RUMFORD — Female leaders of the River Valley convened a special forum at the Black Mountain Ski Resort on June 22 to address how local assets can help achieve economic prosperity.

On hand at the empowerment event was Ann LePage, wife of Gov. Paul LePage.

More than 80 local businesses, governments and nonprofit community service organizations were represented at the event, which was organized by Selectman Jolene Lovejoy; Linda Walbridge, president of the Western Maine Economic Development Council; and Suzanne Grover, president of Grover Gundrilling.

David Winsor, a radio announcer/personality with 99.7 “The Wolf” radio station, served as emcee.

The forum began with a welcome speech by Town Manager Carlo Puiia. He expressed his support and recognition “for the pivotal role women have in making progress and achieving success.”

Puiia stressed the theme of the forum in his welcome — the need for collective action to achieve economic success — by saying, “Individually, we expose our weaknesses; yet collectively, we display our strengths.”

He closed his welcome by saying, “I would like to present to you Maine’s first lady, Ann LePage, with this symbolic key to the city of Rumford.”

One by one, forum attendees spoke of the many assets of the River Valley that can facilitate business success.

Ann Morin, a local bed and breakfast owner with significant experience in leadership in the health care industry, trumpeted the tremendous work force in the River Valley as well as the extraordinary natural recreational assets that serve as a magnet to bring people to the region for vacation and work.

“We need to engage in forward thinking to keep businesses in Maine,” Morin said, “and to keep the young people and their brain power in the area. We have to nurture our assets and people.”

State Rep. Sheryl Briggs, D-Mexico, said, “I hope this meeting proves to be the spark to ignite full business prosperity in the River Valley.”

Maine’s first lady said at the conclusion of Wednesday’s forum, “I am impressed with the sense of community and energy I see here.”

She was presented with a giant pizza pan from Mexico’s Pizza Hut, which provided food for the event, signed by nearly all of the forum attendees.

“We certainly hope that she goes back to Augusta and tells her husband about the tremendous business potential and assets that are here in the River Valley,” co-organizer Walbridge said.

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