LEWISTON — Buffy Dumont is a notary public, an actor for Monmouth Community Players, a leadership trainer and coach, and that’s not all.

We also hear she makes a mean snow angel.

Name: Buffy Dumont

Age: 38

Lives: Lewiston, proudly raised and educated in Monmouth

What makes a good leader? I love this question because it brings me back to growing up. Back then, a leader looked like someone who was perfect, much like the superheroes of our day. Someone who never made a mistake. I’m here to say that, to me, a great leader is someone who has experienced failure, reflected upon it and grew from that experience. To me, it takes more than intelligence to be a great leader, you must be self aware, have self discipline and of good character.

Common pitfall you coach against: We are accustomed to focusing on “we can’t.” Don’t focus on why you can’t and don’t take inventories of your limitations on being a great leader. At times we must step up and “Do it afraid!” Our best results come from that.

You exude chipper — how do you keep that up? I absolutely am determined to live until I die and most people get this confused because they already act as if they were dead. I know myself well enough to keep refreshing my mind with positive thinking or it will affect the relationships and the decisions that I am faced with every day. So every morning I know I must rely on myself to self motivate. But with that, I do understand that motivation can be a worthless exercise without discipline. Therefore, it is crucial to have positive self checks with oneself throughout the day, holding yourself accountable on what goes through your mind. Now, for me, reflecting at the end of the day is IMPORTANT. In my evening I intentionally observe my day that just whipped by and who I spoke with, spent time with or met for the first time, and I find a “lifting” moment that STOOD out and I learn from it. Sometimes it takes a perfect stranger to teach us great lessons.

Personal pet peeve: Oh, boy, this is a question I ask when recruiting and interviewing employees for companies! My personal pet peeve is gum stuck under the table. My professional pet peeve would be leaders who forget where they come from. The only way to build something great is to have a great foundation. The foundation will allow you to grow, develop and expand your company. Too often our front lines are mistakenly forgotten.

You’re also a notary public: Wedding that stands out most? I have had the opportunity to unite in marriage many great couples and close friends. I must say the most recent one was exciting because the couple found one another after 30 years. They dated 30 years ago and life brought them back in Maine and, by fate, together.

Most looking forward to in 2013: In 2013 my plan is to continue to work with both the executive business owners and the frontline employees. More and more students are coming back home after college in this area and investing in opening businesses. This is ALL too exciting! Our next generations are coming back home.

Four inches of snow: Shovel it, plow it, ignore it? I would love to shovel it, but the right thing to do is teach work ethics and have my 15-year-old son go outdoors and shovel. I won’t plow it, although my father would love to; in fact he refers to himself as the Plow King. Never would I ignore the snow. Now THAT’S not in my character. All who know me know that I would slide layers of warm clothing on and JUMP in the four inches of snow and make the best snow angel I can. The best view in life is the view of a child. Why not go back there every now and then?

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