Jared Dobro - Co-Chair
He/Him/His
This will be my fifth year attending the YES Conference and I am so excited to be the Co-Chair of the conference this year! Currently I am a junior at Ithaca College studying Television and Graphic Design. I am from Attleboro, MA and I have a podcast about pop music! So excited for this great year and hope to see you at YES events!
Nate Handleman - Co-Chiar
He/Him/His
Hey I'm Nate, I'm a co-chair, and this is my sixth year with the conference! In the off season I'm a screenwriting major at Ithaca College, and for the past two years I've worked at Star Island over the summer! I love to write horror in any format, and I enjoy sharing my stories with the conference. My favorite part of the conference is our worships, and I can't wait to make 2020 YES's best year yet!
Linnie McGuire - Registrar
She/Her/Hers
Linnie is in her third year of a major in Political Studies and a minor in English from Bishop’s University, which she is spending studying abroad at Trinity College Dublin. This will be her sixth year attending the YES conference, and she is very excited to be your registrar. When not enthusing about Canadian politics, she might be found hiding in the corner of a library, spending hours upon hours in thrift stores, or adding to her repertoire of useless fun facts.
Sterling Zysk - Programming Director
They/Them/Theirs
Hi! I'm Sterling Zysk and I'm this year's Programming Director! This will be my third year on island, first year on staff, and I can't wait to be back! I'm currently a sophomore at the New England School of Art and Design at Suffolk University, majoring in Fine Arts, and I'm actually studying abroad in Italy this spring. I'm excited to be on staff this year because I want to give back to the community that I love, even if I've only been part of it for two years. My favorite things about Y.E.S. and Star are the people, playing softball, and just being surrounded by the ocean. My favorite plant is probably either sunflowers or marimo moss balls, which, fun fact, are actually a spherical variety of algae, not moss.
Kenny Laferriere - Secretary
Any Pronouns
Kenny started attending YES last year. She is a bioinformatics major at Wheaton College. Fun fact: they collect cursed objects from yard sales. He was born and raised in Attleboro, MA. Xir favorite plants are Kentucky yellowwoods, alders, and milkweeds. Zie listens to cassette tapes, sometimes while rollerblading. Per favorite part about YES is the community, but also dressing up for the dinners.
Dani Trycha - Co-Conference Development Coordinator
He/Him/His or They/Them/Theirs
Dani is one half of the dynamic Conference Development Coordinator duo. This new position is dedicated to bringing new members into YES and making the conference more affordable for everyone who attends. This will be their 5th year as part of the YES Conference and 4th year on staff. Off island, they study at Wesleyan University and work at a publishing company. Off island you can find them in Scituate, MA cooking, reading sci-fi, playing Pokemon, and protesting capitalism.
Serena Lincoln - Co-Conference Development Coordinator & Art Director
They/Them/Theirs
Serena is one of the Conference Development Coordinators and also the Art Director (aka Fairy Gothmother) in the 2019-2020 year. They have been attending the conference since 2016 and is now going unto their 5th year, and 3rd year on staff. They are an illustrator and comic artist by trade, and enjoy making art, spending time with YES friends and family, and reading. YES has become a massively good influence in their life, and a place where they feel safe to be . vulnerable and open
Sydney Paul - Co-Welcome Coordinator
She/Her/Hers
Hello! I'm Sydney, one of the Welcome Coordinators for this year's conference! I've been coming to YES for 3 years now and this is my first year on staff. I live in Pembroke, Massachusetts and I'm a part time college student also working at the glorious Joann Fabrics. In my free time I'm usually playing music or knitting an obscene amount of hats. My favorite plant is lemon balm because it smells like summer. My favorite thing about YES is how willing the community is to include and support each other. It has definitely made a huge impact in my life and now I want to help future conferees to have their own amazing experiences in this community. Fun fact about me: I know way too many behind - the - scenes facts about The Lord Of the Rings trilogy. You will regret ever watching it with me.
Izzy Carter- Co-Welcome Coordinator
She/Her/Hers
Izzy has been attending the YES Conference for the past two years. She is currently in high school. Izzy loves goats, especially dwarf goats. She is from Eastern Massachusetts. She is not sure if she could choose one favorite plant but it may have to red maple trees. She loves the community and friendships made on Star Island during the YES Conference. Throughout the week people form strong connections and do fun activities. She hopes to see you on Star!
Madison Peña - Social Action Coordinator
They/Them/Theirs
Maddy is a new member of the YES! conference, having attended one year so far. They go to school at Roger Williams University in Bristol, Rhode Island to study anthropology. Maddy is from Lincoln, Rhode Island (L town baby!!!). They lick the greasy, grimey butter from the inside of popcorn bags and love South African Wild Pear trees.
Ian Teare-Thomas - Chair Emeritus
He/Him/His
Hello all, I have been attending the YES conference since 2014, making 2020 my 7th year. Yes has taught me a lot about myself and has provided me with immense amounts of love and happiness. I am a part time student studying mechanical engineering at University of Massachusetts. I grew up in Needham Massachusetts which is where my permanent residence persists to this day. Fun fact about me is that I still sleep with the teddy bear that my mom bought me when I was 3 years old; his name is Big Bear.
Sara Carter - Adult Advisor
She/Her/Hers
Sara was apart of the YES conference for 4 years before bridging out and she’s so excited to come back now as an adult advisor and be apart of this conference in a new way! Sara loves working with little kids, hanging out with friends, traveling, doing new and exciting activities, working out and being the youth group advisor for her churches youth group!
He/Him/His
This will be my fifth year attending the YES Conference and I am so excited to be the Co-Chair of the conference this year! Currently I am a junior at Ithaca College studying Television and Graphic Design. I am from Attleboro, MA and I have a podcast about pop music! So excited for this great year and hope to see you at YES events!
Nate Handleman - Co-Chiar
He/Him/His
Hey I'm Nate, I'm a co-chair, and this is my sixth year with the conference! In the off season I'm a screenwriting major at Ithaca College, and for the past two years I've worked at Star Island over the summer! I love to write horror in any format, and I enjoy sharing my stories with the conference. My favorite part of the conference is our worships, and I can't wait to make 2020 YES's best year yet!
Linnie McGuire - Registrar
She/Her/Hers
Linnie is in her third year of a major in Political Studies and a minor in English from Bishop’s University, which she is spending studying abroad at Trinity College Dublin. This will be her sixth year attending the YES conference, and she is very excited to be your registrar. When not enthusing about Canadian politics, she might be found hiding in the corner of a library, spending hours upon hours in thrift stores, or adding to her repertoire of useless fun facts.
Sterling Zysk - Programming Director
They/Them/Theirs
Hi! I'm Sterling Zysk and I'm this year's Programming Director! This will be my third year on island, first year on staff, and I can't wait to be back! I'm currently a sophomore at the New England School of Art and Design at Suffolk University, majoring in Fine Arts, and I'm actually studying abroad in Italy this spring. I'm excited to be on staff this year because I want to give back to the community that I love, even if I've only been part of it for two years. My favorite things about Y.E.S. and Star are the people, playing softball, and just being surrounded by the ocean. My favorite plant is probably either sunflowers or marimo moss balls, which, fun fact, are actually a spherical variety of algae, not moss.
Kenny Laferriere - Secretary
Any Pronouns
Kenny started attending YES last year. She is a bioinformatics major at Wheaton College. Fun fact: they collect cursed objects from yard sales. He was born and raised in Attleboro, MA. Xir favorite plants are Kentucky yellowwoods, alders, and milkweeds. Zie listens to cassette tapes, sometimes while rollerblading. Per favorite part about YES is the community, but also dressing up for the dinners.
Dani Trycha - Co-Conference Development Coordinator
He/Him/His or They/Them/Theirs
Dani is one half of the dynamic Conference Development Coordinator duo. This new position is dedicated to bringing new members into YES and making the conference more affordable for everyone who attends. This will be their 5th year as part of the YES Conference and 4th year on staff. Off island, they study at Wesleyan University and work at a publishing company. Off island you can find them in Scituate, MA cooking, reading sci-fi, playing Pokemon, and protesting capitalism.
Serena Lincoln - Co-Conference Development Coordinator & Art Director
They/Them/Theirs
Serena is one of the Conference Development Coordinators and also the Art Director (aka Fairy Gothmother) in the 2019-2020 year. They have been attending the conference since 2016 and is now going unto their 5th year, and 3rd year on staff. They are an illustrator and comic artist by trade, and enjoy making art, spending time with YES friends and family, and reading. YES has become a massively good influence in their life, and a place where they feel safe to be . vulnerable and open
Sydney Paul - Co-Welcome Coordinator
She/Her/Hers
Hello! I'm Sydney, one of the Welcome Coordinators for this year's conference! I've been coming to YES for 3 years now and this is my first year on staff. I live in Pembroke, Massachusetts and I'm a part time college student also working at the glorious Joann Fabrics. In my free time I'm usually playing music or knitting an obscene amount of hats. My favorite plant is lemon balm because it smells like summer. My favorite thing about YES is how willing the community is to include and support each other. It has definitely made a huge impact in my life and now I want to help future conferees to have their own amazing experiences in this community. Fun fact about me: I know way too many behind - the - scenes facts about The Lord Of the Rings trilogy. You will regret ever watching it with me.
Izzy Carter- Co-Welcome Coordinator
She/Her/Hers
Izzy has been attending the YES Conference for the past two years. She is currently in high school. Izzy loves goats, especially dwarf goats. She is from Eastern Massachusetts. She is not sure if she could choose one favorite plant but it may have to red maple trees. She loves the community and friendships made on Star Island during the YES Conference. Throughout the week people form strong connections and do fun activities. She hopes to see you on Star!
Madison Peña - Social Action Coordinator
They/Them/Theirs
Maddy is a new member of the YES! conference, having attended one year so far. They go to school at Roger Williams University in Bristol, Rhode Island to study anthropology. Maddy is from Lincoln, Rhode Island (L town baby!!!). They lick the greasy, grimey butter from the inside of popcorn bags and love South African Wild Pear trees.
Ian Teare-Thomas - Chair Emeritus
He/Him/His
Hello all, I have been attending the YES conference since 2014, making 2020 my 7th year. Yes has taught me a lot about myself and has provided me with immense amounts of love and happiness. I am a part time student studying mechanical engineering at University of Massachusetts. I grew up in Needham Massachusetts which is where my permanent residence persists to this day. Fun fact about me is that I still sleep with the teddy bear that my mom bought me when I was 3 years old; his name is Big Bear.
Sara Carter - Adult Advisor
She/Her/Hers
Sara was apart of the YES conference for 4 years before bridging out and she’s so excited to come back now as an adult advisor and be apart of this conference in a new way! Sara loves working with little kids, hanging out with friends, traveling, doing new and exciting activities, working out and being the youth group advisor for her churches youth group!
