OUR MISSION
Cultivating the inherent strengths of young people through the power of long-term mentoring relationships.
OUR VALUES
We value partnering with families, schools, and community members over going it alone.
We value the person over the program.
We value the process over the outcome.
We value authentic, open, and honest dialogue over top-down leadership.
We value challenging our perceived limitations over the security of the status quo.
Trekkers Youth Programming Principles
Created by Don Carpenter and enhanced through continuous practice at Trekkers.
OUR STAFF
Stephanie Welch, Executive Director
Stephanie brings more than 25 years of experience developing strong, resilient youth, families and communities. Her career began in public health with a focus on community engagement and health equity. Stephanie led a non-profit that worked closely with public schools in Knox County, Tennessee, to support youth success from birth through graduation. She served as an elected city council member and Deputy Mayor in Knoxville, Tennessee before moving to Maine to be closer to her family and New England roots. She has most recently worked as Island Institute’s Public Policy Director.
Stephanie holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of New Hampshire and master’s degrees in public health and nutrition from the University of Tennessee. She and her partner, Mark, live in South Thomaston with their scruffy rescue dogs Sprout and Truffle.
Diane Sternberg, Program and Training Director
Nicole Pomeroy, Director of Development
Nicole brings 15 years of experience in strategic operations and creative production, with a talent for building efficient systems and fostering meaningful connections—both essential to successful fundraising and development work. Throughout her career in publishing and technology, she has managed complex projects, built strong author and partner relationships, and developed sustainable processes to support her teams. Nicole also has demonstrated her skills as a successful fundraiser, grant writer and event planner through her very active volunteer work with the Pongo Poetry Project and People’s Memorial Association. She is excited to bring this expertise to Trekkers, helping to cultivate resources and relationships that support our mission.
Originally from Los Angeles, Nicole spent a decade in Seattle before calling Maine home. She now lives in Washington, Maine with her partner, Anthony, and their trio of beloved rescue animals—cats Eliot and Finn, and dog Phoebe. When she’s not working, she enjoys hiking, reading, embroidering, and embracing the cold with an occasional plunge into Maine’s many lakes and ponds.
TJ Morris, Principal Program Manager
TJ joined the Trekkers team as a Program Manager in September of 2019. After graduating high school in Washington State, she earned a Bachelor of Science in Marine Biology. Thinking she’d be taking ‘just a year’ off of research to pursue experiential education, she ended up spending 4 years in outdoor experiential ed, before joining us at Trekkers. She loves the Maine Coast because it reminds her of her childhood on the Puget Sound. In TJ’s spare time, she enjoys reading, walking in nature, playing video games, and swimming at the Y.
Mitchell DelFrate, Program Manager
Mitchell joined the Program Team in September 2023, after serving for over two years as an AmeriCorp member at Trekkers. Prior to then, he spent three years studying Surveying Engineering Technology at the University of Maine. As a Trekkers Alum (Class of 2017), he enjoys building meaningful relationships with students as a way to give back to the community. He is happy to be part of organization that was so influential for him as a student. Outside of the office you will mostly find Mitchell working out, reading, and spending time with family.
Teresa Valdepeñas, Communications & Impact Manager
Before starting at Trekkers in 2019, Tess worked at Big Brothers Big Sisters of Mid-Maine in Camden as a Community-Based Manager. Originally from Massachusetts, she she spent over a decade in Boston working in advertising agencies as a studio artist, account executive, researcher, and creative strategist. She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Communications from Boston University. Outside of the office, you can find Tess birding on Beauchamp Point, tending to veggie plants, or toasting s’mores around a campfire. Tess lives in Camden with her husband and daughter.
Lauren Lewis, Administrative Coordinator
Lauren is the Administrative Coordinator at Trekkers. She attended the University of Connecticut for her BFA and Winterthur/University of Delaware for her MS and Certificate in Art Conservation. She moved to Maine in 1998 and has worked in several nonprofit organizations in the area since then. Most recently, she was office manager for the Camden Conference. She was drawn to work for Trekkers because, as a mother to a middle schooler, she has become very aware of the challenges youth are facing, especially in recent years. Her other passion is art, and she maintains a painting conservation studio in Rockland. She lives in Thomaston with her husband and daughter and a small menagerie of pets.
Jamie Fullerton, Finance Assistant
Jamie is Trekkers’ Finance Assistant. She joined the team after being in financial services in Southern Maine for many years, holding positions in Accounting and Finance. Jamie holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Management from the University of Maine. In addition to working for Trekkers, she also sub-teaches in local schools at all grade levels. She enjoys being involved with youth which makes Trekkers an ideal fit for her interests and passion. In her free time, she enjoys reading, hiking, gardening, traveling and just being outdoors. She lives in South Thomaston.
OUR LEADERSHIP TEAM
Jessie Davis, President
Rockland – Parent of Current Trekkers Student
Pete Rand, Treasurer
Jefferson – Island Institute, Chief Financial Officer
Alyssa Landrith, Secretary
Rockland – Trekkers Alum, Co-Owner of Adventure Advertising
Melissa Carr
Camden – Business Director of Alford Lake Camp
Makaila Hickey
Rockland – Trekkers Alum
Zoe Hufnagel
St. George – Current Trekkers Student
Laura Miller
Tenants Harbor – Parent of Current Trekkers Student and Alumni
Evan Riley
Thomaston – Current Trekkers Student
Jesse Rutter
Rockland – Attorney at Law, Hanscom, Collins & Rutter, P.A.
Yvonne Thomas
Vinalhaven – Senior Community Development Officer at Island Institute
OUR SPONSORS
Lead
Advocate
Champion
Mentor
Supporter
Trekkers is tremendously grateful for the generosity of our business partners and their support of our community. For more information on our sponsorship program, including how to become a partner, please contact our Director of Development, Nicole Pomeroy.