As Innovation and Experiential Strategy Lead, Sean shapes initiatives that bring METLN’s journalism to life through events and community engagement. In his role, he oversees development of the organization’s events portfolio as well as advancing new approaches to deepen reader connections and expand audience through intrapreneurial initiatives. Sean’s career has centered on leading mission-driven efforts at the intersection of community, business, and the common good. He lives in South Portland with his wife and son.
Lisa Sockabasin, Motahkomikuk
Lisa Sockabasin is a citizen of the Passamaquoddy Tribe at Motahkomikuk. Lisa has spent much of her career working with tribal and state governments, non-profits, academia, and philanthropic organizations. In her capacity as the Co-CEO of Wabanaki Public Health and Wellness, Lisa collaborates with tribal leadership, federal agencies, and philanthropic partners to address systemic inequities experienced by indigenous people and many others. Lisa enjoys developing and implementing culturally based programs that respond to the needs of all communities. Developing opportunities for community connections and healing is both a passion and central to Lisa’s leadership. Prior to joining WPHW, Lisa served as the Director of the Office of Health Equity in the Maine Department of Health and Human Services, as an epidemiologist in the Infectious Disease Program for the State of Maine, as a nurse epidemiologist with the North American Indian Center of Boston, Inc., and served for two decades as coordinator of the Four Directions Summer Research Program at Harvard Medical School & the Brigham and Women’s Hospital. Lisa holds a B.S. in Biology from the University of Maine, a B.S. in Nursing from the University of Maine, and an M.S. in Health Policy and Management from the University of Southern Maine. She holds a graduate certificate in Non-Profit Management and serves on several boards including Maine Philanthropy Center, Maine Development Foundation, and the ACLU of Maine.
Maria Champagne Boyd
People Lead
Human Resources Director | Benefits Administration | Employee Relations | Organizational Development Maria is an accomplished Human Resources professional with over a decade of experience specializing in benefits administration, employee relations, and performance management. Since July 2024, she has served as the Human Resources Director at the Maine Trust for Local News, where she brings extensive knowledge and leadership to her role. Maria’s expertise spans policy development, employment law compliance, and affirmative action, making her a trusted advisor and key driver of organizational success. She has a proven track record of fostering positive workplace cultures, resolving complex employee relations issues, and implementing programs that enhance engagement and productivity. Before joining the Maine Trust for Local News, Maria held leadership roles as a Senior HR Business Partner at Diodes Incorporated, HR Administrator for Scarborough Public Schools, and Project Director for the State of Maine. A lifelong Maine resident, she is deeply committed to her community and passionate about supporting local organizations. Grounded in her core values of integrity, fairness, and collaboration, Maria is dedicated to advancing organizational growth and enriching the employee experience.
Nina C. Weyl
Maine Field Director
Nina C. Weyl is a seasoned project management professional with a strong commitment to community engagement and continuous learning. She earned her Master’s degree in Project Management with a focus on Leadership from Northeastern University through The Roux Institute in June 2024 and a bachelor’s degree from Middlebury College in 2004.
Throughout her career, Nina has demonstrated expertise in project management, client relationships, strategic partnerships, fundraising, and organizational development. Her dedication to leadership and community service is evident through her active involvement in various initiatives. She has served on Mid Coast Hunger Prevention Program’s board and currently serves on the Maine Huts & Trails board.
Residing in Freeport with her two children, husband, and labrador, Nina continues to contribute to her community and professional field, leveraging her skills and experiences to drive positive change and development. Her personal interests include outdoor activities and time with her family.
Erin Glendenning
Operations Lead
Erin began her career in the media industry in 2004, gaining experience in customer service, retention, and circulation logistics management. Her dedication and expertise led to her promotion in 2017 to Circulation Director, where she took on a leadership role overseeing operations, customer service, subscriptions, and systems. In February 2024, Erin was named Vice President of Circulation at METLN. A lifelong resident of Maine, she continues to bring valuable insight and leadership to her role at the company.
Allison McCann
Head of Business Development
The focus of the Business Development group is to create and maximize advertising revenue opportunities for our sales teams. Allison’s team leverages all METLN properties and capabilities to create new sales opportunities broadly, as well as develop strategic, creative solutions to meet individual client needs. In addition, she oversees the Branded Content Studio, which creates sponsored content for advertisers across all platforms, and the Live Events team, which hosts experiences to deepen the connection between our newsrooms, readers and sponsors. Allison came to the Press Herald after nine years at The Boston Globe. After living in downtown Boston, she was eager for green space, visible stars at night and a yard for her dog.
Carolyn Fox
Executive Editor
Since 2006, Carolyn has led organizations through the transition to digital journalism, first as a producer for USA Today, then rising from digital producer to director of content initiatives at National Geographic. In 2014, she became director of entertainment for Advance Local, providing content strategy at 11 newspapers across the U.S. From there, she moved to New Orleans to become managing editor of NOLA.com | The Times Picayune. In 2019, Carolyn joined the Tampa Bay Times. As managing editor, she led a 100-person regional newsroom. In 2024, she was named the Maine Trust for Local News’ first executive editor. She oversees the journalists across all of METLN’s titles. Carolyn and her husband live in Gorham with their three-year-old daughter and two rescue mutts.
Matt Fulton
Chief Product Officer
In his role, Matt oversees the consumer marketing and digital product development teams and their efforts to drive audience growth, engagement, subscribership, and retention. He previously worked in various development and technical leadership roles in advertising and digital media, including The Boston Globe, where he served as Manager of Advertising Technology. Matt and his wife live in North Yarmouth with their three daughters.
Stefanie Manning
Managing Director
Stefanie leads the strategic direction of the Maine Trust for Local News, including its four daily newspapers – the Portland Press Herald/Maine Sunday Telegram, Morning Sentinel, Kennebec Journal, Sun Journal – and their websites. The network also includes 17 weekly newspapers and a commercial printing operation in South Portland. Stefanie previously served as Chief of Staff, working between departments to facilitate communication and help execute key initiatives while leading the human resources, creative services, communication and fundraising/development teams. Stefanie also serves on the boards for the Local Media Consortium, Portland Public Library and Press Herald Toy Fund. Stefanie spent most of her publishing career in New York City, most recently as Associate Publisher of O, The Oprah Magazine at Hearst, for 13 years. Stefanie and her family moved to Maine in 2013 to take advantage of life the way it should be – she’s been working to sustain local journalism in Maine since.
Georges Budago Makoko, Westbrook
Georges is the founder and President of Ladder to the Moon Network and co-founder and publisher of Amjambo Africa. Georges was born in the Democratic Republic of Congo and moved to Rwanda in 1994 due to political unrest in his country. He graduated from National University of Rwanda with a degree in Business Administration, and moved to the United States in 2002, where he sought and received asylum. He is the author of Ladder to the Moon: Journey from the Congo to America, a book about his life. Georges worked as Senior Property Manager with Avesta Housing for 15 years. In 2012, he was awarded Site Manager of the Year, a joint award from the United States Department of Agriculture Rural Housing Service and Maine Rural Development. He is currently the Director of Residential Services at Serenity Residential Care, LLC. He has worked with the Governor office of Policy Innovation and the Future as community outreach coordinator in the initial process of establishing the office of New Americans in Maine.
He serves as a motivational speaker and professional interpreter, and speaks more than six languages, including English, French, Swahili, Kinyarwanda, Kirundi, Lingala and Kinyamulenge. He strongly believes in advocating for peace, reconciliation, and justice for all.
Roger Katz, Augusta
Roger Katz is an Augusta trial lawyer who has also served as Mayor and State Senator.
A proud graduate of Cony High School, Katz earned his BA from Harvard College and his law degree from Boston University. Katz is a former president of the Maine Trial Lawyers Association.
Following four years as Mayor, Katz was elected to the Maine State Senate from 2010-2018, serving in Republican Senate leadership, on the Appropriations Committee and chairing the Government Oversight Committee and Marijuana Legalization Implementation Committee.
Roger previously hosted “The Maine Event” – a weekly statewide program on Maine Public Television that explored Maine politics and public policy.
Roger is married to Ericka Katz. He has two adult children, Jonathan and Shari, and four grandchildren.
Josephine Katandula, Portland
Josephine Katandula has lived in Maine for nearly a decade, having emigrated from the Democratic Republic of Congo. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with a concentration in Business Management and Finance from the University of Southern Maine, and is currently pursuing a Masters of Science in Project Management at Northeastern University’s Roux Institute.
She currently serves as a Program Manager at Granite Bay Care, where she supports individuals with developmental and behavioral health needs through program oversight, staff coordination, and individualized service planning. Previously, she spent over three years in the banking industry, including roles as Community Development and CRA Coordinator and Management Trainee at Bangor Savings Bank. She also worked as a Financial Eligibility Specialist for the City of Portland, assisting underserved populations in accessing vital services.
Outside of work, Josephine is an active community volunteer—serving as assistant treasurer for JARME, contributing to the Immigrant Welcome Center, and participating in the USM Alumni Engagement Council. She is passionate about community development, social equity, and supporting immigrant families. She has a strong personal commitment to promoting bipartisan and unbiased news sharing, believing in the importance of informed, balanced perspectives in a healthy democracy.
Sam Hight, Skowhegan
Sam graduated from Skowhegan Area High School and earned his B.A. in economics from Bowdoin College, graduating Magna Cum Laude with Phi Beta Kappa honors. He was an investment banker with Deutsche Bank in Boston before returning to Skowhegan in 2008 to start Hight Ford, part of the Hight Family of Dealerships begun by his great-grandfather Walter H. Hight in 1911. He is now Dealer Principal at Hight Ford and Hight Chevrolet Farmington, and part owner of Hight Properties LLC and LINE-X of Skowhegan, and 55 Weston Avenue LLC. Sam and his wife, Amanda, live in Norridgewock at Somerview Farm with their six-year old daughter, Hadley, poodle, Maple, goldendoodle, Willow, and their goat friends. He serves on other boards including Redington Fairview General Hospital, Skowhegan Savings Bank and its charitable foundation, the Somerset County Jail Board of Visitors, Educare Central Maine, the Skowhegan Regional Chamber of Commerce, Governor appointed Paid Family and Medical Leave Authority, Governor appointed Motor Vehicle Franchise Board, and is Chair of Maine Automobile Dealers Association. Sam focuses on community development through economic initiatives such as new business development, affordable housing, volunteerism, and philanthropy.
Shanna Cox, Lewiston
Shanna Cox, President and CEO, Lewiston Auburn Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce.
Shanna creates and implements strategies to attract and develop businesses, enhance quality of life, and grow the economy of Androscoggin County. Pulling on her experience as a community developer, small business owner, and strategy consultant, she is grateful to be able to use her UMaine Economic degree in her daily work. Shanna lives in Lewiston Maine with 4 sons, partner, and dog – endlessly tackling DIY projects in their 1912 Craftsman Bungalow.
Mark Stodder, Cape Elizabeth
Mark Stodder is a builder of local news and information businesses, leader of government technology startups, and former news media executive who cares deeply about transparency in government, civic engagement, and preserving and reinventing local news and civic information platforms. He is a consultant for information companies, advising on growth and acquisition strategies and the challenges of technology and product modernization. Mark earlier served as president of Xcential Legislative Technologies, which drove modernization of core lawmaking systems in legislatures and regulatory agencies in the U.S. and around the world. Prior to that, he was executive vice president of Dolan Media Company, leading the company’s newspaper and digital information operations across the U.S. Beginning his career as a community newspaper reporter and photographer, he went on to lead newspaper groups in Colorado, Southern California and Wisconsin. He has been an active volunteer with student journalism organizations and state press associations and with groups focused on freedom of information legislative challenges. He lives in Cape Elizabeth with his wife, author Muna Shehadi Sill.
