CMTM Welcomes Board Members and New Officers

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Board Class of 2024 L to R: Katie Porter, Rose Splint, Maya Williams, Cameron Peden, Keyla Alston-Griffin

We are thrilled to announce the addition of five dynamic individuals to the Children's Museum & Theatre of Maine's (CMTM) Board of Directors. Each new member brings a wealth of experience and a unique perspective that will enhance our ability to serve the community and our mission. Additionally, CMTM has voted in a new executive board consisting of longstanding members who will oversee the executive functions of the organization for the next twelve months. 

New Board Members include: Keyla Alston-Griffin (Digital Philanthropy Collective), Cameron “Cam” Peden (United Way of Southern Maine), Katie Porter (Pierce Atwood LLP), Rose Splint (Consultant), and Maya Williams (Poet, Writer, Poet Laureate of Portland). 

New Executive Committee Members include: Gail Ringel - President, Julie Ouellette (MaineHealth) - Vice President), Udai Chopra  (FoW Partners) - Treasurer, Rose Parsons (Bank of America) - Secretary, Julia Trujillo (Maine Community College System) - At Large, and Kristin Valdmanis, Past President. 

We warmly welcome Keyla, Cam, Katie, Rose, and Maya to our Board of Directors and look forward to their contributions to the Children’s Museum & Theatre of Maine. We also thank our newly elected Board leadership team for taking on this additional responsibility and aiding in the execution function for the next year. Read more about our new board members below. 

Keyla Alston-Griffin is the Founder of Digital Philanthropy Collective, a pioneering Web3 tech startup that integrates philanthropic initiatives with blockchain technology to combat systemic global poverty. She holds a Master of Social Work and a BA in Marketing and Communications, with advanced studies in blockchain from Columbia Business School and Stanford. Keyla’s diverse career spans marketing, public relations, real estate development, and nonprofit resource development. She is actively engaged in the community as a Portland Museum of Art Contemporaries member and previously served as Co-Chair of Cape Elizabeth’s DEI Committee. Fluent in Spanish, Keyla is also passionate about music, performance art, DIY home improvement, travel, and the potential of AR/VR technologies. Additionally, she is a proud member of CMTM’s Maddy’s Theatre Acting Company. As a newly appointed Board member of CMTM, Keyla brings her innovative vision and dedication to supporting the organization’s mission and ensuring its future success.

Cameron “Cam” Peden (he/him/his) is the SVP of People & Resource Development for United Way of Southern Maine, transitioning from a decade in corporate HR to the nonprofit sector. Born in Tennessee, educated in Ohio, and now living in Maine, he champions a people-first approach. Cam holds a B.A. from Muskingum University and an M.P.A. from Cleveland State University, specializing in City Management and Urbanization, along with SHRM-CP, HRCI-PHR, and DEI certifications. Above all, he is a dedicated father and husband. He is excited to continue to support the work and mission of CMTM as a member and now on the Board of Directors. 

Katie Porter (she/her/hers) is an employment attorney at Pierce Atwood LLP, has practiced employment law for twelve years in New York City and Maine. Seeking a stronger sense of community and work-life balance, she moved to Portland in 2021 and feels fortunate to live and work in Maine. Outside of work, Katie enjoys the arts, beach time with her dog Gouda, traveling, skiing, speaking Spanish, and cooking. She values CMTM and its impact on families and is delighted to serve the organization on the Board of Directors.

Rose Splint (she/her/hers) is a nonprofit professional who has amassed over 15 years of experience in fundraising and successfully helped numerous organizations achieve their donor engagement and fundraising goals, including most recently managing the capital campaign to fund the construction of CMTM’s new facility in Portland. She now works as a capital campaign consultant for various nonprofits. Rose has lived in Southern Maine for nearly 30 years, holds a B.A. from Bates College, and enjoys spending time with her two grown daughters. She is delighted to serve CMTM and the community as a member of the Board of Directors. 

Maya Williams (ey/they/she) is a Black multiracial nonbinary suicide survivor who served as Portland, ME's poet laureate from July 2021 to July 2024. Holding a Master's in Social Work and an MFA in Creative Writing, Maya's debut poetry collection, Judas & Suicide, was a finalist for the New England Book Award. Ey has performed in various theatrical productions and co-directed for Mad Horse Theatre Company. Recognized as one of The Advocate's Champions of Pride in 2022 and a recipient of the Maine Humanities Council's Constance Carlson Public Humanities Prize in 2024, Maya continues to share their work at mayawilliamspoet.com.