Ann Tikkanen
CEO & Executive Director
Ann brings a decades-long career in executive and financial leadership to the MDI Y. Notably, she served for twenty-two years at the YMCA of Greater Boston in a progression of senior roles, primarily as Chief Financial Officer and Executive Vice President leading all financial matters plus the Workforce Development, IT, and HR functions. Ann also has an impressive track record of careful financial management, including delivering balanced budgets in 21 of her 22 years as CFO. She most recently worked as a non-profit consultant, and as Chief Financial and Administrative Officer of the Trustees of Reservations in Boston. Ann earned her MBA from Babson College and a BS in Business Administration from Northeastern University.
Maegan Haney
Senior Director
Maegan was born in northern Vermont and came to Maine for college on a Track & Field scholarship at The University of Maine in Orono. She earned a BS in Elementary Education and Child and Human Development and Family Relations and a MS in Instructional Technology. She was a technology integrator in the Bangor area and all over Hancock County for nine years before transitioning to teaching adults fitness rather than kids technology. She worked at MDI YMCA for six years in the Health and Wellness department before working two and a half years at The Down East Family YMCA in Marketing and fitness. She is excited to be back at The MDIY in her community. Maegan lives in the town of Mount Desert.
Brad Stager
Facilities Director
Brad comes to the MDI Y with much experience and enthusiasm to support the health, maintenance and growth of our community Y. As Facilities Director, Brad will be in charge of all of the daily needs of the facility including also overseeing new projects and improvements to our Y that are on the horizon. Brad's prior work experience comprises commercial and residential inspections, work as a realtor, including also many years of hands-on experience as an electrical technician, supporting firms with facility upgrades, energy efficiency projects, and active duty with the United States Coast Guard. Brad is well known to the community for his volunteer and church work in Bar Harbor.
Jennifer Britz
Operations Director
Jennifer grew up in Hopkinton, Massachusetts. She attended college at the University of South Carolina on an athletic scholarship to compete in Track & Field as a heptathlete while majoring in Chemistry/Biology. After years of working in the pharmaceutical field, she moved to Maine, and took time off work to raise her 3 daughters, Amelia, Cora and Caroline. Jennifer enjoys volunteering in the community and first became involved with the MDI Y as a member of the half marathon race committees. When not at the Y, you can find her running up and down the mountain trails of Acadia,hiking with her daughters, biking the carriage roads, or on another outdoor adventure.
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Ed Lower
Aquatics Director
Ed has been in and around pools for over 35 years. Certified Pool Tech. Maine, has been certified pool operator in MD, DC, VA, SD, IA, NE and TX. Aquatic Director for an Arnold Palmer facility, supervisor for 10 summer pools for 7 years. Lesson instructor, was certified Plysical Eduation K-12 teacher in MD, SD, IA, NE, TX, co-owner of H&L Swim Academy in NC for 5 years. Has taught private lessons since High School.
National Swimming Coach of the yar- National Swimming Coaches Association; NCSA Junior Nationals Team Champion 4 times. Senior coach of the year NC Swimming, coached hundreds of age group swimmers to top 10 national rankings, several onto National Junior Team and Olympic Trials qualifiers. Coached hundreds of swimmers onto college teams in all divisions. Coached masters World record holder.
Ed lives with his beautiful and understanding wife Melissa, a NP in Southwest Harbor. Son Christian is a seaman in the Coast Guard currently in rescue swim school; and youngest son Jesse is a freshman swimming at St. Thomas University in Miami.
Ross Goo
Health & Wellness Director
Ross hails from California and has been leading diverse fitness teams for over two decades in group exercise, personal training, small group training, aqua and Pilates. He served both single and multi-site leadership roles for commercial brands like 24 Hour Fitness, Bally Total Fitness, Club One, and the Bay Club. Ross most recently managed at the famed Canyon Ranch in Tucson. He also has managed for Jewish Community Center as well as YMCAs like Embarcadero branch in San Francisco. Mount Desert Island YMCA will be his third Y. Ross brings his many years of programming and talent development as a master trainer for such programs as efi Sports Medicine’s GRAVITY, BOSU and Trixter’s X-Bike. He also served as faculty and trainer for YMCA of the USA offering over 60 fitness courses for branches domestically and internationally. He’s dual-certified with the American Council on Exercise where he also worked in the professional development department and as a continuing education specialist. In his off time, he enjoys running, dancing, creative writing, hiking, and traveling.
Hannah Bowerman
Development Manager
Hannah grew up in Kalamazoo Michigan, and just moved to MDI to become the Fundraising Manager at the Y. She earned her Bachelor’s degree in Public Relations from Western Michigan University in 2023. With ten years of experience in the hospitality and customer service industries, Hannah is happy to assist you with all your fundraising needs.
In her free time, Hannah enjoys the outdoors, downhill skiing, traveling to new places, and spending time with her cat, Scotty. She hopes that members will stop by to say hi and share their recommendations for things to see around the island.
Ashley Mathews
Youth Development Programming Director
Ashley grew up in Hancock County and earned her BA degree in Humanities from New College of Florida in Sarasota, FL. She began her career with children through work study at the New College Child Center’s preschool. After graduating, she returned to Maine to work seasonally in Bar Harbor, before relocating again to Florida and settling into the field of afterschool enrichment and summer camps with the local school system. She has over 10 years of experience coordinating enrichment programs and is excited to be back home in Maine to serve the children and families at the MDI YMCA. Outside of the Y, she loves to play with her family, hike, read, crochet, and go on outdoor adventures.
Yelela Merriam
Assistant Aquatics Director
Yelena grew up in central Vermont, and recently just graduated from The University of Wisconsin-Madison. Yelena has been working around the pool as a lifeguard and swim instructor since she was 15. At college she kept teaching swim lessons and got involved teaching water aerobics and lifeguard classes. Yelena loves teaching lessons, with the goal of everyone learning how to be safe and have fun while swimming.
When not at the pool, Yelena is skiing or biking. She is always looking for someone to go on long open water swims with, or new places to explore via swimming.
Jim Willis
Sharks Swim Team
Head Coach
Jim is a former Y swimmer from Brockton, MA, a four year letterman and a graduate of the University of Maine. Jim was the coach of the Bangor Y for 5 years, the Canoe City Swim Club (Old Town Y) for 9 years, and the St. Croix Dolphins coach for 3 years before moving to Bar Harbor. While in St. Croix, Jim was the National Coach for the US Virgin Islands at the 1999 Pan Am Games, 2000 Olympic Games, and 2001 World University Games. He is an ASCA Level 4 Coach and the former General Chair of Maine Swimming. Jim was the Maine Swimming Coach of the Year for both 2014 and 2015. He was inaugurated into the Brockton High School Hall of Fame in 2016.