The Telling Room Welcomes New Board Members and Officers
The Telling Room is delighted to welcome three new members to the Board of Directors this summer, and to announce new officers to the Board’s leadership team. Sam Colton, Khadija El Barkaoui, and Jordanna Feely joined the Board of Directors as The Telling Room entered into its new fiscal year on July 1st, 2025.
The Telling Room also welcomes three Board members into roles as officers: Libby Lauze as the incoming Board President, Matty Oates as Vice President, and Jordanna Feely joins the board as Treasurer. Outgoing members include Sean Findlen and former Board President Tanuja Desai Hidier.
Board President Libby Lauze is an education management professional with over 18 years of experience in the field of international education. As Director of Partner Services at CEA CAPA Education Abroad she is responsible for preparing young people to pursue academic and cultural exploration in countries around the world. Previously, Libby managed an organization supporting young international professionals coming to the US for internships and career training.
Board Vice President Matty Oates put down roots in Portland, Maine in 2015, pivoting from a mariner’s life at sea and over 70,000 nautical miles traveled, to a life by the sea where he was swept up by this quick-growing community. Since then, he has run a nonprofit connecting youth with voyages at sea, co-founded a media strategy agency that served statewide and national clients, and now sits on the digital marketing team at Unum.
Board Treasurer Jordanna Feely has held Finance leadership positions at IDEXX, Microsoft, Harvard Business Publishing and other companies. Since leaving the corporate world, Jordanna has been involved with multiple nonprofits in addition to The Telling Room. She is also the Treasurer for Maine Wood Banks whose mission is to ensure that Maine families with fuel insecurity can get firewood at no cost and co-founded the Freeport Wood Bank. Jordanna serves on the Freeport Board of Appeals committee, is a Freeport Library Trustee and a Finance mentor for Maine Center for Entrepreneurs. During the warmer months, Jordanna helps with trail maintenance and gardening at Wolfe's Neck Center in Freeport.
Sam Colton was born and grew up in the United Kingdom before moving to Pennsylvania, Chicago, and now Maine. He is currently Senior Vice President and Director of Treasury Management at Androscoggin Bank in downtown Portland. He previously held senior leadership roles at First National Bank, Citigroup and PNC. Sam served on active duty with the United States Navy in North Africa, the Middle East and Afghanistan and is now assigned as a reserve officer to United States Korea Command.
Khadija El Barkaoui is a global people strategist and founder of Coelle Travel, a Maine-based travel company with an international reach, committed to sustainable tourism and community-based experiences that honor Indigenous cultures and support women in tourism. She has over nine years of experience designing people-centered strategies, evaluations, and trainings across Africa, Europe, and the U.S. Through her consulting work, Khadija helps organizations optimize international talent, foster inclusive workplaces, and lead with intention and values. In 2024, she was recognized as one of Mainebiz’s 40 Under 40 for her impactful contributions to sustainable tourism and workforce inclusion.
“New board members, Jordanna, Khadija, and Sam, are not strangers to The Telling Room, having already served on committees, supporting the organization in the critical areas of Finance, and Human Resources,” shares Executive Director Kristina Powell. “Their insights, experience, skills, and support of youth voices and the staff of The Telling Room have already bolstered the organization and we are excited that they are joining the board to lead and steward our mission at this critical time. While there has been great uneasiness for the nonprofit sector and the power of the arts during this turbulent year, we are truly grateful for the stable strength, vision, and action of the entire Board for their tenacious support and vision. We are excited for the year ahead.”
For the full list of Telling Room Board members and their biographies, click here.