The Home Start Board

  • Betsey Remage-Healey, President

    After a varied career in human services and school counseling, Betsey has been the president of Home Start for the past 10 years. She oversaw the building of the ADU at 18 Luther St. as well as the sale of that property to an Island first time home buyer. Betsey also led the successful effort to broaden ADU zoning while specifically requiring ADUs on Peaks be year-round. After 30 years in central Maine, Betsey and her husband, Todd, moved to Peaks, where they have now lived for 12 years.

    Betsey can be reached directly by e-mail here.

  • William Hall, Treasurer

    Bill is a retired USAF colonel; he has lent his talents to many organizations including the Fifth Maine Museum, the World Affairs Council and Greater Portland Landmarks. Home Start welcomed him to the Board at the completion of his 9 years on the Portland Planning Board and Zoning Board of Adjustment.

  • Gigi Guyton-Thompson, Board Member

    Gigi and her family have lived on Peaks Island for 4 years. Gigi is a Loan Officer/Portfolio Manager for the Genesis Community Fund. She evaluates applicants to help Genesis make loans to community organizations; prior to that Gigi worked at New Ventures Maine, supporting microloans to small new businesses. Gigi was recently appointed to the Maine Retirement Savings Board of Directors. She also has property management experience as a former co-owner of historic apartments in the French Quarter of New Orleans.

  • Karin Elofson, Secretary

    Karin’s parents bought their first cottage on Peaks Island in 1963. She spent many summers here as a child and, as an adult, always found her way back to relive old memories and create new ones. Most recently, Karin spent five years as a year-round resident of Peaks as she cared for her elderly parents and came to truly appreciate the blessings and challenges of Island life. Karin has a professional background in engineering program management and most recently served as Board Chair and Finance Chair for New Brackett Church.

  • Rhonda Berg, Board Member

    Rhonda is from Bangor and moved to Peaks in 1986. Her background is in social welfare. Rhonda currently works as an Associate Broker for Harborview Properties. She is devoted to supporting and strengthening the Peaks community.

Our Partners and Advisors

  • Andrew Jackson, PE, Advisor

    Andy has worked as a project manager or consultant for over 400 units of affordable housing in Maine and in New York City. His work experience includes affordable housing finance, development consulting, and island construction. Andy is focusing on advocating for this project and representing Home Start in conversations with the City of Portland and other stakeholders.

  • Brenda Buchanan, Esq.

    Brenda is a principal in the law firm CurrierBuchanan and is a former Peaks Island resident, Brenda has provided invaluable legal counsel to Home Start for many years.

  • Ann Marie Barter

    Ann Marie offers her experience as a contributor to a number of successful fundraising campaigns on Peaks Island. Ann Marie brings her skills, enthusiasm and strong belief in the need for affordable housing to the “It Takes a Village” Campaign.

  • Doug Wilber

    A respected Peaks Island builder for 20 years, Doug lives across the street from 18 Central and will help with construction oversight and representing Home Start’s interests during the demolition and rebuilding process.

  • Jubal Kessler

    Jubal is a computer engineer as well as the first owner of a Backyard ADU’s modular house on Peaks. He knows first-hand of their process and staff and also lives near the 18 Central project. Jubal will assist the Home Start team in the administration of the project.

  • Travis Drake

    Travis is the Vice President of Housing Operations for Volunteers of America for Maine and New Hampshire. Travis will continue to work closely with Home Start as VOA assumes the management of 18 Central Ave once the units are completed.

  • Timothy Wyant

    Timothy Wyant, Ph.D. has run his statistical consulting firm, Ravenstat LLC, for over 40 years. His skills at computer-mapping have helped identify problems such as oil spills and radiation exposure. Tim has also conducted mapping analyses for civic groups, such as assessing the impacts of zoning changes and the locations and abutments of paper streets.

Our Contractor - Backyard ADUs, Brunswick

Based in Brunswick Maine, Backyard ADUs has built over 40 highly efficient small dwellings in Maine, Massachusetts, and New Hampshire. They blend on and off-site construction to keep costs down while ensuring quality stays high. They stick to their stated budgets and take pride in completing projects on time. For more information, see www.backyardadus.com.

The photos below are courtesy of Chris Lee of Backyard ADUs; they show the process by which prefabricated units are placed side by side for the finished residence. This house on Lower A was their first project on Peaks Island.