Moving forward: New Avesta Housing president and CEO leads organization toward future

Rebecca Hatfield's first day as president and CEO of Avesta Housing in Maine also happened to be her daughter's first day of kindergarten. Hatfield woke up extra early so she'd have time to wait at the bus stop with her daughter, whose name and teacher were written on a tag hanging over the dress that her daughter had picked out for her first day. 

"She wanted to be perfect, and I wanted to be perfect," Hatfield recalls. 

After the bus pulled away, Hatfield jumped in her car and rushed to the office, where she has served as president and CEO since September. She had a moment of wondering: Could she do it all? But as soon as she saw the staff, most of whom she'd gotten to know during her seven years with the organization, she felt a surge of energy and got to work.  

Hatfield, who recently earned the title "Mainer of the Year," was born in California and spent her early years on the West Coast. She studied computer and information science in college and began her career in that field. She later studied business, which led to a job in banking at Citigroup. When she and her husband moved to Maine, she wanted to use her skills to help the community. 

"My mom was a mathematician, and she used her skills for social impact," Hatfield says. "Being around parents who were always giving back taught me to help other people. That's what drove me to be here now." 

Working with Avesta, with its staff of 300, marked Hatfield's first time at a nonprofit. She loved it. "By definition, we're mission-driven, and that's how you make decisions each day. Sometimes, they're more complex, because you're trying to put your mission first and the decisions you make are affecting people's lives. Your decisions can be the difference between having a home and not having a home."  

Hatfield developed a deep connection with Avesta and applied for the position of president and CEO in the hopes of seeing the organization into its future. "Entering this role in the midst of the housing crisis was an interesting time to take over an organization," she says. "It felt like a lot. But it also felt like: Here's a place I can make a difference." 

The board thought she could make a difference, too. "Rebecca impressed us with her compassion for the people in our community and her strategic vision for our organization," says Jonathan Culley, chair of the Avesta Housing board of directors. "Having recently celebrated Avesta's 50th anniversary, we're excited to support Rebecca as she leads this nonprofit into the next chapter of its history."  

Hatfield shares that while there isn't one silver bullet for the housing crisis, developing more housing is something her organization knows will help. "Equally important is strategizing to think of other creative ways to support different types of housing and how we can serve the people who need that housing. Once they have a roof over their heads, it doesn't stop there." 

The need in Maine can be easily demonstrated in a recent 52-unit apartment complex for asylum seekers that Avesta created in South Portland. The organization received more than 1,000 applications for the homes.  

"Industry wide, we are not creating new affordable homes fast enough," Hatfield says. Nearly 9,000 households applied for housing with Avesta in 2022, a 27% increase from 2021. Housing officials estimate that Maine needs 20,000 to 25,000 more affordable homes statewide, Hatfield adds. "We're in a unique period. One of the good things to come from the crisis was a heightened awareness about the need for housing. A lot of people are paying attention now who weren't paying attention before." 

Inside Avesta, Hatfield is focused on creating a supportive environment with a work-life balance. "I love who I work with," she says. "I truly believe in our mission and supporting our residents as they move forward in their lives. There are other things I can do in my life. But I feel good showing up every day at work. A lot of that is because of the people, inside the office and out." 

During Women's History Month, Hatfield reflects on some of her mentors, including her mother. "She showed me what it meant to put a goal in front of you, to have a dream and go for it, and to be confident in who I am." Another mentor is Barbara Dugas-Patterson, who headed Hatfield's business unit at Citigroup. "When I looked at her and saw the way she would lead, I thought: ‘That's the person I want to be.' She had empathy and created a family environment. She created a safe space to learn." 

In addition to her position at Avesta, Hatfield serves on a number of boards. And of course, she's a spouse and a mother. "It's a balance, but it's important, stepping into this role, that people see me as a mom too, because that's who I am. You can make it work. You can do it all. It's hard, but you can. You just have to find balance – and sleep," she adds, with a laugh.  

Support is crucial, too, of course. But Hatfield says she has that with her staff. "We can do this together."