The leaders who have shaped the state over the past year.
By Rachel Hurn and Paul Koenig
Photography by Dave Dostie, Séan Alonzo Harris, Ben Macri, Tara Rice, and Michael D. Wilson
Issue: October 2021
The coronavirus pandemic has been the dominant through line in all our experiences over the past year and a half, and few aspects of our lives have been spared disruption or strife. In our inaugural Mainers of the Year feature, we are recognizing the individuals who didn’t shy from challenges, who made our lives better. From around Maine and across five sectors—public service, business, science and medicine, art and culture, and the environment and outdoors—these Mainers embody the state’s motto: I lead. They did so with resourcefulness, compassion, and creativity. They provided steady leadership while others were stoking fear and confusion. They reinvented their businesses and organizations to keep Mainers employed. They cared for our children and kept us healthy. They provided escapes to the outdoors and other worlds when we needed them the most. They elevated marginalized individuals and demonstrated the power of art. They showed us a path forward.
Public Service
Business
Health + Science
Environment + Outdoors
Art + Culture