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Updated: 2 hours ago / 2025 40 Under 40 honorees

40 Under 40: Kelsie Bouchard rewards hard work, offering access to resources

Photo / Tim Greenway Kelsie Bouchard, 36: Chief lending and investment officer, Coastal Enterprises Inc.
Kelsie Bouchard, 36 Chief lending and investment officer, Coastal Enterprises Inc. Read about all the 40 Under 40 honorees
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Greatest achievement: Professionally, contributing to CEI’s ongoing impact in Maine, notably, helping drive $36 million in portfolio growth over the past six years. Personally, it’s always a work in progress, but building an aligned and happy life where my work reflects my values and I find joy in the everyday.

Passion project: Home improvement projects and interior design, though 2025 was consumed by wedding planning!

Lightbulb moment: Growing up in a small town in northern Maine, it seemed that all you needed to succeed was grit and a willingness to work hard. But over time — through experiences ranging from a Habitat for Humanity trip to post-Katrina New Orleans to my years on Wall Street — I came to understand that success isn’t just about effort. Structural barriers and unequal access to resources often keep opportunity out of reach. I feel fortunate to be at CEI, an organization that understands this concept and has spent nearly 50 years advancing economic justice — a true example of how a rising tide lifts all boats.

Influential book: “How to Win Friends & Influence People,” by Dale Carnegie

Favorite TV show: “Alone!” It is a hidden gem on the History Channel with a dozen seasons. More people should be watching!

Personal hero: Mainers — those working tirelessly to preserve our heritage industries, those forging new pathways for our future, and everyone in between. (Along with whoever decided we wouldn’t have billboards and that the speed limit on I-95 north of Old Town could be 75 mph!)

Favorite quote: “Nobody wins unless everybody wins.” [Attributed to Bruce Springsteen]

Best way to recharge: I love taking field trips to the beach and woods with my two golden retrievers, Louis and Gus; cruising the blues at Saddleback with my partner, Kate; exercising; playing golf; and making the rounds between Fort Kent (my hometown), the midcoast (where Kate grew up) and southern Maine.

Maine’s biggest challenge: Affordability and food insecurity.

Dinner party guests: Elizabeth Warren, Amy Poehler, Michelle Obama and Billie Jean King. I think we’d laugh a lot.

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