Board of Directors
David cowing
Chairperson/Parent
David Cowing worked for over 30 years as a special education teacher, administrator, and volunteer in Maine elementary, middle and high schools, as well as other community organizations.
David lives in Woolwich with his wife, Judith Stafford. Their son, Jay, is served by several Independence Association programs.
David has been involved in a number of parent and professional groups over the years that have focused on helping families understand how to access services for transitioning sons and daughters with intellectual and developmental disabilities. David firmly believes that the best way he can continue to support his son is to fully understand and help support the system and organizations that provide supports for him.
Ed blanchard, lcsw
Board Member
Ed Blanchard invested his career in providing, expanding and innovating quality services for individuals with serious mental illnesses. He served as clinical director for Portland’s Shalom House during three decades when the agency grew from 10 to more than 160 employees.
Like Independence Association, Shalom House supports a range of community housing and support options. Also like Independence Association, Shalom House was a key player in the movement to replace institutional care with community-based services. Ed lives in Topsham and has a daughter and two grandchildren nearby.
KEn faulkner
Board Member / Parent
Ken Faulkner and his wife Carolyn have an adult son with an intellectual disability who attends Independence Association activities. Ken currently serves as primary caregiver for their son.
Ken is a longtime beekeeper who until recently, worked as a carpenter and painter for a local, high-end remodeling company whose practice specialized in the restoration of historic detail in Brunswick area homes. The Faulkners live in Brunswick
hank pfeifle
Board Member / Parent
Hank Pfeifle’s professional and personal interests have tracked closely over the years. A competitive athlete who is a member of the Maine Running Hall of Fame, Hank has developed footwear at Nike and Cole Haan, and now is happy (and busy!) in retirement. Wife Beth used to work at Nike, as do two of their children now, so you could say the career runs in the family. But Hank himself has switched gears from running to cycling. He’s Director of the Downeast Racing amateur team, and his competitive streak assures you: “We have a good team!”
Hank and Beth live in Brunswick with their son Mitch, who is a client of Independence Association. They chose Brunswick because the community offered not just the services they wanted but a welcoming environment for people with disabilities. Hank chairs IA’s Development Team and its Major Gifts Campaign.
Eric Uhl, esq.
Vice Chairperson
Eric Uhl is an attorney with over 30 years of experience assisting employers and individuals in all areas of employment law. In addition, he advises clients in intellectual property and business related issues. He earned his law degree at the University of California and his bachelor’s from the University of Michigan.
Eric practices at Richardson, Whitman, Large & Badger in Portland and lives in Yarmouth.
Debbie Dionne
Board Member / Parent
Debbie Dionne has served repeated board terms in roles including Board Chair, and member of the Finance/Executive Committee, Strategic Planning Committee, Family Advisory Council, and Legislative Committee. Debbie graduated from the University of Maine at Farmington before beginning her 35 year career as a health teacher at Brunswick Junior High School.
Debbie’s adult daughter has been receiving IA services for 15 years and is now living her dream of independence with roommates in an Independence Association group home. She attends CommunityWorks and works for IA. Debbie and her husband, Dennis, enjoy their retirement, pursuing many shared activities and interests.
Tom Handel
Board Member
Tom Handel has been the Executive Director of the Portland Media Center (formerly Community Television Network) in Portland, Maine since 1996. Before that he was the Executive Director for ten years at Mobius, Inc. in Damariscotta, where he continues to serve as a volunteer.
Tom holds a bachelor’s degree from Colby College, did graduate study in film at Columbia University, and has a Master’s Degree in public policy and management from the Muskie School of Public Service. He lives in Portland. Tom has been involved with supporting people with disabilities throughout his life. Independence Association is a member of the Portland Media Center, which supports us with its professional offerings.
Luke Ouellet
Secretary
Luke Ouellet is a project manager at Ouellet Construction, Brunswick, managing projects of varying size and complexity as well as coordinating the company’s operations, sales and marketing. The All Saints Parish Multipurpose Center and Independence Association’s Parkway Building are among his portfolio projects.
Luke’s volunteer commitments have focused on developing young leaders in The United Way, the ACE (Architecture Construction Engineering) Mentorship Program, and the Associated General Contractors, as well as fundraising for disability causes. He lives in Bath and enjoys staying active in the gym and outside on his snowmobile.
Dave Eldridge
Board Member
Dave Eldridge’s work in banking, business, and finance has carried him from Machias to the Mid-Coast over the last 25 years. He currently serves as Regional Vice President in the Freeport offices of Kennebec Savings Bank. Independence Association has been part of his personal “community investment portfolio” for years, including two prior terms on our Board. He previously supported Washington County Association for Retarded Citizens in their social enterprises.
Dave grew up way Downeast in Cutler, Maine and began his banking career as a commercial lender, specializing in the fishing industry. Customers found him unusually approachable. One told The Working Waterfront: “He’s in everybody’s corner.”
We’re grateful to have Dave in our corner! He lives in Bowdoin with his wife. They have two daughters and a son.
Toni kemmerle, esq.
Board Member
Attorney Toni Kemmerle and her family moved to Maine in 1997 because they knew Maine would provide better supports for their son, who has autism and is nonverbal. As he grew into adulthood, Independence Association was among the supports the Kemmerles relied on. *IA's work is important to me because it focuses on a population that includes my son,” Toni says.
Toni was Chief Counsel for Maine DOT before her recent retirement and has served on several boards committed to people in need, including Pine Tree Legal and Tedford Housing. She and her husband have three adult children and live in Brunswick. For fun, Toni reads, hikes, travels, and works part-time at the Bowdoin Art Museum gift shop.
Charlie Frizzle
Treasurer
Charlie Frizzle is one of those people for whom “retire” means “re-tool” and “never tire” of doing good. In the years since he left Maine Yankee Inc. as its president and CEO, Charlie has offered his leadership to a wide range of community organizations, including the Brunswick Planning Board, Mid Coast Medical Group, Mid Coast-Parkview Health, People Plus, and Independence Association. High profile projects he has worked on include the new Mid Coast Hospital, the 2020 wing at Mid Coast’s Senior Health Center and the new Kate Furbish Elementary School in Brunswick.
Charlie has served for more than two decades on the Independence Association board of directors to help assure the continuation of an organization that provides a vital service which is seldom understood and often underappreciated. He lives in Brunswick with his wife, Carol.
Richard a. estabrook, esq.
Board Member
Richard Estabrook joined the Independence Association Board of Directors in October 2013. He currently serves on the Finance/Executive committee, Legislative Committee, Strategic Planning Committee, and Family Advisory Council.
Richard is the former Chief Advocate of the Office of Advocacy, Maine Department of Health and Human Services, from 1985-2012. He was active in the enforcement of the Pineland Consent Decree, Community Consent Decree, and Augusta Mental Health Institution (AMHI) Consent Decree. Richard is a former board member of Community Mediation Services, Augusta, Maine, 1997-2003.
Melissa Knutson
Board Member
Melissa Knutson is a Vice President and Commercial Loan Officer at Androscoggin Bank, based in their Brunswick offices. Her professional life has included management roles in both banking and hospitality. Outside work, she is a Trustee of Maine State Music Theater and is an active supporter of the North America Versatile Hunting Dog Association.
She grew up and currently lives in Brunswick with her husband Aaron, and son Wyatt.