BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Jack Williams
Jack has a BA from Fordham University and Spanish language proficiency degree from the US Army Language Institute of Monterey, California. He retired in 2013 from a 40-year banking career at Camden National Bank. Jack currently serves on the Boards of Directors for Mid Coast Recreation Center and O’Hara Corporation of Rockland, Maine. Jack has been involved with the Restorative Justice Project Maine since 2014. He resides in Rockport Maine, and summers at a family home on Islesboro. Jack enjoys hockey, long distance trekking, and sailing.
Jack has a BA from Fordham University and Spanish language proficiency degree from the US Army Language Institute of Monterey, California. He retired in 2013 from a 40-year banking career at Camden National Bank. Jack currently serves on the Boards of Directors for Mid Coast Recreation Center and O’Hara Corporation of Rockland, Maine. Jack has been involved with the Restorative Justice Project Maine since 2014. He resides in Rockport Maine, and summers at a family home on Islesboro. Jack enjoys hockey, long distance trekking, and sailing.
Tim Hughes
Tim Hughes grew up in Ohio and moved with his wife to Belfast in 1982. He graduated from Dartmouth College in New Hampshire, CWRU School of Medicine in Ohio, and UCSF rural family medicine program in Fresno, California. He has worked for Seaport since 1982 and now principally works helping people recover from addictions. He also currently serves on the Waldo County Recovery Committee. Tim has one daughter and enjoys reading, listening to people, being in, on or under water, and riding bicycles.
Tim Hughes grew up in Ohio and moved with his wife to Belfast in 1982. He graduated from Dartmouth College in New Hampshire, CWRU School of Medicine in Ohio, and UCSF rural family medicine program in Fresno, California. He has worked for Seaport since 1982 and now principally works helping people recover from addictions. He also currently serves on the Waldo County Recovery Committee. Tim has one daughter and enjoys reading, listening to people, being in, on or under water, and riding bicycles.
Jim Miller, Treasurer
Jim graduated from Husson College with a degree in Finance. He has been the President and General Manager of WoodenBoat Publication Inc. for over 30 years. Jim has been a board member of Eastern Maine United Way and is a long-time member of the board of the Belfast Coop and is on the board of Big Brothers Big Sisters. He is also the co-chair of the Waldo County YMCA.
Jim graduated from Husson College with a degree in Finance. He has been the President and General Manager of WoodenBoat Publication Inc. for over 30 years. Jim has been a board member of Eastern Maine United Way and is a long-time member of the board of the Belfast Coop and is on the board of Big Brothers Big Sisters. He is also the co-chair of the Waldo County YMCA.
Janine Gates - Vice Chair
Janine Gates joined the Board of the Restorative Justice Project Maine in 2019. She brings to that role a solid grounding in the substance use disorders and mental health field. She worked for several years as a therapist and program manager in a hospital-based treatment program, and then as a policy analyst for the Addictions and Mental Health Branch of the Ontario Ministry of Health. After founding her own consulting practice, Janine worked with worked with not-for-profit organizations, service provider coalitions, and government to provide program development, system design, strategic planning, and development of/training in best-practices guidelines. She graduated the University of Toronto in 1996. Janine retired and moved to Belfast in 2015.
Janine Gates joined the Board of the Restorative Justice Project Maine in 2019. She brings to that role a solid grounding in the substance use disorders and mental health field. She worked for several years as a therapist and program manager in a hospital-based treatment program, and then as a policy analyst for the Addictions and Mental Health Branch of the Ontario Ministry of Health. After founding her own consulting practice, Janine worked with worked with not-for-profit organizations, service provider coalitions, and government to provide program development, system design, strategic planning, and development of/training in best-practices guidelines. She graduated the University of Toronto in 1996. Janine retired and moved to Belfast in 2015.
William E. Walch
Bill began his career as a broadcast journalist in the Midwest, holding a degree in Science Journalism from Iowa State University. For 21 years, Bill was an executive of a number of leading nonprofit organizations. In 1991, he founded Development Communications Associates (DCABoston.com). As DCA president, he led the formulation of the Cause Development® methodology. Bill has directed projects dedicated to eliminating river blindness and neonatal tetanus, controlling tuberculosis, and expanding what has become the world’s largest program to train clinicians in the treatment of HIV/AIDS patients based in South Africa. He has sailed the coast of Maine and beyond for 21 years and now spends nearly half the year in Midcoast Maine. He is an avid kayaker and a sometime boatbuilder and woodworker. He and his wife, Marlene, have three children and eight grandchildren.
Bill began his career as a broadcast journalist in the Midwest, holding a degree in Science Journalism from Iowa State University. For 21 years, Bill was an executive of a number of leading nonprofit organizations. In 1991, he founded Development Communications Associates (DCABoston.com). As DCA president, he led the formulation of the Cause Development® methodology. Bill has directed projects dedicated to eliminating river blindness and neonatal tetanus, controlling tuberculosis, and expanding what has become the world’s largest program to train clinicians in the treatment of HIV/AIDS patients based in South Africa. He has sailed the coast of Maine and beyond for 21 years and now spends nearly half the year in Midcoast Maine. He is an avid kayaker and a sometime boatbuilder and woodworker. He and his wife, Marlene, have three children and eight grandchildren.
Chris LeGore - Chair
Chris LeGore graduated with a BA in Physics and an MS in Science Education from Cornell University. She was a high school math and science teacher for 7 years, the last four at Mt. View H.S. in Thorndike, Maine. For the past 39 years she has been a UMA employee: teaching developmental math for 8 years, then overseeing the university's off-campus centers, and finally serving as director of University College - the system's distance education network. She retired from administration in 2010 and continues to teach as an adjunct faculty member at University College in Rockland and at Maine State Prison. An active member of the UU Church of Belfast, she has been involved with RJP Maine since its inception. Her favorite activities are sailing, mentoring, playing her flute, playing with her grandchildren, and having lunch with friends.
Chris LeGore graduated with a BA in Physics and an MS in Science Education from Cornell University. She was a high school math and science teacher for 7 years, the last four at Mt. View H.S. in Thorndike, Maine. For the past 39 years she has been a UMA employee: teaching developmental math for 8 years, then overseeing the university's off-campus centers, and finally serving as director of University College - the system's distance education network. She retired from administration in 2010 and continues to teach as an adjunct faculty member at University College in Rockland and at Maine State Prison. An active member of the UU Church of Belfast, she has been involved with RJP Maine since its inception. Her favorite activities are sailing, mentoring, playing her flute, playing with her grandchildren, and having lunch with friends.
Karen Tilbor - Secretary
Karen joined the RJP Maine board in January 2021 following a career in education including teaching, administration and research. She earned a B.A. from Elmira College and an M.S.Ed. from Wheelock College. Her work experience includes preschool, elementary, secondary and higher education and includes projects pertaining to educational access for homeless children and parenting education for incarcerated parents. Her interest in restorative justice was inspired by experience with discipline systems in schools and colleges, tutoring students in correctional settings and attending Brunswick Friends Meeting. She volunteers with new Mainers, Merrymeeting Gleaners, groups in Bowdoinham and serves on the board of the Brunswick Area Student Aid Fund. Other interests include reading groups, music time outdoors kayaking, cross-country skiing and enjoying walks with friends and dogs. She has one daughter.
Karen joined the RJP Maine board in January 2021 following a career in education including teaching, administration and research. She earned a B.A. from Elmira College and an M.S.Ed. from Wheelock College. Her work experience includes preschool, elementary, secondary and higher education and includes projects pertaining to educational access for homeless children and parenting education for incarcerated parents. Her interest in restorative justice was inspired by experience with discipline systems in schools and colleges, tutoring students in correctional settings and attending Brunswick Friends Meeting. She volunteers with new Mainers, Merrymeeting Gleaners, groups in Bowdoinham and serves on the board of the Brunswick Area Student Aid Fund. Other interests include reading groups, music time outdoors kayaking, cross-country skiing and enjoying walks with friends and dogs. She has one daughter.
Don Hoenig
Don earned his bachelor’s degree from Bowdoin College and his veterinary degree from the University of Pennsylvania. He and his wife, Lynn, moved to Belfast in 1983 where they raised their three children and watched the city evolve into the amazing place it is today. They have eight grandchildren. In a veterinary career spanning more than four decades, Don has worked in mixed animal practice, spent time as a USDA Veterinary Medical Officer, was the State Veterinarian and State Public Health Veterinarian in Maine for 17 years, served as an AVMA Congressional Fellow in Sen. Susan Collins’ DC office, and taught at Tufts School of Veterinary Medicine. Since retiring from the Maine Department of Agriculture in 2012, Don continues to offer veterinary consulting services in farm animal welfare and public health policy through MIM Consulting. He has served on the Waldo County YMCA board of Directors for 30+ years and volunteers for the Saco Food Pantry and the Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association. He’s a passionate follower of the “beautiful game” (soccer) and he coached in the Belfast schools for many years. Other interests include surf fishing, carpentry, gardening, traveling, and spending time rammin’ around with Lynn.
Don earned his bachelor’s degree from Bowdoin College and his veterinary degree from the University of Pennsylvania. He and his wife, Lynn, moved to Belfast in 1983 where they raised their three children and watched the city evolve into the amazing place it is today. They have eight grandchildren. In a veterinary career spanning more than four decades, Don has worked in mixed animal practice, spent time as a USDA Veterinary Medical Officer, was the State Veterinarian and State Public Health Veterinarian in Maine for 17 years, served as an AVMA Congressional Fellow in Sen. Susan Collins’ DC office, and taught at Tufts School of Veterinary Medicine. Since retiring from the Maine Department of Agriculture in 2012, Don continues to offer veterinary consulting services in farm animal welfare and public health policy through MIM Consulting. He has served on the Waldo County YMCA board of Directors for 30+ years and volunteers for the Saco Food Pantry and the Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association. He’s a passionate follower of the “beautiful game” (soccer) and he coached in the Belfast schools for many years. Other interests include surf fishing, carpentry, gardening, traveling, and spending time rammin’ around with Lynn.
Melissa Bellew
Hailing from northeastern Kentucky in the Appalachian Mountain foothills, Melissa is a retired public defender from Kentucky and a nonprofit professional. Melissa is the current COO and in-house counsel at the Capital District YMCA in Albany, New York, and a past CEO of the Penobscot Bay YMCA in Rockport. Melissa holds a law degree from the University of Kentucky and a B.A. in English and Spanish from Eastern Kentucky University and is a current student at Union Theological Seminary at Columbia University in New York City studying social justice
and religion. Melissa is a member of St. Peter’s Episcopal Church in Rockland. Melissa and her wife, Lori, spend many weeks of the year in Midcoast Maine, enjoying anything outside and near water with dogs and friends.
Hailing from northeastern Kentucky in the Appalachian Mountain foothills, Melissa is a retired public defender from Kentucky and a nonprofit professional. Melissa is the current COO and in-house counsel at the Capital District YMCA in Albany, New York, and a past CEO of the Penobscot Bay YMCA in Rockport. Melissa holds a law degree from the University of Kentucky and a B.A. in English and Spanish from Eastern Kentucky University and is a current student at Union Theological Seminary at Columbia University in New York City studying social justice
and religion. Melissa is a member of St. Peter’s Episcopal Church in Rockland. Melissa and her wife, Lori, spend many weeks of the year in Midcoast Maine, enjoying anything outside and near water with dogs and friends.
Lael Sorensen
Lael had a first career in medieval and early modern European history at Cal State University (Los Angeles) and while she lived there continued a long practice of involvement in social justice work, especially involving immigrants and LGBTQ causes. She moved to Maine in 2002 and entered a process of discernment with the Episcopal Church that led to seminary and a change of career. She has served as an Episcopal priest in Washington DC, Maryland, Delaware, and since 2015 has been the rector of St. Peter’s Episcopal Church in Rockland, Maine. She joined the board of RJP Maine in 2023. |