice President and Head of Organizational Effectiveness at Prudential Financial. She is a highly motivated, tenacious, and detail-oriented senior talent and OE professional with over 15 years of experience as a relationship manager, project manager, program designer, and respected leader. Lory is passionate about building a diverse talent and leadership pipeline at all levels. She is highly skilled at establishing, partnering, and cultivating relationships one-on-one, with mid-level and senior leaders as well as mid-level and executive teams and groups around a broad range of issues. She effectively creates alliances with clients, colleagues, and human resources business partners to provide high-end, value-added solutions that directly address business requirements and organizational effectiveness
Before joining Prudential Financial, Davis was a principal in OD consulting and talent development at L&D Consulting, and before that, a head of learning and development at Deutsche Bank. Earlier in her career, she worked with Citi as a training manager for institutional client training programs. Davis graduated from the University of Maryland with an undergraduate degree in psychology.
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29. Sharon Underberg
Executive Vice President, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary, IDEXX
Sharon Underberg embarked on a transformative journey with IDEXX Laboratories, Inc. in February 2019 as General Counsel and Corporate Secretary. Her strategic mindset resulted in her swiftly ascending the ranks by being elected as Executive Vice President in February 2022. In her role as General Counsel and Corporate Secretary, Underberg spearheads IDEXX’s global legal, compliance, and corporate governance functions. Prior to joining IDEXX, she dedicated 3 decades of her illustrious career to Eastman Kodak Company in Rochester, NY. There, she served as General Counsel, Secretary, and Senior Vice President, unsurprisingly leaving an indelible mark on the company’s legal landscape. Additionally, she extends her influence as a director of the United Way of Southern Maine.
Underberg started her legal career in private practice in New York City, the place of her birth and upbringing. She received an undergraduate degree in political science from Brandeis University and a JD from the University of Pennsylvania School of Law. Beyond the legal realm, she is the proud parent of two children and shares her life’s journey with her husband in the vibrant city of Portland. In her spare time, Underberg enjoys spending time with her family, traveling, and exploring the fantastic Portland food scene.
31. Nadine Weinberg
Partner & Global Technical Community Director, ERM
Nadine Weinberg is a Partner with ERM. Over her 25+ year career, Nadine has focused on working with chemical, manufacturing, and aerospace companies to solve their most challenging issues related to human health risk assessment, vapor intrusion, and emerging chemicals. Nadine has provided expert witness support for several vapor intrusion cases. Most recently, she co-authored the book Emerging Contaminants: Anticipating Developments.
Throughout her career, Nadine has been dedicated to technical excellence and ongoing learning. She extends this excitement to working with new staff. Over her career, Nadine has managed a department of risk assessors and managed staff at various career levels. She is currently actively involved in a Women's Employee Resource Group and mentors junior staff to help support their careers.
33. Jennifer Deburro
Vice President of Student Affairs and Dean of Students, University of New England
Jennifer Deburro serves as the Vice President of Student Affairs and Dean of Students at the University of New England. She initially joined the company in 2005 as the coordinator of campus life and activities. The University of New England is Maine’s largest private university, an innovative educational community with two distinctive coastal Maine campuses, a vibrant new campus in Tangier, Morocco, and a robust offering of degree and certificate programs online.
Before her current role, Deburro held positions of increasing responsibility in the academic realm. She was an area coordinator at Merrimack College and, preceding that, a reach-out center director at Assumption College. Deburro has earned her EdD in educational leadership and administration from the University of New England, reflecting her commitment to advancing in the field. Additionally, she holds an MEd in higher education administration from Suffolk University and received her undergraduate degree in sociology from Assumption University.
Deburro is fiercely passionate about providing social and educationally rich opportunities to holistically support the development of emerging adults on the college campus. Demonstrating unparalleled efficiency in multitasking, delegation, and the professional development of student affairs professionals, she has been an invited speaker and conference presenter on diverse topics such as generational differences in the workplace, change management, imposter syndrome, and leading from the middle. As a proud member of NASPA, Student Affairs Leaders in Higher Education, she has contributed to the organization in various capacities, including the role of National Volunteer Coordinator and, most recently, as the Regional Director from 2018 to 2020. Deburro finds genuine joy in mentoring graduate students and professionals in the field, as she relishes the opportunity to effect transformational change in the lives of college-going students.
36. Michelle Pasquerillo
Vice President and Head of Bank Channel Strategy, Bottomline
Michelle Pasquerillo is the Vice President and Head of Bank Channel Strategy at Bottomline. She first joined the company in 2009 as a customer support and risk manager. In her role, Michelle partners with financial institutions to provide their clients with a suite of payables solutions that assist organizations with achieving their automation and financial goals, while reducing fraud exposure.
Previously, Pasquerillo was a client fulfillment manager at Bank of America and, before that, a teleservices manager at MBNA/Bank of America. Pasquerillo earned an undergraduate degree in business administration and management from the University of Southern Maine.
38. Leah Polcar
Senior Director of Emerging Opportunities, Healthcare Economics Product Analytics, Optum
Leah Polcar is a Senior Director of Emerging Opportunities at Optum. She is an analytics subject matter expert and leader with extensive experience in advanced analytics, applied statistics (biostatistics) and methodology, data science, process/operations improvement, strategic thinking, critical thinking, and communication skills. Optum, part of the UnitedHealth Group family of businesses, is powering modern health care by connecting and serving the whole health system across 150 countries. They combine cutting-edge technology, the world’s largest healthcare database, and vast expertise to improve healthcare delivery, quality, and efficiency. Polcar has 21 years of experience. She began her career in 2002.
Before joining Optum, Polcar was a director of medical analytics at Magellan Health and, before that, a senior operations analyst at Arbitron. Earlier in her career, she worked at the University of Amsterdam as an associate professor. Polcar graduated from the University of Arizona with a PhD in communication and cognitive science and from Loyola University Chicago with an undergraduate degree in English.
40. Kivalena Starr
Senior Director & US Firmwide Communications Leader, PwC
Kivalena Starr began her professional career 18 years ago. Today, she is the Senior Director and US Firmwide Communications Leader of PwC. Kiva's career has been spent at the intersection of purpose & business strategy, focused on elevating the impact and driving the reputation of purpose-led organizations.
At PwC, Kiva sits on the Communications Leadership team and is responsible for promoting and protecting the reputation of the firm. This includes leading all firmwide communications, internal & external comms for the talent acquisition function, as well as the firm's commitment to purpose, societal equity, DEI, climate & sustainability, and CEO Action for Diversity & Inclusion. This also includes the leadership and oversight of 18 direct reports.
Kiva has extensive integrated marketing communications experience and a proven track record in global brand building, purpose-led communications, campaign development, stakeholder engagement, ESG reporting, and issues management. Throughout her 15+ years on the agency side, Kiva advised a variety of Fortune 100 executives on the development and execution of award winning US and global purpose-led marketing and communications campaigns. Her past clients include PayPal, UPS, Visa Inc., Deloitte, Procter & Gamble, The Kellogg Company, Honda Motor Company, The Walt Disney Company, and many others.
41. Michelle Trudo
Senior Director of Product Design, ServiceNow
Michelle Trudo is a mindful executive leader who advocates for a human-centered approach to designing and building products for complex workflows. Notably, she believes in creating a human-centered culture through mindsets, behaviors, and education. She is a true advocate for focusing on humans with true empathy and being an active listener. A firm believer in qualitative data and user insights, Trudo is well recognized for creating meaningful products and services in collaboration with design leadership and business leaders.
Trudo brings a wealth of experience to the table, having worked with enterprise organizations on their digital and design transformation journey by tackling all the top organizational challenges: education and training, building diverse teams, scaling skills and education, ethical practices, and processes at scale. Adding to her impressive portfolio, she has spent over 14 years as an assistant professor, contributing her extensive knowledge and insights to colleges and universities across the country.
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42. Kaitlin Dumont
Director of Workforce Learning Innovation, Kaplan
Kaitlin Dumont’s expertise lies at the intersection of higher education and workforce learning. Currently, in her role as head of workforce learning innovation at Kaplan, she partners with an ecosystem of stakeholders ranging from senior university leaders to corporate learning executives and state government officials. Her focus is on scaling Kaplan’s impact at this strategic nexus, particularly in areas such as work-based learning, career readiness, and integrated credential degrees, known as Credegrees. Dumont has been featured in several publications, including Inside Higher Ed and Education Technology Insights. She recently took center stage as a speaker and member of the host committee at StartEd’s 2023 EdTech Week in New York City, further solidifying her influential presence in the education technology landscape.
Prior to joining Kaplan, Dumont played an instrumental role in shaping executive development programs at 2 of the most prestigious institutions: the Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth College and Harvard Business School. As an advisor, she worked closely with C-Suite executives and Fortune 500 corporations, offering strategic guidance on learning and development priorities. Crucially, she led the charge in curating flagship portfolios of residential executive programs and spearheaded the launch of innovative online initiatives, ensuring the delivery of top-notch learning experiences. Dumont completed her undergraduate studies at Tufts University and holds an MBA from the Questrom School of Business at Boston University, as well as an Instructional Designer Certificate from the Online Learning Consortium. She currently lives in Lewiston, Maine, where she shares her life with her husband and two children.
44. Susan Baker
Senior Director, Global Product Readiness Program Management, Salesforce
Susan Baker is the Senior Director of the Global Product Readiness Program Management at Salesforce. She is an emerging expert in Cloud technology and innovation, dedicated to enhancing customer experiences and empowering stakeholders to think creatively. She advocates for customer satisfaction daily, encouraging innovative approaches that optimize experiences while keeping a sharp focus on cost efficiency. With extensive expertise in digital engagement, product adoption, go-to-market strategies, operations, and digital transformation, Susan serves as a visionary catalyst for enduring change. She empowers customer delivery and product teams through data-driven insights, driving impactful transformations. She’s a relentless advocate for continuous improvement, reshaping challenges into viable and profitable solutions. Susan’s exceptional acumen enables her to push the boundaries of what's achievable, constantly redefining what's possible.
Before joining Salesforce, Baker was a manager of the growth and optimization team at Demandware, a Salesforce company, and before that, a web content production manager at L.L. Bean. She graduated from the University of Maine with an undergraduate degree in business administration.
46. Kathryn Connolly
Director, Service Excellence | Human Resources at WEX, WEX Inc.
Kathryn Connolly is a leader in the Global Talent Development Team at WEX, supporting the operational learning strategy for the Global Service Organization. As part of the Human Resources Organization, she leads the learning team that champions the sharing of knowledge and information throughout the organization. Connolly’s role involves creating and disseminating information to ensure the seamless exchange of the organization's skills and experiences among all members. In essence, she is the architect behind strategies that harmonize learning activities with business objectives and strategic initiatives.
Connolly believes that the bedrock principles of knowledge sharing and aligning learning with strategy are essential in catalyzing cultural change, improving performance, and providing world-class learning solutions to gain competitive advantages.
Connolly’s educational journey reflects her commitment to excellence, holding a master of arts in adult education and instructional design from the University of Phoenix, an undergraduate degree in applied technical leadership from the University of Maine, and an associate of science in hotel restaurant management from Endicott College. Furthermore, Connolly is a lifelong learner and has received a Chief Learning Officer Certification from George Mason University as well as a Project Management Certification from the University of New England early in her career.
49. Martha Lloyd
Senior Director of Human Resources Business Partnerships & Employee Relations, Elanco
Martha Lloyd is the Senior Director of Human Resources, Business Partnerships, and Employee Relations at Elanco. She first joined the company in 2015 as a senior associate in HR. Elanco works to improve the health of animals through innovative products and services for pets and farm animals around the world. As a global animal health company, they provide solutions that empower their customers to advance a vision of food and companionship enriching life. Since 1954, Elanco has committed to empowering veterinarians, farmers, and all those who care for animals with the tools they need to help animals live healthy lives.
Previously, Lloyd was a human resources specialist at Lohmann Animal Health and, before that, a branch office administrator at Edward Jones. Lloyd earned an MBA from Thomas College and an undergraduate degree in photography from the University of Oregon.
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