Board of Directors
Officers 2009-2010
President: Susan Eldridge
Deputy director of Westbrook Housing, Susan has spent the last 33 years in the nonprofit sector championing affordable housing opportunities for senior citizens, people with disabilities, and families in need.
Active in the Greater Portland Chamber of Commerce, she has worked diligently to encourage greater LGBT visibility and participation in Chamber membership and activities. Under her leadership, RBPA is now a member of the Greater Portland Chamber, making all members eligible to participate in its events.
Susan says her goal for RBPA is to expand its membership to include more LGBT-owned and -friendly businesses and organizations.
A native Mainer and graduate of the University of Southern Maine, she lives in Buxton.
Contact Susan at: president@RBPA.org
Vice President: David Sullivan
Co-owner and creative director at ADMedia Communications, David, an award-winning designer, has put his expertise to use by RBPA. Having created a consistent look for our print marketing materials, he then upgraded our Internet presence with a redesigned website which includes updated features including more advertising opportunities for members.
His 25-year-long design career includes advertising creation for newspapers, magazines, books, radio, television, product packaging, and websites.
A native of Saco, David resides in Falmouth.
Contact David at: vicepresident@RBPA.org
Treasurer: Jim Lausier
Jim brings small business acumen to the treasurer’s position at RBPA, having run his own business (Lausier Family Gardens on Peaks Island) since 1995.
Relocating to Southern Maine from Madawaska after his graduation from the University of Maine at Presque Isle, Jim’s seasonal business gives him time to pursue off-season employment in fields as varied as the medical, insurance, retail, and floral industries.
Jim currently serves on the Peaks Island Fund Board and Casco Bay Lines sales/marketing committee, and is co-chair for a special fundraising committee for the Peaks Island Children’s Workshop.
He lives on Peaks Island.
Contact Jim at: treasurer@RBPA.org
Events Committee Chair: Vic Murray
Vic is a familiar face at monthly RBPA dinner events—as the manager of tour, travel, and corporate sales at the Holiday Inn by the Bay.
This native Mainer (Greenville) has more than 40 years experience in the hospitality industry—bringing a wealth of knowledge and relationships to our organization and our community.
Vic has long been active in our community with organizations like The AIDS Project, Matlovich Society, EqualityMaine, and The Names Project.
Vic has lived in Portland since 1976.
Contact Vic at: reservations@RBPA.org
Scholarship Committee Chair: Stephanie Deveau
Stephanie chairs the Scholarship Committee, having served on the committee and joined the Board in 2006.
Originally from Massachusetts, she’s called Maine her home since the 1970s. She works as an account representative for Shads Advertising, an Auburn-based promotional products company. With a background in printing, publishing, and advertising—and known as a master networker inside and outside of her profession—she brings many skills to RBPA.
Stephanie resides in Gray with her partner, Monica Fischbach.
Contact Stephanie at: scholarship@RBPA.org
Membership Services Chair: Dwayne Kent
Dwayne Kent is a 15-year veteran in the travel industry and is the manager of Hewins Travel’s Commercial Street office in Portland.
A product of Maine’s Swans Island, Dwayne spent several years in Charlotte, North Carolina, where he joined One Voice, a gay and lesbian chorus. When he returned to Maine, he joined the Maine Gay Men’s Chorus and served on its board.
He lives in Springvale with his partner and their four-legged family members—Journey, Emma Jean, and Mary Alice Louise.
Contact Dwayne at: dwayne@RBPA.org
Public Relations Committee Chair: Paula Keeney
A longtime member of RBPA and for many years on the Scholarship Committee, Paula assumed leadership of RBPA publicity committee when she joined the board.
She is the co-owner and managing partner of Communications INK, a writing, editing, and public relations company based in Kennebunk. A former newspaper reporter and editor, magazine editor, and university journalism instructor, Paula says her goal is to help RBPA gain greater visibility, credibility, and public recognition.
She resides in Kennebunk with her partner of 33 years, Dr. Ann Whetstone.
Contact Paula at: paula@RBPA.org
Auction Committee Chair: Sue Davis
Sue, the owner/operator of a commercial/residential cleaning company, brings public and private sector experience to her presidency.
A Massachusetts native, she lived in Peterborough, NH, for 25 years, where she worked as the town’s where she worked as the town’s recreation program director, a creditunion operations supervisor and a countr recreation director, a credit union operations supervisor, and a country club manager.
After moving to Maine in 2003, she became involved in the GLBT community, joining RBPA, where she assumed an active role on the annual holiday auction committee. A board member since 2005, she served one term as RBPA president.
She resides in Scarborough with partner, Fay Brodell.
Contact Sue at: Sue@RBPA.org
Clarence “Butch” Fenton
Butch is a long-active member of Portland’s gay community, a founding member of the Harbor Masters, and co-owner of Blackstones, Portland’s oldest gay bar.
By day, he works at Maine Medical Center as an instructor in the School of Surgical Technology, and is a part-time faculty member at the University of Southern Maine in the School of Nursing. Butch has been
active in nursing education both locally and at the national level for more than 30 years.
He’s served as RBPA’s secretary and as the Scholarship Committee chair.
With Harbor Masters and at Blackstones keeping him busy, Butch is a tireless member of our community, working with his partner, Ralph Cusack, assisting in making Portland a great place to live as well as vacation.
Contact Butch at: butch@RBPA.org
Sponsorship Committee Chair: Jim Woost
Jim, general manager with Sodexo, Inc., an international services contracting company, primarily food service, joined the RBPA Board in 2009. He is currently our Sponsorship chair.
With an undergraduate business degree and an associate’s degree in culinary arts, he brings over 20 years of management and financial experience to our group.
Jim participates in Pride, the AIDS Walk, and coordinates several events during the year to feed Maine’s homeless.
He’s enjoyed living in Union, Maine since 2001.
Contact Jim at: treasurer@RBPA.org