Heather Paquette is guided by her unwavering leadership purpose - Always Press Forward, Always Give Back. As the President of Good Shepherd Food Bank of Maine, she leads a dedicated team of hunger-relief professionals to address the root causes of hunger by exploring innovative solutions, sourcing nutritious and culturally relevant food, and collaborating with a network of over 600 partnerships across Maine. 

Heather's professional history reflects her commitment to innovation. Before joining the Food Bank, she player a pivotal role at Ahold Delhaize, where she led a team focused on addressing the changing needs of retail consumers and store associates during the industries' evolution and omnichannel ambitions.  Her team sourced, testes, and delivered innovative solutions to enhance the consumer experience for the five brands under the Ahold Delhaize umbrella. 
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As a University of Southern Maine graduate with a degree in Business Finance, Heather began her career with Hannaford Supermarkets in 1999 as a Retail Management Training (RMT) program participant. During her 22 years with the company, her roles spanned from Assistant Store Manager to Vice President Retail Operations for Maine and New Hampshire, demonstrating her versatility and dedication to the brand. 

Throughout her career, Heather took on diverse responsibilities, including marketing and brand management, leading cross-functional teams, and redefining operating models. Her final role at Hannaford was as Vice President of Retail Services, overseeing critical support functions such as payroll, asset protection, pharmacy, retail communications, and operations support. 

Beyond her professional endeavors, Heather is deeply involved in community service. She serves on the Board of Directors for the Boys & Girls Clubs of Southern Maine and co-chaired the United Way Tocqueville campaign. Heather also served as the board chair for the Maine March of Dimes Chapter from 2017 to 2019 as a board member for 11 years. 

Her contributions have not gone unnoticed. She was recognized in the Griffin Report's "Women of Influence in the Supermarket Industry" in 2021 and again in 2017, and she was named in their "40 under 40" in 2016. As a graduate of the NEW Executive Institute 2015-2016 program, Heather has keynoted at the UNE Health Majors' Leadership Conference and participated in panels for organizations like the Network of Executive Women, the National Diversity Council, and the University of Southern Maine. 

​Heather Paquette resides in Maine with her husband, Brian, and their two children. Beyond her professional commitment, she enjoys running and supporting her busy kids' activities, including participating in a unique cycling group!

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Join us and hear what motivates and energizes Heather!  Our host, Deb Neuman, will help us all lean in and learn!