Board of Directors

Brigitte Gautschi and her late husband, Hans Gautschi, co-founded the Ducktrap Wildlife Preserve in the early 1990’s.   Brigitte has served as a board member since inception and has served as the President of the Board of Directors since 2004.

Born and raised in Germany, Brigitte became a citizen of Switzerland after marrying her husband Hans.  A quest for privacy and serenity brought the couple to Lincolnville, Maine in the mid 1980s. The couple purchased land and built a residence on Pitcher Pond. It is here that Brigitte’s recurring childhood dream of living in the forest amongst the animals became a reality.  She describes the mid-coast Maine area as having an inexplicable connection to her soul, a home where she has found true inner peace.

Brigitte is a an esteemed artist best known for her deeply spiritual paintings that are inspired by her soulful connection to nature. Her paintings are an assorted combination of realism and surrealism. Brigitte explains: “I paint the way I feel it”. She describes her style as one that is derived from the soul and not the intellect. Trained at the Art Academy of Bielefeld, Germany, Brigitte’s works have been represented in galleries since the early 1980’s. Brigitte is an art instructor and in recent years earned a degree in Hand Analysis. Brigitte uses these two techniques to offer programs to the public in spiritual and creative development.

As an ardent naturalist, Brigitte is passionate about her continued work benefitting wildlife and nature protection. In 2015 Brigitte expanded her work in the mid-coast by founding the Gautschi Center Gallery for Art, Creativity and Education in Rockland.  It is her intention to nurture a complimentary and supportive relationship between the Gautschi Center and the Ducktrap Wildlife Preserve. Whereas nature has played such a central role in her creative development throughout her life, she wants to make similar opportunities available to future generations. Brigitte envisions the two organizations working closely together to offer educational and creative experiences for artists, naturalists and students of all backgrounds and ages.

Brigitte resides in Engelberg, Switzerland, where she also owns and operates the Titlis Gallery.  She travels to Maine annually with her beloved dogs Willi, Babette and Shine. Brigitte treasures spending time in the outdoors, whether it be hiking along the trails of the Ducktrap Wildlife Preserve with her dogs or spending the afternoon painting along the shore of Pitcher Pond.

Meaghan Janaitis has served on the Board of Directors of the Ducktrap Wildlife Preserve since 2012. She serves the role of Vice President and Treasurer.

Meaghan grew up outside of Boston but once introduced as a young girl to the mid-coast area she traveled here as often as possible. Whether it was visiting friends, attending summer camp or planning a mid-coast wedding, she always described this area as having a therapeutic affect for her. Meaghan’s commitment to the Ducktrap Wildlife Preserve is passionate as she hopes to help instill respect for these natural surroundings in future generations.

Meaghan first met Hans and Brigitte Gautschi in the early 1990’s. Meaghan and Brigitte have remained close over the years and especially in recent years as they worked together to help Brigitte fulfill her vision of opening the Gautschi Center Gallery for Art, Creativity and Education.

Meaghan and her family relocated from Boston to the mid-coast area in 2014.  Meaghan’s work at the Gautschi Center includes the management of the gallery, oversight of the sales and marketing and developing the public programming. Meaghan is a graduate of Boston College and gained experience in non-profit management through her work as the Public Affairs Specialist with the National Archives and Records Administration at the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum in Boston.

Meaghan, her husband Jonathan, and their two young sons, Anderson and Sawyer, reside in Lincolnville. Meaghan enjoys spending time with her friends and family, being creative through artwork, design and cooking and traveling locally to discover the beauty of her new home state.

Jim Wagner joined the board of directors in September 2019.  He currently serves the role of Secretary.

Jim grew up and went to college in Boston and has been the Exhibits Specialist at the Kennedy Library, working for the federal government for nearly 25 years.

Jim has served on the board of directors for a Boston youth arts program and has also volunteered with the organizations devoted to helping individuals with intellectual disabilities.

Didier Bonner-Ganter has served on the Board of Directors of the Ducktrap Wildlife Preserve since the early 2000’s.

Didier moved to Maine in the late 1980’s at which point he met Hans and Brigitte Gautschi. His interest in forestry led to a bachelors degree from the University of Maine in forest management in 1993. Upon graduating, Hans Gautschi procured employment for Didier with the forester for the city of  Menziken, Switzerland. This experience provided an opportunity to learn how Swiss forestry was carried out. The Gautschi’s also relegated the forest management of their Maine landholdings to Didier upon returning to the states.

Self employed for most of his life, his business has evolved from a traditional forestry business to one that is primarily oriented toward urban forestry and residential tree care. In 2003, Didier worked as an arborist at the New York Botanical Garden in the Bronx, New York.

Didier is a Maine Licensed Arborist, Maine Licensed Forester, and Certified Arborist through the International Society of Arboriculture. Aside from climbing and caring for trees, he is an avid road cyclist and is currently delving into fat-tire off-road cycling, and enjoys playing ice hockey, soccer, snow shoeing, hiking, and traveling.