Maine DOE team member Colene O’Neill is being highlighted this week as part of the Get to Know the Maine DOE Team Campaign. Learn a little more about Colene in this brief question and answer.
What are your roles with DOE?
I work on the Special Services team at DOE. Day to day I support the State Director and the entire team with various administrative tasks and legislative bill monitoring. I also support special education directors and educators across the state with local entitlement grant questions, questions regarding regulations and fielding other calls and emails.
What do you like best about your job?
I like that I do something different every day. From working on a team helping to rewrite regulations, to setting up and working with multiple calendars to facilitate meetings and trainings or scheduling interviews for the hiring process. I enjoy being involved in the internal policy committee and the morale team at DOE.
How or why did you decide on this career?
I have a business background and have always been on the administrative side of business office management, human resources and technology. I spend 12 years as a bookkeeper for a school district and was pleased to be able to apply that knowledge to my current position.
What do you like to do outside of work for fun?
One of my passions has always been cooking and entertaining. I own a catering business and love helping people celebrate life’s events with food. I also love nature walks, yoga, traveling and spending time with my family and friends. I am looking forward to the birth of my first grand baby in November!