Welcome to Opportunities Aroostook

In 2022, my wife and I made the big move from Georgia to Aroostook County, seeking to be closer to family and to embrace the stunning beauty and slower pace of life in Maine. After taking some time to settle in, I was eager to return to a career focused on community service. That’s when I discovered ACAP, where I now oversee HR, Facilities, and IT. This role has allowed me to actively contribute to the community I love, and I’m always looking for new ways to get involved.

I hold a Bachelor’s Degree in Public and Social Services from Kennesaw State University. Before joining ACAP in 2023, I began my career in law enforcement, then transitioned to the IT field. I worked with a large non-profit museum group in Georgia before moving into the private sector, where I ultimately served as a Regional Director for a large Managed Service Provider with offices nationwide.

I’m still relishing the winter weather of northern Maine, and both Kelly and I are enjoying the adventure of exploring our new home state. I love snowmobiling, especially those moments when I can escape the town, pause, and soak in the breathtaking views and tranquility of the woods. Living here has made it easier for me to appreciate the beauty around me, with so many stunning spots to choose from.

Aroostook County has truly become home for us.

Moving to Aroostook County was both thrilling and daunting. Living in the place where my wife grew up, I knew we’d quickly feel a sense of community, but I wondered, “What would I do for work”? My wife was excited to join the local hospital, serving the community she’s always loved. We found a beautiful home, and our kids were overjoyed to embrace the seasons, especially winter sports. The missing piece was finding a fulfilling career with room for growth.

Coming from a high-end hospitality background, I was unsure if I’d find a similar opportunity in an area where hospitality was more emerging than established. To my surprise, I discovered Ignite PI—a vibrant organization driving downtown revitalization through projects like purchasing a local hotel and restaurant. This was exactly the career I’d been searching for, connecting me with inspiring organizations and people throughout the area, all of whom share a genuine commitment to growth and development.

As I settle into northern Maine, I see the county’s true hospitality and its eagerness to thrive. We need passionate entrepreneurs, innovators, and creators to join our community and help us reach the greatness Aroostook was once known for. If you’re looking for a place where you can grow professionally while contributing to something bigger, I encourage you to consider Aroostook County—there’s opportunity waiting for you here

I dedicate much of my time to my role as a Business Development Officer for Acadia Federal Credit Union, where I cover the entire state but focus heavily on Aroostook County. I’m also actively involved in my community, serving on boards from Fort Kent to Presque Isle, working to support local businesses and foster economic growth.

I love working in Aroostook County because of the close-knit, supportive community. Even though it’s a large geographic area, the small population makes it feel like one big hometown. Building relationships and guiding people toward financial success, whether it’s by helping them with their businesses or finances, is what motivates me. I genuinely care about seeing people in our community succeed, even if it means referring them to another institution for better rates or terms.

Living in Aroostook County offers a unique blend of natural beauty and tranquility that I cherish. I enjoy spending time outdoors, golfing in the summer and skiing in the winter, alongside my family. Despite traveling to other beautiful parts of the country, there’s nothing like coming back home to Aroostook’s vast, peaceful landscapes. The cold and snow provide endless opportunities for outdoor activities, from snowmobiling to ice fishing.

I grew up in St. Agatha and moved to Fort Kent at 17, where I’ve lived ever since. After spending 15 years running a family-owned building supply store in Fort Kent, we sold the business, and I transitioned into other ventures. In 2019, I found my home at Acadia Federal Credit Union, where I’ve been able to combine my passion for business development with my love for the community. I married my high school sweetheart, Michelle, who is a kindergarten teacher, and we have one daughter about to enter high school. I’m deeply committed to Aroostook County and work tirelessly to see it flourish.

Having lived in Northern Maine my entire life, I can confidently say that this unique corner of the world holds a special place in my heart.

From my childhood days spent on my grandparents’ potato farm to my years earning a degree at the University of Maine at Fort Kent, to establishing a rewarding career at a local credit union, Northern Maine has shaped who I am.

One of the most compelling reasons I choose to live here is the incredible sense of community. Whether it’s a friendly wave from a neighbor or the collective support during local events, there’s a sense of belonging that continually makes this place feel like home.

Northern Maine is not just a place on the map for me; it’s a cherished part of my identity. I am grateful for the experiences I’ve had and the community that surrounds me.

I grew up in Aroostook County and had the opportunity to continue the legacy of my family’s commercial construction company. I also missed the country style living associated with Aroostook County.

When I am not working, I spend most of my free time outdoors. In the Summer you can find me four wheeling or spending time on the water. In the fall I enjoy spending all of my Saturdays hunting in October and November (and sometimes part of December). During the winter you can find me ice fishing, downhill skiing, or snowmobiling.

I love being outdoors with my friends and family and Aroostook County provides all of the space I need for the hobbies I love. The people here are amazing, helpful, and supportive. I enjoy being a part of multiple committees such as SADC, Future Professionals of Aroostook, and the Tools and Training Grant Program so that I can help give back to the community. I enjoying being a part of the community and helping make it a place that others can fall in love with also.

I graduated from HHS in 2006. After graduation, I attended UMO for Electrical Engineering and received my bachelor’s degree in 2010. Immediately following graduation I moved back home to Houlton to work with my family for a few months until I was hired as a Project Engineer at Cianbro Corporation. I spent a little over 6 years working my way up to Senior Engineer managing construction projects such as electrical substations, transmission and distribution lines, and wind farms. I eventually decided I didn’t want to spend the rest of my life traveling for work and decided to move back home and continue the legacy of the family business known as Buildings Etcetera. I absolutely love the area and look forward to raising my family, including our new baby, here.

I love working where I know that I can go to work and feel safe in my environment, and know that those I work with are genuinely concerned for each other’s well-being. I also love knowing that no matter who we work with, we can usually find a connection to one another in some way shape or form.

Our family lives within 10 to 40 minutes from us, so we take advantage of the parks and recreation sites by using the playground equipment, splash pad, walking on the bike paths, hiking the trails, snowshoeing, driving the back roads to see the Amish communities, and going on rides to see the colors of the leaves change.

I love knowing my neighbors and knowing that if anything were to happen to me or my home, my neighbors would help us out. I love living in a neighborhood where we still cook casseroles or bring food to people who we know have had a loss in their family or have been ill and unable to cook. I love living in a community where the best recipes come from your neighbors, because they’ve been given to them by their grandparents and great-grandparents.

I was born and raised in this area, along with my husband. Both of us felt that we needed to move from this area in order to have a good life. We did move away, but found that all of our friends were others that had moved to our area from the County. Every holiday, every vacation we found ourselves coming home. After our daughter was born, every cent we made went to rent and childcare with nothing left over for fun. It occurred to us that because we were heading home for every holiday and every vacation, and we weren’t really living to get ahead financially, we should just bite the bullet and make the County our home. We moved back 32 years ago and were able to find great, well paying jobs. We were close to our family members and able to say our proper good byes to those that left us before their times due to cancer. We have a great life up here, we own a home, a camp, 4-wheelers and we’ve got a nest egg that we’ve been able to build upon for the past 20 years or so. The best part is that our children live close by so that we’re able to spend a lot of time with our children and our grandchildren, something that our friends who have children who’ve moved away aren’t able to enjoy.