Processing Your Payment

Please do not leave this page until complete. This can take a few moments.

December 19, 2014

Community Concepts mum on CEO's departure

Community Concepts Inc., a Lewiston-based social services agency that provides small business loans, is not saying why CEO Mike Burke stepped down on Wednesday after serving the organization for 32 years.

The Lewiston Sun Journal reported that Cathy Kidman, a organizational and leadership consultant, will serve as interim CEO while a search is held for a permanent replacement, according to Mike Carey, the incoming chairman of the organization’s board of directors. The newspaper said Carey declined to comment on Burke’s departure.

"The organization has appointed an external executive to serve as interim CEO as the search for a permanent CEO is undertaken,” Carey said in a written statement. “From a strong financial position and successful programming, Community Concepts will continue to focus on its mission of providing services to communities in Western Maine."

As previously reported by Mainebiz, Community Concepts is one of many nonprofit lending organizations in Maine and in the United States that make small, risky loans to smaller enterprises that often don’t qualify for loans from traditional banks. Organizations like Community Concepts have been credited with providing a critical function for regions lacking big businesses that contribute to a prosperous economy.

Read more

Growth Council, redux | An economic development shakeup in Oxford Hills tries to stem the bad blood and get back to business

A little money | As banks rein in lending, microloans are alive and well in Oxford County

Sign up for Enews

Comments

Order a PDF