Changing the Narrative: COmmunities in Action
Meet our presenters

Kathy Adams (kadamsot@maine.rr.com) Kathy Adams is retired from a 40 year profession in Maine as an occupational therapist and assistive technology specialist. She was the Director of the MeCITE Assistive Technology program. Kathy volunteers generously with SMAA and the South Portland Age Friendly Program. 

Laurie Bishop (laurie.bishop@maine.edu) is a Senior Companion Program Coordinator with more than 25 years of experience in educational settings. She spent 12 years in special education and 13 years as a sign language interpreter supporting students across a variety of learning environments. With a strong background in service, communication, and advocacy, Laurie brings her skills and compassion to her work with older adults.

Laurie has been with the Senior Companion Program for two years. She has continued to learn and grow, helping her better understand the needs of older adults, create meaningful and engaging opportunities, and communicate with compassion and clarity. By combining her long‑standing professional experience with what she has learned through SCP, she hopes to strengthen and expand its reach throughout the state of Maine.

Noël Bonam (nbonam@aarp.org) is AARP Maine's State Director. Noël has extensive experience in leadership development, stakeholder engagement, diversity, equity and inclusion practice and civic leadership. Before joining AARP, Noël had been the head of The Global Institute, a public benefit organization (with operational hubs in Denmark, India and the US), specializing in social equity, leadership development and organizational sustainability. Noël has worked extensively with diverse partners from across the world, particularly in the public and not-for-profit sectors. Formerly, he was the Director for the Bureau of Multicultural Affairs for the State of Maine. In that role, he managed systemic changes through diversity, equity and inclusion efforts by working closely with inter-departmental stakeholders and with key community partners from across the state. Noël holds a Master’s in Public Personnel Management from Osmania University (India) and a certification in Diversity, Equity and Inclusion in Human Resources from Cornell University. He is also a graduate of the Senior Executive in State and Local Government mid-career program at the Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University. He is currently the Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Association for World Education, an international NGO specializing in lifelong learning with consultative status at the United Nations and he is also a member of the Maine Climate Council. 

Amanda Burke (amanda.burke@usda.gov) is the Housing Program Director, USDA-Maine. With more than 20 years of experience in real estate finance and mortgage lending, Burke leads a team of 13 Rural Development housing specialists and technicians. Burke brings more than a decade of experience in USDA’s guaranteed single-family housing, direct single-family housing and multifamily housing programs. She is tasked with advancing USDA Rural Development State Director Rhiannon Hampson’s initiatives to promote the agency’s housing programs while working to make them more accessible and efficient for rural Mainers.

“I grew up understanding that homeownership is a cornerstone of the American dream,” says Burke. “Homeownership offers a range of economic benefits including the ability to build wealth through credit access, equity accumulation, and reduced housing costs.”

Leilani (Lani) Carlson (lcarlson@mainecite.org) is the Director of Maine CITE, the state’s assistive technology program. Since joining the organization in July 2022 and transitioning to Director in July 2025, she has focused on expanding access to resources that help Mainers with disabilities lead more independent lives. Before joining Maine CITE, Leilani spent a decade as the Maine AgrAbility Project Coordinator, where she supported agricultural workers with chronic illnesses and disabilities through direct assistance and education. Her professional background also includes over 15 years in the environmental engineering and consulting industry. This diverse experience informs her well-rounded approach to accessibility, digital inclusion, and community support across Maine. 

Vanessa DeWitt (vanessa.k.dewitt@maine.gov) is the Associate Director of Communications for the Office for Family Independence (OFI) within the Maine Department of Health and Human Services. OFI connects Maine people to programs that support health, safety, and economic stability, including MaineCare (Medicaid), SNAP, and TANF. A lifelong Mainer and alumni of the University of Southern Maine, Vanessa has dedicated over 16 years to public service. Her work focuses on advancing health equity, food security, and access to public programs by making government more understandable and responsive. 

Jessica Fay (jfay@mainecouncilonaging.org) joined the Maine Council on Aging (MCOA) in October 2024 as Policy Director. She is a former Maine state representative. During her eight years in the Legislature, Jess worked on passing bills that improved the lives of older Mainers including positive changes to Medicare eligibility and to reimbursement rates for essential support workers. She has been honored for her work with older Mainers, for her work on behalf of victim/survivors of domestic violence and on behalf of Maine’s environment. Jess has owned her own flower shop and volunteered in her local library as well as with Age-Friendly Raymond. She currently serves on the Board of Directors for Maine Coalition to End Domestic Violence and for Raymond Waterways Protective Association. Jess graduated from Simmons University in Boston with a degree in sociology. She is a member of the Leadership Exchange on Ageism Cohort 3.

Jessica and her husband Kevin reside in Raymond where they were caregivers for Kevin’s mother as she lived with dementia. In search of life balance, Jess also spends time cooking, gardening, walking in the woods with and training and her 2 Labrador Retrievers. She also enjoys swimming, sailing and kayaking at her family camp.

Speaker Ryan Fecteau (Ryan.Fecteau@legislature.maine.gov), is serving his second nonconsecutive term as Speaker of the House and his fifth nonconsecutive term in the Maine House of Representatives, representing part of his hometown of Biddeford. In his service to the state, he has also chaired the Labor, Commerce, Research and Economic Development Committee and served a term as Assistant Majority Leader. During his first term as Speaker of the House, he was the youngest presiding officer in the United States, and he is the first openly gay Speaker in Maine's history.

Fecteau has spent the past two years working on housing issues both with Avesta Housing and the Governor's Office of Policy Innovation and the Future. A dedicated advocate for working families, healthcare access, and economic development, he has been a key figure in efforts to improve the state's housing policies and promote sustainable growth. His leadership is defined by a deep commitment to service, unity, and the people of Maine.

Fecteau has also been a champion for career and technical education (CTE) and sponsored legislation to allow Maine’s 28 CTE schools to make long-overdue investments in equipment and capital projects. He believes a serious investment is necessary to both address our workforce issues and give young people the hard skills they need to find good-paying jobs right here in Maine.

Speaker Fecteau graduated from the Catholic University of America in Washington, DC. He is the son and grandson of French-Canadian immigrants and was raised by a single mother. Fecteau is the first member of his family to graduate from college. He and his husband reside in Biddeford near his childhood home with their two mostly well-behaved dogs.

Pat FitzGerald (pfitzgerald99a@verizon.net), MPM, an osteoporosis educator and older adult fitness instructor, is the Master Trainer for UMaine RSVP’s Bone Builders program. Pat won a Hannaford Health Hero award for her work as a Master Trainer with a Bone Builders in Massachusetts.

She serves as a Peer Educator and Member of the Education Advisory Committee with the Bone Health & Osteoporosis Foundation. She was also Managing Editor at American Bone Health.

In addition to leading Bone Builders programs, Pat is also certified as a BoneFit™ instructor, a tai chi instructor, and a yoga instructor.

Victoria Forkus (vforkus@mecap.org).
Bio coming soon! 

Elizabeth Gattine (Elizabeth.Gattine@maine.gov). Prior to joining the Governor's Office of Policy Innovation and the Future, Elizabeth Gattine was a Senior Policy Associate specializing in disability and aging issues at the Catherine Cutler Institute, part of the Muskie School of Public Service at the University of Southern Maine. Elizabeth has extensive knowledge and experience in the design, implementation, and evaluation of policy and programming for older adults at the national, state, and local level, particularly in the delivery of long-term services and support. Prior to joining the Catherine Cutler Institute, she spent over fifteen years in state government, including as program manager in the Office of Aging and Disability Services overseeing Maine's system of long-term services and supports for older adults and adults with physical disabilities. Elizabeth also served as Maine's Legal Services Developer, a position established by the Older Americans Act to help coordinate and promote the state's legal and advocacy services for older adults. Elizabeth is a graduate of Dartmouth College and the Columbia University School of Law. 

Martina Gerald, PT, DPT (mgerald@northernlight.org) is a Physical Therapist with Northern Light Eastern Maine Medical Center with 10 years’ experience. She attended Husson University and obtained her Bachelors in Kinesiology and Doctorate in Physical Therapy. Martina treats orthopedic, vestibular, and neurologic dysfunctions working to regain their mobility and improve their quality of life. When working with the vestibular and neurologic population one main area of focus is on balance along with fall recovery. When not in the clinic Martina enjoys hiking, skiing, and spending time with her kids. 

Jennifer Jain, PhD, CTRS (jennifer.jain@maine.edu) has a master's in Recreation Administration, Outdoor Therapy, and recently completed her PhD in Gerontology with a focus on physical activity. She brings over 30 years of experience as a leader in recreation and recreational therapy programming. Currently, she serves as the Senior Companion Program Director for AmeriCorps at the University of Maine Center on Aging. Throughout her career, she has worked with various populations across mental health programs, nursing home and rehabilitation services, team building, and outdoor programming. As a Maine resident for 19 years, Dr. Jain is committed to promoting recreation and leisure services, which includes social companionship that support older adults in rural Maine. 

Virginia “Ginny” Joles (Ginny.Joles@aroostookaging.org) serves as the Philanthropy Coordinator for the Foundation of the Aroostook Agency on Aging. A lifelong resident of Aroostook County, Ginny is widely respected for her leadership in communications, community engagement, and volunteerism. 

Before assuming her current role, Ginny served as the Agency’s Community Ambassador through the Governor’s Community Connections Pilot Grant. Prior to that, she coordinated the Access Points Project, which connected 22 nonprofit organizations to northern Maine communities using virtual technology to deliver essential programs and services. She remains actively involved as a volunteer at the Agency, with a deep passion for the Aroostook Civic Academy and the RSVP Advisory Council.

Ginny’s professional journey includes an impressive 46-year tenure at Maine Public Service (now Versant Power), where she advanced through various roles in economic development, utility communications, and regional outreach.

Throughout her career, Ginny has led or supported initiatives with numerous organizations, including Rotary International, United Way, the Northern Maine Community College Foundation, and several local boards. Notably, she was the first female president of the Presque Isle Rotary Club and later served as a Rotary District Governor.

Ginny and her husband, Jerry, have two grown children. She continues to live and lead by the belief that “nobody accomplishes anything alone.” 

Joe Moreshead (connector.agefriendlysaco@gmail.com) is a retired executive and community-focused leader dedicated to strengthening local connections and supporting vulnerable populations. Guided by Rotary’s motto of “Service Above Self,” he serves as a community connector with Age Friendly Saco and is actively involved in initiatives that address food insecurity and promote healthy aging, including his work with the Saco Food Pantry. Joe brings a collaborative, hands-on approach to community building, helping to develop programs that empower residents and foster meaningful engagement.

Tara Mozdziez (tara.mozdziez@maine.edu) is the new Director of the Retired and Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP). She comes to the Center with experience as a municipal administrative assistant, an AmeriCorps alum, and as an active Age-Friendly volunteer. Before immersing herself in municipal and Age-Friendly endeavors, Tara was in the veterinary medical field for almost 30 years as a Licensed Veterinary Technician before earning a Master’s in Teaching and Learning from Colorado State. She has experience writing grant applications, management and reporting, as well as volunteer management and recruitment. Tara works with the Lifelong Maine Newsletter team and is passionate about Age-Friendly/Lifelong communities. 

Lisa Penney (lpenney@drme.org) Lisa Penney joined Disability Rights Maine (DRM) as an Advocate in 2018. Lisa is a lifelong Mainer and sixth-generation member of a large and vibrant Deaf family. Her family includes individuals who are Deaf as well as those with progressive hearing loss, giving her a unique and empathetic perspective. With over 20 years of experience in the field of assistive technology, Lisa is passionate about leveraging communications technology to empower individuals with hearing loss. Lisa is also a certified Hearing Loss Peer Mentor through Gallaudet University, further deepening her ability to support individuals navigating hearing loss.

Gail Platts (gplatts@scarboroughmaine.org) has over 20 years of experience working with older adults in a municipal recreation setting. She currently serves as the Active Adults Program Coordinator for Scarborough Community Services and is the Age Friendly Coordinator for Town of Scarborough.  She holds a bachelor's degree in Communication and master’s degree in Adult Education.  

Pat Saunders (uwpats4@gmail.com) is a Bone Builders leader in her hometown of Surry. She was also a Master Trainer for A Matter of Balance and often combines information from both programs to help her Bone Builders participants achieve success and improve their balance as well as their bone density and strength.

Pat became interested in aging and balance after her father died as a result of complications from a fall during the Covid epidemic. While she served as an AmeriCorps volunteer with the Maine Center on Aging at Healthy Peninsula in Blue Hill, she trained volunteers to lead Matter of Balance classes in their communities as well as lead classes in four communities. Then she turned her sights to Bone Builders as a way to bring free fitness classes to her community through the Retired Senior Volunteer Program.

She is a firm believer of the importance of exercise as we age. Through a variety of exercises, we can slow or reduce bone loss (osteopenia and osteoporosis) and muscle loss (sarcopenia). Additionally, we can improve our balance, independence, and sense of well-being.

Pat leads Neighbors Helping Neighbors, part of Age-Friendly Maine, in her community; spearheading such efforts as improving access to food, providing social and mental health support, as well as personalized efforts to help Surry’s aging population stay safe in their homes.

Pat is retired from the University of Washington and lives in the “Gramma Cottage” just through the woods from her son and granddaughters.

Darren Smart (dsmart@spurwink.org) is an occupational therapist and assistive technology professional with clinical experience in skilled nursing facilities, a neurological rehabilitation hospital, and home health. He moved to Austin, Texas after graduating from USM and returned to Maine in 2022, where he became the program manager for Spurwink ALLTECH, a nonprofit storefront in Portland offering second-hand medical equipment and assistive technology device demonstrations and loans. He is also the owner of a private practice called Technology Helps ME that offers in-person technology lessons. 

Lisa White, LMSW-CC (ThanTalk@yahoo.com ) Lisa Joy White, LMSW-CC, MThanatology, CT, is a licensed social worker and certified thanatologist with over a decade of experience in grief care, hospice, and community education. She provides therapeutic grief care and advance life planning services through her practice, Mourning Ventures of Maine. Lisa partners with individuals, workplaces, and communities to navigate grief and life’s most difficult transitions with compassion, clarity, and evidence-based guidance. She is especially passionate about increasing death literacy and creating spaces—such as Death Cafés—where open, thoughtful conversations about mortality can reduce fear and foster connection.