NSB’s Janice de Lima Wins Distinguished New Ventures Maine Award

AUGUSTA—Janice de Lima, Community Reinvestment Act Officer VP at NSB, received the distinguished Merle Nelson Women Making a Difference Award from New Ventures Maine. In addition, de Lima received a Legislative Sentiment from the Maine State Legislature as an expression of recognition for her contributions (picture, caption below).

New Ventures Maine presented the award at its recent Making It Happen Celebration. The award celebrates an individual who has made a meaningful and lasting impact on the lives of Maine women and their families. This aligns closely with the core mission of New Ventures Maine: helping Maine people succeed in a changing economy and achieve economic security for themselves and their families.

Merle Nelson, the first recipient of the award, was recognized for her enduring gift to this state and especially to the women of Maine through her work as a Legislator. Merle was the champion of what was then known as the Displaced Homemakers Bill, passed in 1977, which would give women “a hand up not a hand out,” as she put it then. The Displaced Homemakers program operated as Women, Work, and Community for many years and, in 2015, changed its name to New Ventures Maine.

Pictured (L to R): Melissa Rock, Marketing Director SVP at NSB; Rick Flagg, Senior Commercial Banking Officer EVP at NSB; Darci Hamm, Chief Operating Officer EVP at NSB; Janice de Lima; Holly Pepin, Commericial Loan Officer Team Lead RVP at NSB; Jessica Scamman, Commercial Loan Officer VP at NSB.