Member-Led and Stakeholder Powered
MTC is built on a collaborative team model that engages the people we serve through team-based advocacy rather than a top-down approach. We directly engage our constituents, including land trusts, motorized clubs, and municipal leaders, in the design of our advocacy strategies. While our programming is led by these collaborative teams, MTC's ultimate decision-making authority lies with its volunteer Leadership Group and four person Executive Committee.
MTC Leadership Group
MTC's Leadership Group (LG) serves as MTC’s governing body, responsible for setting strategic goals, inviting new members, overseeing fundraising, and ensuring MTC’s ongoing effectiveness. Members of the group (which functions similarly to boards of directors at other organizations) meet monthly throughout the year to provide leadership and strategic direction, bringing the backing and support of their organizations. There are anywhere from 7-15 members, representing a balance of experienced and new perspectives, with a structured process to promote inclusivity, diversity, and equity and balance of experienced membership and fresh perspectives.
Dan Bassett
Deputy Director Bicycle Coalition of Maine A New Hampshire native and current Deputy Director of the Bicycle Coalition of Maine, Dan has been a dedicated trails advocate and steward for over a decade. His experience ranges from leading trail crews for the Montana Conservation Corps to working as a cycling educator after earning his MS in Environmental Education. When not advocating for better biking and walking infrastructure, Dan is almost always found out on the trails on two wheels. 
Ryan Gates
Stewardship Program Coordinator Coastal Mountains Land Trust Ryan is a Registered Maine Guide with 15 years of experience in land conservation and management, and currently serves as Stewardship Program Director for Coastal Mountains Land Trust. A graduate of Unity College, he is deeply committed to building Maine’s local trail-building trades and professional capacity. On the MTC leadership team, Ryan focuses on strengthening statewide partnerships and advocating for inclusive policies to ensure Maine’s trail networks thrive for generations. |
Chris Riley
President, CeMeNEMBA New England Mountain Bike Association Chris is the President of the Central Maine Chapter of the New England Mountain Bike Association (CeMeNEMBA) and serves on the boards of Titcomb Mountain and the Rangeley Lakes Trail Center. A Fayette resident, he is a passionate advocate for trails as community health resources and pioneered an innovative youth-focused trail crew model for maintenance and construction. Chris aims to leverage his role with the MTC to help Maine realize its potential as a premier New England trail destination. 
Steve Kasacek
MTC Leadership Group President Director of Trail Development Outdoor Sport Institute Steve brings over 12 years of civil engineering and sustainable trail expertise to his work with the Outdoor Sport Institute (OSI). He has assisted communities in over 20 states with the planning and design of more than 1,000 miles of high-quality trails and has helped secure over $10 million in project funding. Steve is passionate about local capacity building and frequently leads workshops to train the next generation of trail volunteers and professionals. |
Jon Kachmar
MTC Leadership Group Secretary Executive Director Portland Trails Jon is the Executive Director of Portland Trails, where he focuses on land conservation, urban greening, and connecting people to nature. With a Master’s in Public Policy and Management from the Muskie School, he has a long history of building collaborative partnerships to develop sustainable trail strategies across New England. In his spare time, Jon is an avid fly fisherman, backcountry skier, and hiker who enjoys exploring the Casco Bay region. 
Frances Killea
Woods, Water, & Wildlife Policy Advocate Natural Resources Council of Maine Frances grew up exploring Ohio's Cuyahoga Valley National Park before moving to Maine in 2016. She worked on organic farms before earning her Master of Forestry from the University of Maine in 2023, conducting forest ecology research from Maine to Eastern Washington. Now the Woods, Water, & Wildlife Policy Advocate for the Natural Resources Council of Maine, Frances lives in Appleton and spends her free time running, hiking, and open-water swimming. |
Eliza Townsend
MTC Leadership Group Treasurer Maine Conservation Policy Director Appalachian Mountain Club Eliza is the Maine Conservation Policy Director for the Appalachian Mountain Club. She brings extensive legislative and advocacy experience to the MTC, having served four terms in the Maine House of Representatives and as Commissioner of the Maine Department of Conservation. Throughout her career leading organizations like Maine Conservation Voters and the Maine Women’s Lobby, Eliza has remained a steadfast champion for the protection of Maine’s natural resources and public access. 
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MTC StaffLeigh Hallett
MTC Director Leigh became Director of MTC in late summer 2026, following the productive tenure of Interim Director Jenny Ward. Leigh’s background includes directing resource programs for the Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation & Forestry, serving as a Public Information Officer for USDA Rural Development, and directing nonprofits including the Maine Federation of Farmers’ Markets. |
Fiscal Sponsorship
The Maine Trails Coalition operates intentionally as a lean, program-focused organization. To ensure the vast majority of our resources go directly toward supporting Maine’s trail networks rather than heavy administrative overhead, MTC operates under the fiscal sponsorship of the East Coast Greenway Alliance (ECGA).
Through this partnership, ECGA handles our primary financial management, banking, and reporting in exchange for a nominal fee. This keeps our operation flexible, efficient, and deeply accountable to our donors. Because of this structural setup, you may occasionally see our official transactions or filings appear as "ECGA dba Maine Trails Coalition."
In Maine, the popular 87-mile Down East Sunrise Trail serves as the longest continuous off-road stretch of the entire East Coast Greenway, an example of the trail infrastructure we are proud to champion together. Pictured is a portion of DEST in Dennysville (ITS 82 W), where the trail is managed by the Dennysville Snowmobile and ATV Club. Ultimately the East Coast Greenway will stretch from Maine to Florida, offering well-marked outdoor recreation and active transportation routes the full length (see map).
