Board Members
Susan Hanley
Susan Hanley volunteered as a docent at the Fifth Maine Museum for many years before joining the board. She is a passionate student of Peaks Island history and the experiences of the 5th Maine regiment. The Fifth Maine Museum building holds a special place in her heart, having been married there over 30 years ago.
Curtis Mildner, Secretary
Curtis is a retired business man and an amateur civil war historian. He was formerly Vice President Marketing and Sales for Central Maine Power and Vice President Marketing at Hussey Seating Company. He remains the primary owner of Market Decisions Research, a Portland business he led for 20 years.
His interest in the Civil War was spurred by his youngest son’s fascination with the movie Gettysburg. During this time, he purchased the cartridge box of a Fifth Maine soldier, George Berry of company D, Fifth Maine. Research into George and the battle he was killed in spurred a hobby – the stories of the Fifth Soldiers.
Curtis is also President of “Mainely Character” a nonprofit that awards scholarships to high school seniors of exceptional character and a Trustee of Kennebunk Light and Power. He holds a BS from Rutgers University and an MBA from the University of Virginia. He lives in Kennebunk with his wife, Loralie and black lab, Captain.
Ian Stevenson, Governance
Ian Stevenson is a historian and architectural historian with a Ph.D. in American & New England Studies from Boston University. He is finishing a book, The Summer Homes of the Survivors: Buildings and Landscapes of the Civil War Vacation, 1878-1918, about vacation cottages and campgrounds constructed by Civil War veterans like the 5th Maine! Ian lives year-round on Peaks with his wife, son, and chocolate lab and is also active in the Lions Club. He joined the board to bring his skills to support all three aspects of the 5th ME’s mission: telling the story of the veterans, of Peaks Island history, and fostering the island community.
Jane Banquer, Vice President
Jane Banquer is a New England native with a BA from Smith College in Art History, Studio Art and French Language and Letters, and an MS in Organization and Management from Antioch New England. She has professional working experience as a fine artist, publication designer, and educator; in nonprofit program management, marketing and fundraising; freelance writing and occasional translation. She brings decades of community volunteer service in these areas as well.
Gail Trefethern-Kelley
Gail Trefethern-Kelley, a year-round islander, discovered the 5th Maine and her familial link to the island at about the same time. Valuing the community connectedness that the Fifth Maine building and organization supports, Gail has been involved for over a decade. While the island history was the original draw to the museum, she continues to learn and be in awe of the 5th Maine Regiment and their journey and stories. Whether wielding a rake or a spreadsheet, she has been hands-on with the Fifth Maine in a variety of support roles.
Margaret Burke
Margaret is a partner at PwC, one of the largest international professional services firms in the world – offering Audit, Tax and Advisory services to clients in all industries. Margaret has been with PwC for over 25 years and most recently serves as the Chief Human Resource Officer for the Consulting practice in the US. Joining The Fifth Maine board combines two of her passions, learning about the history of Peaks Island and supporting the Veteran Community. Margaret has summered on Peaks Island since she was born and is both the daughter and wife of a Veteran. She has experience serving on several non-profit boards and is excited to bring her expertise in organizational strategy, management and excellence to The Fifth Maine.
Mike Smith
Mike Smith has spent nearly every summer on Peaks Island, and recently moved back to Portland after several years living in Scotland and Washington, DC, working in international finance. He currently serves as Senior Vice President with Wilmington Trust.
A lifelong student of history, Mike and his childhood friends on Peaks took great pleasure in exploring and learning about the unique and visible history of the Island, from the Civil War regiment buildings to the coastal defense structures that dot Portland Harbor. He’s visited the 5th Maine Regiment monument at Gettysburg and numerous World War II coastal defense sites in New England and in the UK and Europe.
Mike has also been heavily involved with veteran charities since returning to the U.S. He is a career transition mentor with The Station Foundation, American Corporate Partners, and the Commit Foundation. He is an Ambassador with the Allied Forces Foundation, a US-UK Veterans organization. He is also a Finance Committee member for the University of Hartford Board of Governors, and a Trustee with The Entrepreneurial Scotland Foundation, which brings Scottish students to the US for internships with US companies. Welcome aboard Mike!
Ellen Hurley Green
Ellen has been a summer resident of Peaks Island since 1969 when her parents drove a rental car from Queens, NY and settled with their 5 children in a little cottage on Hadlocks Cove. She and her husband purchased their own cottage 15 years ago where they host their four children, six grandchildren, and friends. She recently retired from her 30 year career as a School Counselor from Albany, NY where she also served as a committee member covering diverse initiatives that help to meet the needs of children within the public school educational system. Currently she volunteers at The Albany Veterans Hospital which is near and dear to her heart as her brother and father both served in the United States military.
Beth Day, Treasurer
Beth Day and her husband bought their home on Peaks Island 24 years ago and have come to love the island and the Fifth Maine Museum. She has been in the ski business in New Hampshire for her entire career, doing all kinds of jobs, but the longest running job was as the accounting manager at Waterville Valley ski resort. Naturally, when she joined the board she become the Treasurer!
Mike Langella, President
Mike Langella has lived on Peaks since 1975. He is a retired educator; teacher, administrator, school board member. He also has been a past chair, the first, of the Peaks Island Council. During his retirement, Mike formed a construction company and has remodeled and built additions to Peaks homes. When he is not busy working on his projects, Mike loves travel, history, and volunteering. He and his wife, Sandy Aube-Langella, have two sons and two grandsons.