The Forest Society of Maine (FSM) operates with a staff of eight individuals with diverse expertise who work to address the needs of landowners and communities, manage our organization’s day-to-day activities, and conserve forestland in Maine. If you would like to email an FSM staff member, please direct your message to their first name@fsmaine.org (example: john@fsmaine.org).
Alan Hutchinson, Executive Director
Alan has served as executive director of FSM since its inception as a staffed organization in 1997. He has guided FSM into an organization that has helped conserve and now oversees one million acres of forestland.
He has undergraduate and graduate degrees in wildlife ecology from the University of Maine, and before joining FSM spent 24 years as a wildlife biologist for the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife. He is a past associate faculty member at the University of Maine, a past trustee of the Maine Chapter of The Nature Conservancy, and has written books on loons and eagles. Alan and his wife Terri live in Orono overlooking the Penobscot River. He enjoys wildlife photography, fishing, sailing, hunting, and hiking.
Karin Tilberg, Deputy Director
Karin joined FSM in 2011 to oversee and implement FSM’s expanded presence in the Moosehead Lake region. As a member of the Moosehead Lake Economic Development Corporation board, she endeavors to connect communities to lands through forestland conservation. She leads FSM in working with forest landowners to design and implement conservation projects.
Karin has a B.S. in wildlife biology from the University of Vermont and a J.D. from the University of Maine School of Law. Before joining FSM Karin worked in state government as Deputy Commissioner of the Department of Conservation and as a senior advisor for Governor John Baldacci. In her free time Karin enjoys fly-fishing, hiking, canoeing, Nordic skiing, gardening, water color painting, writing poetry, and has recently taken up the cello.
Debra Capilli, Business-Office Manager
Debra joined the staff at FSM in the fall of 2013. Her duties include financial management, human resources, office management, and IT Support and she brings more than 25 years of experience from both non-profit and for-profit industry sectors. Debra moved to Maine from Massachusetts in 2003. She enjoys spending time with her family, exploring the state, and watching wildlife in every season. If she is wearing her camera you can be fairly confident that there is a moose nearby.
Kristen Hoffmann, Forestland Steward
Kris was hired in 2007 to help meet FSM’s growing land stewardship needs. She conducts ground and aerial monitoring for many of the current easements and compiles baseline documentation for new projects. She has a B.S. from Northland College in Biology and Psychology and an M.S. in Forest Management from the University of Maine. Kris previously served as the executive director of the Pemaquid Watershed Association. Currently Kris serves on the executive committee of the Maine division of the Society of American Foresters. When she’s not at the office Kris likes taking long walks with her dogs and playing volleyball.
Erica Kaufmann, Forestland Steward
Erica has been an FSM staff member since August 2011. Her passion for the outdoors, conservation, and the advancement of rural communities has led her to earn a B.S. in Forest Ecosystem Science at the University of Maine and a master’s in Community Planning and Development at the Muskie School of Public Service (USM). Erica works out of both FSM offices in Bangor and Greenville, and is responsible for monitoring easement lands from Jackman to Millinocket.Outside of work, you can find Erica on the trails, fly-fishing for trout, writing, exploring, and seeking enlightenment on her yoga mat.
Janice Melmed, Development Director
Janice joined FSM in 2002 to expand FSM’s development program. She has a B.S. in secondary education from Bloomsburg University and more than 25 years of nonprofit development experience. At FSM she manages all aspects of the annual fund, writes grant proposals, conducts prospect research, and coordinates marketing and outreach activities. In her spare time, Janice enjoys cheering on her sons, going for long walks, talking with friends around a campfire, feeling a tug on her fishing line, and viewing the night sky.
Jake Metzler, Forestland Stewardship Manager
Jake joined the staff in the fall of 2004 to enhance FSM’s land stewardship and conservation programs. He has both B.S. and M.S. degrees in forestry from the University of Maine. Jake’s expertise in forestry, remote sensing, and GIS has led to building an efficient monitoring and stewardship program tailored to the varied terms and conditions of FSM’s easements. In his free time he enjoys spending time at camp or at youth sporting events, and downhill skiing with his wife and two daughters.
Anna Schwarcz, Development Associate
Anna became part of FSM in 2014. She has a B.S. in Parks, Recreation and Tourism from the University of Maine and prior experience working for Sebasticook Regional Land Trust in Unity, Maine. Her responsibilities include donor stewardship, managing FSM’s website and Facebook page, and coordinating the publication of FSM’s biannual newsletter. When she’s not at the office, Anna can be found turning her extremely large lawn into vegetable gardens, reading, walking her dog, and viewing local wildlife.
