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: Patricia Ianni (Falmouth)

Pat Ianni is a retired environmental scientist with a law degree and over 35 years of experience assessing risks from hazardous wastes and toxic materials. She has proudly served on the Friends of Casco Bay Board since 2005. As a Master Gardener, she teaches community workshops on BayScaping, promoting lawn care without pesticides or fertilizers. Pat has also served on the Maine Integrated Pest Management Council and the Maine Board of Pesticide Control. In retirement, her passion for environmental protection has led her to advocate against the risks posed by single-use plastics to human health and the environment. Pat has also served on the Maine Integrated Pest Management Council and the Maine Board of Pesticide Control. In retirement, her passion for environmental protection has led her to advocate against the risks posed by single-use plastics to human health and the environment.

Photograph by Kevin Morris

Treasurer: 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.

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 Bushey 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 Director of Programs at Gateway Community Services, Nathan Davis 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.

Deb 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.

David Kaufman (South Freeport)

At 11, David discovered the coast of Maine on a sailing expedition with his stepdad. He’s been sailing, learning, and working on his knots ever since. When not on the water, he spent 35 years in broadcasting. His broadcast tenure started with CBS Network News, included Maine radio station ownership and ended as the CEO of the WMTW Broadcast group; comprised of WMTW-TV and five radio properties. His ‘second act’ was as the owner of Brahms Mount, a Maine-based manufacturer of natural fiber blankets. David hopes to contribute to Friends’ efforts to broaden its reach into the community and to “maintain Casco Bay’s health and sustainability.”

Peter C. LeBourdais (Harpswell)

A practicing general dentist, Peter is owner and president of Brunswick Dental Health Associates, which employs a staff of 16. Peter has been an avid sailor since the age of 9, and he can be found sailing the coast of Maine or summering on Jaquish Island in Casco Bay. In Peter’s words, “Our underlying commitment should be to preserve the connection that we all have as inhabitants of this earth with a healthy ocean. We must work to ensure that Casco Bay will be life-sustaining into the future.”

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.

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.

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.

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.

Fiona Wilson (Freeport)

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.