Tom Aversa, Chair

 

Tom was born in Boston and graduated from University of Massachusetts, Amherst.  He has a life-long obsession with birds and all aspects of the natural world.  Early work included stints with Massachusetts state parks, Massachusetts Audubon Society and both Boston zoos.  Tom relocated to Seattle in 1996 to work as a zookeeper and environmental educator presenting raptor programs at Woodland Park Zoo before moving back to New England in 2010 to settle in central Maine.  Previous volunteer work includes assisting The Nature Conservancy, Washington Ornithological Society and Seattle Audubon.  He has co-authored four field guides on the birds of the Pacific Northwest .  He and his wife Cheryl live in Unity.

Ellen Batchelder, Treasurer

 

Ellen is a Maine native who had plenty of access to the Maine outdoors growing up. After moving out of state for college, graduate school, and post-doctoral research, she returned as Associate Professor of Biology at Unity College where she taught Introductory, Cell, and Micro biology.  She teaches currently at the Ecology Learning Center in Unity. 

 

Ellen appreciates the benefits that a diverse natural ecosystem provides, as well as enjoying the quietness of being in nature.  She joined the SRLT Board in 2018 to help preserve that experience for others while being a connected part of the human community.  In addition to serving SRLT,  she volunteers for several other local organizations.

Paige Thompson

 

Paige Thompson graduated from Unity College in 2019 with a Bachelor of Science in Wildlife Biology, and a minor in Applied Statistics.  She is currently employed by Kleinschmidt Associates as a Scientist Technician.

 

Originally hailing from Ohio, Paige has had a passion for nature for as long as she can remember.  Equally concerned about civil rights as she is about the environment, she is looking forward to helping the community and the land we all rely on. 

Brandon Kulik, Vice Chair & acting Secretary

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Brandon Kulik is a fisheries biologist and avid outdoorsman.  Brandon and his family live in Winslow.  A founding member of Sebasticook River Watershed Association, he joined the SRLT Board in 2011 following the merger of the two organizations.

Adrianna Bessenaire

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Adri grew up outside of Maine, but quickly found happiness in the small town of Unity after travelling as a wildlife technician throughout the country.  For four years following graduation from Unity College with a Bachelor's in Wildlife Biology in 2016, she was involved in conservation and research of many species including Greater Sage Grouse, Spruce Grouse, red squirrel, white-tailed deer and various songbirds and waterfowl.  Her passion for the outdoors, forestry, and wildlife habitat conservation rings true in her efforts to steward, discover, and protect wild lands for all species (including humans) to enjoy.  She currently maintains seasonal positions with Inland Fisheries and Wildlife and Bureau of Parks and Lands.

Trevanna Grenfell

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Trevanna Frost Littlefield Grenfell grew up in rural Maine and is the founder and director of The Wildwood Path, a small business based in Unity that offers training & consulting services to support individuals and organizations to integrate nature connection as an avenue for social change into their life and work.  She has a background studying international conflict resolution. In 2008 she left the field in order to study wilderness "survival" skills as a way to access deep nature connection in her home state and went on to work with a variety of nature schools around the country. She is currently studying business consulting, exploring regenerative culture as a student, and is pursuing a Masters of Science in Leadership for Sustainability at the University of Vermont.

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Doug Wescott

 

Doug was born in Connecticut and raised in San Diego but has lived in Maine since 2012.  He has enjoyed the outdoors his entire life, whether camping, canoeing, hiking, birding, or introducing his four grandchildren to nature.  He worked for several West Coast nonprofits including the San Diego River Park Foundation, the San Diego Archaeological Center and a medical foundation while also volunteering for these and other nonprofits.  Doug joined SRLT as a volunteer in 2013, served on the board from 2015 to 2019, and chaired the board chair in 2018 and 2019.  He was appointed back to the Board in 2022.

 

In 2005, he earned the Fundraising Certificate from Indiana University's Center on Philanthropy.  Doug served on the Serra Mesa Planning Group in San Diego from 2004 to 2010 and was chair for five terms.  This advisory group reviews and makes recommendations on all Serra Mesa proposed development and infrastructure projects.  He is married to Kathleen Wescott, recently retired Director of Disaster Behavioral Health for the State of Maine, and has two grown children.

 

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