SPEAKERS

Stacey is the Executive Director of the Maine Marine Trades Association and has been primarily involved in the marine industry for nearly 30 years. She started as a charter boat cleaner after college and then worked at a boatyard/marina in the midcoast for over 12 years. Growing up in Vermont she started her passion for many outdoor activities and now spends as much time as possible seeking mini adventures mostly in northern, eastern, and coastal Maine. Some of her favorite activities include sailing kitewings on ice, mountain biking, camping, kayaking, bird watching, and nature photography. Her volunteer work includes her local Midcoast Maine NEMBA chapter and seabird conservation for the Audubon Project Puffin Seabird Institute.

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.

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.

Jenny is the Maine Brand Strategist for the Appalachian Mountain Club. A graduate of the University of Maine and Senior Fellow of the Environmental Leadership Program, she was instrumental in the successful launch of AMC’s Medawisla Lodge & Cabins and led the effort to designate AMC’s Maine Woods as an International Dark Sky Park. She serves on the boards of Destination Moosehead Lake, Moosehead Lake Region Economic Development Corp, Allagash Wilderness Waterway Foundation, Greenville Planning Board, Maine Trails Coalition and is a Piscataquis County Advisor for the Maine Community Foundation. Her numerous volunteer efforts are centered around her love of the people and landscape of the Moosehead region. She is a Registered Maine Guide and in her free time she loves to hike, trail run, cross country ski, and stand under the stars and look up.

In 2018 Carolann returned to the Maine Department of Economic & Community Development to serve as the first Director of the newly created Office of Outdoor Recreation. Her prior role at DECD was as Director of the Maine Office of Tourism from 2010-2016. A graduate of Cornell University's School of Hotel Administration, she has a strong background in hospitality and outdoor recreation having been the Executive Director of Maine Huts & Trails, chef/owner of an award-winning Maine restaurant, former whitewater guide/operations manager at New England Outdoor Center, and lodging manager at Sugarloaf Resort. In 2015, she was named by Maine Magazine as one of “50 Mainers Boldly Leading Our State.” Carolann currently serves in board or advisory member capacity on the Maine Sports Commission, Maine Gear Share, Maine Trails Coalition, USM Muskie School of Public Service, UMaine Outdoor Leadership Program and Skowhegan Savings Bank. She is a ski, snowmobile, snowshoe, hike and paddle enthusiast, working on her fishing and hunting skills, and loves the exploration and discovery of adventure travel. The focus of the Maine Office of Outdoor Recreation is to leverage Maine’s assets and outdoor recreation heritage to grow the outdoor recreation economy and build Maine’s outdoor recreation brand as part of a coordinated effort with partners from the public and private sectors. The Office joined the Confluence of States in October 2019.

Gabe grew up in Bethel, ME. In 2011, Gabe started as a founding board member of Inland Woods + Trails and since 2014, has served as the Executive Director. In that time, he has led the organizations efforts to steward and develop 85 miles of trails at 21 locations in nine communities throughout Oxford County. Gabe holds a degree in Environmental Policy and Planning from the University of Maine at Farmington. He serves as co-coordinator of the Maine Trails Coalition, is a Senior Fellow in the Environmental Leadership Program, and an alumnus of the Community Practitioners Network. He can sometimes be found patiently renovating his grandparents’ old home on in Bethel with his wife, Jessie, dogs Champ, Mike, and cat, Indiana Jones.