McLaughlin reflects on tenure as SADC executive director

HOULTON, Maine — For 24 yrs, Jon McLaughlin has worked quietly, but diligently, guiding the scenes as a person of the area’s greatest supporters for financial growth.

As the only individual to dress in the title of government director for the Southern Aroostook Progress Corp., McLaughlin has been instrumental in bringing new businesses and supporting present kinds keep on being and expand in southern Aroostook County.

Now McLaughlin, 66, of Houlton is ultimately prepared to hand the reins more than to somebody new.

McLaughlin had determined to step down in May 2021, but remained with the company till a substitute was uncovered. Jared Tapley has been tabbed as the up coming government director for SADC. He requires in excess of the placement May 1. 

“I will expend a handful of weeks with Jared to get him up to speed,” McLaughlin explained.

The final decision to last but not least retire did not come without having a good deal of soul searching. After all, McLaughlin followed in the footsteps of his father Aubrey, who from 1957 to 1964 served as the director of the Houlton Regional Development Corp. — the precursor to SADC.

“I have been extremely fortuitous to have excellent city managers who definitely believed in what we were seeking to do,” McLaughlin mentioned. “I will miss all the men and women for guaranteed.”

Established in 1998, the company has but just one personnel — its government director — but has a vast network of volunteers who comprise its board of directors.

“When we very first started off out, SADC was centered on marketing the area to enterprises outside of Aroostook,” McLaughlin said. “More a short while ago, we decided we also desired to assistance our current enterprises so they can broaden.”

Funding for the situation arrives from stakeholders, neighborhood and regional companies, as perfectly as the municipalities of Houlton, Smyrna, New Limerick, Monticello and Littleton who present resources on an annual foundation.

SADC is an economic improvement firm, founded in 1998, to develop and develop the financial base of southern Aroostook County. Business and group leaders from throughout the space function together to aid coordinate, endorse and information new business development.

A non-earnings corporation, its mission is to promote economic advancement all through southern Aroostook County by preserving the merits of the location by trying to get new business alternatives, preserving current industries and fostering occupation possibilities. It also focuses on advertising entrepreneurism, eradicating hurdles to local enhancement and creating interactions with companies that share comparable views.

McLaughlin stated even though he is obtaining accomplished, he plans to keep active volunteering as a member of the SADC board of administrators. He has also been named as the executive director of the Houlton Substantial School Alumni Association.