Andy Shepard - President/Chief Executive Officer.
Andy spent 16 years at L.L. Bean in Freeport, Maine working on strategies, products and services to inspire people to spend time outdoors. While at L.L. Bean was the co-architect of a strategy to develop a new economic model for Northern Maine. That model, with the support of the Portland-based Libra Foundation, has become the Maine Winter Sports Center.

Andy is an appointee to the Governor's Council on Health and Physical Fitness, the Maine Tourism Advisory Council and serves on the Board of Directors for the Carrabassett Valley Academy.

Max Saenger - Vice President Economic Development.
As a dual citizen of the United States and Switzerland, Saenger brings a wealth of experience to the Center through his involvement in Nordic and Alpine skiing. Mr. Saenger competed at the World Cup and World Championships for the Swiss National Biathlon Team from 1996 to 1998, represented the US at the World University Games in 1993, and guided a blind skier on the US Disabled Team at the Paralympics in Albertville, Lillehammer and again in Nagano. He was Team Leader, coach and athlete for Intervilles Suisse, a Swiss national sport competition and he is a licensed professional alpine ski instructor for the Swiss Federation of Ski and Snow Sports. A 1988 graduate of Dartmouth College and former Ski Team captain, Mr. Saenger was co-CEO and Founder of the Upper Valley Nordic Club in Hanover, New Hampshire, a cross country ski club and elite racing team. In addition to English, Mr. Saenger is fluent in French, Swiss German, German and Spanish. Mr. Saenger’s world-class standards guide the Maine Winter Sports Center towards its mission.

John Farra - Vice President Programs.
A 1992 Winter Olympian, John comes to MWSC with a very unique background, well suited to working with the Youth Skiers of MWSC and to continuing efforts to develop Nordic skiing programs within the communities of Aroostook County. Growing up working and skiing at his family-run cross-country ski center, John was on skis by age two and, thereafter, whenever there was snow in upstate NY. This early beginning on skis led him to his successes on snow, including National Championship victories and participation in Junior World Championships, World Cup, World Championships and Winter Olympic competitions. After retiring from ski racing, John coached skiing for his alma mater, the University of Utah, for two years. John has spent the last six years at the National Sports Academy in Lake Placid, NY as the Assistant Head of School, working closely with young athletes in many different winter sports. John is joined by his wife Tess Miner Farra, a teacher/school administrator, and their 1-year-old daughter, Lina.

Will Sweetser - County Team Coach.
Will brings enthusiasm and a wide range of personal experience to the post of Community Programs Director. A Maine native, Mr. Sweetser skied for Edward Little High School before moving on to Dartmouth College and eventually the Alpina/Madshus racing team. He served as a coach at the Auburn Middle School, Bates College, the Jackson Hole Ski Club and Carrabassett Valley Academy. While coaching at CVA, Mr. Sweetser brought every member of his team to a Maine State team berth, many in their very first year of skiing. As coach and athlete, Mr. Sweetser has seen every facet of cross-country competition open to Maine skiers. At the Maine Winter Sports Center, he hopes to broaden those options and help the people of Maine enjoy skiing as a lifestyle.

Gary Colliander - Biathlon Development Coach.
Coach Colliander grew up skiing in the Minneapolis/St. Paul area throughout his high school years. Upon graduating he trained full-time in both Marquette, MI and Duluth, MN before moving back to the Twin Cities where he started to pursue a career in coaching. Working with the Minnesota Biathlon Community Development Program in the Minneapolis/St. Paul area, Gary worked mainly with high school aged athletes. Three years later he took his developing skills north to Duluth, MN where he worked with the Duluth Biathlon Club and assisted the U.S. Biathlon Jr. National Team for the past three years. While in Duluth Gary started the first Youth Air Rifle program in the US, conducted a year-round high school ski program and continued to work with Jr. National Team members. Gary most recently received a degree in Exercise Science from the University of Minnesota-Duluth with a minor in Psychology. In addition Gary has been a Certified Rolfer (deep-tissue massage) since 2001. Coach Colliander had this to say about his recent hire to the MWSC staff. "I'm really excited to be a part of the Maine Winter Sports Center Team! Ever since the first time I visited Aroostook County I felt right at home. I think my work with athletes of all ages and a large variety coaches over the past six years has given me the necessary tools to help the MWSC program grow and achieve its goals."

Scott Johnstone - Development Coach
Scott inherited his work ethic from his father, Dusty. His dad would set ski trails for the family almost daily by pulling a track setter with a harness around his waist.ÊIt is no wonder that the family excelled at skiing. Scott was a top ranked Nordic Combined skier as a Junior and competed in numerous Junior and Senior National Championships.Ê In College he was captain of the NCAA Division I New England College Nordic Ski Team.Ê ScottÕs brother Hans went to the Olympics in the Nordic Combined in 1988, and sister-in-law Nancy went as a Biathlete in 1992.
After graduation, Scott went on to coach for the New York Ski Education Foundation in Lake Placid, NY.Ê While there, he worked with several skiers who went on to National and Olympic Teams.Ê When he moved to the Northeast Kingdom in Vermont, he started a business and continued his coaching career at Burke Mountain Academy.Ê Most recently Scott founded the Burke Touring Center Ski Club, and has been coaching the local youth Bill Koch Ski League, as well as several local high school and master ski racers. ÒMy wife and I are excited to be part of this growing Nordic skiing community in Aroostook CountyÓ, said Johnstone.Ê ÒIt is a great opportunity for me to share my passion for the outdoors and an active lifestyle.Ê I look forward to contributing to this exciting, strong and exceptional team of coaches at MWSCÓ.

Brenda Cote - Office Manager.
Brenda brings a variety of office skills to the Maine Winter Sports Center. She worked as Administrative Assistant for the Loring Development Authority for five years. She has four years of banking experience and was the Secretary at the Caribou Middle School for seven years. Brenda was also chairman of the Washington D.C. Fundraising Committee for four years, which gave 7th and 8th grade students an opportunity to raise money to visit Washington D.C.

Sheri Sirois - Office Assistant
Sheri joins our staff as an entrepreneur with valuable experience in a number of service and finance areas. Her warm nature, professionalism and commitment to getting things right will all help her make a significant impact in our mission to make a difference in the lives of people in Maine. Sheri is excited to be part of the MWSC staff and hopes to help make skiing a lifestyle in nor only Maine, but her family as well.

Brian Hamel - Board President.
Brian is the president of Hamel Enterprises, LLC. Prior to forming Hamel Enterprises, LLC, he was the President & CEO of the Loring Development Authority of Maine (LDA), and oversaw the development of the Loring Commerce Centre in Limestone from itsinception in 1994 until April 2005.

In recognition of his accomplishments at LDA, Brian has been honored as Developer of the Year by the National Association of Installation Developers in Washington, D.C., as the State of Maine's Champion for Economic Growth by the Maine Development Foundation, and as the Citizen of the Year by the Presque Isle, Maine Chamber of Commerce.  

In addition to his role as Chairman of the MWSC Board, Brian has also served as Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Maine Community College System, Board member of the National Association of Installation Developers, a member of the University of Maine at Presque Isle's Board of Visitors and Foundation Board, a Corporator at The Aroostook Medical Center in Presque Isle, and he was a candidate for U.S. Congress in Maine's Second District in 2004.

Carl Theriault - Board Treasurer.
The owner of Valley Auto in Fort Kent, Theriault has been instrumental in the development of the region’s cross country and alpine skiing culture. As the former development manager for the Town of Kent, Mr. Theriault has a wealth of experience to lend to the Maine Winter Sports Center.

Trina Hosmer -
Ms. Hosmer was on the first U.S. Womens Olympic Cross Country Ski Team
in 1972. She is also an active Master's racer and plays a vital role in
the New England Ski Association (NENSA). She recently competed in the
World Master's in Brusson, Italy and won 4 gold medals for each of her races in her age class. She is now retired (not from skiing) from working at
University of Massachusetts for 29 years and living in Stowe, VT.

Lee Todd-
Lee Todd is Vice President of the Special Olympics, and is a Board member of the United States Ski Association and the United States Olympic Committee. Mr. Todd is also Chairman of the Cross Country Committee of the United States Ski Association.

Bill Haggett
Bill Haggett grew up in Maine, graduated from Colby and spent most of his working life in shipbuilding, where he service included 8 years as CEO of Bath Iron Works in Bath, Maine and 5 years as President of Saint John Shipbuilding in New Brunswick, Canada. Since retiring from shipbuilding in 1997, he has devoted his business activities to managing medium sized companies in the food industry with major operations located in northern Maine. Haggett serves on numerious for-profit and non-profit boards, and recently completed 5 years as Chairman of the Board of Maine Maratime Academy.

From 1985 through 1996 he was an investor and board member of the Sugarloaf Mountain Corporation in Maine. He and his family have owned property at Sugarloaf for many years and are active in winter sports. Their year around home is in West Bath, Maine.