Winter Fun, #69

Larry Warren

Larry Warren has been a resident in the greater Sugarloaf region for over 40 years. He was involved in founding the Town of Carrabassett Valley and established and served on the boards of many non-profit organizations in the region. His career includes work as a CPA, Sugarloaf controller and President, he has worked to develop the regions telecommunications and utilty infrastructure, and currently provides consulting services to municipal and utility companies. His recent non-profit projects include the founding and participation in development of Maine Huts & Trails.

Nicole Freedman

Nicole joined MH&T in April 2012. Previously, Nicole served under Boston Mayor Thomas M. Menino as Boston’s Director of Bicycle Programs. As Boston’s Bike “Czar,” Nicole helped transform Boston from the worst cycling city in the United States to an award-winning nationally ranked cycling city with the launch of the Hubway bike share system. A former Olympic team member and three-time national champion road cyclist, Nicole is excited to join Maine Huts & Trails. ”I am thrilled to build on the great work that was done and help put MH&T on the map as one of the world’s best hut-to-hut destinations.” Nicole attended MIT and Stanford, graduating with a degree in Urban Planning. Freedman was named by Boston Business Journal to its “40 Under 40” list in 2011, and is a past Boston Globe Magazine Bostonian of the Year finalist. She is a cross country skier and mountain biker who won an age group world championship in winter triathlon in 2011.

Andy Shepard

Andy spent 16 years at L.L.Bean in Freeport, Maine working on strategies, products and services to inspire people to spend time outdoors. While at L.L.Bean Andy and longtime friend, Max Cobb, were co-architects of a strategy to develop a new economic model for Northern Maine. That model, with the support of the Portland-based Libra Foundation, has become the Maine Winter Sports Center.

Their programs continue to get thousands of Maine’s kids started on a healthy, active, outdoor lifestyle each year, provide world-class coaching that helps those kids with Olympic aspirations to fulfill their dreams and help create empowered volunteer organizations from Eliot to Fort Kent. The Maine Winter Sports Center has won awards around the globe, across the country and here at home. Acknowledging the success of the Maine Winter Sports Center, Andy was named the Outstanding non-profit business executive for Maine in 2010, recipient of the Russell Wilder Award by the US Ski and Snowboard Association in 2009 and was awarded an honorary doctorate from the University of Maine in 2006. Andy is also a trustee of Pineland Farms and is a co-founder, Vice Chairman and trustee of the United States Biathlon Foundation.

Julie Mulkern

Our third featured guest is Julie Mulkern, Executive Director of WinterKids & Maine Public Health Association Board of Directors.

Julie has spent her entire career working for nonprofit organizations in Maine. Before joining WinterKids in 2008, Julie was Manager of Development & Volunteer Resources at Spring Harbor Hospital. She has also developed volunteer and philanthropy programs for Community Counseling Center and the American Cancer Society. Julie holds a Bachelor’s Degree from Bates College and has certifications in philanthropy from the Association for Healthcare Philanthropy & the University of Wisconsin Madison. Julie lives in Gorham with her husband, Ric. Both native to Maine, they enjoy all that the Maine outdoors has to offer through snowshoeing, hiking, and camping.