Laurie Lachance

Laurie Lachance joined the Versant Power Board of Directors in October 2024. She is the President Emerita of Thomas College in Maine, where she served as President for twelve years before her retirement from the College. Laurie has also previously served as President and CEO of the Maine Development Foundation, as Maine’s State Economist (for three governors), and as the Corporate Economist at Central Maine Power Co.

In addition to Versant Power, Laurie also serves on the boards of the Maine Employers Mutual Insurance Company (MEMIC) and Bangor Savings Bank.

Laurie has held several previous board positions, including Chair of the Educare Central Maine and Co-Chair of the Maine Economic Recovery Committee. She also previously served on the Boards of the Maine State Chamber of Commerce, Foxcroft Academy, Worthington Scholarship Foundation, and Educate Maine, in addition to several other civic leadership roles.

Laurie holds a Master’s in Business Administration from Thomas College, a Bachelor of Arts in economics from Bowdoin College, and is an Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters from the University of Maine at Presque Isle, Bowdoin College, and Thomas College. For four decades, she has been a frequent author and speaker on leadership, education, and the economy of Maine and has been the recipient of many awards, more recently including the Maine Women’s Hall of Fame (2014), Mainebiz Next List as a trailblazer in her industry (2015), Maine Magazine as one of the 50 Mainers Charting the State’s Future (2016), Junior Achievement Maine Business Hall of Fame (2018), American Heart Association’s Crystal Heart Award (2022), Mainebiz Women to Watch Honoree (2022), Educare Central Maine Distinguished Leadership Award (2024) and the Maine State Chamber of Commerce Dirigo Award (2024).