PROPEL

10/13/2026

Register today! Don’t miss your chance to attend an educational and inspiring InFocus!

https://www.portlandregion.com/propelevents.html

✨ Purpose. Opportunity. Impact.

Ready to connect with people who care about where Greater Portland is headed?

Join us for PROPEL In Focus: Sweetser an evening designed for young professionals and emerging leaders who want more than small talk. Build meaningful connections, learn about an organization creating real change and discover new ways to get involved in our community.

💚 Featured nonprofit: Sweetser
Sweetser provides mental health, recovery, crisis, educational and support services to children, adults and families throughout Maine.

📅 Thursday, October 22
⏰ 5:00–7:00 p.m.
📍 The Cellars at Allagash Brewing
100 Industrial Way, Portland

Proudly sponsored by Empeople Credit Union .

Come curious. Leave connected and inspired to make an impact.

Register:
https://www.portlandregion.com/propelevents.html

10/12/2026

Today’s PROPEL Board spotlight is on Anya Brown!

Anya joined the PROPEL Board because she is passionate about creating welcoming spaces where young professionals can connect, grow, and thrive. She is excited to help strengthen opportunities for emerging leaders and contribute to the continued growth of Greater Portland’s professional community. She is the Donor Engagement Manager at Girl Scouts of Maine, where she cultivates relationships with individual, corporate, and community supporters to help expand opportunities for girls across the state.

Outside of work, she enjoys hiking, skiing, spending time outdoors, and serving as a member of the Seguinland Institute Development Committee. Whether she’s helping connect people through her professional work or community involvement, Anya is passionate about bringing people together to find a shared sense of belonging and make a positive impact across Maine.

We look forward to seeing all you accomplish as a Board member, Anya!

Portland Regional Chamber of Commerce
Girl Scouts of Maine

10/08/2026

Thank you! Portland Regional Chamber of Commerce

Meet the PROPEL Board for the 2026–27 season!👋

These dedicated professionals bring their ideas, energy, and leadership to helping young professionals connect and grow across Greater Portland.

From PROPEL In Focus to networking events and community connections, the board is ready for an exciting season ahead!

Pictured from left to right:
Ellie Nash • Anya Brown • Madison Spencer (Chair) • Danielle Violette (Treasurer) • Maria Maffucci (Secretary) • Jake Vanidestine • Paul Farrell • Michael O’Donovan • Dominic Joy • Nick Russo

Not pictured:
Ethan Shrestha (Vice Chair) • Nate Henry • Joey Smith • Teddy Forsley • Joel Matondo • Tara O’Connor

See a familiar face at a Chamber event or around town? Say hello, introduce yourself, and ask how you can get involved with PROPEL!

Learn more: https://www.portlandregion.com/propel.html

10/08/2026

Join us on Thursday 10/22 for our first InFocus of the events season!!

This month, PROPEL excited to be highlighting Sweetser as our InFocus nonprofit. Sweetser is a Maine-based behavioral health organization providing mental health, recovery, crisis, educational, and support services to children, adults, and families.

For those of you who aren’t familiar, our InFocus series exists to bring Greater Portland’s young professionals and emerging business leaders together for networking, meaningful conversation, and community engagement. Each event highlights a local nonprofit making a positive difference across our region.

Tickets are on sale now through day-of! We will be returning to the Cellars at Allagash Brewing in Portland from 5-7pm!

Get your tickets today: https://bit.ly/3UfHuZB

Thank you to Allagash Brewing Company for the event space,
Empeople Credit Union for sponsoring this series, Bite into Maine® for our refreshments, and Will Wohler | Wohler & Co. - Maine Headshot and Portrait Studio for our photography

Portland Regional Chamber of Commerce
Live and Work in Maine
Portland Old Port

10/07/2026

Introducing our 2026-2027 PROPEL Board of Directors! We are thrilled to see what this year has in store for our organization!

(From left to right)

Ellie Nash
Anya Brown
Madison Spencer (Chair)
Danielle Violette (Treasurer)
Maria Maffucci (Secretary)
Jake Vanidestine
Paul Farrell
Michael O’Donovan
Dominic Joy
Nick Russo

(Not pictured)

Ethan Shrestha (Vice Chair)
Nate Henry
Joey Smith
Teddy Forsley
Joel Matondo
Tara O’Connor

Portland Regional Chamber of Commerce
Live and Work in Maine
Portland Old Port

10/05/2026

Shoutout to Board members Ethan, Maria, and Paul for volunteering at the set-up for the 2026 Maine Marathon!! Congratulations to all participants!

Portland Regional Chamber of Commerce
Maine Marathon

10/05/2026

Up next for our Board member spotlights is Joey Smith!

Joey is the Business Development & Marketing Manager at Great Falls Construction, a Gorham-based, family-owned company known for “Constructing with a Purpose.” Having grown up in the business and worked his way up from jobsite laborer to his role now, Joey brings a unique combination of hands-on construction experience and strategic business development expertise.

Since joining the company full-time in 2018, he has helped lead initiatives focused on business development, recruiting, marketing, and brand communications.

Joey has served on the PROPEL Board for the past three years and values the opportunity to collaborate with emerging leaders from across Greater Portland. A proud Mainer, he is passionate about strengthening both the regional business community and the construction industry.

Beyond his work at Great Falls, Joey is active in several industry organizations and participates in the Big Brothers Big Sisters program.

We are so grateful for all you have done and continue to do for PROPEL, Joey!

Portland Regional Chamber of Commerce
Great Falls Construction

09/28/2026

Up next for our Board member spotlights is Michael O'Donovan!

"I grew up in Falmouth and attended Cheverus High School before heading to Marist College, where I studied Business Administration and competed as a Division I swimmer. After college, I returned home to Maine and began my career in banking. Today, I work at cPort Credit Union as a Relationship Manager in Business Banking, where I get to work with local businesses and build relationships throughout the Maine business community.

I joined the PROPEL Board because I wanted to become more involved in the Greater Portland community and meet other young protessionals who care about where they live and work.ỊẠỊive always enjoyed bringing people together, and PROPEL gives me the opportunity to build new relationships, connect people who might not otherwise meet, and help create a stronger community for the next generation of professionals in Maine.

Outside of work, I'm rarely sitting still. Depending on the season, you can usually find me skiing at Sugarloaf, attempting to improve my golf game, out boating on Casco Bay with family and friends, at Run Club, or getting a workout in at the gym. I also stay involved with Cheverus and the local swimming community, which gives me an opportunity to stay connected and give back to a community that had a big impact on me growing up.

Greater Portland has given me a lot personally and professionally, so I'm excited for the opportunity to give some of that back through PROPEL, and hopefully have some fun along the way!"

We look forward to seeing all you do as a Board member, Michael!

Portland Regional Chamber of Commerce

09/21/2026

Meet another of our amazing Board members, Dominic Joy!

“I joined PROPEL in 2025 with the primary goal of connecting with more young professionals throughout the state and to find new ways to be involved in the community. I am currently an Underwriter at MEMIC and have been with the company for 5 years. It’s been great working with and partnering with so many great nonprofits around the Portland area and I’m looking forward to working closer with more in the future.

I have a twin brother who is also involved in the community and works as a middle school teacher in Kennebunk. In the summer I love spending time with family and friends at the lake and playing golf!”

We are so happy to have you on our Board, Dominic!

Portland Regional Chamber of Commerce

09/14/2026

Up next for our Board member spotlights is Nick Russo!

Nick is a lifelong Mainer who is passionate about building community through sports. As Director of Ticket Sales and Service for Portland Hearts of Pine, he leads the club’s ticket sales strategy with a focus on creating memorable fan experiences and ensuring the club makes a meaningful impact both on and off the pitch.
As a member of PROPEL, Nick has enjoyed connecting with other emerging leaders who are equally passionate about Maine’s future. The organization has provided opportunities to build meaningful relationships, expand his perspective, and become more engaged in the community he has always called home. He believes strong communities are built through collaboration and is proud to be part of a network that is investing in the next generation of leaders across Greater Portland.

Thank you for all you bring to our Board, Nick!

Portland Regional Chamber of Commerce
Portland Hearts of Pine