Meet Our Staff
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Chris DeLisle
Chris began serving as MATE’s Executive Director in August 2022. He’s held digital and traditional marketing positions and served as a leader at a Maine non-profit. Chris is a Mainer, having grown up in the nearby Belgrade Lakes region, and graduated from the University of Maine at Farmington.
Chris is a registered Maine Whitewater Rafting Guide. Although he no longer guides commercial trips, he enjoys organizing and leading private trips for his friends as his schedule allows. While in college, he also spent time as a tandem Skydive Instructor. Upon finishing college, he moved to Florence, Italy, where he worked leading American study abroad students on trips to iconic destination around Europe.
When he isn’t working, you can find Chris spending time outdoors in a variety of outdoor activities. His favorite way to spend his leisure time is hiking and camping, or spending time on the boat on Great Pond, where he resides. He is a “Dog Dad” to a five year-old rescue named Dewey.
You can contact Chris at: cdelisle@missionattheeastward.org
OPERATIONS MANAGER
Lucas Fitch
We are thrilled to welcome Lucas Fitch as our new Operations Manager for the 2024 Housing Ministry season!
A native of the Farmington area, Lucas has served the community in a variety of ways, including giving local kids a loving home as a foster parent for the past 9 years. In his free time, Lucas enjoys a variety of outdoor activities and is passionate about recreating and spending time in the beautiful natural landscape that makes up Central Western Maine. Lucas has extensive experience in management roles, including in maintenance and building repair, and he is excited to bring his leadership skills to MATE’s Housing Ministry Program and help serve his greater community.
You can contact Lucas at: housing@missionattheeastward.org
ASSISTANT OPERATIONS MANAGER
Peter Clark
Peter Clark returns for his third season this year to serve as the Assistant Operations Manager to help with leading MATE volunteers and conducting housing ministry projects.
Peter is originally from Connecticut and moved to Maine two years ago with his brother. Together, they farm a 5-acre homestead using “regenerative ranching” which helps to protect land from overgrazing, improving soil and reducing carbon emissions. With portable fencing, sites used for livestock grazing are rotated to new locations as needed. Currently, Peter’s twelve goats and sheep are posted behind Fairbanks Union Church, where they eat and manage grass and weeds for the church – a win-win for all!
Peter stayed on part-time at the end of last housing ministry season and helped us throughout the winter with ongoing renovations on the second story of the McCleary House and with the build-out of our tiny home. Peter enjoys skiing at Sugarloaf Resort in Carrabassett Valley during and loves living in Maine!