MCCS Team
Staff
Maryalice Crofton
Executive Director
207.624.7781
maryalice.crofton@maine.gov
Joined the Commission staff on April 1, 1995 and served as Grant Program Officer until she was appointed Director in May 1996. Maryalice's responsibilities include supporting the volunteers who serve as Commissioners, serving as liaison to external partners, strategic planning, program development, external communications, intergovernmental relations, and representing the Commission on regional and national initiatives.
Previous work included 15 years as Executive Director of two Maine Big Brothers Big Sisters agencies, a year with USDA Cooperative Extension as evaluator of a national project, and five years with Univ. of Connecticut Cooperative Extension. She earned her master's degree in counseling from UMaine and her bachelor's from St. Joseph College in Connecticut.
Michael Ashmore
Grants Officer
207.624.7734
michael.ashmore@maine.gov
Michael joined the Commission staff on April 5, 2010. As Grant Programs Officer, he oversees the Maine grants for service-learning and national service programs including AmeriCorps*State. He also sits on the State Emergency Donations Coordination Team where the Commission has responsibility for managing volunteers during statewide disasters.
Prior to joining the Commission, Michael was Director of the Maine Transition Network, a nonprofit providing training to schools and agencies helping youth with disabilities transition from school to adult life. He was also a teacher and school district administrator for almost two decades and brings experience guiding volunteers as the onetime director and coordinator of volunteers for the NAMES Project-Maine; AIDS Memorial Quilt.
Meredith Eaton
Training and VISTA Coordinator
207.624.7784
meredith.eaton@maine.gov
Meredith joined the Commission staff in March 2011, although she had been consulting for the Commission since 2009. As Training and VISTA Coordinator Meredith manages the Maine VISTA Project and develops the Commission’s training initiatives. Meredith’s responsibilities include assessing professional development needs of Maine National Service grantee staff, providing technical assistance and training to meet identified needs, and training potential National Service grant applicants on program design and performance measurement. In addition, she manages development and delivery of content for the Commission's major training events: the Blaine House Conference on Service and Volunteerism, AmeriCorps Member Conference, and the VolunteerMaine webinar series.
Meredith is an active volunteer in her community, currently serving as president of the Literacy Volunteers of Bangor board of directors. She previously served two terms as an AmeriCorps VISTA. Meredith earned her undergraduate degree from the University of Maine where her concentration was in Public Administration.
Pam Zeutenhorst
Program Officer, Volunteer Sector Initiatives
207.624.7790
pam.zeutenhorst@maine.gov
Pam joined the Commission as the Training Officer in September 2008. Beginning in August 2010, she moved to her current position and took on management of the Volunteer Generation Fund grants to community organizations. She is also responsible for developing training programs and courses of instruction in the field of volunteer and community service program operations, volunteer administration, and inclusion. She sits on the State Emergency Donations Coordination Team as the Volunteer Reception Center specialist. In addition, she is the liaison to the National Senior Service Corps of Maine and a member of the training committee of America's Service Commissions, the national association for state service commissions.
Prior to relocating to Maine in November 2007, Pam was a Volunteer Center Manager & RSVP Project Director in Northern California. She has more than 15 years experience as a Volunteer Manager and community organizer. Pam has participated on state and national committees to increase participation in service by people with disabilities, faith-based communities, and residents of economically stressed communities.
Maine AmeriCorps*VISTA Project
Eileen Buzzello
AmeriCorps *VISTA Leader
207.624.7769
eileen.buzzello@maine.gov
Eileen Buzzello joined the Commission in November 2010 after retiring from an active trial law practice. In her role as an AmeriCorps VISTA she worked with communities and community agencies to develop a coordinated response to emergencies through the use of volunteers. In addition, she conducted legal research on Maine laws that govern volunteerism. Eileen decided to continue her service in Maine and began her second term as a VISTA Leader with the Maine VISTA Project in January of 2012.
Erin Dunne
AmeriCorps *VISTA Leader
207.624.7782
eriin.dunne@maine.gov
Erin joined the Commission in November of 2010 as the Learn & Serve VISTA for the VolunteerMaine VISTA Project. She
decided to continue her service with the Commission and became a VISTA Leader for the Maine VISTA Project in November of
2011. She attended Flagler College in Saint Augustine, Florida and graduated in the spring with her Bachelor’s in Secondary Education.
Richard Higgins
AmeriCorps*VISTA, Service-learning
207.624.7785
richard.higgins@maine.gov
Richard Higgins joined the Commission in February 2012 after six years working in international development, where he focused
on educator training and community development. Prior to that, he worked as an interpreter for more than a decade. In his role as the statewide AmeriCorps Service-Learning VISTA, Richard is developing resources and facilitating a community of practice for educational institutions, volunteer organizations, and other partner groups that are involved with service-learning.