Board of Directors

Chairperson

Robert Cronin

Bob Cronin is a retired Master Mariner who served in local and regional law enforcement for over 32 years.

After 27 years with Andover (MA) Police Department, Bob was recruited by the Middlesex County Sheriff’s Office to form and command their new Marine Unit, retiring as a Deputy Superintendent. He was also lead instructor of the North Shore (MA) Harbormaster Academy and taught various subjects at regional police academies.

He also owned and operated a boat accident investigation consulting firm for twenty years which was located in Newburyport. Northeast Watercraft Accident Reconstruction Specialists served clients throughout the lower 48 and the Caribbean. Bob was a nationally certified instructor in boat accident investigation.

Locally, Bob served on the Harbor Commission for eight years before serving four terms on the Newburyport City Council.

Bob has a passion for history, especially Age of Sail naval history and is a member of the U.K. based “1805 Club”. Bob and family have been active in the Greater Newburyport boating community for over three decades.

Vice President

Thom Gould

tgould@thechmm.org

Thom Gould, a native of Newburyport, attended Newburyport Public Schools and subsequently received a bachelor’s degree from Tufts University (Mathematics) and a Master’s degree from Northeastern University (Engineering). Having successfully migrated 38 miles from Newburyport to attend college, Thom migrated another 38 miles to Attleboro, Massachusetts for employment at Texas Instruments, Inc.’s Materials & Controls Group headquartered in Attleboro. A Texas Instruments (TI) employee for 36 years he held management responsibilities in Reliability Engineering, Quality Assurance, Manufacturing, Materials Management, Financial Planning and International Operations. Fully one-half of his TI career was directly involved with its international operations and provided the opportunity to have enhanced exposure to the diverse cultures of Europe, Japan, Asia, Australia and the Americas. This exposure to diverse cultures helped to prepare him for the migration from the North End of Newburyport, home in his early years, to the South End of Newburyport, where he now lives. Thom has been a Director and Vice-President of two not-for-profit organizations: The Providence Chapter of APICS (American Production and Inventory Control Society) and the Sons and Daughters of the First Settlers of Newbury.

While always interested in the Custom House building and its contents, the Newburyport CHMM is of particular interest to Thom due to a familial connection. His uncle, Herbert E. Bean was involved early in the CHMM and was Treasurer, Director and Director Emeritus spanning the period from 1973 to 1999. A former CHMM Board member from 2014 to 2020, Thom served as Chair from 2014-2016 and Clerk from 2018-2020.

Treasurer

Charlie Tontar

ctontar@thechmm.org

Charlie Tontar is a Professor Emeritus at Merrimack College where he taught economics with specialties in the History of Economic Thought, Urban and Regional Economics, Environmental Economics, and Labor Economics. He also worked with the City of Lawrence on affordable housing, environmental justice, and economic strategic planning through competitive grants secured from H.U.D. and the E.P.A.

He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Foreign Service from Georgetown University and a Master’s Degree in economics from the Graduate Faculty of the New School for Social Research where he completed all work toward a Ph.D with the exception of the thesis. From 2014 through 2021, Tontar served as a Newburyport City Councilor and chaired the Committee on Budget & Finance and the Committee on Public Utilities. He has also served as a Corporator for First Essex Bank and as a Board member of the Andover School of Montessori.

Clerk

Jennifer W. Germain

jgermain@thechmm.org

Jennifer Germain, realtor and former owner of Stone Ridge Properties in Newburyport, MA started her career in Boston for Delphi Management, a money management firm with a value investment strategy.

Jennifer’s real estate career began in 1999 and she has been a consistent multi-million dollar producer. She received her BA from the University of New Hampshire and has lived in the area for over 37 years.

Her love of history and the Merrimack River led her to the Custom House Maritime Museum where she hopes to have a positive impact.

Director

Susan Finneran

sfinneran@thechmm.org

Susan grew up in Massachusetts and lived subsequently in Indiana, New York, London and Bucharest. She has lived in Newburyport and Newbury for the last thirty years. Susan has worked as a lawyer in New York City, London, Boston and now Newburyport. She was a law professor at a Boston law school, teaching commercial law. Susan graduated from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst and received her law degree from Norte Dame Law School. She is admitted to practice law in New York and Massachusetts and admitted to practice before the United States Supreme Court.

Prior to embarking on her law career, Susan traveled around the world and has taught high school history and social studies at Hamilton-Wenham Regional High School where she developed a local history course centered around Newburyport. She is an avid reader with a focus on history and political science.

Director

Ellie Bailey

bailey@thechmm.org

Ellie Bailey grew up in North Andover, and graduated from U. Mass, Amherst and Lesley University. She has had a career as both a museum educator and administrator and as a public school teacher, working at the Peabody Essex Museum, Museum of Old Newbury and Nock Middle School. Connecting people of all ages to museums and other environmental resources has been an important part of her work, whatever the setting.

In “retirement” Ellie works as an historic house researcher for the Newburyport Preservation Trust’s Plaque Program and as a teacher and guide for Historic New England. She also serves on the Ring’s Island Neighborhood Preservation District Committee, and the Board of Directors of the Friends of Parker River National Wildlife Refuge. Her home of over thirty years is on Ring’s Island in Salisbury where she enjoys her pets, gardening and her family.

Director

Mary Leen

mleen@thechmm.org

Mary Leen was associate director of the MIT Museum from 1994 until her retirement in 2021. She has long experience in museums and historical societies, including at the New England Historic Genealogical Society and The Bostonian Society. She also spent nine years in university development at Boston College and MIT with a focus on individual and foundation fundraising. She is a member of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Art Commission for the State House, and has served on the boards of the Association of Academic Museums and Galleries, Ellis Neighborhood Association, Gibson House Museum, New England Chapter of the Society of Architectural Historians, South End Historical Society, and Victorian Society in America/New England Chapter, and as chair of the New England Museum Association’s College – University Museums Professional Affinity Group.

Director

Sharon Spieldenner

sspieldenner@thechmm.org

Sharon Spieldenner lives in Newburyport and works as an archivist at the Museum of Old Newbury. Sharon has spent over twenty years working in public and academic libraries and museums. She also had a ten year career as a graphic/multimedia designer and illustrator in Boston and New York City. She holds a BA in Art and French from UMASS Boston and a Masters in Library Science and Archival Management from Simmons University. In her spare time, she enjoys urban exploration, old graveyards, kayaking and painting. Her love of history keeps her out of trouble.

Director Emeritus

Susan Bernhard

sbernhard@thechmm.org

Susan Bernhard, a lifelong learner and enthusiastic world traveler, enjoys history, art, gardening and outdoor sports. Owner of Northeast Tactical Sales Inc. she has thirty years of experience developing and promoting domestic and international companies specializing in mechanical and electromechanical manufacturing. Her love of the Merrimack River began while at Lowell Technological Institute (aka UMASS Lowell) as a biology and environmental engineering student.

Susan was a member of the first Merrimack River Watershed Commission, as well a researcher on the Aswan Dam Project Egypt when acquiring her master’s degree. Susan’s volunteering background includes Custom House Maritime Museum past Chair; past Vice Chair; Wakefield Food Pantry BOD; Girl Scouts; St Joseph’s School Finance Board; School Board and PTO, Tewksbury Conservation Commission. Susan and her husband Jeff reside in Newburyport.

Director

Nita Lamborghini

nlamborghini@thechmm.org

Nita Lamborghini is a graduate of Springfield College (BS), The Harvard Extension School (ALM) and the University of New Hampshire (Ph.D.). She began her career as a college field hockey and lacrosse coach at Connecticut College, Tufts University, and Harvard University. Nita left coaching to earn her PhD in sociology, majoring in social inequality and American social history.

After teaching sociology for several years, she moved into college administration. Nita ended her career in higher education at Northern Essex Community College where she served as the dean of students. Nita grew up sailing on the south shore and loves all things nautical. She is hoping to use both her professional and personal experiences to support and protect the CHMM mission and purpose.

Director

Thomas Coleman

tcoleman@thechmm.org

Tom Coleman has a background in banking and technology, specifically as a Human Resources professional and executive, including a number of years living and working in Geneva and Munich. He has served as a board member of the Senior Human Resources Network, a professional organization, and was the co-chair of its People & Culture Consultants collaborative. He is an alumnus of Harvard and Boston University. Tom is also the co-founder of VintageVino, a philanthropic venture that organizes wine and food events to support local food pantries and non-profits. He has been a resident of Newburyport since 2017. Tom’s interest in world and maritime history comes from his father, who was a sailor in the merchant marine before WW2.

Director

John Mauger

jmauger@thechmm.org

Rear Admiral John W. Mauger, USCG (Ret.) is a seasoned maritime executive with 33+ years in national security leadership. As Commander of the First Coast Guard District, he led 12,000 personnel across New England, implementing advanced security technologies including counter-drone systems.

RADM Mauger led the high-profile TITAN submersible search and recovery operation in 2023. At U.S. Cyber Command, he pioneered a cloud-based training environment that modernized cyber readiness.

His earlier career included Pacific and Bering Sea sailing as a shipboard engineer. He developed international maritime safety standards that protected mariners, created markets for alternative fuels, and established a Polar regions protection code.

Now a consultant, John applies his expertise to help clients navigate complex maritime and critical infrastructure challenges. He resides with his family in Newburyport where they enjoy exploring the coastal communities.

Director

Charlie Moore

cmoore@thechmm.org

Charlie has an appreciation for Newburyport’s place in history and the maritime roots that serve as the foundation for enabling world trade and protecting our coastline. He sees the CHMM as the perfect place to showcase the innovation and characters that helped shape history and propel the city to a place of regional and global prominence.

A greater Boston native, Charlie earned a BA from Union College and an MBA from Babson College. He has years of experience growing technology businesses and brings an entrepreneurial perspective to everything he does. Now a resident of Newburyport, his most recent venture is Newburyport Yachts, a brokerage serving buyers and sellers in the local community.

Charlie has traveled extensively throughout Europe and developed an appreciation for Renaissance art during a college program in Florence, Italy. He is an active supporter Year Up, Boston and a member of St. Paul’s Episcopal Church. Charlie and his wife, Alison, are active in the local community and have family ties to some of Newburyport’s most colorful characters. They love being part of this community, are avid boaters and can be found on the water most weekends during the season.

Staff

[James Russell, Executive Director - jrussell@thechmm.org
[Julia Bradley-LaBonte, Collections & Programs Manager - jbradley@thechmm.org
[General information - info@thechmm.org
[Questions about Membership - membership@thechmm.org