Leia Kons joined the NVME staff in early December, fitting in onboarding and related training before the holidays. As operations manager, she oversees administrative and financial systems including finance, information technology, and strategic procurement. She also supervises statewide administrative staff.

Leia’s professional experience working for nonprofit organizations supporting entrepreneurs and in higher education admissions is a great fit for her position at NVME. In her most recent post as program associate at New England Medical Innovation Center (NEMIC) in Rhode Island, Leia provided program and project management support to entrepreneurs in MedTech and healthcare fields. Prior to joining NEMIC, she worked as a program coordinator at RIHub, a nonprofit regional hub for innovation also located in Rhode Island.

Previous to her experience supporting entrepreneurial networks, Leia worked as assistant dean of admission for Wesleyan University and as admissions specialist for the University of Southern Maine, her alma mater, where she earned a bachelor’s degree in biology.

After accepting the NVME position, she made the move to Maine. “I’m excited about the opportunity to support Mainers looking to improve their lives by changing careers, starting businesses, and managing their money with intention,” she said. “I love Maine and NVME provides a unique opportunity to support so many people and communities across the entire state.”

Asked about how her first days at NVME have been going, Leia said, “After being with the organization for just over a month, I already feel such a sense of pride in the work we do and the information we provide. I’m so grateful to be a part of it!”

View the Staff Directory for contact information for NVME staff. Free classes and individual coaching are available online and in person in 2025.