Contributors

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Elise Kiely

Elise consistently ranks as a top broker in Maine and is currently in the top 0.5% in the state.

Having grown up in Baltimore and graduating from UNC Chapel Hill (Go Tarheels!) and Emory University School of Law, Elise was a litigator for nearly a decade in Washington DC before acquiring her real estate license in 2005. Representing high-end developments and clients in the greater Portland area, Elise's clients benefit from her unique professional background.

In her free time, Elise enjoys racket sports, golf and recently taken up fly fishing.  Active in many local organizations, Elise sits on the board of United Recovery Fund, a non-profit dedicated to providing dignified and meaningful work for those in recovery. She is also an Olympia Leadership Advisor, mentoring high school girls.

A strong proponent of the Sotheby's brand, Elise is part of several networking groups around the globe bringing best practices and strategies to her Maine clients.

https://elisekiely.legacysir.com/?_gl=1*8vibl0*_ga*NzI2MjE4OTc1LjE3NDQxNDA4MDk.*_ga_5Q916SF7XE*MTc0NDE0MDgwOS4xLjEuMTc0NDE0MDgyNi4wLjAuMA..

Guests

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Amelia Dow

Quite simply, Amelia gets things done. Drawing from a career built on running teams of financial services professionals, she knows that good wealth management is about more than trusts, portfolios, accounts, and numbers on a spreadsheet. Ultimately, she is driven to make sure people feel heard and respond to their challenges with strategic thinking and solutions that are custom tailored to individual experiences. 

You’re not just buying stocks and bonds. You’re making sure you can be comfortable in your old age. You’re caring for loved ones. You’re extricating yourself from a sticky situation. Managing money and investing is just a sliver of what Amelia does on a daily basis. That’s the easy part. 

Currently working hard to ensure the humane treatment of animals and the advancement of women and girls. Amelia serves on many boards supporting economic development, women and girls, children, and environmental issues. 

https://www.portlandtrust.com/team/alex-neil/
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Charlotte Miller

Charlotte Miller caught the ski bug early from her dad. An avid skier and gearhead, Charlotte claims Sugarbush, Vermont and Alta/Snowbird, Utah as her home mountains. In addition, she has explored resorts throughout North America and northern Japan. Despite having a job in the corporate world, she skis 75+ days a year (115 days last season!), and is an Ambassador for Atomic Ski and Stio. Warning – while she loves to share her love for the mountains with others, don’t try to keep up with her on the hill – it won’t end well.

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Chris DiMillo

Born and raised in Portland, Maine. I have been around the waterfront, in Portland, all of my life. I worked as a dock hand at the marina as a child, crewed on many of my father’s power boats and, of course, worked in his restaurants. I earned a BS in biology from University of Vermont and went on to work in medical equipment sales in Southern California as a young adult, but home was always calling. The opportunity to manage the family marina came up, and I moved back east in 1995. I worked to create DiMillo’s into a cruising destination for yachts of all sizes and at the same time noticed the void of a higher end brokerage in Portland. I established a brokerage in 1997, quickly diversified into new boat sales, and today we offer the full package with a complete service department as well. While we have represented a few other brands in the past, we are happy to have focused on two of the leading brands in the business–Sabre Yachts and Back Cove Yachts. 

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Chris Lynch

Christopher Lynch is the founder and sole owner of Legacy Properties Sotheby's International Realty. He currently holds the title of President and Designated Broker for Maine's Leading Luxury Property Company. From its inception in 2006, Chris has grown our company from its six founding brokers to more than 100 Maine and New Hampshire real estate agents and 6 offices serving Coastal Communities from Seacoast New Hampshire beyond Bar Harbor. In recent years we have expanded to the Western Lakes and Mountains in addition to our ability to serve the New Hampshire Seacoast.


Chris had a vision to change the way luxury property was bought and sold in Maine. Our company is operated as ONE COMPANY with six locations with a unique ability to support all the coastal Maine communities and its many special properties. 


Chris and his wife of more than 30 years reside in Cape Elizabeth.


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Christina Macanuff

Executive Director at Olympia Snowe Women's Leadership Institute


Working with women leaders across the state to elevate the confidence and aspirations of high school girls by helping them build the leadership, collaboration and problem solving skills needed to become successful in their lives, families, careers and communities.

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Elizabeth Moss

Elizabeth began her career with an M.A. in Arts Management from George Washington University. While in Washington, D.C., she worked at Hirshorn Museum and Sculpture Garden, was an active member of Zonta International, and also a founding member of the Smithsonian Young Benefactors. 

 

During a summer excursion to Monhegan Island - the famous artists’ colony - Elizabeth fell in love with Maine and the state’s long and storied place in American art. She relocated to Maine, opened Elizabeth Moss Galleries in 2004, and continues to promote Maine’s role in American art to this day. 

 

She’s a member and founding Executive Director of the Maine Museum of Photographic Arts and an active member of the Women’s Executive Forum. Elizabeth has 20 years of art advisory experience in the contemporary and established art markets, certified by the Appraisers Association of America!

https://www.elizabethmossgalleries.com/team/1/
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Erika Gabrielsen Neumann

Erika is an entrepreneur who believes in the transformational power of transparency. She is dedicated to conscious capitialism because it aligns with her vision that innovation and purpose-driven invention knows no sector boundaries. Erika consults with companies, organizations and individuals on multistakeholder initiatives and collaborations that collapse of the silos between business, government, nonprofits and philanthropy. Erika has held leadership roles in tech, biotech, academia, government and philanthrophy from Silicon Valley, Capitol Hill, the New York metropolitan area to her new home, the great state of Maine. Erika is founder of The EGGroup, a strategic communications consulting firm based from Chebeague Island.

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Gabe Hoffman - Johnson

Hey! I’m Gabe, and I’m the Founder of Hearts. Consider me just your friendly fellow Mainer who wanted to contribute as much as he could to the city and state that he loves. Soccer, social good and an unrelenting (fortunately or unfortunately) desire to make a difference are sort of who I am, so here we are!

I’m a Portland resident and former Portland area youth soccer player, who went on to play in college, and professionally; followed by (gasp) a two year stint in the finance world in New York City; before coming home to contribute, to the best of my ability, the absolute most that I possibly can to the future vitality of the place that I call home. My role at Hearts is to do as much as I possibly can to ensure that we accomplish our mission of rallying the community and culture of Maine around Soccer, and to create a purpose-driven club that represents all those who have their hearts in Maine.



https://www.heartsofpine.com/gabe-hoffman-johnson/

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Greg Dauphinee

Greg works in the Portland office of Androscoggin Bank as a VP, Senior Mortgage Loan Officer, and brings over 20 years of experience in the mortgage industry. He understands the level of service and attention Maine families deserve when buying or refinancing and is committed to delivering a smooth process with clear expectations from the start.

Raised in Northern Maine, Gregory developed a strong work ethic working on local farms before undergoing elite military training that reinforced his attention to detail and discipline. No matter your mortgage goals, he’s ready to help you get there.

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Jane Wellehan

Jane Wellehan lives in Portland, Maine, where she was born. She worked at Sebago,Incorporated of Westbrook, Maine, for 15 years, where she was involved in sales, design, and development for the global brand, best known for Classic penny loafers and Docksides®. After the company was sold, Jane went back to school to earn her Masters Degree in Education and worked in Portland Schools as a Middle School then High School English Teacher. She is happiest sailing on or walking near the ocean with her husband and family.


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Jill McGowan

I started out with one idea - to raise the standard of quality for apparel for women. I’ve been a product geek since I can remember and I am awe-inspired when I see my clothes worn by the women they were intended for - those who appreciate quality, durability and great style. It warms my heart to see a generation’s worth of the brand I started 30 years ago still worn today. From my niece scoffing pieces from her mom’s closet, college students’ thrift shop finds to customers showing up in my store wearing items over ten years old that are still holding up and wearing well. Favorite pieces - that’s my mission - creating beloved items of clothing that customers can wear and wear again. From one generation to the next...

With love and gratitude,


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John McArthur

John comes to The Studio Portland with the perspective of a former gigging musician and songwriter. Beyond music, he has a rich history in executive leadership, market research, technology and business development.  He is a partner in NH Music Collective, where he focuses on creating great experiences for the artist, the audience and venue operators.  At The Studio Portland he applies his skills to client relations, partnerships, strategy, business development and product offerings.  John can be reached at john@thestudioportland.com.

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Karen Nelson

Karen  Nelson is a former healthcare executive, having retired as a respected and influential leader within distinguished academic medical centers, community hospitals and post-acute care settings. .

Karen earned a Master’s in Public Administration from Suffolk University School of Management, Boston, MA and a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from University of Saint Joseph, West Hartford, CT. She retains an active license as a Registered Nurse in MA.

In retirement, Karen enjoys travel, reading, walking and hiking, gardening, the visual arts and performance scene, and experimenting in the kitchen.  In 2025 she and her partner Richard moved from the Boston area to Scarborough Maine, enjoying similar local pursuits such as walking The Eastern Trail adjacent to her neighborhood in all seasons or the beautiful beaches in Scarborough in more temperate weather. They are members of Portland Ovations and were excited to be Hosts for the Portland Ovations POP.

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Margo Walsh

Margo Walsh has over 25 years of experience in recruiting, staffing and employee development. Recruiting for the Investment Banking Division within Goldman Sachs, Margo worked to develop the Diversity Round Table in order to provide mentorship and assimilation support for people of diverse backgrounds.

In 2011, Margo followed her passion for economic and social development to found MaineWorks. MaineWorks is an innovative employment company with a social mission: to dignify the experience for people who face real barriers to workforce reentry, including people recovering from substance use disorder, reentry from jail and prison and New Americans.

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Melinda Gunther

While buying or selling is a professional experience for me, I understand that it is a personal experience for my customers. Buying or selling a home is a significant event and I guide my clients through this financial decision with relevant data and market expertise. My goal is to provide fabled service and the very best experience for my customers - from the first meeting to years beyond closing. I have a proven track record with buyers and sellers in the Naples area, with record sale prices and multiple bidding wars won time and again. I have been lucky enough to call Naples, FL home for almost 25 years.

Ranked as one of America's Best Real Estate Professionals by REAL Trends, top 100 in Florida, and an elite agent within Premier Sotheby's International Realty, Melinda specializes in the coastal luxury market and has enjoyed many years of success as a real estate advisor in Naples. 



https://melindagunther.com/
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Nanci Boutet

​Nanci Boutet founded Special Surfers in 2003. Being a little “Special” herself, (people liken her to the Energizer Bunny) she understands the importance of fun and inclusion. She loves the sense of community this event fosters and the way these events level the playing field for everyone of every level of ability. It’s a good thing she’s hyperactive, this program takes a lot of energy! Nanci receives the most joy from her happy family and this program.

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Nicola Manganello

Owner and Principal Designer/Project Manager and General Contractor

Nicola Manganello is the owner and principal designer of Nicola’s Home, based in Yarmouth Maine. For over 25 years Nicola has designed luxury homes that illuminate natural beauty while keeping the focus on functionality. Her keen eye for detail in addition to her perceptive passion with each individual client has enabled her to be featured in numerous leading design and lifestyle magazines.

Her visionary, all women designer team, specialize in creating homes that showcase the individuality of each client, utilizing timeless accents in every room. During each step of the design process, she immerses herself into the environment, embracing the space with her unique eye for texture and color, making the ordinary extraordinary. 

https://www.nicolashome.com/staff
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Sandra Stone

Chair Emerita of Maine Angels (2011-15), Member since 2008. While Chair, I grew membership in the angel investment network from 30 to > 70 members for which I was recognized by Mainebiz (the state biweekly biz magazine) as a "2013 Woman to Watch".  Maine Angels prefers investing in Maine ventures, or in New England deals referred from a syndicated deal lead willing to share their diligence.
Director, Investment Advisory Board for the Dirigo Angel Funds I & II, ("side car" funds selecting preferred deals from the Maine Angels' investment & diligence process.  Board of Trustees CEI Ventures, Inc. which manages socially responsible venture capital funds, and has raised 5 VC funds since '94 investing > $26 million in nearly 50 companies. Co-founder of NNE WIN (Northern New England Women’s Investor Network) A collaboration between ME, NH & VT women coming together to engage, learn & connect with others interested in Angel & impact investing.

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Tate Ficker

Tate is passionate about helping local communities protect the things that are important – family, home, auto and more. As a Maine native, Tate enjoys being a part of the close-knit communities that he serves and dedicates his attention to providing exceptional industry leading products at the most affordable rates. Tate is licensed across Maine, New Hampshire, and Massachusetts in both Property & Causalty and Life, Health, and Accident Insurance.

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Timi Carter

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Tom Ackerman

Tom has been living and breathing the great outdoors for decades, and he loves nothing more than sharing that passion with you! Remember that show, “The New American Sportsman,” on ESPN? That was Tom hanging out with celebrities like Liam Neeson and Hank Williams Jr., Michael Keaton, Bobby Knight, Herschel Walker, and others on epic fishing and hunting adventures.

Tom is not just about the A-list celebrities; he’s a registered Maine guide, a master fly fisherman, and a seasoned hunter with a natural curiosity about people and their outdoor experiences. What Tom really loves is connecting with people and helping them discover the rewards of spending time outdoors.

https://tomsclassicconnections.wordpress.com/