About Strengthen LA
A catalyst for positive change in Lewiston Auburn, Strengthen LA brings together community and business leaders to bridge the gap between career seekers and our local employers. Our collective effort leverages and enhances existing workforce services, education, and training opportunities to create financial stability and support economic growth.
By leveraging existing resources and driving integration and partnership, we achieve measured results and eliminate gaps in community resources. With an eye on constant improvement and adaptability to future leaders, we strive for a strong local economy, sustained businesses, and fully employed residents with family-sustaining wages.
Join us in our vision for a prosperous Lewiston/Auburn, where every member of the community makes a positive impact on our strong, local economy. Let’s work together to unlock the full potential of our city!
Brian Pickard
Director of Community Workforce Partnerships
As the Director of Community Workforce Partnerships for Strengthen LA, Brian provides backbone support to the growing, community collaborative. Works closely with community leaders who employ local career seekers, provide education and training, and individual support to those living and working the Lewiston Auburn area.
Brian was born and raised in Northern Maine but has come to the Strengthen LA from Vermont. Brian brings his experience in affordable housing development, non-profit public transportation, and collaborative work to his role in addressing workforce needs. With degrees in Business Administration and Accounting as well as a focus on operational improvement and process, Brian brings a diverse skill set to Strengthen LA’s mission.
Outside of Strengthen LA, Brian enjoys time with friends and family enjoying all that Maine has to offer. Whether spending time near a lake, playing disc golf with his sons and friends, or just spending an evening around a game table, Brian appreciates what it means to have returned to his Maine roots.
Virginia Keel
Employment Opportunity Coach
“Forgiveness cleanses the soul, enriches the heart and strengthens character.”
As Strengthen LA’s Employment Opportunity Coach, Virginia supports the coordination of community resources used to remove barriers for individuals looking to have a successful career and works hard to connect community members and business partners to community resources.
Always looking to make a positive impact in someone’s life, Virginia’s HR background and aptitude for finding and applying solutions make her a great fit for successfully matching candidates to new careers with local employers. Her expertise in diversity, equity, and inclusion makes her easy to talk to and accessible to her team members and career seekers.
Outside of the chamber, you can find Virginia working on DIY home projects, spending time with family and friends, crocheting, and crafting.
Our History
In 2020, the Lewiston Auburn Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce, along with other community stakeholders, recognized the need to address the workforce challenges that the communities of Lewiston and Auburn were facing. At the time, unemployment rates in the region were high, with some neighborhoods in Lewiston recording rates as high as 9%. Moreover, employers in key sectors such as healthcare, childcare, and construction industries had difficulties filling their job vacancies. The number of vacant positions and unemployed career seekers suggested that the skills of the workforce were not meeting the needs of our local employers. This gap was limiting the region’s economic growth and worsening the barriers to employment and healthcare access.
Recognizing these issues, StrengthenLA (SLA) was established to tackle the workforce development issues through a new strategy that challenged the traditional models. SLA began as a partnership with local service providers, municipalities, and employers to develop creative solutions to the communities’ challenges and increase the accessibility of services and programs. During the pandemic, SLA created systems that addressed the identified challenges in the region, while being flexible enough to adapt to gaps in the services offered.
Since its founding, SLA has grown to include more than 30 active organizations, and our numbers are growing daily. We are proud of our achievements, but we recognize that there is still work to be done. While the unemployment rate has decreased within the community during the pandemic, fewer people are participating in the workforce which makes SLA’s mission more important than ever!
Today, we continue to bridge the gap between career seekers and employers in Lewiston Auburn. We work to engage those who are not currently in the workforce and to attract outside talent to our communities. SLA envisions Lewiston Auburn as having everyone economically stable and our local employers have their workforce needs met. With a thriving population and growing local businesses, Lewiston Auburn will become stronger, more vibrant communities.
Whether you are a career seeker looking for your next opportunity, an employer with positions to fill, or a community organization with the resources to help, SLA is the place for you!