Gonzalez earns Employee of Month honors in Portland

By Ed Pierce

Kaela Gonzalez of Raymond has been honored as the City of Portland’s July Employee of the Month.

Kaela Gonzalez of Raymond, a Program
Coordinator in Portland's Housing &
Economic Development Department, has
been honored as the City of Portland's
July Ermployee of the Month.
SUBMITTED PHOTO

, She works as a Program Coordinator in Portland’s Housing & Economic Development Department and was recognized for her exceptional work ethic, her meticulous attention to detail, always going above and beyond, and her unwavering positivity.

Gozalez initially joined the city in the Finance Department where she consistently demonstrated a willingness to step up in times of need in her role coordinating ARPA funding, during a critical time amidst the pandemic. She has continually expanded her role since transitioning to the Housing and Economic Development Department, taking on complex responsibilities and challenges with remarkable initiative and grace.

When a staff member went on leave, Gonzalez didn’t hesitate. She was commended for her exceptional leadership and project management for expertly stepping in to manage and staff the Portland Fish Pier Authority Board of Directors, including two new subcommittees, and seamlessly coordinating with the Chair, Corporation Counsel, and department staff to ensure critical workflows continued smoothly.

She also has played an instrumental role in the CAD Cell/Dredge Project in facilitating complex agreements with over 25 waterfront pier owners to have their individual piers dredged. Her meticulous attention to detail and her initiative in arranging personalized meetings with owners, city staff, and consultants to ensure everyone understood the project’s logistics and their specific roles, helped to facilitate this massive public/private project moving forward, an impressive accomplishment.

Beyond Kaela’s work achievements, she is recognized by her colleagues and outside consultants alike for her positivity, reliability, attention to detail, and timeliness. She is extremely responsive, fun to work with, and builds phenomenal relationships with internal teams and external stakeholders.

Administrators believe she is an asset to the Housing & Economic Development Department and to the City of Portland.

Gonzalez previously served as assistant to Raymond’s town manager, assistant to the town assessor and assistant to the town public works director, and the Town of Raymond’s communications director.

Originally from Owls Head in the mid-coast region of Maine, Gonzalez spent time in the service and hospitality industry as a waitress and then earned a degree in health sciences at the University of Southern Maine.

In 2025, Gonzalez was given the “Maine Citizen Planner of the Year” by the Maine Association of Planners for her service as co-chair of the Town of Raymond’s Comprehensive Plan Committee. The award is presented annually to a citizen who has made a distinguished contribution to planning such as members of planning boards/commissions, zoning boards of adjustment/ appeals, economic development boards/commissions, or other elected or appointed officials. and is given to a citizen who has made a distinguished contribution to planning such as members of planning boards/commissions, zoning boards of adjustment/ appeals, economic development boards/commissions, or other elected or appointed officials.

She currently serves as a Raymond Select Board member. <