Our Team
The New England Environmental Finance Center sits within the Catherine Cutler Institute at the Muskie School of Public Service, the research arm of the University of Southern Maine. Our staff is based in Portland, Maine and serve the New England region.
Staff
Martha Sheils, Director
Martha leads the NEEFC team and the programmatic expansion of the EFC’s services. She has over 25 years of experience in community capacity building to move environmental projects forward to the funding, financing, and implementation phase | martha.sheils@maine.edu
Key Competencies: Adaptive program management, advancing projects to implementation, education, community engagement and outreach, amplifying lessons learned and outcomes, transferring successful models to other states, funding and financing, and promoting inclusivity of all communities in need of climate resilience funding and financing.
Andrea Berry, Funding Manager
With more than 20 years in nonprofit development and philanthropy, Andrea works with communities to advance climate adaptation and environmental justice priorities. She offers both fundraising and community engagement support through the lenses of collective power building, decolonization, and justice. Andrea’s strategic approach to complex environmental justice challenges makes her a creative partner, ready to address the multifaceted climate change threats facing communities today. In her “free time” Andrea serves as the Chair of the Select Board in the Town of North Yarmouth, ME, carefully balancing financial pressures with efforts to advance community health and climate resilience, as well as serving on the Board of Directors of Momentum Conservation and Resources for Organizing and Social Change | andrea.berry@maine.edu
Key Competencies: Community engagement, network weaving, communications, fundraising, grant writing, membership programs, participatory grantmaking, community-centered and culturally-informed event facilitation, curriculum development, strategic planning, grassroots advocacy.
Laura Collins, Senior Program Manager, Water Infrastructure
Laura manages the New England Water Infrastructure Network (NEWIN) and provides direct technical, financial, and project management support for the region’s municipalities, utilities, and tribes. She has a background in water resource management, with expertise in community-driven program management, strategic planning, and impact evaluation | laura.collins@maine.edu
Key Competencies: Project management, natural infrastructure planning, community engagement, relationship development, impact evaluation & reporting, communications.
Matthew Duff, Water Infrastructure Specialist
Matt provides technical assistance, project management, and support for water infrastructure projects. With a background in groundwater contamination, water quality monitoring, and regulatory compliance, Matt brings expertise in technical analysis, program coordination, and community-focused environmental solutions. In addition, Matt has experience in environmental education, having developed and led educational programs that promote water conservation and environmental stewardship, as well as serving as a middle school science teacher | matthew.duff@maine.edu
Key Competencies: Community outreach, administrative support, policy analysis, communications, and inclusive engagement.
Alex Gulachenski, Senior Program Manager, SNEP Network
Alex manages the SNEP Network’s programmatic direction and coordinates the work of over 15 local on-the-ground technical assistance partners. She also oversees the network’s administrative functions, including tracking deliverables and program evaluation. She holds an M.S. in Ecology from the University of California, Davis, and brings expertise in program management, collaborative network development, community engagement, and ecological research. Her previous work has centered on advancing land stewardship and climate resilience within the New England farming community through public education, outreach, and regional partnership development | alex.gulachenski@maine.edu
Key competencies: community engagement and outreach, program management, facilitation, strategic planning, climate resilience, network development.
Jack D. Kartez, PhD, Senior Advisor & Emeritus Director
Dr. Kartez is an environmental planner, mediator, and consensus-building specialist supporting municipal, non-profit, state, and multi-state clients across New England. He co-founded the NEEFC in 2001 and currently serves as a senior advisor, delivering services on cost-effective stormwater management, climate adaptation and resilience planning, local infrastructure finance, and risk communication. He also co-founded the Texas A&M University Hazard Center and has long worked on natural and environmental hazards research and training | jackk@maine.edu
Key Competencies: Community engagement and outreach, effective training methods, culturally sensitive consensus building processes, fiscal analysis, emergency management, knowledge transfer.
Jane Rooks, Communications & Operations Coordinator
Jane provides creative and administrative support across NEEFC projects. With a background in nonprofit administration, public relations, and policy research, she contributes creative problem-solving and organizational skills to ensure alignment and effective communication on her team. She is dedicated to building resilience across New England through community-centered advocacy and network building. Jane holds a B.A. in Archaeology from Barnard College and is currently pursuing her Master’s in Policy, Planning, and Management at USM’s Muskie School of Public Service. | jane.rooks@maine.edu
Key Competencies: communications and outreach, policy research, content development, environmental advocacy, administrative support
Chloe Shields, Deputy Director
Chloe leads NEEFC programs focused on climate resilience and water infrastructure. She holds a Master’s Degree in Urban Planning from the University of Washington and brings 15 years of experience in research and program implementation at environmental and public health organizations working both in the U.S. and internationally. Chloe has extensive experience facilitating community-driven climate resilience planning and prioritization processes and has worked with municipalities across New England to identify funding options and develop competitive applications for resilience projects. She oversees the New England Water Infrastructure Network, managing staff and a network of partner organizations providing technical assistance to support safe, affordable, and resilient drinking water, wastewater, and stormwater systems. Chloe serves on the Maine Climate Council’s Community Resilience Working Group and contributed to funding and financing recommendations reflected in the State’s climate action plan Maine Won’t Wait | chloe.f.shields@maine.edu
Key Competencies: Climate vulnerability and risk assessment, climate action planning, water infrastructure finance, program management, community engagement, strategic planning.
Leah Soloway, Program Coordinator, SNEP Network
Leah supports the programmatic direction and administration of the Southeast New England Program (SNEP) Network, including planning, tracking, and reporting deliverables and managing communications, outreach, website, and promotional materials. She has a background in environmental science and business administration and expertise engaging communities on sustainability initiatives | leah.soloway@maine.edu
Key Competencies: Community engagement, program reporting and administration, communications and outreach, website management.
Luke Truman, Senior Program Manager
Luke provides technical assistance to the craft beverage sector with a focus on environmentally responsible operations. He has over 10 years of brewery experience realizing years of double digit growth, major and minor expansions, equipment upgrades, and process improvements. Luke has worked in every facet of the brewing process from farming to manufacturing to distributing to serving, most recently in Facilities Management | luke.truman@maine.edu
Key Competencies: Strategic problem solving, recognizing opportunities for operational improvement, community engagement, industry awareness, project planning and execution.
2026 Interns & Fellows
Patricia Bishop
Patricia is a senior environmental planning and policy student at the University of Southern Maine. Her work focuses on sustainability, resource efficiency, and translating environmental data into practical tools for organizations and communities. She has experience in field-based ecological research, watershed systems, and habitat restoration, and is particularly excited to learn new skills in collaborative sustainability strategies within various industries. | patricia.bishop@maine.edu
Kaitlyn Gantert
Kaitlyn joins the NEEFC in her final semester at Antioch University where she is completing her Masters of Science in Resource Management and Administration with a focus on Sustainable Development and Climate Change. She brings with her an undergraduate background in biology, complimented by hands-on experience in ecological research, sustainable agriculture, and scientific instruction. Kaitlyn hopes to draw from her knowledge and experience to determine and implement strategies that support our natural environments and drive impact within our communities. | kgantert@antioch.edu
Kaitlyn Macphee
Kaitlyn is a senior at University of Southern Maine in their accelerated law program with a major in environmental planning and policy. She is also subsequently a first year law student at University of Maine Law School. She is an active participant in environmental advocacy at Maine Law and is apart of the Environmental Energy and Law Society at Maine Law. Kaitlyn’s work centers around environmental justice and environmental issues at a municipal level. She is interested in federal and state law issues regarding socioeconomic environmental problems. At the New England Environmental Finance Center, she hopes to help translate data and policy into practical tools that support under-resourced communities across the region. | kaitlyn.macphee@maine.edu
Ben Moore
Ben Moore is a junior at the University of Southern Maine, pursuing a degree in Environmental Planning and Public Policy. He is passionate about raising awareness of overlooked environmental issues, particularly waste management, and believes education can happen anywhere—whether in the classroom, during fieldwork, or at large-scale events. At the New England Environmental Finance Center, Ben aims to empower students and educators in Portland’s under-resourced communities by developing practical, actionable lessons on food waste reduction. | benjamin.a.moore@maine.edu
Collin Munyan
Collin is serving as an AmeriCorps Resilience Corps Fellow with the NEEFC. He works to enhance the scope of the NEEFC’s Environmental Funding Navigator Tool, a tool to connect communities to environmental funding opportunities, as well as advance the impact of the Pollution Prevention Project, a program aimed at reducing pollutants from local organizations and municipalities. To support these projects, Collin brings his experience in sustainable project management, community engagement, and environmental research, combined with an enthusiasm for sustainable solutions. Prior to serving with AmeriCorps, Collin earned a B.A. from Colgate University in Environmental Economics and a minor in Philosophy. He has had several internship-level roles in sustainability and ESG, as well as engaged in conservation-based volunteerism. In his free time, Collin enjoys hiking, running, baking bread, and is excited to make the most of his time in Maine. | collin.munyan@maine.edu
Lily Newton
Lily is a junior at the University of Southern Maine pursuing a dual major in Environmental Planning & Policy and Economics. She serves as Student Senate Clerk and a Teaching Assistant for Environmental Science 101, roles that strengthen her skills in collaborative leadership and science communication. Lily’s work centers on environmental justice and the economic disparities driven by systemic causes, with a particular interest in community-scale climate resilience and equitable infrastructure funding. At the New England Environmental Finance Center, she hopes to help translate data and policy into practical tools that support under-resourced communities across the region. | lily.newton@maine.edu
Elizabeth St Arnaud
Elizabeth is an intern at the New England Environmental Finance Center’s Better Bev program and a USM senior majoring in Environmental Planning and Policy, with an upcoming minor in Leadership and Organizational Studies. She is passionate about climate change remediation and resilience. She is also devoted to community centered decision making. Her interests focus on environmentally conscious site development and sustainable planning, which drew her to the New England Environmental Finance Center’s mission and work. At NEEFC, she is eager to contribute in any way she can. | elizabeth.st@maine.edu
Affiliates
Curtis Bohlen, PhD
Director, Casco Bay Estuary Partnership
Dr. Bohlen is an aquatic and wetland ecologist and conservation leader with an interdisciplinary background in ecology, economics, and public policy. He leads the work of CBEP and works with partners both inside and outside of the University to seek creative solutions to environmental challenges, support local communities, and improve the management of Casco Bay.
Rachel Bouvier, PhD
Associate Professor & Chair of Economics, University of Southern Maine
Dr. Bouvier is founder and principal consultant at rbouvier consulting, an economic and sustainability consulting firm, and is on the Board of Directors at GrowSmart Maine. Her research interests include economic resilience, sustainability, and community economic development. Dr. Bouvier was Associate Professor of Economics at the University of Southern Maine from 2005-2014 and has returned after a brief hiatus.
Charles Colgan, PhD
Research Director, Center for the Blue Economy, Middlebury Institute of International Studies at Monterey
Dr. Colgan is a former NEEFC Director and Professor Emeritus at the University of Southern Maine. Dr. Colgan has more than 40 years of experience in economic and environmental policy in Maine and New England covering land, air, and water issues. He is a former Director of the Maine Coastal Program and currently focuses on climate change-related issues on coasts and oceans in the U.S. and globally.
Peter Cooke
Topic Expert & Lecturer, Sustainable Operating Practices, University of Southern Maine
Peter Cooke has over twenty years of experience in developing sustainability tools and programs for businesses, government, academia, and non-profits. He co-founded Ratio Institute to develop tools and resources for food retailers. He has performed sustainability audits at over 600 grocery stores. Peter is ISO 14001 Lead Auditor certified, Commercial Energy Auditor trained, Building Operator Certified, and Hazardous Waste Operations certified.
Vanessa Levesque, PhD
Assistant Professor of Environmental Science & Policy, University of Southern Maine
Dr. Levesque is an interdisciplinary social scientist; she combines research experiences in ecology, planning and policy analysis within a sustainability science framework to better understand how communities make decisions to improve the environmental and social worlds in which they live. Further, Dr. Levesque has over 10 years of environmental planning work experience in municipal and state governments in Maine, and currently partners with nonacademic collaborators to develop applied research projects to address pressing issues that advance rural community resilience.
vanessa.r.levesque@maine.edu | usm.maine.edu/environmental-science