Matt Cornish, Camp Director

Matt joined CBC as Camp Director in 2018, bringing more than 20 years of experience in summer camping to the table. After many years in Connecticut, Matt was excited and delighted to come to MDI along with his wife, Melissa, and their daughter, Imogen. In 2020 they welcomed their son Alistair to the party as well.

In addition to his work with summer camps, Matt has spent time working as an educational paraprofessional as well as a youth leader and facilitator with various groups and programs. He holds Certifications as a Youth Mental Health First Aid Instructor and a Teen Mental Health First Aid Instructor through the National Council on Mental Well-Being.

Matt brings an extensive theatrical background and a passion for programming and people. He serves on the Board of Directors for Maine Summer Camps, and If he’s not at camp you might find him on the stage, hiking, being a trivia whiz with his wife, or taking Imogen & Alistair out for breakfast on Saturdays. matt@campbeechcliff.org

Kareem Dieng, Director of Outdoor Education

Kareem joined the CBC team in May of 2023.   A native of New Hampshire, he has been an avid outdoorsman all his life, leading programs rooted in experiential education covering extended expeditions to day trips. As a first-generation citizen of the United States, Kareem brings a unique perspective and a wealth of wilderness expertise to his role. A Registered Maine Guide, Kareem has been serving others on MDI Since 2019 in this capacity. In addition Kareem holds certifications as a Wilderness First responder, Wildlife Tracker, and Youth Mental Health First Aid Instructor.

Kareem serves on the Board of Directors at Expedition.Life and The Schoodic Institute, and holds seats on the American Camp Association New England’s DEIB Committee, Friends of Acadia’s DEI Task Force, and Tracker Certification North America’s Access Committee. When not immersed in outdoor education, you’ll find Kareem…outdoors: training for ultramarathons, sea kayaking, or delving into the study of natural history and indigenous cultures.  Kareem and his wife Taylor reside in Pemetic, Mount Desert Island – a region which is traditional Wabanaki Ancestral Homelands. They share their home in Bass Harbor with their French Bulldog and two fat cats. kareem@campbeechcliff.org

Elly preston, director of development

Elly joined the Camp Beech Cliff team in 2021 with an entrepreneurial background and a long history of camping on Echo Lake with the Appalachian Mountain Club (before there was CBC!).  Elly graduated from Northwestern University with a bachelor’s degree in psychology and quickly began her career as an entrepreneur by starting an independent bookstore on Cape Cod. 

In 2015 Elly and her husband Scott followed their dream and became seasonal managers of the AMC Echo Lake Camp facility accompanied by their two teenage children who got to experience camping, living, and working on MDI in the summers.  New empty nesters in 2020, Elly & Scott expanded their dream and moved to Southwest Harbor full-time.  Elly has a love for the camp experience, which for her began at age seven and continued throughout her teenage years and into adulthood.  She is passionate about the positive impact of camp and its benefits for all ages.  She loves being part of the year-round community on MDI and when not cooking, baking, or playing mahjong with friends she can be found walking the Manset shore with her family and their Boxer dog Georgia. elly@campbeechcliff.org

Susan Dombroski, Office coordinator

After leaving CBC in 2005 so she and her children could spend precious time with her parents in NC, Susan returned in 2022.  As Office Coordinator, her jobs include all aspects of the office, from registration to payroll to renting busses. The most rewarding part for her is working with families and watching our campers as they spend their summers just being kids.  She is thrilled to be back on MDI where her roots run deep – all the way back to the Revolutionary War.  She loves spending time with her family, whether it is hiking, swimming or even cleaning horse stalls with her daughter.  Her best memories in life are on this island and she can’t wait for all the new ones to come. susan@campbeechcliff.org

Justin Seavey, Director of Facilities

Justin joined the CBC team in February of 2023.  Justin lives in the town of Tremont, where he has served as Harbor Master for over 8 years. Justin’s work at CBC connects him with many contractors and board members, always ensuring that CBC’s buildings, grounds and other resources are fully functional and fantastically maintained for all. Justin can be found enjoying the fruits of his labor at CBC events with his children Molly, Kenzie, and Jameson. A U.S. Coast Guard Veteran, Justin enjoys a sea of aquatic and outdoor activities including many types of fishing, scuba diving, and camping trips with his family. justin@campbeechcliff.org

John macdonald, Facilities & Grounds Assistant

“John Mac” joined the staff of Camp Beech Cliff in the winter of 2022, working behind the scenes to keep the facilities clean and maintained. John has a passion for sharing his skill set with all CBC programs. Originally from Bangor, he spent many years working for the Bangor Region YMCA and spending many summers of his youth on Branch Lake as counselor and lifeguard at Camp Jordan, where he met his wife Elizabeth. In addition, John spent time at Camp G. Pierce Webber in various Program Director positions. He has found CBC to be a wonderful fit!

 John currently resides in Ellsworth with his wife and son where you might find him gardening, working on his vintage motorcycle, relaxing at home with his two cats, and exploring all parts of Maine with his family. jmac@campbeechcliff.org