BELFAST — Midcoast Leadership Academy (MLA) has announced the completion of the Academy’s 9th program year. A graduation ceremony was held on June 7 in Belfast.

The organization’s mission is to build a network of informed, committed, and engaged community leaders throughout Knox and Waldo Counties, positively impacting the economic and cultural quality of life in the area by enhancing the professional and personal development of program participants. Guest faculty are drawn from academia, business, government, consulting and the nonprofit sector.

The 9-month community immersion program is designed for existing and emerging adult community leaders, and program participants live and work in Knox and Waldo counties and beyond.

Graduates this year were Erick Anderson, General Manager, Bayview Collection, Camden; Hannah Barrows, Development Officer, Island Institute, Rockland; Mim Bird, local business person and community volunteer, Warren; Jennifer Chipman, Branch Manager, Bangor Savings Bank, Camden; Rebecca Clapp, Head of School, The Riley School, Rockport;

Connie Gardiner, Senior Branch Office Administrator, Edward Jones Investments, Camden; Loring Giles, Insurance Producer, Atlantic Insurance & Benefits, Belfast; Nicole Gogan, AVP, Treasury Mngt Sales Advisory and Government Banking, Camden National Bank, Camden; Abigael Harriam, CMA, Office Coordinator, Waldo County Medical Partners, Belfast;

Brenda Harrington, Adult Services / Adult Programming, Belfast Free Library, Belfast; Phoebe Jekieleck, Program Director, Hurricane Island Foundation and Center for Science and Leadership, Rockland; Audrey Klein-Leach, Vice President, Client Advisory, Camden National Wealth Management, Camden;

Theresa Merithew, Practice Manager, Waldo County General Hospital, Belfast; James Moore, Police Sergeant, Rockport Police Department, Rockport; Molly Mulhern, Retired, Community Volunteer, Camden; Veronica Nickles, Relationship Manager, Bangor Savings Bank, Rockland; Cathy Roberts, President, Pieceworks, Inc., Montville; and Karen Smith, Executive Director, Penobscot Marine Museum, Searsport.

Bangor Savings Bank, Lead Program Sponsor, has been a multi-year supporter of the program’s mission of building relationships that will help create stronger, healthier and more prosperous communities in Maine’s Midcoast.

MLA10 will begin in September and recruiting for the new year is currently underway. More information can be found at MidcoastLeadershipAcademy.org./