Board of Directors

Adan Delgado - Gouldsboro, Maine

Adan was born and raised in Morelia, Mexico and moved to the U.S. when he was 22 years old. He lived in California at first and later moved to Maine in 2009. He worked at a sardine and lobster factory, and now works at Hinckley Yachts as a technician laminating glass and carbon fiber. Adan has been an active member of the leadership group Nuestra Voz en la Comunidad (Our Voice in the Community) for the past three years through visioning with the group and organizing events. In his spare time, he spends time with his family and children or watching documentaries.

Andrea Mercado, Vice Chair - Orno, Maine

Andrea is Colombian American whose upbringing as the child of immigrants inspires her work as a presenter/researcher and as a public servant in multiple non-profit organizations where she advocates for socially just practices and empowers women and children in marginalized, culturally and linguistically diverse communities. She has extended her passion as a 20-year career educator for multicultural and multilingual to her work with Mano en Mano’s Blueberry Harvest School for multiple years and the Tutoring Program.

Melissa Denbow, Treasurer - Jonesport, Maine

Melissa started her career at Machias Savings Bank in October 1995 as a teller, shortly after earning her bachelor’s degree in Business Management. During the past 28 years at Machias Savings, she has held various positions - Commercial Banker, Branch Manager, Contact Center Manager, and most recently, VP, Community Experience Manager. While her background is in financial banking and management, her greatest strength is relationship-building and making a difference in the community. Her biggest passion is finding opportunities for youth in rural Maine communities. In 2018 she was humbled to receive the Junior Achievement Volunteer of the Year. She serves on the following boards: Mano en Mano, Healthy Acadia, Junior Achievement, and the Maine Jump$tart Coalition. In her spare time, Melissa enjoys gardening, canning, and spending time with their blended family of 3 beautiful adult children. Melissa resides in Jonesport with her husband, Jeff, and their two springer spaniels.

Brian Dyer Stewart, Secretary - Harrington, Maine

Brian Dyer Stewart is a web designer, musician and gardener who lives in Harrington, Maine.  He coordinated a volunteer nurses' clinic in a homeless shelter in Boston after college and moved Downeast in 1982 to start a family with his wife Pam, a home birth midwife.  He has been a teacher, carpenter, and computer programmer.  He was the community organizer for Peace in Central America (PICA) in Bangor during the late eighties and early nineties.  His family hosted refugees from El Salvador and Guatemala in 1989 and 1990. Retired from his most recent work as a web designer for legal services, he visits his kids and grandkids, volunteers with the Milbridge Incredible Edible project and publishes original songs once a month on his website.

Sasha Alsop- Milbridge, Maine

Sasha Alsop moved to Downeast Maine in 2009. She taught English at Machias Memorial High School for three years before stopping to homeschool her two children.  Previously, she graduated from Lewis & Clark College in 2000 and received her Master’s in Education from the University of Southern Maine in 2008.  Currently, she enjoys teaching English as a Second Language and working in Adult Education part-time. She is honored and excited to be on the board of Mano En Mano.

Maria Lara Beltran - Milbridge, Maine

Maria Laras family was among one of the first latino families to plan roots in Milbridge ME, and has been involved in the Mano en Mano community and Nuestra Voz since 2000.  As a parent of children in the Migrant Education Program, she has been a leader in developing  programming to better serve children and families.  She joined the board in 2023 because she wants to ensure that Mano en Mano continues to provide services to folks arriving to the area, and that everyone has access to the resources and services they need to thrive.

Jasmine Francis - Milbridge, Maine

Jasmine is a community leader and has been a part of the community for many years. Bio will be updated soon!

Jennifer Peters - Machias, Maine

Jennifer Peters joined Sunrise County Economic Council (SCEC) in June 1996 while attending classes at the University of Maine at Machias. She graduated summa cum laude from UMM in 1997 with a Bachelor of Sciences degree with concentrations in Marketing and Office Management. First as SCEC Program Manager and as Assistant Director and most recently as Director of Community Development, Peters has played a crucial role in developing and administering several of the Council’s signature programs, including its scholarship fund for nontraditional learners, and trainings for small- and micro-business people. She coordinated the Noyce award winning Washington County Leadership Institute for 20 years, and is an active member of boards and committees dealing with topics from sustainable tourism to economic development, education, and community development