Team HCCA
Meet the team dedicated to building a healthier community.
Hover over or click under each team member image to learn more about their role at HCCA!
Renee Page, MPH, CLC, PS-C
Executive Director
r.page@hccame.org
Renee is HCCA’s Executive Director providing oversight and support for HCCA’s dynamic staff and extensive programming. Her professional and academic background is in food systems, nutrition, public health, and business management and accounting. Before coming to HCCA, Renee worked as a school nutrition director and a WIC nutrition educator, among other roles. As a lifelong Mainer, she enjoys engaging in all that Maine has to offer from the mountains to the sea.
April Hughes, MPH, PS-C
Associate Program Manager
a.hughes@hccame.org
April Hughes, DrPH, PS-C, is a Program Manager at Healthy Communities of the Capital Area, where she oversees tobacco and substance use prevention initiatives and supports youth and community-based prevention efforts. She has a background in public health and prevention and is passionate about creating communities where people feel valued, connected, and that they matter. Outside of work, April enjoys reading, gardening, and spending time with her family.
Katie Cunningham
Finance Manager
k.cunningham@hccame.org
Katie is the Finance Manager providing financial guidance and oversight on all government and philanthropic funding streams that support HCCA’s mission. Katie holds a BA in Business Administration with 7+ years' experience in nonprofit financial management. In her spare time, she enjoys spending time with her friends, family, and pets.
Alida Peterson
Food Systems Coordinator
a.peterson@hccame.org
Alida Peterson is the Food Systems Associate Program Manager at Healthy Communities of the Capital Area, where she coordinates the Maine Farm & Sea to Institution Network (MEFTI) and leads initiatives focused on strengthening local food systems and institutional food procurement. She has a background in food systems research, network building, and project management, and holds a master’s degree in Food Systems from the University of Vermont. Outside of work, Alida enjoys spending time outdoors, making art, and working on the home she and her husband are building in midcoast Maine.
Sarah Sims
Food Systems Program Associate
s.sims@hccame.org
Sarah is HCCA’s Food Systems Program Associate supporting multiple statewide food systems projects housed at HCCA. Sarah provides communication, facilitation, and event planning technical support to ensure meaningful network reach and engagement.
Cody Malavé
Finance Associate
c.malave@hccame.org
Cody is HCCA’s Financial Associate, where he supports the administrative team with financial transactions, budgeting, reporting, and the documentation needed to meet the requirements of HCCA’s various funders. He enjoys the behind-the-scenes work that helps keep programs organized, supported, and moving forward. Outside of HCCA, Cody is passionate about serving his local community. He is a firefighter and EMT, giving him another opportunity to help others and be involved locally. He especially values the teamwork, problem-solving, and sense of community that come with both roles.
Patricia Buck-Welton, PS-C
DFC Coordinator
patriciab@hccame.org
Patricia Buck-Welton is HCCA’s Drug-Free Communities (DFC) Coordinator, implementing projects and initiatives throughout MSAD 11 (Gardiner area schools), including supporting and overseeing the Gardiner Area Thrives (GAT) coalition. As the DFC Coordinator, Patricia sits on the boards of Gardiner Main Street and Southern Kennebec Child Development Corporation (SKCDC) and is a member of MSAD 11 District Wellness Committee, Gardiner Rotary, and Christ Church in Gardiner. In her spare time, Patricia is an avid perennial and cut flower gardener, loves long walks in the woods, quiet kayak paddles, yoga and time with her family.
Anna Pellerin, MPA
Substance Use Prevention Coordinator
a.pellerin@hccame.org
Anna is HCCA’s Substance Use Prevention Coordinator supporting community partners to implement policies, systems, and environmental changes to prevent substance use, across the lifespan, with a primary focus on youth. Anna also co-facilitates the Kennebec County Youth Advisory Board. She brings to HCCA a background in psychology and a Master of Public Administration, with a focus in nonprofit leadership. In her free time Anna enjoys doing cozy hobbies such as baking, water coloring, or reading - preferably while snuggled up with her two kittens, Salem and Lola!
Belle Stevens, MPH
Tobacco Prevention Coordinator
i.stevens@hccame.org
Belle is HCCA's Tobacco Prevention Coordinator, working with community partners to implement policies, systems, and environmental changes to prevent tobacco and nicotine use, reduce exposure to second-hand smoke, and connect people to treatment resources. She also co-facilitates the Kennebec County Youth Advisory Board which creates a place for youth to advocate for change surrounding issues that impact them the most. Her background in health promotion, county government, community-based participatory action, and systems change brought her to HCCA. In her free time, she enjoys hiking, reading, crafting, and traveling.
Sarah Young, CHES®
Healthy Eating Active Living Coordinator
s.young@hccame.org
Sarah Young, CHES, is HCCA’s Healthy Eating and Active Living Program Coordinator. She is passionate about helping communities make healthy eating and active living easier and more accessible for everyone. With a background in community health and nutrition education, Sarah enjoys building partnerships and creating programs that bring people together. In her free time, she loves cooking, listening to EDM and dance music, spending time with loved ones, and snuggling her cat, Nimbus.
Isabelle Newman
Program Associate - Nourish ME
i.newman@hccame.org
Izzy is a Nourish ME Educator, a statewide initiative focused on improving health outcomes through nutrition education and chronic disease prevention. Izzy implements nutrition education and increases community awareness around the benefits of healthy eating, and provides people with the tools and resources to do so. Her background is in education and food systems. In her free time, she loves to hike, craft, lift weights, and cook.
Courtney Whitney
Senior Program Associate - Nourish ME
c.whitney@hccame.org
Courtney is the Nourish ME Senior Program Associate. Nourish ME is a statewide initiative focused on improving health outcomes through nutrition education and chronic disease prevention. In her role, Courtney implements evidence-based nutrition education and advances policy, systems, and environmental change strategies that promote food access, healthy eating, and overall well-being. In her spare time, Courtney enjoys knitting, sewing, gardening, and spending time with her family.
Team member photographs courtesy of Catherine J. Gross Photography or individual team members.