SPEAKERS

A multi-talented artist and dramatic performer known as Firefly, Jason Brown is a member of the Penobscot Indian Nation, one of five traditionally-allied Wabanaki tribal nations in the Atlantic Northeast. He grew up on Panawamskek (Indian Island), a village in the Penobscot River, which runs through his ancestral homeland in central Maine. Jason is an innovative artist who creatively draws on his Wabanaki cultural heritage. With live performance, Firefly is helping to situate Indigenous people in a modern context. As a traditional music keeper of the Wabanaki communities, he has performed for many years throughout Maine and much of the country. Some career highlights are The Kennedy Center, The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, Maine Cabin Masters and The Bangor Symphony Orchestra.

Ashley Flowers offers a variety of outdoor yoga adventures that invite people to break free of expectations and embrace their authentic selves. From playful sessions like Goat Yoga and Horse Yoga to community-driven events supporting local causes, her classes blend movement, mindfulness, and nature. Whether practiced on a farm, in a salt cave, or in the park, Ashley’s all-level experiences create a joyful, restorative space to connect with both the body and the outdoors.

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.

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Coming soon.

Marshall is the founder of Uphill Advisory, a Scarborough, Maine-based advisory firm that guides product brands and retailers of all sizes with profitable strategies for growth. Previously, he spent decades in executive leadership roles at Recreational Equipment, Incorporated (REI) and Eastern Mountain Sports (EMS). As a product merchandising leader, Marshall has advocated for sustainable product models, partnered with brands on circular innovations, and spoken at Outdoor Industry Association climate action events.

In Portland, Moon works as the Wellness program manager where she oversees Peer counseling services for MANA, the Maine Association for New Americans. In this position, she helps asylum seekers, especially children, who need pathways to mental health services and safe spaces where they can speak about past and present traumas. She recently developed an outdoor program for immigrant youth called #weoutside. Through this program immigrant youth are able to engage and enjoy the outdoors of Maine without the barriers or transportation, representation or lack of preparation.

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Coming soon.

Kevin Slater is co founder and owner of Mahoosuc Guide Service, now entering it's 35th year in business. Kevin feels fortunate to be able to make his living as a full time year round wilderness guide. Aside from Maine he has guided in Canada, Alaska, Colorado, Wyoming, Scotland and Peru. Polly Mahoney and Kevin Slater began partnering with Cree, Inuit and Wabanaki 30 years ago to offer Indigenous Cultural Trips in their ancestral homelands. Kevin and Polly are the first couple to ever receive the Legendary Maine Guide Award in the state of Maine.

James (Jake) Ward IV is the Vice President for Innovation and Economic Development. His office supports economic development by acting as a liaison for business and industry, facilitating technology transfer, and handling patenting, licensing and commercialization activities for the University of Maine. The office also supports federal and state government relations for the university’s R&D mission. Vice President Ward has served UMaine in various roles within the Department of Industrial Cooperation and the Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship since joining the university in 1990.Prior to joining the University of Maine, Vice President Ward worked in private industry in software development and manufacturing. He serves on the boards of state/industry organizations, including the Maine Technology Institute, FOR/Maine and SEA/Maine. Originally from Saco, he holds a B.S. in mechanical engineering and an M.S. in ocean engineering from the University of New Hampshire.

Kelly Davis has more than 25 years of experience in Market Research including 11 years as the Director Research for SnowSports Industries America, and 4 years as the Senior Director of Research for the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association. In addition, she has worked with the Cross-Country Ski Areas Association, the Winter Wildlands Alliance, and the Stand-Up Paddle Industry Association. Kelly is a methodologist with innovative leanings, she is always looking for more effective ways to gather and apply insights. Kelly likes to share interesting findings and insights and has been a featured speaker at industry events like the Snow Show. The focus of her work is helping industry stakeholders understand mechanisms that affect their markets. She has helped many brands understand and target participants more effectively, track their customers’ journeys, build clearer views of potential customers, and design products. Kelly has also helped many start-ups to find their footing in a variety of markets and she has helped businesses find their way when times are tough. When Kelly isn’t working, you will most likely find her outdoor skiing, running trail, biking, hiking, longboarding, walking with her dogs, fly fishing, SUPing…this list goes on and on.

Justin directs the Analytics & SEO teams at Miles, ensuring that website activity is being properly measured, while also working to improve their presence in search engines. When he's not working, he can usually be found working on his home, socializing with neighbors, and tearing up the streets of Arvada on his 49cc scooter.

Joel Hartter is an educator, an entrepreneur, and a sustainable business strategist with over two decades of global experience across public, private, and non-profit sectors. He is the founder of Parallel Labs, an impact agency that helps ambitious leaders elevate their brands, evolve their organizations, and activate sustainability for growth and impact. Joel is committed to bridging the gap between higher education and career readiness, driving workforce development, innovation, and industry partnerships. He has developed and led some of the largest professional education programs in the US, including the Masters of the Environment and Outdoor Recreation Economy programs at the University of Colorado. He has also led partnerships with organizations like the Outdoor Industry Association and National Geographic Society, and numerous startups, Fortune 500 companies, federal agencies, and non-profits. He teach 20,000 people annually through university courses, master classes, and seminars, and serves on the Sustainability Advisory Council for Volkswagen.

I have been at L.L.Bean for over 30 years and have spent most of my career in Human Resources. In my current role I am responsible for strategy, program development, and leadership of multiple HR functions including Leader and Employee Development, Sr. Leader Development, DEI, Talent Acquisition, Peak & Volume Hiring, and HR Business Teams.

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CEO and Founder of Opolis and StokedPlastics Inc. Creator of award winning patent-pending technology that allows Opolis to make durable eyewear and other upcycled goods out of ocean-found water bottles - StokedPlastic®. Responsible to bringing two award winning products to market; (1) Stokedplastic Sunglasses Collection winner of MOB Innovation and Trailblazer Award, (2) StokedSnow Goggle Collection winner of the Outdoor Retailer Innovation Award (3) Individual Finalist Nomination for the Outdoor Retailer Inspiration Award. Former US Government Contractor specializing in Counter Violent Extremism for 10 years. Environmental activist, avid surfer, snowboarder, adventurer, and motorcycle enthusiast.

Chip Noble is a Senior Product Manager in the Outdoor segment at Garmin, managing the inReach and traditional handheld product lines. In 1997 Chip began working for DeLorme, a Maine-based company, which was acquired by Garmin in 2016. Over the years Chip enjoyed working with users through Tech Support, Quality Assurance, and User Interface Design, before navigating to Product Management. He now helps guide new Garmin inReach and traditional products through the development lifecycle – from initial concept to design, development, testing, and on to production and sale. Chip is an avid outdoor person who enjoys solo and family adventures in all four seasons here in the great state of Maine!

Coming soon.

Simon Rucker is the Executive Director of the Maine Appalachian Trail Land Trust, an organization dedicated to conserving the A.T. region in Maine. He serves on the City of Portland Land Bank Commission and is a trail maintainer on two sections of the A.T.

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.

Sarah is the Director of Resource Development and started with FDDC in January of 2023. Sarah comes to FDDC from a career in education, during which she served in various teaching and leadership roles in tribal and public schools, higher education, non-profits, and in government. Sarah has a Bachelor of Science degree in Mathematics and American Studies from Trinity College in Hartford, CT, and a Master of Education degree in Educational Leadership from the University of Maine at Orono. Sarah brings to her work a passion for serving tribal communities and diverse experiences in grants management and program design. She believes deeply in FDDC’s mission and is excited to work daily towards it. Sarah enjoys spending time with her daughter, Maddy, and their dog, Sherman. She is also the assistant coach of her six-year-old nephew’s basketball team.

Patrick Caron, based out of Mount Desert Island, Maine, is the founder of Move Free, an internationally reaching outdoor brand offering consciously crafted activewear and movement experiences for athletes and adventurers. He launched the popular Move Free Run Club, bringing together runners around their shared passion for movement and community. Move Free also curates and hosts multiple running retreats around the region, focused on cultivating community and showcasing New England's gorgeous landscapes. For the last several years, alongside competing professionally in events around the world, he has worked closely with numerous running clubs and event organizers to support them through race directing, media coverage, podcast hosting, live commentating, coaching, outreach, fundraising, and more.

Enock was born with Spina Bifida and had to learn to do things differently. With the use of adaptive equipment and help from friends and family, he has become an avid skier, rock climber, and hiker. He also participates in many other sports, including tennis, basketball, paragliding, and skydiving. All of that as a lead up to his most recent accomplishment: a 5-day ascent of El Capitan in Yosemite National Park. Because of all these experiences, he has made it his life's mission to speak to anyone and everyone about never saying, "I can't," and instead always asking, "How can I?" He is a blogger and now travels the world doing consulting work to make amazing outdoor spaces available to everyone by improving access to people who might otherwise miss out. Enock is now on a mission to get people of all abilities outdoors in Maine where he lives now, and well beyond!

Selene of Maine, born the year famed Rangeley fly tyer Carrie Stevens died, is an accomplished fly tyer dedicated to practicing traditional methods of fly tying, as well as originating new patterns to closely replicate the naturals found on her home waters of Maine. Selene was a featured fly tyer at the American Museum of Fly Fishing, Manchester Vermont as part of “A Graceful Rise” exhibit that featured influential women to the world of fly fishing of the past, present, and future. At present she lives near Gardiner, Maine and owns Selene's Fly shop in downtown Gardiner at the confluence of the Kennebec River and Cobbosseecontee Stream where fish abound at the Waterfront Park just a block from the shop.

Polly Mahoney is co founder and owner of Mahoosuc Guide Service now entering it's 35th year in business. Polly grew up in South China, Maine and left to go north to Alaska and the Yukon at age 20 and stayed there living a semi subsistence lifestyle throughout her 20's and became a passionate dog sledder. In 1989 Polly came back to Maine to work for the Outward Bound School in Newry and met Kevin Slater and they formed Mahoosuc Guide Service. Polly loves being outdoors, meeting new people, all animals but especially her sled dogs. Polly and Kevin have been partnering with Cree, Inuit and Wabanaki for over 30 years to offer Indigenous Cultural Trips in their ancestral homelands. Polly and Kevin are the first couple to ever receive the Legendary Maine Guide Award. When not guiding Polly enjoys riding horses in remote areas of the world.

Coming soon.

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As a director at Fourth Economy, Nicole serves as project manager on many of the firm’s strategic planning projects, helping clients access their unique financial, natural, and human capital assets to create robust, sustainable, resilient local economies that increase quality of life for all. With more than ten years of economic development experience, Nicole specializes in designing meaningful community engagement to build a shared understanding and vision for the future. Before joining Fourth Economy, Nicole worked at a regional start-up incubator, where she led social enterprise and impact investing initiatives to support entrepreneurs building triple-bottom-line companies, helping them to assess market opportunities, prove their concept, and test assumptions. She currently serves on the board of the Union Project, a local arts organization and community gathering space.

George has served as the Economic Development Director for the Town of Rumford since 2018. In that time the Town has undertaken rebranding, a TV marketing campaign, and supported the completion of the new 63 room Rumford Falls Best Western Plus.

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As the VP of Product and Marketing at Vertical Supply Group, I oversee the strategy, design, and execution of innovative and sustainable solutions for the vertical world. I have led the development and launch of several new products and brands that provide safety and efficiency for our customers in various industries and activities, such as rope access, tree care, arboriculture, and adventure sports. I am passionate about human-centered design that is accountable to our scarce resources and the need for a circular economy. I leverage my experience and knowledge to create and manage design processes that optimize the environmental, social, and economic impacts of our products and operations.

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As the newest Economic Recovery Corps Fellow, Courtney is excited to help incubate and develop small businesses in tribal communities while helping them generate jobs and build generational wealth so they can continue to live and work in their tribal communities. Having grown up in a small, rural, and marginalized community herself where good jobs required a significant commute, she aspires to build up and enrich communities so residents don’t have to resort to moving away.

Travis grew up in rural Maine, but didn't fall in love with cycling until after he left for the big city of Boston and became a bike commuter. After spending several years in the Pacific Northwest exploring the Cascade Mountains, he's back in Maine and has been with the Bicycle Coalition of Maine since 2022.

After growing up in Maine, I left the state for several years for college, graduate school, and to work abroad. As motivated as I was to leave, I was equally determined to return. After earning a dual Masters degree in International Education Management and Public Administration and working in Central America for a global startup, I was ready to return to Maine. Currently, I’m an International Trade Specialist focused on economic development with the Maine International Trade Center

As MITA's Program Director, Brian oversees the organization's landowner relationships and volunteer stewardship activities. He has a Masters degree in Environmental Management from the Yale School of the Environment and a BA in biology and environmental studies from Bowdoin College.

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Ponch Membreño started his career in the outdoors as an outdoor educator and wilderness trip leader. He later applied those leadership experiences to work first in nonprofits and later in senior management for multiple brands in the outdoor industry. He has been the Wilderness Trip Director at Merrowvista and a Senior Leader at Toad&Co and Intrinsic Provisions - an outdoor lifestyle shop that connects consumers to socially conscious and sustainable brands. He recently joined the team at Mainers, a handwear company cutting and sewing all their mitts and gloves in Trenton, ME. Ponch moved to Maine in 1985 to attend Colby College and currently resides on Peaks Island, his “rooted place.” He is known as an innovative leader, strategic connector, and mentor. He is on the board of the Chewonki Foundation, Portland Parks Conservancy, and Maine Outdoor Brands. He is inspired by nonprofits and companies that can find success while doing good.

Jennifer Neptune is an artist, writer, curator, and guide. A member of the Penobscot Nation, she has worked to revive and pass on traditional cultural art forms such as ash and sweetgrass basketry, traditional styles of beadwork and silk ribbon appliqué. Her work has won awards at National Native American art markets throughout the United States. Jennifer runs the Penobscot Nation Museum which is currently getting ready to move in to a new, larger location. As a registered Maine Guide she works with the Penobscot Nation Cultural Tourism Program to connect visitors to the rivers, history and culture of the Penobscot Nation.

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Dr. Danny Twilley is the Assistant Vice President of Economic and Community Development at West Virginia University. In this role he and the team utilize asset based economic development by investing in people and place to support talent attraction and retention programs including the remote worker initiative, community and economic development, asset development and enhancement, business and workforce programs, and research all to make West Virginia the premier place to live, work, play, go to school, and do business. He approaches this work by engaging developing effective collaborations and partnerships across the University, state and local governments, non-profits, industry, and related groups to stand-up and advance initiatives. Through his and the team’s work he has helped secured over $50 million in external funding through federal, state, and philanthropic partnerships. Additionally, he has supported partnering organizations in applying, receiving, and executing $20+ million in funding.