Joe Montisano, executive director of the Coastal Humane Society and Lincoln County Animal Shelter, said he will most miss the tactile nature of seeing the work done at the shelter, witnessing and sharing the feeling of when an animal goes to a new home.

Montisano, who has been with Coastal Humane Society since March 2015, is leaving to become the executive director of the Great Lakes Aquarium in Duluth, Minnesota. He said his position at the humane society was a bit of a diversion from his past work experience trajectory, namely 25 years in the zoo and aquarium business.

Montisano said the staff he has worked with in Brunswick are dedicated and hard-working.

“I will definitely miss this crew,” he said. “I’ve learned a lot and enjoyed my time here.”

Montisano will leave at the end of this month.

The group’s board of directors will launch a search for his replacement.

Marketing manager Jane Sivinski said whoever takes over the position will have big shoes to fill.

Coastal Humane Society of Brunswick is a nonprofit animal shelter established in 1950 that cares for about 2,500 animals each year in the Midcoast area.

In June 2016, Coastal took over management of Lincoln County Animal Shelter, after a period of financial difficulty for the Edgecombbased shelter. Together, the two entities serve around 40 Midcoast communities.

jlaaka@timesrecord.com

Busy place

• COASTAL HUMANE Society of Brunswick is a nonprofit animal shelter established in 1950 that cares for about 2,500 animals each year in the Midcoast area.