Our Staff

Paul J. Mitchell

Paul is the President and Chairman of the Board of our company. He began his insurance career as a claims adjuster for Liberty Mutual in New York City during the early 1950's. In 1959, Paul and his wife Yvette returned to Waterville, ME and purchased the J.B. Friel Agency. He merged The J.B. Friel Agency with The Hodgdon Agency in 1965 and then merged with The Goddard Agency in 1972 to become what is now known as GHM Agency. In 1979, Paul acquired 55% majority interest of GHM Agency and in 1991 acquired the balance of ownership.

During his career, Paul has served on numerous industry and civic boards and committees. This would include the Waterville City Council, Waterville Planning Board, and serving as the Executive Director of the Waterville Urban Renewal Authority during the 1960s and 1970s. He has served as President of the Maine Independent Insurance Agents Association, and is a member of the Board of Directors of the Waterville Sewer District.

Paul is a graduate of the University of Maine and holds a Masters Degree from Columbia University. He is a lifelong resident of Waterville and resides there with Yvette, his wife of 53 years. Paul & Yvette have 4 grown children, 12 grandchildren and 3 great grandchildren.

Bill Mitchell
bill@ghmagency.com

Bill is a Vice President and the CEO of GHM Agency. He began working at GHM in 1982 while attending College at University of Maine. Bill graduated in 1984 with a Bachelors Degree in Business Administration and obtained his property casualty insurance license the same year. In 1985, he obtained his life insurance license and in 1987 he became a Certified Insurance Counselor (CIC). Bill attends over 20 hours of insurance educational classes each year to maintain his CIC designation.

Over the years, Bill has been involved with several organizations including serving as a board member for Big Brothers Big Sisters, Chair of Bowl For Kids Sake in 2000, Past President of the Waterville Area Boys & Girls Club, Past Chair of the Alfond Youth Recreation Center Building Committee. In 1998, Bill was a recipient of the Star Award from Volunteers of America and in 2000 was inducted into the Boys & Girls Club/YMCA Hall of Fame. Bill is also past chair of the agents advisory board for MMG Insurance Company, past member of the OneBeacon Insurance Company and past board member of the Senator George J. Mitchell Scholarship Institute.

Bill is currently a member of the Peerless Insurance advisory council, Hanover Insurance advisory council in Maine, and incoming chair of the Hanover Insurance national advisory council. He also serves as corporator and trustee for Kennebec Savings Bank and as a board member of the Waterville Opera House and Kennebec Valley Chamber of Commerce.

Bill has one adult daughter and lives in Waterville, Maine with his wife.

James Sanborn
james@ghmagency.com

James began his insurance career with GHM Agency in 1993 while attending Thomas College. In 1995, he passed his property casualty agent's license exam and graduated from college in 1997 with a Bachelors Degree in Accounting. In 1997, he obtained his life insurance license and in 2004 he became a Certified Insurance Counselor (CIC). In 2007 James completed his Certified Risk Manager (CRM) designation.

James is well versed in personal insurance, business insurance, and life insurance. His primary responsibility is developing new sales, however, he is also involved in routine servicing and claims for our clients. He also plays an important role in maintaining our computer network of 30 users and 3 locations.

James lives in Hebron, Maine with his wife Ellen, daughters Elisabeth and Emily and son Donovan.

Lee Cabana
lee@ghmagency.com

Lee is a Waterville native and graduate of the University of Maine at Farmington. After a successful career in the non-profit world he started his insurance career in Pennsylvania. A Certified Insurance Counselor, Lee joined the GHM staff in 1997 bringing an expertise in employee benefits, annuities and life insurance.

Lee resides in Winslow with his wife Nancie.

Ray Watson
ray@ghmagency.com

Ray Watson has been employed at GHM Agency since 2001. Prior to joining GHM, Ray was Commercial Department Manager at a large insurance agency in Augusta for 15 years. He is a Certified Insurance Counselor with over 30 years experience in the industry.

Ray began his insurance career in San Francisco California soon after discharge from the United States Air Force in 1970. While serving Ray took advantage of educational opportunities by attending American River College in Sacramento and San Bernardino State University in that city. Soon after beginning his insurance career Ray attended the advanced insurance school offered by Hartford Insurance Company in San Francisco and continues to attend annual insurance seminars to keep abreast of the changing conditions.

Ray has resided in Oakland since 1982 with his wife of 40 years, Clara. Ray is active in the Oakland Lions Club and Oakland-Sidney United Methodist Church. When not working Ray enjoys service work with these organizations and an occasional round of golf.

Martha Wentworth
martha@ghmagency.com

Martha has been a licensed insurance agent since 1996 and brings strong skills in both sales and service of personal and business insurance to the GHM team. Martha obtained her life insurance license in 2002 and currently holds the Certified Insurance Counselor designation. Martha joined GHM in January 2000 and works very closely with a wide range of agency clients.

She resides in South China, Maine with her husband James and their son Justin.

Patty Daveluy
patty@ghmagency.com

Patty has been a licensed insurance agent since 1995. She joined GHM Agency in 2001 after moving from Connecticut to Maine. She brings skills in sales, service and small commercial to our agency. Her primary responsibility is developing new sales.

Patty resides in Oakland with her husband and their 3 sons.

Mindy Noonan
mindy@ghmagency.com

Mindy began her insurance career with GHM Agency in 2002. In 2003 she passed her property casualty agents license exam and in 2004 she passed her life and health exam. In 2010 she became a Certified Insurance Counselor. Mindy enjoys watching baseball.

Silas T. Lawry
silas@ghmagency.com

After working in the insurance industry for 30+ years, Silas joined the GHM team in 2008. He has been a resident in the Waterville area for most of his life, graduating from Lawrence High School in 1970, from Colgate University in 1974, joining his father’s Fairfield insurance agency in 1975 and becoming licensed the next year. He has earned both his Certified Insurance Counselor- CIC (1980) and Certified Risk Manager- CRM (2003) designations during his career.

Silas is primarily involved in commercial insurance sales and service at GHM but also works with clients on their personal insurance needs. He resides in Fairfield with his fiancee, Kate O’Halloran.

Bill Rafuse
billr@ghmagency.com

Bill joined the team at GHM Agency in February 2010, obtaining his Property and Casualty agent’s license in June 2010 as well as earning his Accredited Advisor in Insurance (AAI) designation in January of 2011. His primary responsibility within the Agency is developing new sales in both commercial and personal lines of insurance.

Bill is a Waterville native and a 2001 graduate of the University of Maine-Farmington.

Bill resides in Vassalboro with his wife Emily.

Donna Boutin
donna@ghmagency.com

Donna joined GHM Agency in 1986 and has been a licensed property casualty agent since 1983. She is responsible for servicing the insurance needs of several of our largest business clients. In addition, she assists with the day to day operations for the agency including commercial lines, personal lines, claims and many other functions. Donna is a native of Waterville and a graduate of the University of Maine at Orono where she received a Bachelor of Science degree.

Donna and her husband Bill reside in Sidney and enjoy outside activities.

Laura Rowe
laura@ghmagency.com

Laura joined GHM Agency in 2000 and obtained her property casualty agent’s license that same year. In 2009 she earned the designation of Accredited Advisor of Insurance. She currently works in our commercial lines department servicing our medium to large accounts. Laura is a Winslow native, attended the University of Maine and received a Bachelor of Science from Thomas College in 1993. She is an outdoor enthusiast who enjoys all seasons.

Laura and her husband Jason reside in Benton, Maine.

Melissa Mitchell
melissa@ghmagency.com

Melissa joined GHM Agency in July of 2005 and shortly thereafter obtained her property and casualty agents license. She currently works in our commercial lines department as a customer service representative. Melissa came to GHM with an insurance background working on-site for a large corporation in Connecticut handling workers compensation claims.

Karen Redman
karen@ghmagency.com

Karen started her insurance career with GHM Agency in 2006 after working in the retail field for many years. She was originally in the personal lines department but has recently moved to commercial lines as a customer service representative. She is a graduate of the University of New England.

Karen lives in Waterville with her daughter Kayla and son Matthew.

Melissa Wildes
melissaw@ghmagency.com

Melissa joined GHM Agency in April of 2010 to work as a customer services representative in our commercial lines department. Melissa brings with her a background handling workers’ compensation claims for several years for a local company. She attended Fairfield University in Connecticut and received a Bachelor of Science degree in 1989. She is currently working on obtaining her property and casualty agents license.

Melissa resides in Winslow with her family.

Dianne Guerette
dianne@ghmagency.com

Diane began working at GHM Agency in March of 1998 and having an insurance background she was able to give immediate assistance to GHM clients during the ice storm. Shortly after joining GHM Agency she obtained her property casualty agents license and has since become an Accredited Customer Service Representative (ACSR) and Certified Insurance Service Representative (CISR). Diane is responsible for handling all personal lines claims for GHM clients, as well as the majority of claims for our business clients.

Diane and her children reside in Shawmut, Maine.

Gaye Perry
gaye@ghmagency.com

Gaye joined GHM Agency in September of 2003 as a customer service representative after working in the medical field for many years. She is a graduate of Thomas College and successfully passed her property and casualty license exam. Gaye obtained her Certified Insurance Service Representative certification in March of 2009 in order to better serve the clients of GHM Agency.

Gaye and her husband Les reside in Skowhegan, Maine.

Jen Graf
jen@ghmagency.com

Jen joined GHM Agency in July of 2004 as our receptionist and has moved into a customer Service position. She came to GHM with 3 years experience in the insurance industry. She obtained her property casualty agents license in June of 2005. She has since become a Certified Insurance Service Representative (CISR). Jen provides customer service to personal lines clients.

Jen is a Kennebec Valley Community College graduate and resides in Skowhegan with her husband Rob, son Robert Jr and daughter Kristen.

Stephanie Leonard
stephanie@ghmagency.com

Stephanie joined GHM Agency in September of 2006 and shortly thereafter obtained her property and casualty agents license. She currently works in our personal lines department as a customer service representative & handles the remarketing of personal lines accounts in house. She recently obtained her Accredited Customer Service Representative designation in order to better serve the clients of GHM Agency.

Stephanie currently resides in Vassalboro with her family.

Wendy VanAntwerp
wendy@ghmagency.com

Upon graduating from Thomas College (Waterville, ME) in 1993 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting, Wendy joined us at GHM Agency and obtained her property casualty agents license in 1995. She has since become a Certified Insurance Service Representative (CISR). Wendy provides customer service to both personal and business clients. With Wendy's input, we have established guidelines and become more efficient in servicing the needs of our clients.

Wendy is a graduate of Washburn District High School. She lives in Winslow with her husband Jim and their son Zachary.

Janice Muzerolle
janice@ghmagency.com

Janice brought her strong accounting background to GHM Agency in 1988 and handles all of the accounting for our agency. She earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting from the University of Maine.

She and her husband Dick reside in Waterville and have two grown sons.

Debbie Tracy
debbie@ghmagency.com

Debbie joined the GHM team in 2000 to fill a new position that we created to streamline our back office processing. She had previously developed a strong insurance background while working for a southern Kennebec County insurance carrier for several years. Debbie obtained her property casualty agents license in November 2000 after completing an extensive self-study program and attending a three-day license preparation class.

Debbie resides in Mercer, Maine.

Gail Conway
gail@ghmagency.com

Gail started in the insurance industry in 1989 working in commercial insurance and in 1998 earned her property casualty agents license. After taking a year off from the insurance world, Gail decided to rejoin the insurance business with GHM Agency in 2002 as receptionist, along with performing administrative duties, working on licensing producers with carriers, special programs, etc.

Laurie Ferris
laurie@ghmagency.com

Laurie joined the staff at GHM Agency in April of 2003. She came to GHM as a licensed agent for both property casualty, life and health. Laurie's primary responsibilities are in our processing department.

Laurie and her husband live in Skowhegan.

Megan Cross
megan@ghmagency.com

Megan Joined GHM Agency in June of 2003 after graduating from the University of Maine at Farmington with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology.  She earned her Property and Casualty License in June of 2004 and she primarily works in our processing department.

Megan resides in Oakland.

Cathy Taylor
cathy@ghmagency.com

Cathy joined GHM in November of 2009. She had worked for many years in the medical field, had owned her own retail gift shop, and worked in financial services. She obtained her Property and Casualty Producers license in August of 2010, and is currently studying for her Life and Health license exam. Cathy serves as assistant to the Commercial Lines Department, works in Processing, and shares Receptionist duties.

Cathy lives in Waterville with her husband Bill.

Ray Howe

Ray joined the GHM Agency support staff in 2005 as our property inspector. His additional responsibilities include opening and distributing incoming mail, and performing the duties necessary in the general maintenance of all of the GHM offices.