Board of Trustees

Christopher R. Smith, a native New Yorker, graduated from the Buckley School in New York and Phillips Academy in Andover, Massachusetts. He received an A.B. from Harvard College in 1995 and a J.D. from Emory University School of Law in 1998. Following law school, Chris served as a clerk to Judge Howard D. McKibben, then Chief Judge of the United States District Court for the District of Nevada, before moving to Maine in 1999. A partner at Verrill Dana, LLP, in Portland, Chris serves as corporate counsel to business and nonprofit clients, representing them in mergers and acquisitions, board governance, shareholder relations, and other compliance and transactional matters. A former chair of the Business Law Section of the Maine State Bar Association and member of Phillips Academy’s Alumni Council, Chris also has served on the boards of several area organizations, including Victoria Mansion, a national historic landmark in Portland; Prouts Neck Country Club; Maine Historical Society; and the Institute for Family-Owned Business. Chris and his wife, Anne, live in Scarborough with their two children, Alden ’23 and Eugenia '28.

Tim Soley was born in Baltimore, Maryland and raised in Camden. He received a B.A. from Wesleyan University in 1984 and established the commercial real estate management company East Brown Cow Management in 1989, where he’s currently the President and CEO.  Passionate about clean energy, he has been striving to bring the highest energy efficiency standards not only through updating and maintaining East Brown Cow’s buildings, but also through supporting clean energy initiatives in local communities. Tim serves on the board and several committees of the non-profit organization, The Opportunity Alliance, as well as on the boards of E2Tech and Elmet. Tim lives in Cape Elizabeth with his wife, Maria, and sons Max ’19 and Jacob ’15.

Catherine Cloudman is an owner and the former CFO of Village Fertility Pharmacy, a multi-site national specialty pharmacy caring for patients undergoing infertility treatment and assisted reproductive therapies. Prior to Village, she was a founder and CFO of Apothecary by Design (ABD), a leading specialty pharmacy focused on caring for patients with complex medical conditions.

She started her career as a certified public accountant in the Boston office of KPMG, and went on to own and manage a boutique consulting firm focused on strategic business planning, succession planning, and business valuation services for privately held and family-operated businesses. She brought those skills to ABD and Village, where she led the finance, human resources, contracting and risk management functions. She continues to serve on the Company’s Board of Directors and on the Boards of two private Maine-based companies. Catherine has a dual degree in accounting and advertising from Syracuse University and an MBA from Boston College. She resides in South Portland, Maine with her husband Ralph Good and their three children, Rebecca '24, Ian '22, and Sophie Good'18.

Betsy Langer was born in Newport, Rhode Island. She was a member of the first co-ed class at Colgate University, graduating with a major in English and a minor in Biology. Betsy has taught at a variety of public and independent schools over the past 42 years, including Waynflete. Her extensive graduate school courses earned her Maine State certification in History, English, and Science. During her career, Betsy has served as English and History Department chairs, Academic Dean, Curriculum Design Coordinator, and Women’s Athletic Director. She has coached soccer, lacrosse, softball, basketball, and alpine skiing. Betsy is the proud mother of three children and lives in Yarmouth with her husband, Len. She currently is a Trustee of the Yarmouth History Center.

Nicole A. DuFauchard has been the Head of School of the Advent School in Boston, MA since 2013. Prior to her time at the Advent School, she served as the Director of Multicultural Affairs at Providence Day School in Charlotte, NC. As a military child, Nicole has a deep commitment to understanding “other” and has spent the last 20 years exploring equity and access in education. She has hosted an annual Civil Rights Tour for Independent Schools and is a member of the National Association of Multicultural Educators.

Nicole is a faculty member for the National Association of Independent School's Diversity Leadership Institute, an AISNE Board Member, the Elementary School Heads' Association Membership Committee Member on Diversity, the ESHA Annual Conference Chair for 2016 and a Partner for the Planning Committee for the 2017 Progressive Educators Network Annual Conference. Nicole lives in Boston with her husband Ray and her son, Raymond.

Kate Jeton was born in Charleston, West Virginia. She graduated from The Madeira School in McLean, Virginia, received her B.A. from Colby College, and did graduate work in the field of art history at Indiana University. Kate has taught or served as an administrator at Olney Friends School, Miss Halls School, The Madeira School, and Dana Hall School. In addition to many years of being a riding instructor, Kate coached swimming for nine years at the Sanford YMCA and was named Assistant Coach of the Year in Maine Swimming in 2011. She became involved with the Waynflete Parents Association in 2008, was P.A. President in 2010-11, and is an active volunteer at the school. A lifelong horseperson, Kate is the Program Director at Riding to the Top, a therapeutic riding program in Windham, where she was a Board Member and volunteer for 6 years prior to joining the staff. She lives in Acton with her husband Marc. 

Abukar Adan ’13 is a reporter at WJCT-News (the NPR-affiliate in Jacksonville, FL) where he primarily covers local and state politics. Abukar has also worked in television news, podcasting, and feature writing. He moderated a Maine gubernatorial primary debate and covered Florida’s 2018 governor race. Abukar grew up in Portland, ME, graduated from Colby College, and is now a member of the Fortis Society.

Krista Maywalt Aronson is a Professor of Psychology at Bates College, where she has been a faculty member since 2003. Krista completed her PhD at the University of Michigan and her undergraduate studies at Ithaca College. Her work focuses on illuminating how people come to understand complex social constructs like race and ethnicity, appropriate ways to discuss these topics with children, and the effective use of picture books to enhance intercultural relationships and self-understanding during childhood. In addition to directing The Diverse BookFinder, Krista is an evaluator for the New England Commission of Higher Education, Inc. (NECHE). Originally from Rochester, NY, Krista lives in Falmouth with her husband David ’97 and daughters Sophia ’20 and Hope '33.

A Maine native, Kate grew up in Topsham and is a graduate of Mt. Ararat High School. She received a B.A. in Communication and an M.A. in Marketing and Advertising from the University of Hartford. Kate spent a majority of her career at L.L. Bean in marketing and advertising and later as a Senior Product Developer in Men’s and Women’s Apparel before becoming a full-time mom.

Kate’s involvement with Waynflete began as a classroom volunteer and she has held various positions within the Parents Association: Class Parent, Parent Volunteer Coordinator, and Parent Event Coordinator. She was a member of the Waynflete Capital Campaign Design Committee, the Executive Committee for the Campaign for Waynflete and Co-Chair of the school auction, Wintertide. She is currently a member of the Waynflete Leadership Gift Committee, Co-Chair of the Parents Association Social Committee, and Chair of the Advancement Committee.

Outside of Waynflete Kate is a member of the L.L. Bean Family Events Committee and an Advisory Board member and Trip Leader for the Ladies Adventure Club of Maine. Kate and her husband Nate Clark live in Cumberland with their daughter Eliza ‘21, dog Hazel, and their son Andrew ’18 when he is home from college.

The parent of two alumni, Maria Garcia Canning served as a Class Parent, Parent Fund Class Agent, and on the Senior Gift Campaign Committee. She currently serves on the board of the Boothbay Land Trust and recently completed her term on the board of Students Shoulder-to-Shoulder (SSTS). Maria immigrated to the U.S. from Portugal in the 1970s with her family to pursue economic and educational opportunities, later earning a BA in International Relations with a concentration in Latin American Studies from Boston University. For many years, she worked in Cambridge, MA, for Associates for International Research (AIRINC) as a compensation analyst. After moving to Maine, she joined Diversified Communications in a business development role, helping to explore opportunities in Brazil. More recently, Maria is pursuing new passions by enrolling at Maine College of Art, painting in her home studio, and using her personal experiences as an immigrant to support Portland refugees as they navigate the process of seeking asylum.

Ben Devine was born in Portland, Maine. He received his A.B. from Bowdoin College (1983); his J.D. from the University of Maine School of Law (1987); and his M.P.A. from the John F. Kennedy School of Government Harvard University (2010). Ben is a founding partner at the commercial real estate firm Great Island Development in Boston, Massachusetts and is a private equity investor at Devine Capital LLC. He currently serves on the Boards of the Maine College of Art; University of Maine School of Law; The Institute for Doctoral Studies in the Visual Arts; and is a member of the Urban Land Institute (Silver Council). Ben lives in Falmouth with his wife, Sheila, and their daughters Grace '20 and Maeve '22.

Cinda Joyce grew up in the Midwest and earned a B.A. from Wellesley College and an M.A. from Regis College. She joined the Waynflete faculty in 1990 as first and second grade teacher/team leader for five years, then Lower School Director for the following fifteen years. While at Waynflete, Cinda served on numerous committees including professional development, technology, and diversity; she helped develop the School's hiring policies; and she contributed to previous Lower School renovation efforts. Cinda was a member of the Waynflete Board of Trustees Community Consultation Committee, working with neighbors and the City of Portland to develop the School’s Overlay Zone. She served on several NEASC Visiting Committees throughout New England for schools seeking accreditation. Prior to coming to Waynflete, Cinda taught in Massachusetts and California, and was the Director of Admission and Assistant Head at St. Paul’s Episcopal School in Oakland, California. Cinda and her husband, Steve, live in Freeport, where Cinda was formerly a member of the Library Board of Trustees. They are the parents of two Waynflete graduates.

Dale MacLachlan Lewis was raised in West Hartford, Ct., Vermont and Maine. Graduating from The Loomis Chaffee School, Dale earned degrees from the University of Chicago (MA), the University of New Hampshire (BA) and the Maine College of Art (BFA). Following graduate school, Dale worked for a subsidiary of Royal Dutch Shell in Human Resources. Dale and her husband Rich moved to Maine in 1983, and have lived in Yarmouth since 1985. As a professional artist (28+ years), Dale maintains her studio that is based in Yarmouth. She has worked as a teacher in MECA’s Continuing Studies Program and as a graphic designer. Dale and Rich are parents of lifer alumni Elizabeth ‘11, William ’16 and Callum ’16. Dale’s volunteer experience has included being class parent multiple times, class/grade assistance, auctions, the arts committee, the Book Fair, Spring Fling, and the Annual Fund. A founder of Monday Books, Dale led the program for over ten years. Dale and Rich chaired the Senior Gift in 2016.

Jed Porta ‘99 began working for his parents at Migis Lodge at age 12 and grew up gaining experience in all facets of the operation before attending and graduating from the School of Hotel Administration at Cornell University. He has been the General Manager at Migis Lodge since 2009 and is also a Managing Partner for Migis Hotel Group, which owns and/or operates 9 properties across Maine, Massachusetts, and South Carolina. Jed was a “lifer” at Waynflete starting in EC in 1984 and attending through his senior year.

Deborah Sampson Shinn and her daughter moved to Portland fifteen years ago, drawn by family summers in the area. She graduated from Middlebury College and received an M.A. from the Institute of Fine Arts at New York University. Deborah has been involved with the Waynflete Parents Association (president 2009-10), served as head of the Arts Committee, and has been active in various fundraising activities at the school. She has a strong background in museum work, having served for many years as curator of applied arts and design at Cooper-Hewitt Smithsonian Design Museum. She has also curated exhibitions at the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C, the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston, and the Museum of the City of New York. Deborah has received two Presidential Design Awards for exhibitions she curated at Cooper-Hewitt. She was also an adjunct professor at Parsons School of Design in New York City. She continues teaching as a volunteer at Portland Adult Education. Deborah’s daughter, Miranda, graduated from Waynflete in 2013.

Jeffrey Troiano, born and raised in Maine, earned a B.A. in Business Administration from St. Michaels College in Burlington Vermont. After working in the financial services industry in New York and Chicago, Jeff returned to Maine to develop his family’s accounting practice and later founded Charter Oak Capital Management. Jeff currently acts as the managing partner and chief investment officer for Charter Oak. A strong advocate for community service, Jeff currently serves as President of Webhannet Golf Club and South Church Affordable Housing Project, Treasurer of the Arundel Paddle Club, and Co-Chair of the 2014 Waynflete School Annual Fund. Previously, Jeff has served as a president of The Ogunquit Playhouse Foundation, Director of the Kennebunk Portside Rotary, and Cocoons Day School Scholarship Fund. He has been Chair of the Board of RSU 21, and of Children’s House Child Care Program. Jeff lives in Portland and Kennebunkport with his wife, Abby, and two children, Justin ’06 and Olivia ’16.

Warren Valdmanis is a Managing Director at Bain Capital Double Impact, the social impact fund under the broader Bain Capital umbrella. Previously, he spent over 11 years working in Bain Capital’s private equity business. During his tenure with Bain Capital Private Equity, Warren spent five years in Asia and Australia where he helped to extend the Asia Fund’s capabilities and opened the Bain Capital Sydney office. Prior to joining Bain Capital, he was a Manager at Bain & Company covering a wide variety of industries across Bain Capital’s North American, European, and South African operations.

Vin Veroneau was born and raised in Portland Maine. He received his B.S. in Finance from the University of San Francisco, an M.B.A from the University of Southern Maine and a J.D. from the University of Maine School of Law. Vin has been active in the Southern Maine commercial real estate market since 1987 and is currently the President and CEO of J.B. Brown & Sons and previously an owner of North Atlantic Commercial Brokers. He serves as a director of both Bangor Savings Bank and DBH Management, Inc. Vin and his wife, Nancy, reside in Portland. They have eight children: Andrew ’07, Margaret ’08, Joseph ’11, Catherine ’13, Martha ’13, Anne ’16, John ’18, and Michael ’21.

Geoff Wagg was appointed Head of School at Waynflete in 2013. He grew up in Montreal, Quebec and graduated from Phillips Academy. He received his B.A. from Connecticut College and his Ed.M. from Teachers College, Columbia University. Geoff has served in a variety of administrative posts including Head of Upper School at The Episcopal Academy outside of Philadelphia for ten years. Earlier, Geoff served as the Director of Technology and Department Chair at The Bullis School in Potomac, Maryland, and was a History Teacher and Technology Coordinator at Friends Academy in Locust Valley, New York. He started his career teaching history at St. Paul’s School in Concord, New Hampshire.

Early in his career, Geoff focused on helping schools find appropriate ways to integrate emerging technologies into their programs. He served for many years on the National Association of Independent School’s 21st Century Curriculum/Technology Task Force. More recently, Geoff has turned his attention to faculty professional growth and evaluation. He helped launch the Folio Collaborative, conducted research on the topic during his Klingenstein Head of School Fellowship in 2016, and has spoken at regional and national conferences.

Geoff sits on the boards of the Association of Independent Schools in New England and the Independent Schools Association of Northern New England. He and his wife, Alice Starr Wagg, have three children, Henry ’22, Emily ’20, and Nick ’18.

Cherie Wendelken and her family moved to Maine in 2011 after more than 20 years of spending summers at their house in Casco Bay. She received a PhD in architectural history from MIT and was on the faculty of Harvard University for ten years. She has served on numerous boards including the Sciencenter of Ithaca, the Ithaca Waldorf School, the Domini Foundation in New York, and Mayo Street Arts in Portland. She is currently a Director of the Brooks Family Foundation with special interests in underserved youth, cultural diversity, and educational innovation. Cherie and her husband Jeb Brooks have three children, Annika '17, Jesse ’17 and Christian ’18.