The 'Great Resignation' was more than an idle phrase in Maine in 2021

Side by side portrait photos of Patricia Weigel and Dan Walsh

Photos / Tim Greenway and Courtesy, Norway Savings Bank Norway Savings Bank President and CEO Patricia Weigel was among the most recent top execs to retire in 2021. Dan Walsh took over her role as president and CEO.

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By Peter Van Allen

In 2021, the so-called Great Resignation was more than idle chatter in Maine.

In addition to scores of lateral moves and everyday job changes, Maine saw a wave of retirements from top management positions at private sector companies, public-private ventures and nonprofits.

Those retirements — many by people with vast experience and plenty of gas left in the tank for other ventures — were generally chalked up to being the right timing.

Were they driven by the pandemic? At least in the case of these moves, the retirements were not cast that way. In many cases, the person stepping down indicated there were other things they wanted to accomplish.

Here’s an overview (and apologies for any we missed).

Pat Weigel retired this week as president and CEO of Norway Savings. She is a 20-year veteran of Norway Savings. She was the bank’s sole woman to serve as the top executive, and was one of the few women to lead Maine banks. Weigel remains the board chair. Her successor as president and CEO is Dan Walsh. On LinkedIn this week, Weigel wrote: “Many thanks for the well wishes and kind words! I'm excited to start my retirement chapter, but will certainly miss the many people whose professional lives intersected with my own, and greatly contributed to a very fulfilling career!”

Photo / Tim Greenway

Steve Levesque was instrumental in the redevelopment of the former Brunswick Naval Air Station, now Brunswick Landing.

Steve Levesque, who as director of Midcoast Regional Redevelopment Authority led the transformation of Brunswick Landing from a Navy air base to a business park, stepped down this month. He will be succeeded by Kristine Logan, deputy director of innovation and director of TechPlace.

John Burns retired last summer as director of the Maine Venture Fund, a key part of Maine’s financing infrastructure for startups, said he planned to travel with his family. He was replaced by Joe Powers, who has been with the fund for more than two years.

Steve Rowe, president and CEO of the Maine Community Foundation, announced his retirement last January. He was replaced on an interim basis by Sterling Speirn, a seasoned foundation executive.

Mark Vogelzang retired as CEO of Maine Public in July. He set up a consulting practice, traveled the country in a camper and, as a widower, found a new lady friend. He was succeeded at Maine Public by a longtime public broadcasting executive, Rick Schneider.

Bruce Wagner retired in February after a seven-year run as leader of the Finance Authority of Maine. He was replaced on an interim basis by Carlos Mello, FAME's chief risk officer. A search process is being led by FAME’s board of directors. A successor will be named by Gov. Janet Mills, subject to legislative confirmation.

Rich Petersen, president of MaineHealth and CEO of Maine Medical Center, delayed his retirement but is now due to step down at year’s end. The executive suite has seen some changes, with other executives shifting roles, a spokesman told Mainebiz. (Andy Mueller is CEO of Maine Health and Jeff Sanders is president of Maine Medical Center.)

Greg Paxton retired in June as executive director of Maine Preservation after 13 years. He was replaced by Tara Kelly, a New York City nonprofit leader who moved to Maine.

Kent Peterson retired after nearly two decades as CEO of Yokogawa Fluid Imaging Technologies in June, a year after successfully leading the sale of Fluid Imaging to Yokogawa Electric Corp. of Japan. Chris Sieracki, who founded Fluid Imaging in 1999, also retired.

Tony Cipillone, president and CEO of the Gorman Foundation for more than a decade, said this month he'll step down Feb. 1, 2022. The foundation's chief program officer, Nicole Witherbee, will succeed Cipollone,

Tim Glidden, who helped lead a $130 million capital campaign and led the Maine Coast Heritage Trust for a decade, retired this week. Kate Stookey, a Blue Hill native who has led community partnerships and nonprofits, was named president and CEO.

Cindy Williams, an anchor at NewsCenter Maine, retired this month after 32 years in the business.

Meg Baxter, who served as president of the Mitchell Institute for 10 years, will retire, effective Jan. 1. She will be replaced by Jared Cash.

Donna Brassard, who had been publisher of Mainebiz for more than two decades and embodied the term "fearless leader," retired in March. Peter Stanton, CEO of parent company New England Business Media, took over as publisher and sales director Andrea Tetzlaff was recently named associate publisher.

Resignations

Steve Hewins left his post as CEO of MaineHospitality in February to become interim director of the HospitalityMaine Education Foundation. He was replaced as CEO by Matt Lewis, an industry vet who came from the Bay Area in California.

Glenn Cummings, who has president of the University of Southern Maine, has led the campus through growth, will step down July 1. He will return to the faculty. A search for his successor is underway.

Rob Snyder, CEO of the Island Institute, resigned in March to join the private sector, ACME Smoked Fish Corp. in Brooklyn, N.Y. His successor is Tony Chatwin.

Richard Downs-Honey, president of the Landing School, left after three years to return to his native New Zealand. He was succeeded by Sean Fawcett, a senior instructor at the Arundel boatbuilding school.