[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 157 (2011), Part 5]
[Senate]
[Page 6767]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                         ADDITIONAL STATEMENTS

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                      TRIBUTE TO ERICA QUIN-EASTER

 Ms. SNOWE. Mr. President, women-owned businesses are growing 
at one and a half times the national average in the United States. This 
astonishing statistic alone is impressive, but it should also be noted 
that despite this growth women owned small businesses face unique 
challenges. Thankfully there are programs in place that provide 
guidance to these entrepreneurs by individuals with specialized 
knowledge in women's business issues.
  Today I commend and recognize an exceptional woman who epitomizes the 
core values of entrepreneurship with conviction and competence--Erica 
Quin-Easter, a microenterprise coordinator at Maine Centers for Women, 
Work & Community in Presque Isle. Ms. Quin-Easter was recently named 
Maine's 2011 Women in Business Champion by the U.S. Small Business 
Administration, and she is being recognized today for this achievement 
at a luncheon in Bangor. This is a richly deserved honor as Ms. Quin-
Easter continuously focuses on enhancing women's abilities to bring to 
fruition their dreams of small business ownership.
  Maine Centers for Women, Work & Community was founded in 1978. It 
serves as the only statewide comprehensive women's economic development 
organization in Maine. In 2008, Ms. Quin-Easter joined the Maine Center 
for Women, Work & Community at the Presque Isle location. The Presque 
Isle location serves Aroostook County, our State's largest and 
northernmost county. Since joining Women, Work & Community, Ms. Quin-
Easter has assisted nearly 500 entrepreneurs on topics from loans to 
taxes to business plans.
  Ms. Quin-Easter also strives to educate the greater small business 
community, extending her reach beyond those who may utilize the 
center's resources. For example, this past March she wrote an article 
for the Bangor Daily News to enlighten small business owners on taking 
control of their business finances. Work such as this demonstrates Ms. 
Quin-Easter's commitment to ensuring that small businesses throughout 
Maine prosper. She also assisted in organizing a day-long seminar for 
women called ``ALL for Women''--Aroostook Leadership and Learning for 
Women--to connect them with other business and community leaders and 
mentors to assist in gathering insight and confidence to reach for 
their dreams of self employment.
  In addition to Ms. Quin-Easter's excellent work for small businesses, 
she continually seeks to enhance and promote her community. As a long-
time musician and composer, Ms. Quin-Easter recently collaborated with 
poets and musicians to arrange ``(F)light.'' This piece will showcase 
Women in Harmony, a 60-member chorus of women's voices in Portland, 
with whom Ms. Quin-Easter previously sang.
  Furthermore, Ms. Quin-Easter works on the board of directors for 
Momentum Aroostook Board and Wintergreen Arts Center. While engaging in 
these philanthropic endeavors, Ms. Quin-Easter is also a University of 
Maine Canadian-American Center fellow. For one person this is an 
extraordinary workload, but Ms. Quin-Easter's daily energy and 
enthusiasm shine throughout all her work. Her many contributions to 
Maine, and Aroostook County in particular, demonstrate her commitment 
to enhancing cultural diversity across our State and helping others 
improve their own conditions.
  Erica Quin-Easter is truly an inspiring individual. Her dedication to 
encouraging and counseling women entrepreneurs and small business 
owners is exemplary and inspiring. I thank Erica for her tireless work 
on behalf of women and congratulate her on the distinction of being 
named ``Maine's 2011 Women in Business Champion'' by the U.S. Small 
Business Administration, a very well deserved honor.

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