What is your name and occupation?

My name is Nicole Witherbee,  I am the president and CEO of the John T. Gorman Foundation. 

The John T. Gorman Foundation is a private foundation in Maine. We're headquartered in Portland, but we work throughout the state. I like to say we focus on improving child outcomes, with the acknowledgement that you only get better outcomes for kids when the caretakers in their lives have the tools and resources that they need to thrive. So we really take a multi-generational approach to our work. The other important thing to know about the foundation is that the way we operate is to look at entrenched problems and try to find creative solutions to them. So rather than just continuing to support good programming, which is really important to do, most of our resources go towards implementing and testing new strategies to see what works. And when we don’t see the outcomes that we had hoped to see, we don't just say, "oh, this didn't work. Let's walk away", we figure out how to change it. We keep going until we get it right for the families that need our help.

What are you known for now, and what would you like to be known for in the future?

I would say if there is one thing I am probably best known for, it is for being relentless I am somebody who likes to get things done.

What advice would you offer to someone new to Maine hoping to build a life here?

For anybody looking to move to Maine, the first thing I'd say is, do it. Maine is a fabulous place to live. I think one thing that is really important for people to know is that Maine is like a small town. That has so many benefits in that if you need to collaborate on something, if you need advice or if you need help - there is always someone there. What is unique to Maine is that you don't have to be in a position of power to reach somebody in power, whether it is a member of the legislature, CEO of business, somebody at a foundation, whatever it is, it is easy to just pick up the phone and call someone. The flipside is that everybody knows everyone, and so you have to be respectful of people. You should do that anyway, of course - but in Maine, it is particularly important. You don't want to find yourself in a position of being dismissive or rude, and then the next thing you know, you're sitting across the table from the same person that you weren't as polite to as you could have been. 

Maine is known for its work ethic. Do you think that living in such a rural state has
shaped the way you approach your career and your goals?

Living in a rural state like Maine, has some real implications for how you work. It is unique in that all across the state, but particularly in the most rural parts, you find organizations have to work together. They do it really well because maybe the resources are scarce there, whatever the reason is, they know each other very well. They tend to come together and make things happen, and that is a great thing to witness. I also think that the work ethic in Maine is such that people are willing to dig in and get the work done. So, it is really just about opening up opportunities and creating pathways. They'll do it themselves if there's a way forward - and it's our job, at least it's my job at the foundation, to make sure we are opening up those pathways so that people have a way forward.

 Maine is full of strong, independent women—how do you feel connected to the women
around you here, whether it’s in your community or your workplace?
My whole life I have benefited from strong women. As a young woman, I found myself a single mother trying to get through college. It was female professors who stepped in and refused to let me quit, made sure I had food and diapers and that I kept pushing myself. They believed in me when I didn't really believe in myself.  Because of this, as an adult, I have surrounded myself with brilliant women that I work with and exceptional, friendly, funny women that I get to call my friends. I have even helped to start a group called Women United, with United Way of Southern Maine that brings women together to give money, time and talent to support other women in the community who need an extra helping hand.

What advice would you give to young women growing up here in Maine who are
dreaming of building careers, perhaps in industries where women are
underrepresented?
There are always interesting dynamics for women in the workplace. We often start a little bit behind in the sense that there are systemic issues that are not unique to Maine. For instance, if your employer is thinking about what to offer in terms of a salary, they are looking potentially at what you might have made before. When that is the case, women always come in a little behind because women don't earn as much as men. Furthermore, women are not trained to negotiate. I think those kinds of more systemic issues make it a little harder for women in the workplace. In Maine you see a lot of women, perhaps in industries that are a little bit more difficult - and even if they're not at the forefront, for example, they may not be the fishermen - but they are often the ones who are putting together the business plan and keeping that business afloat. I think women do take on some particularly important roles here in the state of Maine, and that always makes me really proud.

 Maine is a place of incredible beauty but also challenging winters. How do you stay
motivated during the tough months—when the days are short, and the weather is harsh?

Maine is a state that is beautiful year round. It can be a little bit lackluster in the spring mud season, but even in the wintertime, it is beautiful here. It's particularly nice for people who like to ski and excel at all the outdoor activities -  unfortunately, I am not one of those people. That said, I am committed to making sure that  I do as much outdoor activity as possible in the summers. And in the wintertime, I do a lot of cooking, a lot of reading, and I have a friend who has joined me in a commitment to get outdoors more. So we bought sleds and yes, we may be the only two 50 something year old women on a sledding hill with a lot of children, but it's a ton of fun. We got snow shoes, puzzles, and so we're committed to making sure we make the best of it - I think there are many ways to do that here in Maine.