Smith takes over as head of New Ventures Maine

AUGUSTA — Janet Smith has been named to succeed Gilda Nardone at New Ventures Maine. Nardone is retiring after 43 years of service.
Smith’s new role is as of Nov. 1, and Nardone will stay on until Dec. 31 to help with the transition, NVME officials said.
In her 43 years as executive director, Nardone guided the organization in its establishment as Displaced Homemakers beginning in 1978, as it grew into Maine Centers for Women, Work, and Community in the mid-1990s, and as it became New Ventures Maine in 2015. Throughout her tenure, Nardone has been an advocate for women pursuing career changes, entrepreneurial opportunities, and financial literacy.
“I’ve worked with so many people who have followed their aspirations and dreams, and they’ve accomplished amazing things,” Nardone said. “I look forward to staying connected and continuing to champion the organization,” she said.
Smith joined New Ventures Maine in 2001 as the Farmington Center coordinator, and in 2004, she became the Regional Manager for the Western Region, including Franklin, Androscoggin, and Oxford Counties. She has helped develop and teaches NVME’s comprehensive money-management and career-planning classes, along with teaching other workshops for twenty-plus years. She also designed, developed, and implemented NVME’s Rainy Day Savings Program and has spent seven years leading CA$H Maine statewide activities.
New Ventures Maine is a statewide education and economic development that offers training, often at no cost, and individual coaching in planning careers, starting businesses, managing money and building assets and developing leaders.