SADC elects newest director

Editor’s Note: This is the seventh in a series of articles in which feature the board members that make up SADC, who are so crucial to its success.
by Jon McLaughlin
    Most people know that SADC is a local organization and many know that its main charge is to market the region to businesses from away that are looking to expand their operations and/or to relocate. An organization is made up of people. Many don’t know, however, the players that make up SADC.
    At SADC’s Annual Board Meeting on Tuesday, Dec. 21, Fred Grant was nominated and elected to the board of directors. Grant was born in Houlton to Aubrey and Frances Grant and grew up here. After college he continued his working career in other states, returning to his hometown in 2005.
Fred Grant
    He graduated from Houlton High School in 1988 and attended the University of Hartford in West Hartford, CT, graduating Magna Cum Laude with a bachelor’s degree in music. His musical talents are very much evidenced each summer with his stint in McGill’s Community Band, where he is persuaded to belt out a Broadway show tune a couple of times during the season, much to the delight of the audience. Grant continued his education with a master’s of business administration, graduating Suma Cum Laude from Adelphi University in N.Y.
    Upon his graduation from college, he worked at Babson College in Wellesley, Mass. serving most recently as the director of campus life. His department was responsible for “out of the classroom” experiences for the students including: housing, meal plans, student activities, college discipline, crisis management among others. In his role as director, he supervised nine professional staff and 36 para-professionals looking after the needs of 1,600 under graduates.
    His work with the students furnished him the insight to create his Internet based business CollegeHelpers.com and most recently HighSchool Helpers.com. These sites were developed to help colleges manage their part time off campus job postings for students to find part-time work while they attend school. With a new, young family started and the ability to do his web based business from any where in the country, the Grants moved back to Houlton in 2005. He also does web design, web application programming and marketing.
    Grant and his wife, Renee, have three children, Connor, 12, Ben, 9, and Ellie, 6, and they reside in the Grant family homestead in Houlton.
    His hobbies include music, gardening, hiking and reading and this author can also tell you cooking, as he sells his famous salsa called “Fred’s Revenge” at the local farmers’ market – great stuff!
    Grant did not sit on his laurels very long because in five short years since his return he is past president of the Houlton Rotary Club, current co-chair of the Houlton Community Arts Center, a town councilor from 2009–2010 and currently is on the SAD 29 school board. In addition to his public volunteerism, he enjoys himself as a member of the McGill’s Community Band and the Houlton Community Chorus.
    When asked why he became a director of SADC he stated, “SADC is dedicated to helping businesses thrive in the Southern Aroostook area. Business creation and the ongoing success of the businesses in our area are vital to the survival and growth of our area. Supporting SADC not only makes good business sense, but it also enhances the lives of the people living in the Southern Aroostook area.”
    SADC continues to push forward with its mission to attract and guide new business to Southern Aroostook for the betterment of our area.  SADC is a private/public-funded partnership and if interested in contributing to our efforts or attending one of our board meetings as a guest, please contact the office at 521-0157.