Volunteer Leadership

BRLI Mission Statement: Educate, Challenge, Inspire, Engage, and Connect leaders for the future of the Bangor Region.

BRLI is a proud program of the Bangor Region Chamber of Commerce’s Community Council. Alumni are encouraged to stay actively involved through event and steering committee participation.  

BRLI is led by a volunteer steering committee made up of alumni. This team works closely with BRLI’s program coordinator to help fulfill and grow its mission, maintain its finances, plan events, and develop the curriculum. Steering Committee members serve three-year terms.

The program has active subcommittees that work to carry out different projects, initiatives, and events. The subcommittees include Curriculum, Marketing, Alumni, Development, and Finance Committees. We’d love to see more alumni get involved. To learn more, please email Shelly Reilly, program coordinator, [email protected].

Steering Committee

• Nicole Kelley, SHRM-CP, Chair

  Nicole Kelley is Vice President of Human Resources & Safety at Lynch Group, where she leads people strategy, culture, talent,… Read More

• Benjamin Smith, Vice Chair

  Benjamin Smith is a lifelong resident of the Bangor region with a strong passion for community, connection, and helping make… Read More

• Jennifer Munson, Treasurer

  Appointed to the Bangor Region Leadership Institute (BRLI) Steering Committee in August 2025, Jennifer Munson brings a deep commitment to… Read More

• Jeffrey M. Pangburn, Past Chair

  Jeff, Class of 2019, is a 20 year commercial banking veteran with expertise in the agricultural & forestry industries as… Read More

• CJ Carver, Development Committee Chair

  CJ Carver is the Branch Relationship Manager for the Bangor Main St and Orono Branches of Bar Harbor Bank &… Read More

• Raymond Mayhew, Curriculum Co-Chair

  Raymond Mayhew is employed at Maine Savings Federal Credit Union as the Vice President of IT Operations.  His career at… Read More

• Farrah Fidler

  Farrah is the Director of Human Resources for LifeFlight of Maine. A Bangor area native, with family roots in rural… Read More

• Kirsten Hibbard

  Executive Director, Challenger Learning Center of Maine A native of Atlanta, Georgia, Kirsten earned her undergraduate degree in Mechanical Engineering… Read More

• Vanessa Madore

  Vanessa Madore is the President and Chief Operations Officer (COO) at Maine Savings Federal Credit Union, where she oversees the… Read More

• Shelly Reilly, Program Coordinator

  A BRLI class of 2011 alum, Shelly joined the Bangor Region Chamber of Commerce in 2015 as the Program Coordinator.

• Jessica Ward, Marketing Co-Chair

  Jessica Ward is an accomplished professional and Husson University alum with a degree in Business Administration. Currently serving as the… Read More