FSM’s Board of Director’s recently appointed Jessica Masse and Kyle Burdick to our board. They bring a wealth of experience and insight to FSM, including in design/branding and forestry respectively. We look forward to their guidance as we move forward into a new strategic plan.

Jessica Masse is the Managing Partner at Designlab, a design and branding firm in Millinocket, Maine. Prior to joining Designlab, she was an Information Analyst at the Jackson Laboratory, managed a research lab in the Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics at Harvard Medical School, and was an adjunct Instructor of Chemistry at the Massachusetts College of Pharmacy. She attended Bowdoin College and the University of Maine. Jessica is originally from Caribou, Maine. Professionally, Jess maintains the 25/75 “good neighbor” rule, devoting 25% of her time to pro-bono work, supporting initiatives that prioritize rural economic development and have long-term impact on Maine. Jess is a founding member of Katahdin Revitalization, a member of Our Katahdin BOD (redeveloping the former mill site, One North, in Millinocket), a member of the Eastern Maine Development Corporation BOD, and the Vice-Chair of the Maine Arts Commission. Jess was also a member of the Governor-appointed Economic Recovery Committee and a member of the Maine EDA Project Advisory Committee in conjunction with Northeastern University’s Global Resilience Institute.

I am delighted to be part of the board and look forward to furthering the mission of the organization. I have benefited tremendously from Maine’s forests — my life has been shaped by my experiences living close to the wild areas of Maine. It’s only right that I should work to make sure the next generation has the same opportunity! — Jessica Masse

Kyle Burdick is a Maine Licensed Forester, SAF Certified Forester, and owner of Forest Geek LLC. Based in Lee, Maine, Kyle has spent nearly two decades managing investment, conservation, and family-owned forestlands throughout eastern Maine and the Northeast. Kyle has built a career focused on sustainable forest management, timber harvesting, forest certification, woodland investment, and emerging carbon markets. Over the course of his career, he has overseen management activities on more than 200,000 acres of Maine forestland, sold over one million tons of timber, and advised on the acquisition of more than 24,000 acres of forestland. He also managed the first carbon project established on commercial timberland in Maine. Prior to starting his own consulting business, Kyle was most recently the vice president of Baskahegan Company, worked as a contract forester for Lyme Timber and served as both a forester and contract forester for the Downeast Lakes Land Trust. Kyle has more than 18 years of experience administering and implementing forest certification programs, including FSC, SFI, and American Tree Farm standards. He is also pursuing certification as a Master Pesticide Applicator. Kyle is a past Chair of the Maine Division of the Society of American Foresters and a past Chair of the Maine Tree Farm Committee. He currently serves on the Board of Directors of Maine Woodland Owners, is a member of the Outcome Based Forestry Panel, and remains active with the Forest Stewards Guild, Project SHARE, and the Maine Tree Farm Program as an inspector and facilitator. Through his professional work and volunteer leadership, Kyle remains committed to ensuring that Maine’s forests continue to provide economic, environmental, and community benefits for generations to come.

Anyone who cares for forestland knows that the ecological, economic, cultural and recreational values of the woods don’t exist separately. They complement one another, and sometimes come into real conflict. Finding the right balance can be deeply rewarding, but it can also be complicated and difficult. That is what makes the Forest Society of Maine so important. FSM recognizes both the value of Maine’s forests and the realities of owning and managing them, and brings people together to find solutions that keep forests intact, productive, accessible and meaningful for generations. — Kyle Burdick

FSM would like to introduce you to our newest Forestland Steward, Rue Teel!

Rue got her BS in Wildlife & Conservation Biology with a minor in Forestry from UNH in 2019, and her MS in Natural Resources in 2025. She brings with her a background of stewardship and work for land trusts in southern New Hampshire, along with experience as a research scientist. Outside of work she loves to hike, swim, kayak, snowshoe, ski, read, and knit.

FSM is grateful to have her on board, stewarding the lands we help to conserve. Welcome, Rue!

In 2009, the Stetson Mountain Fund was established at FSM with funding from First Wind. This fund provides grants to local groups and communities seeking to maintain and enhance access to recreational opportunities in the Baskahegan Stream watershed, which arises from the slopes of Stetson Mountain in Washington County. In April, FSM celebrated 15 years of awarding grants, with a special event for past recipients and community members that included a morning tour of Baskahegan Landing, a walk at Harlow Trail, and a luncheon.

FSM is grateful for the opportunity to work with these local groups and fund projects that encourage recreation in the Baskahegan Stream watershed. This year, the Stetson Mountain Fund will support the following projects:

🌲 Woodie Wheaton Land Trust: Baskahegan Watershed Trail stewardship, including trail maintenance on the Cold Spring trail and East Grand Highlands trail

🌲 North Maine Woods: Support for grounds maintenance including mowing, trimming and trash removal of the parking and overflow area of the Baskahegan Landing

🌲Citizens Organization for Rural Education (CORE): Cold Spring Hill Hiking Trails Completion.

🌲Citizens Organization for Rural Education (CORE): The Baskahegan River Water Trails completion and remote campsite restoration

FSM would like to welcome our 2026 Swan Intern, Kaela Redman!

Kaela is a Master of Forest Conservation candidate at the University of Toronto and a recent Honours Bachelor of Arts graduate specializing in Forest Conservation and Environmental Studies. Her graduate work has focused on sustainable forest management, environmental policy and species at risk, oak wilt, and woodland caribou conservation. She is passionate about regeneration dynamics, forest pests and invasive species, environmental law, and community-centered conservation efforts.

Outside of her academic and professional work, Kaela enjoys exploring local trails and spotting new insects during hikes, sharing her passion for trees with her friends and family, and spending time out at camp. She is excited to work with FSM, explore hands-on experience with conservation easements, and spend time in the field!

The Swan Internship Program has been made possible by a generous bequest from long-time donors Hank and Freda Swan. To learn more about the program, visit our Swan Internship page.

In our recent mailed spring Newsletter, we featured an article on headwaters – where the water comes from – and FSM’s headwater conservation projects. Here’s an excerpt:

“Headwaters have many roles. They are natural filters of sediment and contaminants; they collect and disperse nutrients that feed organisms downstream. They absorb rainfall, slow runoff, and reduce flood risk. Headwater ponds and wetlands store water, helping to maintain river flow during times of low water and drought. […] FSM’s work is uniquely suited to headwater conservation for Maine’s largest and most famous rivers, because the origins of these rivers are deep in Maine’s North Woods.”

Want to read more? Email us at info@fsmaine.org to make sure you get a mailed copy of our newsletter.

📷 Photo taken at Moosehead region conservation easement, a vast easement that conserves headwaters for both the Penobscot and Kennebec Rivers