Trish Dano, Business Manager

Trish Dano, born and raised in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, finally realized her dream and escaped to Maine. While she doesn't have the sailing or boating experience of the rest of the crew, her passion for Maine's coast and waterways is unwavering. Trish has worked her entire career in the non-profit world: Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, Catholic Charities Diocese of Trenton, and Epilepsy Foundation of New Jersey. Trish spends much of her spare time fostering and working with rescued dogs and shelters.

Tom Franklin, Marketing Director

Prior to joining MITA Tom was a lawyer in the computer industry in Boston but after 40 years he still couldn’t get the hang of it and retired to Portland. He was a Loaned Executive to United Way of Greater Portland in 2003 and then was appointed MITA’s Director of Marketing & Membership. In Boston he was a volunteer at the Perkins School for the Blind, an Overseer of the Museum of Science and a Trustee of the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund and the Computer Museum. He is an active biker (over 6000 miles so far this century) and sailor (more than 15 Gulf Stream crossings) in the Caribbean, and everywhere he can get to in Maine on his 34’ sloop Jade. Tom also is a trustee of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Southern Maine and Maine Citizens Against Handgun Violence and is a smitten grandfather and a Big Brother.

Eliza Ginn, Membership and Marketing Manager

Eliza came to MITA after doing marketing work for three community development organizations including Coastal Enterprises in Wiscasset. Raised in Maine, Eliza has sailed and paddled the coast extensively and has similarly traveled much of the globe with her family.

Peter Kenlan, Development Officer

Peter came to MITA in the summer of 2007. He has a B.A. in Biology from Brandeis University and after college worked in molecular genetic research in Boston. Needing a change of pace, he went on to earn an M.S. in Forestry from the University of Maine where his thesis research focused on the effects of atmospheric pollution on the community ecology of understory plants. In addition to working at MITA, Peter is an Adjunct Instructor of Biology at Southern Maine Community College. In his spare time, he is an enthusiastic marathon runner, rock climber, and an avid sailor. He looks forward to getting out to the islands this summer on his newly-acquired 26-foot sloop, Harmony.

Brian Marcaurelle, Stewardship Manager

Brian came to MITA in 2004 as an office volunteer. After several months of helping out with research and writing projects he was hired as Stewardship Manager to oversee MITA’s island stewardship programs. Brian has a Masters degree in Environmental Management from the Yale School of Forestry & Environmental Studies and a BA in biology and environmental studies from Bowdoin College. Prior to settling in Maine he spent time working for the Yellowstone Ecological Research Center, the Montezuma National Wildlife Refuge, and for Yale Recycling. He lives in Portland with his wife Melissa and spends his free time playing ice hockey and baseball, hiking and making compost.

Dave Mention, Trail Director

A MITA member since 1989, Dave serves as Trail Director and was a MITA trustee from 1997-2000. A survivor of multiple careers, Dave comes to MITA from 15 years at LL Bean, most recently as Manager of the Outdoor Discovery Schools, from Italy where he was a teacher and computer database consultant, and from starting and running his own company offering custom wine tours to Italy. To meet his travel bug he guides sea kayaking trips internationally to places such as the Galapagos, Portugal and Croatia, and leads Trekking excursions in the Himalayan Mountains in India. Dave is a founder of the Maine Association of Sea Kayaking Guides and Instructors, and serves on the board of the United Way of Greater Portland. Dave enjoys travel, photography, sea kayaking, wine tasting, and skiing. He lives in Bowdoinham with his wife Dory and sons Andy and Kit. His Springer Spaniel Nelly is often seen at the MITA office

Doug Welch, Executive Director

Doug Welch joined MITA as its Executive Director in 2007. Previously he was a Vice President with Youth Alternatives in Portland. Before that he spent five years with the Island Alliance – a nonprofit organization charged with developing programs in the new Boston Harbor Islands National Park. Doug also has eight years of experience assisting nonprofit economic development programs. He has a Masters in Public Policy from the Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University and a BA from Wesleyan University in Connecticut. He lives in Portland with his wife Caitlin and daughter Genevieve. Since joining MITA, Doug has proudly perfected the first 180 degrees of his Eskimo roll.