Our Team
Many firms provide great tools, but Acadia Benefits offers a team of people who are dedicated, passionate and committed to helping our customers navigate the intricacies of benefit plans. With many of our team coming to us from the carrier-side of the industry, we bring a broad perspective to our customers.
We foster a company culture that is centered on professionalism, open communication and collaboration, which has been successful in creating and sustaining the long-standing relationships we’ve had with our employees and customers for the past 30 years.
Victoria Ferentz
207.822.4382
Team Member Since 1990
Vicki focuses on account management for all size groups, including customer service, new program implementation, and carrier relations. With over 30 years of experience, Vicki also oversees our team and special projects. She represents the firm as the Chair of the Governance Committee of United Benefit Advisors (UBA). Prior to joining Acadia Benefits, she worked at Paine Webber and G&S Commercial Brokers. She graduated from St. Lawrence University with a B.S. in Sociology.
Robert Kennedy
207.822.4376
Team Member Since 1995
Bob assists customers on the design, implementation, ongoing service, and long-term strategic planning of their employee benefit plans. Bob has over 35 years of experience in the employee benefits field and prior to joining Acadia Benefits, he worked at Blue Cross/Blue Shield of Massachusetts and Maine. He graduated from Rollins College with a B.A. in Business Administration.
Scott McKee
207.822.4381
Team Member Since 2003
With over 20 years of experience Scott specializes in evaluation of benefit plan options, analysis of funding arrangements, benefit program implementation and administration, and account service management for our customers. Scott worked at Aetna, Inc. and Cigna Healthcare prior to joining Acadia Benefits. He attended Kent State University in Kent, Ohio.
Jessica Rainsford
207.822.4378
Team Member Since 1999
Jessica has supported our medium and large sized customers as an Account Manager for over 20 years. She is one of our most experienced team members and works to build long-term relationships with our customers and their employees. She provides ongoing support throughout the year including monthly reporting, reviewing plan design, identifying utilization trends, and employee education. Jessica graduated from Casco Bay College with a degree in Business Management and a certificate in Travel/Tourism.
Mary Brooks
207.947.4794
Team Member Since 2001
Mary is responsible for all aspects of assisting her customers with design, implementation and administration of a comprehensive employee benefits program. Prior to joining Acadia Benefits she worked at Halkett & Towns/ Dunlap Corp. and The Maine Center for the Arts. She graduated from the University of Maine with a B.S. in Business Administration.
Mariah Bowker
207.615.0542
Team Member Since 2004
Mariah is our Director of Small Business and manages all account details for our small group customers. Mariah has 20 years of experience in the employee benefits field supporting small group customers and their employees with their benefit needs. Mariah also shares her knowledge of the various carriers and plan types with prospective customers helping identify the best plan options. Prior to joining Acadia Benefits, Mariah worked at a benefits broker firm in Nashville, TN. She graduated with a B.S. from Belmont University.
Susan Pineau
207.822.4375
Team Member Since 2004
Susan has been a team member for over 20 years and is responsible for managing accounts receivables and financial commissions reporting. She also assists with various business projects including: State Licenses, annual health plan surveys, communicating legal/government requirements with our customers. Prior to joining Acadia Benefits, she worked at Anthem Blue Cross/Blue Shield of Maine for 10 years. She graduated from Bates College with a B.A. in English.
Sheryl Burns
207.229.5545
Team Member Since 2004
Sheryl supports our Acadia Benefits team as our accountant and she has over 30 years of accounting experience with small to mid-size businesses. Prior to moving to Maine, Sheryl was the Business Operations Manager for an insurance agency in Boston. She attended Massachusetts Bay Community College in Wellesley, MA. When she is not supporting Acadia Benefits, she can be found enjoying live music, hiking, cross country skiing, snow shoeing, and traveling with her children and grandchildren to places like Brazil, India, NYC, Austin, and Minnesota.
Kate Malloy
207.822.4380
Team Member Since 2011
With over 10 years of experience, Kate’s primary role for Acadia Benefits is new business development. She specializes in developing strong customer relationships, customizing benefit program offerings to best suit our customer’s needs, providing ongoing account service, and educating employees of their benefit offerings. Prior to joining our team, Kate worked on both the broker and carrier sides, creating a firm understanding and appreciation of the employee benefits industry. Kate graduated from the University of Southern Maine.
Michelle Paules
207.822.4384
Team Member Since 2012
Shelly’s expertise is in the strategy and design of employee benefit plans, as well as the ongoing evaluation, negotiation, and administration of the plans. She was the principal of two benefit firms before joining Acadia Benefits. She brings over 30 year of experience in the insurance and financial services industry, including 5 years in the home office of a major insurance company. She is a Phi Beta Kappa graduate of Colby College with a degree in Math and Administrative Science.
Kevin Kennedy
207.615.0560
Team Member Since 2014
Kevin is heavily involved with managing the strategic direction and plan operations of his accounts. This also includes renewal reviews, employee engagement/education, ongoing support, and much more. Kevin grew up in Maine and studied at Arizona State University. When not at work, you can find Kevin in the outdoors throughout the state of Maine often hiking, fishing, or canoeing. He lives in Kennebunkport with his wife, two sons, and dog.
Sara Pinto
207.558.8895
Team Member Since 2016
Sara oversees marketing and creative content for Acadia Benefits. Prior to moving to Maine, Sara lived and worked in Vermont & Boston and has experience in a variety of HR, sales, and marketing roles. She graduated from Boston University with a B.S. in Hospitality Administration.
Conner Kennedy
207.822.4385
Team Member Since 2017
Conner works directly with our medium/large sized customers implementing and administering benefits programs and supporting a variety of account-orientated needs. This includes supporting your benefit renewal cycle throughout the year, reviewing plan designs and claim utilization, and employee engagement strategies. Prior to joining Acadia Benefits, Conner lived in Boston and received a B.S. in Environmental Design from the University of Colorado at Boulder.
Sasha Arabinko
207.221.2074
Team Member Since 2019
Sasha has over five years of experience working in Maine in the insurance industry. As an Account Manager she supports our customers and their employees with their benefit needs including monthly reporting, enrollment support, communication tools and more. Prior to joining Acadia Benefits, Sasha worked for a property and casualty carrier in Portland and she graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Madison with a B.A. in Foreign Language.
Jack Kennedy
207.822.4383
Team Member Since 2020
Jack works directly with our medium and large-sized customers implementing and administering benefits programs and supporting a variety of account-orientated needs. This includes supporting the benefits renewal cycle throughout the year, reviewing plan designs and claim utilization, and employee engagement strategies. Originally from Maine, Jack graduated from the University of California, Santa Cruz with a degree in Business Management Economics.
Sarah Tirado
207.888.2504
Team Members Since 2021
In her role as a Relationship Manager, Sarah builds connections with area businesses and provides information to potential customers about the services Acadia Benefits offers. Prior to transitioning to this new position, Sarah supported the team as our Office Manager where she learned the ins and outs of the employee benefits industry. Before joining the team, Sarah spent over 10 years working at a large hospital in Portland. Sarah was born and raised in Maine and graduated Connecticut College where she studied Behavioral Neuroscience.
Sara Closson
207.523.0065
Team Member Since 2022
Having spent the past eight years working for a large insurance carrier, Sara is uniquely poised to assist customers with claim resolutions. She has extensive experience with disability, life, dental, vision, and supplemental health benefits, and she can also intervene with other issues pertaining to prescription coverage, referrals, surgery precertification and more. She is on a mission to help employees utilize their coverages to the fullest! Sara is a Vanderbilt University graduate with a B.S. in Psychology.
Laurel Guilbert
207.221.2073
Team Member Since 2023
Laurel supports our team as a Benefits Analyst, which includes marketing plans for small group customers. Prior to joining Acadia Benefits she spent her career in software. Most recently Laurel was a Product Manager for a healthcare software provider. She also has experience working for a health insurance carrier. Laurel has a B.A. in Psychology from Boston University and a B.S. in Nursing from Simmons College.
Kim Mancini
207.761.2426 x 104
Team Member Since 2023
Kim supports our Acadia Benefits team by marketing plans for our medium and large-sized customers. This includes communicating with our carrier partners, analyzing and preparing options to present to our groups, and providing support to our large group Account Managers. Kim graduated from the University of Southern Maine with a degree in Psychology and is currently studying Project Management at the Roux Institute.
Erin Cromack
207.220.2147
Team Member Since 2024
As Acadia Benefits’ Office Manager, Erin keeps our team on task and organized! She ensures the operations of our office run smoothly on a day-to-day basis. Erin brings great experience to her new role having worked as an Event Planner in the ski industry in Vermont and as a Campaign Manager and Guest Services Coordinator in Massachusetts. Erin is a graduate of UMASS Amherst, earning her degree in Hospitality and Tourism Management.
John Condon, CLU
207.822.4377
Team Member Since 1990
With over 40 years of experience John specializes in advising employers in the "Great North Woods", which stretches from New Brunswick, Canada across Northern New England into Upstate New York, on employee benefits. John started Acadia Benefits in 1990 after working with Longley Associates since 1979. Prior to that, he spent 5 years with Hannaford Brothers. He graduated from the University of Maine with a degree in Public Administration.