Article Title: Executive Leadership Team

Kara Hay

As president and CEO of Penquis, Kara leads Maine’s largest community action agency, an organization dedicated to helping individuals and families become safe, stable, connected and financially secure.  She serves as president of Penquis subsidiaries MaineStream Finance, Rape Response Services, Inc., Penquis Development, Inc. and Penquis Housing, Inc.  Kara is a board member of the National NeighborWorks Association, Community Housing Capital, corporator of Northern Light Health, chair of Northern Light Acadia Hospital Board of Trustees, member of the Bangor-area Community Health Leadership Board, member of the Alliance for Addiction and Mental Health Services, advisory board member of The Schmidt Institute, and past president of the Maine Community Action Association.  She is a recognized leader in the field of community development, receiving an Emerging Leader Award and a Practitioner of the Year Award from the National Neighborworks® Association.  Kara is a Maine native and holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Theatre from the University of Maine, a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology from the University of Hawaii at Hilo, and a Master of Arts degree in Marriage and Family Therapy from Argosy University, Hawaii.

Denice Conary

Denice has over 30 years’ experience in the accounting field.  She began her career at Penquis in 2001 as the company’s Controller and was appointed CFO in 2013.  In her current position she directs the preparation and management of the agency’s annual operating budget, serves as staff to the Finance Committee of the Board of Directors, is directly involved in the financial aspects of six subsidiary corporations under the Penquis umbrella, and is responsible for the fiscal oversight of ten low income/senior housing projects in the area.  Through the effective management and stewardship of resources, Denice ensures the organization’s financial integrity and supports the provision of essential services to low-income individuals and families.  She has a Bachelor of Science degree in accounting from Husson University, and is a member of IMA.

Heidi LeBlanc

Heidi has worked with children and families for over 30 years.  Her experience ranges from Early education/intervention to residential services for people with disabilities.  She received her BA in Psychology from Colby College and her M.Ed in Special Education/Early Intervention from the University of Maine.  As Chief Operating Officer, Heidi has primary responsibility for the administration of the Community Services Block Grant (CSBG), which supports the Penquis mission to alleviate and prevent poverty in the lives of individuals, families and communities.  She also has oversight of several departments at Penquis including Child Development, Transportation, Housing and Energy, Housing Development, Maine Stream Finance and Family Enrichment services.

Jennifer Giosia

Jennifer has worked in the social service sector for 27 years.  She began her career at Penquis in 1992 in the energy services field and has expanded her role to include housing services for low income households.  Jen and the Housing and Energy staff work with thousands of Maine families each year to provide home weatherization, home repair, lead inspections and, during the winter season, home energy assistance.  She has served as Chair of the Maine Community Action Association’s Energy Council and Vice Chair of its Housing Council. Jennifer holds a BA in Psychology from Rutgers University.

Janeen Feero

Janeen has over 25 years’ experience in fundraising and grant writing. Janeen worked for the University of Maine and the College of the Atlantic before joining Penquis in 2000.  She received her BA in Speech Communication from the University of Southern Maine and her MA in Speech Communication from the University of Maine.  Janeen oversees Penquis’ development efforts, including fundraising and community relations.  Janeen works diligently with staff across the agency to capture grant resources, win competitive bidding opportunities, obtain philanthropic support, and assure Penquis maintains appropriate, strong public information and community relation efforts.

Steven Richard

Steven brings more than 25 years of experience in business management and process improvement to this new brokerage service.  With a degree in Chemical Engineering and a Master’s of Business Administration degree, Steven offers an analytical approach to the management of social service related programs.  Over the last decade, he has worked as a project manager for the Maine Secretary of State, served as Executive Director of the Down East AIDS Network, and has worked with hundreds of Maine small businesses as a business counselor for the Maine Small Business Development Centers.  Steven and his team strive each day to improve transportation access for our economically vulnerable neighbors so that they can maintain good health through regular access to medical care.

Jason Bird

Jason joined Penquis in May 2015.  Most recently, he was the Community and Economic Development Officer for the City of Bangor.  He formerly worked as a Senior Program Director with the Midcoast Council of Governments in Damariscotta.  Jason has nearly 10 years of project development and management experience, with a strong record of federal, state and local grant writing and fundraising.  Jason holds a Bachelors in Political Science and a Masters of Public Administration, both from the University of Maine.  He currently serves on the Board of the Bangor Area Homeless Shelter and the MPBN Community Advisory Board.

Tamar Perfit Mathieu, Esq.

Tamar began working at Penquis in 1998 as an attorney in the Penquis Law Project.  Since then she has held various positions including Directing Attorney, Division Manager, Deputy Department Director, and now Director of Family Enrichment Services.  She also serves as the Executive Director of Rape Response Services, a subsidiary of Penquis. Tamar is responsible for daily operations of the department, and development, implementation, and management of a diverse group of contracts and programs, including child and family services, legal assistance,  senior volunteer programs, transitional housing programs, homeless youth services, victim services and violence prevention, case management services, counseling services, supportive visitation, and family and community support work.  As a member of the executive leadership team, Tamar works in concert with others to unify Penquis mission and services.

Danielle Goodale

Danielle began working in the human resources field after obtaining her BS degree from Thomas College in 1998.  She was hired at Penquis as the Human Resources Manager in November 2005.  She was promoted to Human Resources Director in 2017 and is a member of the Executive Leadership Team. She is responsible for the long-term strategic and daily implementation, management, and oversight of the human resources system, including legal and regulatory compliance, policies and procedures, employee benefits program, worker’s compensation, safety and wellness programs, staff training program, compensation system, recruitment and retention strategies, employee relations activities, and diversity, equity and inclusion efforts. Danielle is the long-standing Chair of the MeCAP Human Resources Directors Group and is the Executive Committee Chair for the Social Services and Education Group Trust, a self-insured group trust for worker’s compensation.

Staci Provost

Staci began working at Penquis in 1999, as a legal secretary in the Penquis Law Project.  Since then, she has held various positions including Operations Accountant and Accounting Manager. She has worked in the Finance Department for the last 15 years.  Staci has nearly 15 years of contract and grant regulatory requirement experience.  Staci is responsible for monitoring and evaluating various lines of business by identifying and supporting effective and sustainable risk management processes across the organization.  This includes oversight of the agency’s Enterprise Risk Management program. As a member of the executive leadership team, Staci works in concert with others to recommend and help implement compliance risk processes that comply with contract regulations, policies and business activity requirements.

Aimee Kerrigan

Aimee Kerrigan, Director Charlotte White Support Services – Aimee obtained her bachelor’s degree in Rehabilitation Services from The University of Maine at Farmington in 2008.  She then began her career in the social service field working at the Charlotte White Center, where she held a variety of positions working with adults with behavioral health diagnoses and intellectual disabilities.  In 2016, Aimee became the Director of Program Operations, for Charlotte White Center.  In January 2019, the Charlotte White Center merged with Penquis and Aimee transitioned into her current role as Director of Charlotte White Support Services at Penquis. Aimee is committed to improving the quality of life for those we serve and showing respect for everyone’s individuality, treating all with dignity and respect.

Mark Glovin

Mark began working at Penquis in May of 2022 as the Regional Programs Director for Knox County.

Andrew Whitten, CISM, PMP

Andrew joined Penquis in 2016 after more than a decade as an IT consultant. Prior to that, he was a network engineer totaling more than 20 years of IT experience. Andrew received his BS in Computer Information Systems from Thomas college and has attained his Project Management Professional Certification. As head of the IT department, Andrew oversees all aspects of technology integration at Penquis. He designs our cybersecurity defenses and network infrastructure as well as serving as the HIPAA security officer.

Dee Williams

Dee joined Penquis in August 2021, bringing to MaineStream over 15 years experience in Leadership, Lending, and Finance. Dee is excited to bring her broad spectrum of knowledge, understanding, and compassion to our clients and team. Dee has developed a strong ability to offer outside the box thinking techniques when traditional financing isn’t quite possible. She understands the unfortunate and difficult life situations that impact a client’s ability to obtain financing.  Dee is driven to put forth the mission of MaineStream Finance and has a true desire to make a difference for the clients of whom we serve. With deep roots in Rural Downeast Maine, Dee is excited to broaden the outreach of the Home Ownership and Small Business Lending services that MaineStream Finance has to offer.

https://www.mainestreamfinance.org/