Adam Shepherd

Executive Director

Adam first started with Rippleffect as a guide in the summer of 2012 while on a summer break from his graduate studies and then returned in May of 2013 as the Director of Advancement before taking on the role of Executive director in January of 2016. With over 20 years of experience in outdoor experiential education and youth development, Adam brings a deep understanding and appreciation for the work Rippleffect does in the community. His career has included time as a public school teacher, director of a children’s summer camp in the Adirondack mountains, and co-founder of Brown & Shepherd Nonprofit Consulting.

Adam grew up in southern Ohio and moved from New York City to South Portland three years ago where he lives with his wife and two daughters. He holds an undergraduate degree in education from Miami University and a master’s of nonprofit management from New York University’s Wagner School of Public Service.

As an enthusiast for all things “outdoors”, Adam has not only dedicated his career to youth development through outdoor adventures, but also finds himself running way to the woods and waters of the Northeast any chance he gets.

tony alves

Operations Director

Tony started with Rippleffect back in 2011 as a student of the Cow Island Environmental Leadership Program (C.E.L.P) where he fell in love with Cow Island. Since then, Tony has never left the Rippleffect community by filling many roles during his tenure. Starting out as an Island Worker at 17 mowing lawns and cutting bittersweet, Tony has grown into a valuable member of the Rippleffect team. From turning compost to guiding expeditions, Tony has done it all. On a normal day in the summer, he can be seen up in the garden, in the gear bunker fixing a kayak, or at the helm of a boat.  

Coming from a family with deep roots in the Portland community including his past Relative; AJ Alves, who was a lifelong steward of Peaks Island, Tony has a deep love for the work he does. Tony grew up in Portland where he graduated from Casco Bay High School in 2012. After high school, he attended The University of Maine Orono where he earned a B.S. in Sustainable Agriculture and captained the men’s Ultimate Frisbee team. In his free time, he can be found playing ultimate, surfing, snowboarding and sea kayaking. Tony lives in Portland with his partner Victoria where they mountain bike and hike together.

Casey Ross

Open Enrollment Program Director

Casey started working at Rippleffect in June of 2017 as a guide. After completing her summer internship with Rippleffect, she completed her final year of college and joined the full-time team as our Program Assistant in February of 2018. Casey plays many different roles here at Rippleffect, such as guiding our families through the registration process, coordinating with our amazing guide staff, and working with so many different participants through our youth programs.

Growing up, Casey lived in Bakersfield, California, but spent her summers in Maine where she grew to love the outdoors. Casey moved to Maine in 2014 to attend the University of Southern Maine where she majored in Community Recreation with minors in Nature Tourism and Environmental Science and participated in many local community service efforts through her sorority. While in school, Casey worked as a wilderness trip leader in Northern Maine during the summer, and a swim instructor during the school year; through these experiences, Casey found a passion for leading kids through new, challenging experiences. When she isn’t working at Ripple, Casey enjoys spending time exploring Portland, going to $5 movie Tuesdays, knitting, and traveling as much as she can!

Isa Caliandro

Partner Programs and Community Outreach Manager

Isa started working for Rippleffect in the Spring of 2021 as a guide for our Partner Programs. She immediately fell in love with working with the Rippleffect and greater Portland Community. In September 2021 she joined our team full time. In her role she works as a guide for the Adventure Academy After School Program and Alpine Club, as well as serving as our our Community Outreach and Program Coordinator.

Growing up Isa spent her summers across the bay from Cow Island on Long Island where she developed a deep love for natural landscapes, community, and being outside. In college Isa applied this love to studying Environmental Sociology and Studio Art at St. Lawrence University. She spent her free time guiding for St. Lawrence and exploring the Adirondacks. During summers she guided backpacking trips everywhere, from New England to the French Alps, for Brunswick Maine based Apogee Adventures. Since graduating she has worked for Apogee full time as an Assistant Director, done a stint on a farm in Hawaii, then as an educator at Wolfes Neck Farm, before joining us.

In her free time you can find Isa painting, surfing, hiking, and enjoying food with her community. 

Aaron Laflamme

Wilderness Programs Manager

Aaron joined our team in January 2022 to lead our wilderness programs. He comes with many years of experiential and adventure education experience, both overseeing programming and facilitating activities for groups of all ages. Aaron first moved to Maine to attend UNE, where he graduated with a degree in Environmental Science. As part of his studies he took an Outdoor Education course where he discovered, and fell in love with, working with people outside.

He has spent much of that time facilitating challenge course elements, teaching ecology, and leading wilderness trips in northern Maine and along the Maine coast. Aaron is excited to bring his knowledge and experience to the Rippleffect community. In his work, Aaron has found that kids and adults alike, can learn so much about themselves when they engage in new experiences.  Whether that is climbing on a challenge course, paddling a river, or meeting new people, shared experiences can unlock new abilities and strengths they never thought they had.  Aaron hopes to foster these experiences with the community.

Outside Rippleffect, Aaron enjoys cycling both on the road and trail, cross-country and downhill skiing, and observing nature. He is a Registered Maine Guide & Wilderness First Responder.  

Madi Worthington

Open Enrollment Manager

Madi joined Rippleffect in the spring of 2021 as a seasonal guide and fell in love with the Ripple mission and style. In September of 2021 Madi joined the full-time team to continue guiding and working with Rippleffect’s Adventure Academy After-School program. 

Madi grew up in San Francisco and spent time every summer in Maine visiting family. She nurtured an appreciation and admiration for the outdoors through backpacking and adventuring in the Sierra Nevada’s. After earning a BA in Theater from UCLA, Madi worked as a theater artist and educator for four years in the Bay Area. Madi moved to Portland, Maine in 2019 to work for a year in theater education before switching gears to follow her passion for the outdoors. She has since become a Registered Maine Guide in both Recreation and Sea Kayaking, a Wilderness First Responder, and holds an ACA Level 2 sea kayak certification! Madi lives in Portland with her partner Adam where they spend their free time hiking, camping, juggling in the park, and playing with their cat Infinity.