We are very excited to announce that Joee Patterson and Steve McFarland are joining the WindowDressers staff. Joee will be managing our Production Facility in Searsmont, Maine. Steve will be the new Program Manager for VT and NH, supporting the volunteers that lead WindowDressers Builds in their communities. Joee and Steve both bring a wealth of experience related to their roles, and we are so excited to have them on the team. Please join us in giving them a warm welcome!

Originally from Anchorage, Alaska, Joee Patterson came to Maine in 2007 to pursue her interest in sailing traditionally rigged vessels. In the time since she has cultivated a diverse skill set in the marine trades working at boat yards in Midcoast Maine, and restoring and sailing traditional boats with her husband. In 2014 Joee’s sailing career culminated with a position on the crew of the Charles W Morgan for the 38th voyage of the last wooden whaleship on earth. Two years later she realized her dream of working in Antarctica, where she was able to fulfill her lifelong fascination with the intricacy of the natural world, and her love of the sea with a position as a Marine Technician in the US Antarctic Program. In 2019, Joee participated in an expedition to the edge of Thwaites Glacier (better known as “The Doomsday Glacier”) with a science party that was working to ascertain just how quickly the glacier is retreating and contributing to sea level rise. After witnessing the effects of climate change in a truly undeniable context, she felt compelled to invest her labor into work that better prepares her adopted home of Coastal Maine to mitigate the effects of climate change, and also to minimize the environmental footprint of living in such a dynamic place. Joee is overjoyed to be joining the production team at Window Dressers, and looks forward to a busy season.

Born and raised in Portland, Maine, Steve McFarland was involved with Adult Education and career development for most of his professional life, helping adults aspire to a better life and achieve their goals through increased education. Steve designed, developed, and delivered programs focused on college preparatory and entry-level college coursework, with the belief that education is the pathway to professional development and personal fulfillment. Steve created the Pathways to Higher Education program in 2001, which earned FAME’s first annual Business and Education at Work award in 2003.

Steve has been involved in numerous volunteer efforts throughout his life, from leading neighborhood road associations to Rotary Club (President), Chamber of Commerce (Volunteer of the Year), and the Windham Conservation Commission, among others. Recently, Steve joined the Board of Directors for the Sebago Lake Region Fuller Center for Housing, which partners with low income older adults completing home repairs and home improvements focused on increasing safety, staying warm, and saving energy.

In his free time Steve likes to ski (both snow and water), hike, sail, and ride his motorcycle through the Appalachian mountains and other beautiful parts of the country.