TOPSHAM – Norman Gridley, senior project manager at Wright-Pierce architectural firm, was recently named president of the Environmental and Energy Technology Council of Maine.

Gridley had been involved with the organization’s precursor, the Environmental Business Council of Maine, for several years. Supported in part by interim funding from the Maine Technology Institute, the newly-created E2 Tech Council is focused on creating and supporting a network of companies, non-profits, educational institutions and government agencies involved in the energy and environmental technology sector in Maine. Statewide, this sector comprises more than 200 organizations employing over 4,000 people.

Gridley is supported in his efforts by a diverse board of directors and Executive Director John Ferland, who is also the director of the Center for Environmental Enterprise in South Portland, a business incubator focused on creation of jobs in Maine. Together with the board and staff, the E2 Tech Council has recently initiated a range of outreach activities, including bimonthly speaker forums, networking events, briefings with state regulators, and updated Web communications programs. The council is also hosting a briefing by the newly-appointed commissioner of the Maine Department of Environmental Protection, Dawn Gallagher, to be held on June 17 in Portland. The public is invited.

By enhancing connections between organizations in the environmental and energy technology sector, the E2 Tech Council is already helping to create links for promotion of environmental opportunities in Maine.

Selections made for Leadership Maine

AUGUSTA – The Maine Development Foundation has selected the 2003-2004 participants of Leadership Maine.

The class for this 11th year of the program includes: Shannon Banks, vice president, medical affairs, Central Maine Medical Center; William Brillant, human resources director, Schiavi Leasing Corp.; Patrick Costin, partner, Harriman Associates; Michael Grimmer, vice president, Sisters of Charity Health Systems; and Kevin Hancock, president, Hancock Lumber.

Participants were selected based on their concern about the future economic health and quality of life in Maine, a commitment to take actions to shape the future, a demonstrated capacity to lead at the statewide level and a record of accomplishment within their organization and community endeavors.

The program consists of eight events throughout the state. A three-day opening retreat examines each participant’s leadership strengths and weaknesses, explores different leadership models, looks at the dynamics of building a team and reviews the overall goal of the program. Other sessions cover broad themes based on the work of the Maine Economic Growth Council. The closing retreat gives participants an opportunity to present their project findings and complete a personal action plan for moving Maine forward.