In October 1994, twenty-five citizens were appointed by Governor McKernan to serve as the inaugural Commission members. Since then, each Governor has appointed an average of nine people each year to fill naturally occurring vacancies on the board.
Commissioner terms of service are three years with an option for re-appointment. The Commissioners are a diverse, bipartisan group of citizens, actively engaged in community service, and represent every region of the state. They elect officers from their membership and the officers serve two-year terms.
The seats on the board are designated in statute such that each person represents at least one facet of the community volunteer service sector.
Commissioners Serving Now
Jenni Tilton-Flood, Chair
Clinton
Dairy Farmer/Cabot Creamery Co-op Spokesperson
Seat 15: A representative of business
Luke Shorty, Chair-elect
Winthrop
Executive Director, Lee Academy
Seat 23: An educator; a representative of a local education agency
Pamela Proulx-Curry, Vice Chair
Old Town
Educator - Advising/Credentialing, United Technologies Center
Seat 11: A representative of the State's volunteer community
F. Celeste Branham, Immediate Past Chair
Brunswick
V.P. for Student Services, University of Maine Farmington (retired)
Seat 20: Educators, including representatives from institutions of higher education and local education agencies
Ryan Almy
South Portland
Associate Attorney, Bernstein Shur
Seat 1: A representative of business
Susan Asselin Hawthorne
Sanford
Volunteer and Internship Director, Sweetser
Seat 10: An individual with expertise in the education, training and development needs of youth, particularly disadvantaged youth
Edward Barrett
Lewiston
City Administrator, City of Lewiston (retired)
Seat 17: Expert in the delivery of human services to communities and people
Becky Hayes-Boober
Rockport
Tobacco Prevention Specialist, Knox County Community Health Coalition, Penbay YMCA
Seat 13: A representative of a community-based agency or organization
Susan Cheesman
Concord, NH
Senior Portfolio Manager, AmeriCorps Northeast Region Office
Seat 24: Ex officio -- a nonvoting liaison designated by the federal AmeriCorps office
Julia Fiori
Portland
Student, Bowdoin College
Seat 6: An individual age 16 to 25 who is a participant in a service program for youth
Stacie Haines
Augusta
Development Director, Maine Conservation Voters
Seat 9: Expert in the delivery of environmental services to communities and persons
Matthew L'Italien
Sidney
Project director, Somerset Public Health
Seat 25: A representative of a community-based agency or organization
Zachary Maher
Poland
Community Development Manager, City of Auburn
Seat 19: A representative of local government
Robert Meinders
Benedicta
Aroostook Agency on Aging Board, RSVP Advisory Committee
Seat 7: A representative of a national service program
Thomas Meuser, Ph.D.
Portland
Professor, School of Social Work, Westbrook College of Health Professions, University of New England
Seat 3: An individual with experience in promoting the involvement of adults aged 55 and older in National Service and volunteerism
Jessica Nixon
Augusta
Chief of Staff, Maine Department of Education
Seat 2: The Commissioner of Education or his/her designee
John Portela
Brunswick
Sandblaster, Bath Iron Works
Seat 4: Representative of a local labor organization
Nathaniel Rudy
Readfield
Town Manager, Gray
Seat 21: A representative of local government
Susan Wiggin
Scarborough
Social Worker, Portland Adult Education
Seat 14: An expert in the delivery of human services to communities and persons
Vacant Seats
Seat 5: An individual age 16 to 25 who is a participant in a service program for youth
Seat 8: A representative of the State's volunteer community
Seat 12: An expert in the delivery of human services in communities
Seat 16: An expert in services to out-of-school or youth at-risk
Seat 18: A representative of public safety
Seat 22: A representative of the State's volunteer community