My career in health care has been long and wonderful.  I have had the honor and privilege to serve seniors since I was a young nurse. Over the years folks have shared life stories with me that are beyond amazing. As executive director I have been a part of each and every department striving to make Dirigo Pines an exceptional community where residents are proud to call it their "home." 

My parents taught me to "respect my elders" and to "learn from other's mistakes and good fortunes".  I've had the good fortune to have many great mentors over the years who have taught me to take pride in my work, to always take the high road on issues, and give loyalty where deserved.  My family helped me to be patient, help others, do random acts of kindness, and to never burn a bridge because you may have to back over it in the future.

After nearly 20 years in healthcare, I'm still learning new things and meeting more interesting people.  I get great personal satisfaction from helping residents and families make their move to Dirigo Pines.

I began my culinary career soon after I graduated from Bangor High School.  For twelve years, I was employed as the executive chef at the Greenhouse Restaurant in Bangor creating and preparing menus.  From there it was Chez Michele in Lincolnville Beach for a summer and then to The Lucerne Inn in Lucerne-In-Maine.  As head chef I was not only responsible for the ala carte menus and meal preparation, but I was also in charge of a very busy banquet business.

I am very happy to be part of Dirigo Pines since it began in 2003 and look forward to sharing my culinary skills with a team of exceptionally talented people for years to come.

I have enjoyed my career in nursing working with staff and adminstration to provide the best care possbile for our residents.  I get great satisfaction from working with residents to improve their quality of life.

Born and raised outside of Boston, my parents chose Midcoast Maine as our vacation destination before permanently relocating the family to Tenants Harbor in 1970. Following my affiliation with several accounting firms, I accepted a position with a Bangor developer who was involved with the restoration of several historical buildings located downtown. In February 1985, I joined Eastern Maine Healthcare Systems. As Business Manager for Dirigo Pines, I not only have the privilege and pleasure of working closely with staff and residents, but it is also gratifying to be part of a team that is committed to making Dirigo Pines the finest retirement community in Maine.

As a high school student volunteering in an elder nursing facility in New York, I was inspired by the Activity Director and right then I knew that this was what I wanted to do with my life. Years later in 1989, after moving to Maine, I had the opportunity to being my career in activities. Since then I have worked with seniors in a variety of residential and community settings. I feel Activities are the heart and soul of any residential facility. At Dirigo Pines, our program provides residents with a strong connection to the community and its many resources, while supporting their intellectual, creative and recreational interests - and we have FUN doing it!

Being with the Dirigo Pines project from the beginning has provided an opportunity to see the Dream of a "new vision of home" become a Reality.  But a greater privilege has been the opportunity to share laughter, tears, and love with all of our amazing residents.   My current duties of managing both our Technology and Laundry/housekeeping initiatives provide a unique variety to my work days and an opportunity to deliver superior customer service to both internal and external clients. 

Peter King , Maintenance Manager

Peter King knows the local area well having been born in Old Town, and now living in Milford, Maine.  For almost 30 years Peter was employed at a local paper production facility; twenty years as a Technician Specialist. He was using hi-tech equipment to find flaws in the process and repair equipment before it became a problem. The training, techniques, and problem solving skills he gained will help keep Dirigo Pines a top notch facility and a very special place to live. In Peter’s words, “the first thing I noticed about Dirigo Pines was the how friendly and dedicated the staff are towards making their residents happy and satisfied. I’m very proud to be Maintenance Director of Dirigo Pines Retirement Facility, and being part of another great team.”