Q & A with Heather Paquette ’99, President, Good Shepherd Food Bank of Maine
What brought you to USM?
I was in my second year at the University of Maine at Farmington and truly enjoying my experience. It took some time to settle on a major, but when I finally chose business administration, I became increasingly intrigued by the opportunities at USM School of Business. While waiting tables in Kennebunkport, I met several students from USM’s program, and what really drew me in was the chance to engage with the School of Business Student Association and participate in events that fostered strong connections with the business community. That’s when I knew transferring to USM was the right decision.
What was your experience at USM like?
Joining USM during my junior year was challenging, especially since many friend groups were already well-established. I had to navigate how to fit in and build connections. Fortunately, the structure of group projects helped ease that transition, as much of the work was done in small groups outside the classroom. I’ve always been willing to put in the effort to achieve good grades, and that drive made it easier to connect with others who shared the same motivation. Maine attracts some exceptional talent when it comes to professors, and I was fortunate to learn from some truly intelligent and impactful educators. The hard work I put in paid off, resulting in a fantastic education that I’m deeply grateful for.
How did your career unfold after attending USM?
During my senior year at USM, I interviewed for the highly competitive Hannaford Retail Management Training Program, which received hundreds of applications for roughly a dozen spots. I was incredibly nervous but hopeful to be considered, and I was elated when I was accepted.
The first year was particularly challenging – the program trains leaders from the ground up, so I learned every aspect of the business, from mopping floors and conducting inventories to presenting to the President’s staff. I quickly fell in love with retail operations and never looked back, progressing through 14 different roles over 22 years. Ultimately, I led retail support services for all Hannaford stores.
Later, I had the opportunity to take on even greater responsibility with Ahold Delhaize, Hannaford’s parent company, where I reported directly to the President. I led a team tasked with designing the store of the future, focusing on retail innovation across five brands and 2,000 stores. These experiences provided invaluable leadership lessons that I now bring to my role at Good Shepherd Food Bank. Here, we apply creative solutions and collaborate with hundreds of partners to work toward achieving food security for everyone in Maine.
Of your many accomplishments, what are you most proud of?
While at Hannaford, I had the opportunity to establish the company’s first Business Resource Group (BRG), dedicated to supporting women in the workplace. This initiative was something I was deeply passionate about, but it was also quite complex. As with everything in my career, I sought out the best people to collaborate with, and together we brought it to life. We focused on three main goals: providing role models and access to leadership, building skills, and influencing business decisions. Just one year later, our Women’s BRG won the Best BRG award from Hannaford’s parent company. It was a career highlight and a testament to what can be achieved when you combine passion with teamwork.
What excites you the most about the work you do at Good Shepherd Food Bank of Maine?
I am both humbled and energized by the immense responsibility that comes with this role. At first glance, our mission might seem daunting – 175,000 Mainers face food insecurity every day, including 45,000 children, spread across the entire state, with a team of 112 people working to meet these needs. But when we break it down and consider the incredible ecosystem we operate in, the task becomes not just possible, but achievable. We are fortunate to have unbelievable dedicated partners and allies in the food security landscape. From our national partners at Feeding America to the more than 600 partner agencies that distribute food to our neighbors, along with our government leaders, generous donors, the business community, and the countless other nonprofits we collaborate with – hunger is a solvable problem. I believe Maine will be the first state to figure it out because we have everything we need.
What do you do for fun/what brings you joy?
Helping others brings me pure joy – whether it’s through volunteering in the community, spending time with my family, or offering a hand to someone in need. It’s what fuels me and gives my work meaning.