Staff

Kristina Cannon, President & CEO

As the president and CEO of Main Street Skowhegan (MSS), Kristina Cannon is the central coordinator of the organization’s strategic projects. She spends much of her time managing and fundraising for the Skowhegan River Park—an economic and community development initiative to construct a river park for paddling, surfing, and tubing in Skowhegan’s industrial downtown river gorge that will feature a major trail network and riverfront promenade. Since Kristina started at MSS in 2015, she and her team have raised more than $8 million for the river park, with total fundraising for all Skowhegan revitalization initiatives exceeding $10.3 million.

Under her leadership, MSS is spearheading a comprehensive approach to community transformation through outdoor recreation by weaving together infrastructure development, programming & gear, mentorship and third spaces for youth, and career pathways. The organization also provides business planning support and programming as part of a regional hub-and-spoke entrepreneurial ecosystem partnership. Main Street Skowhegan’s future commercial kitchen incubator will cultivate local food startups and grow the region’s vibrant food economy.

Main Street Skowhegan was recently awarded $484,500 from the Maine Office of Tourism to develop a destination development plan and brand strategy for the region, and in December 2023, a regional coalition led by MSS, secured an Economic Development Administration Distressed Area Recompete Pilot Program Phase 1 Strategy Development Grant of $425,000 to create and connect people to good jobs. In addition, the coalition was invited as one of 22 national finalists—out of more than 500 applicants—to apply for up to $50 million in Phase 2 Implementation funding in the spring of 2024.

Kristina was recognized at the White House in December 2024 as one of 14 Rural Innovators, an honor celebrating rural leaders who are taking action and ensuring their communities thrive for generations to come. She was also named a 2024 Mainebiz Woman to Watch, the 2023 Maine Outdoor Industry Leader of the Year, the Mid-Maine Chamber 2020 Outstanding Professional, and was a 2019 Mainebiz Next List honoree, recognizing dynamic individuals who are changing Maine's economy and making a significant impact in their industry. Under her leadership, MSS was awarded, by the Maine Office of Tourism, the 2019 Governor’s Conference on Tourism Award for Marketing & Promotion for the organization’s work to promote the town and region during the 2018 Skowhegan Moose Festival.

A Maine Network Partners Fellow, Kristina values collaboration and serves on several boards and committees, including Maine Outdoor Brands Membership Committee, the Redington-Fairview General Hospital Board, the Town of Skowhegan's Village Partnership Committee, and the Kennebec Valley Tourism Council as Marketing Committee Chair. Kristina is also a Skowhegan Savings Bank Corporator, and a member of the steering committee for Maine's 10-Year Outdoor Recreation Economy Roadmap initiative. In 2025, Kristina will join the Lincoln Vibrant Communities Fellows Program, a national program that helps leaders and teams building thriving communities that are defined by trust and civic engagement, and focused on positive change.

Kristina has 17 years of experience in the marketing communications field, having worked at a Boston advertising agency and in the communications office at Colby College. Kristina graduated magna cum laude from Emerson College with a bachelor’s in integrated marketing communications and earned a master’s in marketing from Southern New Hampshire University.

A native Mainer, Kristina lives just a mile from her childhood home with her husband, John, and several fur babies. She loves to travel and relishes adventures in the Maine woods while whitewater paddle boarding, mountain biking, skiing, backpacking, camping, and fishing.

Patric Moore, Director of Entrepreneurship

As Director of Entrepreneurship of Main Street Skowhegan, Patric Moore leads our entrepreneurship ecosystem work, which includes but is not limited to, managing the nearly ready-to-launch Skowhegan Center for Entrepreneurship, working on real estate redevelopment projects, and assisting local business owners and entrepreneurs start and grow within Skowhegan.

Patric is an Air Force Veteran where he worked for the last ten years as a Cryptologic Language Analyst in the US Intelligence Community and more recently as the Active-Duty Air Force Recruiter for Central Maine. He is currently enrolled at Southern New Hampshire University for a bachelor’s in Business Administration and has further plans of attending the University of Southern Maine to earn a Master’s in Policy, Planning, and Management. Originally from Pennsylvania, Patric has come to love Maine through his time spent recruiting and now calls it his home.

In his time off, Patric enjoys traveling across Maine, experiencing the state through the Maine Ale Trail. He also spends most of his time with his dog, Barkley.

Amber Albe, Director of Outdoor Recreation

Amber has called Maine home for more than five years, though she originally grew up in Connecticut, where she studied at Eastern Connecticut State University. Before moving north, she spent much of her early career at the YMCA working in both Aquatics and Marketing. In 2019, instead of walking at her college graduation, she set out to thru-hike the Appalachian Trail—a choice that ignited her passion for outdoor recreation. By 2020 she was in Maine, completing a whitewater guide course in The Forks and diving deeper into the state’s outdoor culture.

Since then, Amber has pursued a wide range of outdoor experiences. She earned her Maine Recreational Guide license, became a Wilderness First Responder, trained in ACA Swiftwater Rescue, and guided trips throughout the state. Winters often find her working in the ski industry. In addition to outdoor leadership, she brings experience in digital marketing through her role as Digital Content Specialist at Wilderness Medical Associates International. She also channels her creativity into her own small business, Radical River Works, where she produces original artwork.

For Amber, joining Main Street Skowhegan and Skowhegan Outdoors is more than a career step—it’s a dream come true. She’s eager to help expand access to Maine’s woods and waters and to support the Skowhegan community in connecting with the outdoors.

Heidi Burrows, Finance & Admin Assistant

Heidi Burrows brings to MSS many years of finance experience from a wide range of industries including youth camping, real estate, and municipal as well as the entrepreneurial spirit of starting and owning several small businesses including property management and even a petting zoo.

Born and raised in Connecticut, she found her way home to Maine in 2010 after living and working in Vermont in the Mount Snow region for more than 15 years and then in Pennsylvania in the Poconos near the Delaware Water Gap. She resides in Madison with her husband Jonathan and a menagerie of animals. Now part of the empty nest club, Heidi and Jonathan have three grown children who have all settled in Maine. Heidi is an avid homesteader, and when she isn’t in the office crunching numbers she can be found in her garden foraging herbs and plants for homemade salves, making jam in her kitchen, or enjoying the great outdoors of Maine.

Shamus Alley, Marketing Manager

Shamus brings a diverse creative background to Main Street Skowhegan, with experience in graphic design, web design, video production, and creative direction. Over the years, he’s worked in Maine, New York City, and Los Angeles, honing his skills across industries and creative disciplines. Now rooted in Kingfield, Maine, Shamus is passionate about telling the stories of local communities and helping showcase all that they have to offer.

When he’s not working, you’ll find Shamus skiing, hiking, or seeking out new restaurants. He and his partner, Naomi, love exploring Maine’s hidden gems and unique sites—discovering what makes the state such a special place to live, work, and play.

Matt Kay, Outdoor Recreation Facilitator - Team Leader

Matt Kay grew up in Skowhegan, Maine, and later attended the University of Maine, earning a bachelor’s degree in Kinesiology & Physical Education along with a minor in Outdoor Education. For the past five years, he has built his career as a personal trainer and recently launched his own training business. An avid outdoor enthusiast, Matt enjoys downhill and cross-country skiing, hiking, mountain biking, trail running, and a variety of water sports like kayaking, canoeing, and paddle boarding. He also loves spending time outdoors with his dogs.

Riley Mercier, Events Coordinator - Team Leader

A proud Skowhegan native, Riley has always carried her Maine roots with her—whether here at home or during her six years of service in the United States Air Force. Though she’s explored much of the country, she's always felt drawn to Maine’s people, culture, and natural beauty.

Now, as Events Coordinator for Main Street Skowhegan, Riley is thrilled to be giving back to the community that shaped her. She’s passionate about creating events that bring people together, celebrate local traditions, and highlight the unique character of Skowhegan. For Riley, this work is more than a job—it’s a personal mission to help her hometown thrive and to ensure others feel the same sense of pride and belonging that she does.

Madeline Linhart, Outdoor Recreation Facilitator—Marketing Coordinator

Grace Kiernan, Outdoor Education Coordinator

Grace grew up surrounded by Maine’s forests and rivers, and that environment has shaped nearly every part of her life. A graduate of the Somerset Career and Technical Center (SCTC), she has built a strong foundation in outdoor leadership and holds certifications as a Maine Recreational Guide, Whitewater Raft Guide, and Wilderness First Aid. Her enthusiasm for paddling and exploring the outdoors has only grown since the day she first experienced whitewater rafting — a moment she credits with setting her career path in motion.

Her connection with Skowhegan Outdoors began when she joined their summer whitewater kayaking program. What started as a fun introduction quickly turned into long-term involvement, first as a participant and later as part of the staff team. Through SCTC’s Outdoor Leadership program, she strengthened her guiding skills, competed at the state level in SkillsUSA, and earned a gold medal in the Outdoor Leadership competition.

Lily Hoover, Gear Library Coordinator

Aiden Belanger, Outdoor Industry Partnership Coordinator

Laura Holden, Outdoor Operations & Pathways Lead

Born and raised in Maine, I have spent my life exploring the state’s rivers, trails, and outdoor spaces. I earned my degree from Thomas College in 2025 and became a licensed Maine Registered Whitewater Guide in 2023. My guiding experience includes leading whitewater trips in both Maine and Colorado, giving me a broad perspective on river systems and outdoor recreation across regions.

When I’m not guiding, you’ll usually find me outside—whether canoeing quiet waters, fishing, skiing, hiking, or planning the next adventure. I’m driven by a love of the outdoors and a desire to help others experience new places, build confidence, and create lasting connections through outdoor adventure.