
2025 Speakers

Chris Adams
Miles Partnership
Chris Adams is Head of Research & Insights at Miles Partnership, a global tourism marketing and management agency. Chris has worldwide experience working over 30+ years in senior tourism, marketing, and sustainability roles across the US, the South Pacific, and the UK. This includes almost 20 years at Miles Partnership, the last 12+ as its Head of Research & Insights in charge of the company’s extensive research programs and partnerships. Recent initiatives include research and education on community and resident engagement, sustainability and stewardship and the latest trends in Outdoor Enthusiasts Travel. Chris has a Master of Business Administration (focused on tourism) from the University of Colorado at Boulder, Colorado and a Bachelor of Management Studies with Honors from the University of Waikato in New Zealand. Amongst a range of tourism and sustainability volunteer roles, Chris is on the US Travel’s Research Advisory Board and is co-founder and a project lead of ‘Travel with Care’ – a major not-for-profit on responsible traveler education. Chris also has a lifetime passion to outdoor adventure including time guiding in New Zealand, the US and Antarctica. More Information & Blogs: https://www.milespartnership.com/who-we-are/meet-miles/chris-adams

Charles Galemmo
Harold Alfond Center
Charles Galemmo has spent his working career in the hospitality industry. Starting in the dish room Charles has worked his way through the industry to line cook, Chef and general manager. He went on to do extensive consultant working assisting in the opening of over a dozen restaurants. As part of this consulting work, he spent 8 years with a national franchisor as a business consultant to franchisees at 48 locations in New England. His past 12 years were spent as a Culinary Arts instructor and department chair at York County Community College. Charles continues with the Maine Community College System in his current role as the Hospitality Workforce Coordinator with the Harold Alfond Center for the Advancement of Maine’s Workforce.

Rob Labelle
Strategic Digital Marketing
Rob is a seasoned marketer working with hospitality businesses in Maine for nearly a decade. As the owner of Strategic Digital Marketing, Rob has helped many businesses drive a strong return on investment with digital advertising. SDM helps hospitality businesses create customized marketing plans and builds highly converting websites to maximize their advertising. Currently SDM works with multiple tourism partners in Maine and across the Northeast. Rob has worked to help hotels increase room bookings, weddings, events and overall revenue for businesses. Many websites today are simply unable to track their marketing efforts to know where they should be investing their advertising budget. SDM can help you spend your money wisely and bring in more business. Rob grew up in Dover-Foxcroft ME and now lives outside of Augusta with his wife and daughter. Rob received his MBA from Husson University and enjoys helping Maine people improve their businesses.

Kerrie Tripp
Discover New England
More info coming soon

Anne Ball
Afar
Joe Diaz is the co-founder of Afar, the leading media brand for travelers who care. Founded by Diaz and Greg Sullivan in 2009, Afar believes in the power of travel to make the world a better place through experiences that enrich the traveler personally, directly support communities visited, and are sensitive to the effects on our planet. Joe frequently lends his expertise on a variety of topics and has been featured in the NYTimes, Fast Company, CNN, The Today Show, CBS This Morning, as well as numerous speaking engagements around the world. He resides in Kennebunkport, Maine with his wife and 5yr old daughter.

Andria Godfrey
Miles Partnership
More info coming soon

Jeff McCabe
Maine Office of Outdoor Recreation
Bio coming soon

Cary Weston
CM Weston
Cary Weston is a marketing consultant, coach, and host of The ChatGPT Experiment podcast, with over 25 years of experience helping businesses achieve better results. A former partner at Sutherland Weston, Cary now coaches and consults under CM Weston, bringing his expertise to business leaders who want to improve efficiency and drive meaningful outcomes. As a certified They Ask, You Answer coach, Cary teaches businesses how to earn trust and win more customers by focusing on what their audience truly cares about. He also uses ChatGPT as a core part of his work, helping clients streamline content creation, sharpen their messaging, and improve marketing strategies—all while saving time and resources. Through The ChatGPT Experiment, Cary explores how tools like ChatGPT can transform the way businesses operate, offering insights and real-world stories from leaders navigating this new era of AI-powered marketing. Connect With Cary: • Website: www.cmweston.com • LinkedIn: www.LinkedIn.com/in/caryweston
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Joseph Diaz
Afar
Joe Diaz is the co-founder of Afar, the leading media brand for travelers who care. Founded by Diaz and Greg Sullivan in 2009, Afar believes in the power of travel to make the world a better place through experiences that enrich the traveler personally, directly support communities visited, and are sensitive to the effects on our planet. Joe frequently lends his expertise on a variety of topics and has been featured in the NYTimes, Fast Company, CNN, The Today Show, CBS This Morning, as well as numerous speaking engagements around the world. He resides in Kennebunkport, Maine with his wife and 5yr old daughter.

Cheryl Hargrove
Hargrove International
Author, Instructor, and 40-year travel industry veteran, Hargrove is best known as the National Trust for Historic Preservation’s first Director of Heritage Tourism. During her tenure with the organization, Hargrove developed the key steps and principles for sustainable tourism, focusing on history and culture. She recently worked with the Georgia Department of Economic Development, Tourism Division, as Director of Industry & Partner Relations. Hargrove also served as Associate Director of National Geographic’s Center for Sustainable Destinations, assisting destinations in developing and marketing their place-based experiences. Previous work experience includes tenure with Travel South USA as Director of Public Relations at the organization’s headquarters and as Director of the UK office. Hargrove authored Cultural Heritage Tourism: Five Steps for Success and Sustainability (Rowman & Littlefield, May 2017) as part of the American Association for State & Local History book series. She is a Certified Interpretive Guide (by the National Association of Interpretation) and an emeritus member of the Society of American Travel Writers. Hargrove serves on the Coastal Georgia Historical Society Board of Directors and the Georgia Sea Grant Advisory Council. She holds a Master of Tourism Administration from The George Washington University and a Certificate for Tourism & International Cooperation for Development from the UNWTO Themis Foundation/ The George Washington University. She is also a graduate of the University of Georgia’s Grady School of Journalism. She is currently under contract with Rowman & Littlefield to author two additional books: Authentic America: 250 Unique Places that Tell the U.S. Story (working title for publication Fall 2025) and Preserving and Promoting Personality of Place: Utilizing Cultural and Historic Assets to Enhance Authentic Experiences (for publication in Spring 2026). Her consultancy currently focuses on cultural heritage tourism assessment, planning, development and management, and nonprofit/tourism sustainability. In the past decade, her firm has assisted more than 150 destinations, government agencies, and businesses, including work in every state in the U.S. and in 15 countries. Through USAID and the U.S. Department of State, she participated in international tourism leadership and training programs for cultural heritage tourism in Kosovo, Serbia, Albania, Bosnia-Herzegovina, and Croatia. She also consulted for over a decade with the US-China Arts Exchange, where she helped preserve, protect, and promote indigenous culture in Yunnan Province. Hargrove is frequently asked to speak at conferences, including the World Heritage Forum in Copenhagen, the Canadian Museum Association, the China Leadership Summit, the Educational Travel Conference, the National Tourism Association Exchange, the APEC Tourism Policy Forum, and numerous state and regional conferences. She taught Cultural Tourism as part of the University of British Columbia’s Continuing Education Certificate and Sustainable Tourism Development at The George Washington University. She lives on St. Simons Island with her husband, John Bauser, and six-year-old beagle, Tanner.

Grant McDonald
Cimarron Global Solutions
Grant MacDonald is a Partner with Cimarron Global Solutions and has been one of Canada’s leading sport tourism and major event professionals for over three decades of experience working with host cities, host organizations and host venues. Former Chief Operating Officer and Head of Consulting for Sport Tourism Canada, past Board Chair of the organization. Grant has led event attraction organizations for both Halifax and Nova Scotia and has worked on several major sport events in Canada including multiple World Junior and Women’s World Hockey Championships, the only World Hockey Championship ever hosted in Canada, FIFA Women’s World Cup Canada 2015, and a professional golf event on the Korn Ferry Tour. Grant began his career in university and amateur sport while also working as a Scout for the Toronto Blue Jays, including the World Series year of 1993.

Charlene Williams
Marshall Communications
Charlene Williams is President of Marshall Communications, a Maine-based boutique marketing and public relations agency that handles PR and media relations for the Maine Office of Tourism and several other clients. Charlene has been a part of the Office of Maine Tourism account team since she joined Marshall Communications in 1997. She is passionate about the tourism industry in Maine, the diversity of experiences Maine provides and the stories that can be told from them. Throughout her career, Charlene has worked with hundreds of travel media and influencers worldwide in telling Maine’s story. Since joining Marshall Communications, she has worked with the Maine Office of Tourism, Outdoor Recreation and Film, Discover New England, Cruise Maine, The Maine Highlands, Maine Office of Business Development, Bar Harbor Chamber of Commerce, The Frances Perkins Center, and Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation & Forestry.
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Kristin Fuhrmann- Simmons
Digital Media
Amy Welch Olson and Kristin Fuhrmann-Simmons are creative partners in media development for Maine-based tourism and Hospitality businesses. Our beliefs: Inclusivity: Our itineraries are an open invitation to all, regardless of age, race, sexual orientation, body size, economic status, or ability, exemplifying Maine's welcoming spirit. Deepened Partnerships: We're collaborating with a variety of locally-owned small businesses to support growth throughout each region. Development: By showcasing the variety of unique experiences and hidden gems throughout the region, we seek to highlight community involvement and growth throughout the region. Sustainability: Investing in smaller communities and preserving the pristine natural resources that define Maine through crafting experiences that encourage visitors to cherish and sustain our environment. Authentic Curation: We create a specially curated journey, thoughtfully crafted to introduce travelers to our region. Find out more at https://www.capshorephotography.com/itineraryservices

Chadley Hollis
Delve Experiences
Chadley is passionate about the inclusion of rural communities, and farms, in building a sustainable tourism system. Chadley’s leadership and expertise has been a source of inspiration for agritourism operators throughout the US, and his expertise is recognized globally. Chadley is a co-founder of the Global Agritourism Network and was recently a featured speaker at the 25th General Assembly of UN Tourism and the World Agritourism Congress. Chadley leans on over a decade of experience in tourism, hospitality, and agriculture to develop and share resources for agritourism operators and service providers. Chadley has provided strategic support on projects funded by the USDA and the NSF.

Steve Tatko
AMC
Steve Tatko, Vice President for Land, Research and Trails, Appalachian Mountain Club Since joining AMC in 2012, Steve has overseen AMC’s conservation acquisition, management planning, and implementation strategy for the Maine Woods Initiative, which has now grown to 114,000 acres in the 100 Mile Wilderness Region of Maine. In addition to his work in Maine, Steve oversees AMC’s Conservation programing across the organization’s 12 state footprint including its landholdings in five states, its Research Department, Trails Department, and Policy Department. A native of Willimantic, Maine where he still resides, Steve is a Licensed Maine Forester with over 20 years of experience in the forestry field.

Sarah Woog
Four Directions Development Corporation
Sarah Woog is the Director of Resource Development at Four Directions Development Corporation. Four Directions’ mission is to improve the social and economic conditions of the Native American tribes in Maine- the Maliseet, Mi’kmaq, Passamaquoddy, and Penobscot- through education and investment in affordable housing, tribal business ventures, and Native entrepreneurship. Sarah came to Four Directions from a career in education, serving primarily in Wabanaki communities in Maine. She has a Bachelor of Science degree in Mathematics and American Studies from Trinity College in Hartford, CT, and a Master of Arts in Educational Leadership from the University of Maine at Orono. She is certified by the Maine Department of Education as a Math Teacher (7-12) and Building Administrator (K-12). Sarah lives in Bangor, Maine, with her 13-year-old daughter Madisyn and their dog Sherman. Madisyn, Sherman and enjoy walks around Bangor, the beach in the summer, and sharing their home with family and friends. Luis Benitez Global Impact | Govt Affairs Philanthropy Strategy & Transformation​​​​ Read More Luis Benitez is the emerging face of the outdoor industry's political movement. The son of an Ecuadorian aerospace engineer and an American primary school art teacher, Benitez is a former international mountaineering guide. In 2001, he guided famed blind mountaineer Erik Weihenmayer to the summit of Mount Everest, and has led more than 30 expeditions to the highest peaks on every continent.In 2015, Benitez was appointed director of the Colorado Outdoor Recreation Industry Office by Colorado governor John Hickenlooper, a significant step in what many see as a political career leading to the Colorado governor's office and beyond. In 2019, he became vice president of governmental affairs and global impact for VF Corp. Today, Luis is the Chief Impact Officer for the Trust for Public Lands, a nonprofit organization that works across sectors to ensure that everyone will have access to the benefits and joys of the outdoors for generations to come. Travis Clough (he/them) Office Manager Bicycle Coalition of Maine​​​​​ Read More Travis grew up in rural Maine, but didn't fall in love with cycling until after he left for the big city of Boston and became a bike commuter. After spending several years in the Pacific Northwest exploring the Cascade Mountains, he's back in Maine and has been with the Bicycle Coalition of Maine since 2022. Paul Drinan Active Transportation Director Bicycle Coalition of Maine ​ ​ ​ Enock Glidden (he/him) Development Coordinator Maine Adaptive Sports and Recreation​​ Read More Enock was born with Spina Bifida and had to learn to do things differently. With the use of adaptive equipment and help from friends and family, he has become an avid skier, rock climber, and hiker. He also participates in many other sports, including tennis, basketball, paragliding, and skydiving. All of that as a lead up to his most recent accomplishment: a 5-day ascent of El Capitan in Yosemite National Park. Because of all these experiences, he has made it his life's mission to speak to anyone and everyone about never saying, "I can't," and instead always asking, "How can I?" He is a blogger and now travels the world doing consulting work to make amazing outdoor spaces available to everyone by improving access to people who might otherwise miss out. Enock is now on a mission to get people of all abilities outdoors in Maine where he lives now, and well beyond! Joel Hartter (he/him) Founder Parallel Labs​​ Read More Joel Hartter is an educator, an entrepreneur, and a sustainable business strategist with over two decades of global experience across public, private, and non-profit sectors. He is the founder of Parallel Labs, an impact agency that helps ambitious leaders elevate their brands, evolve their organizations, and activate sustainability for growth and impact. Joel is committed to bridging the gap between higher education and career readiness, driving workforce development, innovation, and industry partnerships. He has developed and led some of the largest professional education programs in the US, including the Masters of the Environment and Outdoor Recreation Economy programs at the University of Colorado. He has also led partnerships with organizations like the Outdoor Industry Association and National Geographic Society, and numerous startups, Fortune 500 companies, federal agencies, and non-profits. He teach 20,000 people annually through university courses, master classes, and seminars, and serves on the Sustainability Advisory Council for Volkswagen. Maureen Lafferty (she/her) VP Talent, Development and HR Business Teams L.L.Bean ​ Read More I have been at L.L.Bean for over 30 years and have spent most of my career in Human Resources. In my current role I am responsible for strategy, program development, and leadership of multiple HR functions including Leader and Employee Development, Sr. Leader Development, DEI, Talent Acquisition, Peak & Volume Hiring, and HR Business Teams. Moon Machar Community Wellness Program Manager Maine Association of New Americans​​ Read More In Portland, Moon works as the Wellness program manager where she oversees Peer counseling services for MANA, the Maine Association for New Americans. In this position, she helps asylum seekers, especially children, who need pathways to mental health services and safe spaces where they can speak about past and present traumas. She recently developed an outdoor program for immigrant youth called #weoutside. Through this program immigrant youth are able to engage and enjoy the outdoors of Maine without the barriers or transportation, representation or lack of preparation. Devin McNeill (he/him) CEO Flowfold​ Bio coming soon. George O'Keefe Town Manager and Economic Development Director Town of Rumford​​ Bio coming soon. Thomas Poirier Director of Community Development Town of Gorham​​​ Bio coming soon. Phil Shettig VP, Product and Marketing Sterling Rope​​​​​ Read More Phil Shettig is an experienced leader in product development and technical innovation, with a strong focus on sustainable design in outdoor products. With an extensive expertise in raw material supply chains, Phil has spearheaded efforts to transition companies toward safer, more sustainable materials. As Vice President of Product + Marketing at Vertical Supply Group, he has been instrumental in developing strategies to phase out PFAS within the recreational climbing work at height industries. I am passionate about human-centered design that is accountable to our scarce resources and the need for a circular economy. I leverage my experience and knowledge to create and manage design processes that optimize the environmental, social, and economic impacts of our products and operations. Brian Threlkeld (he/him) Membership Director Maine Outdoor Brands​ Read More Having been involved with MOB since the beginning, Brian was hired full time in March of 2021. As a climber, paddler, skier, backpacker, adventure photographer and a nonprofit aficionado, Brian brings valuable experience to connecting and promoting brands. He sits on the advisory board for Baxter State Park and recently joined the board of Rippleffect in hopes of ensuring wild places stay wild and anyone and everyone can access the outdoors. Brian lives in Portland with his wife and stepson and can often be seen frequenting the Fore River Sanctuary in his backyard. Courtney Wynn Economic Recovery Corps Fellow Four Directions Development Corporation​​​
Last Year's (2024) Speakers, Moderators & Guests

Colby Bracy – Nonantum Resort
Colby Marvin Bracy is the Director of People & Operations at The Nonantum Resort and Owner of Hello Humans HR Consulting. Colby cares deeply for others, and strives to live by The Nonantum's mission, Raising People Up, every day. Colby was recently awarded the Innovator of the Year award by New England Inns and Resorts Association and the North Star award from the American Hotels and Lodging Association for her work in developing an inclusive work environment, which has involved employing a diverse group of people such as those with profound disabilities, formerly incarcerated individuals, and people in recovery from substance use disorder. She currently serves as the Vice-Chair and DEI Committee Chair of the Kennebunk-Kennebunkport-Arundel Chamber of Commerce and sits on the Board of Directors for Recovery Friendly Workplace Maine. Through birth and foster care, Colby and her husband are raising three girls ages 1, 2, and 15.

Matthew Burzon – The Source and Recruit Company
Matt, a seasoned recruitment strategist and innovator, is the Founder of The Source and Recruit Company. His consultancy redefines talent acquisition with its trio of services: expert fractional recruiting, comprehensive retained search, and bespoke advisory solutions. At its core, Matt's approach integrates top-tier processes, cutting-edge technology, and advanced training to secure exceptional talent for diverse industries.
Additionally, Matt spearheads The Source and Recruit Forum, an inclusive and dynamic platform dedicated to discussions on talent acquisition and recruitment trends. He currently resides in Southern Vermont where he brings his passion for recruitment excellence to diverse organizations throughout the United States.

Zoe Croft – Atlantic Sea Farms
Zoe has spent her career building market space for brands that are making a positive impact on the planet. Over the past decade, she has been a dedicated advocate for brands committed to improving human health and environmental sustainability, forging connections between conscientious consumers and purpose-driven companies. Prior to joining the Atlantic Sea Farms team in 2020, Zoë worked for Maine-based manufacturers SeaBags and Grandy Organics. A proud Mainer, with a deep passion for our oceans and building a more resilient working waterfront, Zoë brings a fresh perspective to the constantly evolving marketplace and consumer packaged goods industry.

Mindy Fox – Mindy Fox Public Relations
Mindy Fox is a food and communications specialist whose work has encompassed editorial, branded content and public relations. Her writing and recipes have appeared in Bon Appetit, Food & Wine, Condé Nast Traveler, Saveur, The London Times and more. Her cookbooks include the New York Times bestseller, Antoni in the Kitchen, with Queer Eye all-star, Antoni Porowski. Mindy’s reputation as a multifaceted storyteller and creative strategist in the food publishing sector made for a natural shift into public relations, where, since 2019, she’s been helping to get the word out about some of today’s most innovative food companies, with clients that include Atlantic Sea Farms, Fed By Blue, Patagonia Provisions, Jovial, Big Picture Foods and Rancho Meladuco Date Farm. Mindy has a special interest and expertise in promoting place-based economies, local foodways, and regenerative farming practices at land and sea. She is based in Portland, Maine.

Colleen Floyd – Coraggio Group
As an Associate Principal within Coraggio’s Travel and Tourism practice, Colleen is naturally curious and empathetic, which dovetails with her passion for taking complex problems or data, finding the unifying themes, and crystallizing them into actionable initiatives, while also prioritizing communicating data in an approachable and engaging way.
Colleen has 16 years of public service experience working in community justice services, courts, public relations, and tourism. She spent eight years with the Arizona Office of Tourism (AOT), five of those as the Director of Research. In this role, Colleen oversaw the industry and marketing research program that drives the agency’s strategy as well as the agency’s performance management activities.

Danny Guerrero – The Culturist Group
Danny Guerrero is a passionate travel marketing executive and thought leader, and is a trailblazer and force for good in the travel, tourism, and hospitality industries. Danny’s efforts have activated crucial conversations and actions with travel brands to better reflect underrepresented audience needs and shifts in culture within brand marketing and communications rooted in multicultural consumer research.
Danny possesses over 20 years of executive-level leadership in advertising, marketing, and communications for hospitality, destinations, and travel brands. Danny received the David Martin Small Business Fellowship from the International LGBTQ Travel Association (IGLTA) in 2022; the 2021 Outstanding Achievement Award from the World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC) for advancing DEI in the tourism industry and the 2021 Chairman's Award by the National Coalition of Black Meeting Professionals for his work. The Culturist Group is a proud member of IGLTA and Destinations International. Danny is a 2024 Executive MBA candidate at the UCLA Anderson School of Management and lives in Los Angeles with his husband Jaime.

Samuel James – Musician
Samuel James is a musician, journalist and storyteller. As a storyteller, James has been featured on This American Life and The Moth Radio Hour. His other work with The Moth includes Mainstage storyteller, interviewer, Radio Hour host, and contributor to the books The Moth Presents: All These Wonders and the NYT Bestselling How to Tell a Story: The Essential Guide to Memorable Storytelling from The Moth.
As a musician, James has been touring internationally for more than fifteen years, performing in the Black American Folk Tradition. He has released seven albums, scored film soundtracks and museum exhibits. James' award-winning songwriting has been compared to Leonard Cohen's and his guitar virtuosity to that of Jimi Hendrix.
James’ monthly column Racisms can be currently found in The Bollard and his weekly newsletter Banned Histories of Race in America can be found on Substack. He’s also the creator and host of the podcast 99 Years, exploring the deliberate creation of the whitest state in the nation.

Steve Lyons – Maine Office of Tourism
Steve has been with the Maine Office of Tourism for more than 20 years, being named Director in July 2017. He is responsible for overall operations of the Maine Office of Tourism, having moved into this position following nine years as Director of Marketing. In that capacity, he played a critical role in developing a tourism marketing strategy for the state of Maine. In 2018, he led the development of the Maine Office of Tourism’s Five-Year Strategic Plan.
Throughout his tenure at the Office of Tourism, Steve managed the division’s marketing research, tourism marketing campaigns, web site development, group tour marketing, fulfillment operations and contracts for visitor information centers, publications and PR.
Steve is an At-Large member of the U.S. Travel Association Board of Directors, serves on the Board of Directors for Discover New England, a regional international marketing collaborative; and represents the Maine Department of Economic and Community Development on the Board of the Northern New England Passenger Rail Authority, which operates the Amtrak service between Boston and Maine.
Steve was born in Vermont where he earned a BS in Marketing from Castleton State College. He began his tourism marketing career at Stowe Ski Resort in Vermont. Following 5 years at Stowe, he worked in hospitality positions in Glacier National Park and Portland, Oregon before returning to New England where he held positions as Director of Marketing at Mt. Cranmore Ski Resort in New Hampshire, and Public Information Specialist at the Vermont Department of Tourism.
In his spare time you can often find Steve day-hiking, paddling, snowshoeing or skiing somewhere in Maine.

Peter Lindberg – Further Magazine
A prize-winning journalist, editor, and professional leaver-of-town, Peter is a two-time James Beard Award nominee, and was named Travel Journalist of the Year by the Society of American Travel Writers. Prior to launching the new travel & lifestyle magazine Further, Peter served as Executive Editor of Condé Nast Traveler and as the longtime Editor-at-Large for Travel + Leisure.
Raised in New England, Peter began his travel career at 22 as Managing Editor of Harvard’s bestselling Let’s Go guidebook series. His work has since been featured in New York, Details, Saveur, Food & Wine, and The New York Times, and was nominated for a National Magazine Award and showcased in The Best American Magazine Writing.
When not escaping to his beloved Maine Coast, Peter can usually be found in New York City, where he lives with his wife (and Further co-founder) Nilou Motamed.

Sara Meaney – Coraggio Group
As Managing Partner of Coraggio, Sara leverages her nearly 30 years of experience leading strategy and solving organizational challenges in her leadership of the organization and client strategy engagements. Prior to joining Coraggio, Sara served as Secretary of Tourism for the State of Wisconsin, leading the state’s $22+ billion industry to its largest year on record, and when COVID-19 halted travel and paralyzed the industry in early 2020, she led the advocacy and support for the rapid statewide disbursement of nearly $200 million in U.S. federal CARES Act funding and relief for that state’s tourism and tourism-adjacent businesses. Her strategic consulting perspective is informed by her diverse professional experience, which includes executive leadership roles in marketing and communications agencies, a nonprofit film organization, client services management in the healthcare logistics sector, marketing strategy for a mergers & acquisitions firm, and corporate sales training.

Rick Meinking – Efficiency Maine
Rick Meinking is the Senior Program Manager for the Efficiency Maine Trust. Efficiency Maine is an independent trust dedicated to promoting the efficient and cost-effective use of energy in order to save money for Maine residents and businesses, grow the economy, and create jobs. T The Trust’s programs provide a combination of technical assistance, cost-sharing, training, information and quality assurance.
Rick is a certified Building Analyst through the Building Performance Institute and a Certified Building Operator Level I & II through the Northwest Energy Efficiency Council with over 25 years' experience as a Commercial Building Facility Manager. Additionally, Rick spent 9 years on active duty and 11 years in the Reserve with the United States Navy. In his spare time, he enjoys camping, running and riding his Harley. During baseball & volleyball season he can usually be found umpiring a high school game or volleyball game.

Nicole Muise-Kielkucki – Fourth Econoomy
As a director at Fourth Economy, Nicole serves as project manager on many of the firm’s strategic planning projects, helping clients access their unique financial, natural, and human capital assets to create robust, sustainable, resilient local economies that increase quality of life for all. With more than ten years of economic development experience, Nicole specializes in designing meaningful community engagement to build a shared understanding and vision for the future. A pragmatic leader, Nicole uses her skills and experience managing projects and teams to effectively inspire collaborative action. She brings a systems approach to analyze situations, develop strategies, and design new processes, and she thrives in entrepreneurial environments where she can continuously learn and solve problems creatively.
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Before joining Fourth Economy, Nicole worked at a regional start-up incubator, where she led social enterprise and impact investing initiatives to support entrepreneurs building triple-bottom-line companies, helping them to assess market opportunities, prove their concept, and test assumptions. She currently serves on the board of the Union Project, a local arts organization and community gathering space.

Ernest Neptune – Passamaquoddy Tribe at Pleasant Point
Ernest Neptune is a citizen of the Passamaquoddy Tribe at Pleasant Point and also serves as Vice Chief. He graduated from the University of Maine in 2002 and received his bachelor’s degree in Natural Resources with a concentration in Soil and Water Conservation. Previously, he worked for Four Directions Development Corporation as the Native Arts & Cultural Program Manager and worked extensively with Maine Office of Tourism, George Washington University, and the Wabanaki Cultural Tourism Initiative Leadership Team that represented all Wabanaki Tribal Communities, which the main focus was to develop a Wabanaki Cultural Tourism Plan that will involve all tribal communities wishing to provide unique and cultural experiences to the tourism sector.

Tristan Noyes – Maine Grain Alliance
Raised by a farming family in northern Maine, Tristan developed an early passion for agriculture. While a student at Bowdoin College, Tristan co-founded the Bowdoin Organic Garden. He began his professional career as a Director at EF Education, where his love for education and travel took him around the world. He returned to Maine in 2013, starting Gromaine Organic Farm with his brother. Tristan became Executive Director of the Maine Grain Alliance in 2016, and has spent the last 8 years working to grow local grain economies, including initiatives such as the Kneading Conference, which attracts a global audience. Tristan teamed up with O’Maine Studios in Portland, Maine beginning in 2017 and has helped launch the Damariscotta Oyster Celebration, the Chef Summit and Taste Maine initiatives. He has also helped to produce the Maker’s Way television show and virtual programming.

Sherry L. Rupert – AIANTA
Sherry L. Rupert (Paiute/Washoe) has nearly two decades of executive-level experience managing and promoting Native American tourism. As CEO of the only national association dedicated to indigenous tourism, she is the leading voice when it comes to advocating for travel and tourism as a significant economic driver in tribal nations. She also holds leadership positions on various national boards including the Board of Directors for the U.S. Travel Association, the America250 Hospitality and Tourism Advisory Committee and the National Park Service Advisory Board Tourism Committee. She is a former member of the Business Advisory Council under the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Department of Commerce.
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Under her leadership, she has launched the Economic Impact of U.S. Indigenous Tourism Businesses, the first-ever ever study of its kind. She also curates a robust educational program for tribes and indigenous- owned hospitality enterprises around the country. Prior to assuming the role of CEO, she served as President of AIANTA’s Board of Directors since 2012. During that time, she was instrumental in working with Congress to pass the Native American Tourism and Improving Visitor Experience (NATIVE) Act.
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Sherry has won numerous awards and accolades for her work, including for her work in preserving the site of the Stewart Indian School as a museum and cultural center and coordination of the popular Stewart Father’s Day Powwow, the largest three-day Powwow in Northern Nevada. She successfully raised $5.7 million in state appropriations to establish a museum and cultural center at the historic site. She led the development and implementation of the Stewart Indian School Master Plan (Interpretive Plan, Market Study, and Business Strategic Plan) for the State of Nevada. Sherry also created and implemented the award-winning Stewart Indian School Trail, a self-guided cell phone walking tour of the Stewart Indian School campus in 2008.
Sherry holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with a Finance Major from the University of Nevada, Reno and has completed professional training courses and programs to support her work in advancing cultural tourism in the United States.

Charlene Virgilio – Four Directions Development Corportation
A citizen of the Penobscot Nation, Charlene joined Four Directions Development Corporation in January 2019 as its first Community Development Program Manager. In 2020, she was promoted to the Director of Operations and is responsible for managing FDDC’s Programs and Operations, Building Organizational Capacity, Marketing and Portfolio Growth. Prior to FDDC, Charlene worked 37-years with International Business Machines, where she held several management roles and led transformational projects. She also served on the Penobscot Tribal Council for eight years. Charlene enjoys hiking, skiing and boating.

Charlene Williams – Marshall Communications
Charlene is President of Marshall Communications, a Maine-based boutique marketing and public relations agency that handles PR and media relations for the Maine Office of Tourism and several other clients. Charlene has been a part of the Office of Maine Tourism account team since she joined Marshall Communications in 1997. She is passionate about the tourism industry in Maine, the diversity of experiences Maine provides, and the stories that can be told from them. Throughout her career, Charlene has worked with hundreds of travel media worldwide in telling Maine’s story. Since joining Marshall Communications, she has worked with the Maine Office of Tourism, Discover New England, Cruise Maine, The Maine Highlands, Maine Office of Business Development, Bar Harbor Chamber of Commerce, and Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation & Forestry.