PRESQUE ISLE - University of Maine System Chancellor James Page will deliver the keynote address at the Aroostook Partnership for Progress/LEADers Encouraging Aroostook Development annual meeting at 7:30 a.m. Oct. 31 at the University of Maine at Presque Isle Campus Center.

   After breakfast, the agenda will include a recap of APP and LEAD accomplishments from the previous year and a look ahead at opportunities and challenges. The presentations will be followed by the address from Chancellor Page.

Chancellor James Page

   "It is important to have an annual meeting to reinforce to all the Partnership investors the focus and priorities we share under the Mobilize Northern Maine economic strategy and to review the progress that has been made from our efforts over the last year," said APP President Bob Dorsey. "APP will briefly discuss progress in our four economic focus sectors, agriculture, energy, forestry and manufacturing; highlight our Education to Industry initiative initial progress and present plaques to our eight new investors."

   "This is an opportunity for the LEAD membership to give direct input into the future of LEAD strategies and initiatives and to hear a recap of projects and programs that LEAD has been engaged in over the past year," added LEAD Executive Director Ryan Pelletier.

   "Having Chancellor Page as a speaker is especially important given our Education to Industry initiative, his background as a business CEO and now the University Chancellor given our need to increase our workforce skills, fill emerging Aroostook jobs and increase our 18-44-year-old workforce," said Dorsey.

   Dr. James H. Page was appointed Chancellor by the University of Maine System board of trustees in March 2012 to lead their repositioning of the University System to meet Maine's 21st century higher education needs.

   Prior to becoming Chancellor, Dr. Page was principal and CEO of the James W. Sewall Company, a national consulting organization founded in 1880 and headquartered in Old Town, specializing in forestry, natural resources, civil and spatial engineering.

   Page is the first University of Maine System Chancellor to be born in Maine or to have been educated at one of the System's universities. He was born and raised in Caribou, and obtained his BA in History from the University of Maine at Fort Kent. Subsequently he completed Master's work in the philosophy of physics from St. Andrews University, Scotland and obtained his Ph.D. in the philosophical foundations of mathematics from MIT.

   The breakfast is free, but pre-registration is required. To register, contact Judy Dinsmore at Northern Maine Development Commission, 498-8736 or by email at jdinsmore@nmdc.org.