MaineCTE Business Summit: Full Schedule

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6:00pm EDT

Welcome Dinner & Opening Remarks

Sunday July 19, 2026 6:00pm - 7:00pm EDT

Opening and Welcome: Inspiration and Real-World Success

Paulette Bonneau and Bill Tracy
Enjoy a formal dinner to kick off the summit.

Sunday July 19, 2026 6:00pm - 7:00pm EDT

7:00pm EDT

Keynote Presentation: Russel McKenna, Morse Corporation

Sunday July 19, 2026 7:00pm - 8:00pm EDT

For decades, a stubborn stigma clouded Career and Technical Education (CTE), framing it as a secondary path for those not bound for college. While remnants of that perception still linger across parts of Maine, Russell McKenna single-handedly redefined what the future of CTE looks like for the Midcoast region.

Russell’s journey began in the Machine Tool program at the Mid-Coast School of Technology, where he quickly became known for completing complex projects in record-breaking time. However, it was his unique ability to bridge two worlds—pairing elite skill in the shop with a rigorous workload of AP Calculus and Physics - that set him apart.

The combination of hands-on experience and theoretical depth made him the ideal candidate for the prestigious Colorado School of Mines. There, he served as a Mechanical Engineering student and Machine Shop assistant, building a formidable resume that launched his career at Morse Corp. in Cambridge, Massachusetts.

Today, Russell stands as a living proof-of-concept. Because of his non-traditional path and professional success, students across midcoast Maine are no longer viewing CTE as a fallback—they are seeing it as a strategic decision to separate themselves from the competition.

Speakers

Russell McKenna

Morse Corporation

Sunday July 19, 2026 7:00pm - 8:00pm EDT

Keynote

MaineCTE Business Summit

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MaineCTE Business Summit

6:00pm EDT

7:00pm EDT

Russell McKenna

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