About the Peaks Island Fund

Originally from the DC area, Rich and his wife Lisa discovered Peaks when their daughters attended camp in Maine. When two sets of friends bought houses here, summer visits became a treasured ritual, and they purchased their own home in 2013. (Now a favorite destination of their three grandchildren!) Rich retired in 2018 after 30 years at the IMF, where he helped develop their global technology infrastructure. He is honored to serve as a trustee, and is passionate about improving life for all on the island.

Rachel has been a year-round islander since 2004, and raised her son Cedar here. She is an award-winning designer specializing in high-performance homes, and is co-owner of the thriving, island-based design + build company Juniper. She serves as a Fund Trustee to support our "beautiful, vibrant, creative, nourishing community." In addition, she has served on the board of the Children's Workshop, and is on the board of the Loretta Voyer Fund and a committee member of passivhausMaine.

Betsy lives on Peaks with her daughter Nora, husband Jesse, and ferry-riding dog Banjo. She is the Maine State Director for the Trust for Public Land, a nonprofit organization committed to protecting land and creating parks to ensure healthy, equitable, and climate-ready communities. Betsy enjoys everything the island has to offer from pond hockey to back-shore walks and cold water dips. She is delighted to be supporting island nonprofits "at the heart of our community" through her role as a Fund trustee.

Anne and her husband Barring moved to Peaks in 2020 after raising two children with stints in Cleveland, Baltimore, St. Louis and Colorado. She has had a varied and accomplished career in civic engagement, community leadership, strategic planning, and as an RN on a cardiac floor. On Peaks, Anne volunteers with PILP and New Brackett Church, is a leader of Friends of Trott-Littlejohn Park, and is on the Affordable Housing committee of PIC, where she focuses on the city's ReCode process and its impact on Peaks.

Ed moved to Peaks as a year-round resident in 1999. Along with his wife, Ellen, he raised his family of four children here — and has been involved in several island non-profits including PILP, the Children's Workshop, the Island School, and as a founding board member of the Illustration Institute. In his work, Ed leads teams that assist states in managing their Medicaid programs. Ed believes a key goal for the Peaks Island Fund is sustainability, in order to reliably support island organizations long into the future.

Cara is an 8th-generation Mainer who grew up in Damariscotta, and fulfilled her longtime dream of living year-round on Peaks when she, her husband Scott and their three children crossed the Bay for good in 2022. For the last decade, Cara has worked with a global roster of visual artists and big brands at Stocksy United, a cooperative visual media licensing agency, and as a freelance photographer. Earlier in her career, Cara worked in the nonprofit world at the Children’s Museum of Maine and the Portland Arts and Cultural Alliance.

John has been a summer resident of Peaks since 1996. Retired from practicing law, he is currently Chair of the Peaks Island Fund. John has always been involved in nonprofit organizations, serving as trustee and officer of a community music school, an alternative school, a child and family services organization, legal services to poor and disadvantaged citizens, and stewards of the Western Cemetery in Portland. John joined the Fund to contribute to the quality and sustainability of life on Peaks.

Dan grew up in Maine and fell for Peaks when he got married on the island in 2015 — so much so he and his wife Sarah moved here full time a year later. Dan is a devoted father to their young children Maxine and Asher — they can often be seen out and about, exploring the island together. Dan commutes most days on the ferry to his job at AAA, where he advocates for safer roads in Maine, New Hampshire and Vermont.

Bob grew up on the Chesapeake Bay, and spent his working life in Atlanta with his wife Thaea, as a partner in a Planning and Civil Engineering Firm. When Bob and Thaea searched the East Coast for their perfect retirement home, they were drawn to Peaks by its strong community spirit, creativity and natural beauty — and moved here full-time in 2017. Bob has been all-in on contributing to island life, and can be found participating in any number of community projects, often with a shovel in his hand.

Christopher and his wife Julia discovered Peaks on a day trip in 2014. It was clear that Peaks "ticked the boxes" for their next home: walkable, near a vibrant city, and full of community spirit. Prior to retirement here, Christopher founded companies including Ziplink, USASeniorcare, and Assuricare. Christopher serves as Treasurer of PILP, and as a financial advisor to many island nonprofits. In his spare time he enjoys sailing, visiting his family around the world, and gardening with his three cats.

Laura fell in love with island life after spending a winter on Peaks in 2007. After attending grad school in Michigan, she and her husband Matt returned to live here full-time, and now their son Sammy attends Peaks Elementary. Laura is deeply invested in developing affordable housing, and is the Director of Affordable Housing at Developers Collaborative, a Portland-based real estate development firm. She appreciates the Fund's strong and positive impact on island residents and businesses.

Bryn and his wife Marcy first visited Peaks in the mid-1990’s, and bought a home in 1999. Bryn is a lifelong educator who retired as Head of School at St. Paul Academy and Summit School in Minnesota in 2022 — which allowed them to fulfill their wish to be closer to the island community by moving to Maine full-time. Bryn has served on the boards of multiple nonprofits, with a focus on education and children’s mental health. He is also a member of the board of the Illustration Institute on Peaks.

Owen has lived, studied, and worked overseas and traveled extensively throughout the world — from Kenya to Kosovo — and now lives year-round on Peaks with his wife, Kellie, and young son Quinn. Born in the Berkshires, skiing runs in Owen’s blood, and he can be found mountainside much of the winter. He is currently Director of Research & Design Strategy at IA Collaborative in Chicago, with earlier stints at IDEO, Unum, and MaineHealth. Owen also serves on the board of the Fifth Maine Museum.

For Cate, Peaks Island is the first community that "truly feels like home." She's come as a visitor for years, but Covid allowed her to move here permanently with her husband Ian, her son Owen (currently attending Peaks Elementary), and their dog Phobos. In her career, Cate has worked in a number of leadership positions – currently as a Director of Diversity, Equality & Inclusion – and is pleased to bring that experience, along with her passion for the Peaks community, to the mission of the Fund.

Vanessa and her husband Mike are year-rounders and have raised their three sons on Peaks Island. Each one graduated from Portland public schools and participated in this unique island community. A life-long advocate for workplace justice, Vanessa has worked in the US labor movement for over 25 years, and currently teaches community college and adult education students in Portland.

Perry moved to Maine in 1985 from his home state of Tennessee for a position as a Social Worker, and moved to Peaks in 1989. He has since been 1) the island's most prolific grower of tomatoes, and 2) deeply involved in community service — serving on the Neighborhood Association and variously on the boards of PEAT, the Children’s Workshop, the Fifth Maine, and Friends of TEIA. He was also one of original Advisors of the Peaks Island Fund, and is proud of its record of support over the last 20 years.