Meet The Staff
Our mission is to support, coordinate, and promote Public Health Services and Resources, to improve the quality of life in the Sebasticook Valley. Through a collaborative process, the coalition actively engages community partners and fosters community relationships to target, reduce and prevent youth substance use, substance abuse, tobacco, and chronic disease.
Karen Hawkes, Director of Healthy SV
Karen Hawkes joined HealthySV in 2009 as the Youth Advocacy and Substance Abuse Prevention Coordinator. Karen has a Bachelor of Science degree in Kinsiology and Physical Education from the University of Maine and earned her Master of Science degree in Sports Leadership, Parks and Recreation from Virginia Commonwealth University in 2002. Following her graduate work, Karen worked in higher education and collegiate athletics at the University of Richmond before returning to Maine in 2004. Prior to joining HealthySV, Karen served as Director of the Maine Center for Sport and Coaching and the Sports Done Right program at the University of Maine. Karen became the Director of HealthySV in 2010 and has since utilized her skills in community engagement, program management, and overall passion for health and wellness to help advance the mission and vision of the coalition.
Anne Johnston, Grants Assistant
Ann Johnston has worked for the HealthySV Coalition and Sebasticook Valley Health since 2004. Prior to joining the HealthySV staff and the Community Health and Education Department at SVH, Ann volunteered in the SVH Health Information Management department. As the Grants Assistant, Ann is responsible for fiscal grant management and serves as the liaison for community partners across the region. Ann enjoys the challenges of the various grants as well as the duties she carries with the SVH Nutrition and Diabetes Clinic. She is the hub of the office and department; always smiling and ready to help in any way she can!
Lisa Larrabee, Drug Free Communities Project Coordinator
Lisa Larrabee joined the HealthySV Coalition in 2010 as the Youth Advocacy and Substance Abuse Prevention Coordinator and became the Drug Free Communities Project Coordinator in 2011. Lisa has a Bachelor of Commerce Degree from St Mary’s University, and is currently enrolled in the MBA Program at Thomas College in Waterville, Maine. From 2007 - 2010, Lisa worked with the Greater Somerset Public Health Collaborative and the Office of Substance Abuse in Somerset County to implement various evidence-based substance abuse prevention strategies. Prior to her work in substance abuse prevention, Lisa enjoyed working in the Community College setting, first at Eastern Maine Community College in Bangor (1997-1999) then as the Director of Student Life at Kennebec Valley Community College from 1999 to 2007. Lisa’s extensive background in program planning, implementation, and outcome measurement and her passion for working with and for youth, make her an effective and motivating team member.