Leveraging a Network and Learning to Lead MacKenzie Riley Young | July 17, 2020
Molly Woodward

Molly Woodward ’13 first moved to central Maine ten years ago to attend Thomas College. She moved from the small town of Burlington, ME, and in Waterville, she found a community at Thomas College.  
  
“I met so many wonderful people at Thomas who remain my closest friends to this day. The community that the College builds for its students is very special. The professors are experts in their field and have real life experience to share, making the education one of a kind.”   

The summer of Molly’s junior year, she began an internship at the Mid-Maine Chamber of Commerce working for alumna Kim (Nadeau) Lindlof ’91, the organization’s CEO.  

“That’s where life really changed for me,” Molly says. “I fell in love with central Maine. I made meaningful contacts with business owners who were influential to the community. Kim became a true inspiration to me – she taught me the importance of personal follow up and organization and how to do those things well in a business setting. Kim was the first person to ever tell me I had a marketable skill – she told me I was good at sales after proving that to her through multiple projects. That pride in knowing I was good at something gave me the confidence to grow my career.” 
  
Recently, Molly secured a new role as Business Development Officer for New Dimensions Federal Credit Union. Molly describes this as her dream job – building relationships and promoting the Credit Union in the area.   
  
“I couldn’t be happier with where I am and what I get to do every day. Thomas College and the College’s network of alumni helped build me to be the person I am today. That love of community I’ve mentioned so many times, that flows through me every single day. The love for this community pushes me every single day to dig in deep and give back through community service, board leadership, and continuing to foster the relationships that I have made.”  
  
Molly was named Central Maine Growth Council’s Emerging Leader of 2019, thanks to her work and service in the community. 

“This year marks ten years of living and working in central Maine, and the Thomas community is still a major part of my life,” Molly notes. “I just saw [retired faculty members] Dog Wallace and Betty-Jane Meader, and I run into [faculty members] David Geller, Joe Donato, and Darlene Ratte ’86, M.B.A. ’88 all the time. Who can say their professors remember them by name and care enough to interact with them seven years after graduating? That’s the Thomas College community.”  
  
She also met her husband, Richard Pierce ’14, at Thomas College. They married the fall after Richard graduated and now live in Oakland. “Thomas College is in such a vibrant community, full of other alumni living and prospering together. I encourage each student to find a way to get involved with the community; no matter what your personality type or interests, there is something for you. I know that Thomas has given me the tools for success and the support I need to achieve my goals.”  

This article was originally published in the Winter/Spring 2020 Thomas Magazine.