Fresh Ideas #26

Sunday, March 11, 2012

Maine is home to many forward-thinking individuals, who keep our state interesting in their pursuit of “fresh” ideas, in areas as diverse as adaptive skiing services, medicine and youth leadership. Where do these individuals get their ideas, and what impact have they had?

Our guests include: Les Otten, one of Maine’s most widely recognized entrepreneurs, founder of Maine Adaptive Sports and Recreation & currently of Maine Energy Systems. Dr. Craig Schneider, Director of Integrative Medicine at MMC and Linda Varrell & Frankee Chapa of Maine Youth Leadership.

Guests

Les Otten

Les Otten is currently involved with Maine Energy Systems and Future Metrics. He is the former CEO of the American Skiing Company. Since resigning as Chief Executive Officer in 2001, Otten has been involved in numerous other businesses and industries, including Major League Baseball’s Boston Red Sox.

Otten received a B.S. in Business Administration from Ithaca College in 1971, after which he worked for Killington and Sunday River ski resorts. In 1973, at the age of 23, Otten was named ski operation manager of Sunday River in Newry, Maine. In 1980 he purchased Sunday River, and his company, LBO Resort Enterprises, grew by acquiring Sugarbush, Attitash Bear Peak, and Cranmore.

Dr. Craig Schneider

Dr. Craig Schneider was featured in the April 2011 issue of Maine Magazine. Dr. Schneider received his AB from Harvard College and his M.D. from the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Columbia University. Following residency training at Maine Medical Center Family Practice Residency Program he completed fellowship training at the Program in Integrative Medicine at the University of Arizona.

Dr. Schneider heads up the integration of complementary and alternative medicine at the residency program at MMC. Dr. Schneider has a consulting practice in integrative medicine and also maintains a family medicine practice at the Maine Medical Falmouth site. He precepts residents and students in the outpatient setting. Outside of work he enjoys spending time with family, hiking, mountain biking and cooking.

More from the Show

Our “Give Back” segment highlights Maine Youth Leadership with Linda Varrell and Frankee Chapa.

Linda started Broadreach Public Relations in December 2006 as a way to help businesses and organizations tell their story to raise their profile. She is a 25-year veteran of the financial services industry. Linda holds a Master of Science in Organizational Leadership and is pursuing a Global MBA. She is active in the community, focusing on Youth Development and Community Service, is an adjunct faculty member at Thomas College as part of their Business Department, and has worked with numerous nonprofit boards.

With a history of initiating and leading high-impact growth and improvement strategies for diverse organizations, Linda has demonstrated her expertise in strategic planning, brand development, media relations, community relations, and project management. She has led numerous initiatives for her clients that have increased market visibility while creating goodwill for organizations with their target audiences.

Linda Varrell, President of Broadreach Public Relations joined the Maine Youth Leadership Board in 2002 and is presently Seminar Co-Chair, a role she has held for 6 seminars. She resides in Yarmouth with her husband, Paul.

Frankee Chapa is a marketing consultant with MaineToday Digital. She joined the Maine Youth Leadership board of directors in March of 2011 and attended MYL as an ambassador in 2000. She lives in Westbrook with her husband and four year-old daughter.