The Ocean Classroom Foundation has created a new position in its administrative offices in Damariscotta. The new position combines COO and CFO and will be staffed by Peter D. Coburn of Lyme, N.H., who will report directly to the organization’s executive director, Greg Belanger.

Coburn’s duties will include overhauling of the organization’s computer and software systems to better support Ocean Classroom's expanding operations and its recently announced capital campaign.

Coburn, who resigned from the OCF board to take this position, is currently the president and CEO of Commercial Logic, a computer software company. Coburn has a long history of financial management of nonprofit organizations, including Atlantic Challenge, Hurricane Island Foundation, the Upper Valley Educators Institute, and Ocean Classroom, where he has served as treasurer for six years. In addition to being a businessman and entrepreneur, he has been a teacher at the high school and college level and at Outward Bound.  

“I am extremely grateful that Peter has been willing to take on this critical new role,” Belanger said. “Our work to bring the best possible education-at-sea experience to our clients and students has now entered an exciting new phase as we expand our chartering programs and consolidate our marine operations in Portland.

“More than ever we need more experienced hands on deck to ensure that we continue to meet the requirements of our existing programs while developing new opportunities and raising capital to care for our ships. We are fortunate that Peter Coburn, who has a deep understanding of our operations, was willing to step into this role.”

Ocean Classroom Foundation is the leading provider of accredited sea-semester programs for high school students aboard its fleet of tall ships. For more information call Alyson Graham at 207-563-3266 or visit www.oceanclassroom.org.