WORKING BOARD MEMBERS
Chris Briley
Current Hometown: Cumberland
It’s a little known fact that Chris started a “Greendrinks” in Portland before the current version of Greendrinks came to be. True. It was 12-24 green building professionals having beers once a month at 3 Dollar Dewey’s, networking, laughing, and talking shop. The title “Greendrinks” was aspirational and taken from the international Greendrinks movement. Then one day a brilliant soul from Seattle (Elliot May) showed up on the scene and declared that he was going to form a Greendrinks in Portland. He was actually kind enough to call Chris to see if it was okay. It was more than okay with Chris. “Go, man, go!” were his words (and did he ever!). Chris is the principal architect at the Green Design Studio in Yarmouth, Maine where he devotes his time to designing energy efficient, and environmentally friendly buildings for his clients. He also hosts a podcast called the Green Architects’ Lounge (you can find it on iTunes), where he mixes cocktails and discusses green building topics with his co-host. The podcast is also a blog that can be found at the GreenBuildingAdvisor.com. Any and all of his spare time is filled playing with his brilliant daughters.
Colleen Croteau
Current Hometown: Portland
Shortly after moving to Portland, Colleen attended her first Greendrinks in June 2008 at O’Naturals, where she met several (environmentally) friendly individuals, including one she would later marry. She enjoys seeing new and familiar faces each month, while learning about local organizations and supporting new causes within the community. Colleen is Team Leader of Underwriting at PowerPay, and also a member of the company’s Green Team and Activities Committee. Outside of work she keeps busy bowling in a winter league and spending as much time outdoors as possible enjoying Maine’s short summer.
Steven Darnley
Steve has been attending Greendrinks since the second event held at Maple’s Organics way back when. Since then’s he’s been a enthusiastic supporter and jumped at the chance to join the board in 2011. The rest of the time Steve is an Interactive Producer at The VIA Agency in Portland. Steve was also a part of the 2011 TEDxDirigo team here in Maine. When he’s not working on one of these projects, he’s usually out riding his bike.
Oakley Dyer
Current Hometown: Cousin's Island, Yarmouth
Oakley became involved with Greendrinks after hosting an event at Portland Stage, where he serves on the board. During the day, he works at IDEXX doing M&A and strategy and at night he is the Treasurer for Greendrinks.
Current Hometown: Portland
Kaitlin found her way onto the Greendrinks board after helping to organize Portland’s 1st Joycott! Born and raised in Florida, Kaitlin followed her family’s roots back to Maine for college, decided this was the good life, and stayed. When she is not working at the Portland-based non-profit CIEE, she can be found playing frisbee, exploring the abundance of local food and drink, or romping at Willard Beach with her dog Tybee.
Thomas P. Marczak
Current Hometown: Portland
Tom's first Greendrinks event was at Sebago Brewing Company's Gorham brewing facility benefitting Maine Volunteer Lawyers for the Arts. Not long after he joined Portland Greendrinks inaugural board. A native Mainer, Tom acts as a liaison to Greendrinks beverage sponsors and assists with general planning and permit logistics. He is an attorney at Portland-based Thompson & Bowie, LLP.
Jennifer Mills
Current Hometown: Portland
Jen made the move to Maine 3 years ago from Boston. After spending summers at a family camp on Popham Beach, she always knew Maine was where she wanted to land. Shortly after her move, Jen ventured to a Greendrinks event at Corduroy Surf Boutique where she was impressed with both the mission and the keg in the changing room. Jen is a graphic and web designer, currently working with Outside Television as well as her own freelance design company, Wild East Creative. She loves Maine’s seasons - especially the spring farmer’s markets and open-air summer drives in her Jeep to the beaches where she hopes to learn to surf this year.
Sean Sullivan
Current Hometown: Portland
Sean is the Director of Portland Greendrinks. He leads the monthly organizing of events and is always looking to connect new people and organizations to the growing Greendrinks family. If you're a business or non-profit who wants to connect with Greendrinks and you don't know anyone else on the board, he's your man. Sean spends his days working at Bowdoin College connecting companies with jobs with students who want jobs. He also serves as Treasurer for the Maine chapter of the Surfrider Foundation.
ADVISORY BOARD MEMBERS
Elliott MayCurrent Hometown: Seattle, WA
Elliott is the founder and former director of Portland Greendrinks. He formed the event series with the intention of creating a low-key way for environmentally-minded Portlanders to meet up for good, cheap, local beer, though his true motive may have been to meet people himself, having just moved from Seattle to work for Reverb.org and knowing no one aside from his co-workers at the time. Upon moving back to Seattle in January 2011 to represent Reverb on the West Coast, Elliott moved to the Portland Greendrinks Advisory Board, where he remains actively involved from afar.
Jesse Baines
Current Hometown: Boston, MA
Jesse has been involved with Portland Greendrinks from the early days as an event planner and scheduler. You'll see her supporting various happenings around town from the arts to triathlons to working waterfront and healthy bay initiatives, but her favorite events usually involve local food and drink. Jesse is currently the Social Media Coordinator at Stonyfield Farm in Londonderry, NH.
Alex Steed
Current Hometown: Cornish
Alex is an advocate for local people, food, economies and beer. He is a member of the Maine League of Young Voters Steering Committee and ran for a seat in the Maine Statehouse. He works as a communication strategist for several nonprofits and small businesses, and he has a sweetheart of a dog named Vera Lynn.
John Rooks
Current Hometown: Portland
John is the innovator behind the SOAP Group, a Portland-based consulting firm that creates and activates brands, promotions and marketing plans using new strategies that advance sustainability and social justice. In his spare time John enjoys spending time with his children and wife, and volunteering as Secretary for Portland Buy Local.
Jill Sady
Current Hometown: Cousins Island, Yarmouth
Jill is a Maine native, and has lived in the Portland area since 2008. She works for the Portland-based non-profit, CIEE. In her free time, she can be found gardening, writing, doing yoga, and hanging with her dog Hobbes. Her first Greendrinks was at SOAP Group, the one where Elliott he had that sweet blond mustache.
Andrew Burke
Current Hometown: Portland
While born and raised in Syracuse, NY, Andrew left his beloved Orangemen and ventured to Baltimore, MD then West Palm Beach, FL before finally settling down in Portland Maine in 2006. Andrew is a mechanical engineer at Oak Point Associates, an A&E firm in Biddeford, ME. He spends his days coordinating LEED submissions, creating building energy simulations, and designing mechanical systems. In his free time, he is usually running around at the park with his two sons or running around the lacrosse field. If not, you may find him on the golf course learning how to maintain inner peace while slicing the ball into the woods over and over again.
Cory Schnaible
Current Hometown: South Portland
A Cape Codder washed ashore in Maine, Cory has lived in and around Portland since 2005. For him, it was love at first taste with Greendrinks and he’s excited to help the movement grow. When he’s not busy being a copywriter at Garrand, Cory runs, jumps, and writes some more. He loves his dog, his wife, and always sneezes into the inside of his left elbow.
Courtney Beer
Current Hometown: Portland
Courtney moved to Portland in 2004 and attended the first Greendrinks in Portland in 2007 for local beer and great conversation. She has enjoyed watching the group grow so much since. She is excited to be a new member of the Advisory Board. Courtney is an attorney at KIDS LEGAL within Pine Tree Legal Assistance where she represents young (13-24) victims of dating violence, domestic violence, sexual assault, and stalking. Skiing and bowling occupy her winter while sailing and anything outside occupy her summer.
All board members can be reached at info@portlandgreendrinks.com.