Meet the Advocacy Committee
Chair – Sarah Standiford, Executive Director, Maine Women's Policy Center Sarah has served as the Executive Director of the Maine Women's Lobby and its sister organization, the Maine Women’s Policy Center since 2003. She oversees the public policy development, research, and organizing efforts of these two multi-issue women’s organizations that have been dedicated to expanding opportunities for all Maine women and girls for nearly 30 years. In her position, Sarah represents the needs of Maine women in the areas of affordable health care, reproductive privacy, economic security, and freedom from violence and discrimination to policymakers and the media. She has several appointments representing women including on the Governor’s Council on Jobs, Innovation, and the Economy, the Maine Jobs Council and the Commission to Study Livable Wages. She serves on the board of Consumers for Affordable Health Care Coalition, the Maine Chapter of the American Association of University Women, and the Abnaki Girl Scout Council.
William Floyd has served as Executive Director of the Genesis Community Loan Fund since June 2007. A federally certified Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI), the Genesis Fund, which is located in Damariscotta, provides innovative financing by soliciting low-interest investment loans from individuals, churches, corporations and foundations, then re-lending the money to nonprofit organizations. Genesis Fund loans help groups developing affordable housing and community facilities assist underserved neighborhoods across Maine. Prior to working at the Genesis Fund, Bill served as Housing Director for Shalom House, Inc. in Portland from 1999 to 2006. There he developed and managed supported housing and rental assistance programs for more than 600 people with serious mental illness. In the 1990s Bill worked for the Department of Mental Health, Mental Retardation and Substance Abuse Services as the Director of the Office of Housing.
Anna Kent has developed programs for nonprofit organizations, most recently the Maine Women's Fund, since 1988. In 2009, she is launching her own business in home staging and organizing. She serves on MANP's Advocacy Committee.
Marc Mutty, Director of the Office of Public Affairs, Roman Catholic Diocese
Marc serves as spokesperson on legislative issues of concern to the Diocese based on Catholic social teachings. He is a registered lobbyist for the Diocese and in that capacity he testifies before legislative committees and commissions. He co-chaired the commission to study poverty among working parents. He is a member of the National Association of Catholic Conference Directors, a past Trustee of Mercy Hospital, Board of Directors, Maine Equal Justice Project Board and he serves on many other service organization boards and committees.
James Phipps, Esq., Partner, Preti Flaherty LLP
Jim advises nonprofit tax-exempt organizations on corporate matters and commercial transactions involving both state regulation of charities and tax exemption issues with emphasis on 501(c)(3) compliance by charities and private foundations. Jim is an active member of the American Bar Association and its Health Law and Taxation sections. He has served on the Exempt Organizations Committee and Health Law Subcommittee of the association's Tax Section since 1990. He was born in Lindenhurst, New York, and is a 1979 graduate of Florida State University. In 1984, he earned a joint MBA/Juris Doctorate from the Wharton Graduate Division (concentrating in financial accounting) and the Law School of the University of Pennsylvania. Before joining Preti Flaherty in 1987, he worked in various capacities with the Revenue Division of the Minnesota Attorney General's Office, the Minnesota Civil Liberties Union and the Minneapolis firm of Leonard, Street & Deinard. He lives on Chebeague Island, Maine, with his wife, Gisele, and daughters, Katie and Christy. Jim served on the MANP Board of Directors from 1999-2005.
Jim Pierce, Executive Director, Independence Association
Jim has been the Executive Director of Independence Association, a Brunswick-based disabilities agency, since 1976. He is currently the State representative to ANCOR, a national trade organization focused on the delivery of supports and services to people with mental retardation; the Treasurer of Coastal Trans, Inc.; the Chair of MACSP Education Committe; a founder and trustee of the Maine Trust for People with Disabilities; a founding member of the MidCoast Collaborative for Access to Transportation; and involved with several other organizations or committees in various capacities. He has recently been nominated to the MANP Board. Jim has a 25 year old daughter and lives in Thopsham.
J. Gregory Shea
Greg retired on July 2, 2004 as Executive Director for Tri-County Mental Health Services in Lewiston, where he had served in that role for 30 years. Prior to coming to Tri-County, Greg worked for the Maine Department of Human Services for twelve years, the last four and a half of which were as one of its six regional directors. Greg was born and raised in Auburn, where he attended public schools, before moving on to Bates College and Boston College, where he received his Masters in Social Work in 1966. Greg is a member of the National Association of Social Workers [NASW] Academy of Certified Social Workers and is a Certified Mental Health Administrator [CMHA]. Greg lives with his wife, has two grown children and two grandchildren. He currently serves on several nonprofit boards, including MANP's.
