Meet the MMoME Team
Staff
Lynda Doughty
Lynda has led marine mammal response organizations for many years. She is the founding Executive Director for MMoME since 2011. Born and raised in Maine, Lynda always knew she wanted to work with helping marine mammals. She has provided care for thousands of animals, has opened Maine’s first seal triage center, and looks forward to providing more for marine mammals in Maine.
Her work has involved conducting whale necropsies, disentanglement, population studies, marine debris projects and sterning on lobster boats. Lynda was recognized by Portland Press Herald in 2014 as one of 10 Mainers to be thankful for. In 2021, she was named a CNN Hero.
Lynda received her degree in marine science from Maine Maritime Academy. She also serves on the board of directors for Phippsburg Land Trust.
Dominique Walk
Dominique has been with MMoME since 2014, and volunteered for the organization prior to that. She graduated from College of the Atlantic in 2009 with a focus in marine mammal research and strandings. Her research interests and experience focused on human interactions with large, endangered whales, specifically underwater bioacoustics and marine industries.
She has always had a deep passion for marine mammals; researching, educating about, and providing medical care to sick and injured seals, whales, dolphins and porpoises has been her dream since childhood, and considers it a privilege to work with them. She is also a veterinary technician at an animal emergency hospital, and volunteers for an animal shelter fostering their medical patients.
Katie (Gilbert) Jenner
Katie has been a part of the MMoME team since 2018 when she started as a summer intern and was hired shortly thereafter as a staff member. From a young age Katie has always had a love and passion for the ocean and marine mammals. In 2015 she graduated from the University of New England with a degree in marine science where she developed a special interest in animal behavior/behavioral ecology. Prior to joining MMoME, Katie gained knowledge and experiences in the marine mammal world through a variety of seasonal jobs and internships throughout New England.
Whether she is doing animal care, responding to a stranded animal, or performing a necropsy, Katie never takes any day for granted and she is always learning new things from this ever-evolving field and the animals she is privileged to work with. In her free time, she loves to paint and do cross-stitch, spend time outside in nature, especially at the beach, and spend time with family and friends!
Lexi Wright
Lexi has been with MMoME since 2020, when she started as an advanced intern. She graduated from College of the Atlantic in 2021 with a focus in marine biology and was welcomed on as staff shortly thereafter. Aside from animal care, Lexi is passionate about promoting marine stewardship through education and outreach.
Growing up on the coast of Maine, Lexi has always appreciated marine life and opportunities to work on the water. Her studies and work experience include sterning on a lobster boat, conducting research on coral reefs in the Caribbean, GIS, and more. Lexi takes great pride in being part of the MMoME team, describing her work with marine mammals as humbling and rewarding.
Katy Green
Katy joined the MMoME team in 2022. She grew up on Mount Desert Island, Maine and developed an interest in marine mammals at a young age. Before joining the MMoME team Katy worked for several years in organic agriculture and on agricultural water quality projects. Her interest in protecting the oceans was what originally drew her to pursue water quality in agriculture and after many years she is excited to return to her passion for marine mammals by supporting MMoME's work.
Katy especially loves sharing MMoME's impact and vision with community members and donors and is always amazed at the commitment and dedication of her colleagues and the organization's volunteers.
Board of Directors
David Shultz
David became a volunteer with Maine Department of Marine Resources’ stranding program in 2009. He continued volunteering with Marine Mammals of Maine once MMoME’s stranding agreement was approved by NOAA in 2013. Later that year, David joined the Board of Directors as Treasurer, and was elected Board Chair in 2014.
David comes to the board with almost 25 years of financial experience in the corporate world, ending with a twelve year stint with Fidelity Investments as Vice President, Finance. He has served on three other boards in the state of Maine. He also has a great love of the ocean, coastal environments, and marine life. It is this connection that fuels David’s passion for Marine Mammals of Maine’s mission.
Kristina Cammen
Kristina is a marine mammal researcher with an interest in marine conservation, molecular ecology, and ocean health. She currently teaches and conducts research at the University of Maine, Orono. Prior to moving back to Maine, Kristina studied the health of bottlenose dolphins in Florida and gray seals in the United Kingdom. Kristina joined MMoME’s Board of Directors in 2014 and has contributed primarily to grant-writing and building MMoME’s research program.
Samantha Caola
As a Maine transplant from the New Jersey/New York metropolitan area, Samantha’s fondest early memories of Maine include seal spotting while sailing Casco Bay with friends.
Samantha has a Bachelor of Science in Psychology and is currently enrolled in USM’s Masters in Counseling program. Samantha brings 15 years of HR experience to MMoME, most recently working at IDEXX in Talent Development and previously as an HR Business Partner.
Her connection to MMoME began when she organized a volunteer opportunity for her team at IDEXX in 2019 and is pleased to join the Board of Directors, supporting the important work that this organization accomplishes. With a love for marine mammals, being a part of MMoME speaks to Samantha’s inner adolescent self, who dreamed of becoming a Marine Biologist.
Scott Edmunds
Scott is an attorney whose practice focuses on corporate and real estate transactions, including business planning and finance, residential and commercial real estate transactions, new business startups, acquisitions and sales, mergers, entity formation and restructuring, family owned businesses, land disputes, zoning issues, title searches, and issuance of title insurance policies. He joined the MMoME Board of Directors in 2014.
Joanna Leary
Joanna joined the board in 2014 and has been secretary since February 2015. Joanna has a background in studying bird behavior and has an MSc in behavioral ecology from Utah State University. She then transitioned from research science to teaching. She has been teaching biology and anatomy and physiology at Falmouth High School since 1997.
Jeff Musich
Jeff joined the MMoMe Board in 2022. Jeff is a semi-retired environmental engineer supporting water pollution control and protection, safe drinking water, climate change impacts, and environmental protection initiatives throughout the US and internationally during a 35 year career. Jeff's professional work has also included engineering studies and support for local aquariums in New England. For the past 15 years, Jeff has been a volunteer bringing safe water and medical support to the poor in rural Haiti.
Jeff is a lifelong environmentalist with a love of the ocean and all sea life and mammals. Jeff has a passion for protecting water quality in our oceans from pollution, acidification and other human impacts. Jeff has visited many far flung places in the world to dive and observe seals and sea turtles including Indonesia, the Galapagos Islands, Oman and other places. .
Jeff enjoys sailing, sea kayaking, hiking, birding, gardening and cooking from his home base in Edgecomb, Maine.
George Sharrard
George first interacted with Marine Mammals of Maine in 2015 as a volunteer, assisting staff with animal response, rescue and transport. He quickly transitioned to join the Board of Directors as Treasurer to continue assisting the organization. George further assists by helping with the maintenance of MMoME’s new triage center. Though most of his time for MMoME is spent behind the scenes on a computer, he still helps with animal response and care when he can.
George comes to the board as an experienced computer programmer and business financial manager. His diverse background also includes agricultural management, cattle farming, and carpentry.
