Meet Our Board Members
Photo by Kaleb Kloppe
Walt Fowski
After receiving a degree in electrical engineering from Princeton in 1961, Walter spent four years at Lockheed working on the design of the Polaris and Poseidon missile systems then spent the next thirty years with Perkin Elmer designing the control of space based optical systems for NASA and other government organizations.
As department manager and then as director of design engineering he has extensive functional management experience. As a project/program manager, he has experience dealing with customers and leading a small team where he was involved with all aspects of design and solving technical problems.
In 2004 he began volunteering with FOWIL (Friends of Wood Island Lighthouse) and did so for the next sixteen years. He joined Sean Murphy when the Maine Lighthouse Trust was formed in 2018 and has served on the Board and as its Treasurer for six years.
Janet Gerding
After raising three sons in NH, Janet and her husband moved to the beautiful coast of Maine in 2012, fulfilling her dream of living by the ocean.
Janet retired from her corporate job in 2021 after 36 years in various technology positions. Her last ten years was as a regional Chief Information Officer. As an executive leader in the technology field, she has deep functional and project management experience.
Wanting to keep her fingers nimble, Janet joined the Maine Lighthouse Trust in 2023 and has served on its Board as Secretary and most recently Vice President. Leveraging her technology background, she helped to implement and formalize the grant application processes.
In her free time, she loves to explore the coastline, read, and play pickleball.
Sean Murphy
Sean, who is a United States Coast Guard (USCG) licensed Master Captain, has charted the coast of Maine all his life.
He is a founder of The Friends of Wood Island Lighthouse in his hometown of Biddeford. Sean operated the island’s custom-built landing craft for over fifteen years before leaving the organization to raise funds for all of Maine’s lighthouse community via the Maine lighthouse license plate.
Sean has volunteered for several other non-profit organizations in addition to Lighthouse causes. He holds a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice and is a retired twenty-five year decorated State Police Sergeant and Army Combat Engineer.
Carol Weldin
In July of 2021, Carol retired and moved to southern Maine where she spent much of her childhood. Visiting lighthouses was a frequent activity. In 2024, Carol was asked to serve on the Maine Lighthouse Trust board.
While her career path has been varied, almost 20 years was focused on non-profit accounting. In April 2025, Carol was installed as Treasurer, filling the very big shoes of Walter Fowski, MLT’s first Treasurer.
It is exciting to be a part of this organization and help MLT implement its mission "to support Maine’s lighthouse organizations, preservation and restoration groups, nonprofits, and other affiliated organizations to save Maine’s iconic lighthouses and lighthouse heritage."
"Your commitment to answer our crucial need to build a new walkway, in the likeness of the old historic walkway, is greatly appreciated."
Friends of the Doubling Point Light
Photo by Larry Myhre