Leadership
Our leadership team is a diverse group of professionals who bring a variety of talents, experiences, and expertise to the governance of the Southern Maine Agency on Aging.
Leadership Team
Megan Walton
Chief Executive Officer
Megan Walton leads the Southern Maine Agency on Aging, where she and her team are reimagining aging and delivering critical services through innovation, connection, and community. Since joining SMAA in 2019, Megan has spearheaded SMAA’s development to expand access to social care, volunteerism, and purpose for older adults statewide. She also leads AgeWise Maine, the Association of Agencies on Aging, helping to advance systems change and advocacy on behalf of older adults and family caregivers. Megan currently serves on the boards of AgeWise Maine, USAging, and Piper Shores, and committees of Avesta Housing and Maine Council on Aging. She is most energized by creating spaces—at work and in life—where people feel seen, valued, and part of something bigger. She loves spending time with friends and family, songwriting and music creation, and helping female leaders advance in their careers.
Renee Longarini
Chief Operations Officer
As Chief Operating Officer of the Southern Maine Agency on Aging, Renee Longarini provides strategic and operational leadership across the agency’s three regional centers, ensuring programs and services reflect SMAA’s mission, values, and commitment to community. With more than 15 years of experience in nonprofit leadership, Renee oversees operations, workforce development, and systems innovation that strengthen care and support for older adults, adults with disabilities, and caregivers. She leads through a diversity, equity, and inclusion lens, ensuring services reach those with the greatest social and economic vulnerability. Deeply aligned with SMAA’s values, Renee finds great fulfillment in collaborating with such a dynamic, dedicated team that shares her passion for equity, innovation, and improving the lives of others. Renee also serves as a Board member for Great Bay Services and holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from the University of Massachusetts. Renee has resided in Eliot, with her family, for over 20 years.
Erin Rice
Chief Advancement Officer
Erin serves as Chief Advancement Officer at the Southern Maine Agency on Aging, where she provides strategic leadership for development, marketing and communications, advancing philanthropic support and partnerships that strengthen services for older adults, adults with disabilities, and caregivers across southern Maine. With more than 25 years of nonprofit leadership experience, Erin brings expertise in fundraising and advancement, including major gifts, campaigns, planned and annual giving, grant development, and donor engagement, and is recognized for building sustainable, mission-aligned development programs that align organizational priorities with funder needs and community impact. Prior to SMAA, she held senior leadership roles with Andwell Health Partners and Pine Tree Society, where she led integrated marketing and development efforts and played a key role in organizational growth, including leadership of a successful $6.6 million capital campaign. Erin is known for her collaborative leadership style, strong board and community relationships, and ability to bring people together around shared mission-driven goals. A lifelong Maine resident, she is committed to strengthening organizations that improve lives across the state.
Laurie Riedel
Chief Financial Officer
Laurie has more than 30 years of experience as a CFO for multiple early-stage companies from inception to exit, and as a senior financial executive for enterprise-level organizations. Her strategic finance and operational skills include Mergers & Acquisitions, complex financial modeling, raising capital, risk assessment and management, financial reporting, and audit and tax oversight. She has also led key areas across accounting operations, HR, and legal. Her industry expertise spans early-stage high-growth companies and established public and private equity organizations in the SaaS, communications equipment, manufacturing, and semiconductor industries. Laurie received her B.S. in Economics-Finance (Cum Laude) from Bentley College and her MBA from Northeastern University. She is married, has one college-age daughter and a bossy Corgi, and recently relocated to the coast of Maine from southern New Hampshire. She is very excited about being part of SMAA and the Southern Maine community.
Dan Knox
Director of Program Impact and Evaluation
An employee since 1992, Dan has had the pleasure of serving SMAA in a variety of capacities, including Care Manager, Community Services team lead, and IT Director to name a few. In his current role of Program Impact and Evaluation Director, Dan is excited to apply his passion for analytics and strategic thinking to maximizing and measuring the impact of SMAA’s services to Older Adults and their Caregivers. He currently serves as the staff liaison to SMAA’s Strategic Planning Committee. Dan is personally interested in researching and supporting issues around social connection and belonging. He grew up with six siblings in rural Eastern Maine and feels a deep connection to Maine and its people.
Meredith Anderson
Director of Community Outreach
Meredith Anderson is the Community Outreach Director at Southern Maine Agency on Aging and a Licensed Clinical Social Worker. Meredith received her bachelor’s degree in Natural Resources from Cornell University and an MSW from the University of Texas at Austin. She has always wanted to work with older adults, starting with delivering Meals on Wheels with her mom at 5 years-old. Meredith started at SMAA in 2014 supervising the Information & Referral, Outreach and Family Caregiver Support teams. These teams try to determine what matters most to older adults, adults with disabilities, and caregivers and connect them to those supports. Meredith helps the organization in its mission to reach under-represented communities through partnership development and outreach initiatives across York and Cumberland Counties. Meredith helps to coordinate diversity, equity and inclusion efforts, continuing to work towards creating a place of belonging.
Ashley Perrone
Director of Community Impact
Ashley has been with Southern Maine Agency on Aging since March 2015. She started at SMAA as a Resource Specialist in the Community Services Department and then stepped into the role of Meals on Wheels Site Manager at the Biddeford Meal Site, where she spent 6 years overseeing Meals on Wheels and Congregate meal programming. In May 2022, she was promoted to Nutrition Program Manager, moved into the Healthy Living Director role in April 2023, and in November 2024 she was promoted again to the Community Impact Director role, overseeing SMAA’s Nutrition and Community Services teams. Prior to her time at SMAA, she worked in the Greater Portland area as a Mental Health Case Manager, providing support with community integration. Ashley has a deep passion for her community and helping those in need and is a proud member of the SMAA team.
Board of Directors
Anne Dalton
Board Chair
Anne Dalton serves as the Board Chair of Southern Maine Agency on Aging. She currently serves as Vice President for Advocacy and Community Engagement at the Association of Junior Leagues International. Over her tenure with the organization, she has held senior leadership roles including program director, interim executive director, and chief strategic officer. Her professional background also includes executive leadership roles at the Girls Club of New York, Henry Street Settlement, Vera Institute of Justice, and other nonprofit organizations, with a focus on governance, advocacy, and community engagement.
Herb Janick
Vice Chair
Herb Janick is an attorney with experience in financial services regulation, corporate compliance, and legal leadership. His career includes service with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission and as General Counsel for PaineWebber. Herb has served on nonprofit boards, including Preble Street, and is a volunteer Medicare Counselor with Southern Maine Agency on Aging and as a partner at the law firm Sidley Austin.
Emily Christy
Treasurer
Emily Christy is a strategist, consultant, and finance professional. She currently runs Emily Christy Advisory, where she provides strategic finance consulting to early-stage and growth companies. Her professional background includes equity research, corporate strategy, fractional CFO work, and healthcare strategy. Emily holds a Master’s degree in Medical Gerontology and has experience spanning healthcare, aging, finance, and operations.
Craig Lennon
Secretary
Craig Lennon serves as Secretary of the Board of Directors of Southern Maine Agency on Aging. He is the owner of CarePatrol of Maine, a senior care advisory service that assists older adults and their families with placement in independent living, assisted living, and memory care communities. Craig has more than 30 years of management experience, including leadership roles in customer engagement, client relations, sales, and call center operations. Craig is also a caregiver for his aging parents, which gives him a great perspective on the work we do within our Community.
Jim Clark
Jim Clark is a retired business executive with more than 30 years of experience in human resources, organizational development, change management and contact center services. He spent more than three decades with Mobil Oil, Coopers & Lybrand, and Accenture in consulting, outsourcing, and transition services, working across North American, European and Southeast Asian operating environments. Jim has also served on nonprofit boards, coached high school football, and led pickleball clinics. He has been active in community organizations in Maine for more than a decade and lives in Cape Elizabeth with his wife, Ann.
Bill Hall
Bill Hall is a retired U.S. Air Force intelligence officer, having served from 1966 to 1999. Following his military career, he held leadership roles at Martin’s Point Health Care and served as Executive Director of the World Affairs Council of Maine. Bill has extensive experience in nonprofit governance, public service, urban planning, and community leadership.
Ann Hastings
Ann Hastings is a retired attorney. She has served on the Board of Directors of Southern Maine Agency on Aging since 2017 and has volunteered as a Medicare Counselor with the organization since 2018. Ann previously served as Board President of Seeds of Hope and brings experience in law, board governance, and nonprofit service.
Robert Hunter
Robert Hunter currently serves as Senior Vice President of Finance at MaineHealth, where he is responsible for system-wide operational finance functions. His experience includes financial planning, budgeting, forecasting, accounting, capital planning, and healthcare system integration. Robert also serves in several finance and governance roles within MaineHealth–affiliated organizations.
Ben Jenkinson
Ben Jenkinson is a senior marketing executive. He currently serves as Vice President of Marketing, Customer Experience, and Insights at Martin’s Point Health Care in Portland, Maine. His experience includes leadership roles in digital marketing, consumer research, e-commerce, and brand strategy, including positions at L.L.Bean, E*Trade, and JPMorgan Invest.
Ellis Johnson, MD/MPH, FACP
Dr. Ellis Johnson is a physician specializing in Internal Medicine. He serves as Division Chief of General Internal Medicine at Maine Medical Center and as Internal Medicine Discipline Leader for the MaineHealth primary care practices in Southern Maine. He is also an Associate Professor at Tufts University School of Medicine. Dr. Johnson has extensive experience in clinical leadership, medical education, quality improvement, and research.
Natalie King, MBA, MPA
Natalie King is Senior Director of Strategy at The SCAN Foundation, a philanthropy focused on advancing systems that support older adults so they can age well at home and in their communities. She leads strategic planning and enterprise initiatives that drive systems change at the intersection of health policy, philanthropy, and mission-aligned investing. Natalie brings deep expertise in healthcare policy and care delivery, with a focus on strengthening the social safety net for older adults. Natalie holds graduate degrees from the Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth and the Harvard Kennedy School. She lives in Portland, Maine with her family and also serves on the City of Portland’s Community Development Block Grant Advisory Committee.
Nancy C. Koglmeier
Nancy C. Koglmeier is a strategic business and nonprofit leader with experience in marketing, branding, and organizational leadership. She currently serves as a Board Member of Southern Maine Agency on Aging and as Chair of the Board Strategic Planning Committee. Her professional background includes executive leadership roles in nonprofit and for-profit organizations, including previously serving as President and Chief Executive Officer of Make-A-Wish Maine.
Allison Kusel
Allison Kusel is a Vice President at Unum, leading the Long-Term Care insurance Claims department and Wellness programs. Allison has extensive experience in long-term care insurance, innovative operational improvements, and program development related to aging and caregiving. Her leadership reflects a deep commitment to supporting older adults and families navigating the complexities of long‑term care.
Julie Mascari
Julie Mascari is a healthcare executive, consultant, and educator. Her experience includes senior leadership roles in managed care, government programs, population health, healthcare operations, and strategy. Julie has held executive positions focused on business operations and transformation and has served as an adjunct professor and author on healthcare leadership and innovation.
Representative Michele Meyer
Representative Michele Meyer serves in the Maine House of Representatives, representing Eliot, Kittery (part), and South Berwick (part). She is the House Chair of the Health and Human Services Committee and is serving her fourth term in the Legislature. Michele is a registered nurse with professional experience in occupational health and medical case management.
Michael J. Tarpinian
Michael J. Tarpinian is retired and the former Chief Executive Officer of The Opportunity Alliance. He has more than 30 years of experience in nonprofit leadership and human services. His background includes work with the Maine Department of Health and Human Services, co-founding the Maine Behavioral Health Collaborative, and serving on multiple nonprofit boards, including Southern Maine Agency on Aging.
2025-2026 Advisory Council
Aarabi Balasubramanian
Lisa Becker
Shawna DellaMonica
Amanda Gilliam
Don Harden
Sheriff William King
Judy Methot
Ann C. Milliard
Candice Simeoni
Beverley Soule
Carl Toney, P.A.
Jodi Williams