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Free the Andro
  • Home
  • About
    • Mission
    • Leadership
    • Partners
    • Video overview
  • Resources
    • Overview
    • The story
    • Video library
  • Events
  • News
    • FTA in the News
    • Press releases
  • Contact

board of directors

Chip Spies, President

Chip, the Founder and President of Free The Andro, has a long history in natural resource management. He is a resident of Water Street in Brunswick, overlooking the river. As part of a local citizen science initiative, Chip has collected monthly data and water samples for the last eight years.

Tom Walek, Vice President

Tom is a resident of Brunswick and lifelong communications professional. He has donated time and energy to multiple conservation groups. He began his career as a journalist before building two public relations agencies. 

Chuck Verrill, Secretary

Chuck lives in Brunswick and is the President of Maine Rivers. After a career practicing law in Washington D.C. and teaching at Georgetown and Duke Universities, Chuck has acted as pro bono counsel on river restoration cases involving the Penobscot, Kennebec, Sebasticook, and St. Croix Rivers.

Jeff Bush, Treasurer

Jeff’s home is in Brunswick and he serves as the Chair of the Maine Council of Trout Unlimited and on the board and conservation committee of the Merrymeeting Bay Chapter of Trout Unlimited. In these roles he has advocated and has directly worked to restore rivers in Maine, including Brunswick's own Mare Brook.

Vlad Douhovnikoff, Science Chair

Vlad, an Associate Professor of Biology at Bowdoin College, is an ecologist and Brunswick resident. His River Ecology course focuses on the natural resource management and ecology of the Androscoggin River from its headwaters to Merrymeeting Bay.

Ray Minchak

Ray, a resident of Topsham, serves as the President of the Merrymeeting Bay Chapter of Trout Unlimited. He holds a degree in Marine Engineering from Maine Maritime Academy and has been engaged in environmental protection and clean water advocacy since 1980.

Andy Fisk

Andy is the Northeast Regional Director for American Rivers. He has worked in conservation for over 25 years in the Maine state government and as Executive Director of the Connecticut River Conservancy. He enjoys working on environmental problems with local communities so that everyone can be sustained by nature.

Ed Friedman

Ed has chaired Friends of Merrymeeting Bay (FOMB) since 1996. On the Androscoggin River, his work includes 25 years of water quality monitoring, PFAS sampling, state reclassification upgrades, and litigation under the Clean Water and Endangered Species Acts. 

Richard Estabrook, Clerk

Richard, a Brunswick resident since 1985, is a registered Maine attorney since 1978. He has worked for the State of Maine in various capacities for 35 years.

Sandy Stott

Sandy Stott is a former writing teacher who resides in Brunswick. He serves as chair of the Brunswick Conservation Commission and also of the Mere Brook Steering Committee, as well as on the Board of Directors of the Brunswick-Topsham Land Trust.

Advisors to the Board

Jym St. Pierre

Maine Director of RESTORE: The North Woods

Bina Skordas

Watershed and climate scientist

Doug Bennett

Riverside resident and retired teacher

John Lichter

Professor of Biology and Environmental Studies, Emeritus, at Bowdoin College

Guillermo "Ta" Herrera

Professor of Economics at Bowdoin College

Evan Braude

Student at Bowdoin College


Copyright © 2026 Free the Andro - All Rights Reserved.


All professional photography by J. Lichter 

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