Board of Directors
Chair
Brian Frutchey - Down East Community Hospital
In his current role Brian oversees the maintenance, security, environmental services and biomedical departments with 50+ employees throughout both hospitals. He has been part of multiple speaking engagements as a content expert on the intersection of employment and recovery. Brian played a key role in the development of the Washington County Recovery Friendly Workplace Network and is deeply passionate about supporting the workforce and recovery efforts across Washington County.
Brian serves as Board Chair for Sunrise County Economic Council. He also serves on the Selectboard for the Town of Northfield and the Board of Visitors for the Washington county Jail.
To grow his leadership skills Brian has participated in the Washington County Leadership Institute and the Dale Carnegie leadership course, Develop Your Leadership Potential: Stop Doing, Start Leading, as well as attending the University of Maine at Machias where he studied business and marketing.
Brian volunteers his time with community activities that include coaching junior league sports teams and community recovery efforts. Brian resides on beautiful Bog Lake with his wife Abby and their three children, Spencer, Brianna, and Micah and their dog, Jade.
Vice Chair
Monique Claverie - Business, Paper Industry
Monique Claverie is currently the Senior Manager of Technical Customer Service and Marketing for UPM’s Pulp Division in North America. Previously, she was the Quality Manager for St Croix Tissue in Baileyville. She grew up in Aroostook County and attended the University of Maine, graduating with a BS in Chemical Engineering.
Currently, Monique is also serving on the Board and as Chair of the Recruiting Committee for the University of Maine Pulp & Paper Foundation, sits on the FOR/ME Workforce Committee, the Advisory Council for New Ventures Maine, and volunteers as a mentor to high school girls with the Olympia Snowe Women’s Leadership Institute. She also channels her creative energy into a small sewing business called Cobscook Stitches. In her free time she loves to garden, cook, spend time with family and enjoy the gorgeous outdoors here in Downeast Maine! She joined the SCEC Board in 2023.
Treasurer
Lucas Morris - Machias Savings Bank
Secretary
Megan Sorby - Aquaculture
Bio coming soon!
Heather Anderson - Coastal Physical Therapy
When Heather is not busy working at CPTS, you can find her with her daughter, either at the barn or cheerleading.
Ardis Brown - Town of Danforth
Steve Lail - Downeast Community Hospital
Bio coming soon!
Charlie McAlpin - Eastern Maine Electric Cooperative
Charlie is the Manager of Member Services and Communication at Eastern Maine Electric Co-op (EMEC), a consumer-owned utility serving 3,000 square miles in Washington, Penobscot, and Aroostook Counties. In 1998, he filed a successful application for a USDA Rural Economic Development loan as part of a complex funding package for the Calais Children’s Project, which created 100 local jobs providing residential care and psychological treatment for at-risk children. EMEC was a guarantor of that loan. Charlie is a Rotarian, a member of the Greater East Grand Economic Council, and a past president of the national-level Council of Cooperative Communicators.
He has been involved with the SCEC since 1997, when he began the first of three tenures on the board of directors. As a past Council Chair, he has observed SCEC’s growth from a small upstart NGO into a critically important facilitator and resource for economic progress.
Susan Mingo - Washington County Community College
Prior to working in higher education, she worked for twenty years in local businesses as well as two years in municipal government. She and her husband are owners and operators of two small businesses in the Calais area. Susan graduated from the University of Maine at Machias with a Bachelor in Science in Business Administration and from Husson University with a Master of Science in Human Relations.
April Norton - Wyman’s
April Norton is a VP of Human Resources with over 15 years of experience in the field of HR. She has worked for companies such as MBNA America Bank and Home Depot. In 2015, she began her career at Jasper Wyman & Son, (“Wyman’s”), a 150-year-old family-owned company headquartered in Milbridge, Maine. April began her career at Wyman’s as the Director of HR and today she sits on the company’s Leadership Team as the Vice President of HR overseeing the US and Canadian operations.
April holds a bachelor’s degree in Justice Studies (Political Science) and a minor in American Studies from the University of Maine, graduating Cum Laude. She was an honored keynote speaker for her graduating class addressing issues of Food Politics and received the honor of Rising Scholar. Aligning with her beliefs to “always being a student”, she is never too proud to learn new things and believes the work in constantly developing herself, ensures a proactive approach to her role and responsibilities to the people and the company of Wyman’s. She strongly believes that engaged employees are the backbone of any successful organization and has made it her mission to ensure that employees feel valued, motivated, and connected to their work at Wyman’s.
April lives her life to the fullest, sharing her time with Wyman’s, her two sons, two dogs and the great outdoors. She is an avid reader, accomplished knitter, hiker, canoeist, and backpacker who grew up deep in the Maine woods enjoying all this beautiful state offers. April is a Registered Maine Guide and an active Board of Directors member for the Sunrise County Economic Council.
Dee Sabattus - United South and Eastern Tribes
Megan Walsh - University of Maine at Machias
Megan Walsh is Dean and Campus Director of the University of Maine at Machias. She joins the University of Maine and UMaine Machias communities from St. Bonaventure University.
Walsh was a member of the St. Bonaventure community for more than a decade. In addition to holding the rank of professor of English, she served in several administrative roles, including as director of St. Bonaventure’s Honors Program.
In 2021–22, Walsh was acting dean of the School of Arts and Sciences. She helped obtain external funding to support computer science and cybersecurity technology upgrades, as well as a new technological literacy learning module.
As chair of the Department of English, Walsh led multiple curricular revisions, including the development of a new Literary Publishing and Editing B.A. Program.
Walsh is the author of The Portrait and the Book: Illustration and Literary Culture in Early America (University of Iowa Press, 2017) and numerous articles and reviews. She earned a Ph.D. in English from Temple University.
Ex-Officio
Renee Gray - Washington County Government
Renee has had a 25 year career in Emergency Medical Services and continues to serve her communities in that capacity. In 2007, she began work in the Lubec Town Office, working her way up; and in 2017, becoming the Town Administrator and Town Clerk. Under Gray’s nearly seven year tenure, Lubec saw many successful projects, including the awarding of sidewalk grants, wastewater treatment facility upgrades, and the purchase of a new fire truck; all while balancing the budget with municipal needs.
Renee is proud of her deep family heritage and continues to raise her family in Washington County. In 2023, Renee was asked to serve as Washington County Manager. This new role has opened the door to many new experiences and opportunities, and she continues to lead with a team-oriented, successful management approach. Serving in the public sector has always been a point of pride, and Renee lives by the belief, “…to whom much is given, much is required.”
Representative Tiffany Strout - Washington County Legislative Delegation
Rep. Strout earned her Associates Degree in Criminal Justice from the University of Maine at Machias. Tiffany’s professional career includes working as an event coordinator for Wreaths Across America, Business Development Manager for Genotyping Center of America, and Project Manager for the Jackson Laboratory. She also serves her community as a member of the MSAD #37 School Board.
Tiffany, her husband Zac, and son Konner, enjoy spending family time outdoors.