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.

Emily has been vacationing on MDI since she was a child and is thrilled to have recently moved here year-round! After earning a Bachelor's Degree in geology and a Master's in education, she began her career as a science and math teacher and then worked in curriculum development before finding her true calling, managing logistics in the nonprofit sector. Emily lives in Southwest Harbor with her husband, two children, and many pets, including chickens and a bearded dragon! In her free time, Emily enjoys reading, hiking, kayaking, and collecting vinyl records. She has dabbled in various aspects of farming over the years and hopes to begin growing and preserving more of her own food as her family settles into their new home.