Johanna Johnston
Executive Director
Johanna moved to Houlton two years ago. She has a bachelor’s degree in business administration/marketing from California State University Monterey Bay. She has more than 15 years administrative experience in a variety of industries. Most recently, Johanna held the position of Eclipse Event Coordinator which will be a festival weekend celebrating the 2024 total solar eclipse, a joint effort between the SADC, the Greater Houlton Chamber of Commerce and the town of Houlton. She is also on-air talent, hosting a radio segment on Saturday mornings on 98.3 the Fox called Our Community Rocks. The purpose of the show is to highlight the people, businesses and organizations that are doing outstanding work for their community.
The Executive Committee
Josh McLaughlin
President & Chair
Josh is the current President of SADC, where he supplies the horsepower behind our Public Relations and Existing Business Committee. He is a lifetime resident of Houlton and works daily to promote the benefits of living and working in the region. Josh is the president of J McLaughlin Construction, LLC, a heavy civil earthwork contracting firm, where he manages day-to-day operations. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in construction management engineering from the University of Maine at Orono with a minor in business administration. Josh attribute part of his success in business to other veteran business owners in town who have served as mentors willing to offer critical feedback and support when needed.
Chris Anderson
Past President, Registered Agent
Chris is a founding member of SADC and works daily to promote the merits of living in Aroostook County and running a business in Northern Maine. He is active in Leaders Encouraging Aroostook Development (LEAD) and Aroostook Partnership for Progress (APP). As President of F.A. Peabody Company (FAPCO), Chris oversees a privately held, family corporation with roots dating back to 1927 in the Town of Houlton. FAPCO started as a property casualty insurance agency, but over the years has expanded and diversified into real estate brokerage, travel services, life, health and group benefits, investment management, risk management services, and third-party administration and broadband internet services. With 8 sales offices from Calais to Presque Isle, Chris covers the immense geography of Northern Maine and has an intimate knowledge of the people and ideals of the region.
Jerry York
Past President, Treasurer
Jerry is one of the founding members of SADC. He promotes Southern Aroostook as an ideal place to run a business, raise a family, and recreate throughout his travels. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in business administration and serves as the general manager of his family’s car dealership and vehicle service center, York’s of Houlton. Though he seeks greener fairways in Florida for a brief time on occasion, he remains firmly planted in Houlton where he and his wife, Jane, built a new home in 2014.
Peter Chase
Past President
A transplant from the central Maine area, Peter has lived in southern Aroostook for the past 35 years. After obtaining a BS in forest engineering from UMO, he was employed with Cianbro Corporation. Upon completion of the construction of the Louisiana Pacific OSB mill in New Limerick, Maine, he was hired by LP as plant superintendent. He rose quickly to operations manager for northeast oriented strand board as well as the gypsum fiberboard facilities. Ten years later he embarked on his own venture as president of Buildings Etcetera, a general contracting company serving northern Maine. He resides in New Limerick with his wife, Kathy, where they have raised three fine young men who have all earned engineering degrees.
Jim Quirk
Board Member
Production Engineer at Smith & Wesson.
The Board
Chris Anderson, President, F.A. Peabody Company
Marian Anderson, Town Manager, Town of Houlton
Kristi Brannen, Co-owner, Spring Break Maple & Honey
Jesse Chase, President, Buildings Etc
Peter Chase, Buildings Etc
Chris Fitzpatrick, Regional Vice-President, Machias Savings Bank
Fred Grant, President, Northern Maine Media
Ellen Lincoln, Nursing Student
Carl Lord, Jr., Regional Supervisor, NVT Technologies, Inc
Max Lynds, VP of Life & Benefits
Josh McLaughlin, President, J. McLaughlin Construction, LLC
Levi Prosser, Division Manager, Daigle Oil Company
Jim Quirk, Production Engineer, Smith & Wesson
Lori Weston, Executive Director, Health Services Foundation
Jerry York, General Manager, York’s of Houlton
Ex-Officio Voting Members
Nancy Ketch, Houlton Community Development Director, Town of Houlton
Jane Torres, Executive Director, Greater Houlton Chamber of Commerce
Investment is the root of growth 