Kristina Cannon, President & CEO
Kristina Cannon is the president and CEO of Main Street Skowhegan (MSS), a nationally accredited Main Street America organization leading innovative approaches to rural economic and community development in central Maine. Since taking the helm in 2015, Kristina has transformed MSS into a multifaceted community development organization, leveraging more than $15 million in funding to advance community revitalization, outdoor recreation, entrepreneurship, workforce development, and regional economic growth.
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Under her leadership, MSS is spearheading the Skowhegan River Park, an ambitious initiative to transform the town's industrial river gorge into a world-class outdoor recreation destination featuring an adjustable whitewater wave for paddling and surfing, a riverfront boardwalk, and an interconnected trail network. The project anchors a broader strategy to build an inclusive outdoor recreation economy through infrastructure investment, free outdoor programming and equipment access, youth engagement, and career pathways. This work includes Skowhegan Outdoors, an AmeriCorps-powered program connecting thousands of residents and visitors to outdoor experiences, and CANOE, an innovative workforce development initiative creating pathways to education and careers in the outdoor recreation industry.
Kristina plays a leading role in advancing central Maine’s entrepreneurial ecosystem through regional collaboration with the Central Maine Growth Council and other partners. As part of this work, MSS leads Skowhegan Entrepreneurship, offering business development programming and resources to support local entrepreneurs and small businesses. The organization is also developing the Kitchen at 185, a commercial kitchen incubator designed to help food entrepreneurs launch and grow businesses while strengthening the region’s food economy.
Recognizing the importance of regional collaboration, she helped secure nearly $500,000 from the Maine Office of Tourism to launch The Kennebec River District, a regional destination development initiative connecting Skowhegan, Waterville, Fairfield. She also led a regional coalition that secured a $425,000 Economic Development Administration Recompete Pilot Program strategy development grant to address persistent economic challenges.
Building on this experience, Kristina is exploring the development of the Rural Prosperity Maine, a concept aimed at elevating the work of rural Maine practitioners, fostering collaboration, and connecting communities with the resources and investment needed to advance locally driven projects. The effort reflects her broader interest in finding innovative ways to strengthen rural capacity, showcase community-led solutions, and unlock opportunities for rural economic growth.
Kristina was recognized by the White House in December 2024 as one of 14 Rural Innovators nationwide, honoring leaders advancing transformative solutions in rural America. She was also named a 2024 Mainebiz Woman to Watch, the 2023 Maine Outdoor Industry Leader of the Year, the Mid-Maine Chamber's 2020 Outstanding Professional, and a 2019 Mainebiz Next List honoree.
A respected voice in rural economic development, Kristina has shared her experience and insights at national conferences and convenings, including events hosted by the International Economic Development Council, Harvard Kennedy School, and Massachusetts Institute of Technology. She was elected to the Board of Directors of the International Economic Development Council (IEDC) in October 2026, with her term beginning in January 2027. She also serves on several boards and advisory committees supporting community development, tourism, healthcare, and the outdoor recreation economy.
Before joining Main Street Skowhegan, Kristina worked in marketing and communications at a Boston advertising agency and in the Communications Office at Colby College. She graduated magna cum laude from Emerson College with a bachelor's degree in integrated marketing communications and earned a master's degree in marketing from Southern New Hampshire University.
A native Mainer and passionate outdoor enthusiast, Kristina loves to travel and explore the outdoors through whitewater paddleboarding, mountain biking, skiing, backpacking, camping, and fishing.
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.
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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.
Danielle Scarmazzo, Director of Business Engagement & Workforce Pathways
Born and raised in Portland, Maine, Danielle grew up seeing firsthand how local businesses shape the identity, culture, and connections that make a place feel like home. After graduating from the University of Rhode Island, Danielle spent several years in Metro Atlanta before finding her way back to Maine with a renewed appreciation for the communities that invest in one another.
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The pandemic reinforced what she had always believed: strong communities don't happen by chance - they're built by people who show up for one another. That belief inspired her to found Next Landing, a job board dedicated to connecting small businesses with local talent. Danielle is passionate about helping entrepreneurs grow while creating opportunities for people to build meaningful careers close to home. She believes that when local businesses succeed, entire communities flourish.
Central Maine has always held a special place in Danielle's heart. She spent many weekends growing up on Indian Pond in Saint Albans and is excited to be putting down roots back in her home state. Outside of work, she's usually wandering one of Maine's many antique shops or helping her husband restore their 1820s farmhouse. She believes that preserving the character of a place isn't just about old buildings - it's about investing in the people, businesses, and traditions that make a community feel like home.
Kate Dionne, Director of Finance & Administration
Kate is a lifelong Mainer who grew up in the western mountains of Maine before she and her husband, Camden, built their home on Lake Wesserunsett in Madison in 2024. Together, they have two children and love spontaneous family adventures, especially the kind where they aren’t quite sure where they’ll end up.
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Kate’s career began at just 15 years old, working at her parents’ hardware and lumber store, where she developed an early appreciation for small businesses and the people and community behind them. From there, she built her career in finance and accounting, serving in payroll management and senior accounting roles for a large Maine retailer and later a Maine lumber manufacturer before joining Main Street Skowhegan as the Director of Finance and Administration.
But numbers are only one side of Kate’s story. She is also the former owner of 207 Events & Rentals, an event rental and coordination company she operated before selling the business in August 2025. Through the business, Kate worked closely with couples, families, and event organizers to bring weddings and special events to life. That experience strengthened her love for events, bringing people together, and seeing all the behind-the-scenes pieces come together to create something memorable.
That combination is part of what makes her role at Main Street Skowhegan such a natural fit. Kate loves seeing the MSS team come together for each event and initiative, working collaboratively to create experiences that bring people into the community and give them a reason to enjoy all that Skowhegan has to offer.
Kate thrives on a challenge and is happiest when she can turn a complicated problem into an organized process (and, preferably, a really good spreadsheet). She is numbers-driven and enjoys creating systems, reports, and tools that help an organization better understand its finances and make informed decisions.
For Kate, Main Street Skowhegan brings together two things she genuinely loves - the structure and strategy of finance and the energy and connection of community events. Being able to support the organization behind the scenes financially while also being part of the work happening out in the community is exactly where she wants to be.
Anna Reusink, Development Coordinator
Anna Reusink completed her Master's degree in Urban and Regional Planning. On a whim, she relocated to Maine to gain hands-on experience and endure the mythic Maine winter. She is thrilled to be part of Main Street Skowhegan during this innovative and exciting time. A self-described nerd, she is fascinated by the ways places are designed and built. In her free time, she enjoys comedy, painting, and the occasional misadventure.
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.
Outdoor Recreation Facilitators
Matt Kay, Outdoor Programs Lead
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.
Madeline Linhart, Communications Lead
Madeline Linhart is happy to be a part of the new Skowhegan Outdoors AmeriCorps crew! She's moved around a lot the last few years, but her most recent home has been New Hampshire. She just finished a half term AmeriCorps program with the Lakes Region Conservation Corps of New Hampshire and is looking forward to a new adventure in Maine. Her favorite outdoor activities include hiking, camping, kayaking, fly fishing, and hunting.
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, Outdoor Recreation Facilitator
Hello, I’m Lily! Growing up in Maine gave me a deep love for the outdoors, whether it’s hiking forest trails, sailing, spotting birds, tending a garden, paddling, camping, or casting a fishing line. At Basecamp, I’m often behind the scenes—keeping the Skowhegan Outdoors gear organized, clean, and ready for adventure. I also enjoy joining group hikes and camping outings, where I get to help others discover the joy of spending time in nature.
Aiden Belanger, Outdoor Industry Partnership Coordinator
My name is Aiden Belanger, I am a born and raised Mainer who grew up right around Skowhegan in Cornville. Growing up in the Maine woods has given me a deep appreciation for all things outdoors. My favorite outdoor activities include hiking, backpacking, alpine skiing, and canoeing.
I am excited to make the outdoors more accessible to all in this community.
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.
