Staff

Betsy Smith, Executive Director since 2002, returned to Maine after serving for three years as executive director of a progressive political organization in Boston. EqualityMaine has flourished under Betsy’s leadership, growing from a staff of one to one of thirteen and from a budget of $75,000 to one of over one million. Also under her leadership, EqualityMaine has worked in coalition to win statewide trans-inclusive non-discrimination protections; health insurance, inheritance rights, next-of-kin status, guardian- and conservator-ship, and family medical leave for domestic partners; and marriage equality through the Legislature. She lives in Portland with her partner and two young sons.

John McKenna, Office Manager, joined EqualityMaine in January 2007. John had recently relocated to Maine, where he spent several summers as a child. Before moving here, he lived in Portland, Oregon for six years, working in non-profit administration for two organizations: Outside In, an organization addressing homelessness; and the Northwest Children’s Theatre School.

Thomas Sumner, Bookkeeper, is the owner of Sumner Bookkeeping. He has been EqualityMaine's part-time bookkeeper since April 2002. He lives in Westbrook with his partner, John, and is the proud grandfather of three children.

Kyle Bailey, Development Director, leads EqualityMaine’s development work. Kyle served as Development Director, Chief Operating Officer and then interim Executive Director for National Stonewall Democrats before coming to EqualityMaine. He has worked in development, operations, communications, and political and legislative affairs for pro-equality and LGBT community-driven organizations, including Georgia Equality, as well as campaigns.  He is from Hiawassee, Georgia in the Blue Ridge Mountains and graduated from the University of Georgia in 2005 with a degree in Political Science.

Ali Vander Zanden, is the Political Director for EqualityMaine and was the Coalition Director for Mainers United for Marriage.  As Coalition Director, she grew the coalition to 207 partner organizations and managed the campaign's faith outreach, labor outreach, and family and friends conversation training programs. Prior to joining EqualityMaine in 2010, she worked on state-based and national health care reform at the Maine People's Alliance.  Ali is originally from Southwest Harbor and has a degree in Women and Gender Studies from Bates College.

Beth Allen, Statewide Field Coordinator, Beth grew up in Eliot, Maine and found herself drawn north to Hancock County after high school.  She studied at the University of Maine in Orono. She worked for KidsPeace New England for 12 years. She is active in her community, as a member of the Unitarian Universalist Church of Ellsworth and the Secretary of the Hancock County Democratic Committee. She was bitten by the political bug when she became involved in the 2009 Marriage Equality campaign. Beth and her partner Valerie are raising 2 daughters in Fletchers Landing Township. Beth is a graduate of Emerge Maine and is excited to be doing this important work at EqualityMaine.

Ian Grady, Communications Director, was most recently the Digital Director for Mainers United for Marriage, where he led the campaign's direct contact through email and managed all of its web and social media presences.  Prior to the campaign, Ian was the Maine Public Education Manager at Gay & Lesbian Advocates & Defenders. Ian was born and raised in Maine but spent several years in Boston, where he attended Emerson College and worked on Massachusetts' historic marriage victory, as well as on other campaigns and with elected officials.