Staff

Carissa grew up on MDI and is happy to have settled back home after some time living away. After receiving a bachelor's degree in Burlington, VT, she decided to stay in the Green Mountain State to study for a master's degree in Intercultural, Service, Leadership, and Management. Carissa returned to Maine to work as a grassroots organizer and then traveled overseas in order to gain more experience working internationally. She worked as a divemaster in Malaysia, sold solar panels Perth, and painted murals in Mexico. As exciting as those adventures were, she is enjoying staying put. She loves to spend time with her cats, practice graphic design, and watch her garden grow.

Stephanie is a relative newcomer to Mount Desert Island, having relocated here from Denver Colorado in 2020. Yearning to trade the hectic demands of city life for the quiet charms of small town living, Stephanie was drawn to the area by its warm sense of community, unique culture and history, and stunning yet accessible natural beauty. With a deep background in sales, marketing and logistics Stephanie is pleased to apply skills honed in commerce in new ways with Island Connections, making a direct difference in the lives of others. Stephanie lives in Bar Harbor with her husband and daughter. In her free time she enjoys cooking, long distance walking, amateur photography and exploring the wilds of Acadia. An avid gardener with a true green thumb, on sunny summer days Stephanie can be found in her garden, tending the flowers and helping things grow.

Kay Keaney is a creative professional with a degree in interior design and a career that's spanned design, project management, marketing, event planning, and community outreach. Her work has taken her all over the country, but wherever she's lived, Kay has been an active voice in the community-volunteering with nonprofits and advocating for causes that support a wide range of local needs.

Bar Harbor, however, has always been her heart's home. She and her family spent time there every year, and in July 2025, Kay and her husband made their stay permanent. Now a full-time resident, Kay is especially passionate about expanding community access to healthcare and independence through transportation services.

With two kids off at college, she fills her free time hiking, traveling, sewing, and spoiling their two dogs, who are very happy to be exploring Maine.