LEWISTON — The city has announced the hiring of another group of new employees, highlighting the many opportunities of municipal hometown careers. Lewiston Public Works and the Lewiston Police Department have many new faces.
Faith Thomas has been hired as a project engineer by the public works department. Thomas was born and raised in Penobscot County and attended the University of Maine in Orono where she earned a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering in 2015. She has previously worked for private engineering consulting firms in southern and central Maine, is a licensed professional engineer in Maine, and lives in Lewiston.
William “Paul” Niehoff has been hired as a project engineer by the Public Works Department. His professional career began with a geotechnical engineering consulting firm, then transitioned into public service with the cities of Portland and Auburn, and more recently as a transportation planner for the Portland Area Comprehensive Transportation System.
Niehoff also had a one-year stint as Maine’s Safe Routes to School coordinator. He is a Maine native, was raised in Waterville, and moved to South Portland. He has an interest in transportation safety and improving the transportation system for all users, with a focus on the vulnerable user.
John Skelley has been hired as the assistant city engineer by the Public Works Department. His professional career has taken him all over Maine, previously working as a civil engineer for the Maine Department of Environmental Protection, Maine Emergency Management Agency, and private engineering consulting firms. He moved to Maine in 2007 to attend the University of Maine in Orono where he earned a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering. Skelley is a Maine licensed professional engineer.
Ashley Gamache has been hired as the new asset management technician by the Public Works Department. She is completing her bachelor’s degree in environmental geospatial technologies at Unity College. Originally from Connecticut, she moved to New York to attend Rochester Institute of Technology and moved to Maine in 2021. She keeps herself busy outside the office completing work for her degree, working as a student ambassador for Unity College, and as an account representative for TLOA Servicing. After graduation, Gamache plans to continue her education in geospatial technologies.
The Lewiston Police Department welcomes four new officers:
Isaiah Swan grew up in Farmingdale and graduated from Gardiner High in 2016. He was a three-sport student athlete: football, baseball, and wrestling. He continued his education and athletic career by attending Husson University and played for their football team. Isaiah received his bachelor’s degree in criminal justice upon completion of the Maine Criminal Justice Academy in December 2021. Starting at a young age, a law enforcement career was always a goal of his. He says he is committed to having a long and successful career as a police officer to serve his community.
Joseph Klemanski was born and raised in Lewiston and graduated from St. Dominic’s Regional High School in 2009 where he played hockey, soccer and tennis. Upon completing high school, he took classes at Central Maine Community College toward a criminal justice degree. He also served four years in the U.S. Navy stationed on the USS Boxer in San Diego, California. Upon being honorably discharged from the Navy, he moved to Denver, Colorado, to continue college at the University of Colorado Denver. Noting that a career in law enforcement has always been a goal of his, he said he is committed to serve and protect the residents of Lewiston.
Ahmed Kaviro was born at a refugee camp in Kenya and came to the United States in 2004 at age 11. He graduated from Lewiston High School and attended Central Maine Community College for criminal justice. He is fluent in two languages, English and Somali. He previously worked at the Androscoggin County Jail for nearly three years and chose law enforcement as his career because of the positive involvement he’d had with those in that field.
He said he chose the profession because he likes to interact with the community and provide a sense of security when needed. He also chose this career as it provides the opportunity to give back to the community. He hopes to participate in several community service opportunities, be a mentor to youth, and get involved with the schools to teach the importance of education and the danger of drugs.
Dalton Wing was born and raised in Lewiston and graduated from Lewiston High School in 2017. He played baseball and soccer in high school and college, graduating from Central Maine Community College with an associate degree in criminal justice. Dalton enjoys spending his free time with friends and family, and watching sports.
