Staff & Board

Portland Trails Staff

Gabe Andrews

Trail Stewardship Coordinator

he/him/his

Gabe's origin story started in Ohio, followed by chapters in Georgia, Oregon, South Carolina, Vermont, and Washington. He and his wife started nesting in Maine in 2018. Gabe holds an undergraduate degree in Biology and a Master's in Natural History and Ecological Planning. His background includes marine conservation, seafood sustainability, land stewardship, and craft beer (Allagash!). When not out maintaining the trails, he is crafting things from reclaimed wood, foraging for Maine's bountiful fruit and fungi, or running with his border collie, Doug. He is also obsessed with big trees.

Daniel Bishop

Trails Manager

he/him/his

Daniel grew up in the foothills of the White Mountains and has spent the majority of his life in the woods, in a canoe, or on a bike. He has degrees in Environmental Management and Policy and in Urban and Environmental Planning. Daniel spends his days at Portland Trails maintaining and upgrading the trail network, leading volunteer groups, and overseeing the trail stewardship program. When not at work, Daniel brews his own beer and spends time outdoors with his wife and young sons. He's definitely the guy with the shovel you saw on the trail that one time!

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Angelique B.

Inclusion Manager

she/her/hers

Angelique is excited to be Portland Trails' first Inclusion Manager! Originally from the Democratic Republic of Congo, she has a degree in Hospitality, Culinary Arts, and Catering and is skilled at outreach and engagement. In her role at Portland Trails, she leads the Healthier Neighborhoods for All program and hosts walks and other events for first-time trail users. She loves spending time in nature and sharing her love of trails with the community!

Sheila Carlson

Office Administrator

she/her/hers

Sheila grew up in Wisconsin and spent her summers camping, hiking, and fishing in the Midwest with her family. She lived in the Boston area with her husband and two children until 2021, when they moved to Maine in search of a less stressful lifestyle. With her strong background in sales and office management, Sheila manages all the behind-the-scenes details of the Portland Trails office and keeps everything running smoothly. When she's not working, she loves to camp, travel, listen to live music, and visit new restaurants.

Francine F.

Community Engagement Coordinator

she/her/hers

Francine is Portland Trails' first Community Engagement Coordinator! Originally from Angola, she is skilled in building relationships and energizing her peers. In her role at Portland Trails, she is advancing the Healthier Neighborhoods for All program by helping to coordinate walks, picnics, and volunteer days as well as translate communications to Portuguese. She first learned about Portland Trails as a participant in the HNFA program. Photo of Francine to come!

Kelsey George

Director of Philanthropy

she/her/hers

Kelsey was first introduced to fundraising in high school, an experience that left a lasting impression. Her travels took her from the East Coast where she developed an affinity for nonprofit work, to Colorado, where exploring the mountains sparked a passion for environmental conservation. Kelsey studied at Colorado State University and completed a Bachelor of Architecture with a focus on sustainability at the University of Maine. For over the last twelve years, Kelsey has dedicated herself to mission-driven organizations, building a career in philanthropy while cultivating meaningful partnerships with donors whose generosity advances environmental stewardship, education, and healthier communities. Kelsey serves as the Director of Philanthropy at Portland Trails where she works together with donors, volunteers, board members, and colleagues to build philanthropic support for its mission of creating and maintaining a network of trails and conserving land throughout the greater Portland area. In her spare time, Kelsey enjoys camping, working on home improvement projects, and advocating for environmental health justice.

Jon Kachmar

Executive Director

he/him/his

Jon’s background includes directing programs in multiple New England states focused on coastal and marine habitats, land conservation, and urban greening and sustainability strategies with a focus on bringing the benefits of nature to people. His efforts have included several opportunities to build programs from inception, and he has extensive experience facilitating diverse and invigorating partnerships and collaborations. Jon has an undergraduate degree in marine affairs from the University of Rhode Island, and a master’s degree in public policy and management from the Muskie School of Public Service. In his spare time, he enjoys getting out on Casco Bay, fly fishing, backcountry skiing, hiking/biking, and just about any other outdoor pursuit.

Bailey O'Brien

Communications & Events Manager

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Bailey spent the early years of her life with the Fore River Sanctuary in her backyard, and some of her favorite childhood memories are of her family's summertime hikes to Jewell Falls. With a degree in English and a graduate certificate in Audio & Podcast Production, she feels lucky to combine her passions for storytelling and nature at Portland Trails. Bailey plans the organization's events, creates all the print and online communications, and manages the website. In her spare time, she loves hiking, kayaking, baking, and reading.

Jaime Parker

Special Projects Director

he/him/his

Jaime grew up on the Gulf of Maine in Rockport, Massachusetts, and after some prolonged travels — California, Alaska, Europe, Cameroon, and an unincorporated township in western Maine — he landed in Portland in 1998. He has been exploring the wild lands and waters of the coastal plain ever since. Jaime has a degree in Natural Resource Management, and studied Community Planning and Development with a transportation focus at Muskie School. For over 20 years, Jaime has been planning and building trails for Portland Trails. He has worked with thousands of people in the community to create some of Portland's favorite places and provide better mobility choices for residents and visitors to the region.