Board of Directors
The board of directors has historically included members from Growth Council founders – the City of Sanford and the Industrial Development Corporation. In 2021, the two founders expanded board representation from seven to eleven and included a small and a large business employer. Other new directors were added from these five sectors: building development, business support, finance and banking, housing development, and workforce development/higher education
Will Armitage, Board Chair, & President of Southern Maine Finance Agency. Will joined the Growth Council Board in Fall 2021, representing Business Support Services. Will earned a BA in Economics & Management, and an MA in Public Policy & Management from USM. He also holds an Economic Development Finance Professional Certification. He has held various positions in commercial banking, has served as an instructor, and given lectures in both academic and business settings. Will is a graduate of the Leadership Maine Program and a recipient of the Finance Authority of Maine Dirigo Award. In his current position as president, he is responsible for the overall management/administration and operation of the SMFA and its staff.
Diane Small, Board Secretary, & Executive Director of Sanford Housing Authority. Diane joined the Growth Council Board in Fall 2021 representing Housing Development. Diane has spent most of her working life centered around helping people find housing opportunities. She was the Director of the General Assistance Office at Sanford Town Hall for six years and was the Chief Operations Officer at York County Shelter Programs for nine years.
Mike Ralston, Treasurer. Along with serving as a Growth Council Officer, Mike is also currently a board member of the Industrial Development Corporation of Sanford. After retiring as Production Superintendent from the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard, Mike was elected as Treasurer for the Town of Sanford. Moreover, he took on responsibilities as the town’s economic developer. In that project management role, Mike led the effort to develop the Anderson Learning Center in Springvale. Previously, he served as YMCA Executive Director and a Goodall Hospital board member. In addition, as project manager for a non-profit initiative, Mike helped restore the Little Theatre in Springvale.
Steve Buck, Sanford City Manager. Steve became Town Manager of Sanford in August 2012, joining the board at that time. Moreover, when Sanford’s status changed, he became its first City Manager on January 1, 2013. Previously, Steve served as City Manager in Caribou for eleven years. Prior to being employed as a city manager, Steve was self-employed in a multi-generational agriculture operation and founded a marketing, warehousing, and east coast distribution corporation for agricultural products. Steve earned a BS in Agricultural Engineering from the University of Maine. In addition, he has completed work toward a Master’s degree in Public Management.
Jim Chadbourne, Executive Vice President, Rubb Building Systems. Jim recently joined the Growth Council Board in September of 2023 representing Large Business/Manufacturers. A Sanford native, Jim graduated from Sanford High School in 1978 and the University of New Hampshire with a BA in English/Journalism in 1983. He spent the first 20 years of his working career in various manufacturing and sales roles at Hussey Seating Company in North Berwick. Following this, Jim joined Rubb Building Systems and has managed the company’s sales organization since 2003. Jim resides in Wells where he is a Call Firefighter and EMT. He is also a Director of Special Surfers, a local non-profit organization sharing the empowering experience of surfing with children and young adults with special needs.
Caitlin Grant, Director of Economic and Workforce Development, York County Community College. Caitlin joined the Growth Council Board in the Fall of 2021 representing Higher Education/Workforce Development. Cait holds a BA in English Education and a MA in Teaching English Education from the University of New Hampshire. Cait has served as a Regional Access Director for Maine Community College System’s Embark Program, and also as a Lead Navigator Developer. She now uses her expertise in Economic and Workforce Development for York County Community College. Go Hawks!
Ayn Hanselmann, CPA, Troiano & Hanselmann. Ayn is currently serving her second term as City Councilor for the City of Sanford and is active on the Economic Growth and Public Safety Subcommittees, among others. She is a proud Sanford High School Alumna and a graduate of the University of Maine. Ayn brings 25 years of small business consulting experience, as a Certified Public Accountant, to the Growth Council Board and represents Sanford on the Southern Maine Finance Agency Board. Her passion for Sanford runs deep in her bloodline. Her grandfather spent his career as Sanford’s City Clerk and her great uncle was one of the founding members of the Sanford Chamber of Commerce. Ayn also currently serves the city as an involved volunteer in several non-profit organizations, including the Sanford Backpack Program and Friends of Downtown Sanford.
Bob Hardison, President, Industrial Development Corp. Bob was the Growth Council’s founding Chairman in 2009. His commitment to Sanford is evidenced by his active membership in many community and civic organizations. Along with being a Growth Council Officer, Bob is currently President of the Industrial Development Corporation (IDC) of Sanford, and a member of the Sanford~Springvale Rotary. Previously, he was Board Chairman of the Cancer Care Center of York County for fourteen years. Similarly, Bob served and chaired the Sanford Planning Board for twenty years. Moreover, he is a past Chairman of the Sanford Mainers, Chairman of the Board of the Sanford~Springvale Chamber of Commerce, the York County Community College Foundation, and Goodall Hospital Board of Trustees. Prior to his retirement, Bob was president and owner of Atlantic Pump & Engineering, Inc. in Sanford. He graduated from the University of Maine with a BS degree in Civil Engineering. Bob is a native of Caribou, Maine. After being a Sanford resident for twenty-five years, he now resides in Wells, Maine.
Rob Reinken, President, Reincorp. Robert Reinken established Reinken Homes, Inc. in 1986 as a real estate development company. Over the next 30 years, Reinken Homes, Inc. grew from its residential roots to a full-service development firm specializing in land acquisitions, residential and commercial development, design-build construction, construction management, and property management. In 2015, Reinken Homes, Inc. was rebranded as ReinCorp and three divisions were established to distinguish its selection of services, ReinCorp Development, ReinCorp Construction, & ReinCorp Property Management. Rob joined the Growth Council in 2016. When the board reorganized and expanded during 2020-21, Rob was a perfect fit for the Building Development Sector. Rob continues to develop and manage commercial and residential properties here, in his hometown of Sanford and Springvale.
Jennifer Roberts, Warren’s Office Supplies. Jennifer joined the Growth Council Board in the Fall of 2023 as a representative for small businesses. Jen has been employed at family-owned and operated Warren’s Office Supplies for 15 years. Although her primary role is marketing, she pivots to many other roles as the needs of small businesses change. Jennifer also serves as the Assistant Treasurer of the Sanford Sewerage District and is a lifelong resident of Sanford/Springvale.
John Tanguay, Vice President Commercial Banking, Partners Bank. John is a born and raised Sanford native. After a brief move to Washington DC, John returned to Sanford to raise his family and still currently resides here. He has been in the banking industry for 24 years and is currently a Commercial Loan Officer at Partners Bank. He joined the Growth Council Board in September of 2023 representing the Business Financing and Banking sector.