ABOUT US
PROGRAM
Maine Career Catalyst provides professional development, social opportunities and networking for experiential learners working in Maine. Our program not only focuses on building an affinity for Maine but also drives to support students in their exploration of career paths and help them find and navigate the career opportunities available in Maine. Our events facilitate connections among participants, with businesses and business leaders, and builds a deeper understanding of opportunities in Maine for launching a career.
Since the program launched in 2017, our program has been serving interns and other experiential learners in Maine. By 2019 we had more than tripled the number of participants and were partnering with over 60 different employers across the state. In 2021 we launched under a new name. Formerly, the FocusMaine Intern Experience, we changed our name to Maine Career Catalyst to better reflect the goals of the program and to welcome all experiential learners to our program. In 2022 we expanded the scope of the program to include the creation and expansion of registered apprenticeship and pre-apprenticeship opportunities in Maine. We became a registered Intermediary Sponsor of apprenticeship through the Maine Department of Labor.
Want to learn more? Check out our highlights video and hear from students who have participated.
Targeted Growth Industries:
Maine Career Catalyst’s founding funding partner is FocusMaine, a ten-year, private sector-led initiative to accelerate the creation of quality jobs in Maine. This growth is driven by investing in three of Maine’s globally competitive and high-growth fields: Maine’s Food Economy, Aquaculture, and Life Science. FocusMaine is also dedicated to sparking an increase in and return of skilled workers to Maine for these sectors and others. We support investment in these sectors and have focused business development outreach to these sectors. We continue to support and invest in many different industries and employers, along with these three sectors to support job growth in our state where we already see these investments at work.
Maine Career Catalyst’s sponsored pre-apprenticeship and apprenticeship programs focus on filling critical workforce needs in Maine’s Infrastructure and Aquaculture industries. We are working to grow the participation of in-school and out-of-school youth (ages 16-24) in apprenticeships and pre-apprenticeships, with an emphasis on creating these opportunities in rural Maine communities.
Kate Howell
Director of Workforce Partnerships
Kate Howell has worked in Human Resources and leadership roles throughout her career. Prior to joining Educate Maine, Kate was HR Generalist at a biotech company in Portland focusing on recruitment, career development, and university relations. She led the national university relations program and brings a wealth of knowledge in the area of internship programming and university partnerships. Before moving to Maine, Kate worked in New York City and Washington, DC across a variety of industries and non-profit organizations. Kate holds a Bachelor of Science in Business from Syracuse University and a SCP certification from the Society for Human Resources Management. Kate is a member of Rotary International and serves on the Board of the Kennebunkport club where she lives with her family.
Kate can be emailed at kate@educatemaine.org for questions regarding new business development, consulting, and grants managment.
Hannah Greene
Senior Workforce Development Specialist
Hannah joined the Educate Maine team after completing her Island Institute Fellowship, where she worked with the Downeast Institute on a variety of projects related to public engagement and communications, environmental education and workforce development, and marine science research. She earned her Bachelor of Arts in Environmental Science with minors in Public Policy and Public Health Studies from Wheaton College. Hannah brings extensive familiarity living and working within communities along the coast of Maine and currently resides in Bremen. Hannah enjoys reading, cooking, taking nature walks, and exploring!
Hannah can be emailed at hannah@educatemaine.org for questions regarding general information and expert guidance for MCC’s registered apprenticeship and pre-apprenticeship programs, particularly in Maine’s midcoast and downeast regions.
Jon Delorme
Workforce Development Specialist
Jonathan has been an educator, program coordinator, and community developer throughout his career both locally in Maine and internationally in Morocco. Before joining Educate Maine, Jonathan worked at Baxter Academy for Technology and Science, teaching American Studies and also serving as the Community Outreach and Partnerships Coordinator. In between two different stints teaching History at Edward Little High School in Auburn, ME, Jonathan served in Peace Corps Morocco from 2016-2018 as a Youth Asset Builder. Jonathan holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Maine at Farmington in Secondary Education – Social Sciences and a Master of Science in Education: Teacher Leadership degree from the University of Southern Maine. In his free time, he loves to read, play soccer, follow the Premier League (go Spurs), and travel.
Jon can be emailed at jon@educatemaine.org for questions regarding general information and expert guidance for MCC’s flagship summer internship program as well as registered apprenticeship and pre-apprenticeship support, particularly in southern Maine.
Meg Krieger
Workforce Development Coordinator
Meg Krieger joins Educate Maine as a Workforce Development Coordinator. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science with a minor in Educational Studies from Bates College. Meg brings hands-on experience in education, from classrooms in Lewiston, Maine, to outdoor education in Steamboat Springs, Colorado. Her expertise extends to project management and collaboration with local community-based organizations. Following her graduation in May 2022, Meg spent a year in Dresden, Germany, as a Fulbright English Teaching Assistant grant recipient. Now back in Maine, living in Portland, she is excited to spend as much time as possible enjoying the ocean and mountains.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
How is the program administered?
Educate Maine, a leading educational policy organization, administers the Maine Career Catalyst program. MCC partners with businesses to support all of their experiential learning programs. We work with education partners to share information about opportunities for their students from our partner employers, and manage a calendar of events including intern engagement activities. MCC also provides administrative management for all employers looking to create registered apprenticeship and pre-apprenticeship programs in Maine. Additionally we work to collect and share workforce data to inform program management and other aspects of a workforce recruitment strategy.
What is the difference between an internship and an apprenticeship?
Internships are paid, short-term experiential learning opportunities. These programs typically take place while the intern is enrolled in a part-time or full-time certificate or degree program. Interns are paid for their work but are not considered employees of their business or organization.
Registered apprenticeships are paid, year-round, on-the-job learning (OJL) experiences. Apprentices are employees of their business or organization and are subject to all the benefits and responsibilities therein. Anyone 16 years or older is eligible to be considered for an apprenticeship. Prior experience and higher levels of educational attainment are usually not required. Registered apprenticeship programs are structured by a defined schedule of work and a minimum number of OJL hours to be completed by the apprentice under the mentorship of a subject matter expert. Apprentices also participate in a minimum number of hours of classroom instruction in courses related to their occupation. After completing a registered apprenticeship program, apprentices receive a nationally recognized credential of value. Most apprentices continue to work for their employers and/or further their education in their field or occupation.
What are the costs and how is the program funded?
The program was a pilot initiative in 2017, funded by private sector businesses who recognized the value of the experience to address their workforce needs.
Since 2018, the internship program has been largely supported by FocusMaine as part of their overall strategy of addressing Maine’s workforce needs with innovative, relevant, and cost-effective tactics that effectively reach the target market. We engage employers to support the summer experience through a variety of event sponsorship opportunities. If you are interested in sponsorship, please reach out to Jon Delorme to discuss options.
Support for our registered apprenticeship and pre-apprenticeship programs is provided in part by grant funding through the Maine Department of Labor (MDOL) and Jobs for the Future (JFF), a national nonprofit driving change in the American workforce and education systems to achieve equitable economic advancement for all.
FUNDERS
COMMUNITY PARTNERS
EDUCATION PARTNERS
