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| Affiliation | Democratic |
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| Name | Laura Fortman |
| Email | None |
| Website | None |
| Born |
Unknown
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| Contributor | Craverguy |
| Last Modifed | RBH
Mar 17, 2018 02:48pm |
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| Info | Laura Fortman has spent the past 15 years of her career advocating for fair and safe working conditions in Maine workplaces and greater opportunities for Maine workers. In 2003, she was appointed by Governor Baldacci to serve as Commissioner of the Maine Department of Labor. In that role, she oversees an agency of 490 employees providing unemployment benefits, labor market information, employment services, labor law enforcement, and services to people with disabilities. She serves as the chair of Governor Baldacci’s Workforce Cabinet.
Under Fortman’s leadership the Maine Department of Labor is addressing the shortage of skilled workers in Maine through workforce policies that are helping more adult workers access education and training. In an era of reduced funding levels from all levels of government, Fortman has introduced lean government principles to the agency in an effort to provide the same or better customer service with fewer resources.
Prior to joining the administration, she served as the Executive Director of the Maine Women's Policy Center/Maine Women's Lobby based in Augusta, Ms. Fortman has spent much of her career focused on advancing those issues which impact women in Maine. From 1992-2003, she was responsible for the management, design and development of programs for two multifaceted sister organizations that share the joint mission of statewide advocacy for women and girls, particularly in the areas of economic security, freedom from violence, anti-discrimination and health care.
She was formerly the Executive Director of the Sexual Assault Crisis and Support Center in Augusta from 1987 to 1992. Furthermore, she has served from 1982 to 1985 as the Program Coordinator for the Women's Resource Center in Portsmouth, New Hampshire.
Fortman holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree in History from the University of New Hampshire and has completed the Harvard / Kennedy School of Government Program for Senior Executives in State and Local Government. She has served on numerous boards and commissions and is a member of the Maine Women's Hall of Fame. She is a recipient of the Maryann Hartman Award, the Maine Women's Fund Award, an award from the Maine Lesbian and Gay Political Alliance, an award from the Maine People’s Alliance and an honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters from the University of Maine at Augusta.
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