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 one staff to six and from a budget of $75,000 to nearly a half 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. Betsy lives in Portland with her partner and two young sons.

Ariel Kernis, Deputy Director, joined EqualityMaine after serving as Operations Director for the Protect Maine Equality marriage campaign. Ariel leads the organization’s operations and capacity-building work. She has experience in the public and private sectors as a law clerk, commercial litigator, and legal director for a domestic violence non-profit. She is a graduate of Bryn Mawr College and the University of Chicago Law School, and currently serves on the Board of the Sexual Assault Crisis Center of Androscoggin County.

Matt Moonen, Political Director, leads EqualityMaine's 501(c)(4) political work. Matt graduated from Northwestern University with a degree in political science and international studies. He worked as a field organizer with MassEquality and as a regional field director with Fair Wisconsin before joining EqualityMaine in March 2007. During the 2009 Protect Maine Equality marriage campaign, Matt served as Project Manager and Director of our National Phone Program.

Kyle Bailey, Development Director, leads EqualityMaine’s development team. 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.  Kyle is from Hiawassee, Georgia in the Blue Ridge Mountains and graduated from the University of Georgia in 2005 with a degree in Political Science.

Dorian Cole, Communications Coordinator, leads EqualityMaine's communications work in both online and traditional media. Dorian grew up in Portland and graduated from the University of Maine, Orono. Before joining the communications team of the No on 1/Protect Maine Equality campaign, Dorian worked in communications and development for other local non-profit organizations.

Ali Vander Zanden, Field Coordinator, comes to EqualityMaine from the Maine People's Alliance, where she led the Health Care for America Now coalition that built widespread public support for federal health care reform. Ali also worked for health care reform at the state level and led the Brunswick area get-out-the-vote effort for the Protect Maine Equality campaign.  Originally from Southwest Harbor, Maine, Ali has a degree in Women and Gender Studies from Bates College and lives in Lewiston.

John McKenna, Administrative & Development Assistant, 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. Tom lives in Westbrook with his partner, John, and is the proud grandfather of three children.