We are pleased to share with you the list of Members of the new MCoC Board of Directors, as approved by the MCoC Board Nominating Committee.
This new Board is the primary governing body of the Maine Continuum of Care and will have a critical policy and governance role in making recommendations and decisions for the MCoC. Through the knowledge and expertise of its members, the Board provides leadership skills and operational guidance as a strategic partner for the MCoC, advocating on behalf of the MCoC, persons experiencing homelessness, and the organizations that provide shelter, housing, and services to support them. The Board promotes housing retention, stability, success, and optimizes self-sufficiency in the community for people who have experienced homelessness. The Board works toward continually improving the homeless response system, coordinating a statewide commitment to the goal of ending homelessness; promoting access to, and effective use of local, state, and federal resources for all persons experiencing homelessness; and driving effective outcomes for the MCoC, its funded projects, and its partners throughout the State of Maine.
This newly established Board will be effective and in operation as of May 28, 2025. The names of the new Board Members will be submitted to HUD as confirmation regarding our restructuring efforts and will be used moving forward in all public and/or appropriate means to reflect this oversight transition and assumed responsibilities with the Maine CoC.
| Maine Continuum of Care Board of Directors | ||
| Greg | Payne | Senior Advisor on Housing Policy, Governor’s Office |
| Dean | Klein | Executive Director, Maine Continuum of Care |
| Dan | Brennan | Director, MaineHousing |
| Kristen | McAuley | Deputy Director of Strategic Planning, Maine DHHS |
| Jake | Hammer | GA Administrator, Biddeford Maine |
| Liz | Cotter Schlax | Former CEO, United Way of Southern Maine |
| Wes | Phinney | Deputy Director, York County Shelter Programs, Inc. |
| Erin | Kelly | Senior Director of Social Work, Preble Street |
| Jennifer | Gunderman | Director of Public Health & Community Services, Bangor |
| Chris | Bicknell | Executive Director, New Beginnings |
| Melissa | Skahan | Vice President, Northern Light Mercy Hospital |
| Jessica | Drescher | Senior Research Associate, John T. Gorman Foundation |
| Hanna | Gregory | Housing Services Coordinator, MCEDV |
| Zakk | Maher | Deputy Director, Business & Community Development, City of Auburn |
| Amanda | Bartlett | Chief Operating Officer, Developers Collaborative |
| Ryan | Close | Sergeant, Franklin County Sheriff’s Office |
We would like to thank the outgoing President Awa Conteh and Vice President Mike Merrill and the entire MCoC Board of Directors for their stellar work. The work of the current Board ends on May 28, 2025 in all capacities. All work for or within the MCoC that requires any level of policy decision making and/or action will be taken up by the new Board as of that date.
The Executive Director will be under the oversight of the new Board, effective May 28, 2025.
The following shall be the MCoC Committee list, effective June 1, 2025. Each Committee will have a Chair and/or Co-Chairs to schedule and facilitate meetings and ensure minutes and attendance are recorded and shared.
1. NOFO Committee
2. Persons with Lived Experience Committee
3. Policy Committee (operated in collaboration with the Statewide Homeless Council)
4. Outcomes Committee
5. Membership Committee
6. Coordinated Entry Committee
7. Veterans Committee
8. Governance Committee (a Committee of the Board)
9. YAB Committee
New chairs/co-chairs should work with previous chairs/co-chairs to ensure an effective transition and continued momentum on systemwide goals.
Additional Ad Hoc committees will be used when and if they are deemed necessary for specific, time-limited tasks. Any additional permanent MCoC committees must be approved by the new Board.
The work of the Collaborative Applicant, HMIS Lead, and Coordinated Entry System Lead remains unchanged and will be overseen by the new Board. New MOUs regarding these entities will be finalized and put into effect as soon as possible. The work of the Service Hubs that are part of the MCoC remains under the oversight of the Statewide Homeless Council.
The new Board will work with the Statewide Homeless Council in a collaborative manner on policy, advocacy, service, communication, and educational areas to support our collective goals of preventing and ending homelessness in the state of Maine.
Best,
Dean Klein
Executive Director
Maine Continuum of Care