AUBURN — At the December breakfast by the Androscoggin County Chamber of Commerce, two Central Maine Orthopaedics employees were recognized during the graduation exercises of the Androscoggin Leadership Development Institute.

Ambulatory Surgery Center lead Alison Bennett and marketing assistant Will McClaran received diplomas with 20 other local businessmen and women during the 19th annual graduation ceremonies of the program.

The ALDI is a 12-week program designed to enhance leadership abilities through skill building and interactive sessions with experienced leaders. The program motivates aspiring leaders to assume positions of greater responsibility in business, community organizations and government. The September-November program was conducted by professional facilitator Steve Pecukonis, who has designed and run leadership programs all across the state for more than a decade.

McClaran received his bachelor’s degree in sports management from Nichols College, Dudley, Mass., in 2008, and is working toward his master’s degree. Prior to joining CMO, he worked for Canney Communications and has spent time working for the communications departments of both the New Orleans Hornets and the New York Knicks. He has been with CMO since April of 2011, and currently lives in Portland.

Bennett, a surgical scrub technician in CMO’s ASC, received her certificate from the Maine Medical Center’s School of Surgical Technology. She is a member of the Association of Surgical Technologists’ National Honor Society, and worked briefly at that hospital prior to joining CMO in 2007. Before obtaining her certificate, she worked as a medical assistant at Russell Medical Center from 1999-2005. She is a mother of four sons and lives in Auburn with her husband.