Staff and Board of Directors

"Equally impressive was the level of commitment from both Ben Swan and the
counselor in our son's tent to ensure that he got the most out of the experience."
—Pine Island Parent

Ben Swan, Director | benswan@pineisland.org
Ben Swan was born during the 1955 camp season, and he has been connected with Pine Island in some capacity ever since. He spent his childhood at Pine Island, as a camper then as a counselor. He continued as a member of Pine Island Camp’s board of directors, returning to the staff in 1988 as assistant director. He assumed the post of director in 1990. His family’s involvement with Pine Island Camp dates to 1908, when his grandfather purchased the fledgling institution, and he is the third generation of his family to serve as Pine Island’s director. Ben has a B.A. in English from Washington & Lee University and an M.A. in English from the University of Virginia. He was a teacher at Episcopal High School in Alexandria, Virginia for several years before returning to Maine to work for Pine Island. He and his wife Emily guided Pine Island Camp through its transition to a not-for-profit educational institution in 1994, oversaw Pine Island’s acquisition of the Whitehead Light Station in 1996, and orchestrated the celebration of its 100th anniversary in 2002. In the off-season, Ben and Emily live in Brunswick, Maine, with their children Harry, Rippy & Katie. Ben is involved in land conservation and community improvement efforts in Brunswick. Photo: (Clockwise from left) Emily Swan, Business Manager; Ben Swan, Director; Rippy Swan; Harry Swan and Katie Swan.

Emily Swan, Business Manager | eswan@pineisland.org
Emily married into the Pine Island Camp community in 1987 and has been its business manager since 1990. In addition to overseeing the details of running the camp, she is the voice at the other end of the phone line during the Pine Island season. Emily has a B.A. in history from the University of the South at Sewanee and a J.D. from Harvard Law School. In the off-season, Emily lives with Ben and their children Harry, Rippy & Katie in Brunswick, Maine, where she is chairperson of the town’s historic preservation board and is involved in the children’s schools and various other volunteer activities.

Joe Kovaz, Associate Director | jkovaz@pineisland.org
Joe began his Pine Island career in 1989. He was a counselor for five years and spent one summer as co-director of the Expedition Camp program. He was Pine Island Camp’s assistant director from 2003 to 2005 and assumed his current, year-round position as associate director in 2006. Joe received his B.S. in Anthropology from the College of Charleston in 1996, where he was a graduate from the Honors College. He received his M.A.T. from the University of South Carolina in 2003 and taught honors physics and A.P. chemistry at A.C. Flora High School in Columbia, South Carolina. In 2006, Joe joined Pine Island’s year-round staff as associate director. In the off-season, Joe lives in Columbia with his son Stephen. He is an avid cyclist and races as often as he can. Photo: Joe Kovaz.

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Charlie Birney
Ned Bishop
Whit Fisher
Charles Hale
Martin Hale
Peter Lowe
Tim Nagler
Ben Swan
Pope Ward, Chairman
David Williamson
Tom Yoder

Directors Emeritus:
Rex Bates
Jim Breeden
Sam Brown
Warren Eginton