AUBURN – Linda Ray has joined Elder Independence of Maine as provider audit coordinator.

Ray holds an R.N. degree, a B.S. in health education and an M.A. in applied physiology. She most recently was school health coordinator at SAD 44. Prior to that, she was the director/practice manager at Bethel Family Health Center for HealthReach Community Health Centers Inc.

Ray lives in West Paris with her husband and daughter.

Elder Independence of Maine is the home care coordination agency for the state of Maine and a division of SeniorsPlus, the designated area agency on aging for Androscoggin, Franklin and Oxford counties.

Governor readies for trip to Quebec

PORTLAND – The Maine International Trade Center and Gov. John Baldacci will lead an economic mission to Quebec City from Feb. 11 to 13.

Business and economic development officials will meet with their counterparts and discuss opportunities for cooperation and collaboration. The mission will coincide with Maine Day on Feb. 14 at the Quebec Winter Carnival, an annual networking event between Maine and Quebec legislators.

Baldacci will kick off the mission by dropping the puck at the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League game between the Lewiston Maineiacs and the Quebec Rempartes at the Central Maine Civic Center in Lewiston on Feb. 11.

Quebec City is the capital of the Canadian province of Quebec, Maine’s second largest trading partner among the 10 provinces. In 2002, Maine exported $334 million to Quebec while importing $462 million. The Quebec City region is a leader in biotechnology, information technology, construction products, metals manufacturing and food processing.

Businesses participating in the economic mission will receive “matchmaking” services. These services, provided by a Quebec-based economic development organization, will offer companies pre-qualified business meetings. Group tours of Quebec educational and research institutions as well as government and transportation facilities are also planned.

Space for the economic mission is extremely limited, and early registration is strongly encouraged, organizers said. The mission fee includes three nights’ accommodations, matchmaking services and several meals. The cost is $1,000 for Trade Center members and $1,200 for nonmembers. For more information, people can visit www.mitc.com or contact Wade Merritt at the center’s Bangor office, (207) 990-3161 or [email protected].