BOARD & STAFF

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

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Carl Costanzi, President - Norway

Carl got a B.S. in Microbiology from Penn State and a Ph.D. in Biochemistry from Hahnemann University in Philadelphia (now Drexel) and worked as a research molecular biologist for twenty years, most recently for ten years at University of Pennsylvania's School of Veterinary Medicine where he studied chromosome packaging and gene regulation.  In 2004 he and his family moved to Norway. Carl learned carpentry working in construction for a couple of years before co-founding and teaching at Ganderia Middle School.  There he developed an integrated, project-based curriculum grounded on a sense of place and community engagement.  Carl currently works in population health for Western Maine Health.  He loves growing and cooking real food, spending time with his three grown sons, Ben, Nick and Dan, and exploring the natural world with a camera.

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Joseph Zilinsky, Vice President - Otisfield

BA, Bowdoin College, MA, PhD. University of Indiana in Microbial Physiology. Retired with his wife Callie to Maine after 30 years teaching microbiology and biology at the University of Wisconsin, Oshkosh. Joe enjoys languages and works his forest and farm lands with a pair of draft horses. Joe and Callie placed a conservation easement on their farm in 2011.

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Beth Calhoun, Treasurer - Oxford

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Robert Van Nest, Director - Norway

With a MA from Columbia University, Bob and his wife settled on a historic farm in Norway and started our area’s farmers’ market in the 1980s. Bob spent his career teaching French and coaching Nordic skiing. An avid birder, cyclist, and gardener, Bob is completely committed to land conservation.

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Sarah Dailey, Clerk - Otisfield

Sarah is a mother of two young boys and is training to work with developmentally-challenged youth.

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Lorie Olson, Director  - Norway

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Sarah Timm, Director - Norway

Sarah is a fourth-grade teacher at the Agnes Gray School in West Paris. She and her husband, Aaron, have two children, Silas, 12, and Alden, 14. When not teaching, Sarah helps Aaron at their shop, Green Gardens in South Paris.

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Sienna Tinsley, Director - West Paris

Sienna grew up in West Paris, where she developed an appreciation of nature and a love of Western Maine. Sienna started volunteering for WFLT in 2013 because she wanted to help conserve the resources and landscapes that make Western Maine beautiful, vibrant, and special.  Sienna has been delighted to make use of her background in science (B.A. in geology, M.S. in crop and soil sciences) and her eagerness to listen and learn while serving as a WFLT board member since 2015.

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Christine Hemmings, Director - Hebron

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Roger Green, Director - Waterford

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Nathaniel Liu, Director - Waterford
Nathaniel is a student at Oberlin College. He grew up in Washington, D.C., but returns home to Western Maine during school holidays and the summer. He enjoys running on land trust preserves, taking photos of landscapes and people, and making music. When he isn't in Maine, Nathaniel helps maintain the website and stays involved with the board.

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Sara King, Director - South Paris

Sara received a B.S. in Elementary and Special Education from Salve Regina University and currently works for UMaine Cooperative Extension as the 4-H Professional in Oxford County. Sara is working towards her M.Ed. from UMaine Farmington in Educational Leadership with a Nature-Based Education concentration. She is a Registered Maine Sea Kayak and Recreational Guide, a Registered Yoga Instructor (RYT 200) and children's yoga instructor. She spends her free time with her husband and dog enjoying all things outdoors.

Mikko Liimatta, Director - Norway

Mikko grew up locally in West Paris where he spent much of his time outdoors, taking in all the sights of Western Maine. Mikko had the opportunity to work at Robert's Farm during the summers of 2012 and 2013, tending to the gardens and working with the school district's summer programs. In 2017, Mikko received his BS in Business Administration from the University of Maine. Upon graduating, he was drawn back to Oxford Hills. He currently enjoys spending his time outdoors with his wife and volunteering as a coach for West Paris Recreation.

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STAFF

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Lee Dassler, Executive Director - Otisfield

Lee has been with WFLT since 1994. She holds an MS from Columbia University in Historic Preservation, and has a background in theater, carpentry, and architecture. She is also the founder and Executive Director of the McLaughlin Garden in South Paris, Maine. When not writing grants, Lee enjoys riding, triathlons, yoga and working on her historic home.

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Kelli Shedd, Community Engagement Coordinator - Stoneham

Kelli joined WFLT in October of 2019 to support membership and development.  Her previous experience as Membership Manager at Loon Echo Land Trust brings a great familiarity of the Trust and it's needs.  In her space time she likes to hike, ski, create fine art as well as mother her two energetic young children.

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Alyssa Andrews, Stewardship Manager - Norway

Alyssa grew up in Norway, and then graduated from Colby College in 2017 with a degree in sociology. She then worked as the Natural Resource Steward for another land trust in Maine for 5 years, where she learned good stewardship practices. She is excited to return to her hometown and be the Stewardship Director for WFLT. In her free time, she enjoys Nordic skiing, hiking, paddling, and finding places to explore with her dog Sampson.

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Kacy Bailey, Deputy Director, Bethel

Kacy comes to WLFT with over ten years of experience as a real estate and land use lawyer with firms in Portland and the Boston area.  She holds a J.D. from Northeastern University, a M.S. in Urban and Regional Planning (with concentration in environmental planning) from Florida State University, and a B.A. from Vassar College.  In her early career, Kacy spent several years delivering environmental education and outdoor leadership programming for several organizations in the northeast and spent several seasons skiing the mountains of Utah and Colorado.  Kacy and her husband moved to Maine (for the second time) in 2018 and she is eager to use her skills and knowledge to advance WFLT’s conservation goals.

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Matthew Martin, Stewardship Intern 2022 - Norway

Matthew joined WFLT as a part of the Maine Coast Heritage Trust’s Richard G. Rockefeller Conservation Internship in June of 2022. His responsibilities include fee property monitoring and reporting, general stewardship, documentation digitalization, and GIS work. Walking the trails in good weather is a favorite activity in his free time.

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Heather Rorer, Lands Associate

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