Staff
Margo Beland – Finance Manager/Board Secretary
Margo joined the Foundation in 2003. She is responsible for MDF finances and operations. Margo provides support to the MDF Board of Directors, membership services, and annual meeting. Prior to joining the Foundation, Margo worked as office manager for the Maine State Chamber of Commerce. Additionally, Margo has worked as an administrator for a law firm and a construction company. Margo has an Associate’s Degree from Thomas College.
Ed Cervone – Senior Program Director and Operations Officer
Ed joined MDF in 2007 as the program director for the Maine Economic Growth Council. Ed also works with the Capitol Riverfront Investment District (CRID), the Policy Leaders Academy, and various research projects. Prior to joining MDF, Ed worked as a policy analyst and researcher in Maine public policy forums. Additionally, Ed has worked in the private sector as a manager for sales and manufacturing companies. Ed received his undergraduate degree from Princeton University and his Master’s from the University of Maine.
Roxanne Eflin - Program Director
Roxanne joined MDF in 2009 first as Program Director for the Maine Downtown Network and now as Program Director for the Maine Downtown Center. She served as Executive Director of Maine Preservation for ten years and, prior, worked extensively in downtown revitalization and historic preservation in the public and private sectors and through her consulting business. Roxanne is a member of the Rho class of Leadership Maine, and serves on the Board of the Directors of the National Alliance of Preservation Commissions and on the Executive Committee of Southern Maine Regional Planning Commission. She has a Master’s in Urban Planning and Historic Preservation from the University of America and is a Certified International Tour Manager.
Patricia Hart – Senior Program Director
Patricia joined MDF in 2008 as the senior program director of the Maine Employers Initiative, an initiative to increase educational attainment among Maine’s adult workforce. Prior to joining MDF, she operated her own consulting practice for 10 years providing economic analysis, program evaluation and research consulting to clients in energy, economic development, health, education and social service fields. Patricia has a B.A. in Economics and Classical Studies from the College of William and Mary and an M.S. in Resource Economics from the University of Massachusetts.
Dianne Heino – Executive Assistant
Dianne rejoined the Foundation in 1998. Dianne supports the Leadership Maine alumni program, the Compact for Higher Education, Maine Employers Initiative, and is the office database specialist. Dianne previously worked for MDF for a total of ten years as bookkeeper and an administrative assistant. She has an Associates Degree from the University of Maine at Augusta.
Laurie Lachance – President and CEO
Laurie was named President and CEO of the Maine Development Foundation in 2004 and is responsible for overseeing all the activities of the Foundation. Prior to coming to MDF, Laurie served as the Maine State Economist for eleven years for three governors. In that capacity, she chaired the Maine State Revenue Forecasting Commission, and served as lead or co-lead on utility restructuring, telecommunications, the retirement industry, and tax reform. Prior to joining state government, Laurie served as the Corporate Economist at Central Maine Power Company. She is a frequent author and speaker on the economic status of Maine. Laurie holds an undergraduate degree from Bowdoin College and an MBA from Thomas College, and has been the recipient of several awards including: the Kenneth M. Curtis Leadership Award, Dr. Mary Chandler Lowell Award, Margaret Chase Smith Policy Center Distinguished Maine Policy Fellow, Thomas College Distinguished Alumnus, and, most recently, the Deborah Morton Award.
Cheryl Miller – Senior Program Director
Cheryl joined the Foundation in 2000. Cheryl is program director for Leadership Maine. Cheryl's experience ranges from running her own small business to directing a large YWCA in Erie, PA. Since moving to Maine in 1988 she has worked as director of volunteer services for CMMC in Lewiston, and is past executive director of the National Kidney Foundation of Maine. She is a Leadership Maine alumnus (Epsilon class). and holds a Bachelor's Degree from Lake Erie College for Women in philosophy and religion, with post graduate credits in mental health counseling and business and accounting.
Ryan Neale – Program Officer
Ryan joined MDF in 2010 as a program officer to support the Maine Economic Growth Council and the Maine Employers Initiative, and to provide data research. Prior to joining MDF, Ryan worked in the Washington, D.C. office of Senator Snowe, and in the private sector as a Human Resources assistant. He also interned with GrowSmart Maine, with the Brunswick Local Redevelopment Authority, and with a rural land trust in eastern Maine. Ryan received his undergraduate degree in Political Science from the University of Maine and his Masters Degree in Community Planning and Development from the Muskie School of Public Policy at the University of Southern Maine.
Amanda Roggio – Program Assistant II
Amanda joined the Foundation in 2003. Amanda supports the Maine Downtown Center, Leadership Maine, and the REALIZE!Maine Network. Amanda previously worked for the Foundation for a total of three years as an administrative assistant and served in the Maine Army National Guard and the Army.
