Staff of the Kennebec Land Trust:
KLT Staff Marie, Baylee, Theresa, Jean-Luc and Tyler in June 2023
Baylee Bachelder
Outreach and Office Manager
Baylee joined the KLT team in the autumn of 2021. She has a Bachelors Degree in Animal Science from UMaine. Her love of animals has led to trying to farm sustainably with minimal environmental impact. Baylee and her husband own a 90-acre farm where they have a variety of critters and primarily produce hay.
When she isn't farming or helping KLT, Baylee and her two young kids often explore their property on "woods walks".
Email Baylee: bbachelder@tklt.org
Call 207-377-2848
Tyler Keniston
Stewardship Manager
Tyler joined KLT in the Spring of 2019, delighted to be working in the beautiful lands of Kennebec County in which he grew up. Spending time in the non-built environment has long been a passion of his; dating back to childhood canoe trips on Maine’s remote rivers and exercises in imagination with the small ephemeral streams of spring snow melt. His passion for experiencing life out of doors and a desire to foster intimate relationships with the surrounding environment led him to a study of Ecology & Environmental Science at UMaine, Orono. Following graduation, in 2011, he found a passion for working in Maine’s forested and rocky landscapes as a trail builder with the Maine Conservation Corps. In 2013 he joined the trail company OBP Trailworks, LLC and has since been building and rehabilitating a variety of trail types throughout New England. He has also spent time managing and harvesting White Pine timber stands, enjoying the craft of woodworking, and hiking on foot paths near and far.
Email Tyler: tkeniston@tklt.org
Call 207-377-2848 Monday- Thursday
Theresa Kerchner
Executive Director
Theresa was hired by KLT in 2002 as the Trust first staff person to develop KLT’s stewardship and outreach programs. In 2009 she became the Trust’s first Executive Director. Theresa oversees the operations of the Trust and works with the Board of Directors and KLT staff to develop and implement organizational, land conservation, and fundraising goals.
Theresa earned a Master's degree in Ecology and Environmental Science from the University of Maine in 2002, where she developed a case study of the land use history of the Jabez Besse farm in Wayne, Maine. Her undergraduate degree is in Environmental Resource Management from Penn State University.
In 2009,Theresa and former KLT President Andrew Fisk, led an effort with Morten Moesswilde and Andrew Shultz of the Maine Forest Service to found the Kennebec Woodland Partnership, which now includes thirteen Partners. Theresa’s latest project with Ken Laustsen, also of the Maine Forest Service, is a research paper focused on the potential for developing and sustaining markets for Maine wood.
Theresa and her husband, Jim, garden, raise chickens, split wood, and enjoy their 72 acres of woodland in Wayne. Whenever possible they spend time with their grown children.
Email Theresa: tkerchner@tklt.org
Call: 207-377-2848; Monday- Thursday
Marie Ring
Director of Membership and Programming
Marie joined the KLT team in October 2020 and is excited to be working back in the incredible state she grew up in. In 2018 Marie graduated from the University of Maine with a degree in Biology and a minor in Ecology and Environmental Sciences. After graduation, she spent two years serving as the Education Coordinator and AmeriCorps Member at Eastern Sierra Land Trust in Bishop, California and adventuring in the beautiful Sierra Nevada mountains. There she discovered her passion for land conservation and helping people connect to nature.
During her free time you can find her outside exploring new trails, lakes and other unique spots around Maine.
Email Marie: mring@tklt.org
Call: 207-377-2848 Monday - Thursday
Jean-Luc Theriault
Stewardship Director
Jean-Luc joined KLT in the Fall of 2014 with a strong background in Conservation planning and Trail Construction. Jean Luc worked with the Center for Community GIS in Farmington from 2008-2014 developing mapping technologies for a wide variety of clients from local land trusts to national conservation organizations. He spent most of his twenties living in Colorado, Oregon, and British Columbia exploring the expansive backcountry on foot, skis, and by bike inspired by the limitless public land available. He graduated from the University of Oregon with a degree in Environmental Studies and went on to get a postgraduate certificate in Geographic Information Systems from Selkirk College in British Columbia. A job as a trail crew leader for the Appalachian Mountain Club on their land near Greenville cemented Jean-Luc's love for the wilderness of Maine and desire to introduce more people to these areas.
Jean-Luc lives in Manchester with his daughter Neika, son Eliot, and wife Laura an Art Teacher at Monmouth Academy.
Email Jean-Luc: jtheriault@tklt.org
Call: 207.377.2848; Monday- Thursday
Conner Tremblay
Seasonal Stewardship Assistant
Conner grew up in Waterford, Maine, and graduated from Oxford Hills Comprehensive High School. He obtained a bachelor’s degree in small business management from Southern New Hampshire University and has a diverse combination of professional experiences that illuminate his adventurous approach to life. He brings a blend of expertise ranging from youth recreation and leadership to sales to EMS to trail work. Conner and his wife enjoy alpine skiing, snowmobiling, hunting, fishing, boating, hiking, camping, swimming, and more! "I am passionate about conserving natural and historically significant areas for their recreational and environmental benefits!"
Email Conner: ctremblay@tklt.org
Call 207.377.2848 Monday - Thursday
Alexa Livingston
2024 Intern
Alexa is a rising senior majoring in environmental studies with a writing minor at the University of New England in Biddeford. Originally from upstate New York, she spent her childhood riding horses, playing softball, hiking, and working on an alpaca farm. During her free time, she enjoys exploring the outdoors, swimming, fossil hunting, reading, playing New York Times games, and writing creatively. She is excited to be working with KLT this summer. She hopes to build on her trail work skills and gain valuable insights into both conservation efforts and the community benefits provided by land trusts.
Elena Payne
2024 Intern
Elena is a rising senior at the University of Missouri-Kansas City, majoring in environmental science with a business management minor and a Geographic Information Systems (GIS) certification. Growing up in Missouri, she spent and continues to spend most of her time using camping, hiking, canoeing, and art to explore the woodlands, creeks, and prairie remnants in the state. Apart from two summers spent farming in Homer, Alaska, she has always lived in Missouri. Through both coursework and life, she’s found that my curiosities and passion lie in conservation, farming, and understanding how people interact with the land. She is eager to continue exploring these themes and Maine's beauty with the Kennebec Land Trust this summer!