Patricia Ianni (Falmouth)

Pat works for TD Bank as an environmental specialist in the risk management department,

specializing in the fields of hazardous waste, regulatory compliance, and legal analysis. A

Master Gardener, she teaches community groups about BayScaping, a program developed by

Friends of Casco Bay to teach ecological lawn care.

Bob Knecht (Freeport)

Bob is Principal/Broker with Town and Shore Associates. A Maine native, Bob grew up boating

on Casco Bay, helped found the first USM sailing team, and has built boats himself. He got

involved in the marine supply business fresh from college, launched an oyster farming

operation on the Sheepscot River, and worked testing oil recovery systems on Casco Bay.

Peter LeBourdais, DMD (Harpswell)

Peter is a general dentist in Brunswick and a resident of Harpswell. A native of Brunswick,

he spent summers on the New Meadows in Casco Bay. He is a director of the Maine Rowing

Association and organizes the Quahog Bay Row Around held each May.

Althea Bennett McGirr (Falmouth)

A member of the third generation of family management, Althea is the Director of Customer

Service & Consumer Affairs for Oakhurst Dairy. She answers consumers’ questions about products, operations, and community initiatives. In addition, she has been involved in many

philanthropic activities, including serving on the Board of the Iris Network.

Joan is the founder and chair of the TD Bank Beach to Beacon 10K Road Race in Cape

Elizabeth, her hometown. Many of us remember where we were in 1984 as Joanie entered

the Olympic Stadium in LA to win the first Women’s Olympic Marathon. She continues to set

running records in between serving as an inspirational speaker and a supporter and board

member of many charities.

Janet M. Sortor, PhD (Portland)

Janet is Vice President and Dean of Academic Affairs at Southern Maine Community College.

Formerly in the administration of Bunker Hill Community College, Charlestown, MA, she also

has been a board member of various social service agencies in Massachusetts.

Ann Thayer (Yarmouth)

Ann Thayer has a long-term involvement in the environmental field. Her career has included environmental consulting and working in environmental management for heavy industry and manufacturing. She enjoys many outdoor pursuits, including boating, kayaking, and birding in and around Casco Bay. 

Peter Van Alstine (Yarmouth)

Peter consults to companies that are leveraging the internet to introduce new and innovative business models. Peter has helped growth companies establish and maintain leadership positions through his more than 20 years of general management, sales, product development and marketing experience. Recently, Peter spent a year sailing over 5,000 miles with his family, from Maine to Martinique and back, aboard a 44-foot sloop.

John Wise (Cape Elizabeth)

John is Principal Investigator of the Wise Laboratory of Environmental and Genetic Toxicology at the University of Southern Maine, as well as Professor of Toxicology and Director of the Maine Center for Toxicology and Environmental Health. He is noted for his pioneering work studying the impact of toxic chemicals on the health and reproductive success of marine life. Most recently, he was in the Gulf of Mexico after the Deep Water Horizon oil spill to study its impact on whales.