Staff

MARY BOËCHAT, Development Officer

Mary manages the donor database and records, provides backup to the senior development officer for the Friends of Acadia Benefit, and assists with membership, annual giving, annual programs, and donor events. Before moving to Maine in 1991, she worked in the communications field for seven years and was a financial writer on Wall Street. Mary lives in Brooklin with her family and loves sailing with them on Eggemoggin Reach. She holds a B.A. in French from Wheaton College.

Contact: mary@friendsofacadia.org

EARL BRECHLIN, Communications Director

Earl is the editor of Friends of Acadia’s print and online publications, including the Friends of Acadia Journal. He manages media relations and online presence, collaborates with the Programs and Development Departments on their media needs, and leads the communications team in developing and implementing a member-friendly communications plan that furthers FOA’s mission. Earl has been writing and taking photographs on Mount Desert Island and in Maine for more than 35 years. A Registered Maine Guide, he is the author of Maine and New England history books. He served as Editor of the Bar Harbor Times, the MDI Editor of The Ellsworth American and was the founding editor of the award-winning Mount Desert Islander. For a time, he owned and operated a bookstore dedicated to Maine writers. Earl and his wife Roxie, a retired Kindergarten teacher, live on the edge of Acadia National Park in Bar Harbor.

Contact: earl@friendsofacadia.org

STEPHANIE CLEMENT, Conservation Director

Stephanie has served as Conservation Director for Friends of Acadia since 1997. She oversees all of Friends of Acadia’s programs, with primary responsibility for FOA’s advocacy, transportation, and resource management issues. Stephanie is also the primary contact with park staff for many FOA park policy initiatives and serves as the principal liaison with community officials.  She is a part of the Staff Core Management Group and works with the Centennial Task Force, Balanced Use Task Force, Wild Gardens of Acadia Volunteers, and the Natural Resources Protection Committee. Stephanie serves on the boards of directors for the Bar Harbor Chamber of Commerce and Downeast Transportation, the operator of the Island Explorer bus system. She graduated from Colby College with a B.A. in Biology/Environmental Studies, and from the University of Vermont with an M.S. in Natural Resources Planning. Stephanie lives in Bar Harbor, adores dogs of every kind, and enjoys participating in community theater.

Contact: stephanie@friendsofacadia.org

LISA HORSCH CLARK, Director of Development and Donor Relations

Lisa directs fundraising efforts for Friends of Acadia, working primarily with individuals, foundations, and corporations wishing to make charitable gifts to support capital and special projects. She specializes in estate and planned giving, and leads the development office in running a low-cost, efficient development program. Lisa joined the staff in 2005, leaving a long-time career in fundraising in higher education to raise funds to preserve and protect our beloved park. She can often be found hiking Acadia’s trails and biking or skiing on the carriage roads with husband Bob and daughter Grace. Lisa holds a B.B.A. in International Business and French from James Madison University, and an M.B.A. from James Madison University.

Contact: lisahorsch@friendsofacadia.org

SARAH JANE CURTS, Accounting Manager

Sarah works with the director of finance and administration.  She serves as the contact person for the board of directors, manages accounts payable, prepares reconciliations, and assists with the annual audit.  Sarah joined the staff in 2012 after serving for ten years as office manager for the Marine Environmental Research Institute.  She enjoys cooking, knitting, and spinning.  In summer she loves to kayak and year round can be found watching cross country and track and field events.  She lives in Ellsworth with her son Tim.

Contact: sarah@friendsofacadia.org

BRIAN HENKEL, Wild Acadia Project Coordinator

The Wild Acadia initiative is a collaboration between Acadia National Park and Friends of Acadia that takes a watershed-based approach to improving degraded ecological conditions in and around Acadia National Park. Within this collaboration, Brian works with park staff and area partners such as university faculty, students, local towns, and conservation non-profits to collect data, assess resource conditions, plan and initiate projects, and coordinate efforts of the park and stakeholders. The Wild Acadia initiative strives to improve ecological integrity, increase resilience, and maintain the cultural authenticity of the park and surrounding community resources. Brian is a graduate of the University of Texas at San Antonio with a BS in Civil Engineering. He has worked as a hydrologist in groundwater and surface water for more than 15 years.

Contact: brian@FriendsofAcadia.org

JASON IRWIN, Vice President of Finance and Administration

Jason Irwin is FOA’s Vice President of Finance and Administration, stepping into the post vacated by the retirement of Dianna McDowell. Irwin is a resident of Mount Desert, a native of Maine, and a graduate of the University of Southern Maine. He is a CPA and comes to FOA with a wide range of prior experience. As VP, Irwin is a key member of FOA’s leadership. He is responsible for several areas including all of FOA’s financial management functions, and human resources. Prior to joining FOA, Jason served as Controller at the Jackson Laboratory and Central Vermont Medical Center.

Contact: jason@friendsofacadia.org

SHAWN KEELEY, Senior Development Officer, Major Gifts and Events

Shawn manages fundraising events including the Annual Benefit and works with donors to maximize the positive impact their charitable giving has on Acadia. He has worked in philanthropy and development since graduating from College of the Atlantic in 2000. Shawn is a Certified Fundraising Executive (CFRE). He discovered Acadia as a student at College of the Atlantic. After bouncing around to some other gorgeous places – Hawaii, California, Vermont – he and his family returned to MDI in 2014. Although Shawn spends plenty of time at the office, he tries to get out into the park as much as possible hiking, biking, skiing, and soaking up all that Acadia has to offer. He lives in Bar Harbor with his wife, Sarah, and two children, Noah and Aliyah.

Contact: shawn@friendsofacadia.org

STEPHANIE LEY, Summit Steward Coordinator

Stephanie joined FOA seasonally as a Cadillac Summit Steward in 2016. In 2017, she was promoted to the coordinator position when the Summit Steward and Ridge Runner programs merged. Ley coordinates with multiple park divisions to assist staff in protecting Acadia and educating visitors on Leave No Trace principles. One of her favorite perks of the job is meeting visitors from all over the world on top of Cadillac Mountain. After graduating with a Bachelor of Science in Forest Resources and Conservation from the University of Florida, Ley began her career at the Florida Forest Service. Before settling in Maine, she lived in Flagstaff, AZ, where she worked at Walnut Canyon National Monument. Ley never tires of hiking and kayaking in Acadia, but in winter she often travels internationally and to visit family.

Contact: stephley@friendsofacadia.org

DAVID MacDONALD, President and CEO

David joined Friends of Acadia in 2012 after a twenty-year career in land conservation at Maine Coast Heritage Trust.   A long-time resident of Somesville and 1982 graduate of Mount Desert Island High School, David has been exploring the trails, woods, and waters of Acadia for most of his life.   He volunteers with many local organizations, including the Mount Desert Land & Garden Preserve, the Pleasant River Wildlife Foundation, the Schoodic Institute, and the Somes-Meynell Wildlife Sanctuary.  David loves spending as much time as possible on boats, bikes, skis, and skates (and very occasionally a skateboard or snowboard), enjoying the outdoors and the great State of Maine with his wife, Caroline, daughter Eliza, and son Jesse.

Contact: david@friendsofacadia.org

Lee McWilliams, Development Officer

Lee works with members, donors, sponsors, volunteers, and community partners. She supports membership development, annual giving, program activities, and annual events. Lee joined us after nine years at Northern Light Health as a grant consultant. She came to Maine more than 30 years ago and has worked extensively with nonprofits in the areas of education, health, food insecurity, and the arts. Lee enjoys cooking, birding, and traveling to see her two grown children. She holds a BA from Trinity College and an MA from Georgetown University.

Contact: lee@friendsofacadia.org

DANA PETERSEN, Stewardship Coordinator

Dana Petersen is FOA’s full-time Stewardship Coordinator after serving so ably in the position seasonally for two years. In addition to Petersen’s contributions to FOA during 2016-17, he has six years’ experience as a back-country wilderness ranger and three years as a high school teacher. A native of Montana, he earned a B.A. in English and an education endorsement from Montana State University. Petersen lives on MDI and enjoys hiking and fishing in his free time.

Contact: dana@friendsofacadia.org

MIKE STAGGS, Office Manager

Mike organizes and coordinates office operations and procedures, ensuring efficiency in all operations. He also provides technical support, assessment, and maintenance of computers, office equipment, and furniture. Mike first came to Maine in 1990 as a northbound thru-hiker on the Appalachian Trail and hasn’t left since. He joined the staff in 2000 after serving as a buyer for Cadillac Mountain Sports for six years. A native of Pennsylvania and a graduate of College of the Atlantic, he enjoys sailing, diving, gardening, hiking, biofuel cars, and big motorcycles. Mike is a notary, dedimus justice, USCG master captain, and divemaster. He has completed multiple long-distance trails including the Long Trail, Pacific Crest Trail, and Appalachian Trail. Mike loves a good adventure and has fought off pirates while sailing in the Caribbean. He lives in Town Hill with his wife, Lynn; son, Grayson; and cat, Elsie.

Contact: mike@friendsofacadia.org

BECCA STANLEY, Recreation Technician Lead

Becca assists park staff in studying recreational use of Acadia National Park. She maintains electronic trail counters on carriage roads and trails, monitors traffic counters on entrances/exits onto Acadia’s roads, and administers visitor questionnaires on an annual basis. Becca is FOA’s full-time Recreation Technician Lead after working in the position seasonally for three years. In 2016, she received her B.S. in Natural Resources from Northland College in Wisconsin, and starting fall 2020; she will be attending the University of Maine for a Master’s degree. Before joining FOA, Becca actively worked with the U.S. Forest Service as a wilderness ranger in the BWCA throughout Minnesota and as an undergraduate student researcher in Grand Canyon National Park. Becca loves hiking Acadia’s peaks, swimming at Pond’s end, playing chess, and recreationally hauling lobsters with her husband, Tim.

Contact: becca@friendsofacadia.org

PAIGE STEELE, Conservation Projects Manager

Paige manages many of the Friends of Acadia youth engagement and volunteer programs, such as Acadia Quest, Outdoor Classrooms, Urban and Diverse Youth, Summit Stewards, Recreation Technician, Stewardship Volunteers, and the Acadia Winter Trails Association. Paige joined the FOA staff in 2014 after serving as the interpretive education associate at the Wells National Estuarine Research Reserve in Wells, Maine. She began work in and around Acadia National Park in 2004 as a registered Maine guide leading sea kayak, hiking, and biking tours. Paige grew up near Tulsa, Oklahoma, where her love for the outdoors was inspired by family trips to national parks. Her conservation career began as a volunteer naturalist at Oxley Nature Center before attending College of the Atlantic, where she met her husband, Zack. Paige and Zack married atop Cadillac Mountain and live in downtown Ellsworth with their son Henrick and daughter Quinlan.

Contact: paige@friendsofacadia.org

JULIA WALKER THOMAS, Digital Media Manager

Julia creates and produces Friends of Acadia’s photo and video content, is the photo editor of Acadia: The Friends of Acadia Journal, edits and manages the website and social media presence, writes and distributes the monthly E-News, and supervises the Acadia Digital Media Team. Julia joined the staff in 2014 after graduating from College of the Atlantic. In addition to her classes at COA, she also studied photojournalism and outdoor leadership at Western Kentucky University, and documentary photography at the Salt Institute in Portland. A native of Sarasota, Florida, Julia is addicted to all things aquatic. She has lived on a WWII tugboat while working as a kayak guide on Block Island, spent two months paddling the Mississippi River from Illinois to New Orleans, and guided many backcountry paddling trips in multiple states. One of her favorite things about living on MDI are the long summer days that provide ample time for after-work swims in Acadia’s wonderful lakes and ponds. In the fall she can be found canoeing up Northeast Creek in search of cranberries and in winter she can be found ice skating on Somes Pond.

Contact: julia@friendsofacadia.org

LISA WILLIAMS, Communication Design and Web Associate

Growing up in Texas and Virginia, Lisa eventually returned to reconnect with family roots in Maine. As part of FOA’s Communication team, she contributes her skills in digital and print design as well as maintenance of the FOA website. Holder of degrees from the University of Texas, University of Virginia and Vermont College of Fine Arts, Lisa has more than twenty years of experience in art and design, both in the private sector and for non-profits. An avid hiker, kayaker and occasional runner, she enjoys all forms of outdoor pursuits including exploring scenic places with her partner and their three dogs. They have two grown daughters who love having Acadia nearby as an added bonus when visiting.

Contact: Lisawilliams@friendsofacadia.org

JOANNE WOOD, Development Assistant

JoAnne was born in England and raised in San Francisco, California. She moved to the Portland, Maine area in 2000 with her husband, Doug. After discovering that the Downeast region was truly their ‘happy place’ she joined Friends of Acadia in 2018. JoAnne’s love of the environment and of the non-profit world lead her to enter the Maine Master Naturalist Program, from which she graduated in 2017. She loves being a volunteer teacher, showing off the many beautiful places Maine has to offer and promoting stewardship and the preservation of the precious resources we have here. JoAnne also loves birding and plant and animal identification. One of her favorite ways to observe animal behavior, specifically their movement through the environment, is by using scat and winter track identification. When she’s not outdoors leading nature hikes or bird watching, JoAnne can be found spending time with her husband and their three dogs, or in her kitchen baking treats for friends and coworkers.

Contact: JoAnne@friendsofacadia.org