BAR HARBOR —Staff retirements and the return of in-person stewardship programming have allowed Friends of Acadia to welcome four new members to its team. Nikki Burtis, Shannon Bryan, Amanda Mogridge, and Lynn Verrill all joined the full-time Friends of Acadia staff recently.

Nikki Burtis is the new Stewardship Coordinator and brings experience working for the Oregon Department of Forestry and the US Forest Service. Nikki works with Acadia National Park staff to coordinate programs such as the Drop-in Trails and Carriage Road Stewardship Volunteer Program and the Acadia Winter Trails Association. She also coordinates volunteer events such as Earth Day Roadside Cleanup in the spring and Take Pride in Acadia Day in the fall. Nikki was the seasonal Stewardship Assistant in 2021 and joined the staff full-time this year.

Shannon Bryan brings 17 years of experience as a writer for Maine-based newspapers, magazines, and digital brands to the position of Content & Website Manager. Shannon joined the communications team at Friends of Acadia in May, replacing Lisa Williams, who is semi-retiring and moving to a contract design position. Shannon will develop and create content for Acadia Magazine, and other communications and development materials. She also manages the organization’s website.

Development Officer Mary Boëchat is retiring in June after 13 years with Friends of Acadia, and Amanda Mogridge will take her place as Friends of Acadia’s Database Manager. Amanda brings a wide array of skills to Friends of Acadia, including a specialization in fundraising database management. She will work with the development and communications teams, the board, and volunteers in the overall planning, integration, and administration of development information systems to further the mission of Friends of Acadia.

Finally, Lynn Verrill joined the Friends of Acadia team earlier this year as its full-time Administrative Assistant. Lynn works closely with the President and CEO, the Vice President of Finance and Administration and CFO, and the administrative team to support organizational needs. She also supports the Board of Directors and Board Committee meetings, provides HR and event support to Friends of Acadia.

“We are thrilled to welcome so many new, talented folks to the Friends of Acadia team,” said Interim President and Conservation Director, Stephanie Clement. “Amanda and Shannon are filling positions that opened as two of our wonderful, long-term employees, Mary Boëchat and Lisa Williams, retire. Nikki and Lynn are in positions that we kept unfilled as some in-person programming was put on hold during the COVID pandemic. We’re excited to be at a full staff complement as we head into peak season in the park, and we are looking forward to welcoming our new President and CEO Eric Stiles this July.”

All Friends of Acadia staff contact information can be found online at friendsofacadia.org.

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