Who We Are
Tony Grassi, Chair
Tony and his wife, Sally, moved to Camden in 2004 after retiring from a 20-year career in investment banking to focus on ensuring a vibrant future for their two children and five grandchildren, all of whom live in Maine. Tony and Sally purchased and rehabilitated the Mill at Freedom Falls in 2012, which subsequently became the home of the Lost Kitchen Restaurant. Tony serves on the Board of Trustees of The Nature Conservancy in Maine, as well as on the boards of the Butler Conservation Fund, Senator George Mitchell Center for Sustainability Solutions, and Horizons National Student Enrichment Program—the latter as a founder with Sally.
Ben Ellison, Treasurer
Ben came to Camden in 1971 to begin a marine career that included commercial fishing, yacht management and delivery, 20 years on the Harbor Committee, and teaching seamanship/navigation in many venues, including 5 years as director of the Wooden Boat School. When the evolution of marine electronics took off at the turn of the century, he became a boating journalist and the publisher of Panbo.com, which is how his Duffy 37 Gizmo became the best known electronics testing boat on the planet. Since 1978, he’s lived in an almost finished home he designed and built in Millville, now wonderfully close to two of his children and both of his above average granddaughters.
Ellen Reynolds, Secretary
Ellen’s master’s degree from Maine Maritime Academy in international logistics was focused on strategy, finance, marketing, project management, transportation, and supply chain management, which complimented her undergraduate degree marine ecology at the University of North Carolina. In 2018, Ellen and her husband, Casey purchased Drift Oceanside Inn in Camden. The Inn is home to ten cabins and six motel units located in a mix of woods, open space and a stunning water views providing “a quintessential Maine experience.”
Courtney Cease
Courtney has an MA in International Development and Policy from the Middlebury Institute of International Studies and a BA in Environmental Policy from Colby College. As a sustainable development professional, she has nearly 20 years of experience implementing environmental projects in the US and abroad. Courtney worked for the US Department of State managing global climate and clean energy grant projects and for the World Bank as an analyst for environmental programming. With deep family roots in the area, Courtney moved to Camden in 2016. She currently works as the Resilience and Sustainability Lead at The Musson Group, helping Maine towns prepare for climate change.
Jennifer Gromada
Jennifer moved to Camden with her husband John in 2016 as the last of their seven children were finishing college. After retiring from a professional career that included executive roles in finance, marketing, consulting, and sales in the defense, financial markets, and technology industries, Jennifer returned to school, earning a Doctorate in Arts & Letters in 2019. She currently works as an independent scholar and writer. Jennifer is vice-president of the Camden Garden Club, Secretary of the Camden Public Library Board of Trustees, and is a member of Camden’s Historic Resource Committee.
Frank O’Hara, III
Frank III, as he is known, is Executive Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer for the O’Hara Corporation, part of the fourth-generation fishing company that has successfully navigated the complicated regional, national and international fish markets connected to an unpredictable resource – wild fish – for over 100years. Frank III also serves on the Board of Directors of the Megunticook Watershed Association and is a Megunticook Lake property owner.
Geoff Scott
After 15 years of marketing and sales of software in the Colorado area, Geoff moved to Camden to work with the Outward Bound organization. He served in a variety of positions for over 20 years, where he was responsible for marketing and sales of experiential programs for professionals, educators, and students customized to deliver outcomes of leadership, teamwork, communication, and trust. Geoff currently serves on the Camden Budget Committee and the Camden-Rockport Pathways Committee and has served on the Tanglewood 4H Board.
Richard Thackeray
After growing up in western Maine, Richard received a BA Political Science at the University of Southern Maine, attended law school at Indiana University and returned to Maine where he currently serves as Assistant Attorney General. Rick is also a member of the MSAD 28 School Board.