Meet the Team
Our Board of Directors
Deb Burd - Chair
Deb Burd spent her career working in the nonprofit profit sector in Maine and nationally. Her leadership roles have spanned multiple sectors. The common thread has been a belief that individuals, communities, and small businesses should inform public policy and give voice to 'action'. She is a founding member of the Maine Women’s Agricultural Network, GrowSmart Maine, and the Good Food Council of Lewiston-Auburn. Deb has served as a trustee of the Natural Resources Council of Maine, Coastal Enterprises, the Spannocchia Foundation, and the Maine Women’s Lobby.
Megan Hannan - Vice Chair
Megan has been advocating for public health and anti-poverty causes since 1995, when she worked at the American Cancer Society. Since then, she has been involved in reproductive health, HIV prevention and treatment, and now is living the dream working to alleviate the causes and conditions of poverty.
Kate Manahan, LCSW - Secretary
Kate Manahan, LCSW came to her environmental activism through her clinical social work practice which recognized thematic public health concerns impacting behavior and health. With her experience in broadcasting and podcasting audio, Kate started a radio show/podcast on issues related to toxics (not affiliated with DOH), to inform wider audiences and inspire community action. She's the founder of an oral history business and is located in Kennebunk, ME.
Kaethe Rice
Kaethe Rice is a high school student and climate justice activist from Central Maine. As a youth member of the C4 board, Kaethe strives to advocate for youth while being involved in impactful and crucial environmental work. In addition to serving as a youth voice on the C4 board, Kaethe is also co-lead of Maine Youth for Climate Justice’s high school support cohort.
Charlotte Torrey
Charlotte Torrey is a second-year student at Colby College in Waterville, Maine studying environmental policy and chemistry. She is especially focused on tackling toxics issues such as PFAS, which she has been researching since her freshman year, and how to promote environmental justice relating to environmental issues. Stage managing and playing jazz music in her free time, Charlotte is passionate about encouraging youth to advocate for the environment using a wide range of tactics, including using the arts as a tool for activism.
Our Stafff
Mike Belliveau, Senior Strategist
Mike Belliveau has advanced public health, environmental justice, and clean production for forty years. He’s led chemical policy reform campaigns that set national precedents and has helped major corporations to phase out toxic chemicals and plastics. Mike founded Defend Our Health (formerly Environmental Health Strategy Center) and previously served as executive director of Communities for a Better Environment.
Sergio Cahueque, Organizer
Sergio Cahueque joined the team after graduating from College of the Atlantic in the spring of 2017, where he focused his studies on Environmental Sciences and Social Studies. Sergio believes that to foster a healthy environment and a healthy and honest democracy we need to work from the bottom-up.
Lydia Cardona, Data Manager
Lydia manages our contact database and researches donors, funders, and activists in support of our fund development and digital organizing teams. She also works to run data reports to measure progress and plan projects and programs, manages special projects, such as use of external data sets, to support organizational needs, and participates on the Development Team, coordinating with program teams and management to support related data management.
Stephanie Durrant, Office Manager
As the Office Manager, Stephanie facilitates organizational efficiency and provides support to the Defend team and works to take care of the details so the important work of Defend can move forward. She brings a passion for the intersection of environmental toxins and their impact on climate and human health, and is excited to be stepping into the non-profit sector.
Abby Lockler, Community Giving Manager
As the community giving manager, Abby leverages her years of development experience to lead strategic fundraising efforts that ensure Defend Our Health will continue to grow and advocate for a toxic-free future. Through her work, our supporters remain committed to ensuring the long-term success of our organization.
Taylor Moore, Senior Director of Communications
As the Senior Director of Communications, Taylor leads both state and national level strategic communications efforts for Defend Our Health. She focuses on the advancement of strategic issue campaigns and lifts up grassroots voices to address the root causes of environmental injustice and harm to human health and the planet from toxic chemicals and plastic pollution.
Adam Nordell, Campaign Manager - Maine Farmland Contamination
Adam worked for eleven years as an organic vegetable and grain farmer as the co-owner/manager of Songbird Farm in Unity, Maine. The farm focused on local markets, heritage grains and community involvement as pathways to strengthen a sense of place and history.
Yasmeen Pauling, Digital Organizer
As the Digital Organizer, Yasmeen manages our digital program and coordinates all online engagement to amplify our narrative, deepen our base, inspire action, and support fundraising for our programs. She has a passion for utilizing digital spaces and tools to mobilize her community and those beyond, which is what she focused on in college.
Maya Rommwatt, Senior Campaign Manager
As Senior Market Campaigner at Defend Our Health, Maya persuades corporate policy makers to slash the use of dangerous chemicals and petrochemical plastics in popular products and packaging. Prior to joining Defend Our Health, Maya worked on a strategic market climate campaign with Stand.earth to move some of the world’s biggest fashion brands to clean up their deadly climate pollution in supply chains, from burning fossil fuels to using them to make fabrics.
Sarah Woodbury, Vice President of Programs and Policy
As the VP of Programs and Policy, Sarah spearheads Defend Our Health’s advocacy and coalition work. She works closely with legislators, coalition partners, and supporters to advance Defend's mission of fighting for safe products, food and drinking water, and sustainable, green jobs. Sarah brings with her over 15 years of experience in the advocacy and communications realms.
Janelle Crockett, Vice President of Operations and People
As VP of Operations and People, Janelle works to ensure that the Defend Our Health team has the support resources they need to effectively address environmental injustice. She brings 10 years of experience in nonprofit operations and data analysis to the team and has a passion for strengthening DEIA in the community and the workplace.
Lanie Difiesta, Director of Development and Community Engagement
Meet Lani Defiesta (they/them), a dynamic individual bringing a whirlwind of passion, expertise, and innovation to the realm of health advocacy. Lani joins Defend with a background of 7+ years of development experience and 10+ years of community and labor organizing experience. Lani received their degree in Economics & Public Policy from Western Washington University, and is a force to be reckoned with, melding analytical prowess with a burning desire for positive change.
Emily Carey Perez de Alejo, President and Chief Executive Officer