By Jon McLaughlin
Editor’s Note: The following is the 10th in a series of articles in which we will be featuring the board members that make up SADC and who are so crucial to its success.
Last year the Southern Aroostook Development Corporation (SADC) Board of Directors determined that it was time to add some new, younger and dynamic thinkers to its board, replacing some that had resigned and filling other slots that remained available, but unfilled. With this in mind, one of these new members was Joshua McLaughlin.
Josh is the son of Jon and Susan McLaughlin of Houlton. After graduating from Houlton High School, he attended the University of Maine at Orono, graduating with a Bachelor of Science in Construction Management and a Minor in Business Administration.
Josh McLaughlin
His desire to obtain his degree in construction management was fueled by his high school years learning the trades from Jerry London and Gerald Dickison at Dickison & London Earth Contractors of Houlton. Shortly after graduating from Orono, his desire for learning more about earthwork and heavy civil work was further developed as Lead Foreman on several wind mill projects for Sargent Corporation of Stillwater, Maine. Working on these various wind projects throughout the state, including Mars Hill, Stetson I and II near Danforth (one of the largest operational utility-scale wind farms in New England), and Rollins near Lincoln, all helped hone his expertise in environmental earthwork, layout capabilities and managing personnel in a fast paced environment.
After several years of working out of town and being away from his family, Josh had the opportunity, in May of 2012, to purchase a well respected, local earthwork and construction company and formed J. McLaughlin Construction, LLC in Houlton. Josh currently serves as president of J. McLaughlin Construction, which specializes in residential and commercial earthwork and heavy civil work.
Josh resides in Houlton with his wife, Sarah, and his son, Dawson, 14, and daughters, Sidda 4 and Saylor, 2.
Josh believes in giving back to the community as he serves on the board of directors and was recently appointed as vice president for the Southern Aroostook Development Corporations (SADC). In addition to his roles with SADC, he is also a member of the Greater Houlton Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors.
His hobbies include snowmobiling and woodworking.
When asked why he became a director of SADC he stated, “I strongly believe in Houlton and the surrounding communities. I enjoyed growing up here and want my family to grow up here. Many local business people helped to mentor and guide me over the years, showing me opportunities and I want to be part of that same process and I felt SADC was an organization that believes in the community and all it has to offer as much as I do.”
