Avesta Housing is proud to announce the appointment of four new members to its Board of Directors.

“These four new directors bring a broad range of experience and perspectives that will strengthen our board and help guide Avesta’s work in the years ahead,” said Board Chair Dr. Renee Fay-LeBlanc. “We’re thrilled to welcome them and are confident their deep insights and proven community leadership will help advance our mission and expand our impact across the communities we serve.”

• Atiim Boykin: Atiim is a clinical Liaison for the Maine State Forensic Service in the Office of Behavioral Health/Department of Health and Human Services. He has a BA in Pan African studies from California State University, a BA in sociology from San Francisco State University and an MA in counseling psychology: marriage and family therapy from the University of San Francisco. Atiim is also a part-time crisis worker at Spurwink and a member of the Cultural Alliance of Maine board of directors.
• Diane Donaldson: Diane is senior vice president and team lead of southern Maine commercial lending for Bangor Savings Bank. She has more than 30 years of experience in commercial lending and has been with Bangor Savings for almost 20 years. Diane has a BA from Wheaton College; is chair of the board of directors’ governance committee for Sweetser; and served on the Board of Trustees for 75 State Street, an Avesta Housing independent and assisted living community in Portland, from 2022-24.
• Ben Frost: Ben is president of proactive development at Rhode Island Housing. He has more than three decades of legal expertise in housing policy and community development, including 18 years at New Hampshire Housing, where he held a variety of roles culminating in deputy executive director and chief legal officer. Ben has a BA in geography from Colgate University, an MA in geography from Syracuse University and a JD law degree from Cornell Law School.
• Spencer Thibodeau: Spencer is assistant vice president and legal counsel at Unum. A former Portland city councilor, Spencer was an attorney for Verrill before being appointed by the Biden-Harris administration to deputy assistant secretary of intergovernmental affairs at the U.S. Department of Energy in 2021. He has a BA in political science and government from Fairfield University and a law degree from Northeastern University School of Law. Spencer also serves on the Board of Directors for The New England Council.

“The broad range of personal and professional experiences that Atiim, Diane, Ben and Spencer offer will bring unique energy to Avesta,” said Avesta Housing President & CEO Jennifer Hawkins. “I’m so grateful they are willing to share their talents and time with us at such an exciting and important time for the organization.”

PHOTO (L-R): Atiim Boykin, Diane Donaldson, Ben Frost, Spencer Thibodeau