Meet Our Board
Sharon Cowen (Board Chairperson) lives in Bedford, NH with her husband Larry, and is a member of Bedford Presbyterian Church. She moved to Bedford in 1998 from Cincinnati after growing up and attending college in Columbus, Ohio. Sharon retired from University of New Hampshire Cooperative Extension in 2018 after 15 years as Field Specialist in Community Development and adult educator in parenting and financial education. Previously she worked in market research. Sharon participated in several recovery teams with BPC after hurricanes in New Orleans and Puerto Rico and believes strongly in MATE’s focus on supporting the housing needs of individuals, families and communities.
Alan Dossett (Board Vice-Chairperson) has been a part of MATE work groups from the Presbyterian Church in Sudbury (MA) for about 30 years. Over that time, Alan gained a lot of skills and tools, but more importantly he realized how relationships with home owners are the real basis for mission work. The work of MATE can transform lives for the workers and the home owners.
Alan grew up in Southern California and moved to the Boston area after college where he worked in technology and then financial services companies. Alan is a financial planner and lives with his wife Jane and two dogs in Milford, MA. Alan roasts coffee and brews beer in his spare time.
Nancy E. Flint (Board Treasurer), born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, is the Finance Manager/Treasurer of Calvary United Methodist Church in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. She has over 25 years experience in bookkeeping/financial management in the nonprofit sector. She and her husband, Dan, have three grown daughters (all MHM veterans), three sons-in-law, and two delightful grandchildren. Nancy first came to Mission at the Eastward as a teenage member of Grace Presbyterian Church (Jenkintown, PA) to serve as a summer volunteer for both Camp at the Eastward and MATE Housing Ministry. She spent a full summer during her college years as a summer youth intern for MATE under the supervision of one of MATE’s past Executive Directors, the Rev. Scott Planting. For over 25 years she has been the coordinator of the housing ministry teams from Camp Hill (PA) Presbyterian Church, where she is a member. She joined the MATE Board in May 2019 to share both her knowledge of non-profit finances and her perspective as a MATE Volunteer “from away.”
Steve Allman (Board Secretary), began his service as pastor at Leeds Community Church in March, 2019, and joined MATE’s board in 2020. Prior to coming to Maine he served churches in West Virginia, New York, and South Dakota. Currently Steve is working on a Doctor of Ministry degree. He’s originally from Pennsylvania and worked as a journalist, salesperson and educator before entering the ministry. He’s proud to be part of guiding MATE through its transition to being a nonprofit. Focuses include helping MATE maintain contact and partnership with the congregations that have long supported MATE’s mission.
Emily Ladd Rackliffe is a Parent Engagement Specialist and Visitation Supervisor at the Franklin County Children’s Task Force. She has a BS degree in Early Childhood Education, a credential in Infant Toddler Caregiving and much additional education in Social Work and Special Education. She has spent her professional career working with children and families in Greater Franklin County through Head Start, Early Head Start, Child Protective Services, and Child Abuse Prevention programs. She has deep roots in the Fairbanks Community and remains committed to doing all she can to support this community. She is a Mother to two very busy little boys. They spend time enjoying family, playing outdoors and relaxing with their pug Jake.
Joy Dyer – MATE has been a part of Joy’s life for over 55 years. She grew up going to CATE as a camper, then as a counselor, cook, and business manager. She has many happy memories of camp, especially co-directing junior high camp with Dolores Abbott. Joy served on the MATE Board in years past and currently serves on the housing committee. Many connections have been made over the years.
Joy has worked at CSM Real Estate in Kingfield since 1990. It is especially satisfying to work with first time homebuyers: how rewarding to be a part of their journey. She is also a board member at the Franklin County Animal Shelter. In the past she has fostered cats and kittens for them. The most important lesson that she learned doing this work was that she was only the first step in their journey to a better life or home.
Joy has lived in the Farmington area all her life, moving to Kingfield in 1990. Her greatest joys are her animals, Champion’s Finnegan, her blue merle Aussie, and her cats, Grace and Mufasa. She has trained Finn to become a certified therapy dog. He visits area nursing homes and will be a reading dog at the local library. Animals have always been her passion so you could say that “Animals are her game!”
Joy looks forward to working with everyone at MATE. Just imagine, how much MATE can accomplish for the betterment of those less fortunate. The possibilities are endless!!
Anna M. Simone was born on a very snowy day in November 1963 in Syracuse, NY. Her family moved to Cape Cod (MA) when she was 7, where she lived for 30 years. She dedicated 20 years of her life to helping women and children victims of domestic violence before moving to Maine. She then became the first woman Commissioned Lay Pastor in PNNE, receiving her CLP training from the University of Dubuque Theological Seminary. She served as pastor at both the North Turner Union Presbyterian Church and United in Christ Church Starks. She taught undergraduate psychology and philosophy as an adjunct for 22 years. Ann Marie has a Masters in Education degree (M.Ed.) in Clinical Psychology from Cambridge College, has done post graduate work in women’s studies, psychology and philosophy. She is also a certified grant writer and administrator with many years of program development experience. She is happy to be in service to the Lord again by her participation on the MATE board. Ann Marie lives in Farmington with her cat, Blessing.
George Reese is a member of Bedford Presbyterian Church where he has served as an Elder and a Deacon. He has led BPC youth volunteer teams to MATE for 12 years and has been active in MATE Housing Ministry for many years, contributing his time, talents and ideas to the organization.
Kobi Chase is the Director of Family & Health Services at Western Maine Community Action. She has a BS in Elementary and Early Childhood Education from UMF and a Master’s in Education from New England University. She had been an elementary school teacher for many years before joining the Community Action’s fight against poverty, first at Community Concepts and now at WMCA. Through this work, she has seen the unmet needs in our area and believes in MATE’s mission of supporting our most vulnerable community members.
Kobi grew up in Maine and raised her own family here. In her spare time, she enjoys reading, running, skiing, and any other outdoor activity.
Karen Hagy (Immediate Past Board Chair), has just “retired” from service on the MATE Board. She is an experienced mission team leader, having brought many youth teams up to work at MATE with the Bedford Presbyterian Church. Karen recently retired from BPC, having served there as a pastor for over 22 years. She loves MATE’s mission, is very excited about the McCleary House project, and is dreaming of tiny homes and more ways to help the underserved in Central Western Maine.
Karen has experience in fundraising, overseeing major capital campaigns, grant writing, strategic planning, is trained in transitional ministry and organizational transformation, and communications. She has a BA from Middlebury College in Sociology and Creative Writing and an MDIV from Andover Newton Theological School. She loves working with all kinds of people to live out what it means to faithfully live out Christ’s commandment to ‘love God with all you have got and love thy neighbor as yourself.’ One of her greatest hopes for the future is to be able to take her grand nuggets, toddler Ellie and baby Rosie, up to MATE someday so they can feel the joy that comes from helping others and in turn be blessed by the work they will do for God and neighbor!
THANK YOU Karen, for your tireless service to MATE, especially during our time in between Executive Directors. Your leadership has truly been a gift for our mission!