Staff & Board Members

Matt Hoidal, Esq., Founder & Chief Change Maker: Graduate of St. Lawrence University (B.A., 1994); Vermont Law School (JD, 2000). Former SVP Resource Development & Marketing, United Way of Greater Portland (2014-2017). Executive Director of Camp Sunshine in Casco, Maine, a national nonprofit retreat for children with life-threatening illnesses and their families (2001-2014). Matt worked in the Office of the New Hampshire Attorney General (Charitable Trusts Division), New Hampshire Legal Aid, and Sullivan & Cromwell in New York City. He serves on the national Board of Directors of SADD, Inc. (Students Against Destructive Decisions), and has served on the Board of the Governor Baxter School for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing in Maine. Previous volunteer work has also included serving with the WCSH 6 Who Care Board of Governors, and the Maine Marathon Committee. Matt is a longstanding member of the Massachusetts Bar Association, and resides in Falmouth, ME.

In 2001, Matt recruited a team of 12 runners from around the country who participated in a 1,600+ mile East Coast trek - Miracle Marathon - for Camp Sunshine. A huge believer in big challenges, Matt and his staff partnered with Life is Good a few years later to set the Guinness World Record in Boston with 30,128 carved and lit pumpkins covering the Boston Common in 2006. Through these events, and his work in the nonprofit sector, Matt witnessed the human spirit at its best and our remarkable tendencies toward compassion and kindness.

Michelle Theriault, Champion of Change: Graduate of Thomas College (Bachelor’s Degree in Marketing Management). Michelle joined World of Change after seven years at Good Will-Hinckley (GWH) here in Maine, most recently serving as Director of Development & Marketing. At GWH, her role included, but was not limited to, fundraising, planned giving, communications, events, and grants. Before GWH, Michelle co-owned JET Enterprises with her husband, Joey. For over 15 years, she has also performed administrative work for Maine Mental Health Counselors Association (MeMHCA). Michelle volunteered for several years at the former St. John Catholic School in Winslow, ME, where she ran many fundraising events. Michelle has a passion for raising awareness and helping others. She resides in Waterville, ME, and Smithfield, ME and enjoys spending time with family and friends, especially time on the lake with her husband, two kids and granddaughter.

Board Members

Tissa Hami: Graduate of Brown University (B.A., 1995); Columbia University School of International and Public Affairs (M.I.A., 2001); and Institut d’Etudes Politiques de Paris (Diplome, 2001). Tissa is the Founder and Principal of Korsi, a consulting firm specializing in Diversity, Equity & Inclusion services. A former investment banker and stand-up comic, Tissa has traveled the country as a performer, speaker, and corporate trainer. She has appeared in the PBS documentary Stand Up, on ABC’s The View, and in publications including the LA Times and Washington Post. Her professional experience includes work at Sullivan & Cromwell, JP Morgan, Goldman Sachs, UCSF, and Harvard University. Resident of Weston, MA.

Seeing the trends of art and technology merging into a digital world, Lucius moved into digital visual effects for film and commercials. At PDI he worked on developing a 3D IMAX version of the film Antz, as well as VFX for Mission Impossible 2, X-men and Minority Report. In 2003, continuing to see the evolution and shifts within entertainment, Lucius ventured into the video game industry. The next 2 decades working at Electronic Arts in Vancouver, Canada and then 2K Games in California saw him producing some of the biggest franchises in game history such as Need For Speed and NBA2K. At 2K Lucius was the Executive Producer on Need For Speed Online. Living In Shanghai for 5 years afforded Lucius an adventure of a life time. In addition to launching this huge new NBA2K franchise in Asia, he lead the establishment of the new Visual Concepts China studio for 2K. Acting as studio GM and Executive Producer for multiple games, NBA2K Online launched to huge financial success in China and Asia. Upon Returning from Shanghai, Lucius helped drive various studio initiatives. One of the major success’s was bringing the WWE2K Franchise in house. Working with the Japanese developer over two years the game was transitioned to a newly established studio to focus solely on development of this Franchise. Lucius continues to dream of the future, exploring where art, technology and the entertainment industry will be heading in the days to come.

Peter Wasserman, Board Chair: A Founding Board Member & Lead Donor, Peter is a Graduate of St. Lawrence University (B.A., 1964). General Partner of Patriot Partners, LP. Former President of Altman, Brennen, and Wasserman, a boutique brokerage firm in New York, NY. Member of the New York Stock Exchange (from 1967 until it went public). Peter's professional experiences also includes work at Drysdale Securities, and Carlysle Co, both in New York City. Volunteer work includes serving as a board member of Gilda's Club; former board member of Desert Cancer Foundation (Palm Desert, CA), Rippowam Cisqua School (Bedford, NY), The Aldrich Contemporary Art Museum (Ridgefield, CT), and The Bridges Resort (Warren, VT). Resident of Sarasota, FL.

Board of Advisors

Brett Austin: Brett is an angel investor, experienced technology executive team leader and entrepreneur. Most recently, he was the President of Kepware Technologies, leading the company to a sale to PTC, a global Industrial Internet of Things software company. Driven by the challenge of scaling great businesses, Brett has spent more than two decades developing a profound passion for creating progressive organizations that foster trust, collaboration, learning, creativity, and community engagement. Brett is an active member of Investors’ Circle, the largest early-stage impact investing network. He is also a pledger of Founder Pledge, a group of entrepreneurs and investors who have pledged to give a substantial part of proceeds to charitable causes. His community support benefits the environment, children, education, and entrepreneurship, including organizations such as 1% for the Planet, World of Change, Protect our Winters, Maine Center for Entrepreneurs, United Way of Greater Portland, Seattle Works, and Greater Boston Food Bank. Brett earned a B.A. in Accounting from the University of Notre Dame. Resident of Cumberland, ME.

Carol Hancock: Carol and her late husband David were fifth generation members of the Hancock family, owners of Hancock Lumber, established in Maine in 1848. Carol was a classroom teacher with SAD #61, the Lake Region School District. She has served on the board of directors for the Portland Stage Company, Hancock Lumber, Hancock Land Co., the Cancer Community Center, Camp Sunshine, Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens, and the Parks Advisory Committee for the Town of Casco. She was a member of the SAD #61 School Board, a trustee for the Casco Public Library, and a member of the Long Range Plan Committee for the Casco Village Church. She also served on the Advisory Board for the Artist-in-Residence Program for the Maine State Arts and Humanities Commission.

Kevin Hancock: President of Hancock Lumber Company. Established in 1848, Hancock Lumber operates ten retail stores and three sawmills that are led by 460 employees. The company also grows trees on 12,000 acres of timberland in Southern Maine. Kevin is a past chairman of the National Lumber and Building Materials Dealers Association as well as the Bridgton Academy Board of Trustees. Kevin is a recipient of the Ed Muskie ‘Access to Justice’ Award, the Habitat For Humanity ‘Spirit of Humanity’ Award, the Boy Scouts of America ‘Distinguished Citizen’ Award, and Timber Processing Magazine’s ‘Man of the Year’ Award. Kevin also spent 20 years coaching middle school basketball for the Lake Region school district. Kevin is a graduate of Lake Region High School and Bowdoin College. He is also a frequent visitor to the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation in South Dakota. In 2015, Kevin published a book about his experiences with the Oglala Sioux Tribe titled, Not For Sale: Finding Center in the Land of Crazy Horse. The book won the 2015 National Indie Excellence Award, first place in leadership and runner-up in the spirituality category.

Chet Homer III: A Founding Board Member & Donor of World of Change, Chet is a Graduate of Dartmouth College (B.A., 1973); Northeastern University (M.B.A., 1974). Former Owner of Shawnee Peak, one of New England’s oldest ski areas. Former chair of Ocean National Bank, Portsmouth, NH, and Federal Reserve Bank of Boston, New England Advisory Council. Former owner of Portland Pirates AHL hockey team. Former Chairman, New England Ski Areas Council. Former Director, National Ski Areas Association. Former Executive Vice President & Director, Tom's of Maine. Former Trustee, University System of New Hampshire (8 years) - Investment Committee Chair. Resident of Portsmouth, NH.

Barry Tatelman: A Founding Board Member & Donor of World of Change, Barry is a graduate of Boston University (B.S., 1972). Owner of Destiny Ventures and Rocasuba, Inc.. Broadway producer. Former co-owner of Jordan's Furniture, the first retailer to pioneer "shoppertainment," mixing entertainment and furniture. The highest sales per square foot in the world and the most number of inventory turns. In 1999, Barry and his brother Eliot sold the company, which had grown to four stores and $250 million in sales, to Warren Buffett (Berkshire Hathaway). Inducted into the American Home Furnishings Hall of Fame.