If you ever doubted the power of one person to make a difference, two upcoming ceremonies should shatter any illusion. This coming Saturday, friends and family of Marion Kane will honor her legacy at a memorial service in Falmouth. Two weeks later, friends and family of Laurie Lachance will celebrate her inauguration as the fifth president of Thomas College in Waterville.
In spite of their different backgrounds, upbringing, and styles, these two women are superb examples of leadership at its best. Marion’s interests were mostly intellectual, but always broad and deep. She was an avid reader, known for recommending books and articles -- often from obscure sources -- on the fate and future of the U.S. and civil society, the latest in organizational theory, and best practices and trends in community development, networks, knowledge management, and philanthropy. She was at her best when engaged in discussions about theory and practice, but if pushed, she would engage in more mundane conversations and good gossip.
Marion’s legacy includes the creation and growth of the Maine Community Foundation and its many parts, including the county funds and spin-off groups such as the Maine Children’s Alliance, Maine Philanthropy Center, and Common Good Ventures. It also includes the design of the Barr Foundation in Boston as one of the most influential, forward-thinking funders in the Northeast.
Laurie Lachance is the first to acknowledge that she pinches herself when she thinks about her new role. It’s hard for her to imagine that a kid from Dover-Foxcroft could become the president of a college. It’s her dream job because Thomas students are overwhelmingly first-generation attendees from Maine.
Laurie’s warmth and effusiveness are complemented by a curiosity similar to Marion’s. She has a keen interest in people and has spent her first weeks as president meeting with students, faculty, and staff to learn more about what they need and want from their college. In addition to helping Maine students succeed in higher education, Laurie’s passion is all things Maine, including its economy, about which she has delivered hundreds of speeches.
While Laurie’s legacy is still being created, her seven years at the Maine Development Foundation included the growth of a number of programs to support leadership development and training, downtown revitalization, and higher education. It also included a partnership with the Maine State Chamber of Commerce to identify strategic investments for long-term economic growth.
The most effective leaders understand the context for their work. For many of us, that context is community -- be that the state of Maine, communities of interest, or communities of geography. Our communities bind us together and make change and growth possible. Marion understood that, and her legacy is evidence. It is also what guides Laurie’s actions every day. I will miss Marion, but I will watch with interest how Laurie guides Thomas College.
What about you? What do you see as other elements of effective leadership? Who are Maine’s most effective leaders, and why?