ART GALLERY
ART GALLERY
STAFF
Leslie Morissette
Founder &
Executive Director
Leslie is the heart and soul of Grahamtastic Connection (GC). After spending months in the hospital with Graham, Leslie became increasingly aware of the isolation her son felt and the difficulties he faced in continuing his education. When Graham lost his battle to cancer at the tender age of eight, she founded this charitable organization in his honor.
Leslie graduated from Mt. Ida College with an Associate Degree in Art, majoring in Graphic Design. After 25 years as a designer, she left her career to dedicate all her time to building and growing Grahamtastic to where it is today. Her goal is to provide children with serious illnesses the necessary technology and access to internet to lessen their feelings of seclusion and assist in ongoing educational needs despite medical or financial hardships.
Leslie lives in Springvale, Maine with her husband Gary. They enjoy watersports and spending time with their two daughters and grandchildren.
Kathy Tranchemontagne
Program Director
Kathy joined the team at Grahamtastic Connection in December of 2018 as our new Program Coordinator. Kathy had previously attended several of our fundraising events with a tremendous appreciation of our mission. She is very excited about taking on this prestigious role in providing support to the Grahamtastic Connection family. She states, “I enjoy coming into work and getting the opportunity to make a positive change in the world.”
Kathy attended Sumter, SC Technical College and later updated her business skills through York County Community College. She has worked as an administrative manager in the healthcare industry over the last 25 years. She has a great understanding of the various components involved in managing a successful organization. Additionally, she has volunteered in her community through the local elementary schools and various youth sporting teams. Kathy points out that what makes this position so rewarding is that it allows her the ability to combine her business administrative skills alongside her enjoyment of working on the behalf of children; she loves being afforded the opportunity to take part in making a difference in people’s lives. As Lydia M. Child stated, “An effort made for the happiness of others lifts us above ourselves.”
Kathy resides with her husband Ron in Sanford. They have two sons, Zachary and Alex as well a miniature schnauzer, Banjo, who completes their family. Outside of work, Kathy greatly enjoys spending the Maine summers boating and swimming as well as reading and trying new recipes.
EXECUTIVE BOARD
William F. Frank, M.D.
President
Bill joined the Grahamtastic Connection in 2017 after retiring from serving 36 years as a family physician in Sanford, Maine. He wholeheartedly supports the work of the organization in its mission to keep ill children connected with their schools and communities through technology.
Currently, he is President of the Medical Staff of Southern Maine Health Care and works as a covering physician for Hospice of Southern Maine. He has been a medical examiner in Maine since 1983, covering a large part of York County. In 1993, he helped set up and run the Maine State Victim’s Compensation Board. He obtained his undergraduate degree from Boston College, his medical degree from Georgetown University and did a three-year residency in family practice at the University of Oregon Health Science Center in Portland, Oregon.
Bill lives with his wife, Mary Frances, a former junior high school language arts teacher. He has four grown children and five grandchildren. For fun, he enjoys bicycling, gardening and fishing.
Lien Fajardo
Treasurer
Lien arrived in The United States in 2006 with a Bachelor’s’ degree in Civil Engineering eager to become an active member of the American society. Without knowledge of the English language her dreams of exercising her profession were delightful detoured. After acquiring the language and her GED Lien joined the labor force as a Spanish teacher at Sanford Community Adult Education and Saint Thomas School. During her teacher days Lien enjoyed engaging students of various age groups in the Latin-American traditions in tandem with speaking, writing, and reading Spanish. In the meantime, Lien worked tours earning her Bachelor’s in Accounting at the University of Maine at Augusta graduating in 2016. Lien joined Sanford School Department Business Office team as the district’s accounts payable specialist. In 2019, Lien decided to expand her career and accepted a position as Financial Analyst at Southern Maine Health Care, she was very passionate by the non-profit sector’s missions and dedication to serve the community. In 2021 she was promoted to accounting manager. During her time at SMHC, Lien implemented accounting controls and procedures to streamline various accounting cycles and completed her master’s degree at St. Joseph College of Maine. Excited to follow her passion for helping others Lien accepted the accounting manager position at Waban projects. Lien was invited to become a member on the Board of Grahamtastic Connection to take over the treasurer role in 2022. A role she is proud and excited to serve.
Lien lives is Springvale with her Husband Jaime and their two children Amalia and Sebastian. The family share the household with two cats Shadow and Warlock. On her free time Lien enjoys family gathering with the extended family traveling and camping.
Denise Pepin
Secretary
“When you lose a child you don’t lose the love, and there’s got to be a place to put that love,” Leslie Morissette, founder. Witnessing the incredible love, strength and compassion Leslie demonstrated by founding Grahamtastic Connection inspired Denise to be a part of our organization. Denise has aided with events and fundraising since Grahamtastic’s inception. She became a board member in 2009. Denise currently serves on our public relations committee and advises on our events committee.
Denise graduated in 1985, with a BS in elementary education and earned her master’s in literacy education in 1992. She taught grades K-6 in Title 1 Literacy for fifteen years. Her work and experience in this field fuels her passion for and commitment to Grahamtastic Connection. Denise strongly supports the difference our organization has made in keeping our superstars connected to their education and social connections. She firmly believes that being able to stay connected to family and friends both at home and at school is vital to physical and emotional health.
Denise and her husband David of thirty-three years are enjoying their new home on a lake in Acton, Maine. She currently works with her husband and three sons in their family run concrete business. In her spare time Denise enjoys reading, running, paddle boarding, and being with her family.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Jennifer Clarke-Burke
Director
Jennifer joined the Board our Directors in 2022, however, she has been involved in our work since the very beginning. Jennifer donated our first laptop to a child at Boston Children's Hospital in 1998.
Jennifer is currently an Agile Coach at Enterprise Digital Transformation at Apex Systems, Formerly Leapfrog Systems. To learn more about Jennifer visit: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jclarkeburke/
Adam Quinlan
Director
Adam is a licensed attorney in Maine and Massachusetts with experience consulting and managing broadband infrastructure projects and teams across the United States. He has a strong technical and analytical background working as a Microsoft Certified Professional Web Developer with 10+ years experience designing, developing, and managing complex platforms, content-managed web applications, and custom internal frameworks. He spent his first few years out of law school leveraging this technical background and Juris Doctor as Partner in a law firm that had a focus on digital forensics and the general intersection of law and technology. He has since transitioned into a leadership role at Tilson Technology in Portland working with first-in-class consultants assisting communities plan for and execute robust telecommunications solutions to improve and expand access across the United States. A long-time Mainer, he is a graduate of Bates College as well as the University of Maine School of Law.
Adam lives in Scarborough Maine with his wife, Danielle, and two boys, Noah and Henry. His hobbies include taking advantage of all of the wonderful outdoor activities available in Maine with his family including: hiking, biking, skiing, camping, and kayaking.
Kimberly LaChance
Director
Kim has supported volunteerism though leadership, organizational efforts, and in one on one opportunities with many organizations all throughout her life. Her desire to help others and make a difference in lives and for the community has been a lifelong hobby.
Kim became most familiar with Grahamtastic Connection as she began running in the annual 5K fundraiser in 2014, as well as raising additional funds for the event on her own. In 2017 she ran her first Beach to Beacon race with a fundraiser in memory of her late husband and to benefit Grahamtastic Connection. Kim began became a director of Grahamtastic in 2018, and currently serves on the fundraising committee.
Kim continues to devote her time to organizations that are dedicated to bettering the lives of others. She is Past-President and a 32 year member of the Sanford –Springvale Rotary Club having worked on many local to global projects and committees. She is the Chairman of the Board of Commissioners for the Sanford Housing Authority, a Federal agency, having been appointed to the board 17 years ago. Projects have included a new 55 and over facility, as well the purchase of several condemned houses from the city, renovating them, and selling them to first time home buyers giving the opportunity of home ownership and placing property back on the tax roles as income for the city. Kim’s dedication to other non-profits include Board of Directors and Secretary of Junior Achievement of Maine and York County, 17 years, Past President and board member of the Sanford-Springvale Chamber of Commerce, 10 years, United Way of York County Capital Campaign Committee, Day of Caring Committee, 15 years, member of the Maine Children’s Cancer Program and contestant in their Dancing with the Stars program, along with several others.
Kim is the recipient of the Governors Top 100 Award, MaineHealth Works on Wellness Superhero Award, and the Rotary International Paul Harris Fellowship Award and others.
Kim in the Administrative Coordinator for the Sanford Campus of Southern Maine Health Care, and is a member of the National Association of Administrative Health Care Professionals.
Kim has a degree in Marketing and Retail Development. She resides in Springvale, has a daughter Ashley, and in her spare time enjoys traveling and visiting new places, spending time with her daughter, family and friends, the family cottages at Mousam Lake, running, motorcycle rides with her fiancé Steve, and working in her yard.
Susan Roberts
Director
Sue joined Grahamtastic Connection in September of 2022. She is honored to be a part of this organization that has helped so many children stay connected with school, friends and family while ill.
Sue is a graduate of the University of Southern Maine with B.S in Business Administration. She previously served on the Board of Goodall Hospital and on the Board of the Springvale Public Library. She also was a member of the Sanford-Springvale Rotary Club and enjoyed working on the community service projects. Sue’s work experience has included work as a lab technician, systems programmer, manager of a fuel business, and now works in the family business with her husband and two of their daughters at Warren’s Office Supplies.
Sue and her husband, Warren, live in their log home in Shapleigh. They also enjoy spending time “at camp” in Carrabassett Valley to ski, bike, hike and relax.
ADVISORY BOARD
Rob Caron
Daniel L. Cummings, Attorney-at-Law
Melody Martin-Robie
Vanessa Nason
Bruce Wooding
Lawrence O'Bryan
Heather Thomas