Gregg Collins: Champion of Community and Aroostook County’s Future

The new chair of the MaineCF Board of Directors reflects on his connections to the foundation and the place he calls home.

MaineCF: The Collins family has been involved with the Aroostook County Fund and the Maine Community Foundation since almost day one. When did you first become aware of the foundation?

Gregg Collins: My father Don always had a strong desire to serve his community, so it was no surprise when he and other local leaders provided seed money to establish the Aroostook County Fund in 1986. When I was first asked to join the Aroostook County Committee, I knew of the history and was drawn to the mission of helping others in the community where I lived and worked. My dad went on to serve on the MaineCF board, so I guess I’ve followed in his footsteps.

MaineCF: You were an advisor for the Aroostook County Fund from 2006 to 2014, serving as vice chair and then chair. Looking back, was there a particular grant that stood out?

Collins: When I first joined the Aroostook County Committee in 2006, I remember we struggled to meet funding requests with limited dollars. We often faced difficult decisions, especially when additional sources weren’t available, and our partial contribution wasn’t enough to make a difference. The Catholic Charities Food Bank, Maine Winter Sports Center, and Homeless Services of Aroostook are some of the memorable grant requests that were funded when I served on the committee.

Fast forward to today: With increased contributions to MaineCF’s county funds and the outstanding returns provided by our investment committee we are often able to fully fund requests. The strategy in recent years to fully fund fewer requests instead of a partial funding approach has made a significant difference.

MaineCF: What do you hope will come out of MaineCF’s new strategic planning process?

Collins: The new strategic plan will adopt best practices by identifying those areas the foundation does well and addressing those that might need to change while recognizing our culture and values as Maine’s community foundation. It’s extremely important that we continue to be in contact with our donors while supporting Mainers in this very diverse state. The needs of Aroostook and Washington counties can look significantly different than those of Cumberland or York. As our mission states, we work to improve the quality of life for all Maine people.

MaineCF: You took part in a MaineCF’s Leadership Learning Exchange for Equity. What was a takeaway from that experience?

Collins: The Leadership Learning Exchange provided me an opportunity to connect with other Maine leaders to discuss racial justice and equity issues. The experience gave me a greater knowledge of the historical barriers that have existed for BIPOC people. As employers struggle to find enough workers, we need to be more welcoming to new Mainers and eliminate obstacles that may exist.

MaineCF: You are an advisor to the Presque Isle High School Regional Trades Program. What is your role?

Collins: Working with the director of the PIHS regional career and technical center along with other advisors, I help review curriculum for the Building Trades Program, which provides students knowledge, skills, and hands-on experience in carpentry, masonry, and cabinetmaking. Recently I judged the statewide cabinet-making competition. The amount of talent from the young men and women who competed was truly impressive. Programs like this and similar ones offered by community colleges are critical to provide skills and education to build the workforce of the future in this important trade.

MaineCF: You also are an advisor to the Bicycle Coalition of Maine. Do you ride?

Collins: The Bicycle Coalition of Maine does a great job with promoting cycling events, providing safety education, and advocating for safer routes for both cyclists and pedestrians. I have been a big fan of their Bike Maine event, which draws people from all over the country to Maine each year for an eight-day cycling tour.

I took up the sport in my early 30s and became interested in cycling after a friend of mine loaned me a road bike so I could compete in a local race. I was hooked. Cycling offers me the opportunity to explore scenic roads and meet some wonderful people who have a similar passion for the sport. I consider myself lucky to live in Aroostook County where the secondary roads have low vehicle traffic, and the majority of motorists are respectful of cyclists. At our retail store in Caribou, S.W. Collins sponsors a weekly ride that is available for all abilities. It’s a way to help build community.

As vice president and treasurer of the S.W. Collins Company, D. Gregg Collins is part of the fifth generation to run the family-owned lumber, hardware, and building material business, established in 1844. Collins is a past chair of the Cary Medical Center Hospital Board, Northern Maine Community College Foundation, and the Caribou Planning Board. He joined MaineCF’s Aroostook County Committee in 2006 and was chair from 2012-2014. Collins holds a B.S. in business administration, with a concentration in finance, from the University of Maine. He and his wife Lori live in Caribou.

Photo: Board Chair Gregg Collins on a visit to Catholic Charities of Maine’s Farm for ME in Caribou. Launched in spring 2013 with support from MaineCF’s Aroostook County Fund, the program is designed to increase local access to nutritious vegetables, reduce food insecurity, and improve food sustainability in northern Maine. Photo Becky Shea, Sha~Lam Photography