February can sometimes feel like a quieter time at Casco Bay Lines. Islanders sit bundled up with hot coffee on less densely populated ferries, and neighbors nod as they pass each other in the quiet terminal. Behind the apparent calm, our team is hard at work preparing for the year ahead.
We’re an organization already well known for our incredibly dedicated staff. And, in 2026, we’re ushering in a new chapter for our leadership team. In addition to recently welcoming our new General Manager, Ben Dinsmore, we’re celebrating the promotion of Mike Bryand to Operations Manager and Pat Donovan to Assistant Operations Manager. And we’re excited to share more about their path to these new roles.
A Legacy of Service: Welcoming New Operations Leaders
Last fall, we commemorated the retirement of Nick Mavodones following 47 years of service at Casco Bay Lines. Nick’s remarkable legacy was captured in a video profile on News Center Maine’s 207 show: you can watch it here!
When Nick first joined Casco Bay Lines as a deckhand in 1978, he was a teenager. He told 207 that the job required even more physical strength back then than it does now.
“Freight would get rolled out on a cart close to the boat, and unless the tide was perfect, we lifted or threw it onto the boat,” he explained. “We moved everything from 94-pound bags of cement to cases of milk to lumber and coal.”
He thrived and was promoted to captain by the age of 21. By the 1990s, Nick took on the role of Operations Manager. This important position on the leadership team oversees everything from vessel maintenance to customer relations, hiring, personnel, and liaising with the Coast Guard.
Decades later, as Nick’s retirement approached, the Operations Manager position was posted and a search was undertaken for his replacement. Raised on Peaks Island, Mike Bryand had served as Assistant Operations Manager under Nick for three years following 33 years as a CBL captain and deckhand. His deep experience stood out amongst a competitive roster of candidates.
“This is a new era, in the sense that we have new people in upper levels of management,” said Mike. “But this is very much the same Casco Bay Lines. We’ve grown; we’ve added bigger boats and a new terminal, but this is still a small community. With so many people working here for so long, we have a huge amount of institutional knowledge to build upon.”
With Mike’s promotion, the job for Assistant Operations Manager opened, and another public search began. Pat Donovan has been with Casco Bay Lines for 20 years, most recently as captain. With young kids now at school, Pat says he leapt at the opportunity to apply for a management role.
“It’s definitely a different life,” he said, smiling. “On the boats, there’s no typical nine-to-five. You’re either working late or getting up very early. This role brings more consistency—and a new kind of challenge.”
A New General Manager with Deep Maritime Roots
Our operations team is led by Ben Dinsmore who joined Casco Bay Lines as General Manager last September.
Raised on Maine’s coast and the son of a Maine State Ferry Service captain, Ben is the perfect person for this position. He has captained large commercial vessels, overseen new vessel construction, and held senior leadership roles in marine operations. He also previously owned R.E. Thomas Marine Hardware, a Downeast Maine-based engineering company that manufactures marine driveline components for a variety of vessels, including the iconic Maine lobster boat.
“Growing up on the coast of Maine, I developed a deep respect for the working waterfront and island communities,” said Ben. “I understand the seasonal rhythms of life on the islands and the unique challenges they bring. Casco Bay Lines is more than a ferry service; it’s a lifeline, a connector of communities, and a reflection of the people who call these islands home.”
Our leadership team may have evolved in 2026, but we’re incredibly lucky to have the tenure and experience of Mike, Pat, and Ben to guide our operations. If you see them around the terminal, be sure to say hello!