Shannon Haines

Shannon grew up in the Skowhegan area and earned a degree in environmental studies from Middlebury College in Vermont. After college she eventually made her way back to Maine where she worked at the state planning office in Augusta when the Edwards Dam was being removed. After years of attending and then coordinating volunteers for the Maine International Film Festival in Waterville, she served as the festival director for 15 years. She has also worked as the executive director of Waterville Main Street and as the executive director of the Maine Film Center. Since 2016, Shannon has served as President & CEO of Waterville Creates, leading the organization in its ongoing evolution as a cornerstone of Waterville’s arts and culture ecosystem, which has included overseeing a multi-organization merger, partnering with Colby College on the development of the Paul J. Schupf Art Center, and strategic positioning of the arts as a vital component of Waterville’s downtown revitalization efforts. She is a recipient of the Mid-Maine Chamber of Commerce’s Rising Star Award, the Maine Development Foundation’s Kenneth M. Curtis Leadership Award, and the Maine Downtown Center’s Downtown Visionary Award. Most recently, she was named by Mainebiz as one of the 2025 Outstanding Women in Business.

“I have lived in the Kennebec River Valley for most of my life and have dedicated my career to building healthier, more connected communities where all people have the opportunity to thrive. I believe that finding solutions to complex community challenges requires an unwavering commitment to respect diverse perspectives and establish common ground. I joined the Advisory Board to advocate for and support an inclusive process that invites all voices into the conversation and honors our collective past as we plan for our desired future.”