Gina joined Downeast Coastal Conservancy in March 2026 as Operations Manager. She combines her passion for Maine’s natural environment with an extensive background in finance, strategic operations leadership, and administrative leadership. Her prior work has focused on strengthening organizational sustainability, improving systems and controls, and supporting mission-driven operations.

Born and raised in the rugged beauty of Maine, Gina has always had a deep appreciation for the outdoors. Whether exploring the coastline, hiking forest trails, or spending time on the water, Maine’s natural landscape has shaped her love for adventure and community. She continues to embrace the lifestyle and environment she values most, rooted in the natural beauty and close-knit spirit of Downeast Maine.

Gina holds a Master’s degree in Accountancy from St. Joseph’s College and a Bachelor’s degree in Business Management with a concentration in Accounting from the University of Maine at Machias. Now settled in Columbia, Maine, Gina enjoys life with her husband, Peter, and daughter, Gia, continuing to find inspiration in the state’s scenic surroundings.

Matt joined DCC in April 2025 as the Outreach Director. He grew up in the Belfast area on his family’s chicken farm. Throughout his childhood he was active in sports, outdoor activities, and helping on the farm. As he grew older he began coaching and assisting youth sports and working in after school programs and summer camps.

Matt attended UMM for 4 years, when he wasn’t busy with school work he spent his time appreciating Downeast Maine’s outdoor opportunities. During his summer breaks he directed a summer camp in Belfast. After graduating with a BS in Outdoor Recreation & Leadership in 2024 Matt worked as a Land Steward for Frenchman Bay Conservancy. Matt is a certified Wilderness First Responder (WFR), Registered Maine Recreation and Fishing Guide, and Level 1 Leave No Trace Instructor.

Steven joined DCC as the stewardship director in June 2025. Previously, he worked as a fisheries biologist on stream habitat restoration and enhancement projects in the northeast and northwest. Originally from Vermont, Steven grew up immersed in nature and curious about ecology. He completed a BSc in natural resources management from Paul Smith’s College, and a MSc degree in biology from Memorial University of Newfoundland, where he studied brown trout and Atlantic salmon hybridization.

Steven and his wife Andrea live on Cobscook Bay and spend their time hiking, hunting, fishing, gardening, and foraging. He is excited to shift gears and work with the DCC, partners, and the community on important conservation lands and projects.

Jackson returns to DCC as our land steward, after working for DCC in the summer of 2023 as the 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. During high school, Jackson 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. Jackson 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.

Sherrie Sprangers is a retired professor at the University of Maine at Machias, and is in her second stint as a member of the DCC board. Sherrie started her volunteering on the QRLT board and was involved when they merged with GALT to found DCC. 

Parke is a professor emeritus at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, where he taught and conducted research for 27 years after previous positions at Whitman College, the Smithsonian Environmental Research Center, and the University of Miami Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Sciences. He earned a BA (Biology) at Dartmouth College, and MSc and PhD degrees in Zoology from North Carolina State University. His research specialty has been in aquatic microbial ecology.

Parke’s love of nature was born while spending more than a decade at a summer camp in Ontario, Canada, which included many canoe trips. After vacationing in Maine for many years, he and his wife bought a camp in Washington County in 2017 and now spend at least three months a year in their “happy place.” Becoming a board member at DCC seemed an obvious next step—DCC prizes conservation values and provides trails for recreation, things that are near and dear to him.

Julie Jacob relocated to Downeast Maine from Northeast Florida in 2023. She brings with her over 20 years of corporate event planning experience and a deep passion for conservation. In her free time she enjoys gardening, pottery, hiking, cooking and exploring the beautiful region we get to call home.

Robin summered for most of her childhood in Roque Bluffs. The Downeast coastline is an integral part of her genetic and spiritual makeup. Wandering tide pools and beaver ponds, exploring islands and canoeing estuaries were her first lessons in the value of untrammeled landscapes. She spent much of her career studying landscape change and advising on issues of preservation for the National Park Service and Bureau of Land Management. Robin and astronomer husband Philip returned to Downeast to her family’s 160-year-old farmhouse in Roque Bluffs in 2022. She continues to rediscover old haunts and new ones in the Downeast Coastal Conservancy portfolio.

Ben grew up in the Downeast region and is the eighth-generation owner of his family farm, Schoppee Farm. He has a diverse background and spent over a decade outside of Machias before returning. Ben has taken on many roles to support the town of Machias and Washington County.

Betty Ann spent her childhood years in South Freeport, exploring the local shorelines and waters of Casco Bay.  A 1982 graduate of the University of Maine at Orono, her career path has been in the field of horticulture as a landscape contractor specializing in native species and establishing healthy ecosystems throughout the state.

With her husband Jim, Betty Ann has lived in the western mountain town of Kingfield since their time at UMaine, raising their children and building their business while enjoying skiing, hiking and biking.   They have enjoyed their home in Steuben for more than 20 years; exploring the beauty of Washington County by hiking, biking and boating.  She feels very fortunate to be able to share her time in both wonderful environments with all the opportunities that they offer.

She hopes that her role on the board of DCC will enable her to give back to this place that she loves.