Page 17 - Spring 2026

Spotlight on Alumni
The Gateway Ambassadors
If there is one thing Houlton does not lack, it is
community pride.
Anyone from Houlton has, at one time or another,
found themselves in a conversation with someone
who remarks, “It’s just so far north…” or some other
less than flattering comment about our beloved town.
On cue, any true Shiretowner immediately shifts into
defense mode, passionately explaining the many
reasons why Houlton and Aroostook County are such
special places to live.
So, it should come as no surprise that Houlton has a
dedicated group of volunteers whose mission is to do
exactly that — welcome people to the community and
share everything that makes the region unique.
This edition of Spotlight on Alumni focuses on
volunteerism through the Gateway Ambassadors,
a community-driven organization committed
to promoting Southern Aroostook as a vibrant,
welcoming place to live, work, and visit.
I recently spoke with Chris Anderson ‘81, about how
the organization began and what it has come to mean
to the town of Houlton.
www.houltonalumni.com
By Richard Nickerson, ‘81
Biographer for the North Star Magazine
According to Anderson, the original steering
committee members were Jane Torres, Fred Grant ’88,
Hollie McAfee, and Nancy Ketch ‘82. Current leaders
in the organization include Kim Anderson York ’77,
Johanna Johnston, and Cecilia Rhoda.
The genesis of the Gateway Ambassadors grew out of
an “Attraction Committee,” an initiative that brought
together the Southern Aroostook Development
Corporation (SADC), the Town of Houlton, and the
Greater Houlton Chamber of Commerce. Their goal
was straightforward but ambitious: create a better
way to attract people to the region while changing the
narrative about rural northern Maine.
“The Gateway Ambassadors program was created to
positively promote the Greater Houlton area as a great
place to live and work,” Anderson explained. “Formed
as a group of energetic community members, the
Ambassadors go out and champion the area while
acting as a bridge to newcomers — helping connect
them with the resources and information needed to
fully enjoy what the region has to offer.”
From the beginning, the Ambassadors focused on
building stronger interactions and making newcomers
feel connected. Their efforts center around three
primary goals:
1. Welcoming Newcomers
2. Promoting Our Community
3. Connecting Resources
In 2018, organizers recognized that one of Houlton’s
greatest untapped resources was its alumni network.
To help support the initiative, the group reached out
to the Houlton High School Alumni organization — a
group already deeply rooted in community pride and
connection.
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