Preble Street is excited to share its new elected officers for its Board of Directors for 2026-2028 (fiscal year beginning on July 1, not calendar year). The new officers are: 

• Chip Leighton, President 
• Yemaya St. Clair, Vice President 
• Joann Bautista, Secretary 
• Justin Rosner, Treasurer

“Preble Street has really smart and committed people serving on our volunteer Board of Directors, and I’m excited to work closely with this really talented group over the next three years,” says Preble Street Executive Director Mark Swann. “They donate their time, and big brains, and hearts to make sure that we stay focused on our mission and remain a strong organization in both the short and long term. While the people on the Board have changed over the years, it’s not an exaggeration to say that our strong Board of Directors is one of the key reasons that Preble Street has been around for 50 years and will be able to navigate the challenges of the coming years.”  

Leighton, a retired marketing and corporate strategy executive turned New York Times bestselling author and creator of “The Leighton Show” social media platform, replaces Terry Sutton as Board President. Through the threats to federal funding to the in-depth process to assume operations of Hope House, Sutton has helped steer Preble Street through some challenging times. She has contributed greatly to Preble Street over the past 15 years and will continue to serve on the board. 

At the Preble Street 50th Anniversary party in June 2025, Sutton reflected on her time with Preble Street.  

“Milestones seem to inspire reflection. I’ve found myself thinking about the agency back when I joined the board 15 years ago and realize that while we’ve quadrupled in size since then, the heart and soul of what makes this organization so special hasn’t changed in any fundamental way. What impressed me then was the focus on problem solving…at the root cause level with a long-term strategic view, all the while firefighting to treat the symptoms; shelter, food, social work supports for our most vulnerable.  

This dual focus still drives the strategy and is clearly demonstrated by the results: the emphasis on Advocacy, Housing First, Health care support, and Food production and delivery.  This approach has increased our capabilities and capacity and prepared us for this moment.

Every day, Preble Street is asked to do the impossible, and this agency just steps up and does it. They step in to fill the gaps in services in communities all across Maine, saving countless lives every day, whether by making sure a family has access to a food box or reversing an overdose and connecting someone to medical care, or finding a Veteran a new home near family members.

Serving people is full of unknowns, and there are so many things, as we see every day when we read the news, that we don’t have control of – Preble Street does not let those unknowns stop it from taking a big step. This adaptability – this relentless pursuit of solutions – is so critical to the success of Preble Street. People here do not know how to take “no” for an answer.  

The thoughtful and inspirational way that Preble Street approaches its work ensures that Preble Street will be helping Maine for as long as there are people experiencing hunger, homelessness, and poverty. On behalf of all of us who know people who may need help someday, I am grateful.”