SPEAKERS

Jenny took the helm of MOB in 2019, bringing over a decade of experience working with outdoor-focused non-profit organizations in government and public relations, strategy and organizing. Her work as executive director allows her to lead a powerful and expanding network of businesses united around a clear objective: to create a thriving local outdoor recreation economy. Prior to working at MOB, she served at The Wilderness Society in Washington, D.C. and in Maine. There she directed advocacy campaigns and led coalitions to protect outdoor areas across the country and take meaningful action on climate change. She serves on the board of Maine GearShare and the Outdoor Industry Association’s Recreation Advisory Council. She takes the ferry to Portland from her home on Peaks Island in Casco Bay where she lives with her husband and son pursuing adventures both big and small.

Gabe is a fifth-generation resident of Bethel, Maine. Gabe was a founding board member of Inland Woods + Trails, and since 2014 has served as Executive Director. He holds a degree in Environmental Policy and Planning from the University of Maine at Farmington. He is a senior fellow in the Environment Leadership Program, and the Community Practitioners Network. He previously served as co-coordinator of the Maine Trails Coalition and lives on Mason St. in Bethel with his wife, Jessie.

Michael McAllister has been the executive director at SailMaine since 2016. He grew up in Biddeford, Maine and as a child was fortunate enough to receive a need-based scholarship to a learn to sail program. Those early experiences encouraged him to compete at the highest level in college, where he was an All-New England skipper at the University of Rhode Island. He continued his passion for sailing as a college coach at Columbia University in New York City. From there, he transitioned to practicing law. As an attorney, Michael worked tirelessly to advocate for at-risk youth in Maine as a junior defense attorney. His practice focused on ensuring kids had the resources and voice they needed to succeed. Prior to coming on as the Executive Director, Michael served on the Board of Directors at SailMaine and coached several high school teams at SailMaine. When Michael isn’t hanging out with his wife Annya, their daughter Ophelia, and their dog Arthur, he is racing slow keelboats like Rhodes 18+19, J24’s and etchells, and foiling his windsurfer in the back cove!

Shadia Abdulahi serves as MCI’s Climate and Policy Coordinator, bringing over a decade of community-based experience. With a background in political canvassing, outreach, and legislative policy writing, she is skilled in translating community priorities into meaningful policy solutions. Shadia is passionate about advancing climate resilience and strengthening inclusive policies that meet the needs of Maine’s diverse and emerging communities.

Amber Albe oversees Skowhegan Outdoors and the Basecamp Gear Library where she supports outdoor recreation as a tool for community development. After thru-hiking the Appalachian Trail in 2019, she shifted from non-profit work and marketing into outdoor recreation, moving to Maine in 2020 to train as a whitewater guide. Amber holds a Maine Recreation Guide license, Wilderness First Responder, and ACA Kayak Instructor and Swiftwater Rescue training, has guided on rivers and in the ski industry across the state, and travels internationally for her passions. She brings a background in digital marketing and runs a small art business, Radical River Works. You can find her anywhere there's water.

Martha Bentley is the founder and owner of MMB Collaborative Leadership LLC, a values-driven practice specializing in fractional non-profit leadership, innovation & entrepreneurship. In that role, Martha serves as fractional Executive Director of the Osher Map Library Foundation; facilitator of Startup Studio -Growth within the CEI Women’s Business Center; and regularly provides strategic facilitation and network weaving to nonprofit collaborations in Maine. Martha previously served as Director of Economic Development Coordination for the State of Maine and as the Director of Innovation Infrastructure for the Maine Technology Institute (MTI). Prior to these roles, she owned her own consulting company specializing in grant program design and management, with MTI as her primary client managing $200M+ in technology-based economic development funding. Martha has a BA in History from Davidson College and an MA in Public History (formerly Applied History) from the University of South Carolina. She currently serves on the Board of Directors of Four Directions Development Corporation and Maine Outdoor Brands. When not on Zoom, you can find Martha paddling on the waters of Horseshoe Pond and Cobbossee Stream in West Gardiner, Maine.

Lisa is a multihyphenated, award-winning Maine-based business leader and educator with a passion for connecting people to place. With over two decades of experience in destination marketing and event planning, and a decade in higher education, she has led initiatives across the state that support cultural tourism, workforce development, and inclusive access to the outdoors. As a professor at Husson University’s School of Hospitality, Sport, and Tourism Management, Lisa has been recognized for excellence in teaching and service, named a 2024 MaineBiz 40 Under 40 honoree, and was on the team that received the Maine Office of Tourism’s Leadership & Growth Award in 2023. She is the founder of Asturvia and Getting Married in Maine. She believes access to the outdoors is Maine’s differentiating factor-after all, a good place to live is a great place to visit.

A writer and paddler, this waterwoman is a Mainer bound to the ocean. Founder and coach of Maine Coast Outrigger Canoe Club, Kelsy will bring you along for epic movement celebrations, and encourage everyone to move their body and make art. An oysterfarmer, coldwater swimmer, and epic party planner, this waterwoman is most at home in the ocean. Caitlin will go coldwater swimming in Morocco, adorn everything in glitter, and will encourage everyone to get cold, then get cozy. Through creativity, belly laughs, a hefty dose of adventure, and endless amount of glitter, these two aim to inspire, support, and foster a deep connection to the ocean. They know that the ocean is an equalizer, and coldwater connects us to our powerful selves and the humanity of each other. And now, in this community movement, Kelsy and Caitlin invite you too, to find your most powerful self, and join this Wave of Joy.

In his role with the Maine Office of Outdoor Recreation, Jeff advances initiatives that preserve, promote and protect Maine’s extraordinary natural landscapes while driving sustainable growth in the state’s outdoor recreation economy. He works closely with public and private partners to position Maine as a national leader in four-season outdoor recreation and to ensure the benefits of this thriving sector reach communities statewide. A Registered Maine Guide since his early twenties, Jeff has long turned his passion for the outdoors into purpose: promoting the Northern Forest Canoe Trail, managing Lake George Regional Park and serving in the Maine House of Representatives. From mountaintops to Maine’s rivers, Jeff loves exploring all regions of the state with his family.

Stacey Keefer has been the Executive Director of the Maine Marine Trades Association since 2017 and President of the New England Trades Association since 2021. Stacey has over three decades of experience in the boating industry in Maine in boatyards, boating events, workforce development, and now advocacy work. Stacey has participated in the development of the Maine Outdoor Economy Roadmap and serves on the Maine Outdoor Brands Workforce Advisory Board. She works closely with other states and national partners in the marine industry and is active with the Maine Working Waterfront Coalition. She is a paddler, sailor, and bird/nature lover. Her favorite sport is ice sailing on nordic skates.

A multidisciplinary designer, artist and community builder born and raised in Mexico City. Pame started her surf journey when she moved to Maine in 2017, an experience that kept her mental health alive. Her immigration experience was the motivation and inspiration to find a way to make surfing more accessible for those who experience social, financial and systemic barriers. Following the steps of many other women and organizations and with the help of many community members, Pame was able to found Mor Women+ Surf.

Rachel Selsky, AICP is CEO of Camoin Associates, where she leads a nationwide economic development consulting practice helping communities tackle their toughest challenges. With nearly 20 years of experience in economic impact analysis, she's passionate about translating complex data into compelling stories that help governments, businesses, and organizations understand their economic value. Growing up in upstate New York, Rachel discovered her calling in planning at the University at Albany, earning her Master's in Regional Planning. Since joining Camoin in 2008, she's balanced strategic leadership with hands-on project work across 46 states, from housing market assessments to fiscal impact studies. These days she focuses more on running the firm and executing its strategic vision, while still diving into high-profile projects like economic impact studies for trail systems, agricultural fairs, airports, and regional development initiatives. Rachel stays connected to the planning profession as Membership Chair for both the Rhode Island Chapter of the American Planning Association and the national Economic Development Division. She lives in Rhode Island with her husband Matt and daughter Ellie, where she continues to be inspired by communities of all sizes working to create meaningful change.

Josh has a B.A. from Johnson State College and an M.A. from Ohio University, both in the fields of Outdoor Education and Recreation. He worked for NOLS as a Mountaineering Instructor in Alaska and as a Climbing Guide in the Northeast for a number of years. He also served as a professor of Outdoor Education at Sterling College for 6 years. Most recently, prior to coming to Maine GearShare, he served as Associate Dean of Work-Experiential Learning and chaired the college's Risk Management Committee. Josh was involved in the design of Maine GearShare through committee and consulting work prior to joining the staff. He brings many years of experience in the outdoors, equipment rental operations, gear repair, and administrative management to his role as Executive Director.

Jenna is a Principal and Managing Director of Blaze Partners, a B Corp Certified and 100% employee owned advertising agency based in Falmouth, Maine. Jenna co-counded Blaze after 15+years at L.L.Bean where she held a number of roles in creative and brand communications. She's an experienced leader, brand strategist, multi-channel campaign developer, and writer. Jenna helped lead Blaze through their ESOP transition in 2025 and heads up the agency B-Corp certification efforts. She was one of the founders of Maine Outdoor Brands and is currently the secretary of the MOB board. She lives in Freeport with her husband and two college-age children. In her free time, you can find her on her bike, skiing, hiking or boating on Casco Bay.

Alejandro Strong is a guide and small business owner, based in the Greater Bangor area. He runs paddling, biking, and backpacking trips with Packraft Maine.

Ashley Flowers is a Portland-based yoga teacher known for her nature-based classes that invite students to connect with themselves, with community, and with the natural world. Her unique offerings — including goat yoga, horse yoga, and outdoor yoga — blend classical yoga philosophy with lighthearted accessibility, creating practices that support self-awareness, resilience, and joy.

Carolann was named the first director of the Maine Office of Outdoor Recreation in 2018. As of June 1st, she will take on the role of the Director of Tourism, Outdoor Recreation and Film for Maine. A graduate of Cornell University’s School of Hotel Administration, her career has included time as a whitewater guide, outdoor resort operations manager, restaurant chef/owner, and from 2010-2016 the Director of the Maine Office of Tourism. Carolann is a board and/or advisory committee member with the Maine Sports Commission, Maine Trails Coalition, University of Southern Maine’s Tourism & Hospitality Program, University of Maine Outdoor Leadership Program and is currently co-chair of the Confluence of States. She is a ski, snowmobile, hiking and paddling enthusiast, working on her fishing and hunting skills, and an avid traveler.

Liz joined MOB in 2024 after a career in mechanical engineering. She's really enjoyed diving into MOB's work and learning more about the state she has decided to call home. She brings a wealth of project management and communication skills as well as a love for the outdoors. You can find her surfing the local break, skiing Maine's beautiful mountains and hiking with her husband and chocolate lab.

Mike is the founder and principal owner of Grain Surfboards. As the chief thinker and tinkerer, he daily pulls the whole crew together in a spirit of experimentation and cooperative decision that – at bottom – is probably the main reason we look forward to coming to work every day. Mike grew up like any other suburban kid, building ramps and hitting them on skateboards and bmx bikes. He discovered snowboarding when the sport was in it’s infancy, and a few short years later had moved to Vermont to work for the industry-leader, Burton Snowboards. After 12 years working in the industry, doing everything from building boards to managing a team of the most respected professional riders in the industry, Mike shifted gears and began to follow his other passion. He sat for his U.S. Coast Guard Captains License, and began operating a commercial sailing vessel on Lake Champlain. This new lifestyle allowed Mike the time to explore much of the East Coast by water from the Caribbean to Maine. In 2001, with his knowledge of vessel operations, and experience working on many wooden boats over the years, Mike jumped at the opportunity to manage the construction of an 88′ wooden schooner being built by the Lake Champlain Maritime Museum. In 2005, Mike again followed his instincts and moved to York, Maine, in hopes of surfing more and driving less. Having a clear head and a fresh start, led Mike to start messing around with surfboard shapes, design and construction. He combined much of what he knew and loved about wooden boats and adapted that to building wooden surfboards. With knowledge of and history with the board sports world, as well as help from a lot of close friends, Grain was born.

Enock Glidden is an outdoor accessibility consultant, adaptive athlete, and passionate advocate for inclusive recreation. As a co-founder of Outdoor Access Solutions, Enock works with land managers, businesses, and organizations across the country to help them understand and remove barriers in the outdoors. His consulting focuses on practical, actionable strategies that improve access for people of all abilities while strengthening community engagement and economic impact. Born with Spina Bifida, Enock has spent his life challenging assumptions about what is possible. He is an accomplished rock climber, skier, kayaker, and adventurer, and his personal experiences in the outdoors have shaped his mission to make natural spaces welcoming for everyone. In addition to his consulting, Enock is the program administrator and a lifelong student of Maine Adaptive Sports and Recreation. He frequently speaks at conferences, schools, and community events, sharing stories that illuminate the importance—and economic value—of accessible outdoor experiences. Enock brings a unique blend of lived experience, technical insight, and contagious enthusiasm to his work. His ultimate goal is simple: to ensure that every person, regardless of ability, has the opportunity to enjoy the outdoors with dignity, independence, and joy.

Eva is a community builder, facilitator, big picture planner, silly face maker, doodler, and plant dad. They want to know what you're reading, watching, listening to at all times and is it Survivor? Eva has 10 years of experience as a project manager, professional development trainer, and community organizer for projects and nonprofits focused on racial and gender justice, public health, and redistributing resources. Eva loves surprising Kindling Collective backpacking trip participants with temporary tatto summit treats. They are responsible for all the math and graphic design that keeps Kindling Collective up and running.

Anne Read works on land conservation projects throughout the state with TPL, creating partnerships and facilitating connectivity with local communities to protect public lands and vast landscapes. Growing up in Southern Maine, Anne is passionate about the outdoors and creating more opportunities to get people access to outdoor recreation that is close to home. She brings over five years of experience in the land protection field and currently lives in Portland, where she can be found paddling, ice skating, xcountry skiing and getting out on the trails with her dog Goose.

Founder of Maine Surfers Union and lifetime water enthusiast, Charlie grew up surfing the Maine coast before moving to California where he developed a deeper interest in shaping and surfboard design. Returning to his home state with knowledge and enthusiasm, he opened MSU in 2013 to share his appreciation and respect for the ocean, outdoor lifestyle, the environment and fellow surfers.

Having been involved with MOB since the beginning, Brian was hired full time in March of 2021. As a climber, paddler, skier, backpacker, adventure photographer and a nonprofit aficionado, Brian brings valuable experience to connecting and promoting brands. He sits on the advisory board for Baxter State Park and recently joined the board of Rippleffect in hopes of ensuring wild places stay wild and anyone and everyone can access the outdoors. Brian lives in Portland with his wife and stepson and can often be seen frequenting the Fore River Sanctuary in his backyard.

Tracy Coughlin joined the Yarmouth Boat Yard team in June of 2016. With over 25 years of marketing experience, she assists all Marina Holdings entities, including Yarmouth Boat Yard, Moose Landing Marina, Freedom Boat Club of Maine, Maine Boating Academy, Sea Tox, and Sea Taxi with their marketing, PR, and promotion efforts. When not working, you can find Tracy running, skiing, hiking, gardening, or enjoying the Maine coastline by land or by sea.

Fowsia Musse is the Executive Director and founder of Maine Community Integration. Originally from Somalia and in the U.S. since 1995, she brings over seventeen years of experience as a cultural broker, medical interpreter, and community health advocate. Her work centers on addressing Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) through holistic, nature-based, and expressive healing practices. A committed champion of two-generation approaches, Fowsia bridges community needs and healthcare systems, advancing equity and belonging for immigrant and underserved families across Maine.

Lindsay Conrad is a dedicated nonprofit leader with a decade of experience building strong partnerships and advancing mission-driven organizations. Currently the Director of Development at Portland Trails, Lindsay oversees fundraising and programmatic strategies that support equitable access to greenspace and active transportation across Greater Portland. Her work is grounded in a deep commitment to community, collaboration, and equity-centered philanthropy. Prior to joining Portland Trails, she held development roles at Portland Symphony Orchestra and the Longy School of Music (Boston, MA). She is a graduate of the Institute for Civic Leadership (2023-24 class) and was part of the first cohort of The Giving Project through Maine Initiatives (2024-25). Originally from Ohio, Lindsay is also a trained classical singer and loves singing in local and regional groups when she's not exploring Maine's great outdoors.

Dr. Aimee Vlachos is a results-driven educator, entrepreneur, and nonprofit leader with over 20 years of experience in sport management, outdoor recreation, and experiential learning. She holds an Ed.D. in Sports Management with a concentration in marketing where her dissertation explored gender inequality in women’s surfing. Complementing her doctorate, Dr. Vlachos earned an M.S. in Recreation Management, and a B.A. in Business with a minor in Outdoor Recreation. Dr. Vlachos teaches a diverse portfolio of courses within the Business and Outdoor Recreation Management programs. Her innovative curriculum development led to the establishment of the Outdoor Business & Innovation academic major, which integrates experiential learning with real-world applications.

Kyle Madigan, RN, MHCDS, MSN is the Director of Client Relations for Life Flight of Maine and a recognized leader in transport medicine with more than 30 years of experience, including over 20 years as a flight nurse. His work in air medical transport has taken him into some of the most challenging outdoor environments, where safety and rapid response are critical. This experience has fueled his passion for outdoor safety and preparedness. Kyle has served as an active ski patroller for 20 years, blending his clinical expertise with his love for mountain environments to keep outdoor enthusiasts safe. An avid fly fisher, he spends time exploring rivers and streams, in search of the perfect cast and “the one that got away”.

Joan is the founder and CEO of Running Peas, an exciting new clothing brand dedicated to creating fun, high-performance running apparel tailored just for kids. A lifelong runner, Joan competed for Providence College and the New Balance Boston Track Club, qualifying for the U.S. Nationals. She is committed to spreading the joy of running to kids as the Head Coach of her town’s youth Run Club, and has also served as Vice President of USA Track & Field New England. Before launching Running Peas, Joan built a career in public health, advancing initiatives in workforce development and organizational culture. She holds a B.S. in Health Policy and Management from Providence College and an M.A. in Public Policy from Stony Brook University. Joan is a proud momma to Theo and Kai—her daily inspiration to keep running fun for kids everywhere.