Article Title: Team & Board

Kara Hay

As president and CEO of Penquis, Kara leads Maine’s largest community action agency, a $60 million organization dedicated to helping individuals and families become safe, stable, connected and financially secure.  She serves as president of Penquis subsidiaries MaineStream Finance, Rape Response Services, Inc., Penquis Development, Inc. and Penquis Housing, Inc.  Kara is a board member of Community Housing Capital, corporator of Northern Light Health, vice chair and governance committee member of Northern Light Acadia Hospital Board of Trustees, member of the Bangor-area Community Health Leadership Board, member of the Alliance for Addiction and Mental Health Services, advisory board member of The Schmidt Institute, and past president of the Maine Community Action Association.  She is a recognized leader in the field of community development, receiving an Emerging Leader Award and a Practitioner of the Year Award from the National Neighborworks® Association.  Kara is a Maine native and holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Theatre from the University of Maine, a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology from the University of Hawaii at Hilo, and a Master of Arts degree in Marriage and Family Therapy from Argosy University, Hawaii.

Dee Williams

Dee joined Penquis in August 2021, bringing to MaineStream over 15 years experience in Leadership, Lending, and Finance. Dee is excited to bring her broad spectrum of knowledge, understanding and compassion, to our clients and team. Dee has developed a strong ability to offer outside the box thinking techniques when traditional financing isn’t quite possible. She understands the unfortunate of difficult life situations that impact a client’s ability to obtain financing. Dee is driven to put forth the Mission of MaineStream Finance and has a true desire to make a difference for the clients of whom we serve. With deep roots in Rural Downeast Maine, Dee is excited to broaden the outreach of the Home Ownership and Small Business Lending services that MaineStream Finance has to offer.

Ashley Fickett

Ashley Fickett, Loan Originator at MaineStream Finance (NMLS# 2827269), processes loan applications from start to finish, including home purchase loans, home repair loans and mortgage refinancing. She also educates clients about their different financing options.

Ashley helps homeowners and first-time buyers secure loans that align with their budgets and long-term goals. Before joining MaineStream Finance as a loan originator, she provided short-term case management to individuals experiencing hardship. In that role, she used a whole-family approach, helping clients break their goals into manageable steps and plan for a more stable future. Ashley holds a Bachelor of Science in Mental Health and Human Services from the University of Maine at Augusta.

Lee Goodwin

Lee joined Penquis in September 2024. As a Loan Administrator, he provides office support functions and assists the MaineStream Finance team with all aspects of loan processing and monitoring. He previously worked as a Claims Processor for a Medicare Part B insurance company and has worked as a Financial Technician for the United States Navy. He holds Associate’s degrees in Accounting and Business Management from York County Community College in Wells. He is a lifelong Mainer who enjoys helping his fellow Mainers achieve the American Dream.