Speakers

Hannah DeAngelis, Director of Refugee and Immigration Services for Catholic Charities Maine, will be the guest speaker at our club. 

DeAngelis’ background is in non-profit management, conflict resolution, cultural competency education and classroom teaching. She is originally from Readfield, Maine and a graduate of Colby College.

Maine’s only refugee resettlement program, Catholic Charities Maine Refugee and Immigration Services (RIS) is dedicated to helping those seeking a new life in America become independent, productive members of our community.

Erik grew up in Rhode Island and spent his summers in Midcoast Maine teaching sailing, working on a lobster boat, and being on the ocean as much as possible. After graduating from the University of Maine at Farmington, where he developed a fondness for the mountains, he took his Business Degree and headed west to Lake Tahoe, CA in search of powder (and maybe a little employment as well).

After two winters in Lake Tahoe, family, friends, and the “real world” drew Erik back to the East Coast where he moved to Portland, ME. His love for boats and the ocean acquired him a job living and working on tugboats in New York City for two weeks at a time when he wasn’t in Portland.

After developing a strong interest in renewable energy and realizing that the tugboat life wasn’t an ideal fit, Erik found a little company called Revision Energy in Portland and was hired as an installer in 2008. He quickly learned that working among great, like minded people and really believing in the work that you are doing is a very powerful thing! Erik spent the next 7 years as an installer and Project Manager focusing mainly on Solar Thermal & Heat Pump installations.

Erik is now a Solar Design Specialist where he helps homeowners reduce their dependence on fossil fuels and understand the many benefits of going solar. 

In his free time you can find him on the ocean in the summertime, on his snowboard in the winter, spending time outdoors with his wife Mercedes and chocolate lab named Fozzie, and tending to the never ending list of projects around the house.

Bruce Bickford was raised in Auburn, graduated from Edward Little High School and has lived in Auburn for most of his adult life.  He spent 40 years managing small businesses throughout central and Southern Maine.   Bruce served two terms on the Auburn City Council and is now serving his 5th term as a State Representative representing part of Auburn.  He is currently serving on the Taxation Committee. Bruce is a current Board member of Auburn Business Association and is a Community Volunteer Leader with American Red Cross Central and Mid Coast Maine Chapter. Bruce resides in the Danville area of Auburn with his wife of 33 years, Margie.   They have  4 grown children and 4 grandsons.

Michel A. Lajoie (Mike) is a life long resident of Lewiston. Mike graduated from Lewiston High School and Central Maine Vocational Technical Institute. He earned his Associate Degree in Fire Science from Southern Maine Technical College and is a graduate of the Androscoggin Leadership Development Institute. Mike is a former Lewiston Fire Chief having served the City of Lewiston for over 31 years. He is also a former small business owner. Mike has served on numerous professional associations and boards. Mike is on his 20^th year as a member of the Board of Directors for the Lewiston Municipal Federal Credit Union, he also serves on the Board of Directors at the Gendron Franco Center and is a Community Leader for the American Red Cross. Mike served 8 years as a State Representative representing the City of Lewiston. During his 8 years in the legislature Mike served on the Criminal Justice and Public Safety Committee and was also a member of the Maine Fire Protection Services Commission and a member of the Maine Fire Service Institute Advisory Board. He is currently serving his first term as a Lewiston City Councilor representing Ward 4. Mike lives on Old Greene Road with his wife Rita (Ouellette) Lajoie, they have three grown children and five grand children