Staff and Board
Staff
Colin Brown
Executive Director
Colin comes to DCC after spending six years with Downeast Lakes Land Trust in Grand Lake Stream. Before moving to Washington County in 2010, he worked as an environmental educator and naturalist in many corners of New England, and has a passion for connecting people of all ages to the natural world. Colin has a B.A. in Sociology from the University of Connecticut, and extensive experience working for non-profit organizations.
Colin lives in Pembroke, on the banks of the Pennamaquan River, with his wife and two young children. In his spare time, he enjoys hiking, camping, kayaking, birding, gardening, playing music, spending time with his family, and anything else that gets him outdoors.
Ryan Mola
Stewardship Director
Ryan is an avid outdoorsman who resides in Dennysville, Maine. His love for wildlife began while fishing as a child, and continued to build through years of hunting, hiking, and camping. Originally from Andover, Massachusetts, Ryan first traveled to Washington County for college. He has a Biology degree with a Wildlife Concentration from the University of Maine at Machias. Ryan first began working outdoors with the Lincoln Conservation Department in Massachusetts. Following his time in Lincoln, he spent 2 years working as a wildland firefighter in South Idaho, including a season with Twin Falls Helitack. Ryan is now back to living in Downeast Maine and is excited to conserve the land with DCC.
Emily Guirl
Outreach Director
Emily joined the Downeast Coastal Conservancy team in September 2023 as Administration Manager. She began her new role in Outreach in July 2024.
Emily moved Downeast in 2010 to work at a goat dairy and soon realized she’d stumbled onto a special piece of the planet. She grew up in the Midwest, graduated with a B.A. in Sociology from Oberlin College, and has worked in environmental education, education administration, agriculture, and operations. Her family tends a small farm in Whiting. Emily loves walking her cattle dog on the local trails and watching her kiddo make discoveries outside.
Jackson Wetzel
Land Steward
Jackson returns as land steward after working for DCC in summer 2023 as stewardship assistant. Hailing from Pennsylvania, he learned to and continues to enjoy hunting, fishing, camping, canoeing, hiking, and anything outdoors. A passion of his has always been conservation – in high school he completed his Eagle Scout project building 27 bluebird houses as well as an FFA project building 7 turtle basking platforms.
Jackson graduated from the University of Maine at Machias with an associate’s degree in liberal studies. Once he arrived, he quickly fell in love with the woods and waters Maine has to offer. He spent 6 years in the Maine Air National Guard as a security forces member. Jackson is happy for the opportunity to conserve and take part in protecting habitats and properties that will continue on the beautiful and unique Maine countryside.
Lexie Morrill
Administration Manager
In October 2024 DCC welcomed Lexie Morrill as administration Manager. Lexie has an environmental education background, working the past few years leading youth programs across the state. One trip in particular, River Camp, has been her favorite as it has allowed her to come home to Downeast Maine every summer to work with community organizations Cobscook Institute and Downeast Salmon Federation on habitat conservation and access projects with local professionals.
Though she’s a seasoned canoer, Registered Maine Guide, and Wilderness First Responder, Lexie is excited to turn her former work back into play and step into the office at DCC to serve her community in a different way. She lives in her hometown of Steuben, enjoys regular visits to Pigeon Hill Preserve, cooking and, at the end of the day, curling up with a good movie.
Board of Directors
Board of Directors and DCC’s Executive Director at the 2023 Annual Meeting
President: Robin Pinto
Vice President: Cat Cannon
Treasurer: Ben Edwards
Secretary: Parke Rublee
Anne Baker
Leslie Page
Karen Beeftink
Lyman Holmes
Matt Mandino
Kate Jans
Les Coleman
Dave Wimberly