BOARD MEMBERS

Mike Barton, President

Mike Barton joined the Laura Foundation board in December 2014. With so many building initiatives taking place at the Laura Center, his years of construction knowledge and experience are a welcome addition to the Foundation. Aside from spending the last decade in the building field working for esteemed firms like Wright-Ryan Construction – he’s a member of the Maine Real Estate & Development Association, the Portland Society for Architecture, the Maine Chapter of the US Green Building Council, and the University of Southern Maine’s Construction Management Advisory Committee (where he’s also a former adjunct professor). Mike holds a B.S. in Construction Science & Management from Clemson University where he was a standout athlete. In fact, while at Clemson, he was a member of the ACC Championship track and field team for the 2002-2003. Mike has known the Mahoney family for most of his life, and is a welcome addition to the board of directors. He lives in Portland, Maine with his wife, Allison, and their two children.

Devin Kelly, Vice President

Devin Kelly is currently co-owner of Dynamic Bicycles based in Bristol, Rhode Island. Previously, he was President of LaserPerformance, the world’s largest sailboat company. Before jumping into the sports and leisure industry, he worked in a variety of Senior Marketing and Innovation positions for InBev, where he was based in Connecticut, Belgium and England. While in England, he was named as one of the Top 100 Marketers in the UK. During his career, Devin has also worked in the finance, retail and banking industries.

Devin is a long-standing member of the King Pine and Purity Spring Resort Communities and has known the Mahoney family for over 30 years.  He is honored to be serving on the board in Laura’s memory.  Devin lives in Rhode Island with his wife and three children.

Pate Kehoe, Secretary

Recently retired, Pat Kehoe spent her professional life working in special education. Before moving to New Hampshire, she worked for many years in Ohio. For seven of those years, she was the Curriculum Supervisor in a school for children with moderate, severe and profound disabilities. Following this, she became the Director of Special Education in Bexley, Ohio where she was responsible for the implementation of Special Ed programs in three elementary schools, a middle school and a high school. She was also responsible for intake and placement for all preschool special needs children.

When Pat moved back to New England (a Massachusetts native), she became the Director of Special Education for School Administrative Unit #13 covering the Freedom, Madison and Tamworth public schools. There, she was able to develop several key initiatives such as the Summer Enrichment Program, the Ready Readers Kindergarten Program, and an elementary school program for children on the autism spectrum.

Pat is enjoying retirement, but she’s still active. She spends quite a bit of time volunteering for organizations. Among her favorites is the Laura Foundation.

Cheryl Brooks, Treasurer

Cheryl joined the board in 2022, and her career as an enrolled agent and tax preparer at Gamwell, Caputo, Kelsch & Company makes her a welcome addition to the Laura Foundation. Cheryl grew up in Massachusetts, but upon her graduation from the University of New Hampshire, she’s stayed in the Granite State. Currently, she resides in Madison with her husband of 23-years, Mike. They have three children who have kept her busy over the years with their various athletic pursuits from ski racing to soccer to basketball. With two of her kids off to college/pursuing careers, Cheryl has a bit more time to focus on local causes… a win for the Laura Foundation!

Paula Lessard

Paula is a native of New Hampshire. She grew up in Berlin, but she’s spent the last 45 years in Madison and is an integral member of the community. In fact, she and her husband Mitch raised their children, Ethan and Caitlyn, in Madison and they are now the proud grandparents of Acadia and Jack. Paula became a Laura Foundation board member in 2021, and her input is much appreciated. With a Master’s Degree in Occupational Therapy, as well as advanced training in Jean Ayer’s Sensory Integration, she utilized her skills spending more than 20 years working for SAU 13 (Freedom, Madison, and Tamworth). Recently retired, she now puts her “know how” to use as both a Laura Foundation board member, as well as a program volunteer. The Laura Foundation welcomes her enthusiasm and experience!