Celebrating Women on the Working Waterfront

On the anniversary of the 60th year celebrating Windjammers Days and maritime history, we pay homage to our founder, Captain Marion Dash for her contribution as a female role model in our maritime community. It is her legacy that has inspired us to celebrate the women who are working on the waterfront today who in turn inspire young girls and future maritime generations to come.

Each of our schooner sponsors have chosen an inspirational woman to celebrate during our Windjammer Days Festival. These sixteen women will be invited to Linekin Bay Resort* for a dinner to be held in their honor.
*A special note of appreciation goes out to the Linekin Bay Resort for generously sponsoring this celebration.

Nikki and her husband Taylor started a little "side" business with the premise of raising awareness and helping fellow fishermen who face  increasing pressures and a decreasing working waterfront.  The couple donates a portion of all sales from Rugged Seas, which takes old lobster bibs and recycles them into totes, backpacks and other assorted products, to the Maine Coast Fishermen's Association and Maine Lobstermen's Community Alliance. 
Nikki and Taylor come from a long line of fishermen.  Taylor jokes that his grandmother was one of the toughest fishermen he has ever known. She hand hauled traps with her sons when they were boys hauling in the traps until Taylor's father was strong enough to haul them in himself. 
The brand Rugged Seas has taken off in part due to the couple's mission... "Rugged Seas isn't just for the fishermen who work year-round and through all kinds of weather to bring seafood to the table-its for all of us who love and respect the ocean and what it does for us." 
Nikki, who is a nurse practitioner by training, wears several hats.  She has become the front person of their growing company as Taylor can be away for weeks at a time fishing in the Bering Sea.  She serves on the board of the Maine Coastal Fishing Association and most importantly she is mom to the couple's three young boys.  In a recent interview, Nikki shared what motivates her, "It's definitely my kids. Two of my boys have a visual impairment. Watching how well they manage the world around them always amazes me.  No complaints from them.  They play a huge part in my motivation and are always inspiring me." 
Indeed this super mom and business woman has high standards never losing sight of what's important as Rugged Seas grows, "As long as the fishermen feel like we are staying true to them, that we are accurately representing them, then that is success for us.  We want them to feel like we are proud of what they are doing.  We live the lifestyle.  We are a fishing family and we want them to feel like our company is about them and for them.  So as long as we continue down that path, we have been successful." 
We salute you, Nikki Strout for being a working woman of  integrity for the waterfront.

Captain Tiffany Krihwan has sailing in her blood

From the time she was  9 years old when she took sailing lessons at her grandfather's yacht club back in Erie, Pennsylvania, she was hooked.  Since then the size of the vessels and her responsibilities aboard have certainly grown.  Most recently in Milwaukee on board the s/v Denis Sullivan, a replica of a great lakes cargo schooner with a LOA of 132', Tiffany was a devoted Senior Captain and Director of Marine Operations for 12 years. “I started sailing on the Sullivan in 2001 as a deckhand and continued to return to her over all of her years sailing,” said Captain Krihwan. "She has been a member of my family almost since her launch 20 years ago.  I will truly miss the Sullivan and all of the great people that have sailed aboard her with me.”
Lucky for us, Krihwan's newest adventure has brought  her east as she has been named Captain and Director for Schooner Ernestina-Morrissey at the Massachusetts Maritime Academy.  “We’re adding a proven leader to our ranks, and I’m looking forward to seeing Captain Krihwan at the helm of the Ernestina-Morrissey,” said Rear Admiral Francis X. McDonald, USMS, President of the MMA. “We’re excited to have a Captain of Tiffany’s sailing experience, leadership skills and passion for our program aboard.”
Captain Krihwan has held an impressive array of leadership positions including Captain of the Boston-based schooner Roseway, Chief Mate of the Pride of Baltimore II, Relief Captain of the Los Angeles-based brigantine Exy Johnson and Captain of the tall ship Unicorn.  In addition to that in 2019 she was awarded Tall Ships America Sail Trainer of the Year award for her significant contribution to sail training through the demonstration of leadership by means of empowerment and inspiration. 
Her passion for sailing and love of the sea make her a natural born teacher.  In an interview while working as Captain aboard s/v Sullivan, she was asked what makes her happiest in her job. Her response, "When we have a bunch of teenagers who have never had an experience like that before, and toward the end of the voyage, I can see they get it, the whole experience – the beauty of sailing the ship, the team building, the camaraderie. And they get how precious our little environment is. It’s like a light bulb. It goes off at different times for everyone, but it definitely goes off."
Bravo Zulu, Captain. We very much look forward to seeing - in the not too distant future - the Ernestina-Morrissey launching in Boothbay Harbor as she sails off to the waters of Cape Cod with Captain Tiff at her helm.

Virginia oliver is somewhat of a celebrity in these parts

Most people know her as the oldest lobster fisher in the state and some say - the world.  Born in 1920 and raised in Rockland, Maine, Virginia grew up lobstering with her father and brother.  She learned how to pilot a boat when she was just a spunky seven year old girl. 
At 101, Ginny (as she is called by her friends) and her son Max go out 3 days a week in season. They  gear up the boat, put on their bibs, and motor out to the fishing grounds.  Max hauls the traps while Virginia measures and bands the keepers.  Virginia Oliver has more energy than most half her age. Max describes her, "She's going all the time, she never stops. Always been that way. It makes me tired sometimes just thinking about it."
Mrs. Oliver was a stay at home mom raising four children until Max turned nine.  She then went to work at a Rockland Printing Plant for nineteen years until one day she had had enough.  Virginia tells the story of that day when her husband, Bill came home from lobstering and saw her hanging laundry. "He asked me, 'I thought you went to work?' I told him, 'I did. I just quit. I'm going with you.' And so I did." Thus began the next chapter of her life back out on the water.  After Bill died at age 90, Virginia carried on lobstering with her son Max.
Through foul weather, angry seas and pea soup fog, nothing deters this "Lobster Lady" as she is affectionately known around town. "Sometimes I've gotten wet to the gills, but I never get seasick. I like doing it, I like being along the water and so I'm going to keep on doing it just as long as I can."  Max, the youngest of her 4 children (who range in age from 78 to 83) says admirably "She's worked hard her whole life.  She's a great mom."
For as much as Virginia loves the salt and sea, it appears the salt and sea have been good to her in return. If you catch one of the many video interviews made about her recently, you will see it in the way she glows when she speaks about being on the water, and you will hear it in her wonderfully infectious laugh, "I always wear my earrings to haul." she says as she grins. "I always wear my lipstick and things just like I was going up street somewhere." 
At home in rubber boots, work gloves, earrings and lipstick on a rocking boat in the ocean, Virginia Oliver's fierce independence and seafarer elegance will not only inspire you but will also warm your heart.

We sure are lucky to have Pauline Dion on our shores

Pauline is a co-founder and the President/Executive Director of the Boothbay Sea and Science Center (BSSC), a nonprofit organization offering affordable access to the waterfront for youth ages 5 - 17. The Center teaches youth about marine science and sailing but it is so much more than that.
As any good mariner will tell you being on the water builds independence and self-confidence. It is here that teamwork and appreciation for the ocean happen naturally. BSSC offers a STEM-based curriculum that includes experiential hands-on activities that guide youth to discover what lies between the surface and the seafloor. BSSC provides youth the opportunity to master new skills and soak up this knowledge much like a sea sponge soaks up the nutrients from the sea. Dion adds, "It's about history, it's about literature, it's about art and architecture, it’s about the marine trades, it’s about science, it’s about water safety skills, it’s about seamanship ... and it’s about so much more. It's all about life skills, leadership, teamwork, and forming lifelong friendships."
A lifelong sailor herself, Pauline chaired the Boothbay Harbor Yacht Club's Junior Sailing and Tennis Programs for about 7 years. It was during this time that she came up with the idea for the BSSC recognizing the benefits of introducing, at an early age, sailing, marine science and responsible stewardship of the land and sea. Dion was the perfect person to take on this endeavor having an extensive amount of experience in teaching and fundraising most of which has benefited the lives of many local children in lots of ways. Volunteering has always been an important part of her adult life and as Pauline says, "My passion is providing youth with equal and affordable opportunities that they would otherwise not think possible."
The Boothbay Sea and Science Center opened its doors in 2013 and has served more than 200 children ages 5-17 from all over the world, but Dion's vision does not stop there. In addition to the summer program, she offers an in-school BSSC program called Exploring the Science of Seaweed Farming. A collaboration with Maine Seaweed Farmers, this program, in its 5th year, has extended its reach beyond the Boothbay peninsula and is now in 11 Maine middle-schools and 1 high school. This “growing” program helps students to explore the conditions under which kelp grows. Seaweed farming is done during the winter months and is a rapidly growing industry on the Maine coast. These students get to learn in real time from seaweed farmers and aquaculturists what growing seaweed, mussels, clams, oysters, and scallops is all about.
“Entering our 10th year of programming, I am most grateful for the support I continue to receive from the BSSC Board of Directors, and from the many community partners and collaborators that help BSSC offer quality programs. And I am deeply honored to have the ongoing vote of confidence from Foundations that support equal and affordable youth programs and from the BSSC families, donors, and friends. Thank you for giving me the opportunity to bring more youth to the waterfront and helping them to gain a deeper understanding about all that is sea and science while getting wet and having tons of fun!” Nicely done, Pauline Dion and the Boothbay Sea and Science Center. How can anyone not help but love and support a program whose promise is "No child will be left sitting on the dock."

Linda Greenlaw has worn many hats

Swordboat Captain, Best Selling Author, Discovery Channel Celebrity,  Co-owner of Wesmac Custom Boats, Lobsterman,  Charter Boat Captain, but nothing makes her prouder than to say, "I'm a Fisherman." 
The author of nine books and co-author of two cookbooks with her mother, Greenlaw's accolades are many including an American Library Association Award, U.S. Maritime Literature Award and New England Book Award. She grew up on the coast of Maine and fell in love with the ocean at an early age.  Being aboard boats and chasing sea creatures were normal everyday life activities for a little girl living on an island off the coast of Maine.  By her own account, when other kids were learning how to ride a bike, Linda was much more interested in learning how to row a boat. 
After high school, Linda began fishing as a way to pay for college.  "Fishing for tuition" is how she refers to that time which foreshadowed the next chapter of her life.  Upon graduating from Colby College with a double major in English and Government, Greenlaw continued with fishing eventually becoming a renowned swordfish captain. One of the best in her field, she was the only female swordfish captain in the United States. Her fishing ventures took her far offshore often out to the Grand Banks for thirty days at a time where she was tested by some harrowing experiences. In 1991 Greenlaw was captain of the Hannah Boden, sister boat to the Andrea Gail which was lost at sea during what is commonly referred to as The Perfect Storm, and is detailed in a book by the same name written by Sebastian Junger.  The book, along with the attention from the subsequent movie, laid the foundation for Linda's writing career.  Her first book The Hungry Ocean landed on the best seller list as have four of her later books.  Greenlaw was also featured in the reality TV series, Swords which documented the happenings aboard New England boats who fished for swordfish.
Today, Linda lives with her boat building husband in Surry, Maine.  While she no longer goes out to sea for long stretches, she has not slowed down by any means.  She still has a lobster boat hauling her own traps, is co-owner of Down East Oyster aquaculture, and owns a charter boat business. Captain Greenlaw exemplifies living life to its fullest.  Addressing a graduating class awhile back, Linda shared some of the life lessons she has learned so far on her journey,

• "Education is never wasted, education becomes you. What you have accomplished is yours, it can never be taken away.

• Opportunity knocks - it does not let itself in. You have to answer the door and that is when the hard work comes in.

• Success is not always measured in dollars. I am passionate about catching fish. That feeling of loving what you work at - that is success." 

And this very important take away, "Being female...I didn't have anything to do with that.  That is just sheer luck!"

Mention the name Barbara Scully to those up and down the damariscotta river

by Kim Gillies

Those who know Barb or know of her will give you a nod of admiration for the marine biologist turned aquaculture pioneer.  Scully has been growing oysters for over 35 years on the Maine estuary.  She founded Glidden Point Oyster Sea Farm in 1987 and turned it into a successful business with a national reputation for quality.  At its height, Glidden Point Oyster grew more than 10 million oysters per year which were sold all over the US and in Canada. Scully sold the business in 2016 but still keeps her feet wet cultivating her own oysters on a smaller farm, harvesting wild shellfish, and gill-netting for menhaden.
Barb was instrumental in the resurgence of oysters in Maine recognizing that the Damariscotta River was full of nutrients to grow desirable oysters.  Over the years, she has indeed perfected her techniques, many of which are commonly used by new members of the oyster industry today. “It was a big science project that grew and grew and now has taken over my life,” Barb remarked.  Through experimentation, Barb recognized early in her career that holding shellfish in a storage raft prior to shipping enhances their quality.  Scully designed her own oyster rafts to flush the oysters with colder sea water which purges them of grit.  The process results in a cleaner and better tasting oyster.
Early on, Barb brought her two children onboard to help.  Part necessity, part good parenting, she had the foresight to see the life lessons hands on work teaches children.  The three worked together and shared in the pride of the growing business. Her kids are adults themselves now.  Barb reflects, “I'm grateful for every minute I have spent with my kids.  I've raised two very good people that I'm pleased to present to the world and they're off doing wonderful things.” Scully's positive influence goes beyond her own children.  Over the years, she's hired scores of teenagers.  Others in the industry affectionately referred to her summer season as “oyster camp,” but Barb appreciated how work on the waterfront can teach life skills including problem-solving, independence and confidence.  “I got to teach good kids important things.  I like to think I raised a lot of teenagers, not just oysters.  The kids mattered so much more.” said Scully. 
Barb has now turned her focus on mentoring a new set of young people to take over her retail business Scully Sea Products where they sell her boutique oysters along with lobsters, clams and all the fixings. It is a favorite stop for both locals and visitors alike. The motto on the side of the store seems fitting - If you are lucky enough to live by the sea, then you are lucky enough. A steward of oysters, kids, community and environment, Barb Scully has mastered putting goodness out into the world.

There are some people you meet and you immediately Know How much they care

by Kim Gillies

This is true of Lindsey Pinkham, owner and operator of Midcoast First Aid which provides United States Coast Guard approved safety courses along with basic first aid and CPR training for anyone and everyone who operates a vessel or works around the waterfront.  This includes merchant mariners, commercial fisherman and weekend boaters.  In addition to that she is the Northeast District Manager for Downeast Maritime, also a private training school which specializes in Merchant Marine Officer Licenses and Endorsement courses. The two companies work hand in hand to provide high quality maritime safety training.    
Pinkham comes from a long line of commercial fishermen and grew up on boats in and around Boothbay Harbor.  It comes as no surprise she chose to attend Maine Maritime Academy where she earned her Bachelor of Science in Marine Transportation.  During her time at Maine Maritime, Lindsey volunteered with the Castine Fire Department eventually becoming a lieutenant. When asked where her passion for safety comes from she remarked, "My grandfather was on the fire department and instilled in me that helping others around the community in which you live is something we should all do."
In addition to being a licensed mate, her expertise in maritime safety made her the logical choice to be designated as the person-in-charge of medical care on the bulk carriers, oil clean up vessels and tugboats she worked on.  Always looking for more, Pinkham went on to earn her captain's license.  Her safety certifications  are a long list and too many to include here, but certainly let you know you are in the presence of someone who knows her stuff.  Lindsey takes great pride in teaching mariners safety skills. "I do it because it lets me know that people in the industry are being safe and that they are prepared for emergencies - that they can help themselves and others if the need arises." Clearly the Governor agrees as Captain Pinkham was named to the Maine Pilotage Commission this past October.  The Commission is made up of seven members who are devoted to the safety of vessels, crew, cargo, and the continuing protection of the environment.
Lindsey's students come from all over the country.  Her enthusiasm is infectious making her a popular instructor.  "I'm the crazy instructor who gets into the water with my students in April, not because I have to but because I want to.” she laughs.  One of her students who had taken her Ocean Survival Course returned a few years later to share with Captain Pinkham just how important the skills he learned were to him.  He explained how he had fallen off the side of a tugboat into New York Harbor, "I could just remember your voice in my head" he told Lindsey, "Mind over matter, mind over matter, remember your training."  He was later rescued by a passing vessel and credits the survival training for saving his life.
It is clear Lindsey holds herself to the highest possible standards, caring deeply about her students and the well being of all boaters.  We are fortunate to have someone of her caliber safeguarding not only Maine's coastal communities but also equipping merchant marines and recreational boaters alike around the country with her voice in their heads, "Mind over matter, mind over matter, remember your training."  Our gratitude goes out to Safety Instructor Captain  Pinkham for keeping many a mariner on the right tack. 

Meet Clarice Yentsch, research Scientist, Educator, Author and Humanitarian

by Kim Gillies

Dr. Yentsch received her Ph.D. from Nova Southeastern University in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.  In her class of 21 students, she was one of four women. It is there that she met her husband, Charles.  After marriage, the couple moved to Massachusetts to pursue positions at the University of Massachusetts only to discover that the university had a policy that would not allow Charles and Clarice to work at the same institution. Determined to work together, Charles and Clarice heard about the closing of the National Marine Fisheries Lab on McKown Point in Boothbay Harbor. They met with close friend Spencer Apollonio, then Commissioner of the Maine Department of Marine Resources.  Clarice reflects on that time, “Spencer was the inspiration for Charlie and me to move to Maine. He put the package together with then Governor Ken Curtis.”  They established a research foundation and took up residence at the site which would eventually become the Bigelow Laboratory for Ocean Sciences.  Wanting to treat their team the way they wished to be treated, Clarice made it their mission to put people first.  Deborah Bronk, current President and CEO of Bigelow Laboratory has described it best, "The lab was the brain child of two rebel oceanographers who were sick of people telling them what to do."
Dr. Yentsch's contributions as a research scientist at Bigelow cultivated a whole new field of oceanographic research. She pioneered the use of a flow cytometer in ocean science creating the first one used in aquatic science research.  Always making the scientific community a priority Clarice remarked on the discovery, "When a new tool is developed, you realize you can go back and ask research questions again in a different way.  Suddenly you're able to look at the world, the ocean, or single cells in a totally new way, and everyone's research leaps forward."  Today Bigelow Laboratory, known internationally for its outstanding work in ocean science, is home to the Single Cell Genomic Center, the world's first research and service center with the primary focus on the single cell genomics of microorganisms.
Dr. Yentsch co-authored two books during her scientific career.  The first titled, The Woman Scientist: Meeting the Challenges for a Successful Career, is an in-depth look at the hidden prejudices against women in the scientific fields and how to overcome them.  She also co-authored The Sea is All About Us, a treasured guide to the ecology of northern New England waters which inspires the reader to love and protect the sea.  After her twenty years at Bigelow, Clarice turned her attention to education reform where she won several awards for her leadership and mentoring in Maine.
Always a humanitarian, Dr. Yentsch resides in Florida where she founded the Waypoint Foundation of Key Largo which celebrates human creativity with a focus on education, exhibition and collaboration to address unmet needs in the Florida Keys.  The organization has a wide reach providing dental resources for disadvantaged children, supporting a residency program for artists, scientists, and authors, and serving as an ambassador for traveling exhibitions from around the world. Clarice believes that mentoring, learning and teaching are all interwoven and she has dedicated her life to sharing her discoveries with the world around her - the ripple effects of which are far and wide and still carry on at the expanded Bigelow labs now located in East Boothbay.

Katie Doughty Maddox was raised a mariner

Whether it was summers sailing the coast of Maine or days spent at the shipyard, Katie was raised on the water and on boats.  It was, therefore, a natural progression that led her to a career building some of the finest commercial vessels in the United States and the world, all from East Boothbay.   Of course she doesn't do this by herself, but as President of Washburn & Doughty Associates, Inc. which employs a highly talented  crew of roughly 90 shipfitters, engineers, pipefitters, welders, electricians, designers, mechanics,  carpenters, and painters.  Katie takes enormous pride in the work of Washburn & Doughty and the legacy of Maine shipbuilding that it represents.
Washburn & Doughty was started in 1977 by two friends, Bruce Doughty and Bruce Washburn as a side business.  Katie Doughty Maddox, daughter of co-founder Bruce Doughty took over the company as president in May 2019.  The yard has a niche building mostly steel boats including tugs and ferries such as the Dennis Moran, an 86’ x 36’, 5100 HP, Z-Drive Tug launched at the end of March for the Moran Towing Corporation. 
Katie has always loved being on the ocean and anything else that brings her outdoors. Growing up, she worked on schooners out of Camden, enjoyed a position at Outward Bound, and appreciated her time as a trip leader at Chewonki.  Mixed in there she also did some work for her dad's company.  It's not surprising that Maddox eventually followed in her dad's footsteps. "Talking tugs and building boats was always part of the dinner conversation growing up." she shared.  Today, the family business carries on with Katie's husband as CFO and her sister Kristen, an attorney, helps out with the legal side of the business. 
Maddox has a passion for what her company produces.  She  would much rather rattle off stats about the tugs in production, vessel specifications, hull numbers, etc. then talk about herself.  It is clear that she has great admiration for her team.  Noting the countless man hours that go into designing and building each one of these vessels,  Katie remarked "We are very proud of the craftsmanship.  We work hard at living up to our reputation for building good boats."
If you want to hear Katie really light up, ask her about a launch.  "A launch is a very special event.  Everything you see and everything you can't see from the paint to the bridge, from the engine room to the hydraulics, someone here did that.  Our team put it together. It takes a lot of man hours, a lot of time out of someone's life to build each vessel. A launch evokes a great sense of fulfillment in all of us here."  With that kind of dedication, it is no wonder that Katie Doughty Maddox and her team of craftsmen continue to live up to their world class reputation for excellence in building steel vessels right here in East Boothbay, Maine.

Terry Arford received her captain's license in 1976

After 46 years piloting boats and transporting passengers, her enthusiasm for the ocean and the people she meets has remained steadfast. "I still love introducing people to the coast of Maine. I love talking about the area." she shared.  During the summer season, Terry works for Captain Bill Campbell at Balmy Days Cruises.  Bill has a fleet of boats including ferries, sailboats, and a fishing boat, and Captain Arford has piloted all of them.  Back in the day, she would go from the pilothouse of the ferry which transports passengers out to Monhegan Island right to the helm of a sailboat that takes tourists around area lighthouses. 
Arford grew up on the water.  Her parents had a 47' sailboat named Yworry and the family cruised all over New England when she was young.  An impressive fun fact - Terry along with her two sisters and brother are all licensed captains.  "There's a lot of salt in our blood." she laughed. 
Arford graduated from Brigham Young with a degree in English and Psychology.  The psychology part may have helped with her easy going nature as a tour boat captain.     She recalled some of the comments made when there were fewer female captains.  “One time when the Balmy Days was tied up to the wharf at Monhegan Island and one of the locals got onboard he looked at my Teva sandals and shook his head. 'If Charlie Wade [owner, builder, and captain of the original Balmy Days] knew that the Captain had pink toenails, he would be rolling over in his grave.' he said.  I didn't stop laughing until we were on the mooring" she remembered.  Another time, her son was crewing for her along with another female deckhand.  They took turns with responsibilities onboard and it was his turn in the coffee bar while the other crew member was in the wheelhouse with Terry.  A gentleman passenger who saw  the captain's son making coffee started commenting, "Gosh it must be really tough.  We have women up in the wheelhouse and you are down here in the coffee bar."  After a few minutes of his ranting, Terry's son yelled up to the wheelhouse, "Hey Mom, do you want cream in that coffee?" Confident in her skills, Terry never let these kinds of comments bother her.  “Women working on boats is far more common now than it used to be," said Terry.  "One day on the Balmy, I realized we had two female crew onboard, myself as captain, and the co-owner of the business who was also a woman, and I thought to myself – how cool is this.”
Captain Arford takes her job very seriously. "I feel a sense of responsibility and respect for both my passengers and the geography of Maine.  Often times, I am humbled by mother nature, and I am continually surprised in spite of the fact that I have been doing this for so long." At almost 70 years old, she wouldn't change a thing.  "I used to say one of these days, I'm going to have to grow up and get a real job, but somehow that never happened.  I am so fortunate to work for such a nice company in such a beautiful place.  I don't think I could duplicate it doing something else.” That's the kind of passion Terry shares with visitors to our area - how lovely is that!

At only 28 years old Kristin Page has accomplished a lot

She and her husband Nick and his brother Andy are the owners of Atlantic Edge Lobster located on Atlantic Avenue in Boothbay Harbor. Kristin functions as General Manager/Owner and Clerk. The business was purchased in January of 2021 from the Tibbetts family who had been long time owners. While assuming ownership of a business right in the middle of a pandemic was somewhat challenging, they have now been in business for over a year. Kristin reports that Kathy and Eddie Tibbetts laid a great foundation of quality products, large customer base and strong values. She is proud to report they have maintained and expanded the customer base in addition to remaining open seven days a week.

Kristin’s background of being born and bred in Boothbay Harbor prepared her well for her current role. She worked at numerous Boothbay Harbor businesses as a youth including Cabbage Island Clambakes, Momma D’s and Robinson’s Wharf. While working at Robinson’s Kristin met her husband Nick, a fisherman. During this time, she also graduated from The University of Vermont with a degree in Exercise and Movement Science. Through her varied work experiences, she learned scheduling, timing and ordering skills which have served her well in her current busy role of managing retail and wholesale sales as well as coordinating nationwide shipping. Atlantic Edge is a year-round business that handles thousands of pounds of lobsters and picked meat per week in the summer. At the retail store they also sell local seafoods including steamers, oysters, scallops, shrimp, haddock and crab. In the high season they receive products from by 20-25 fisherman with that number dropping to 5 or so in the winter when there are fewer fisherman actively fishing year round.  Numerous local businesses are the wholesale recipients of lobster as well as some high-volume eateries in Wiscasset. In the summer Kristin can be seen in her skiff making deliveries to the restaurants in the inner harbor. Kristin says this method is much quicker since it avoids traffic and parking concerns and is of course more fun!
Despite 12-hour days in the summer, Kristin is quick to say how much she enjoys her job from the salty humor on the docks to the extra added benefit of working with her husband and extended family. In her spare time, she loves to hike with her husband and black lab Luna and to also visit her family camp in Eustis.

Elaine Jones had the gift of vision for the Department of Marine Resources (DMR)

by Kim Gillies

From her first day as an intern in 1976 to her last day as Education Director in 2021, her ability to imagine and create has touched countless lives and brought much enrichment to our region. She first became a “woman on the working waterfront” when she accepted that work-study position, and hopefully she will be around for many years to come.
In 1991, Jones became a fulltime employee with DMR, in the position she held for 30 years. Her first order of business was rebuilding the marine-science curriculum for schools. Recognizing that teachers needed support with the Sea Comes to the Classroom program, Elaine adopted the train-the-trainer strategy. This successful approach resulted in a spinoff called Officer SALTY where marine patrol officers taught conservation and stewardship to coastal students. In a classroom aquarium, they cared for their ocean and its resident creatures, thus understanding the need to protect the ocean through hands-on experiences.
Next up, Jones was tasked with designing and constructing the Maine State Aquarium in 1994. Without previous experience in this area, she persevered through all obstacles to create an impressive educational facility that delights generations of visitors. Elaine incorporated a 20' touch-tank, the ever-popular shark tank, and many others recessed into the rocky-shore façade. Filled with invertebrates and fish from the Gulf of Maine, staff interact with visitors and share their knowledge about all specimens on exhibit.
A year later, Elaine heard about the Maine Lights Program, a federal transfer of lighthouses to new owners, which triggered a new vision.  In her course-work with teachers for recertification credits, affordable accommodations in the region were limited. Thus, she immediately visualized repurposing a lighthouse station into an educational facility. Jones spoke with the Island Institute who orchestrated the transfer. They encouraged her to visit Burnt Island to see if it would be a good fit. An island was not what Elaine had in mind, but she jumped in a skiff and went to check it out.
"I fell in love right then and there.  It had everything - a rocky shore, beach, forest, meadow, seawall, tide-pools and maritime history galore. I never thought it could happen, but I fell in love with an island." As with her past projects, there weren’t sufficient funds to support her vision, but Elaine has a talent for finding money for what she believes in. She worked tirelessly writing grants, seeking donations, organizing events, and recruiting volunteers. She also found herself delving into the history of the island and before long Burnt Island was home to an incredible "Living History" program, created from real stories. This educational opportunity was just what this community needed - a fun way for locals, school children, teachers and visitors to learn about our region’s marine and maritime resources.
One would think that was enough, but not Elaine. Remarkably, she was able to raise enough capital to build a post & beam education center on the island in the style of a Life Saving Station. This outstanding facility offers overnight accommodations for 32 people, thus providing students and teachers with endless opportunities to learn first-hand from their marine and maritime surroundings. It is no wonder Elaine received a Visionary Award by the Gulf of Maine Council on the Marine Environment and a Keeper of the Light Award from the American Lighthouse Foundation.  
Today, Elaine Jones spends her time focused on family, the upcoming arrival of her first grandchild, and continued research on all of Maine’s Lights. Her pleasure in life is being helpful to others and she will continue to share her knowledge/materials through Lighthouse Education & Nautical Studies (LENS), a nonprofit she founded. She will also continue to serve her beloved island as a member of the local Keepers of Burnt Island Light, the organization responsible for fundraising to cover the lighthouse and dwelling’s full-restoration and 2021 bicentennial celebrations. When time permits, Elaine will return to writing a book about Burnt Island as a fitting tribute to its 200 years of service to mariners.
When asked to share her most rewarding experience, she replied; "It was the quality of experiential learning provided to school children and teachers on Burnt Island. After a fun day of field experiences, the best came after sunset to include: viewing moonrise over the water, climbing the lighthouse’s spiral stairs, being greeted by its flashing light, and swishing the water to view hundreds of bioluminescent creatures sparkling below. It truly doesn’t get any better than that!”

Jeanne Fuller knows a lot about bait fish and fishermen appreciate that

by Kim Gillies

As the CEO of Harbor Bait in Boothbay Harbor, Jeanne oversees the operation which supplies local and out-of-town fishermen with bait seven days a week. "I didn't know that much about the bait business when we first started, but I have learned a lot and I feel I learn new things every day on the job." she explained. Jeanne and her husband Chuck established the business, with the help of local fisherman Rob Begin, on the east side of the harbor in 2013 and the business keeps on growing. “Robbie was hugely instrumental in getting us started off on the right foot. I also rely on my employees input, as they have been with us for many years.”
On any given day, fishermen start lining up at 4 a.m. at the Fish Pier to receive their bait. With supply chain issues and recent fishing quota cuts, Jeanne has had to get creative. She's done her research and she listens to her customers. "I've learned where to get the bait, how to transport it, and how to process it. We get some fresh, some frozen. A lot of the frozen bait comes from Norway and Iceland. My job is all about dealing with suppliers, working with our two experienced dock hands, and listening to what fishermen want." As Fuller explains, that can take some finessing, "Some lobstermen like to try new kinds of bait, others not so much but they let me know what works and what doesn't." The Fullers also own the F/V Prowler along with their son Sam - a purse seiner which they use to catch herring and carry menhaden (pogies) in season.
A typical day for Jeanne involves chatting with the employees to see what the fishermen picked up for bait in the wee hours, checking inventory, and at times taking orders over the phone for pickup by boat or truck. Fuller also sits on the Atlantic States Herring Advisory Panel, staying up to date on the challenges to the industry and using her voice to advocate for the fishermen. Atlantic herring are an important species to the business being a key bait fish for lobstermen and fishermen alike.
In addition to running Harbor Bait, Jeanne operates Fuller Marine Services with her husband Chuck. The couple started Fuller Marine around 1998. Back then, the business consisted mainly of mooring sales and repairs. Today, Fuller Marine provides a wide range of marine construction and transportation services and has a second location where their crew builds floats and runways. The additional location also allows them space for an extra cooler/freezer where they can stock additional bait fish.
As you might imagine, Jeanne's days are pretty full. What does she do for relaxation? At least one day a week is dedicated to her two granddaughters. "I love my time with them and am fortunate that they live right here in the region." Jeanne says. She also spends a fair amount of her down time with her Missouri Foxtrotter, Grace. "A little over six years ago, I started taking horseback riding lessons. It was a sport I was always interested in and finally I said I'm not getting any younger, so might as well go for it. I mostly trail ride but also enjoy lessons and improving my riding skills." Along with Grace, Jeanne
now shares ownership of a pony named Puddin. "Puddin is a wonderful little guy and so good with the grandchildren. It brings me such joy to share my passion for horses with them."
When asked what she likes best about her job Jeanne replied, "I like it in the summertime when it is busy on the dock and plenty of activity with boats coming and going. There are a lot of tourists who have questions and I think it's kind of fun to show them what we do when fish come off the boats. I really do like that.”

Six generations of a successful family business are quite a legacy

by Liz Bagonzi

Audrey Hodgdon is the newest member of the Hodgdon family to carry on that heritage. Audrey currently serves as Managing Director of Sales & Marketing for Hodgdon Tenders, Hodgdon Yachts, and Hodgdon Yacht Services. This involves driving global sales, developing and monitoring marketing programs, customer relations, helping to establish new product lines and contract negotiation.
Audrey is a native of the Boothbay Region, attending local schools and graduating from James Madison University in 2007 with a B.B.A. in Marketing. Her first job out of college brought her to New Zealand, initially working as a Sales & Marketing Assistant where she organized trade shows in New Zealand, Australia and China. Since then, she has assumed numerous roles in marketing both inside and outside the company before assuming her current role in 2016. In the words of Tim Hodgdon, “As president of Hodgdon Yachts and Audrey’s father, the significance of having a sixth generation in our 206-year-old company in such a prominent leadership role is not lost on me. The fact that she is the first female is especially gratifying and timely”. 
Travel is one of Audrey’s favorite pastimes having already been to every continent except Antarctica. Luckily, the nature of her work brings her to various locales around the globe to attend annual trade shows.  The larger trade shows take her to Fort Lauderdale, Amsterdam and Monaco. The Monaco show is held every September and brings in customers and businesses from all over the world. The Prince of Monaco personally visits at the start of each year’s show.
When asked what the most fun part of her job is, Audrey reports that seeing a new boat launched never gets old. So far Hodgdon Tenders has launched over 25 Superyacht tenders, each of which take about one and half years to design and build and range in length from 30-40 feet. The most recent tender was launched in April of 2022.
Aside from travel, Audrey enjoys hiking and backpacking in the spring and fall with her friends and husband, and dog. She and her husband also enjoy completing DIY projects around their house and of course she also loves exploring the coast of Maine by boat.   

a friendly face on the waterfront all summer long

The Boothbay Harbor waterfront has always been a constant in Captain Heather Hills world. Born and bred in Boothbay Harbor, she began working as a deckhand for Captain Fish in 1993. She worked there for three summers during high school while mostly crewing on the whale watching boat tours. That experience provided her with the hours to obtain a 100-ton master’s license which enables her to take passengers further offshore than most captains. She continued her boating experience starting on the Balmy Days in 1997 which led to her current job as the Captain of the Novelty.  She also is a 2001 graduate of Unity College earning a BS in Park Management. It was there that she met her husband. After graduation she worked in Boston as a caretaker of the Boston Harbor Islands, but Heather decided that the job and city life was not for her, and she returned to Boothbay Harbor after three weeks.
The Novelty runs to Squirrel Island and typically takes 8-10 trips per day in the height of the summer season along with some extra charter trips during the day. It runs from mid-May to mid-October for passengers with a month or two on either side for workers who travel to the island. Heather loves her job and her annual passengers which also include some celebrities from time to time. This year at age 15 Heather’s daughter Hannah will continue in the family tradition as a deckhand.
When asked what she does during her spare time, Heather replied that she doesn’t have any spare time! When not working on the waterfront, she is busy with her family which she says is number one in her life. This includes coaching the Dolphin Swim Team which she has done for the past 7 years. Heather swam growing up, and her daughter does as well, so coaching the team is a natural progression. Luckily the swim season coincides with her 13-week hiatus from working on the boat. Her daughter Hannah also loves to sail which brings the family to regattas up and down the coast. Son Byran is 11 and plays football and baseball keeping the family busy with practices and games. Heather’s dog Rudder is also part of the family unit and keeps her company down on the docks. Come take a trip on the Novelty this summer with Captain Heather at the helm!

Ask Amy Armstrong what makes her happy

"Being on the ocean is what I love most of all," Amy will tell you. Armstrong grew up spending summers with her family in Friendship, Maine where most every day from sun up to sun down was spent in and on the water.  After school, her young adult life took her away from the ocean but the sea was always calling her back.
In her late 30s Amy had enough with working indoors, and off she set for a new adventure. She accepted a position as a reservationist at Wayfarer Marine in Camden, Maine.  Quickly Wayfarer recognized Amy's skills and she was moved to dockmaster.  It is there that she earned her 6 pack captain's license and eventually worked her way up to a 100 ton license.  After 14 years at Wayfarer, Amy decided it was time for a change.  She took her skills down the coast to the Boothbay Region Boatyard (now Hodgdon Yacht Services) where she has been Dockmaster at their Southport marina for the past 12 years.  "My favorite part of the job is the long lasting relationships I have with the seasonal boaters who return year after year.  I also love meeting new people.  I take great pride in taking care of my customers."  Clearly, the feeling is reciprocated as Amy shared several stories of boaters who have opened their homes and boats to her.  "Susan and Brent Pope on Dragonfly have become my dear friends over the years. I've traveled to their home in Atlanta and stayed in their V-Berth many times. Dick and Terry Lilly on Stranraer and Jack and Carol Dexter on Finale are near and dear to me.  I always look forward to their return in the spring." Her words are full of endearment as she continues, "Peter and Martha Roderiques of Quest. Their berth is right next to the fuel dock so I get to see them a lot.  We became fast friends and Peter loves to serenade us on his guitar from time to time.  A great perk of the job." 
Amy is quick to talk about her customers but quite humble about her own skills.  Tim Hodgdon, President and CEO shines a light, "Over the years, not only has Amy managed the Hodgdon Yacht Services waterfront operations but she also has moved and delivered numerous storage boats as they are launched in the spring and hauled in the fall.  Amy is a remarkable, seasoned boat handler seamlessly operating vessels of all types and sizes on a regular basis.  Daily, she is seen piloting a large sailboat and then a few minutes later twisting a big twin screw sportfisherman or 67’ varnished Trumpy yacht while backing into a narrow or confined slip.  She is a superstar among our customers, well respected by everyone at the yard, and cares deeply about what she does.”
Captain Armstrong is retiring this year, and she gets a little teary talking about it. "I'll never forget my "kids" over the years who made my job so enjoyable and were instrumental in keeping the fuel dock and marina working like a well-tuned instrument." .  Amy is quick to point out what she is looking forward to is spending more time with her wonderful family and friends and especially her amazing hardworking son Eric and his beautiful baby girl Eliza. 
If the world needs more kindness, Amy Armstrong is surely doing her part.  When asked to describe herself, she replied "I am honest, compassionate, and I just love everybody." 

bethany mcnelly-davis fell in love with sailing at a young age

Summers in Harpswell, Maine is where Bethany learned how to sail on "little boats." Today, she is the proud owner and captain, along with her husband, of Schooner Alert a 70' sailing vessel which can carry up to 28 passengers. She describes it as a dream come true to be at this place in her life where she, Perry and their two daughters Margaret and Calypso can share their collective passion for the sea with visitors from all over the world. "Every day is always different. We see porpoise and watch ospreys come back to their nests, and the Eider ducks and ducklings are out now...we get to share this amazing beauty and connect with people. Every day is exciting."
Captain McNelly-Davis graduated from Roger Williams University with a bachelor's in architecture. Soon after, she went to work on a windjammer which led her to meet her future husband, Perry. They fell in love and sailed off to the Bahamas together. After some adventures the couple came back to Harpswell, Maine to Bethany's family home where her parents still reside. At age 26, Bethany and Perry started their own sailing charter business on Tavake, a 31' ketch. They used her old truck in the parking lot of the local seafood restaurant as a meeting place and brochure rack and kept the boat on a mooring in the same waters where Bethany learned to sail. The old truck still serves them well to this day. The business was very much word of mouth, with lots of happy repeat customers. Seven years later, the couple bought and converted a commercial fishing schooner into a commercial passenger sailing vessel. A labor of love, Schooner Alert began offering sails out of their Harpswell location. In addition to sailing charters, Bethany helps her parents with their six rental cottages aptly named Sea Escape Cottages also located on Bailey Island. It is truly a family affair with her sister and nephews pitching in to make the season run smoothly. "It very much takes a village,” Bethany shares, "and thank God for shared iPhone calendars and my mom who helps keep us organized and fed.”
Weather permitting the girls now 9 and almost 6 years old are onboard during sailing charters. "There are boat rules and at times it takes some reminding, but they get it. Sometimes they provide entertainment when they swing from the rigging and surprise a tourist or two. Alert is their home and they are quite comfortable onboard."
To say Bethany's skills are versatile would be an understatement. She can single hand a large vessel, climb the rigging, set the sails, market a business, oversee scheduling of boat trips, coordinate cottage check ins and turnovers all the while managing the family calendar, and wrangling of kids. If you ask her how she does it all, after she credits Perry and her village she will tell you, "It makes you tired and it makes you happy. It's less about a livelihood and more about a life. We get to meet good people every day, and we are off the beaten path so they have to come find us. Our girls have learned how to talk with people and have great conversations with our guests. This is the life we wanted for them. I hope they grow up to be awesome grownups because they are pretty awesome kids."
With this maritime mom mentoring the way, no doubt their futures are very bright indeed.