Midcoast Conservancy is delighted to announce the addition two new board members. Ron Phillips, from Waldoboro, and Lily Fessenden, of Searsmont, are excited to be part of creating an organization that is committed to making a difference in the lives of the residents of Midcoast Maine. Both are leaders in Maine, and bring a breadth of experience and perspective, and both have a proven history of conserving Maine’s special character. From economic development to educational innovation, they represent the heart and values of this area.

Ron is the founder and recently retired President and CEO of Coastal Enterprises which he began 1977. Ron has been influential not only in CEI’s growth and impact as a community development and finance corporation, but also, the national industry that today counts several thousand CDCs/CDFIs throughout rural and urban America engaged in sustainable community development. Ron has devoted 38 years, the major part of his professional life to CEI, an organization made up of dedicated staff, board and partners from all parts of our society – state and local government, foundations, banks, religious groups, social investors – developing strategies and committing resources to invest in people and places at the margins of society.

Since its first major investment in 1979 in a fish processing community enterprise in Boothbay Harbor, CEI and multiple subsidiaries have grown under Ron’s leadership to a $150 million investment pool, and many more millions as the largest allocator of federal New Market Tax Credits in the nation, with multiple private and public investors and philanthropic engagement in its mission coming together to help create economically and environmentally healthy communities in which all people, especially those with low incomes, can reach their full potential.

Ron lives with his wife Suzanne, a Maine artist, in Waldoboro, but during the summer may be found on Harbor Island in Muscongus Bay.

Lily Fessenden is faculty for the Master of Science in Ecological Teaching and Learning at Lesley University in Boston where she teaches classroom educators (pre-K through 12). Lily specializes in how to integrate ecological literacy into their curriculums, and environmental educators in nature centers, museums, aquariums, etc. how to effectively achieve their learning outcomes. She was faculty and Director of Academic Affairs for the Audubon Expedition Institute; and Executive Director of the Geocommons College Program, a study abroad experience focused on communities working towards a sustainable future. Lily also directed the Northeast Initiative, an outreach program of The White Mountain School helping secondary schools integrate sustainability into their school improvement efforts. Lily’s focus is on transformative learning and change. She lives in Searsmont with her husband Glenn Ritch.

Midcoast Conservancy is located at 36 Water Street in Wiscasset. For more information, visit www.midcoastconservancy.org, email news@midcoastconservancy.org, or call (207) 389-5150.