Staff & Board
Joseph (Joe) L. Cassidy, Esq.
Joe is President of Southern Maine Community College (SMCC). Previously, he served as President of Washington County Community College and Eastern Maine Community College. He is a graduate of the University of Maine School of Law and received his BA in history and MA in education from the University of Southern Maine. He was a practicing attorney and Mayor of Calais prior to his community college career. He is following in the footsteps of his SMCC predecessor, Wayne Ross, who was a long-time Mechanics Hall member and board President. Joe, his wife Vanessa, and son Max reside in the President’s house on the SMCC South Portland campus.
Tom Haushalter
Tom arrived in Portland in January of 2019 with his wife and daughter from Windsor, Vermont where he served as president of trustees of the Windsor Public Library. He oversaw the resurgence of their community programming, expanded fundraising, and led an major building restoration project, among other delicate needs of the library’s historic building. Tom’s professional background spans book publishing, healthcare, and software startups – largely in a marketing and communications capacity. He recently joined the marketing team at Covetrus. His craft? He’s a poet, writer and sometimes orator…not to mention a home-brewer of fine kombuchas!
Stuart (Tuck) O’Brien
Tuck is Senior Counsel at Tilson Technology Management and refers to himself as “Infrastructure Problem Solver and Chronic Enthusiast”. He followed 3 years on the Portland Planning Board with 2 more as the Planning Director. Previously, he worked as a staff attorney at the Maine Public Utilities Commission and as a project developer for Ocean Renewable Power. He is a graduate of Bates College, received a Certificate in Urban Planning from Tufts University and his JD from Boston College Law School. In 2012 he was awarded a 40 Under 40 recognition by Maine Media Today. He resides in Deering Center with his two children and wife, Kate.
Bill Stauffer
Bill Stauffer is a small business entrepreneur and writer based in Portland, Maine and summering on Little Diamond Island with his wife and two daughters. Outside of work and recreation, Bill is a board member of Oceanside Conservation Trust and a founding member of USM’s Stonecoast’s Scholarship for a Writer of Social Justice. Additionally, as an Ambassador with The Freedom Story, an NGO working on trafficking prevention in northern Thailand, he has created an internship for Colby College students in Thailand. Bill is a graduate of Colby College and holds an MFA in creative writing from USM.
Board Members
Paul Stevens, President
Bill Stauffer, Vice President
George Burns, Treasurer
Ken Pierce, Secretary
Hilary Bassett
Suzette Bois
Joseph L. Cassidy
Tom Haushalter
Pamela Hawkes
Kristopher Kleva
Chandra Leister
Sam Mateosian
John Napolitano
Stuart “Tuck” O’Brien
Pamela P. Plumb
Richard Spencer
Advisory Board
Jonathan Cooper
Mark Ferguson
Steve Halpert
Sara Hines
Jamie Johnston
Don Lindgren
Hazel Onzrud
Jake Ryan
Earle Shettleworth
Sam Walker
Our Staff
Committees
Mechanics often become involved with the Hall by serving on a committee. Engaging with our community allows members to help plan events and guide the trajectory of our organization.
Development
Development committee is responsible for fundraising for our programming and Hall restoration projects. Contact annieleahy@mainemechanics.org to get involved.
Hall (Building)
The Building Committee oversees the maintenance of Mechanics’ Hall and its various rental policies. Contact teb@mainemechanics.org to get involved.
Marketing
The Marketing Committee publicizes upcoming events and produces a biannual newsletter. Contact
kgreenstreet@mainemechanics.org to get involved.
Programming
Programming is responsible for programs at Mechanics’ Hall including Makers at the Hall and other lecture series. Contact kgreenstreet@mainemechanics.org to get involved.
Finance
Finance creates the annual budget, monitors the endowment and manages fundraising. Contact info@mainemechanics.org to get involved.
Library
Library manages the library’s space and collection. Contact library@mainemechanics.org to get involved.
Community Partners
Mechanics’ Hall’s community partners include our programming partnerships as well as rental tenants and other local organizations who consistently help the Hall fulfill its mission.