Michael Stone Elected President of TD Beach to Beacon 10K

Replaces David Weatherbie, who served as race president for first 16 years of well-known international road race in Cape Elizabeth, Maine

CAPE ELIZABETH, Maine (December 4, 2013) – Michael Stone, a longtime volunteer, board member and key member of the TD Beach to Beacon 10K’s 60-member Organizing Committee, has been elected to serve as president of the event, the race’s Board of Directors announced Wednesday.

Stone is replacing David Weatherbie, who has served as race president, a volunteer position, since the launch of the TD Beach to Beacon 10K in 1998.

Stone, of Portland, has 35 years in banking and finance and formerly worked for TD Bank, the title sponsor of the race. He currently serves as president of Junior Achievement of Maine. As race president, Stone will lead the TD Beach to Beacon's 60-member Organizing Committee and oversee all aspects of the event.

“I am honored to have been chosen and believe it will be a fairly seamless transition,” said Stone. “That’s because the people involved in this race are top notch – from our founder Joan Benoit Samuelson to our Race Director Dave McGillivray and his crew at DMSE Sports to our amazing organizing committee, volunteers and Dave Weatherbie’s spot on management. It’s a great race because there’s a fantastic group of people behind it. I’ve got some big shoes to fill, but I look forward to the opportunity.”

The August 2, 2014 race will mark the 17^th TD Beach to Beacon. Four months ago, the Sweet 16 race saw a record-setting 6,244 runners from 16 countries, 39 states and more than 250 Maine cities and town finish the picturesque 6.2-mile course through coastal Cape Elizabeth.

The TD Beach to Beacon (www.beach2beacon.org) is considered one of the gems on the American road race circuit, known for its top-notch organization, community support and the involvement of Olympic gold medalist and Maine native Joan Benoit Samuelson, the race founder.

"The baton that Dave Weatherbie carried so professionally with experienced hands, focus and knowledge has been passed on to Mike Stone, who represents everything good about the race and the communities it inspires and serves,” Samuelson said. “Mike has worked closely with Dave over the years and is a proven and highly respected leader in the Maine community. His passion for our sport and the event coupled with his expertise with both organization and organizations will make him a most effective president.”

Stone currently serves as President of Junior Achievement of Maine, Inc., a local non-profit organization dedicated to educating students in grades K-12 about entrepreneurship, work readiness, and financial literacy through experiential, hands-on programs.

Previously, he served as a Vice President of Private Banking for Key Bank and was Senior Vice President and Head of Private Banking for TD Bank in his native Portland. He is a graduate of the New England School of Banking at Williams College and the University of Southern Maine.

Stone began his volunteer involvement with the TD Beach to Beacon in the race’s second year and has served as chair of the Awards Committee for the past 15 years, coordinating all aspects of the pre-race start activities and the post-race awards ceremony. He also has worked closely with the race’s charity beneficiary.

Along the way, Stone said his admiration for running legends Samuelson and McGillivray as well as witnessing the positive impact of the race on participants inspired him to resume running and change his lifestyle. Now an avid runner, Stone lost 60 pounds as part of a weight-loss program during his training and has run the TD Beach to Beacon for the past five years as well as a number of other road races across New England, including the B.A.A. Boston Marathon.

“The TD Beach to Beacon changed my life for the better and I couldn’t be more grateful,” Stone said.

Outgoing Race President David Weatherbie of Cape Elizabeth said Stone’s sense of commitment and determination are traits that will serve him well in his new role.

"Mike is an outstanding choice,” Weatherbie said. “He has extensive experience leading non-profit organizations and is very well respected by his peers both within the race staff and the Maine business community."

Weatherbie was handpicked by Samuelson in 1998 to serve as volunteer race president. A principal at Portland-based Seafax, he is credited with providing the steady leadership and business acumen necessary to guide the race through its rapid growth.

After volunteering thousands of hours over the years, Weatherbie said he decided to step down to free up more time to spend with his wife and three children. He will remain a member of the race’s Board of Directors and Organizing Committee.

“I’m proud to be a part of the team that built this race from inception to where it is today,” Weatherbie said. “It's gratifying to know we achieved Joanie's vision for the race in 1998 and every year since, and I look forward to watching the race continue to prosper in 2014 and beyond."

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