Maine Climate Media Resource Guide

Jeremy Bell, Climate Adaptation Program Director

Jeremy works across the state and beyond to protect people and nature from the effects of climate change. He works on issues primarily related to water—whether supporting on the ground project, improving policy or finding innovative funding streams to meet the scale of the problem. For example, promoting right-sized road stream crossings that can survive increasingly intense rain events in rural communities, or providing coastal communities with the tools to build ‘living shorelines,’ a more natural way of slowing the damage of erosion to marshes and bluffs.

Prior to coming to TNC, he was the Wetlands Program Manager for the Massachusetts Division of Ecological Restoration and a project manager there for nearly 10 years. Jeremy has a Master's in Environmental Studies with an emphasis in wetlands ecology and management.

Media:

How Sea Level Rise Will Change Maine's Coast—Maine Calling, Maine Public

Helena Tatgenhorst, Coastal Nature-Based Solutions Strategist

Helena’s work focuses on developing a nearshore conservation strategy for the coast of Maine using nature-based solutions. This strategy identifies a prioritized list of high-value near-shore restoration opportunities, which provide the co-benefits of increasing biodiversity, providing blue carbon storage and protecting Maine’s coastal communities from the effects of climate change. Helena works with state, federal, Tribal, municipal and NGO partners to ensure that this state-wide strategy will provide benefits to communities.

Hadley Couraud, Aquatic Restoration Manager

Hadley works closely with communities on projects that restore fish passage while creating road-stream crossings that can better withstand more frequent and intense storm events. By integrating equity and justice as foundational elements, Hadley focuses on reconnecting and restoring critical freshwater habitats across the state. She studied Biology and Peace Studies at Goucher College and spent several years researching for and managing a hyena behavior lab out of Michigan State University. Prior to TNC, Hadley learned the critical role of local conservation working for a regional water fund, Sebago Clean Waters, and land trusts in land conservation, planning and mapping.

Media:

With Heavy Downpours Becoming More Frequent, Wider Culverts Will Be Key—Maine Calling, Maine Public

Geoff Smith, Marine Program Director

Geoff has nearly 20 years of professional experience in natural resource management, with an emphasis on watershed management and fisheries. Geoff joined The Nature Conservancy staff in February 2006 and is also Staff Lead for TNC’s Gulf of Maine Whole System Conservation Team. He has served on the Maine Coast Community Groundfish Sector Board of Directors for ten years and was recently appointed to the State of Maine’s Obligatory Seat on the New England Fishery Management Council.

Media:

As resource managers consider increased groundfish monitoring, fishermen have mixed responses—The Maine Monitor

Jocelyn Runnebaum, Marine Scientist

Jocelyn’s work focuses on helping to advance TNC’s marine conservation initiatives in the Gulf of Maine on climate-ready fisheries, aquaculture and offshore wind. Jocelyn works collaboratively with fishermen, scientists and resource managers to improve the conservation status of key marine species and to improve the overall ecological health of the Gulf of Maine. This work includes partnerships to implement on-the-water projects with fishermen and working to influence ocean and coastal policies at the state, regional, and national level. Jocelyn is also a member of the Maine Department of Marine Resources Advisory Council. Before joining TNC, Jocelyn worked for the Alaska Department of Fish and Game as a fisheries biologist providing technical support and advice on federal fisheries management. Jocelyn has a B.S. in biology from Stephen F. Austin State University and a Ph.D. in marine biology from the University of Maine.

Mark Berry, Forest Program Director

Mark is the strategic leader for TNC’s Maine forest conservation initiatives, overseeing strategy development and forest conservation. He helps TNC develop collaborative approaches to integrate a sustainable forest economy, forest-based climate change solutions and biodiversity conservation in Maine, and he works closely with TNC’s regional and global teams focused on forests and natural climate solutions. Mark holds an MS in ecology and evolutionary biology from the University of Colorado and a bachelor’s degree in environmental and evolutionary biology from Dartmouth College. His prior experience includes leadership of Schoodic Institute at Acadia National Park and Downeast Lakes Land Trust. Mark currently serves on the Maine Climate Council's Natural and Working Lands Working Group. 

Media:

Nature Conservancy sees an opportunity to fight climate change—using Maine’s woodlands—Portland Press Herald

Northern Maine carbon offset project to help combat climate change—MaineBiz

Daniel Coker, Senior Spatial Scientist

Dan works with all departments at the Maine Chapter to create and implement tools and analyses that both help TNC decide where and how to work and puts critical information in the hands of communities as they grapple with the effects of our changing climate. In addition, he serves as a GIS liaison with state and regional partner organizations. One example of Dan’s current work is the application of the Resilient Connected Network concept to the siting of solar development in Maine. He holds a master of science degree in wildlife biology and a bachelor of arts degree in biology. Learn more about Dan's climate work.

Nicholas Wolff, Climate Change Scientist

Nick is the climate change scientist for TNC’s Global Science program. He is responsible for ensuring that climate change implications are incorporated into TNC’s decision making and strategy development. To offer informed advice, Nick engages in cutting-edge research on climate change impacts on a variety of ecosystems, including savannahs, rainforests and coral reefs, using the latest climate models and data. Nick has conducted research worldwide, including on the feeding behavior of whales in the Gulf of Maine, fishing impacts in the Virgin Islands and coral reef conservation in the Maldives and Indonesia.

Media:

Great Barrier Reef not bouncing back as before, but there is hope—Science Daily

Planning for the Future in a Warming Ocean—Cool Green Science

Joshua Royte, Senior Conservation Scientist

Joshua has led TNC’s work to restore Maine river connectivity, opening some of the region's best habitat to native fish and other wildlife. His expertise also helps guide and promote river restoration globally as an advisor to TNC Europe’s Freshwater program and the European Union AMBER and MERLIN projects. He co-authored the book From Sea to Source 2.0, describing why fish migrate, the impact of stream barriers, examples and techniques on how to fix them and how to build greater awareness in society. A large portion of Joshua’s time is dedicated to helping TNC’s Europe Program to develop their efforts to protect and restore rivers, with an emphasis on the western Balkans in southeast Europe. Joshua has a bachelor of arts degree from Bard College and a master's from Yale School of Forestry and Environmental Studies.

Media:

Efforts to maintain healthy populations of migratory fish in Maine rivers and streams—Maine Calling, Maine Public

Kaitlyn Nuzzo, Director of Government Relations

Kaitlyn is responsible for leading the Maine Chapter’s federal policy strategies and covering a range of state policy issues to advance land and water protection and sustainable fisheries. Prior to joining TNC, Kaitlyn served as the Maine policy manager for the Appalachian Mountain Club. In that capacity, she gained significant experience working in the Maine Legislature and coordinating state-based advocacy for the federal Land and Water Conservation Fund. Originally from Aroostook Country, Kaitlyn graduated from Colby College with honors in environmental policy. While at Colby, she interned for US Senator Susan Collins.

Kate Dempsey, Maine State Director

Since taking on the state director role in 2016, Kate has overseen significant capacity expansion at TNC in Maine in order to take on today's conservation challenges, including a deepened focus on climate change. She has been selected to serve on Governor Mills' Maine Climate Council, and has been a leader of TNC's North America 50-State Climate Strategy. Kate was also involved in the Maine Climate Action Plan 2004, Maine's first statewide climate planning effort. Previously, Kate was TNC's external affairs director, managing our policy, partnerships and marketing efforts. She received an undergraduate degree in government and sociology from Bowdoin College and an M.A. from Tufts University's Department of Urban and Environmental Policy. Kate served in the offices of U.S. Representative Marty Meehan and U.S. Rep. Tom Allen before joining TNC in 2003.

Media:

Commentary: 2023 brings new opportunities to invest in Maine’s climate resilience—Portland Press Herald

'Conversation, Not Conquest'—A Guide On How To Talk Climate Change—Maine Public

Maine Voices: Maine can lead on pragmatic climate policy—Portland Press herald

Alex Mas, Associate State Director/Director of Conservation

Alex is responsible for overseeing all conservation programs for the Maine chapter, including how those programs connect to TNC's broader focus on addressing climate change. Alex has worked for TNC for sixteen years, the first eight of which were in California, where he served as the executive director of the Northern Sierra Partnership, as director of the Sierra Nevada and Klamath Mountains regions, and as a local project director and conservation planner. Before joining TNC, Alex worked as a researcher and practitioner with a range of community-based and collaborative resource management projects in the U.S. and abroad. Alex received an M.S. in resource ecology & management from the University of Michigan and undergraduate degrees in environmental studies and English from Tufts University.