STRONGER SANFORD (SFSS) - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- Director of Marketing, Enrollment & Legacy at St. Thomas School
Ericka Sanborn has been an educator for twenty years, spending a majority of her career at Catherine McAuley High School in Portland, and, most recently, at St. Thomas School in Sanford. During her time at St. Thomas, Ericka has taught grades 1, 6, 7, and 8, served as interim principal, and is the current Director of Marketing, Enrollment & Legacy. In addition to her involvement with Strategies for a Stronger Sanford, Ericka is a proud member of the Sanford-Springvale Rotary Club.
Ericka lives in Springvale with her husband, Patrick, a fellow educator, and their
Jo-Anne is a native of Springvale, Maine and is the glue that holds Strategies for a Stronger Sanford together. She has been with Strategies since April 2013. Jo-Anne is also on staff at the Sanford Springvale YMCA . She leads several classes in T'ai Chi and a Group Fitness class at the Y Trafton Center. In recent years, she has added Kung Fu to her studies.
Job Titles:
- Communications Coordinator for the City of Sanford
Jordan Wilson is a proud Sanford resident and 2016 graduate of Sanford High School. Currently serving as the Communications Coordinator for the City of Sanford since November 2021, she is dedicated to enhancing community connections and promoting Sanford's positive attributes. In addition to her role with the city, Jordan is an active member of the Chamber of Commerce board of directors and contributor to the Sanford Springvale News. Excited about Sanford's forward progression, Jordan is committed to contributing to its growth and prosperity! She currently lives in Springvale with her two cats, Felix and Maverick.
Kendra is a Sanford native, raised by two Sanford educators. She lived with her husband, Paul, in Danvers, MA for the first few years of their marriage and then returned to Sanford and bought the home that they still live in after the birth of their first child, Shawnda. They subsequently had two sons, Blaine and Brett. All are Sanford High graduates and returned here after college to live and work in Sanford with their families, which include 6 grandchildren. Kendra and Paul founded Williams Foundations in 1974 and are pleased that one of their sons now owns the business and has continued to successfully expand it.
Kendra also established a children's clothing store, Kids Kasuals in 1979. After selling it she returned to college to complete her Bachelor's degree in Social Work. She initially worked in the field of child welfare before returning to school to earn her Master's Degree in Social Work and then obtained her clinical license. She has held jobs in management and program development for organizations including Youth Alternatives, Woodfords Family Services and as the Director of Home Visiting and Community Programs for Goodall Hospital and SMMC.
After becoming further certified in Grief Counseling, she opened her own counseling practice specializing in grief and family counseling, from which she has recently (almost) retired. Over time, she has served on various committees in this community including the Warrant Committee, Community Development Advisory Committee, Group Home Advisory Committee and the Performing Arts Committee and WSSR Advisory Committee. She was a member of the Sanford School Committee for 10 years and is currently on the Core Building Committee, Sanford Schools Legacy Foundation Board, and Strategies for a Stronger Sanford Board.
Job Titles:
- Board President, Strategies for a Stronger Sanford ), Retired Operations Manager, Sanford Community Adult Education, Sanford School Department
Lisa may not fit the "official" definition of a Sanford native, but she was raised in Sanford from the age of 3; and she and her husband have raised their three children here; 3 of their grandchildren are being raised here as well. When Lisa's youngest child was in Junior High, she was made aware of a new program being put into action by the school resource officers in the Sanford Public Schools, and immediately became involved as an active parent and executive board member of this initiative later to be named, Sanford Police Cadets and Youth Initiatives (her son graduated from Sanford High School and the Cadet program). Through her work at Sanford Community Adult Education over a 40 year span, Lisa has seen the result of children who have not had positive experiences and have come back for a second chance but the work that Strategies and their partners like SPC&YI is doing is an attempt to make the first try a positive experience and she wants to be a part of that. Lisa is an active member of Friends of Downtown Sanford, Sanford Alumni Association, and CrossRoads United Methodist Church serving on several committees and singing in the choir.
Job Titles:
- Board Secretary, Strategies for a Stronger Sanford ) Keller Williams Coastal Realty
Melissa is an Aroostook County Native that believes in the power of a Strong Community. Moving to York County 13 years ago, she met her husband and started to raise her family here. As an active Member of the Sanford PTA over the past few years, she really wanted to make a difference for the youth in our community. Being a Positive Influencer has always been a passion of Melissa's, and she believes that our children are most important. Sanford is her home and she is thrilled to join in the efforts to make the Sanford Community a better place. Currently raising her two daughters here, both enrolled in the Sanford Public School Department, she has found a calling to help as much as she can and strives to do more. Her daughters also attend many outside programs in the community and they are always eager to help in the efforts of giving back. Wanting to be more involved and find ways to bring the community together, Melissa started offering a Kids Crafts in the park and coordinated a City Wide Yard Sale. When researching where she should donate proceeds from her efforts, she found Strategies for a Stronger Sanford to be the perfect fit. Knowing this program is about bringing the community together and supporting each other it just made sense. Bringing people together really is a vital part of making a difference.
Job Titles:
- Board Vice President, Strategies for a Stronger Sanford )
- Secretary and Administrative Assistant at North Parish Congregational Church
Becky Brown has been the Secretary and Administrative Assistant at North Parish Congregational Church in Sanford for 13 years. Becky has served on several boards over the years including the Kiwanis Club of Sanford, Child Care Services of York County, and the United Way Marketing Board. She is a former Kiwanian of the year for her work at the Sanford Free Clinic, which had grown into Nasson Health Care. She is a proud graduate of PLTI, the Parent Leadership Training Institute, as well as a trained PLTI facilitator.
Becky grew up in Rochester, New Hampshire and came to Sanford in 1987 to work at WCDQ and WSME radio stations. Becky's employment history includes radio station, Sanford Springvale YMCA, and United Way. Having been in for profit business for a while, once Becky discovered the non profit world she never left.
When not volunteering, Becky enjoys painting, gardening, woodworking, and anything D I. Y.
Becky has a passion for children and helping the marginalized. Her mother was a NH State Legislator for 25 years, and the acorn didn't fall far from the tree.
Job Titles:
- Board Ex - Officio, Strategies for a Stronger Sanford ) Retired Rector, St. George 's Episcopal Church
- Member of the Sanford Food Pantry Board of Directors
- Member of the Sanford Strong Coalition
The Rev. Susan Murphy has been an active member of the Sanford Strong Coalition for the past 13 years. Formerly the Rector, (now retired) at St. George's Episcopal Church in Sanford, she promoted the church-sponsored after school programs the "Kids Supper Club" and the "Teen Coffee House Gathering Grounds" in keeping with the goals of making after school programs available to students who might otherwise not have a safe place to go.
Recognizing the need to address substance abuse and recovery, she has served as an active member of the Drug Task Force with St. George's supporting the SIRP (Student Intervention Reintegration Program) and supports group efforts at the Jr. and Sr. High school for affecting teens.
Job Titles:
- Board Treasurer, Strategies for a Stronger Sanford ) Senior Financial Advisor at Merrill Lynch
Teena Bourque has been a resident of Sanford since the age of 3 and graduated from Sanford High in 1990. She is the proud mother of three daughters; Tiffani, Summer, and Jenna
She has been involved in coaching cheering, t-ball, soccer and Girls on the Run throughout the years. She has also served as a member of the St. Thomas Development Council.
Teena has been employed in the financial services industry for over 25 years and is a Senior Financial Advisor at Merrill Lynch.