board of trustees
Mary Castonguay, President
Mary is an organic dairy farmer from Livermore, Maine. Mary joined the Norlands' board in 2004, after she spent a lot of time at the Norlands growing up, while her parents were volunteering there. Mary has a love of history and enjoys volunteering at the Norlands when she isn't working on her farm, Castonguay Ayshires LLC.
Mary is an organic dairy farmer from Livermore, Maine. Mary joined the Norlands' board in 2004, after she spent a lot of time at the Norlands growing up, while her parents were volunteering there. Mary has a love of history and enjoys volunteering at the Norlands when she isn't working on her farm, Castonguay Ayshires LLC.
Renee Bonin, Treasurer
Renee retired after 30 years in public education. She found the Norlands while hiking when she first came to Maine over ten years ago. There she found a place to be with school-age children once again. This time, however, it was as Miss Corrilla Rose in a one-room school house equipped with a wood shed. When the opportunity to serve on the board as treasurer was offered, she didn’t hesitate.
Renee retired after 30 years in public education. She found the Norlands while hiking when she first came to Maine over ten years ago. There she found a place to be with school-age children once again. This time, however, it was as Miss Corrilla Rose in a one-room school house equipped with a wood shed. When the opportunity to serve on the board as treasurer was offered, she didn’t hesitate.
Carolyn Lawson, Secretary
Carolyn is recently retired from Bates College in Lewiston, Maine, where she worked for 19 years as a Laboratory Instructor in the Biology Department. While Carolyn’s degree is in Chemical Engineering and she loves both chemistry and biology, she developed a love of history as a member of the Third Maine Regiment Volunteer Infantry and has been a Civil War reenactor for over 18 years. Carolyn grew up near Chicago and moved to Auburn, Maine, with her husband 30 years ago after they fell in love with Maine on their honeymoon.
Carolyn is recently retired from Bates College in Lewiston, Maine, where she worked for 19 years as a Laboratory Instructor in the Biology Department. While Carolyn’s degree is in Chemical Engineering and she loves both chemistry and biology, she developed a love of history as a member of the Third Maine Regiment Volunteer Infantry and has been a Civil War reenactor for over 18 years. Carolyn grew up near Chicago and moved to Auburn, Maine, with her husband 30 years ago after they fell in love with Maine on their honeymoon.
Chandler Buie is an Operations Forester with American Forest Management, where he manages large tracts of forest for various owners. Previously he was a forester with Prentiss & Carlisle in Bangor. He received his Bachelor of Science in Forestry from the University of Maine and has taught Adult Education classes on sustainable woodlot management. Chandler is excited about the possibility of extending the trail system at Norlands and expanding the outdoor recreational uses of the property. He resides in Buckfield on his hobby farm with his wife and daughters. Chandler enjoys helping with his kids sports and spending time outdoors with his family.
Jane Frost
Jane is an artist and retired teacher who grew up in Caribou, Maine, and after college and art school worked with a large environmental organization in Massachusetts, and later with the State of Maine, helping to pass progressive environmental and education laws. She was “retooling” to teach visual arts to Maine school kids when Billie Gammon persuaded her and her husband to join a live-in as research for her husband's newspaper article on the Norlands. They were hooked. Now Jane want others to experience the beauty of Norlands and appreciate the values of the family who built it.
Jane is an artist and retired teacher who grew up in Caribou, Maine, and after college and art school worked with a large environmental organization in Massachusetts, and later with the State of Maine, helping to pass progressive environmental and education laws. She was “retooling” to teach visual arts to Maine school kids when Billie Gammon persuaded her and her husband to join a live-in as research for her husband's newspaper article on the Norlands. They were hooked. Now Jane want others to experience the beauty of Norlands and appreciate the values of the family who built it.
Thad Gabryszewski
Thad is Vice President of Lincoln Haney Engineering in Brunswick. Previously, he was an associate engineer and project manager for Amec Foster Wheeler in Portland. A licensed structural engineer with a keen interest in buildings, Thad has worked on historic churches, theatres, multi-story offices, mills, and homes. He has taught a wide range of graduate classes for Norwich University. Thad looks forward to bringing his skills in fund raising, event planning, and organizational development to Norlands. Thad lives in Biddeford with his wife and two children where he is actively involved with the Boy Scouts and local preservation efforts.
Thad is Vice President of Lincoln Haney Engineering in Brunswick. Previously, he was an associate engineer and project manager for Amec Foster Wheeler in Portland. A licensed structural engineer with a keen interest in buildings, Thad has worked on historic churches, theatres, multi-story offices, mills, and homes. He has taught a wide range of graduate classes for Norwich University. Thad looks forward to bringing his skills in fund raising, event planning, and organizational development to Norlands. Thad lives in Biddeford with his wife and two children where he is actively involved with the Boy Scouts and local preservation efforts.
Ron Kley, Founding Member
Ron was a mining geologist and a thermonuclear explosives engineer before finding his calling in the museum field where he has served for 60+ years as a volunteer, staff member, governing board member and (since 1988) consultant and contractor to museums and related organizations throughout North America and from Eastern Europe to Southern Africa and Western Australia. His research on a variety of scientific and historical topics has been published in professional journals and presented at regional, national and international conferences. He has been associated with Norlands since 1972, and has been a member of its Board of Trustees since the organization's incorporation in 1973. Ron lives in Winthrop.
Ron was a mining geologist and a thermonuclear explosives engineer before finding his calling in the museum field where he has served for 60+ years as a volunteer, staff member, governing board member and (since 1988) consultant and contractor to museums and related organizations throughout North America and from Eastern Europe to Southern Africa and Western Australia. His research on a variety of scientific and historical topics has been published in professional journals and presented at regional, national and international conferences. He has been associated with Norlands since 1972, and has been a member of its Board of Trustees since the organization's incorporation in 1973. Ron lives in Winthrop.
Laura Seames
Laura is the owner and operator of The Lovely Idea Company, with a mission focusing on community support and engagement through classes, group projects and collaborative spaces. Despite being born and raised in a small town about an hour from the Norlands, Laura didn't find her way to the Washburn's old stomping grounds until she was almost 40 years old. She began volunteering as part of her service requirement in the Americorp program. She quickly fell in love with the mission and spirit of Norlands and has been involved in multiple projects for almost four years.
Laura is the owner and operator of The Lovely Idea Company, with a mission focusing on community support and engagement through classes, group projects and collaborative spaces. Despite being born and raised in a small town about an hour from the Norlands, Laura didn't find her way to the Washburn's old stomping grounds until she was almost 40 years old. She began volunteering as part of her service requirement in the Americorp program. She quickly fell in love with the mission and spirit of Norlands and has been involved in multiple projects for almost four years.
J. Tayloe Washburn
Tayloe resides in Port Townsend, Washington, and is a retired land-use attorney and litigator. For 29 years, he worked for the Northwest regional law firm, Foster Pepper LLC where he managed large public and private projects such as runways, mass transit, and complex real estate developments. In 2012 he was asked to serve as the Founding Dean and CEO of a new Northeastern University – Graduate Campus in Seattle, located in the city’s tech hub. He managed the planning and development of the campus from its start point to when it had approximately 600 students enrolled in 2016. Tayloe is a graduate of Stanford University and received his JD from the University of Washington.
Concurrent to his career work, Tayloe has played an active role in many civic and nonprofit organizations throughout Washington State, such as in public housing forums, economic councils, and public education. He is an author and commentator on regional issues and was a longtime board member and chair of the Greater Seattle Chamber of Commerce. He has served on the boards of Shoreline Community College, Bastyr University, Cascade Land Conservancy and Washington Technology Industry Association.
Tayloe has a family connection to the Norlands. He is the great-grandson of William Drew Washburn, who was born at Norlands in 1831. Tayloe is thrilled to be more involved with Norlands and will use his skills to reconnect other Washburn descendants to Norlands, organize a legacy giving program, and see the library at Norlands fully restored.
Tayloe resides in Port Townsend, Washington, and is a retired land-use attorney and litigator. For 29 years, he worked for the Northwest regional law firm, Foster Pepper LLC where he managed large public and private projects such as runways, mass transit, and complex real estate developments. In 2012 he was asked to serve as the Founding Dean and CEO of a new Northeastern University – Graduate Campus in Seattle, located in the city’s tech hub. He managed the planning and development of the campus from its start point to when it had approximately 600 students enrolled in 2016. Tayloe is a graduate of Stanford University and received his JD from the University of Washington.
Concurrent to his career work, Tayloe has played an active role in many civic and nonprofit organizations throughout Washington State, such as in public housing forums, economic councils, and public education. He is an author and commentator on regional issues and was a longtime board member and chair of the Greater Seattle Chamber of Commerce. He has served on the boards of Shoreline Community College, Bastyr University, Cascade Land Conservancy and Washington Technology Industry Association.
Tayloe has a family connection to the Norlands. He is the great-grandson of William Drew Washburn, who was born at Norlands in 1831. Tayloe is thrilled to be more involved with Norlands and will use his skills to reconnect other Washburn descendants to Norlands, organize a legacy giving program, and see the library at Norlands fully restored.
staff
Sheri Leahan, Executive Director
Sheri became executive director in 2011. Her first experience at Norlands was as a camp counselor in the 1980s, bringing campers one summer for the schoolhouse experience. She became fully engaged as a volunteer in 2009 when help was needed to catalog and re-pack the Norlands' textile collection. Previously, she served as Curator of Collections for the Margaret Chase Smith Library in Skowhegan, Maine. Before that, she was Director of Campaign Systems for Demont Associates, a regional philanthropic consulting firm in Portland, Maine. She is a former board member and Curators' PAG Co-Chair for the New England Museum Association. She also served on the Board of the Maine Association of Museums and Archives (MAM) and as Chair of MAM's program and annual conference committee. She holds a Master of Arts in History Museum Studies from the Cooperstown Graduate Program, State University of New York-Oneonta and a Bachelor of Arts in History from the University of Southern Maine.
Sheri became executive director in 2011. Her first experience at Norlands was as a camp counselor in the 1980s, bringing campers one summer for the schoolhouse experience. She became fully engaged as a volunteer in 2009 when help was needed to catalog and re-pack the Norlands' textile collection. Previously, she served as Curator of Collections for the Margaret Chase Smith Library in Skowhegan, Maine. Before that, she was Director of Campaign Systems for Demont Associates, a regional philanthropic consulting firm in Portland, Maine. She is a former board member and Curators' PAG Co-Chair for the New England Museum Association. She also served on the Board of the Maine Association of Museums and Archives (MAM) and as Chair of MAM's program and annual conference committee. She holds a Master of Arts in History Museum Studies from the Cooperstown Graduate Program, State University of New York-Oneonta and a Bachelor of Arts in History from the University of Southern Maine.
Ray Fleury, Historic Farm Manager
Ray manages the farm operations at Norlands, including the health and safety of livestock, the vegetable gardens and hay and crop production. In addition, he keeps the grounds looking beautiful and maintains the barn and farm and lawn equipment. As an historical interpreter, Ray portrays Israel Martel, a hired hand who worked for the Washburn family in the 1800s. He is a lead interpreter for the Journey II: Life in Rural Maine, 1870 farm program and live ins for students of all ages. When not at Norlands, Ray manages his own family farm and is involed with the local draft horse club.
Ray manages the farm operations at Norlands, including the health and safety of livestock, the vegetable gardens and hay and crop production. In addition, he keeps the grounds looking beautiful and maintains the barn and farm and lawn equipment. As an historical interpreter, Ray portrays Israel Martel, a hired hand who worked for the Washburn family in the 1800s. He is a lead interpreter for the Journey II: Life in Rural Maine, 1870 farm program and live ins for students of all ages. When not at Norlands, Ray manages his own family farm and is involed with the local draft horse club.
Willi Irish, Director of Interpretation and Training
Willi grew up about two miles south of the Norlands on the Century Elm Farm which has been in her family since 1849. She joined the Norlands staff on March 31, 1976 and is known to the staff and visitors as Aunt Clara, Mrs. Howard, Mercy Lovejoy, Eunice Merrill or Patty Washburn. She was appointed Director of Interpretation in 1985 by Billie Gammon. She has written, developed and presented school programs and live ins as well as special programming for Veterans Day, Valentine’s Day, local Chamber of Commerce breakfasts, bus tours and outreach programs. She produced the Norlands' Interpreter's Guide. Special loves have been transcribing old diaries of nine people, story telling and working with and training new Norlands interpreters. She is married to Bill, a retired International Paper Co. paper maker turned rural postal carrier. They have a son, Larry, who lives in Portland and owns a one man computer company called iTechME.
Willi grew up about two miles south of the Norlands on the Century Elm Farm which has been in her family since 1849. She joined the Norlands staff on March 31, 1976 and is known to the staff and visitors as Aunt Clara, Mrs. Howard, Mercy Lovejoy, Eunice Merrill or Patty Washburn. She was appointed Director of Interpretation in 1985 by Billie Gammon. She has written, developed and presented school programs and live ins as well as special programming for Veterans Day, Valentine’s Day, local Chamber of Commerce breakfasts, bus tours and outreach programs. She produced the Norlands' Interpreter's Guide. Special loves have been transcribing old diaries of nine people, story telling and working with and training new Norlands interpreters. She is married to Bill, a retired International Paper Co. paper maker turned rural postal carrier. They have a son, Larry, who lives in Portland and owns a one man computer company called iTechME.