AUBURN – It might have been only a brief introduction, but some local business leaders made important connections with Maine’s top government officials Monday afternoon.

Gov. John E. Baldacci and his Cabinet members took about two hours out of their two-day retreat at the Hilton Garden Inn for a reception sponsored by the Lewiston-Auburn Economic Growth Council and the Androscoggin County Chamber of Commerce. They talked informally with presidents, CEOs and other officials of numerous local businesses.

Kathie M. Leonard, president and CEO of Auburn Manufacturing Inc., was particularly impressed by the opportunity to network with just about all the people at top levels of state government.

“I told the governor I feel so fortunate to live in a state where I can come to a reception like this and meet the people who can make things happen,” she said.

Leonard, who is vice chair of the Lewiston-Auburn Economic Growth Council, said, “I came here expressly today because I had been out of town all last week at a national insulation association conference and we’re trying very hard at that level to connect with state and industry officials about energy efficiency. We struggle at the national level to try to connect with various offices.”

She said she had a first-time conversation at the reception with Jack Cashman, commissioner of the Maine Department of Economic and Community Development, and she talked with Beth Nagusky, state energy director.

She said Nagusky was excited to learn what her company is doing through the insulation association. Leonard is hoping it could all lead to a Maine-based demonstration project related to the value of insulation in terms of energy efficiency.

The 25-year-old company, which is now located in Mechanic Falls, is a leading developer, manufacturer and marketer of specialty textile products for hundreds of extreme-temperature industrial applications throughout the world.

“We might be able to find something right here in the state of Maine just by coming to this function and making that contact,” she said.

Baldacci said L-A is “an aggressive place that focuses on the people and focuses on development.” He made a point of talking about Auburn Manufacturing Inc. and Leonard’s experience.

“She’s very busy running a manufacturing business and she doesn’t have much time to get to visit and talk with people in Augusta or Washington,” he told the roomful of business leaders. He said the Auburn reception “affords the business community an opportunity to interact directly and build up a relationship.”

“I wanted to show off Lewiston and Auburn,” he told the business and political leaders at the reception. “What I wanted the Cabinet to see is communities that work together, a region that is a strong economic engine in our state that is producing more jobs and more income, and frankly, doing better per capita than other regions of the state.”

He added, “I wanted the Cabinet to see you folks in person. I wanted them to be able to put a personal face on it so when they go out around the state they can talk about what you’re doing in Lewiston-Auburn and the impact this makes when you can work together.”