Executive Department Organizational Chart (PDF)
William Harwood, Public Advocate
William S. Harwood has served as Maine Public Advocate since he was appointed by Governor Mills in January 2022. Prior to his appointment, Harwood served as Senior Advisor for Regulatory Affairs within the Governor’s Energy Office.
Before joining the Governor’s Energy Office, Harwood served as Senior Counsel at Verrill Dana in Portland. Over his four-decade legal career, he represented a wide range of entities, including utility customers, public utilities, renewable energy companies, technology companies, paper mills, and colleges and universities, in matters before state and federal regulatory agencies.
He is also an Adjunct Professor of Law at the University of Maine School of Law, where he has taught utility regulation and administrative law.
Harwood has also served on the governing boards of Hearthstone Inc., Katahdin Institute, Legal Services for the Elderly, The Jackson Laboratory, Yarmouth Historical Society, Waynflete School, Maine Justice Foundation, and the Hurricane Island Foundation. He is a past recipient of the Muskie Access to Justice Award, the American Bar Association Pro Bono Publico Award, and the Howard Dana Award for Outstanding Service for his work promoting free legal services for the poor.
Harwood is a graduate of Harvard University and Fordham University Law School. He lives in Yarmouth, Maine with his wife, Ellen, and has five grown children.
Bill may be reached via William.Harwood@maine.gov.
Andrew Landry, Deputy Public Advocate
Andrew Landry joined the Public Advocate in July 2019. Before joining the office he was most recently a Partner at Preti Flaherty Beliveau & Pachios, LLP. He received his law degree from the University of Maine School of Law and his undergraduate degree from Syracuse University. Drew may be reached at Andrew.Landry@maine.gov
Susan Chamberlin, Senior Counsel, Climate Policy Advisor
Susan Chamberlin joined Maine’s Office of the Public Advocate as a senior counsel in December, 2019. Susan previously served as Consumer Advocate for the state of New Hampshire, appointed by Governor John Lynch. She has both government and private practice experience in the utility and energy fields. Susan is a graduate of Boston University School of Law and received her undergraduate degree from Connecticut College. Susan can be reached at Susan.W.Chamberlin@maine.gov
Kristina Winther, Senior Counsel
Kris joined the Office of the Public Advocate in 2021, coming from private practice for a small law office in Portland, Maine and before that as a solo practitioner. She received her law degree from Maine School of Law and her undergraduate degree from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Kris can be reached at Kristina.R.Winther@maine.gov
Richard P. Hevey, Senior Counsel
Richard Hevey joined the public advocate in November 2022. Before joining the office,he was most recently employed as senior counsel for Central Maine Power Company and secretary and clerk for Maine Natural Gas Corporation. He received his law degree from the University of Maine School of Law and his undergraduate degree from the University of Maine at Orono. Rich may be reached at richard.p.hevey@maine.gov
Brian T. Marshall, Senior Counsel
Brian joined the Office of the Public Advocate in November, 2022. Prior to joining the OPA, Brian worked as regulatory counsel for Versant Power. Brian graduated from Vermont Law School in 2013 and has been working in energy and utilities in Maine since 2015. He can be reached at brian.t.marshall@maine.gov.
Ben Frech, Senior Assistant to Public Advocate
Ben joined the Office of the Public Advocate in 2021. Before joining the office, Ben held multiple positions within the Legislature. He was a legislative aide in the House Majority Office, receptionist and secretary for the Office of the Clerk of the House, and the committee clerk for the Joint Standing Committee on Energy, Utilities and Technology. Ben received his undergraduate degree from Northeastern University. Ben can be reached at Benjamin.J.Frech@maine.gov
Shareen Thompson, Special Assistant to Public Advocate
Shareen joined the Office of the Public Advocate in March 2018. Prior to joining the office, Shareen worked for the Maine Department of Labor, Office of the Commissioner, and brings with her countless years of diverse experience as a top-level administrative assistant. She received her associate degree in Executive Secretarial Science from Andover College. Shareen can be reached at Shareen.G.Thompson@maine.gov
Economic Analyst, Jesse Houck
Jesse joined the office in January 2023. Prior to joining the office, he worked as the Finance Manager for Child Development Services, and before entering public finance, worked as the Assistant Controller at Sunday River Resort. Jesse received his MBA from Clarkson University. Jesse can be reached at jesse.houck@maine.gov.
Elizabeth M. Deprey, Consumer Advisor
Elizabeth joined the Office of the Public Advocate in December 2022. Prior to joining the office, she worked as tobacco prevention coordinator for Kennebec County, and before entering the public health field, spent her career in news writing in northern and southern Maine and in corporate communications. Elizabeth graduated from the University of Maine with a bachelor’s in journalism. She can be reached at elizabeth.m.deprey@maine.gov.
Amy F. Osborne, Legal Assistant
Amy joined the Office of the Public Advocate in October 2023. Prior to joining the office she worked in Mental Health and Human services. She has worked with Maines most vulnerable populations whether when working with children or working with those with persistent mental illness. Amy is a life long student at the University of Maine at Augusta and has prioritized the culture of Maine in her academic studies. Amy can be reached at amy.f.osborne@maine.gov.