Our Board

Toria Brett has been coming to Vinalhaven her whole life, thanks to great-grandparents who built a house on the island more than 100 years ago. In 1993, Toria moved to Portland, Maine, where she was a journalist for The Associated Press, covering state and national news for many years. She now lives in western Mass., where she has worked as a freelance reporter for People magazine, AP and other publications. In the last several years, Toria has switched writing gears and is now working on fiction. A member of the VLT development and communication committees, Toria enjoys all the trails, but is most likely to be found on Middle Tip Toe.

Hillary Bunker is a Vinalhaven native and loves getting outside to hike, bike, kayak, snowshoe and snowboard. She also loves gardening, reading, knitting and spending time with her husband and family. She enjoys traveling to Saddleback mountain and Acadia National Park each year with her husband. She is currently attending Southern New Hampshire University Online working towards a bachelor’s degree in accounting and works as the bookkeeper at the Vinalhaven School.

Art Carpenter has been a summer visitor to Vinalhaven since 1984 when he and his wife Alex first rented “The Birches” from Tudor & Winona Peterson. It rained every day that first week and Art & Alex loved the island so much they’ve come back (almost) every year since. After many rentals arranged through Captain Frank Thompson, Art & Alex purchased a 19th century fixer-upper cottage on Arey Cove that they share with their adult children Walker and Isabelle.

Art grew up in Williamstown, Mass. Alex is from Buffalo, NY and is a current member of the board of Partners in Island Education. Art & Alex live in Austin Texas where Art is a real estate investor playing a small part in the crazy boomtown that is Austin. Throughout these years, Vinalhaven has provided an important connection to New England and a welcome respite from 100 degree temperatures!

Eric and his wife Bonnie were born and have lived on Vinalhaven their whole lives. Eric works as a lobsterman and has been a member of Vinalhaven Land Trust since the late '80's. He served as VLT’s president in the late '90's. Eric was deeply involved with the protection of Lanes, Nubble, Otter, Roberts, and Stoddard Islands, as well as the creation of the Eleanor L. Campbell Preserve. He has served on many town boards and committees. Currently, he is on the Budget, Cemetery, and Waste Watchers Committees. Eric says, "I feel that Vinalhaven Land Trust is the right organization to protect and manage Vinalhaven’s special places for future generations to enjoy.”

Claudia Dengler is a first generation American who was raised in New England by parents who were active conservationists: With a Bachelor’s degree in environmental education from the University of Massachusetts, a Master’s in criminal justice from American International College and a Master’s in Business Administration from the University of Minnesota, Claudia has worked in the nonprofit health and human services sector for 45+ years in a variety of leadership roles. Since retiring she’s served on boards and been a consultant to nonprofit organizations. She is an avid sailor/boater and has worked for the last 10 years as a pro skipper doing sailboat deliveries from France to the U.S. and coastal work to and from the Caribbean and the Eastern seaboard. She’s an enthusiastic gardener, knitter, and bicyclist, who is also learning to paint with watercolors. She’s currently the treasurer for the Pleasant River Grange on Vinalhaven and served as the interim executive at ICMS (the Medical Center) in 2019 during their leadership transition. Claudia lives year round on Vinalhaven with her partner Doug Fincham. The conserved, pristine, and accessible lands on Vinalhaven were a big part of their motivation to move to the island. She is looking forward to helping support the next phase of VLT’s work and has been an active member of the Walks and Talks Committee for the last 2 years.

Joshua Eckels is a year-round resident and cabinet maker on the island. A serially self-employed Jack-of-all-trades with a background in fine art. He has lived in Maine since the early 1990s and the same thing that originally drew him to Maine from West Virginia lured him further east to Vinalhaven in 2011. The romance of maritime New England and the power of the connection between land and sea. Drawn here from Portland by his love of that costal landscape and the islands unending supply of natural inspiration. Struck from day one by the obvious pride held for this place left him wanting to be part of why many call these islands ours and more importantly, ours to share. One of his very first introductions to the geography of the island was the little VLT information kiosk at Skoog Park. The wealth of conservation and public access made a lasting impression. That day surely led Joshua to the pursuit of becoming more involved in the land trust and helping to continue the tradition of protecting as much of this treasure and tradition as possible.

Beth has been enjoying summers on Vinalhaven with her family for many years.

The Land Trust trails are a favorite place; she likes to explore different hikes, find seasonal wildflowers, look for birds, and see wonderful ocean views and woods. She has been leading wildflower walks for the Land Trust for years and enjoys sharing observations on the plants of Vinalhaven. She has also led workshops on making cards with dried pressed flowers — an activity enjoyed by people of all ages.

She is thrilled to be joining the board of VLT, as she believes strongly in the mission of the Land Trust in preserving lands for all to enjoy. She is also strongly supportive of the organization’s commitment to the community, particularly its support of environmental education for children.

Ben has been spending summers on Vinalhaven since he was a child. The Island has been a perennial source of rest and restoration for him and now his children. He is deeply appreciative of the Vinalhaven Land Trust’s efforts to preserve and maintain the unique natural beauty and to make it accessible and relevant to all future generations. In this and other respects, Ben is inspired by his mother, Lea Iselin, a founding member of the Vinalhaven Land Trust.

When not on Vinalhaven, Ben and his wife, Cathy, live in Brooklyn, New York. He is a partner in an international law firm. He is a member of the Bard Early College Advisory Board which provides insight and support for Bard’s early college high schools around the country. Ben is excited to contribute to the VLT’s efforts to maintain its irreplaceable preserves as a permanent sustaining resource for all Island communities.

Cay began volunteering with VLT by painting the office trim while her two children were off with Island Sail. Following an initial career in mineral exploration geology in the northwest U.S., Cay has been working as a graphic designer since 1987. After two decades of renting, she and husband, George, purchased an 1850s Cape which they are nearly finished renovating. Prior to moving to Vinalhaven full time, Cay lived in Yarmouth, ME, for 29 years where she spearheaded efforts to protect the Spear Farm Estuary Preserve and was active with the Yarmouth Conservation Commission, Royal River Conservation Trust, and Yarmouth Community Garden. On Vinalhaven, Cay serves on the Parks Commission, is a regular at Eldercare’s Bottle Brigade, a Monday Night Knitter, a gardener, and a member of the Grange.

Lucy first joined the board of VLT after moving to the Fox Islands 30 plus years ago. Subsequently, she worked 18 years at the land trust, conserving the nature of Vinalhaven and positioning VLT to receive national accreditation. An engaged member of the community, Lucy has served on the Board of Appeals, comprehensive planning committee and currently chairs the town budget committee. She also serves on the board of Maine Coast Heritage Trust. She lives with her husband, John Drury, and enjoys her time on Green's Island.

Hannah Noyes grew up on Vinalhaven and is now a seasonal resident, splitting her time between Portland and the island.

In the summer you can find her walking or running the trails, including favorites Huber and Middle Mountain. She enjoys annual camping trips to Baxter State Park and recently started backpacking. Since completing the 100 Mile Wilderness in 2020, she now hopes to complete the Maine section of the AT.

While completing her bachelors, she volunteered for the sustainability office and was a staff writer and editor for the student newspaper. While studying abroad in South and Central America she learned from the social and human rights movements that stand up for community access to native lands and resources.

Looking forward, she is thrilled to be part of VLT and starting a new chapter of involvement with her community that extends beyond the trails.

Keeley Philbrook is an island resident who has lived in Vinalhaven since childhood. She graduated from Vinalhaven High School in 2003 and received her Bachelor’s of Science degree in Business Management at the University of Southern Maine. For the past 9 years, she has worked in the Food Service Department at Vinalhaven School. During the summer, she works at her mother’s food truck, Greet’s Eats. Keeley has previously served on the Islands Community Medical Services and the Island Village Childcare boards. She enjoys spending time outdoors no matter the season, coaching little league softball, and spending time with her amazing family.

Elizabeth fell hard for Vinalhaven on her first visit in 1986 and has been part of the seasonal spring migration ever since. On the island, she spends her time in Old Harbor, hiking the Basin trails and connecting with the parents of her kid’s cohort of friends who have become wonderful, interesting adults — and future leaders of VLT? In her work life, Elizabeth specializes in strategic communications and environmental permitting and has extensive experience in managing complex public policy issues and mediating intractable disputes between opposing parties. She is a registered professional forester and hopes one day soon to start an inventory of Vinalhaven’s most notable trees. She lives on a farm in Pownal, Maine with her husband Christopher Ayres and two cows.

Yvonne first came to Vinalhaven in 1986 as a college student and has lived on the island with her family year-round for the past 30 years. She is passionate about place-based learning and island education and has worked in several island schools including Vinalhaven School, where she was the school counselor for many years. In 2015, Yvonne joined the staff of the Island Institute. Her work as a Senior Community Development Officer is focused on supporting remote communities and strengthening education and workforce outcomes for island and coastal students. The natural beauty of the island and VLT trails in particular, are a big part of her happy island life

Mark is a seasonal resident of Dogtown and a recently retired commodity trader who spent 38 years in commodity pits and in front of screens. Mark’s trading badge was SKI. He is hoping his service to VLT will in some small way redeem him for making a living helping clients trade hydrocarbons. Mark wore the uniform of the Boy Scouts of America as assistant scout master, has recently split wood and worked to rebuild a community garden for his church, worked for his son to build an aquaponics system for a Florida non-profit, and looks forward to continuing sectional hiking of the Appalachian Trail. Both his kids live in Boulder CO. Mark’s wife Mary Lou and he are looking forward to family time on Vinalhaven in August hiking the trails.