Erica Dostie graduated from the latest class of the Androscoggin Leadership Development Institute in December.
She’s ready to put her new skills to use and, come summer, ready to set sail.
Name: Erica Dostie
Age: 33
Lives: Auburn
Where do you work and what do you do? I’ve been with Austin Associates, P.A. for five-and-a-half years. My current position as the client relationship manager involves both internal and external responsibilities.
Internally, my focus is on the client experience, which includes being the first point of contact for new clients, marketing and advertising, as well as billing and collections. Externally, my priority is to build strong working relationships with clients and develop mutually beneficial social ties with members of our community.
What first attracted you to take part in ALDI? In my position at the firm, on a daily basis I am interacting with colleagues, clients and community members. This program looked like a great opportunity to learn how to better engage with my colleagues, improve my client service skills and set an example for others to do the same.
How much of a commitment was it? We met as a group once a week in the evening for 13 weeks (60 hours). The program is divided into two aspects, the classroom portion and the community panel discussions. Over the course of the program, we discussed topics including personality traits, problem solving and conflict resolution. We learned more about the community and the steps to getting involved. Homework assignments were independent and mostly involved implementing new skills and techniques learned and reporting observations and results back to the group each week.
Three takeaways from the experience:
* Don’t be afraid to fail. Failure is not the opposite of success, it is part of it. Leaders have to constantly evolve to grow; believe in yourself because you can’t let fear keep you from completing your goals.
* Get out of your comfort zone. Become comfortable with taking risks and taking a different path. Enjoy the unknown.
* Generate energy. Decide to be the kind of leader who strives to bring passion and positive energy to everyone around you.
What’s a project or issue you’d like to be a part of in L-A? My passion is in health and wellness, and it has always been my goal to be a part of strengthening our health-care system. A couple years ago, I became a Central Maine Medical Center associate volunteer and have since had the chance to learn more about the health-care system, and medical advances, and network and participate on specific fundraising committees to support the hospital’s long-term goals and endeavors. It’s the perfect way for me to give back to my community.
What do you do as an associate volunteer? As an associate volunteer, I assist the CMMC Development Office staff with fundraising efforts, specifically the Gala Committee and the 125th Time Capsule Committee, attend monthly meetings, provide community/business feedback and help promote other CMMC events.
When not learning how to be a future leader, how do you spend your free time? With friends and family, attending local events, working out and, of course, in the summer months sailing on our beautiful sailboat with my husband, ?Michael Dostie?. We’ve known each other ?since Lewiston Middle School and then reconnected in 2011 at a YPLAA event. We have been together for five years, married for one-and-a-half. We enjoy sailing together in the summer on our 29-foot J-Boat “Black Seal.” Mike had always wanted to own a sailboat, so when he asked me about taking up sailing together, my response was, “Sure, sounds like fun . . . ” It is incredibly fun, a lot of work, but I can’t think of anything else I’d rather be doing in the summer.?
Any dream sailing destinations? St. Maarten — sunsets at the end of any sailing adventure are my favorite part of sailing and I’ve heard there is no sunset like a St. Maarten sunset!
Last book recommended to a friend: “Who Moved My Cheese?” by Spencer Johnson, M.D. If you haven’t read this book, you must!
Current album/artist/song you can’t get enough of: Adele — Adele anything! Her lyrics are heartfelt and I love her voice. It’s unique and powerful.
Most looking forward to in 2017? Everything! Each year brings exciting surprises, different milestones and new challenges.
kskelton@sunjournal.com
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