Officers
Steve deCastro joined Gorham Savings Bank in July 2016 as executive vice president of their Commercial Banking division. He was promoted to President in April 2018 and President and CEO in January of 2019. Prior to joining Gorham Savings, Steve was in charge of Key Bank’s Wealth Management group for New England, with $1.3 billion under management. He has over 22 years of banking experience in the greater Portland market. Active in the greater Portland community, deCastro is a board member for Junior Achievement of Maine, Educate Maine, Alfond Scholarship Foundation and the USM Foundation. He also was the 2020 Chair of the United Way of Greater Portland Campaign. Steve attended Colby College and received his Master of Business Administration from Boston University.
Dean Murray ’87 graduated from USM with a BS in Business Administration, and then obtained his JD from Massachusetts School of Law. In his current role with Electric Insurance Company (EIC), Dean manages executive accountability for Regulatory Compliance, Enterprise Risk Management (ERM), Statistical & Financial reporting, government affairs, licensing and inclusion and diversity for EIC and its subsidiaries. Previously, Dean worked for Liberty Mutual Insurance Group, The Stop and Shop Supermarket Companies, Inc., and as vice president and COO of Massachusetts Medical Services.
Steve Irish is the Executive Vice President, Chief Operating Officer of Enterprise Bank and Managing Director of Enterprise Wealth Management. Steve joined Enterprise in 1988 as one of the Bank’s first employees. Following military service with the U.S. Navy, Steve worked for the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency-U.S. Treasury as a national bank examiner, followed by positions in consulting and information services at Arthur Andersen & Co., Briercroft Savings Association, BKW Systems, Inc. and First Bank. Steve previously was a member of the adjunct faculty of the Operations and Information Systems Management Department of the Manning School of Business at UMASS-Lowell. Originally from Rumford, Maine, Steve received his B.S. in Accounting from the University of Southern Maine, his M.S. in Management Information from the University of Arizona and was a fall 2010 participant in Harvard Business School’s Advanced Management Program. Steve serves on the boards of the Indian Hill Music, the Merrimack Repertory Theatre, and The Lowell Humane Society
Todd Chamberlain, Director, IT Staffing at ProSearch, has been in the recruiting industry since 2003. He graduated from the University of Maine Farmington and is Founder and Past President of B.A.S.S.A (Beaver Alum Supporting Student Athletes) a Non-Profit formed to provide scholarships for UMF student athletes and financial support to Athletic Programs. Todd also served as past chair of USM Corporate Partners, is on the USM Foundation Board and is also the founder of the IT Contractor Networking Group of Maine. Todd lives in Cumberland with his wife, two young sons and their dogs Josie and Dozer. Todd joined the USM Foundation Board in 2015.
Along with his daughter, Reid Crewe, Dan leads the Crewe Foundation, an organization committed to supporting Maine’s youth, the arts, and LGBTQ initiatives. A passionate humanitarian and philanthropist, Dan is a graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy and former Captain in the U.S. Air Force. He spent many years in the music business in partnership with his late brother, Bob Crewe, a well-known songwriter and record producer, who wrote many songs for Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons. Dan has been involved in a number of community organizations including the Equity Institute of Maine, the Susan Curtis Foundation, and the Breakwater School. In honor of his daughter, Jessie Bullens-Crewe, who passed away from complications due to fourth-stage Hodgkin’s disease, Crewe created the Jessie B-C Fund to support the Maine Children’s Cancer Program and the Jessie Bullens-Crewe Nature Preserve in Cumberland. In addition to serving for nearly 12 years on the MECA Board of Trustees, Immediate Past Chair of the USM Foundation, and Trustee of the Portland Symphony Orchestra. Dan’s leadership in the arts, education, and human rights have had an enormous impact on the lives of countless Mainers.
Elected Officers
Justin is an entrepreneur, philanthropist, and former state legislator. A graduate of Tulane University in Business Administration and Founder of the Maine League of Young Voters, Justin served as a Maine State Senator and was President of the Maine Senate, leading initiatives such as Opportunity Maine, the Maine Energy Efficiency Disclosure Form, and Portland’s inclusionary zoning ordinance. He co-founded Portland’s Bayside Bowl and has invested in several real estate and small business projects in the Greater Portland region, including Atlantic Sea Farm, American Roots, ReVision Energy, and One Mighty Mill. Justin is also a co-founder and co-director of Full Plates Full Potential, an organization fueled by the belief that Maine can end child hunger. Justin is committed to making sure every child in Maine has access to three nutritious meals every day, year-round, and he ensures that operations, programming, development, and communications are meeting the Full Plates mission. Justin also serves on the Harold Alfond Foundation Board.
Ken is a Portfolio Manager and member of the Investment Committee at HeadInvest. He has more than twenty years of experience in investment management and research. Mr. Blaschke was formerly a director in the institutional equity business at Deutsche Bank and began his career at Morgan Stanley in San Francisco. He was named an “all-star” by the Wall Street Journal and has been quoted in the Financial Times, New York Times and BusinessWeek. He holds a B.A. in Economics from the University of California at Berkeley and did post graduate studies through Yale in Hong Kong. He currently serves as a trustee on the boards of the Portland Museum Art and Portland Symphony Orchestra. He also enjoys skiing and tennis.
Kelly Brewer serves as the Vice President, Operational Strategy & Innovation at Crown Castle, a Fortune 500 company, and leader in shared telecommunications infrastructure. Kelly is responsible for improving strategic capital allocation and operational strategy decisions through innovations in network technology, deployment methods, and business models. Kelly will help Crown innovate and evolve their network to better meet customer needs and grow their position as the nation’s leader in shared communications infrastructure. Prior to Crown, Kelly served as Chief Operating Officer for Tilson, a nationwide telecommunications infrastructure design-build firm focused on wireless, fiber, and infrastructure projects for wireless carriers and non-carrier customers. Kelly joined Tilson in 2011 and led the company though significant and sustained growth that landed Tilson on the Inc. 5000’s list of Fastest Growing Companies in America for 11 consecutive years of her tenure. In 2018, she and others led the equity raise and establishment of Tilson Infrastructure, a CLEC in most states, focused on the development of small cell, tower and fiber assets. Kelly holds a BS in Business from the University of Southern Maine and an MBA from Mississippi State University. Kelly serves on the USM Foundation board and is a board member for Landry/French Construction, a general contractor.
Robert recently retired from his role as Vice President, Research and Development, and Chief Scientific Advisor at IDEXX. While in this role, Bob led R&D scientists and engineers in development of veterinary in vitro diagnostic products for animal health. Prior to joining IDEXX, Bob held senior R&D management positions in the human healthcare field at lnteg, Inc. in St. Paul, Minnesota, and at Abbott Laboratories, in North Chicago, Illinois. Bob holds a B.A. in Biology from the University of Virginia, Charlottesville and a Ph.D. in Microbiology from the University of Texas at Austin. Bob is currently President of the Associates of the Osher Map Library, which supports and promotes the interests and growth of the Osher Map Library and the Smith Center for Cartographic Education at USM.
Dajuan Eubanks is the President of the Maine Celtics, an American professional basketball team in the NBA G League and owned by the Boston Celtics. He has been with the Red Claws since their inception in 2009, previously working as the Vice President of Corporate Partnerships and the Executive Vice President. Before joining the team, Dajuan worked in the experiential marketing industry for over 13 years with several leading agencies. His roles included project management, client services, business development, and sales, working with a variety of Fortune 100 clients across the country. He is a former NCAA Division I player and Harlem Globetrotter, as well as the co-founder of Blue Wave Basketball, a Maine youth development program. Eubanks co- founded Blue Wave youth basketball, which teaches character, teamwork, and other skills that can be applied throughout life, not just on the court. He currently serves on the boards of the Portland Regional Chamber of Commerce, the Boys & Girls Clubs of Southern Maine, and the USM Foundation. He is a member of the USM Promise Scholarship Campaign Leadership Committee and was the keynote speaker for the Fall 2019 welcome event for the first two cohorts of USM Promise Scholars.
Mo is a Product Quality Manager for Apple, where he has worked since 2012. He works on the Macbook product line, and—when not in a global pandemic—typically travels to China about 120 days of the year. He previously worked as a Product Quality Engineer for Texas Instruments, and a Product Engineer/Project Manager for National Semiconductor. Mo is originally from Morocco and attended boarding school in Tangiers before studying at USM. Mo lives in California, and also owns two duplexes in Portland. He returns to Maine several times per year, and plans to return more permanently at some point in the future. Mo’s sister also graduated from USM, and now works for Pfizer in Boston on the coronavirus vaccine. Mo’s younger brother is a current USM student.
Daniel Kleban is the co-founder of Maine Beer Company in Freeport, ME. While working at a law firm in Portland, Daniel started homebrewing with a coworker and later his brother David. They practiced a single recipe over and over until they felt it was perfect, and devised a business plan to take this passion to the next level. Daniel and his brother, David, founded Maine Beer Company in 2009. At that time, Maine Beer Company was one of the nation’s first “nano breweries,” producing beer on a 40-gallon system. Today, MBC employs over 75 people, produces nearly 25,000 barrels per year, and distributes its beer to 29 states and the District of Columbia. Much of this success is due to the brothers’ philosophy: do what’s right. In addition to making the best beer possible, MBC is focused on environmental stewardship, community engagement, and promoting a corporate culture focused on the well-being of its employees. Daniel has a B.A. in Political Science from USM and a J.D. from Boston College. In addition to serving on the board of the University of Southern Maine Foundation, Daniel currently serves as the Chair of the Board of Directors of the Brewers Association and as the small business representative for the Maine Climate Council. He was a past President of the Maine Brewers Guild and has also served on the boards for Wolfe’s Neck Center for Agriculture and the Environment, and Friends of Katahdin Woods and Waters.
Michael Marocco, ‘81 is a managing director at Sandler Capital Management, a Registered Investment Advisor. Prior to joining Sandler Capital in 1989, Mike was a vice president at Morgan Stanley & Co. He has over 30 years of experience investing in media, entertainment, telecommunications and technology companies. In addition, he has been on the Board of Trustees of St. David’s School in New York City as Treasurer since 2005. Mike holds an M.B.A. in Finance from New York University and a B.S. in Accounting from the University of Southern Maine.
Becky McKinnell founded her award-winning digital agency iBec Creative the day after graduating from the University of Southern Maine in 2006. Becky has since been recognized as one of Businessweek’s Top 25 Entrepreneurs 25 and Under, was named U.S. Small Business Administration Young Entrepreneur of the Year, and received the Stevie Women in Business Award, among numerous industry recognitions for her company’s work. In addition to iBec, Becky is a founding partner of ikno intranet, a social intranet software designed for companies between 50 and 500 employees that need an easy and intuitive way to communicate online. And most recently, Becky launched a necklace and handbag line inspired by salt air, Wildwood Oyster Co.
A resident of Portland, Casey’s entrepreneurial spirit and creative approach are an effective combination in identifying and managing successful real estate projects and business ventures. Following his graduation from Middlebury College, Casey founded the Prentice Organization, a privately held real estate development and hospitality management company. In the subsequent years Casey has grown what humbly began as a small family operation to one with multiple, diverse operating businesses and various real estate holdings, earning him the 2014 Maine Family Business Award for first generation family businesses. Casey continues to lead the company’s operations and growth, seeking transformational opportunities centered on adaptive reuse and urban infill developments and infusing them with a “cultural sustainability” mindset that looks at balancing community, customers, and business interests. Casey is involved with numerous civic and professional organizations and is a founding board member of the Portland Parks Conservancy.
John Ryan is Chair of the Board of Directors of Wright-Ryan Construction, a firm he co-founded in Portland in 1984. Known for the diversity of its work spanning some of Maine’s largest institutions to small businesses and single-family homes, Wright-Ryan has grown into one of the most respected construction firms in northern New England. The Company takes particular pride in the work it has done in service of dozens of nonprofit institutions.
John has actively supported a number of community organizations, including serving as Board Chair at the Boys & Girls Clubs of Southern Maine, Board Treasurer for Greater Portland Landmarks, and as an advisory board member for The Opportunity Alliance. He has worked on affordable housing issues for many years at the state and local levels, including serving on the board of Community Housing of Maine and as a member of the City of Portland Task Force to Develop a Strategic Plan to Prevent and End Homelessness. At USM, John Ryan has been a key supporter of the Promise Scholarship program.
Lois recently retired as President at Mid Coast–Parkview Health and Mid Coast Hospital, where she worked in a number of capacities for several decades—serving as Vice-President of Nursing and Patient Care Services beginning in 1995 and prior to this current role, Executive Vice-President of Mid Coast Health Services. Lois’ distinguished clinical and leadership career in health care started with receiving her nursing degree from Northeastern University in 1979 and her MS in Nursing Administration and Adult Health from USM in 1991. Lois says, “Northeastern made me an excellent nurse. USM made me a leader.” Her testimonial was prominently featured in advertising related to the 2018 workforce bond initiative campaign led by the USM Foundation. Lois and her husband Jim live in Brunswick.
Dr. Ian Slaymaker ’07 is the Head of Molecular Technologies at Aera Therapeutics in Boston and formerly Head of Synthetic Biology for Beam Therapeutics. He was a Postdoctoral Fellow and Simons Center Fellow at MIT and the Broad Institute with Dr. Feng Zhang, where he studied and engineered CRISPR genome editing tools and applied them towards understanding the neurobiology of autism spectrum disorder. Ian, who grew up in Hope, Maine, has a B.S. in Biology from the University of Southern Maine and a PhD in Molecular Biology from the University of Southern California. While at USM, he was on the wrestling and outdoor track teams, and worked in various biology labs around USM, including Dr. David Champlain’s lab, and was a John Ricci Fellow at the Scripps Research Institute with Dr. Raymond C. Stevens ’86, ’14H.
Dr. Ray Stevens is a biomedical researcher, professor, serial entrepreneur, ultramarathon runner and mountaineer. Ray founded two international research institutes: Bridge Institute at USC focused on integrating life science big data with cinematic arts and the iHuman Institute at ShanghaiTech in Shanghai, China focused on imaging the human body at atomic resolution. He served in the Army, and while there enrolled at USM in computer science program in 1981. He completed his BA in Chemistry at USM in 1986. He earned a Ph.D. in organic chemistry from the USC in 1988, then conducted his postdoctoral research fellowship in structural biology at the National Institute of Health at Harvard University before joining the faculty at the University of California, Berkeley. Ray has also started five biotech companies: Syrrx, MemRx, Receptos, RuiYi, ShouTi and currently serves on the Board of Directors of Danaher Corporation. Ray credits Dr. John Ricci of USM with his motivation, success and stellar career, and in 2006, established The Professor Emeritus John Ricci Undergraduate Fellowship between The Stevens Laboratory and USM. The Fellowship honors Dr. Ricci and provides a unique experience for USM undergrad chemistry and biology students to study at an eminent biomedical research institution, providing inspiration for pursuing science careers. In 2018, Ray and his wife Vivian donated funds to renovate the Science building lecture hall now called “The John Ricci Lecture Hall”. Ray is continuing his pursuit of Mt Everest and dreams Portland, Maine will become a major innovative center for novel drug discovery. He and his wife Vivian have three children.
As a former vice president and company spokesperson for a publicly traded financial institution, Linda Varrell has more than 25 years of experience in communications, public relations, crisis handling, and project and sales management. In 2007, she founded Broadreach Public Relations, LLC, an award-winning, women-owned strategic communications firm based in Portland, Maine. She is nationally accredited in public relations (APR), holds a master’s degree in organizational leadership, and is regularly tapped to speak at C-level events and industry-specific conferences. Linda serves on numerous nonprofit boards, including Maine Press Association, Institute for Family-owned Business, LifeFlight of Maine Foundation; and she is the past president of the Maine PR Council and past chair of USM Corporate Partners. She served as adjunct faculty at both USM and Thomas College. Linda launched WordLab®, LLC in 2018, a nationally recognized Department of Labor apprenticeship program providing public relations, marketing, and public affairs training to young professionals while serving the communications needs of small businesses and nonprofits.
Ex Officio Directors
Corey Hascall ’99, a USM alumna and proud native of Maine, became interim President & CEO of the USM Foundation in 2024, after serving five years as Vice President. Since joining the Foundation in 2017, her role has expanded to include leading the Foundation’s senior team, and overseeing the organization’s operations, budget, development, communications and engagement programs. With over two decades of experience in political strategy, fundraising, and issues management, Corey has directed state and federal campaigns, overseeing paid and earned media, policy development, communications, and field operations, while raising multi-million-dollar budgets. She has worked alongside national organizations like EMILY’s List, the DCCC, and J Street. In the private sector, Corey spent eight years leading community relations, crisis communications, and reputation management for clients nationwide. She earned her mediation and alternative dispute resolution certification from USM in 2012. Her community involvement includes board service with The Ecology School, the Nash Foundation, the Maine Women’s Lobby, and the Maine AIDS Alliance. As former board president of The Ecology School, she co-chaired its first capital campaign and now serves as emeritus board member. Corey lives in Falmouth, Maine with her husband John, their two dogs, and two cats. They have two adult sons, Max and Oscar.
Jacqueline Edmondson is an educator who is committed to Thomas Jefferson’s tenet that an educated and engaged citizenry is necessary for a democracy. Throughout her career at Penn State, she worked collaboratively with faculty, staff, and students across twenty campus locations on undergraduate and graduate curriculum, accreditation, program reviews, and new program development. She led access and affordability initiatives, programs dedicated to student success, and strategic efforts to serve communities where Penn State campuses are located. Her research has focused on rural communities, public policy, and popular culture. Dr. Edmondson has been married to Michael for 31 years, and they have two sons. Their oldest son Jacob works as a behavioral and social interventionist in Vermont, and he plans to graduate from Northern Vermont University in May with an M.S. in Clinical Mental Health Counseling. Their youngest son Luke is an estate attorney who lives in Philadelphia, PA, and he is pursuing an LLM focused on tax law at Temple University. In her free time, Dr. Edmondson enjoys spending time with her family. She is also an avid reader, a musician, and a runner.
Rebecca (Beckie) Conrad is a business and organizational consultant, and the former President and CEO of the Lewiston Auburn Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce. Prior to the LAC Chamber, she was the Vice President for Institutional Advancement at Maine College of Art in Portland, Maine where she had worked since 2006. She was co-owner with her husband of Austin’s Fine Wines and Foods for 20 years, and for 3 years owned and operated Rÿsen Home Garden & Antiques, a retail gallery promoting local art and products that supported international women’s economic development. Both shops were located in downtown Auburn. Prior to Rÿsen, Conrad’s career spanned 21 years in higher education administration at Bates College, including 1999–2003 when she served as executive director of LA Excels, the college’s non-profit community development partnership in Lewiston-Auburn focused on leadership, arts, educational aspirations, and economic revitalization. She served on the Maine Arts Commission for seven years, with four as vice-chair. Volunteer board roles include chair of the Lewiston Auburn Economic Growth Council, past chair of L/A Arts and Androscoggin Home Care & Hospice, vice chair of the Maine Association of Nonprofits and as a board member of Advocates for Children, the Androscoggin County Chamber of Commerce and the advisory boards of USM’s Lewiston-Auburn College and Central Maine Community College. Conrad received her BA in English from Bates College and studied in the New England Studies MFA Program at the University of Southern Maine. She lives in Auburn with her husband Austin Conrad, Jr. and her cat, Charles Mingus.
Kelly Barden is the Director of Corporate Communications at MEMIC in Portland, Maine. She is responsible for shaping and projecting the corporate image and brand identity and overall reputation for MEMIC’s many stakeholders. She has worked for the company for over 20 years as a member of the Communications Department. She graduated in 2007 with a Bachelor’s degree in Communications from the University of Southern Maine and earned the American Society of Workers’ Comp Professionals (AMCOMP), Worker’s Comp Professional (WCP) designation in the spring of 2014. Kelly is a native of Southern Maine.