OUT MAINE BOARD
Emily Cantillo
Co-Chair (she/her/hers)
Emily is a Compliance Manager at First National Bank in Damariscotta. She lives in Maine with her husband and children. She is a parent of a transgender elementary school child.
Vanessa Shields-Haas
Co-Chair (she/her/hers)
Jess Anderson
Treasurer (she/her/hers)
Jess brings with her a passion for teaching and learning and decades of experience working with youth. She lives in Maine with her husband and son.
Melissa Bellew
Secretary (she/her/hers)
Advocacy is Melissa’s passion. As a retired public defender, organizer, nonprofit professional, and faith leader, Melissa is the current Vice President of Operations at the Capital District YMCA in Albany, New York. A past resident of Maine, Melissa’s career has been steeped in providing a voice to those who often cannot speak or argue for themselves. Melissa has been in the YMCA movement for the past eleven years, where she serves on the Y’s national LGBTQ+ Resource Network. Melissa resides with her wife, Lori, in New York.
Rev. Patty Fox, M.Div, MSW
Board Member (she/her/hers)
Rev. Patty Fox is the Associate Minister at the First Congregational Church of Camden and is ordained in the United Church of Christ. As a chaplain for the Presbyterian Church, she worked with survivors of domestic violence and people living with HIV/AIDS. She and her wife Lisanne have two adult children whom they adopted at birth and live in Midcoast Maine with their four-legged family members: Daisy, Percy, and River.
Rabbi Lily Solochek
Board Member (they/them/theirs)
Christina Theriault, NP
Board Member (she/her/hers)
Christina has been a Nurse Practitioner for 17 years. She is a Women’s Health Nurse Practitioner at Maine Family Planning in Fort Kent and Presque Isle, faculty at UMO, and adjunct faculty at UMFK. She received her Masters in Nursing from Boston College in 2006 and worked at a major Boston hospital. She resides in Fort Kent with her husband, 2 young sons, and Cooper the cat.
Cynthia Turcotte
Board Member (she/her/hers)
Cynthia Turcotte is a former high school teacher for over 20 years and GSA adviser for ten. She has worked with and supported LGBTQ+ youth throughout her teaching career. She loved volunteering at the Rainbow Ball for many years. Since leaving teaching, she has been working with her husband, Tom Fair, at the business they run called Applewald Farm. Applewald Farm is a produce farm/apple orchard/cider mill/bakery/gift shop, which keeps them busy. They are helped at the farm by their two grown sons, one of whom is part of the LGBTQ+ family.
OUT MAINE STAFF
Susan Campbell
Executive Director (she/they)
Katie Lutts
Associate Director (she/her/hers)
Katie is a 2007 graduate of the University of Maine with a degree in Kinesiology and Physical Education and has been teaching health and physical education in Maine for the past 14 years. Katie has experience working with the teacher’s union, administration, and school board on creating and implementing policy. She brings enthusiasm, energy, and years of experience working with students and adults to encourage and support change. Katie lives in Maine with her wife, 3 dogs: Tilley, Fivel, Charlie, and 2 cats: Jetta and Fiyero.
Rachel Albury
Development and Communications Coordinator (she/her/hers)
Rachel is a 2005 graduate of the University of Maine in Orono with a degree in Business Administration. Rachel brings her experience in website development, marketing, and event planning to the team. She also has experience in non-profit operations and fundraising through her 15 years of volunteer work at a fully volunteer-run community radio station.
Tara Barker
Program Operations Coordinator (she/her/hers)
Tara graduated from Bowdoin College in 2000 with an Environmental Studies and Sociology degree. She has spent her adult career exploring diverse interests, moving from public health policy research into the pastry arts and hospitality entrepreneurship to, most recently, the legal field. In every venture, she has found ways to use her position to advocate for underserved populations, create more welcoming and inclusive environments, and use personal connections and outreach to build community. She is thrilled to now bring those passions to OUT Maine. Tara is an avid birder, has a long list of loves including hiking, skiing, camping, travel, writing, yoga, attending musical theater, reading, and cooking, and does everything in her power to stay close to the ocean. She lives in Midcoast Maine with her two teenage sons and two rescue dogs.
Aiden Campbell
Mental Health Consultant/LCSW (he/him/his)
Aiden grew up in Maine; transitioned from female to male in high school; and graduated with a Masters of Social Work in 2019 from the University of Southern Maine. Aiden has over seven years of diverse experience working with both at-risk youth and families. Aiden brings his experience as a clinician, along with his personal transitioning journey, to help OUT educate, support and uplift LGBTQ+ youth across Maine.
Cassie Cooper
School Engagement Coordinator (she/they)
Cassie comes to OUT Maine from the Education profession where she taught elementary music for seven years. She has a Masters in Music Education from Florida State University and has been an advocate for teacher and student wellness and continues to serve as the Maine Music Educators Association state Secretary. Cassie lives in Southern Maine with her partner and beagle mix.
Maggie Hirshland
Youth Engagement Coordinator (they/she)
Maggie graduated from the University of Virginia in 2020 where she double majored in Youth & Social Innovation and Public Policy. Since moving to Rockland, Maggie has worked within a variety of community spaces as well as directly with youth, including previously serving as the Community Engagement Americorps Fellow at Rockland Main St., the After School Coordinator at South School Elementary, and the Hub Manager at the Camden International Film Festival. Throughout her time in Rockland, Maggie has focused on building community and creating connections among different institutions and individuals, and is looking forward to continuing to do so with youth at OUT Maine. She also recently completed a boat building apprenticeship at the Apprenticeshop, played in the local co-ed softball league (which won the championship this year! Go Redwings!), and likes to drink too much coffee at local coffee shops or rollerblade around town.
Jamie Knowles
Finance Coordinator (he/him)
Jamie has spent most of his life in the Midcoast Maine region, and after several moves and trips around North America, came back to roost and serve his community. He comes to OUT Maine bringing his experience with technology, communications, and grant-funded program management. Before settling in Rockland, Jamie served as the program manager for Waldo CAP’s Transportation Support Program where he provided services to adults with disabilities, the elderly, and low-income families. Jamie is a lifelong learner, advocate for the arts, and community activist. Outside of work he can typically be found playing video games or reading comic books with his cats, Nugget and Bubba.
Maura Oakes
Mental Health Coordinator / LCPC (she/her/hers)
Maura graduated with a Master of Science in Counseling and Psychological Services in 2019 from Salem State University in Massachusetts. Maura has recently worked as a mental health counselor with at-risk children, adolescents, and adults in Southern Maine. She enjoys working with children and adolescents and brings experience working with families to foster healthy and positive relationships. Maura uses her mental health expertise to support and help LGBTQ+ youth and parents learn to thrive. Outside of work, you can find Maura working on a craft project, exploring Maine, or spending time with her husband & their pets.
August Sender
Training Coordinator (they/them)
August has a background in rural healthcare and health education and was most recently the Education Co-Coordinator of the Sexual Assault Support Services of Midcoast Maine, where they designed and implemented sexual violence prevention education. They are passionate about rural LGBTQ+ youth safety and inclusion and thrive when they are providing engaging, culture-changing educational opportunities. August lives in rural Midcoast, Maine, with their partner, dogs, and chaotic gardens.