Meet Our Team
Craig Larrabee
President & CEO
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Craig joined JMG in 1993, the year JMG was founded, as a classroom Specialist in Washington County. After just two years, Craig was promoted to a manager position, and moved to the company’s headquarters in Augusta. He became Director of Operations in 1999, Executive Vice President in 2002, and was appointed President & CEO by the Board of Directors in 2005.
Under his leadership, JMG has successfully implemented an aggressive expansion plan growing the company from serving 1,500 students per year, to its current reach of more than 12,000 students served annually. Originally limited to high school programs, Craig led the charge to create a JMG middle school program; and launched the design of the JMG College Success Program.
Craig is a Maine native, who grew up working on his grandparents’ farm, and is a graduate of Belfast High School. As a first-generation college student, he attended the University of Maine at Farmington (UMF) and graduated with a degree in secondary education in 1992. Twenty years later, in 2012, he served as the Co-Chair for UMF’s 150th Anniversary Celebration and was the recipient of the University’s Alumni Achievement Award.
During his tenure, JMG has garnered several awards of recognition, including being named an Economic Champion by the Maine Development Foundation, a Giraffe Award from the Maine Children’s Alliance, and the Kenney Award for Outstanding Community Service. Craig was the first recipient of the Weston L. Bonney Education Leadership Award awarded annually by Educate Maine.
Craig says, "I chose to work at JMG in 1993 because JMG gave me the opportunity to work with a population of students that I knew from personal experience needed help and guidance to become successful. JMG is the best opportunity to make a difference."
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JMG since 1993
President & CEO since 2005
B.A., Secondary Education, University of Maine at Farmington
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Kim Acker Lipp
Executive Vice President
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My choice to be a part of JMG is based on the culmination of my values, my own education, and a reflection of what I want to do with my life. I believe when excellent leadership – leadership that sets high expectations, can articulate a vision, and invests in building an innovative and inclusive culture – is combined with talented educators who vigilantly keep students at the center of their efforts, lives can be changed individually and collectively.
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BS, Telecommunications, University of Florida
M.Ed., Lesley College
Maine Media Workshop & College, Documentary Certificate Program
Harvard Kennedy School, Executive Education Certificate Program
JMG since 2003
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Matt St. John
Chief Operating Officer
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JMG has amazing people. We are collaborative, hard working, and willing to go the extra mile to ensure our students' success. It feels good at the end of the day knowing that we have a group of people who are providing genuine support for so many Maine students.
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University of Maine at Farmington: BA English
University of Maine at Farmington: BA Studio Art
Certificate in Executive Leadership from Cornell University
JMG since 2010
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Jon Mason
Chief Strategy Officer
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I love the state of Maine. My career needs to be something that gives back to the state that has given me so much. JMG’s mission directly aligns with this desire.
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BA, Financial Economics, University of Maine
Minor, Business Administration, University of Maine
MBA, Boston University
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Jane Golden
VP Human Resources
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From the moment I heard about JMG and what it did for Maine students, I was excited and wanted to go to work for JMG. My Bachelor’s degree was from the University of Maine at Farmington in Rehabilitation. I asked Pete Thibodeau, who was the JMG Vice President at the time, if I could do an internship with JMG to develop a curriculum for drug and alcohol prevention in 1994, and I have been at JMG ever since!
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BS, Rehabilitation
JMG since 1994
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Greg Johnson
VP Finance and Administration
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Since relocating to Maine, one of my non-negotiable goals in searching for a permanent role has been to find an organization that is dedicated to ensuring that Maine is a great place to work and live. JMG's multi-tiered approach to helping students focus on their education and building pathways to employment while connecting them with employers throughout the state is filling a critical need and I am thrilled to be doing my small part.
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JMG since 2019
BA, Political Science, Brown University
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Charity West
VP Innovation, Development & Communications
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JMG's mission and vision reflects my personal and professional values while aligning seamlessly with my belief that communities working together can create dynamic impacts. It is a privilege to work for JMG and keep students at the center of our work to ensure the vibrancy of Maine's workforce and economic future.
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JMG since 2021
BS Environmental Science
Harvard Business School, Business Analytics
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Tracie Travers
VP of Strategic Partnerships
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Student centered, professional development opportunities, and interactive involved employees.
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BA, Leadership and Organizational Studies, University of Southern Maine
MS from University of Southern Maine in Educational Psychology with a concentration in Applied Behavioral Analysis
JMG since 2012
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Ed Leeman
VP Operations
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I chose JMG because I wanted to make a difference in children's lives and show them what the world has to offer. JMG not only provided me with this platform, it has given me my second family. The culture that we have created in this organization is second to none, and I feel blessed to be working with such great people.
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BS, Business Administration, Husson University
Business Education Certification at University of Maine at Machias
JMG since 1993
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Sam Brink
VP Extended Learning Opportunities
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I love being part of a team that is results driven, student centered, and committed to pivoting to truly meet the needs of Maine's students.
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B.A. in English Language & Literature, University of Southern Maine
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Paige Holmes
Senior Director of Foundation & Corporate Relations
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While working in higher education for most of a decade, it became clear that students' lives and our economy are best served when the seeds for post-secondary success are planted in middle and high school. JMG uses comprehensive and innovative strategies that simultaneously focus on improving students' lives while keeping the needs of Maine's workforce in mind. Leveraging public and private partnerships and staying agile, I think JMG is the not-so-secret ingredient in Maine's successes. I wake up each day knowing that all the effort I put into my work will greatly benefit more than 12,000 students each year and the state I love so dearly.
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Master of Business Administration - University of Maine
Bachelor of Science, International Relations - Connecticut College
Advanced Spanish, Intercultura, Costa Rica
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Dena-Lee Shorey
Director of Finance
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I have found that working for JMG is very satisfying. I don't work with the students but I help support the wonderful mission of JMG.
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MBA
JMG since 2013
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Robin Allen
Human Resources Director
She/Her/Hers
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I wanted to work for JMG because it is a student-centered organization with data to back up the work being done. I stay with JMG because of the family culture, strong and innovative leadership, and dedicated staff.
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BA, Philosophy, University of Vermont
Additional, University of Maine at Farmington and University of Phoenix
JMG since 2008
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Penson Bartlett
Regional Director
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JMG is more than a company, we are a family! The company culture is second to none. The impact we are making with our students is so inspiring. I am very proud to work for JMG.
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BA, Business, University of Maine at Farmington
JMG since 1995
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Kelly Bourassa
Regional Director
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Working with students is rewarding; working with students who have barriers to education, even more rewarding. As a company, we work hard, expectations are high, and we are a family.
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JMG since 2011
JMG Master Specialist, 2014
BS, University of New Hampshire
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Toby Cole
Regional Director
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JMG gets it. Knowing that a company cares so much about its employees and the students that we serve is rewarding.
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JMG since 2014
VFW Maine High School Teacher of the Year, 2018
BS in Sports Management, Springfield College
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Elizabeth DeGrandpre
Regional Director
She/Her/Hers
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After working in higher education for over 8 years, I saw many students lack the exact skill-sets that JMG teaches students across all ages. With student growth and development being at the forefront of my work, I am excited for the opportunity to teach the skills to help students be successful in their future endeavors.
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JMG since 2019
BS in Medical Biology, University of New England
MS in Counseling, Central Connecticut State University
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Mark Pullen
Regional Director
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The opportunity to positively impact students on a daily basis. Personally and professionally this is incredibly gratifying. What makes JMG stand out to me is the team-like atmosphere that allows our Specialists, Directors and entire JMG team to excel and enables our students to thrive.
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BS in Business Administration, Husson University
JMG since 2014
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Julie Sinclair
Regional Director
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JMG is an organization that's driven to support and mentor Maine's youth. I am thrilled to work for a business with a teamwork and family culture
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JMG since 2019
BA in Elementary Education, University of Maine, Specializing in Human Development.
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Jessica Ward
Regional Director
She/Her/Hers
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I like the positive culture and the work atmosphere. I also like working with students who need support and going the extra mile to ensure their success.
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JMG since 2019
BA in Biology from the University of Maine
MA in Educational Leadership from University of Maine Farmington
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Lindsey Welch
Regional Director
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I love how involved JMG Specialists are with the team building activities that shape students into future leaders.
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BA, Communications, University of Southern Maine
Co-Op Certification
JMG since 2014
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Katie Wood
Regional Director
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To help students navigate high school and beyond.
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JMG since 2016
BA, Psychology
Associates Degree in Mental health
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Kara Boone
HOPE/PaS Program Director
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JMG allows me to support students of all ages in a way that truly makes a difference each and every day. I've worked with foster care youth; a very unique group of young people who work so hard to overcome personal struggles. It's a privilege to be a part of that work and be a support to them in the work they're doing for themselves. Now working as Director of the HOPE/PaS partnership, I am thrilled to have the opportunity to expand our services to students ages 16-64 that are parenting and building the skills and knowledge they need to have thriving careers in Maine.
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BA, Rehabilitation Services, University of Maine Farmington
JMG Since 2005
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Jessica Porter
Special Projects Director
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To work in education where I can make a real impact for students, their families, and our communities. It is ever-changing and always rewarding to work with passionate like-minded people.
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Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education from the University of Maine at Farmington
2nd-year in graduate studies at Merrimack College
JMG since 2014
Master Specialist 2017
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Cory Paquette
Model and Data Analyst
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I wanted an opportunity to work with students in a non-traditional setting in the classroom.
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Served in the US Army SSG/EG and US Army/NG
BS, Rehabilitation Services, University of Maine at Farmington
JMG since 2009
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Emily Roderick
Operations Manager
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JMG is a great organization that helps improve the lives of Maine children.
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University of Maine at Farmington
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Craig Smith
Communications Manager
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I am thrilled to be working for an organization that is doing unbelievable work to support Maine students.
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BA in Broadcast Journalism and Political Science, Syracuse University
JMG since 2022
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Mary-Augusta Fortin
Accounting Specialist
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Initially, it was my desire to work closer to my son's school, but I very quickly realized that I had become part of a very special and unique organization.
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BA, Communications, University of Southern Maine
JMG since 2017
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Samantha Turcotte
Executive Assistant
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JMG works to give students the tools needed to become productive and successful. With an aging population in Maine, it is important to set the next generation up for success — exactly what JMG is doing.
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JMG Since 2019
BA in Political Science and Psychology
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Katrina Smith
Administrative Assistant
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I wanted to be a part of an organization making a positive impact across Maine. I enjoy supporting with the details, helping the organization run smoothly behind the scenes.
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Bachelor’s Degree
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