Sundog Team
LYNNE KAPLINSKY BROWN, MD - PRESIDENT
Ophthalmologist, Mid Coast Vision Care
Lynne moved to Maine over 25 years ago to start her family, her career, and her community involvement. In 2017, she founded Sundog Outdoor Leadership Initiative (formerly Midcoast Outdoor Leadership Initiative) with the vision of providing after school programs that get kids outside, learning and practicing new skills, and being challenged to build the social and emotional resiliency needed to successfully navigate the teenage years.
Lynne is a fellowship trained board-certified ophthalmologist specializing in the medical and surgical management of glaucoma and cataracts. She has served as a board member of The Megunticook Watershed Association, Fivetowns Babe Ruth, Adas Yoshuron Synagogue and The Children’s House Montessori school where she was board chair for a number of years.
In her spare time, you can find Lynne outside running, hiking, skiing, playing tennis and spending time with her four adult children and dog, Opal.
DIANE STERNBERG - BOARD MEMBER
Director of Trekkers Training Institute, Trekkers
A desire to explore Maine's coastal communities brought Diane here over 15 years ago and she has been living and working in midcoast ever since. She is passionate about experiential education and has facilitated programs for the Hurricane Island Outward Bound School, Ocean Classroom Foundation, Cornerspring Montessori School and the Sail, Power and Steam Museum. She truly believes that wilderness experiences provide an unparalleled platform for self-discovery. She is thrilled to join the SunDog Team and promote empowering opportunities for middle schoolers in the midcoast area. Diane loves adventuring outdoors, watching the moonrise and swimming in cold water.
ERIN JACKSON - BOARD MEMBER
Operations Technician, Maine Shellfish Developers
Since graduating from the University of New Hampshire where Erin studied Business Administration with a focus on Entrepreneurship, she has gone on to hold positions in business development, marketing and communications, and outdoor education. She has found her passion in empowering young people and helping organizations make an impact. Erin was the captain of the UNH women’s soccer team, where she developed her knowledge and appreciation of experiential education, teamwork, and mentorship. She continues to seek ways to bring these values to her community.
Erin discovered Midcoast Maine while on a sailing trip with friends and fell in love with the community and natural beauty. She moved to the Midcoast in May of 2016 and joined Sundog Outdoor Expeditions in its infancy as the first Program Manager and Hurricane Island Outward Bound School as a seasonal Course Advisor. She later brought her skills to the Outdoor Sport Institute, where she helped grow outdoor sports initiatives across the state as the Communications and Marketing Manager. Erin is thrilled to be back on the team and helping young people foster core values through Sundog's expeditions.
ANDREW MARSHALL - BOARD MEMBER
Professor of Biology and Environmental Science, Colby College
Andrew is an educator, adventurer, farmer, father, coach, and lover of Icelandic shorebirds. He teaches biology and environmental science at Colby College, operates Dorolenna Farm with his family, and is a certified climbing guide. He has dwelled in and amongst the woods, fields, mountains, and streams of midcoast Maine for the better part of his adult life. He is thrilled to serve this wonderful organization both in the field and on the board.
NICOLE DE ACEVEDO RAMOS - BOARD MEMBER
Owner and First Mate, Schooner Surprise & Sloop Anjacaa
Nicole grew up in Camden, Maine and left after high school to sail from Maine to Key West, Florida where she ended up meeting her husband Ramiro. After spending 8 years working on private yachts sailing between Maine and the Caribbean, Nicole and Ramiro decided to move back to Camden to start their family. In 2012, they purchased the Schooner Surprise and have been taking people out sailing from Camden harbor for the last 11 years. Nicole decided during the COVID-19 pandemic that she wanted to try to find ways to get kids out of the house and on the water learning to sail. With that vision, she connected with Sundog to offer after school sailing for middle schoolers aboard her 53 foot Sloop Anjacaa. Nicole is excited to continue to serve her community as a member of the Sundog board.
When not on the water sailing you can find Nicole hiking, surfing and traveling with her husband, daughter and two dogs.
KRISTEN WINTERS, LCPC - BOARD MEMBER
Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor
Kristen Winters is a LCPC with 15+ years of therapeutic experience working with adults, adolescents and their families. She currently has a private practice in Camden and also provides school-based therapeutic services for CRES and CRMS. She serves on the Five Towns Little League Board and previously served for three years on the Board of Directors at Children’s House Montessori School.
A native Floridian, Kristen spent summer and winter vacations with her family in Rockport, Maine. After college, she made her way back north, reconnecting with her love for the midcoast region, where she lives with her husband, daughter, and rescue dog.
KIENAN BROWN - INTERIM PROGRAM DIRECTOR
Interim Program Manager, Sundog Outdoor Leadership Initiative
Kienan grew up in the Midcoast where he fell in love with the outdoors from a young age. After graduating from St. Lawrence University with a Bachelor’s of Science, he moved to Colorado where he was a backpacking and ski touring instructor for High Mountain Institute, a youth ski instructor at Copper Mountain, and a professional custom boot fitter for Powder7, a ski company in Golden, CO. Having recently moved back to Maine, Kienan is excited to be a part of the Sundog team and grateful to have the opportunity to help kids in the Midcoast get outside, off screens, and into all that our outdoor spaces have to offer. In his spare time, you can find him skiing, hiking, camping, or spending time outside with his partner Adeline and rescue dog, Auggie.