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The Life of the Land and Lakes is In Our Hands.

- About Us -

Meet Our Staff

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Dr. Christopher Monz, President & CEO  –  Chris has conducted over thirty years of research and conservation work in national parks and other protected areas worldwide. Chris has served as a Professor at Utah State University, St. Lawrence University (NY) and Sterling College (VT) and as and outdoor educator and researcher for NOLS (WY).  He has worked on conservation projects throughout the US and internationally in five countries. He has roots in Maine including an MS from University of Maine, recent work in Acadia National Park, and family in MidCoast. He is an author over 180 scientific papers and reports and three textbooks and has obtained over $7M in funded grants and contracts. Chris enjoys an active outdoor life of rock climbing, backpacking, kayaking, trail running and Nordic skiing with his wife Wyatt and son Jackson.   

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chris.monz@7lakesalliance.org

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Laura Rose Day, Chief Conservation and Special Initiative Officer –  

Laura brings to 7 Lakes over three decades of in-depth and diverse experience in watershed management and collaborative, innovative conservation. Most recently, as 7 Lakes’ inaugural President and CEO (2018-2023), she strengthened 7 Lakes’ funding, teams and programs, positioning 7 Lakes for long-term conservation success. In 2023, upon assuming a role with the new tribally-led Skutik River Restoration Trust, Laura’s 7 Lakes’s position has shifted to focus exclusively on the continued growth of its land and water conservation programs and special projects to advance collaboration and innovation in science and community-based conservation.

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Prior to joining 7 Lakes, Laura was the Executive Director Penobscot River Restoration Trust, the lead non-profit in the historic multi-party effort to restore access to over 2000 miles of sea-run fish habitat while maintaining hydropower. There, she led collaborative, interdisciplinary teams and approaches and a successful public-private campaign that raised over $60 million. Laura also directed the Natural Resources Council of Maine's Watershed Program where she helped establish and served on the board of the statewide watershed nonprofit Maine Rivers.

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In her extensive public interest career began in the Great Lakes Regional Counsel for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. She was then Manager and Attorney for the National Wildlife Federation’s Lake Superior and Biodiversity Project, where she also taught environmental law seminars and co-directed the University of Michigan’s Environmental Law Clinic. Laura has also provided strategic consulting services on conservation issues. Laura currently serves on the boards of Maine Woods Forever and the Vaughan Woods and Historic Homestead, and the Klamath River Renewal Corporation. She also has degrees in wildlife management (B.S., Wildlife Resources from West Virginia University) and law (J.D. with a certificate in Environmental and Energy Law from Chicago-Kent College of Law).  As a long-time Hallowell resident, Laura and her family have enjoyed paddling, boating, hiking, and otherwise playing in the Kennebec River watershed and the Belgrade Lakes region.

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laura.roseday@7lakesalliance.org

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Dr. Danielle Wain, Lake Science Director  –  Before coming to Maine, Danielle was most recently a Lecturer in Water Quality Engineering with the Department of Architecture and Civil Engineering at the University of Bath (UK). Danielle graduated with a BS in Civil Engineering from Cornell University after which she spent two years in the US Peace Corps building rural water systems in the Dominican Republic. Upon return, she worked for a year as an engineer in environmental consulting until pursuing an MS degree in Civil Engineering from the University of Illinois, followed by a PhD in Civil Engineering from Iowa State University. Danielle spent two years as a research associate in the Ocean Physics Department at the Applied Physics Laboratory at the University of Washington, then received a postdoctoral fellowship from the Changing Earth Science Network of the European Space Agency at the AirSea Laboratory at the National University of Ireland, Galway. Danielle joined the University of Bath in 2013, where her research was sponsored by the UK Royal Society and the European Commission Marie Curie program to investigate turbulence-plankton interactions in stratified lakes, and the UK Natural Environment Research Council to work with the water industry on the impact of reservoir hydrodynamics on water quality. She joined the 7 Lakes Alliance in September 2018, bringing over a decade of aquatic research experience to the organization to help ensure the future of the Belgrade Lakes.

 

danielle.wain@7lakesalliance.org

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Matt Farragher, Lake Scientist –

Matt works alongside Dr. Danielle Wain, Lake Science Director, to coordinate the year-round monitoring of Belgrade’s lakes and streams. The process involves the collection and analysis of data used to understand the numerous biological processes that occur in our lakes, including nutrient cycling and algae blooms. Matt received a master’s degree in Ecology and Environmental Science from the University of Maine in 2021, where he researched phytoplankton ecology in lakes of Acadia National Park. He graduated from SUNY New Paltz in 2016 with a bachelor’s degree in Environmental Geochemical Science where he studied ecology of the Sky Lakes which are located on the Shawangunk Ridge in New Paltz, NY. Matt has a variety of experience spanning aquatic science from working seasonal positions with Maine DEP, University of Notre Dame, and Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies, among other organizations. Matt is from North Chatham, NY and is looking forward to exploring the local trails and waters.

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matt.farragher@7lakesalliance.org

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Laurie Raleigh, Development Director – Laurie has spent summers on Great Pond for 30 years with frequent winter stays for the last two decades; her children are her family’s fourth generation in the Belgrade Lakes. Working with the 7 Lakes Alliance for the last two years, she brings extensive local knowledge and networks as well as a contagious passion for our mission. Laurie is a graduate of Wellesley College and had a previous career in finance, at well-known institutions that include Brown Brothers Harriman, Kidder Peabody, and GE Investments, with a focus on marketing and communications. For the past ten years, she has served in leadership roles for several capital campaigns for a number of not-for-profit organizations.


laurie.raleigh@7lakesalliance.org

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Noah Pollock, Land Conservation Director – Noah Pollock currently hails from Oakland, Maine. He has degrees in Natural Resources from Cornell University and the University of Vermont. Conservation and stewardship has long been his passion. Previously he worked with the Vermont River Conservancy, helping facilitate riparian conservation, public access protection, and trail development projects. He finds real satisfaction in collaborative conservation projects that benefit communities, the natural world, and the waters that sustain us. Noah also serves as the Stewardship Director for the Northern Forest Canoe Trail, where he oversees a summer stewardship crew, coordinates volunteer workdays, and designs maps and guides. As an avid paddler, sailor, hiker, and skier, Noah appreciates the lands and waters 7 Lakes Alliance protects and looks forward to moving its conservation vision forward!

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noah.pollock@7lakesalliance.org

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Dan Woughter, Stewardship Coordinator – Dan oversees the creation and implementation of management plans across 7 Lakes properties and easements. With the help of our staff and excellent volunteer network, he also helps address stewardship needs across our properties, ranging from boundary marking to trail construction and maintenance. Before joining 7 Lakes, he worked as a professional trail builder, with a focus on sustainable, multi-use trail construction. Dan has a bachelor’s degree in sociology and a master’s degree in natural resource conservation from Paul Smith’s College, where he helped the college expand their trails program and implement student-led mountain bike trail construction. Dan is an avid skier, cyclist, paddler and hiker, and enjoys being outdoors whenever possible.

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dan.woughter@7lakesalliance.org

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Sharon Mann, Invasive Aquatics Director – Sharon oversees the invasive aquatics program which includes: remediation (survey and plant removal), prevention (courtesy boat inspections), and education (Adopt-a-Shoreline). Since coming aboard, Sharon has developed new research-based ways of surveying for invasive aquatic organisms that save time and effort as well as developing new strategies for invasive plant removal. She has been leading the invasive aquatics program since she earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Biology from the University of Southern Maine in May 2018. For her master’s work, Sharon studied the genetic diversity of variable leaf milfoil clones in Great Pond. Sharon is currently pursuing a PhD in Environmental Science and Ecology from the University of Maine, furthering 7 Lake’s use of the latest scientific methods. Her work focuses on developing environmental DNA tools to inform best practices for lake managers.​

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sharon.mann@7lakesalliance.org

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Josie Miller, Invasive Aquatics Coordinator - Josie coordinates the training and scheduling of volunteers and staff for the Courtesy Boat Inspector and Adopt-A-Shoreline programs. She has previously worked on the Invasive Aquatics Field Crew in 2021, surveying for and removing invasive milfoil in Great Meadow Stream. Josie has a strong background in entomology through her work with the Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation, and Forestry which focused on developing management tools to protect Maine’s natural resources from invasive insects such as the emerald ash borer and hemlock wooly adelgid. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Wildlife Ecology from the University of Maine and plans to pursue a Master’s degree in Applied Entomology.

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invasives.coordinator@7lakesalliance.org

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Stuart Cole, Erosion Control Project Coordinator – Stuart grew up in Knox and Waldo County along the shores of Lake Megunticook and Penobscot Bay. Stuart graduated from the University of Maine, Farmington in 2020 with a major in Environmental Policy and Planning and a minor in Geology. His undergraduate thesis applied ArcGIS programs to model nitrate leaking from septic systems in the Chesapeake Bay watershed. Stuart is an avid outdoorsman known for camping during winter Nor’easters, being more comfortable outside than in, and knowing every Maine frog call.

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stuart.cole@7lakesalliance.org

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Lynn Geiger, Erosion Control Policy Manager – Lynn is responsible for advancing 7 Lakes' erosion control policy and programs, including working with municipalities to advocate for consistent and effective ordinances and enforcement. She is also partnering with the Lake Science team on improved metrics and on evaluating the effectiveness of our erosion-control work. Lynn earned a bachelor's degree in geoscience from Wellesley College and master's degrees in aerospace engineering from MIT and in civil and environmental engineering from Duke University. Most recently, she worked for Lockheed Martin. A Minnesota native, Lynn also assists the China Lake Association with watershed management.


lynn.geiger@7lakesalliance.org

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Sally Whittington, Community Engagement Coordinator – Sally grew up swimming and fishing on Long Pond and Great Pond. During high school, Sally was a member of the 7 Lakes Alliance Youth Conservation Corps for two summers before going to college. Sally graduated in 2023 with a Public Health degree and a Biology minor from Arcadia University in Glenside, Pennsylvania. Sally loves to explore the woods, and can often be found stopping to investigate an interesting plant or fungus. Sally enjoys hosting programming at 7 Lakes that inspires people to connect with nature.

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sally.whittington@7lakesalliance.org

Mary Kerwood, Executive Office Manager – Mary assists the CEO in the operations and administration at the 7 Lakes Alliance. She manages human resources, and administrative operational functions, including oversight of accreditation. Additionally, she coordinates across communications, public relations, and fundraising silos. Mary has a Sociology-Anthropology Interdisciplinary degree from the University of Maine at Farmington and enjoys the many landscapes Maine has to offer. Additionally, she completed a program for Nonprofit Business Management.

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mary.kerwood@7lakesalliance.org

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