Leadership

Officers

Josh Steirman, Board Chair, is the Director of Government Relations at Maine Bankers Association. Prior to that, Josh was Vice President, Senior Credit Officer with Gorham Savings Bank, where he leads a team analyzing credit risk across the bank’s growing commercial portfolio.  Previously he worked in bank supervision with the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston and has served various nonprofits including as board chair of the DREAM Program, a multi-state youth mentoring organization.  Josh is an officer in the US Navy Reserve and an Afghanistan veteran.

Erin Diekema, Board Treasurer, is a transactional law attorney, with a practice in commercial real estate financings, acquisitions, divestitures, and leasing. Prior to practicing as an attorney, Erin was a Series 7 registered financial representative and a growth strategy consultant. Erin received her JD and MBA from UConn, where she began volunteering her legal expertise for asylum and refugee clients, which continues to be her focus in pro-bono work to this day.

 Kris Sahonchik, Board Secretary, is the Director of the Cutler Institute for Health and Social Policy and the Director of Research at the University of Southern Maine. She has more than 20 years of experience working with state and national government leaders and communities to develop long-term solutions for complex social challenges. She has authored publications on strategic planning, public agency management, and child welfare. Earlier in her career she served as Principal Investigator on two multi-year projects funded by the Children’s Bureau of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services – the National Child Welfare Resource Center for Organizational Improvement and the Northeast and Caribbean Child Welfare Implementation Center. Kris attended the London School of Economics and holds a Juris Doctorate from the University of the District of Columbia and a Bachelor of Arts degree from New York University. She currently serves as a Thrive 2027 Council Member.

Board Members

Abusana Micky Bondo was born in DRC and educated in Belgium where she holds an advanced degree in Biochemistry with research in sickle cell and also two associated degrees in Business Administration and Education.

Ms.Bondo is a business consultant and runs a non-profit, In her Presence, an organization she co-founded that is focused on empowering immigrant women to navigate the system without losing their identity and to advocate for their rights. Ms. Bondo is public elected and serves as Vice chair on the Portland Board of Education and District 1 Rep.

Sarah Emily Colby is the CEO of Colby Company LLC, which she created in 2008 with her husband Calen Colby. Colby Co. is a consulting firm in Portland, ME that offers mechanical, plumbing, fire protection, electrical, structural and civil engineering and architecture. Colby Co. has grown to 65 employees and has been named as one of the “Best Places to Work in Maine” from 2018 to 2023.

Sarah Emily has placed an emphasis on creating a corporate culture of respect, kindness and community involvement. Since its inception, Colby Co. has offered two paid volunteer days to each employee on an annual basis, representing thousands of volunteer hours in the community. Sarah Emily has organized, led and/or supported Colby Co.’s corporate volunteer initiatives benefitting an array of local nonprofits. In 2023, Colby Co. celebrated its 15-year anniversary by setting a goal to perform 1,500 paid volunteer hours in a 7-month period with its 60 employees. Colby Co. exceed its goal by performing over 1,700 hours at 30 local nonprofits with a 100% participation from employees.

Anneliese Gerland is the Senior Vice President of Consulting Operations with Chartis, a national healthcare advisory firm. Anneliese leads practice operations, business development, and strategic sales enablement, supporting execution against the firm’s growth agenda and driving improvements to the firm’s operational effectiveness and efficiency. She also oversees the firm’s research, analytics, and rural health teams. Anneliese's consulting experience includes strategic planning, merger and acquisition assessment, organizational and physician alignment, value-based care preparedness, and ambulatory operations work for leading health systems and academic medical centers nationwide. Her other experience includes conducting research on the US healthcare system at a non-partisan health policy think tank in Washington, D.C. and completion of a year- long fellowship at an international non-governmental organization in Kigali, Rwanda. Anneliese also serves on the Board of Directors for Onpoint Health Data, a nonprofit company focused on delivering independent, reliable and insightful health data solutions to clients nationwide. She holds a Master of Business Administration from the J.L. Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University and an A.B. from the Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs at Princeton University.

Steve Gorsun has been with Unum for over 15 years, with extensive experience across a variety of enterprise roles, including underwriting, benefits, marketing, and product development. Over the last several years, he has focused on digital transformation, where he has held multiple leadership roles driving innovation and strategic change. Today, as Senior Vice President of Transformation within the company’s Digital Transformation Organization, Steve leads a team dedicated to executing enterprise-wide initiatives that integrate process improvements and technological advancements to achieve strategic growth objectives. His work spans the end-to-end customer journey—from prospecting to administration—and plays a critical role in shaping new product development and cross-functional efficiencies.

Steve, his wife and their two children reside in Scarborough, Maine and enjoy taking advantage of all the outdoor activities that the Maine area has to offer. Steve is passionate about giving back to the community, volunteering as a youth coach, and serving on various nonprofit boards. Through his leadership at work and in the community, Steve is committed to driving positive change and fostering growth, both professionally and personally.

Betsy Tod is a longtime community volunteer with a professional background in retail sales and development. Betsy is the Philanthropy Director at Allagash Brewing Company and is also the head co-coach of the NYA Girls Varsity Tennis program. She has served as a town library trustee and volunteered countless hours at her kids’ schools. In addition to her role on the Board of Directors with TOA she currently serves on the Board of Trustees of North Yarmouth Academy as Governance Chair and is a volunteer delivery driver for the Falmouth Food Pantry. She previously served as the Chair of the Board at Maine Needs.

Nina Trowbridge MD, MPH is a physician who has practiced primary care medicine in San Francisco and Portland, Maine for over twenty-five years. She majored in English at Harvard College, attended medical school at Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, and completed her residency in Internal Medicine at Stanford University Hospital in California. She also holds a Masters of Public Health degree with a focus in Epidemiology from the University of California Berkeley School of Public Health.

Penelope Wheeler - Abbott is a consultant at the law firm of Drummond Woodsum where her practice focuses on education and human resource issues for the firm's school clients.  Prior to joining Drummond Woodsum, Penny spent 17 years working in a Portland-area school district, first as a middle school teacher then as an administrator, also at the middle school level.  Penny received her BA in history and environmental studies from Macalester College and holds master’s degrees from the University of Montana and the University of Southern Maine in environmental studies and education, respectively.  She enjoys spending time with her family, reading, knitting, and coaching high school ultimate.  Penny also serves on the board of a small land trust in the southern White Mountains of New Hampshire.

Rebecca (Becky) Winslow With 38 years of experience in banking, Becky Winslow brings a deep understanding of community financial needs, institutional knowledge, and long-standing local connections to her role. Throughout her career in community banking, she has built trusted relationships and a strong network across Maine which she now leverages to enhance the bank’s outreach, impact, and philanthropic initiatives.

A lifelong Mainer who grew up on a 72-acre farm, Becky is deeply rooted in the values of hard work, community, and service. She is actively engaged in supporting local nonprofits through board and committee service, and she brings the same dedication and energy to her professional role as she does to her personal passions which include time with family, skiing, hiking, golfing, and gardening. Her commitment to fostering meaningful community connections continues to drive her work and leadership every day.

Please contact Lily Lynch, VP of Development & Communications - 207.523.5030, if you are interested in exploring opportunities to join TOA’s Board of Directors or a Board Committee.