Our Team
We’re dedicated to our mission to eliminate hunger in Maine
Put your talents towards a better, fuller future. Join our team of like-minded people in a fulfilling career rooted in doing good.
Our Team
Meet the team that supports our programs and initiatives.
Monica Hirschman
Monica Hirschman
Monica Hirschman, volunteer engagement coordinator, joined Good Shepherd Food Bank in November 2024. A Maine native, Monica has always been dedicated to fostering meaningful connections within her community.
Prior to joining the Food Bank, Monica served as a Childcare Director, where she developed valuable leadership, program management, and relationship-building skills. Her experience in working with families and community partners has helped shape her approach to volunteer engagement.
Monica holds a bachelor’s degree in both English and Psychology, reflecting her commitment to understanding human behavior and creating opportunities for others to connect and contribute. She is especially excited to engage and inspire volunteers, helping them to support the Food Bank’s mission.
Outside of work, Monica enjoys visiting farmers’ markets, exploring local produce, and reading a wide range of books. She is also passionate about writing and storytelling, believing in its power to connect people and spark change.
Gordon Collins
Assistant Distribution Center Supervisor — Auburn
Melissa Motejunas
Director of Sales and Marketing
Nicole Pelletier
Community Resource Representative
Becky Crooker
Community Resource Representative
Heather Paquette
President
Heather Paquette
President
- hpaquette@gsfb.org
- She/Her
Heather Paquette is guided by her unwavering leadership purpose – Always Press Forward, Always Give Back. As the President of Good Shepherd Food Bank of Maine, she leads a dedicated team of hunger-relief professionals to address the root causes of hunger by exploring innovative solutions, sourcing nutritious and culturally relevant food, and collaborating with a network of over 600 partnerships across Maine.
Heather’s professional history reflects her commitment to innovation. Before joining the Food Bank, she played a pivotal role at Ahold Delhaize, where she led a team focused on addressing the changing needs of retail consumers and store associates during the industries’ evolution and omnichannel ambitions. Her team sourced, tested, and delivered innovative solutions to enhance the consumer experience for the five brands under the Ahold Delhaize brand umbrella.
As a University of Southern Maine graduate with a degree in Business Finance, Heather began her career with Hannaford Supermarkets in 1999 as a Retail Management Training (RMT) program participant. During her 22 years with the company, her roles spanned from Assistant Store Manager to Vice President Retail Operations for Maine and New Hampshire, demonstrating her versatility and dedication to the brand.
Throughout her career, Heather took on diverse responsibilities, including marketing and brand management, leading cross-functional teams, and redefining operating models. Her final role at Hannaford was as Vice President of Retail Services, overseeing critical support functions such as payroll, asset protection, pharmacy, retail communications, and operations support.
Beyond her professional endeavors, Heather is deeply involved in community service. She serves on the Board of Directors for the Boys & Girls Clubs of Southern Maine and co-chaired the United Way Tocqueville campaign. Heather also served as the board chair for the Maine March of Dimes Chapter from 2017 to 2019 and as a board member for 11 years.
Her contributions have not gone unnoticed. She was recognized in the Griffin Report’s “Women of Influence in the Supermarket Industry” in 2021 and again in 2017, and she was named in their “40 under 40” in 2016. As a graduate of the NEW Executive Institute 2015-2016 program, Heather has keynoted at the UNE Health Majors’ Leadership Conference and participated in panels for organizations like the Network of Executive Women, the National Diversity Council, and the University of Southern Maine.
Heather Paquette resides in Maine with her husband, Brian, and their two children. Beyond her professional commitments, she enjoys running and supporting her busy kids’ activities, including participating in a unique unicycling group!
Derek Marquis
Inventory and Quality Management Specialist
Shawn Herr
Distribution Center Supervisor — Auburn
Daniel Michaud
Distribution Team — Hampden
Lyndon Hopkins
Facilities Team
Lyndon Hopkins
Facilities Team
Lyndon Hopkins, Facilities Maintenance Manager, has been a valuable part of the Food Bank team since February 2014. He played a significant role in the planning and design of the new Hampden facility before stepping into his current position in 2020. Before joining the Food Bank, Lyndon was the Program Manager at Harbor Family Services and the owner of Hopkins Martial Arts in Newport. Lyndon attended Husson University, where he pursued studies in business.
Lyndon has made substantial contributions to his local community. He served as a dedicated member of the Corinna Recreation Department and played an active role in the MSAD#48/RSU 19 School Board. As the Assistant Coach of the Nokomis Varsity Girl’s Basketball team, his leadership contributed to the team’s success, including two consecutive Eastern Maine Championships. The community recreation department still holds a special place in his heart, where he continues coaching his grandkids and the next generation of basketball, baseball, and softball players. His first-hand experience with the needs and disparities faced by children in rural Maine has deepened his commitment to the Food Bank’s mission of ensuring food security for all Mainers.
Whether at camp on Moosehead Lake, engaged in hunting and camp-building in Exeter, or simply enjoying home in the family neighborhood, Lyndon’s favorite moments are spent surrounded by friends and family, especially his beloved grandkids.
Deb Gerow
Community Resource Representative
Deb Gerow
Community Resource Representative
Deb Gerow, Community Resource Representative (CRR), joined the Food Bank in June 2023. Deb is the CRR for Penobscot County. She is a liaison between partner agencies, retail store donors, and the Food Bank, responding to questions and requests for information, conducting monitoring visits, building agency capacity by suggesting best practices, recording statistics and trends, understanding needs and gaps in service, and outreach/collaboration with communities in the fight to end hunger.
Before joining the Food Bank, Deb spent many years in healthcare management.
Deb lives with her husband in Holden. She enjoys hiking, spending time in nature, and exploring the nooks and crannies of Maine.
Jane Clifford
Volunteer Engagement Manager
Jane Clifford
Volunteer Engagement Manager
Jane Clifford, Volunteer Engagement Manager, joined Good Shepherd Food Bank in March 2020.
Prior to her role at the Food Bank, Jane managed marketing communications for businesses and worked in fundraising for non-profits in the Midwest. She had a brief but impactful opportunity to assist City Year in Manchester, New Hampshire—an organization dedicated to providing educational support to at-risk students through mobilizing AmeriCorps volunteers. Before that, she managed communications and development for a free medical clinic in Minnesota. Throughout much of Jane’s career and volunteer experiences, she consistently found herself engaged in work that directly addressed the critical issue of food insecurity.
Jane believes everyone should have equitable access to nutritious food and primary healthcare. Nine years ago, Jane and her husband decided to settle in Maine, drawn by its unique charm and a desire for new experiences, after raising their two children in the Midwest.
Jane is a certified yoga instructor, and in her free time, she enjoys running, tennis, and supporting local organic farmers.
Lily Butler
Human Resources Manager
Lily Butler
Human Resources Manager
Lily Butler is a SHRM-certified Human Resources professional with a career focused on nonprofit work. As an energy-sucking extrovert, her love for people is matched only by her passion for growing things. She is a resident Mainer and passionate about improving workplaces for future generations. Her work designing compensation structures that challenge conventional norms is one example of how she ensures that Maine workplaces move forward. She has a flair for direct communication seasoned with compassion and a dash of humor. Her professional values are rooted in servant leadership, recognizing that the greatest joy comes through serving others.
When Lily isn’t at work, you will probably find her making friends with the cashier at her local grocery store, spending time with her family, or gardening.
Odette Perriel
Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital
Matt Chin
President, Harvesting Good
Matt Chin
President, Harvesting Good
Matt Chin, President of Harvesting Good, has been with Good Shepherd Food Bank for eight years. Harvesting Good is a wholly-owned for-profit subsidiary of Good Shepherd Food Bank. Its mission is to improve access to nutritious food for people in need and strengthen regional food systems by creating food processing infrastructure for farmers in the Northeast. Previously, Matt was vice president of supply chain and was responsible for growing the capacity so the Food Bank could meet their bold goal by 2025, ensuring that all food-insecure Mainers have access to the food they need, when and where they need it. The Supply Chain organization includes distribution centers in Auburn and Hampden, our fleet of tractor-trailers, sourcing, inventory management, facilities, and safety. Prior to Good Shepherd Food Bank, Matt was the executive vice president of business operations at Goodwill of Northern New England. Before Goodwill, Matt spent 25 years at Fairchild/National Semiconductor working in process improvement, sales operations, finance, IT, and various marketing positions. Matt received his Sc.B. from Brown University and his M.B.A. from the University of Southern California. He lives in Yarmouth with his wife and has two grown boys. He serves on MaineHealth board, Fork Food Labs board, Maine Farm to Institution leadership team, and The Woodlands’ Handicap Committee.
Sam Michaud
Director of Facilities
Sam Michaud
Director of Facilities
As Director of Facilities, Sam Michaud oversees the logistics and day-to-day operations of Good Shepherd Food Bank’s two distribution centers in Auburn and Hampden, as well as the administrative office location in Yarmouth, Maine.
This role suits him well, and during the past few years, he completed significant growth-based projects at the Food Bank’s Auburn and Hampden locations, which resulted in more than doubling distribution center capacity. Maine Real Estate Development Association recognized the renovation of the Hannaford Center, Hampden’s distribution center, as one of Maine’s most notable projects. Sam supports many Food Bank partners with compliance, structure, food safety, and capacity-building grants.
Before Sam joined the Food Bank, he spent over 15 years with Delhaize America, where he managed several areas and projects, including being a district trainer, pilot program store, Computer Assisted Ordering retail rollout lead, standard procedure panelist for optimized performance, and remodel support for stores throughout the state.
Currently, Sam is Maine VOAD’s co-chair/president and is working on reorganizing and rebuilding fundamental relations and structures within the Chapter. When he’s not at the Food Bank’s distribution centers, he spends as much time as possible with his family, dog, and chickens.
Megan Gagne
Marketing and Communications Manager
Megan Gagne
Marketing and Communications Manager
Megan Gagne, marketing and communications manager, is responsible for supporting the execution of the communications strategy and marketing plans for the Food Bank. She develops website content, manages social media, assists with media outreach, and leads story collection strategy for the Food Bank. She has a strong background in digital marketing, social media listening, storytelling, and driving online customer engagement through social platforms. She moved to Augusta, Maine, in 2015 and started working for Marshall Communications as an account coordinator and then was promoted to account executive with many travel and tourism clients, as well as nonprofit clients, higher education, and healthcare industries. Prior to Marshall Communications, Gagne held nonprofit healthcare and sport marketing roles. Gagne received a B.S. in public relations and a double minor in English and writing from Northern Michigan University. Gagne was on the Northern Michigan University Varsity Swim and Dive Team, Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC), and a member of the Public Relations Student Society of America (PRSSA). She lives in Sidney, Maine, and is a swim coach for the KV YMCA Stingrays and volunteers at the Augusta Food Bank. In her free time, she enjoys reading, hiking, fishing, and spending time with her husband, dog, and cat.
Jessica Donahue
Director of Marketing and Communications
Jessica Donahue
Director of Marketing and Communications
- jdonahue@gsfb.org
- She/Her
Jessica Donahue is currently director of marketing and communications for Maine’s largest hunger-relief organization, Good Shepherd Food Bank. She would love to live in a world where socks always have their matches, mini-golf games are televised, and hot cocoa is always served with giant, fluffy homemade butterscotch flavored marshmallows. She parked thousands of cars on the Penobscot River shores when she helped create Bangor’s Car Show: Wheels on the Waterfront and introduced new brews to the masses with Bangor’s Beer Festival – Tap into Summer. All was done while she was the director of marketing and promotions for the Greater Bangor Convention & Visitors Bureau in Maine. Skilled at no and low-cost marketing, she’s always looking for new and innovative ways to promote products, which helped her as an account supervisor for Marshall Communications. There she oversaw the web development department and several clients’ portfolios, including PR for Orvis and Bar Harbor Chamber of Commerce. You can find her most days striving to end hunger, writing PR and strategic marketing plans, navigating social platforms’ algorithms, and working from home with her 70-pound Great Pyr mix named Bumble and new addition, Higgins, a lab mix puppy. And, yes, Bumbles do bounce!
Nicole Nadeau
Chief People Officer
Nicole Nadeau
Chief People Officer
- nnadeau@gsfb.org
- She/Her
Nicole Nadeau, vice president of people and culture, joined Good Shepherd Food Bank in February 2010. Nadeau nurtures a high-engagement culture throughout the Food Bank’s statewide workforce that supports talent development, fosters employee wellbeing, and positions the organization to meet its short- and long-term goals. Her work is grounded in building meaningful relationships and delivering a great employee and volunteer experience. She is fascinated by learning about the energy and joy within everyone. General Mills previously employed Nadeau in Scottsdale, Arizona. While at General Mills, she was approached by St. Mary’s Food Bank to host a volunteer group and donate cereal to the food bank. On her first experience with any food bank, she was captivated by the work the Food Bank was doing and fell in love with the spirit and essence of community support and helping others. Five years later, Nadeau moved to Maine and was excited to see an opportunity as a gift processor at Good Shepherd Food Bank. After a year in the gift processing role, she moved into the Human Resources department. Nadeau is a volunteer working with incarcerated women in recovery as they prepare to return to their community. She offers mentorship and group support sessions at the women’s facility in Windham, Maine. She is an avid reader, explorer, and learner. She raises her three children to lead with kindness, compassion, and awareness.
Bryan O’Connor
Chief Financial Officer and Chief of Staff
Bryan O’Connor
Chief Financial Officer and Chief of Staff
- boconnor@gsfb.org
- He/Him
Bryan O’Connor is Chief Financial Officer at Good Shepherd Food Bank, overseeing the accounting, technology, and risk management functions.
A Certified Management Accountant, Bryan has over 20 years of experience in accounting and leadership roles. Before joining the Food Bank in 2015, he served as Vice President of Finance at United Way of Greater Portland.
A graduate of Bentley University, Bryan is a father of two, a self-published author, and a Little League baseball coach.
George Fox
Chief Supply Chain Officer
George Fox
Chief Supply Chain Officer
George Fox joined Good Shepherd Food Bank as Vice President of Supply Chain in 2020. He is responsible for helping the Food Bank grow its capacity to feed food-insecure Mainers.
Prior to joining Good Shepherd, Fox held engineering and operational leadership roles at L.L.Bean for over 20 years and received a B.S. from the University of Maine in Forestry, an MBA from New Hampshire College, and MS from the University of Southern Maine in Manufacturing Systems. He lives with his wife and teenage son in Gorham.
Shannon Coffin
Community Partnerships Officer
Shannon Coffin
Community Partnerships Officer
- scoffin@gsfb.org
- She/Her
Shannon Coffin, vice president of community partnerships, joined Good Shepherd Food Bank in 2010 and launched the first Youth & Families Initiatives partnerships in 2011. Under her leadership from 2011 to 2019, Youth & Families Initiatives grew from reaching 40 children in one school to over 5,000 families in over 150 schools. From November 2019 to August 2020, Shannon served as Good Shepherd Food Bank’s Director of Community Partnerships, helping to lead the transition of our Community Resources team. She grew the team from four Field Representatives focused on agency compliance to seven Community Resource Representatives, building agency capacity and managing relationships with local retail donors through increased partner engagement.
Shannon is a part of Full Plates Full Potentials Leadership Council and has served as Chair for both their Child & Adult Care Food Program and Summer Food Service Program committees. She is also very active in the national Feeding America network. Most recently, she was selected to be a part of Feeding America’s first Equitable Access Innovation Cohort. In the past, she has provided support to peers across the country as a Child Hunger Capacity Adviser and as a Child Hunger Corps Supervisor.
Prior to working at Good Shepherd Food Bank, Shannon was Marketing & Events Coordinator for Green Tree Event Consultants in Falmouth, Maine, from 2006 to 2010. She graduated Magna Cum Laude from St. Joseph’s College of Maine in 2007 with a Bachelor’s in Public Relations and Advertising. Outside of work, Shannon is the mother of endlessly energetic twins, and loves to garden and kayak.
Jen MacDonald
Community Resources Manager
Jen MacDonald
Community Resources Manager
Jen MacDonald, Community Resources Manager, joined the Food Bank in August 2013 as an Agency Services Field Representative supporting partner agencies of the Food Bank in York, Cumberland, Lincoln, Sagadahoc, and Knox Counties.
In 2019, the Agency Services Field Representative role, focused on compliance, evolved into the Community Resource Representative (CRR) role to include building agency capacity, and managing relationships with local retail donors through increased partner engagement. In 2021, Jen stepped into the Community Resources Manager role leading a team of six CRRs. She grew the team to seven CRRs and one Community Resources Team Lead, focusing on supporting Good Shepherd Food Bank’s strategic initiative of strengthening the network of partner agencies.
Jen resides in Southern Maine with her husband and two beautiful children. She enjoys traveling, outdoor adventures, reading, and yoga.
Shannon Rooney
Community Resource Representative
Shannon Rooney
Community Resource Representative
Shannon Rooney, Community Resource Representative (CRR), joined the Food Bank in January 2023. Shannon is the CRR for York, Oxford, and Androscoggin counties. She is a liaison between partner agencies, retail store donors, and the Food Bank, responding to questions and requests for information, conducting monitoring visits, building agency capacity by suggesting best practices, recording statistics and trends, understanding needs and gaps in service, and collaborating with communities in the fight to end hunger.
Shannon has a B.A. in History, and before coming to the food bank, she worked in Higher Education for 21 years.
Shannon lives with her husband and two cats in Buxton. She loves gardening on their mini homestead, where she grows fruit trees, flowers, vegetables, and nuts. She enjoys reading fantasy and science fiction, throwing tea parties, and playing music with her husband and friends.
Angie Adams
Community Resources Team Lead
Angie Adams
Community Resources Team Lead
Angie joined Good Shepherd Food Bank as a Community Resource Representative(CRR) in the spring of 2022. In this role, she supported and guided many of the Food Bank’s partner agencies, retail store donors, and communities across the state. As a CRR, Angie worked with agencies in Cumberland, Androscoggin, Oxford, York, and Aroostook Counties. In the fall of 2023, Angie transitioned into the Community Resources Team Lead role to support the Community Resources Team efforts in strengthening the network of partner agencies.
Angie came to the Food Bank with over nine years of entrepreneurial experience and a degree in Business Administration from Southern Maine Community College. She lives in Southern Maine with her husband and two children. Angie enjoys spending her free time with her family at the lake, exploring the coast, reading, cooking, and completing home improvement projects.
Dawn DiFiore
Director of Community Partnerships
Dawn DiFiore
Director of Community Partnerships
Dawn DiFiore, Director of Community Partnerships, initially joined the Food Bank in January 2019 as the Community Resources Manager, a role she held until 2021.
In her current position, Dawn oversees the Community Resources team, Youth & Family Initiatives, and the Community Health & Hunger programs.
Dawn brings a wealth of experience to her role, having spent 12 years at the Phoenix Zoo and later transitioning to the tech sector in various leadership roles, where she supported diverse product lines. Her journey to the Food Bank was driven by a desire to align her career with impactful and transformative work in the non-profit sector.
Dawn lives with her partner Scott in New Gloucester, where they share their home with rescue dog Dardee and rescue cats Mac & Cheese. Dawn volunteers at her local library and is an avid reader, traveler & nature explorer.
Kendall Penndorf
Research & Evaluation Administrator
Kendall Penndorf
Research & Evaluation Administrator
Kendall Penndorf, Research and Evaluation Administrator, joined Good Shepherd Food Bank in April 2022. Prior to her role at the Food Bank, she served as a program evaluator at a small boutique evaluation firm, collaborating closely with the Maine CDC and health and equity-related non-profits throughout Maine.
A graduate of the University of New England, Kendall holds a Master of Public Health degree. Her educational background equips her with expertise in research methods, ethics, and study design, with a specialized focus on qualitative inquiries.
In her free time, Kendall enjoys reading, spending quality time with her two cats, and participating in community theater.
Jada Wensman
Research and Evaluation Manager
Jada Wensman
Research and Evaluation Manager
Jada Wensman, Research and Evaluation Manager, joined Good Shepherd Food Bank in January of 2023 to spearhead outreach, project management, and training for the service insights initiative.
Jada earned a Master’s degree the Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy at Tufts University, where she conducted in-depth qualitative research on food choices and challenges faced by individuals experiencing food insecurity across the nation.
With a background in nutrition education and community food systems work, Jada finds fulfillment in her role on the Research and Evaluation team, as it enables her to foster connections with people and gain deeper insights into Maine’s diverse communities.
Beyond work, Jada immerses herself in outdoor adventures, including trail running, biking, and hiking. She also enjoys baking bread.
Jennifer Wilson
Development Communications Specialist
Jennifer Wilson
Development Communications Specialist
- jenwilson@gsfb.org
- She/Her
Jennifer Wilson, Development Communications Specialist, joined the Food Bank in October 2022. After working in development for the last few years, she has learned the art of creating visually appealing content that resonates with donors while being able to proofread documents at light speed. She is now tasked with conveying the impact of our work to donors at all levels. Jennifer comes to Good Shepherd Food Bank after working and volunteering with international nonprofits and has over a decade of communications experience in the private sector. She earned her bachelor’s degree in media studies, with a concentration in production and design, at the University of Southern Maine. She received her master’s degree in international studies with a focus on Latin America from Concordia University Irvine, which included fieldwork in Guatemala and Colombia. Although she grew up primarily in Southern California, it isn’t easy to pinpoint which city Jennifer is from, being the daughter of a former Marine. She has called Maine her home for over 15 years now, and she is excited to use her skills and experience, as well as her love of storytelling, to help her community and end hunger in Maine for good. Most days, you are likely to find Jennifer traveling, hiking with her partner, or spending time with her two teens, bearded dragon and dingo, aka “Charlie, the dog.”
Kristie Greenough
Development Operations Associate
Ashley Davis
Development Operations Coordinator
Ashley Davis
Development Operations Coordinator
Ashley Davis, development operations coordinator, is responsible for the operational functions of the Developmental Operations team and supports the fundraising efforts of the Food Bank by seeking ways to increase gift processing efficiencies and sending acknowledgments of thanks to our generous donors. A part of the Food Bank team since 2019, Ashley strongly believes that food insecurity is a nationwide pandemic and takes great pride in supporting a cause she is very passionate about. Having lived in Maine all her life, Ashley enjoys being outside with family and friends. Her passions include four-wheeling, gardening, swimming, repurposing antique furniture, and interior decorating. She resides in Buckfield, Maine, with her fiancé, Corey, three stepsons, Camden, Bohden, and Harrison, and her dog and cat, Roxy and Kitty.
Julie McQuillan
Development Operations Manager
Julie McQuillan
Development Operations Manager
Julie joined the Food Bank ten years ago and considers herself fortunate to work for an organization with a mission that is so close to her heart. Her work as the Manager of Development Operations allows her to see first-hand the generosity and kindness of the Food Bank’s donors. Julie grew up in Massachusetts and having enjoyed Maine as a special place over the years made the move. She resides in Scarborough with her husband and cat.
Anna Mercier
Annual Giving Specialist
Anna Mercier
Annual Giving Specialist
- amercier@gsfb.org
- She/Her
Anna Mercier, Annual Giving Specialist, joined the Food Bank in October 2021 as part of the Donor Relations team. Anna coordinates the Food Bank’s direct marketing program and supports mid-level donors and the Thrive365 monthly giving program. She has seven years of experience in fundraising and communications from working at the Forest Society of Maine, a statewide land trust. Before that, she was employed by several other Maine nonprofits in various capacities. Anna graduated from the University of Maine in Orono in 2010 with a bachelor’s degree. She currently lives in Eddington with her husband and a rambunctious dog. “What I love about working for nonprofits,” Anna says, “is that I can go to work every day knowing that what I do helps make a positive difference in my community. At the Food Bank, I get to be part of an amazing group of staff, donors, and volunteers who are equally passionate about lending a hand to our neighbors and making Maine a better place.”
Kate Rice
Donor Engagement Specialist
Kate Rice
Donor Engagement Specialist
Kate Rice, Donor Engagement Specialist, coordinates community fundraisers, food drives and creates engaging educational events for Good Shepherd Food Bank’s donors. Kate joined Good Shepherd Food Bank in September 2022 after working for several years with the Wells Reserve at Laudholm in Wells, ME. Previously, she held roles at All Faiths Food Bank in Sarasota, FL, and served as an AmeriCorps Vista with the Society of St. Vincent de Paul community assistance center in Exeter, NH. Kate received her B.A. from the University of New Hampshire with a double major in Environmental and Resource Economics and Geography. When she’s not working, you can find Kate tending to her gardens and chickens, hiking, camping, and enjoying Maine throughout the seasons with her husband and dog.
Georgia Jenkins
Corporate and Foundation Relations Officer
Georgia Jenkins
Corporate and Foundation Relations Officer
- gjenkins@gsfb.org
- She/Her
“I’m excited to join the team at Good Shepherd Food Bank and support the goal of ending hunger in Maine through improved access, education, advocacy, and effective partnerships,” stated Georgia Jenkins, corporate and foundation relations officer. “I’ve always had a passion for anti-hunger and anti-poverty work, beginning as a teenager serving meals at the local soup kitchen and deciding early on to focus on solutions-based work in the nonprofit field.” Georgia has over a decade of nonprofit experience, with a focus on relationship building, grants management, and process improvement. Prior to joining the Food Bank, she worked as the grants manager at Preble Street. Georgia currently serves on the Board of Youth and Family Outreach, an early childhood education and community center in Portland. She earned her Master’s degree in Nonprofit Management from Regis University and holds a Bachelor’s in Sociology from Drew University. She served two terms with AmeriCorps National Civilian Community Corps which fueled her passion for volunteering, community engagement, and connecting with people. Georgia lives in Portland with her wife, two kids, and a very energetic border collie!
Daniel Del Rossi
Development Assistant
Daniel Del Rossi
Development Assistant
Dan provides administrative support to the Development team at the Food Bank. His work includes scheduling, data management, and communicating with both internal and external partners. Prior to joining Good Shepherd Food Bank, he provided administrative support to large team of account and patient program executives at the American Cancer Society.
He also completed a year of national service as an AmeriCorps volunteer in mid-coast Maine. Dan received a B.A. in Political Science from the University of Maine.
Ethan Minton
Philanthropy Advisor
Ethan Minton
Philanthropy Advisor
- eminton@gsfb.org
- He/Him
Ethan Minton, Philanthropy Advisor, joined the Food Bank in 2017. He obtained a passion for ending hunger in 9th grade while completing an English assignment and, as he entered college, Ethan started raising money for organizations including Save the Children and Good Shepherd Food Bank.
Ethan has over 20 years of experience in broadcasting and prior to Good Shepherd Food Bank he was a trustee and then program director at Mid Coast Hunger Prevention.
Ethan studied business management at the University of Maine and lives with his wife and daughter and their cats in Brunswick.
Erin Peck Yarema
Director of Major and Planned Giving
Erin Peck Yarema
Director of Major and Planned Giving
- eyarema@gsfb.org
- She/Her
Erin Peck Yarema, Director of Major and Planned Giving, acquired a passion for development from her time as a college student receiving scholarship support and witnessing dynamic change on campus fueled by generous donors.
Working in the fundraising field since 2003, Erin is inspired by working with people to make transformational gifts that intersect a donor’s philanthropic goals and Good Shepherd Food Bank’s strategic vision.
A native Mainer and graduate of Waynflete School and Bard College, Erin lives in Yarmouth and serves on the board of the Yarmouth Education Foundation. Erin especially enjoys time spent with family, including her son Nicholas, partner J, and his children William and Clara, tending to gardens, preparing and enjoying delicious food, home improvement projects, and soaking up the Maine outdoors in all seasons.
Sarah Lorenz
Community Nutrition Coordinator
Sarah Lorenz
Community Nutrition Coordinator
Sarah Lorenz joined the Food Bank in 2022 as the Community Nutrition Coordinator.
Sarah is passionate about food and nutrition insecurity and its devastating impact on Maine communities. Sarah has teamed up with the nutrition team to implement and support our growing portfolio of nutrition programming while managing nutrition content creation for NutritionforME.org and our social media channels.
Before joining the food bank, Sarah received a B.S. in public health education and a minor in substance abuse prevention. Following graduation, Sarah completed an externship with the District Health Department in Michigan, where she implemented health education programs and supported substance abuse programs.
In her free time, Sarah enjoys life outdoors. She enjoys fishing, hiking, and spending time with friends and family.
Meg Brown
Community Nutrition Manager
Meg Brown
Community Nutrition Manager
As the Community Nutrition Manager at the Food Bank, Meg Brown manages the incentive-based program, Farm Fresh Rewards in numerous local retail outlets, the Nutrition for ME recipe website content, and Community First, a collaborative, multifaceted approach to addressing root causes of food insecurity.
She is a rural Maine native with a leadership and project management background and has a deep passion for human services. Brown is heavily invested in studying and spreading awareness about the intersection of trauma science, nutrition, and food insecurity. Brown continuously uses skills and knowledge gained through her research and experience to inform and progress the work at the Food Bank. She is incredibly motivated and proud to be at the forefront of embracing a holistic approach to ending hunger in Maine.
Brown received a B.A. in Social and Behavioral Sciences at the University of Southern Maine and is working to finish her master’s degree in clinical mental health counseling.
She has lived happily in Portland for nearly 15 years with her husband, two daughters, and their dog, Willie. In her free time, she enjoys taking her family to visit her family’s farm in Waterford, Maine, and continues to enjoy and explore all the Maine and New England have to offer.
Courtney Kennedy
Director of Nutrition
Courtney Kennedy
Director of Nutrition
Courtney Kennedy, M.Ed, is the Director of Nutrition for Good Shepherd Food Bank of Maine and oversees Cooking Matters programming, the Nutrition Pantry Program, and Farm Fresh Reward, a nutrition incentive program in Maine.
During Courtney’s ten-year tenure, she has helped increase the organization’s nutrition foods by implementing a robust nutrition policy that guides the organization’s work, moving the needle from 54% nutrition foods to upwards to 82%. Courtney participated in Feeding America’s Nutritious Foods Revisioning Task Force, which worked on revamping nutrition guidelines for the charitable food network. In addition to this task force, Courtney works with State of Maine partners to continue building essential practices supporting overall health and wellness for food insecure neighbors.
Before working at the Food Bank, Courtney worked in the public education sector, working on policy, systems, and environmental changes related to nutrition and physical activity. Her most proud accomplishment was working with her school district to be the only middle/high school in the State to have accomplished the Healthier US School Challenge, resulting in an invitation to the White House and meeting First Lady Michelle Obama.
Courtney holds a Bachelor of Science in Education and Allied Health Professions with a concentration in Dietetics from the University of Dayton and a Master’s in Adult Education from the University of Southern Maine and certifications supporting her ongoing development. Courtney enjoys working out, running, and walking her dog Harry Bear, a Newfie, in her free time. She resides in Southern Maine but is passionate about traveling and seeing the world.
Kay Gray
Sourcing Director
Kay Gray
Sourcing Director
Kay Gray, Sourcing Director, joined the Food Bank in August 2021.
Kay is at the helm of strategic planning for various food streams, encompassing Retail/Fresh Rescue, Maine Agriculture/Producers, USDA programs, and purchasing budgets. Her mission is to ensure that our 600+ partner network has improved access to nutritious and culturally relevant food, contributing to delivering 40 million pounds of food to communities across Maine.
Before joining the Food Bank, Kay spent an impressive 25 years at L.L. Bean, serving as the Senior Inventory Buyer and Production Planner.
Kay cherishes moments spent with her grandchildren in her leisure time, and she also enjoys crafting custom jewelry and tending to her garden.
Nancy Perry
Senior Sourcing Manager
Nancy Perry
Senior Sourcing Manager
Nancy Perry, Senior Sourcing Manager, initially joined the Food Bank in October 2008 as Food Resource Coordinator.
Nancy was initially responsible for soliciting donated food from various sources. She then advanced to become the Food Sourcing Manager and later took on the role of the Mainers Feeding Mainers Program Manager, where she works closely with over 90 local farms, dairies, fisheries, and food producers to provide nutritious, locally sourced food to our network of over 600 partner agencies, contributing significantly to our efforts to eliminate hunger in Maine.
Before joining the Food Bank, Nancy provided administrative support in the private sector and had experience with another nonprofit organization. She has served on the Good Food Council of Lewiston/Auburn and the Produce Council for Feeding America. In 2014, Nancy received Leader of the Year Recognition for the Northeast from Feeding America.
In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her husband, two daughters and five grandchildren. She enjoys reading, knitting, and crocheting.
Danielle Labonte
Youth and Family Initiatives Coordinator
Danielle Labonte
Youth and Family Initiatives Coordinator
Danielle Labonte has been with the food bank for six years. As the Afterschool School and Federal Program Coordinator, she administers the Kid’s Café Program and the Summer Meal Program and supports our network of School Pantry partners.
Danielle lives in Oxford County with her family. She has a daughter in High School, two cats, and two dogs. She enjoys spending time with her family, camping, boating, fishing, hiking, and gardening.
Kazia Knepp
Youth and Family Initiatives Coordinator
Kazia Knepp
Youth and Family Initiatives Coordinator
Kazia Knepp has been with the food bank for two years. As the Youth and Family Initiatives Coordinator, she oversees our network of School Pantry partners.
Martha Lefebvre
Community Health and Hunger Coordinator
Martha Lefebvre
Community Health and Hunger Coordinator
As the Food Bank’s Community Health and Hunger Program Coordinator, Martha works very closely with Good Shepherd Food Bank’s healthcare partners. She coordinates resources for patients experiencing food insecurity, emergency food bags, and works with the partners to help implement Hunger Vital Signs™ Food Insecurity Screenings.
Martha is currently pursuing a master’s degree in Policy, Planning, and Management, and a certificate in Food Studies from the University of Maine’s Muskie School. She hopes to use her degree to strengthen Maine’s local food economy, and to increase food and land equity throughout the state. Martha is particularly interested in the environmental impact of the global food system, and the intersection of feminism and veganism.
In her spare time, she enjoys spending time with her cat, Augie, and dog, Fievel, and enjoys the outdoors, cooking for friends, and traveling.
Laura Vinal
Senior Manager of Community Initiatives
Laura Vinal
Senior Manager of Community Initiatives
Laura Vinal, Senior Manager of Community Initiatives, oversees the Food Bank’s Youth and Families Initiative Programs and Community Health and Hunger Program, working with schools, afterschool programs, and healthcare organizations across Maine. In addition to program oversight, she supports various strategic initiatives focused on increasing food access in communities with limited or no access to the Food Bank’s partner network. She has extensive experience in project management and program design and is passionate about supporting initiatives promoting health equity.
Laura holds a B.S. in Middle/Secondary Education from the University of Maine Farmington. Before joining Good Shepherd Food Bank, she served in Peace Corps Ukraine, teaching K-12 English and leading curriculum development workshops at local universities.
She lives in Bowdoinham, Maine, with her husband and daughter and, in her free time, enjoys being outside, spending time with family and friends, and traveling when she can.
Amy Sassi
Vice President of Public Policy
Amy Sassi
Vice President of Public Policy
- asassi@gsfb.org
- She/Her
Amy Sassi, vice president of public policy and research, joined the Food Bank in December 2019. Her work includes state and federal advocacy, working with partner agencies to utilize research tools to assess the impact of our work, and engaging our Board, donors, volunteers, community, and those who have lived experience of hunger in grassroots advocacy. Sassi’s work is grounded in building relationships with elected officials and staff on all sides of the political aisle. You can find her in Augusta, DC and on the road throughout Maine.
Sassi was previously employed by AARP Maine as the advocacy director and built the successful Tuesdays at the State House constituent engagement program. She began her career at Preble Street, a social services organization in Portland, Maine, and oversaw the Maine Hunger Initiative, Healthcare Outreach to Veterans, and Homeless Voices for Justice.
Sassi is a volunteer with The Prouty, the Eastern Trail Alliance, and is a board member of Portland Ovations. She cares deeply about the “New Mainer” community and organized the 2019 Welcome Picnic for 300+ asylum seekers. Sassi grew up in Buxton and is a proud graduate of Catherine McAuley High School. She graduated from Saint Anselm College with a BA in Politics, New York University with an MS in International Development.
Meg Taft
Vice President of Equity and Impact
Meg Taft
Vice President of Equity and Impact
- mtaft@gsfb.org
- She/Her
Meg Taft joined Good Shepherd Food Bank in 2018 as the advocacy and community organizing manager. In this role, she responded to the strategic priority of centering the voices of those most impacted by hunger in the Food Bank’s work and decision-making. In 2019, alongside many community partners, Meg supported the Building Advocates Leadership Program (BALP) launch, a program designed to center and uplift the voices of food-insecure Mainers in a statewide movement to end hunger. In 2021, the evolving work and priorities of the Food Bank culminated in a deepening commitment to understanding the racial and economic disparities underlying hunger. Meg accepted the director of equity, diversity, and inclusion position, now the vice president of equity and impact. She has a deep background and professional experience leading equity and diversity work. In this role, Meg works closely with the Equity and Impact Team and her colleagues across the Food Bank to envision a more just and equitable food system in Maine. Outside of her work with Good Shepherd Food Bank, Meg co-founded Twin Villages Foodbank Farm alongside her partner, Sara, and their daughter, Adley. Meg previously owned and operated Seed by Seed Farm and supported the start-up of an immigrant growers’ cooperative in Madison, Wisconsin. She has an M.Ed in Diversity and Social Justice from the University of Massachusetts, focusing on food access and security.
Daniel Dubois
Logistics and Transportation Manager
Daniel Dubois
Logistics and Transportation Manager
As the Safety, Fleet, and Logistics Manager of the Food Bank, Dan Dubois drives our transportation department. He manages the Food Bank’s Class A truck drivers, along with eight tractors and box trucks, and eight refrigerated trailers. Dan began working for the Food Bank in 2013 and focused on improving the quality and safety of the fleet to better support the uniqueness of the Food Bank’s distribution network.
Prior to working at the Food Bank, Dan started his career with Ryder Transportation in 1999, and has managed fleets with more than 60 trucks and 80 drivers. He is passionate about keeping people safe in all areas of transportation and actively promotes “people going home the same way they came in to work.”
While most of his education in this field is from direct engagement and a focus on continuously training in safety and transportation, he also received a certificate for Managing a Major Fleet Safety Program through the North American Trucking Institute from the University of Central Florida.
Robin McCarthy
Chief Advancement Officer
Robin McCarthy
Chief Advancement Officer
- rmccarthy@gsfb.org
- She/Her
With a decade of experience in nonprofit fundraising and communications, Robin oversees the donor experience, emphasizing annual giving strategies and donor services. She calls upon her experience with large-scale direct response and data-driven donor engagement strategies to create experiences that help donors make a difference in their communities. She is happy to talk your ear off about the value of a recurring monthly donation and appreciates crafting a good thank-you note. Robin grew up in central Maine, has lived and worked in the Midwest and Washington, DC, and now resides in Bucksport with her husband and dog
Do good for a living
Partnership
We build constructive working relationships characterized by acceptance, cooperation, and respect.
Inclusion
We acknowledge our responsibility in conflict situations and demonstrate compassion, care, and consideration.
Dedication
We’re Mainers helping Mainers. We show 100% dedication to our mission in all of our efforts and advocacy.
Agility
We adapt to accommodate changing needs while discovering new practices to accomplish goals and solve problems.
