Join the Maine Real Estate & Development Association (MEREDA) for breakfast on February 1 from 7:30 AM - 9:00 AM at the Portland Regency Hotel for a presentation by FocusMaine, a 10-year initiative to strengthen and revitalize opportunity and prosperity in Maine by accelerating the creation of quality jobs in the areas of agriculture, aquaculture, and biopharmaceuticals. FocusMaine also focuses on knowledge workers, who enable growth in these sectors and has centered its efforts on traded sectors, which sell goods and services outside of the state, thereby generating more full-time work, higher wages, and more new jobs in the local economy. Importantly, they also work alongside talented partners, including Coastal Enterprises Inc., Gulf of Maine Research Institute, the Maine Aquaculture Association, and the Maine Center for Entrepreneurial Development, and are led by a dedicated leadership team of private sector leaders and others deeply committed to sustainable economic growth in the state. Andrea Cianchette Maker, a partner at Pierce Atwood, and Michael Dubyak, chairman of WEX, Inc., co-chair FocusMaine. Kim Hamilton is the president. About the Event: February 1, 2018 - 7:30AM to 9:00AM Portland Regency Hotel 20 Milk Street Portland, ME Breakfast: 7:30 AM Program: 8:00 - 9:00 AM About the Panel: Andrea Cianchette Maker, Partner and Government Relations Practice Group Leader at Pierce Atwood, LLP provides governmental relations services in Maine and in Washington, DC with Maine's Congressional delegation. She is pleased to be engaged as Public Policy Counsel for MEREDA. Her government relations practice focuses on real estate, economic development, health care, education and workforce development issues. Andrea is adept at building coalitions and developing effective stakeholder relations, as well as helping clients create personal relationships with key policy and decision makers. Her sensible, proactive and direct approach is refreshing and empowering in the complex and sometimes perplexing public policy arena. Committed to creating a strong and vibrant State of Maine, Andrea enjoys working with clients and organizations to strengthen Maine's economy. Andrea has developed strong and personal relationships with countless Maine policy makers, business people and association leaders. She has been active with many Maine non?profit organizations, including her current role as Co-Chair of FocusMaine. Andrea's honors and distinctions include receiving the Crystal Heart Award by the American Heart Association (Maine Chapter) in 2017 as well as being named as one of four "Women to Watch" by Mainebiz and recognized by Maine magazine's "50 Mainers" issue in 2016. Kim Hamilton serves as president of FocusMaine. Prior to this, Kim was Chief Impact Officer at Feeding America, the nation's largest hunger-relief organization. While at Feeding America, she led their research, nutrition, and ending hunger programs. Prior to joining Feeding America, Kim served in a variety of senior roles at Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, including as Director of Strategy, Planning and Management for Global Policy & Advocacy. During her time with the foundation, she also led grant making programs and developed advocacy strategies to advance the foundation's goals in a variety of fields, including, agricultural development, financial services for the poor, and water, sanitation and hygiene (WSH). Kim has also served as President of NetAid, Director of Program Planning and External Relations at the Migration Policy Institute, and in a variety of other organizations in the think tank and philanthropy fields. Kim grew up in North Yarmouth and went to Greely High School. She holds a Ph.D. in Sociology with a focus on Demography from Brown University, an M.A. from Johns Hopkins University for Advanced International Studies, and a B.A. from the Robert D. Clark Honors College of the University of Oregon. Kim and her husband, Barry Fitzsimmons, spend their time between Yarmouth and Chebeague Island. This MEREDA Morning Menu Breakfast Event is Sponsored by Norway Savings Bank and Pierce Atwood. Visit www.mereda.org for more information and to register.