KAREN KEMBLE, PrESIDENT

Karen D. Kemble, Esq. is the Associate Director of Planned Giving at the University of Maine Foundation in Orono, where she has worked since 2015. Karen helps individuals who wish to support the University of Maine by making planned gifts such as charitable bequests in their wills/trusts or other planning documents, donating real estate or other property, or creating life-income gifts. She also works with professional advisors whose clients wish to support UMaine. In her former life, Karen practiced law in Bangor for ten years and then handled equal opportunity issues for the University of Maine as the director of the Office of Equal Opportunity. She is a graduate of Bates College (B.S., Chemistry) and Cornell Law School (J.D.). Karen and her husband, Jay, live in Bangor and have two grown children and a Pembroke Welsh Corgi named Baxter.

paul howe, PRESIDENT-ELECT

Paul Howe joined Starboard Leadership as Vice President in January 2024. He is a Maine lawyer with 15 years of nonprofit leadership experience and a master’s focused on organizational resilience and risk management. Paul’s areas of expertise include fundraising, nonprofit management, human resources & labor relations, business development, strategic planning, board relations, government affairs and global humanitarian programs and strategy.

Community is important to Paul. He currently serves as President Elect for the Maine Planned Giving Council, Board President for the Maine Multicultural Center, and Board Chair for North Star Christian School. Paul enjoys supporting various community-based organizations and is also a member of the Maine Advisory Committee for the US Global Leadership Coalition.

Paul served as CEO of a US operated hospital in Ethiopia, led an international humanitarian organization in Sudan and represented all 51 of the international humanitarian organizations then operating in Sudan - a total of over 3,000 staff and over $300M in annual operations. Along the way he negotiated with striking employees, mediated legal battles between religious groups, led lifesaving programs in the middle of a civil war and helped nonprofits and their populations of concern navigate the revolution that toppled Omer Al Bashir.

Paul did strategic planning and business development for Florida Hospital (now Advent Health) during a period of rapid expansion. Most recently, he served as Director of Planned Giving for the Northern Light Health Foundation, co leading a strategic planning process and building a multi-million dollar planned giving program. Paul also led the Resilience & Sustainability workgroup of Northern Light Health’s Climate Health Team.

Maine is Paul’s home. He grew up in Freeport and lives in Hampden with his wife and four young children. Paul is a mediocre violist, an optimistic whitewater canoeist and enjoys exploring Maine’s untrammeled wilderness with family and friends.

JENNIFER RICHARD, TREASURER

Jen Richard is the Director of Gift Planning at the Maine Community Foundation where she works with professional advisors throughout the state to help their clients meet their philanthropic goals in a meaningful and tax effective manner. Prior to joining the Maine Community Foundation, Jen was a practicing trust and estate attorney in Portland for 20 years. She received her undergraduate degree from the University of New Hampshire’s Whittemore School of Business and Economics and her law degree from Franklin Pierce Law. She has served on the Board of Directors of the Maine Estate Planning Council, the United Way of Greater Portland Foundation, and Make-A-Wish Maine. Jen is currently a member of the Higgins Scholarship Committee at the Maine Community Foundation and the Treasurer of the Maine Planned Giving Council. Jen and her husband, Neal, live in Portland and have three children.

DAVID WARREN, SECRETARY

David Warren is the Planned Giving and Major Gifts Officer at Maine Coast Heritage Trust. He grew up in Brunswick and spends part of each summer enjoying the coast of Maine from his families’ property on Orr’s Island. After graduating from Trinity College in Hartford, CT, David embarked on a career primarily in fundraising in public broadcasting. Stops along the way included WGBY in Springfield, MA; New Hampshire Public Television; Maine Public Broadcasting; Vermont Public Television and Vermont Public Radio. While in Vermont from 2006 to 2014, David spent his last two years there in planned and major giving at the academic medical center in Burlington. He and his wife, Jane, are excited about coming home to Maine - Jane grew up here, too. David brings over 25 years of fundraising experience to MCHT’s first-ever planned giving specific position. For fun he loves hiking, kayaking, meeting people and spending time with friends and family including step-daughter Emily.

AMY ANDERSON

Amy Anderson works at HealthConnect Networks, a Bangor-based IT consulting firm, where she helps increase access to and for rural healthcare systems nationwide. In her 20-year philanthropy career, Amy has raised $30 million in planned and outright gifts for organizations such as Salvation Army, Boy Scouts of America and Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation. Amy earned a certificate in nonprofit fundraising from the University of Pennsylvania; a Master’s degree in Social Work from Rutgers University; and became a Chartered Advisor in Philanthropy (CAP®) through the American College of Financial Services. Amy lives with her husband and two children in Yarmouth, Maine.

j. bradford coffey, esq.

Brad is president of Covenant Health Foundation and a senior vice president at Covenant Health, where he has worked since 2015. Covenant Health includes three hospitals and 11 post-acute care centers. Prior to being employed at Covenant Health, Brad was vice president of philanthropy at EMHS Foundation and a planned giving officer at the University of Maine Foundation. Brad is an attorney who practiced law for 10 years before moving into philanthropy in 2001. He is a graduate of George Washington University (B.A.) and the University of Maine School of Law (J.D.). Brad served previously on the Maine Planned Giving Council from 2006-2012. Brad and his wife, Elizabeth, live in Bangor and have three children.

susan dunning

Susan Dunning is the Associate Director of Gift Planning at Bates College where she has worked for 17 years. Her passion for gift planning and fundraising is rooted in her commitment to relationship-building and problem-solving. Prior to Bates, Susan worked in nonprofit administration for a large Episcopal parish, a national childcare advocacy organization, and an arts education agency. She also has a background in music having earned a degree in vocal performance from Boston Conservatory at Berklee. Susan lives in her fourth-generation family home in Freeport with her husband and two school-age boys.

NANCY FOX

Nancy Fox is the Senior Director, Development at The Jackson Laboratory (JAX) where she leads the principal gift fundraising efforts and serves as a member of the Advancement senior leadership team. Prior to JAX, she served as the Director of Development at Colby College where she led the major and planned giving efforts. Nancy has over 20 years of development experience in leadership, principal, major and planned gifts, comprehensive campaigns and stewardship. She earned a Bachelor of Science and Master of Business Administration from Thomas College.

Joseph pratt

Joseph Pratt is the Senior Vice President, Senior Wealth Manager, at Bar Harbor Wealth Management. He earned a B.A. in International Affairs at the University of Maine in Orono and was commissioned a 2nd Lieutenant in the U.S. Air Force. He left military service in 1992 as a Captain and returned to the U.S. Joe earned his Series 7, 65, and insurance licenses and joined American Express Financial Advisors in Portland, Maine. He moved to Key Bank in Bangor in 1995 and TD Bank in 1997 in positions of increasing responsibility. Joe joined Bar Harbor Trust Services in 2000 as Vice President. He was appointed Managing Director in 2004 and Senior Vice President in 2019. Today he oversees wealth services for Maine including a staff of 12, about 500 client relationships, and about $700 million in client assets. Joe is a graduate of Cannon Trust School and is the Founding President of the Maine Planned Giving Council. He is a frequent presenter for the Maine Association of Nonprofits and has enjoyed board service with nonprofits throughout Maine including United Way of Eastern Maine, Maine Philanthropy Center, Bangor Public Library, Bangor Mechanic Association, Bangor YMCA, University of Maine Lobster Institute, Bangor Rotary Charities and more. Joe has two grown daughters and lives in Bangor with his wife Becky and their golden doodle Jameson.

Sarah Cary Robinson
207-460-3745
sarah.robinson@jax.org

sarah cary robinson, ctfa

Sarah Cary Robinson, CTFA is the Director, Planned Giving for The Jackson Laboratory. Ms. Robinson graduated from Bowdoin College in 1985. She has extensive non-profit experience having worked as a development professional for nine years at Bowdoin College, Smith College, College of the Atlantic, Husson University and The Jackson Laboratory. In addition Ms. Robinson spent 19 years working for Bar Harbor Trust Services (now Bar Harbor Wealth Management) specializing in estate, financial and charitable gift planning for nineteen years. In her current role, she enjoys the opportunity to use the skills gained as a financial professional to assist donors in crafting gifts that best fit their needs while maximizing charitable impact.

ROD VOGEL

Rod Vogel, founder of Natural Partners LLC, is committed to providing strategic fundraising solutions that work to the nonprofit sector. Rod has worked for over 18 years as a development leader for statewide, national, and global nonprofits. His recent positions include interim Director of Development for Maine Farmland Trust, VP & Chief Development Officer with Trout Unlimited, and in various leadership positions with The Nature Conservancy. Rod currently works with clients in the conservation sector, including Atlantic Salmon Federation, Mahoosuc Land Trust, Inland Woods + Trails, Western Foothills Land Trust, and Rangeley Lakes Heritage Trust. Prior to working in the nonprofit sector, Rod held a 17-year career with Fleet Bank leading its Charitable Asset Management division in Maine and New Hampshire. Rod currently serves as President of the Board at Chebeague & Cumberland Land Trust. His previous board service includes the Maine Philanthropy Center, Maine Association of Nonprofits, Maine Island Trail Association, Southern Maine Conservation Collaborative, and Children’s Theatre of Maine.

rICK wELLS

Rick is the Director of Planned Giving at Ocean Conservancy. Prior to joining Ocean Conservancy, Rick served as Director of Gift Planning at Colby College for four years. Before this, Rick spent 14 years with The Nature Conservancy holding various gift planning positions. Rick has previously served on the boards of the Planned Giving Group of New England in Boston and The National Capital Gift Planning Council in Washington, DC.

In 2011 Rick and his wife moved to Brunswick Maine from Washington, DC. Rick currently serves on the board of Curtis Memorial Library and is a volunteer on the Brunswick-Topsham Land Trust’s development committee. In his free time, he enjoys gardening, wood working, and cooking.