Northern Light Health board of directors elects new chair and vice chair at annual meeting

Date: 07/31/2026

Julie Dawson Williams has been elected as the chair of the Northern Light Health Board of Directors for a one-year term, and replaces outgoing chair John Ryan, who completed his third and final annual term. The board of directors also elected Kevin Raye to serve as vice chair. The election was held during the board's annual meeting on July 29 in Brewer, Maine. In addition, the board confirmed the annual slate of corporators as well as the annual slate of directors.
 
Julie Dawson Williams serves as the broker, owner, and chief executive officer of Dawson Inc., a family of companies: ERA Dawson Bradford Co. Realtors, Dawson Commercial Brokers, and Dawson Insurance Agency. Julie has been licensed since 2000 and serves on the Maine Listings Board of Directors. She previously served as director of legislative affairs at the New England Council and as the legislative correspondent on healthcare, art, and historic preservation in the office of U. S. Senator Susan M. Collins. She is a graduate of Bangor High School and Bowdoin College. Julie and her husband, Brian, live in Bangor, Maine with their two sons.

Kevin Raye, along with his wife Karen, owns and operate Raye’s Mustard in Eastport, Maine, a family business since 1900. He also serves as realtor and designated broker for Due East Real Estate in Eastport. Kevin has a deep understanding of Maine’s political and governmental landscape having served in several positions under U.S. Senator Olympia Snowe, including Chief of Staff. He also served as a member of the Maine Senate, representing the 29th district in northeastern Washington County from December 2004 to December 2012. In addition, he served a two-year term as president of the Maine Senate. Kevin is a graduate of Shead Memorial High School in Eastport and Bates College. He and Karen reside in Eastport, Maine.

A complete list of the Board of Directors and the Corporators can be found at: https://northernlighthealth.org/About-Us/Governance.
   
About Northern Light Health
At Northern Light Health, we’re building a better approach to healthcare because we believe people deserve access to care that works for them. As an integrated health delivery system serving Maine, we’re raising the bar with no-nonsense solutions that are leading the way to a healthier future for our state. Our care team—in hospitals, primary and specialty care practices, long-term and home healthcare, behavioral healthcare, and ground and air medical transport and emergency care—are committed to making healthcare work for you: our patients, communities, and employees. To learn more about Northern Light Health and our locations across Maine, visit www.northernlighthealth.org.