Meet the Team

After a successful 38 year career as a Dentist in Auburn, Maine, Jeff has developed a passion for trail building with IWT. He volunteers with the trail crew both in the winter and in the summer and has recently finished a three year term as IWT treasurer. He currently serves as Vice President and leads the Development Team. Jeff and his wife, Sara, love cycling, hiking, fly fishing, skiing and traveling. They have two grown daughters.

Julie moved to Bethel in 2018 and has more than 30 years experience in nonprofit marketing and communications. A graduate of Mt. Holyoke College and Wesleyan University, she is on the board of the Shelburne Trails Club and was a volunteer naturalist with the Appalachian Mountain Club for over 10 years. Julie loves to hike, ski, and snowshoe.

Shawn and his family split their time between the seacoast of New Hampshire and the mountains of Western Maine. They enjoy skiing, trail running, hiking and mountain biking. Professionally, Shawn spends his time in the software space investing and supporting leadership teams. He currently serves as the treasurer, working with IWT on planning and analysis.

Karen Wilson is from New Hampshire's Mount Washington Valley. She attended the University of Vermont to become a teacher. Karen married Todd Papianou, and they owned and operated Northern Waters Whitewater School in Errol, New Hampshire for 15 years. They moved to Andover, Maine to run the business, and also took teaching positions in the area. In 2016, Karen left teaching and became a math coach. That same year she was elected Board Member of the Chisholm Ski Club in Rumford and began coaching alpine ski racing at Black Mountain of Maine. In 2018, she was elected as a Board Member of IWT and was appointed to Rumford Hospital’s River Valley Community Health Committee. In 2020, Karen joined Central Maine Healthcare’s Quality and Value Committee and became an adjunct lecturer at the University of Maine at Farmington. In 2022, Karen added Central Maine Healthcare’s Long Term Care Board to her list of board appointments. Karen is an avid skier, cyclist, hiker, paddler, and all around lover of everything outdoors. She is most at home on the trails.

In 2016, after Ed, his wife Elizabeth, and their salty dog Luna spent five years aboard their Bristol 41 sailing the western North Atlantic and Caribbean Sea, including South and Central America, they settled in Bethel to be closer to family. Raising their two children in Charlotte, North Carolina, Ed worked as Director of Land Sales for Crescent Resources where his team was responsible for the land management and sales of a portfolio more than 200,000 acres. Prior to Crescent, he was the owner of Wingate Paving Company for more than 12 years, specializing in recreational projects as well as residential and commercial development. Originally from southern New Jersey, Ed was an active Boy Scout, ultimately becoming an Eagle Scout and learning the value that the woodlands have to offer. Having a Bachelor’s degree in plant biology, a background in forestry and the love of the outdoors Ed enjoys all that IWT and Maine has to offer.

A founding member of IWT, Jonathan and his wife, Kate, own True North Adventureware in Bethel.

Rusty Partridge is thankful to have spent the past 20 years calling western Maine home to live, work, and play. He resides in Norway with his wife, Sara, and two children where he owns and operates Black Dog Timberworks, a custom timber frame design/build shop. In the winter time, Rusty serves on the volunteer Ski Patrol at Mt Abram. He and his family love seeking adventure in the outdoors across many disciplines and currently rank hiking, mountain biking, backcountry skiing, and canoe tripping among the favorites. Rusty is excited to work with the great crew at IWT to help continue to grow the network and offerings for outdoor fun and adventure!

Peter has been a member of the IWT board since its inception. He served as board president from 2012-2016 and from 2018-2021. He recently retired as the science department chair at Gould Academy where he also coached mountain biking and road cycling. Peter started Bethel Bicycle (now Barker Mountain Bikes) in 2008 and owned it until 2015. He also served on the Town of Bethel select board from 2012 until 2021. Peter is an avid mountain biker, road cyclist, nordic and alpine skier. He and his wife, Sarah, embarked on a cross country bicycle tour of the Northern Tier states in the summer of 2022. He is excited about the continued expansion of the mountain bike trail network in and around Bethel.

James C. Tassé (Jim) is a nationally-recognized bicycle/pedestrian safety educator and advocate who has been active in trail, bike, ski and hiking initiatives in Maine and Vermont for over 25 years. He is the former chairperson for the Cape Elizabeth Conservation Committee, where he oversaw development and maintenance of one of the most-used trail systems in Southern Maine for eight years. He is also the former president of the Greater Portland Chapter of the New England Mountain Bike Association, and has assisted in the design and development of trail systems in many communities, including Gorham, Falmouth, and Yarmouth. Recently retired, Jim was the Assistant Director for the Bicycle Coalition of Maine (BCM), and brings non-profit management experience and expertise on bike/pedestrian policy to the IWT board. He is a graduate of the University of Vermont (BA, MA) and University of Colorado (PhD), as well as a League of American Bicyclists "League Cycling Instructor," a Professional Mountain Bike Instructor Association Level I certified instructor, an International Mountain Bike Association-trained trail designer, and a graduate of the Maine Institute for Civic Leadership. In cold weather, Jim is a ski industry professional with over 20 years of alpine and nordic experience. He lives in Greenwood, Maine.

Gabe is a fifth-generation resident of Bethel, Maine. Gabe was a founding board member of Inland Woods + Trails, and since 2014 has served as Executive Director. He holds a degree in Environmental Policy and Planning from the University of Maine at Farmington. He is a senior fellow in the Environment Leadership Program, and the Community Practitioners Network. He serves as co-coordinator of the Maine Trails Coalition and lives on Mason St. in Bethel with his wife, Jessie.

Andy has been living in Albany Township for a “few years” sharing his home with his wife and 23 sled dogs. Originally from the U.K. he moved to the Maine to work in Outdoor Education, leading multi day trips in the back country; hiking, canoeing, climbing, skiing, dogsledding, snow shoeing, sea kayaking and sailing. If you are an early morning skier at the Bethel Village Trails you may have seen him out grooming trying to catch sunrise on Grovers’ Grind. As well as enjoying riding the summer mountain bike trails himself, Andy appreciates the reaction of fellow trail users as IWT improves and expands the system.

Eric developed a passion for cross country skiing through 35 years of family business at Sunday River Inn. He has a Ph.D. in Environmental Engineering from the University of Maine and has owned a wood products machining business for 12 years. He is excited to apply his experience, education, and skills to help build and operate recreation trails for all abilities. Eric’s roles at IWT include financial operations, BVT Trail Center management, trail grooming, and equipment repair. During non-snow months, Eric enjoys boating, biking, and hiking.

Karla comes to IWT with over 20 years of experience in non-profit management and development with a variety of grass-roots organizations in Maine. Originally from Connecticut, Karla moved to Maine after graduating from Boston University and subsequently received her master’s degree at the University of Southern Maine. An avid mountain biker and hiker, Karla is excited to be part of Maine’s rapidly expanding outdoor recreation economy. She lives in Gorham, NH with her husband, Erik, and their four cats and two chihuahuas.

A Maine native from the town of Harpswell, Ian earned his Bachelors degree in Parks, Recreation, and Tourism Management as well as a Masters in Forest Resources from the University of Maine in Orono. After working for the Forest Service in Butte, Montana, Ian returned to New England to pursue a career in the outdoors. In his free time, Ian enjoys hiking, camping, snowboarding, and playing guitar.

Travis was born in southern New Hampshire and has lived and traveled all over the US. In 2017, Travis, his wife Alicia, and two boys Oliver and Maxwell moved to Maine to be closer to the mountains they love. Travis is an avid snowboarder and has over 25 years of experience in the backcountry. When all the snow is gone, you can find him rock climbing, hiking, mountain biking, backpacking, and doing various paddle sports. Travis is excited to combine his passion for the outdoors with his professional skills to help maintain and build more trails for everyone to enjoy and love.