President’s Update

Spring 2026

Message from the President

I wanted to take a moment to reconnect and introduce myself as your CMHRA President. I’m excited to start sharing regular updates like this so we can stay connected and keep you informed on what’s happening within CMHRA.

My goal is simple: to create more connection, more transparency, and more value for you as members. Whether you’ve been part of CMHRA for years or are newer to the group, I want you to feel informed, included, and like your membership matters.

We’ve had a strong start to the year with a mix of in-person and virtual sessions focused on real workplace challenges. Topics have included legal updates, navigating complex workplace issues, and compensation transparency. We’ve been intentional about bringing in experienced speakers and partners, so our sessions are practical and relevant to what you’re dealing with day to day.

Behind the scenes, the board has been focused on strengthening how we operate. That includes improving workflows, setting clear expectations for each role, and making sure we stay aligned with our purpose to support your professional growth and create a space to connect and learn.

We’ve also been putting structure around how we plan, communicate, and execute so that what you see on the outside reflects the work happening behind the scenes.

As part of our ongoing commitment to giving back, CMHRA donated $1,700 to Community Concepts, continuing a tradition we’ve proudly maintained over the past few years.

In January, Nimble Group donated an HR Convention pass, which was awarded to Jill Rivas—a great opportunity for professional development within our membership.

At our March meeting, we also gave away a SHRM membership, which was awarded to Clarissa Brawn, as a way to support and invest in our members.

We have some great sessions coming up, including continued legal updates, leadership-focused discussions, and timely HR topics that reflect what’s happening right now in our workplaces. Our goal is to keep building sessions that are useful, engaging, and worth your time.

And I want to put this on your radar now…
Save the date: September 25, 2026 – Our HR Summit

This year’s theme is Halloween-inspired: “Your Scariest HR Nightmares and How to Handle Them.”
It’s going to be a fun, interactive, and very real look at some of the toughest situations we deal with in HR.

We are currently transitioning our Facebook presence from a personal page to a business page. If you receive an invite—that’s us! Please accept and follow so you don’t miss updates.

If you’re not already connected with us, we encourage you to follow CMHRA on Facebook and LinkedIn. We regularly share updates, resources, and information to keep you informed and connected.

We also recommend following SHRM Maine to stay up to date on HR happenings across the state.

We want your voice at the table—your feedback helps guide our programming and priorities.

Please continue to complete the surveys at the end of each meeting. We really do use that feedback to shape future programming.

And if you have ideas, suggestions, or feedback, feel free to reach out to me directly.

Virginia Keel
CMHRA President

Your Board – Who’s Behind the Work

  • President (Virginia Keel) – Focused on strategy, direction, and making sure CMHRA is moving forward in a way that supports our members.
  • President-Elect (Carrie Bolduc) – Supporting planning and helping build what’s next for CMHRA.
  • Membership Director (Fatouma Hassan) – Focused on growing and engaging our membership.
  • Website Director (Barbara Lovejoy) – Leading updates to improve and modernize our website.
  • Sponsorship Director (Tisha Bremner) – Building partnerships that support our programming and events.
  • Certification Director (Tanya Sadler) – Supporting certification and professional development opportunities.
  • Social Media Director (Lisa Legendre) – Keeping members informed and connected through consistent communication.
  • Treasurer (Brandon Chaloux) – Ensuring strong financial management and stability.
  • Secretary (Laura Gilpatrick) – Keeping us organized and making sure communication and records are clear.