Board of Directors

Members of our Board of Directors share a passion for the Bay. Each brings a unique skill set to help the organization. Our Board Members include educators, resource harvesters and growers, engineers, doctors, bankers, attorneys, and entrepreneurs. Those titles may not describe their underlying passions for the Bay. Other identities in their life histories—such as long-distance sailor, surfer, lobsterman, kelp farmer—begin to illuminate their strong commitments to protecting Casco Bay.

Olympic athlete Joan Benoit Samuelson served on the Board of Friends of Casco Bay almost since its founding. “This place is a jewel,” she says. “Having grown up in Cape Elizabeth, I realized early on that Casco Bay is connected to the world’s oceans when I threw a note in a bottle off Casino Beach, and it was picked up by a schoolteacher in England. It’s important to protect this resource.”

Joanie was asked why she chose to devote her considerable energy and prestige to the Board of Friends of Casco Bay. Herself a model of the Maine work ethic, she replied, “Because they DO stuff!”

Board Officers

President: Kirsten Piacentini (Cumberland Foreside)

Kirsten is a supply chain executive at L.L.Bean with years of experience in managing large teams, leading strategic cross-functional projects, and delivering results. L.L.Bean’s mission to inspire and enable others to enjoy the restorative power of the outdoors is one that Kirsten lives in her daily life. She spends much of the summer out on Casco Bay with friends and family exploring the islands, beaches, and Portland’s waterfront. Kirsten’s son was a student and commercial lobsterman for eight years, so she also has a deep appreciation for Casco Bay’s commercial uses and the thousands of Mainers’ livelihoods it supports.

Vice President: Ellen Grant (Portland)

Ellen is a collaborative leader with over forty years of experience in high-growth nonprofits, in Maine and internationally. Most recently, she was Chief Operating Officer at the Gulf of Maine Research Institute and previously spent ten years as Executive Director of the Institute for Civic Leadership. She believes nonprofits like Friends of Casco Bay can drive innovation and create vital change. In retirement, she focuses on the climate crisis and democracy-rebuilding efforts, while enjoying the outdoors and spending time with her many grandchildren.

Clerk: Janna Rearick (Yarmouth)

Janna is an in-house lawyer at Unum, where she serves as Assistant Vice President and Lead Regulatory Counsel. Pro bono and volunteer work has been a constant throughout her career. Janna’s Maine roots run deep, as she was born Down East in Washington County and raised in Western Maine where her parents had an organic sheep and vegetable farm. She, her husband, and two girls love hiking trails in the watershed and paddleboarding in Casco Bay.

Treasurer: Soren Schroder (Cape Elizabeth)

Soren brings over four decades of experience in the agribusiness and food ingredient industry, including as CEO and member of the board at Bunge Ltd. He has worked in both the private and public sectors. His current board and advisory activity reflect his passion for participating in the changing Agri-Food industry with health and sustainability as the common themes. He and his family enjoy sailing, swimming, and dipping in Casco Bay’s waters.

Directors

Samantha Bengs (South Portland)

Sam is a graduate student at USM and the Gulf of Maine Research Institute. She has volunteered with the Friends of Casco Bay as a Water Reporter since 2019. Her thesis research centers on the cutting-edge area of environmental DNA, examining the phenology and habitat-use of several fish species and their zooplankton prey. Sam has also worked aboard several fishing boats in Casco Bay and brings a diversity of water-usage experiences with her to the board. Though she began her studies and career in music, she credits the Bay with nurturing her interest in marine science and affirming that this is what she wants to do with her life.

Stephen Bushey (South Portland)

Stephen is a licensed civil engineer with 30 years’ experience in stormwater management and local, state, and federal permitting. A Senior Associate with Gorrill-Palmer Consulting Engineers, Steve has been involved in many projects designed to improve and protect water quality throughout the Casco Bay watershed. Steve has worked on planning and design assignments for private landowners, municipalities, hospitals, wind farms, schools, offices, and large residential communities.

Nathan Davis (Portland)

As Executive Director of Gateway Community Services, Nathan works with immigrant and refugee communities in Portland and Lewiston. He brings experience in growth strategy consulting, relationship development, project management and community projects. Nathan has also spent a portion of his professional life abroad in China, developing his cross-cultural relationship skills and building proficiency in Mandarin. Nathan grew up in Portland and has fond memories of kayaking on the water with Outward Bound.

Daniel R. Devereaux (Brunswick)

Dan was introduced to the beauty and community of Casco Bay through the U.S. Navy, having been stationed at the now-decommissioned Naval Air Station in Brunswick. After his Navy service, he was an officer with the Brunswick Police Department. He has worked as a shellfish warden, harbormaster, and marine resource warden. He currently serves as the coastal resource manager for Brunswick, working to protect the town’s near-shore marine environments. In 2016, he partnered with another multi-generational Brunswick fishing family to launch Mere Point Oyster Company.

Deborah Debiegun (Yarmouth)

Deb has a background in teaching and environmental and ocean sciences. Torn between becoming a scientist, engineer, or teacher, she found a way to combine her passions. Deb loves sharing her enthusiasm for the interconnectedness of nature and exploring ways to improve humanity’s relationship with the ocean. She teaches science at the Maine College of Art & Design and is active in marine education and conservation. Deb volunteered for years with Friends’ Citizen Stewards Water Quality Monitoring Program. Her other interests include skiing, composting, dogs, poetry, hiking, biking, fiddle, and sailing.

Florence S. Edwards, DDS (Portland)

Flo has been connected to the Casco Bay watershed since the age of 12, when their family moved to Portland from New York. As an oyster aquaculturist, Flo has worked to rebuild the connections between Black history and oyster harvesting. Flo is the founder of Fourth Friday, organized gatherings of multigenerational BIPOC individuals that network while engaging in art and food. In addition to being a dentist, Flo is a community builder, journalist, and storyteller.

Dylan King (Yarmouth)

Dylan grew up on Casco Bay, swimming, sailing, fishing, and exploring its many coves. After studying natural resource economics in college, he worked for Maine Rivers in a policy and outreach role, focusing on dam removal and restoration efforts. He then graduated from Vermont Law School, where he focused on environmental law. Dylan now serves as TD Bank’s Environmental, Social, and Governance Counsel.

Andrew “Sandy” Marsters (Portland)

Sandy is well known in the boating community as the co-founder and long-time editor of Points East, the boating magazine of New England whose mission is to bring attention to issues affecting the coast, including environment, commerce, and lifestyle. He has also been a reporter and editor for other Maine publications, including the Times Record, Journal Tribune and York County Coast Star. Sandy was also part of an ownership group that bought Maine Times from the late Dodge Morgan. He served as President of the Board of Friends of Casco Bay from 2020 to 2024.

Sebastian Milardo (Little Diamond Island)

Seb co-founded the human resources organization of Drake Inglesi Milardo in 1981, where he blends his expertise in psychology and organizational leadership to help businesses and nonprofits solve complex people issues at every level. Seb is a summer resident of Little Diamond Island, but he explores the varied environments of Maine all year-round. He served as Vice President of the Board of Friends of Casco Bay from 2020 to 2022.

Anthony Moffa (Portland)

Anthony is a tenured professor of environmental law at University of Maine School of Law. Prior to academia, he was an Attorney-Advisor in the General Counsel’s Office of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. As someone who regularly sails, fishes, surfs, and swims in Casco Bay, Anthony is personally invested in Friends of Casco Bay’s mission to protect the health of our coastal waters.

Michelle Waring, Portland

Michelle is the Steward for Sustainability and Everyday Good at Tom’s of Maine. She manages strategic partnerships and nonprofit organizations and works to elevate sustainability and social impact for the company. Prior to joining Tom’s of Maine, she worked at Natural Resources Defense Council for seven years as the Director of Entertainment and Brand Partnerships. Michelle and her family are passionate about protecting our coastal waters (her husband is a surfer and her children swim like fish!). She is excited to serve on Friends of Casco Bay’s Board of Directors at this critical time for our environment.

Malcolm F. Poole (Scarborough)

Malcolm is President of Poole Group of Companies, a family based holding Company of Commercial Real Estate, Marine Construction and Stormwater environmental controls. In addition Malcolm offers business Coaching and Consulting services for family, non-profit and closely held corporations. Malcolm is a life long sailor, user of Casco Bay and supporter of community based approaches to change. He served as President of the Board of Friends of Casco Bay from 2008 to 2015, and Treasurer of the Board from 2017 to 2025.

Fiona Wilson (Pownal)

Fiona’s experience spans for-profit, non-profit, academic, and government sectors. She is the Director of the Sustainability Institute at the University of New Hampshire and Co-Founder and Executive Director of UNH’s Changemaker Collaborative. As a faculty member at UNH’s Paul College of Business & Economics, she taught innovative business approaches to sustainability. She has served on the boards of Wolfe’s Neck Center for Agriculture and the Environment and Revision Energy. Her passion for protecting the Bay’s environmental health stems from years of paddling, sailing, and swimming in Casco Bay and cruising the English Channel and tidal estuaries of her childhood in England.