Mainely Character is an all-volunteer organization, without paid staff. Board members have joined this board because of its mission and commitment to young people. Please meet the board below.
Anne Cass retired in 2017 after 43 years teaching high school English and serving as a High School and Elementary school principal in both public and independent schools in New England and Oregon. Drawn to the mission, she was delighted to join Mainely Character. Anne also volunteers at the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI) at USM, and for 100+Women Who Care Southern Maine. Anne lives in southern Maine with her husband, author Richard Cass. She
joined the Mainely Character Board in 2018.
Alice Smith Duncan’s early career as freelance researcher, editor and journalist led her from CBS News in Cairo to Sports Illustrated, to the Kennebec Journal, and Art in America. Between 1982-94, as publications director for Bennington College and for the Public Education Association of NYC, she also taught personal essay writing to 16-18 year olds, an experience she’s now excited to apply to Mainely Character’s focus on close reading and assessment of each student applicant’s essays. A Colby College graduate and life-long Maine summer resident, she and her husband now live on a family farm in Alna. Alice joined the Mainely Character Board in 2024.
Philip Hussey currently serves as CEO of Thos. Moser, an icon of Maine quality furniture. Philip has a deep passion for Maine and believes strongly in continuing to provide opportunities for students across the state. Philip received his MBA from Georgetown University where he spent much of his time focused on sustainability and rural economic development. Prior to Georgetown, he worked in the marketing department at Harvard Business School and at the
Friends School in Ramallah, Palestine. Philip is a member of the seventh-generation family manufacturing business, Hussey Seating Company, and received his BA from Colby College in Waterville.
Eilene Kleiman moved to Maine in 2023 from Needham, Massachusetts where she lived for 40 years and was an active participant in the community. She was a Board member of The Needham Council on Aging, The Needham Community Council, Wondermore Boston, and involved in public and independent schools. Most recently, Eilene was the coordinator of the English as a Second Language program in Needham. Proud grandparents, she and her husband
Jeffrey try to offer many opportunities to them for character building!
Susan Leighton worked in the College Placement Office of Scarborough High School for 13 years. She assisted seniors and their families with the college application and financial aid process and was directly responsible for the outside scholarship program for graduating seniors. Prior to that she worked for several years in banking and raised three children in the Greater Portland area. She and her husband ran a successful home inspection business for 15 years. She joined the Mainely Character Board in 2016.
Katharine Lyon has lived in Maine since 1968 when she attended Colby College. She is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker whose career ranged from case manager at the Augusta Mental Hospital on the Adolescent Unit to psychotherapist in private practice in Brunswick. She continues to provide consultation and supervision as a Preceptor in the Navy Substance Abuse Rehabilitation Program. She worked with personnel in schools, hospitals and social agencies and her professional experience ranges from emotional and interpersonal problems including Substance Use Disorders to severe psychological disturbances. Retired from her private practice in 2020 she is grateful to share her experience and skills with the Lay Pastoral Visitor program at First Parish Church, Brunswick and with the Mainely Character Board. She lives in Topsham with her husband, and especially enjoys her two grandsons who live nearby. Kathy joined the Mainely Character Board in 2023.
Heather Merriam learned to appreciate education at an early age as she was raised by university professor parents. As a Peace Corps volunteer in Nepal, she taught English as a second language to 4th, 5th & 6th grades. Currently, Heather is an executive search consultant with Kittleman & Associates. She specializes in nonprofit leadership for organizations ranging from small and grassroots to those with multi-million-dollar budgets. When away from her desk, Heather enjoys
teaching yoga, traveling and being outdoors. Heather received her BA in Political Science from Binghamton University, NY, and her MBA from Thunderbird School of Global Management in Phoenix, AZ. Heather and her husband live six months of the year in Berkeley, CA, and six months in Downeast Maine. Heather joined the Mainely Character Board in April 2025.
Curtis A. Mildner is a retired business executive, most recently serving as President and Owner of Market Decisions Research in Portland, Maine. He previously held senior leadership roles including Vice President of Marketing and Sales at Central Maine Power and Vice President of Marketing at Hussey Seating Company in North Berwick, Maine.
In 2007, Curtis joined the Board of Directors of Mainely Character. Deeply impressed by the inspiring examples of integrity and determination among scholarship applicants, he became a passionate advocate for the organization, serving nearly 15 years as President of the Board. He and his wife, Loralie, now sponsor a $5,000 Mainely Character Scholarship.
In addition to his work with Mainely Character, Curtis serves as secretary of the Fifth Maine Museum on Peaks Island and as a Trustee of Kennebunk Light and Power.
Marie Pike retired after many years in public accounting, for most of her career specializing in the affordable housing industry, providing audit and consulting services to investors, developers and operators of affordable housing projects, governmental agencies regulating that industry, and the management of public housing authorities. A native of Maine, she graduated from USM with a B.A. in English. Marie has volunteered with, and/or served on the board of, a number of nonprofit organizations, many with a focus on literacy. Volunteering with Mainely Character combines her commitment to community service with a chance to help shape the future by empowering such worthy young students. Marie joined the board as Treasurer in 2025.
Peter F. Richardson retired in 2021, after a 42-year career in financial services. Most recently he worked for R. M. Davis, Inc. as Vice President and Portfolio Manager. Born and raised in Portland, Maine, Peter resides in South Portland with his wife of 41 years, Beth Richardson. They have two grown sons and two grandchildren. His hobbies include reading, travel, beekeeping, and pickleball. Peter has a long history of community involvement including: Good Shepherd Food Bank, Board of Directors, Treasurer and Chair of the Finance Committee; Portland Public Library, President and Trustee (past); Big Brothers Big Sisters of Southern Maine, Director and Board President (past); St. Alban’s Episcopal Church, Senior Warden and Vestry (past); Cape Elizabeth Land Trust, Board of Directors and Treasurer (past). Peter joined the Mainely Character Board in 2022.
Annalee Rosenblatt has served as Chair of Mainely Character Board of Directors and has been on the board since its inception in 2001. She has worked as a Labor Relations/Human Resources Consultant for over 30 years in Maine. Active in many civic organizations, she has served as former chair of the Scarborough Board of Education and chair of the Scarborough 350th Anniversary Celebration Committee. She notes, “Mainely Character offers students an opportunity to be recognized for their civic contribution to their school, Town, state or country which makes my participation an attractive and worthwhile way to spend my time and energy. Seeing the wonderful qualities of our young people during the scholarship awarding process makes the time so very worthwhile.”
George Stewart is a retired psychiatrist who has specialized in treating traumatized adults, adolescents, and children in Berkeley, California. In retirement he taught psychiatry for 2 years in Malawi (Peace Corps) and 2 years in Myanmar (Fulbright Scholar). He continues to teach psychologists and psychiatrists in Myanmar online weekly. He settled in Portland to be near his daughter and his camp on Penobscot Bay. He loves most anything outdoors, especially in the mountains and on salt water. He feels that qualities of character are the necessary ingredients, before anything else, of good leadership and is delighted to join others in acknowledging them in our Youth through Mainely Character. George joined the Mainely Character Board in 2023.
Susan Walters worked in the Wells-Ogunquit School District for 30 years as a teacher, teacher leader, and administrator. In 1989, she helped to develop the first site for the Extended Teacher Education Program (ETEP), a school-university partnership with the University of Southern Maine. This innovative program eventually was expanded to multiple districts and gained national recognition as a model for quality teacher preparation. Dr. Walters was a writing consultant to districts throughout Maine and New England. She continues to coach student writers at all levels and helps high school students tell their stories for college application essays. Since joining the Mainely Character Board in 2016 she has particularly enjoyed reading applicants’ stories and the opportunity to recognize Maine students with exemplary character.
Marcia Weston has worked in higher education for over 20 years primarily helping students, parents, and school counselors understand the intricacies of the federal and state financial aid process that provides funding for education beyond high school. Her passion is to assist first-generation students who have no or little history of higher education opportunities. She holds a PhD in Education Leadership with a focus on Cultural Foundations from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro and returned to Maine upon retirement. Marcia continues to dedicate her time to helping students to continue their education. She joined the Mainely Character Board in 2021.