The topic of affordable housing really needs to start with a clear explanation of what is being discussed. In Falmouth we have four affordable housing entities; that in and of itself confuses people. All four [...]
A single-family home price at a median sales price of $800,000 for Falmouth will require an income of approximately $240,000 per year.
Cape Cod Commission, Housing Profile: Falmouth (2024), and Cape Cod & Islands Association of Realtors
Johanna Zarra was born and raised in Falmouth, where she currently resides with her husband and their two children. She has worked in the banking industry for more than 15 years, with most of her career spent at Cape & Coast Bank as a Residential Mortgage Loan Officer. Throughout her career, Johanna has helped many individuals and families navigate the mortgage process, including supporting opportunities for affordable homeownership.
Johanna is actively involved in several volunteer efforts, including hosting Divorce & Mortgage workshops for WE CAN, serving as Troop Leader for a local Girl Scout troop, participating as a Gala Committee Member for the Falmouth Education Foundation, and coordinating the Birthday Book Program through the North Falmouth Elementary School PTO.
As a lifelong Falmouth resident, Johanna values the importance of community and is passionate about supporting local families and strengthening opportunities for future generations.
Stephanie McDowell is a CPA based in Falmouth with over 30 years of accounting and tax experience. She serves individuals and small businesses, with a specialization in Construction clients. She also works extensively with estate and trust taxation.
Born and raised in East Falmouth, Massachusetts, she graduated in 1994 from the University of Notre Dame with a Bachelor of Business Administration in Accountancy and went on to become a Certified Public Accountant.
She is known for an approachable, detail-oriented style and focuses on helping clients understand their finances and tax obligations. She especially enjoys supporting small businesses and building long-term relationships within the Falmouth community. Her passions include traveling with her family as well as working with animal rescue organizations.
Thomas “Tom” Zine is a retired Massachusetts State Trooper and U.S. Army veteran Thomas Zine with a 30+ year history of public service in Falmouth. A licensed construction supervisor with experience in residential building and remodeling, he brings practical construction industry knowledge to local decision-making. Tom has served on the Falmouth Planning Board as Clerk/Secretary and the Falmouth Community Preservation Committee, focusing on responsible development, housing, and preservation. He has also been active in grassroots efforts to protect open space and guide thoughtful growth in the community.
Brendan Crane is Vice President of Crane Appliance, a family-owned appliance company serving Cape Cod and the Islands for more than 40 years. Prior to joining the family business, Brendan built a career in entertainment and media, specializing in non-fiction storytelling and creative strategy with a strong focus on nonprofit partnerships and social impact projects. He brings a creative, community-focused perspective to both business and civic involvement in Falmouth.
Lori Andrews has held a variety of leadership roles in HR, finance, audit and IT during a 40+ year career in financial services-insurance, public accounting and government. Lori retired from Liberty Mutual in 2021 as Senior Vice President and Manager of Global Total Rewards. In that role, ensuring more than 45,000 employees receive fair and competitive compensation and benefits worldwide. Lori has served on the Partners for Youth with Disabilities Board of Directors since 2020.
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Maro Titus has a deep connection to the Falmouth Community that dates back to her childhood, shaping her passion for the area. Leveraging her successful career in healthcare administration, Maro has transitioned her expertise to Kinlin Grover Compass Real Estate. As a dedicated agent, she strives to understand each client’s unique needs, bringing a wealth of marketing knowledge and enthusiasm to the real estate practice. With a background in executive leadership encompassing strategic planning, government affairs, and business development, Maro’s professional journey is marked by a commitment to excellence.
A former reporter at The Falmouth Enterprise, Maro now shares her insights on the real estate market as a freelance writer. Actively involved in various nonprofit organizations, Maro previously held a Commissioner role for the Town of Falmouth (Commission on Substance Use). Her dedication to giving back is evident through her numerous volunteer roles, including as an appointee to the Grievance Committee of the Massachusetts Association of Realtors®. Maro values the opportunity to give back to the world around us. Her grandfather Jack was a licensed broker in CT and MA for years, so her work honors his legacy while helping others enjoy an effective, positive realty experience.
Ms. Titus owned and operated MVT Healthcare Consulting, LLC, a Connecticut-based health insurance advisory practice serving pharmacy benefit managers, managed care organizations, and other clients throughout the northeast. In addition to her consulting clients, Maro did freelance writing for statewide publications on various industry subjects. Maro holds a bachelor’s degree in American Studies from Smith College and a Master’s in Public Policy and Administration (MPA) from Columbia University’s School of International and Public Affairs.
Sudie Gifford comes to our board with an extremely varied background in arts, education, finance, public relations, and charity work.
She graduated from Denison University in Ohio with a B. A. in International Relations and Political Science/Economics. Her focus was on France, where she studied abroad for a year, and on China, which she studied extensively at Harvard University Yenching Institute in Cambridge, MA.
Sudie went on to have an accomplished career in banking in both investment and securities at State Street in Boston. Outside of banking, Sudie has a passion for the arts and for education in the arts. In Reading, MA, she designed and implemented a town-wide annual Halloween parade for children, and served on the town Recreation Committee. Sudie has worked as an art dealer for Polly Latham Asian Art, as a tour guide for Friends of the Boston Public Garden, and as an educator and education outreach coordinator at the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston.
Sudie currently manages all aspects of granting funds to charitable organizations via a family foundation to further education and the arts. Sudie joined our board in 2021.
Ed Monteiro was President of the Board of Directors of Falmouth Housing Trust in the ‘90’s, and we are thrilled that he is back.
Ed grew up in Falmouth and has been working in the community as a developer and real estate broker since 1985. He has worked on single-family homes, multi-family homes, commercial and light industrial projects. As a general contractor and developer he has installed water mains and water lines, sewerage systems and septic systems, and underground utilities. His single-family homes have included starter homes from 1,200 square foot to custom-built homes starting at 3,000 to 5,000 square feet. Ed’s development division develops raw land as well, building anything from two homes to twenty plus subdivisions. Ed has worked with the towns of Falmouth, Marion, Barnstable, and Mashpee. He renovated The Baird Center, a residential, day and summer school for troubled adolescent boys, and worked on a project for Habitat for Humanity here in Falmouth.
Ed re-joined the Board in 2021.
David Sutkowy has lived in Falmouth since 2020.
Working in the Onondaga County (Syracuse, New York) government most of his life, David served first as Commissioner of the Department of Social Services, responsible for the administration of federal anti-poverty programs and of child and adult protective services, and then as Commissioner of the newly formed Department of Children and Family Services, responsible for child protective services, juvenile justice, children’s mental health, and community and school-based programs. He also has experience in the private, not-for-profit sector, working with a Syracuse-based agency to organize construction of housing and supportive services for low-income single parents.
While at Onondaga County, David also participated in initiatives such as expanding the county’s relationship with local homeless shelters to provide more stable funding and better system oversight, as well as working with county agencies to create and make operational a home of elderly persons needing end of life care.
David holds a Master of Social Work from Ohio State University and continued his education with course work at the Syracuse University Maxwell School of Public Administration.
David works closely with Belonging to Each Other, a Falmouth based not-for-profit agency that supports people experiencing homelessness.
He joined the Falmouth Housing Trust board in 2020.
Tammy Rausch is an experienced operations and business transformation leader with a background in financial services, global operations, and strategic planning. Tammy has held leadership roles at companies including Fidelity Investments and State Street Bank & Trust, where she led large teams, improved operational processes, and managed global client relationships. Tammy is also active in community volunteering, supporting local organizations including Make a Wish, Hand in Hand Thrift Shop, and Next Chapter Book Club.
Joan Bates has lived in Falmouth with her husband, Robert, since 2002. Prior to that, the couple lived in Newton. Joan’s 25-year professional career was in special education and nonprofit management.
The Falmouth Housing Trust is a natural interest for her, especially since becoming a real estate agent in 2004. As the relatively high cost of living on Cape Cod makes it difficult to attract and retain workers on Cape Cod, and also makes it extremely difficult for many native Cape residents to afford a place to live, Joan believes the community must work to address this issue.
As a nonprofit manager off Cape, fundraising was always a part of her responsibility. Joan Bates previously served as co-chair of the campaign for the Falmouth Public Library, which successfully supported the renovation and expansion of the Main Branch of the Falmouth Public Library.
“I’m pleased to contribute my past experience in fundraising to create more work-force housing for Falmouth residents, and happy to support the Falmouth Housing Trust and join their Board of Directors.”
Joanne O’Sullivan is a real estate attorney who has been practicing law in Falmouth since 1995. She is a self-described “wash-ashore” living on Cape Cod for 30 plus years. Joanne grew up in South Boston, and graduated from the University of Chicago and Boston College Law School. Attorney O’Sullivan has primarily been a sole practitioner for the past 20 years. She is married with 2 adult children who live out of state for job opportunities. Ms. O’Sullivan joined the FHT Board of Directors in 2009 and has served in various capacities, currently as vice president.
Director, Addie Drolette, is a Falmouth native and makes her home in East Falmouth. Most of Addie’s professional career has been spent serving the mortgage financing needs of the community of Falmouth. She is presently a Senior Residential Loan Officer with Martha’s Vineyard Bank.
Addie was a member of the FHT Board of Directors in the 1990s and was instrumental in the creation of the Gerald Flynn House program. Addie was president of the Board of Directors from 2011 to 2017, and is once again serving in this role. She is passionate about homeownership and believes creating more opportunities for low to moderate income families to own their own homes will strengthen Falmouth. “Homeownership is the single most effective tool for middle class families to build wealth and create personal economic stability, and being a responsible lender has allowed me to help many young families in our community. FHT does much the same thing through keeping first-time home-buyer costs down, and I’m a true believer in the program.”
