By Natalie Bazinet
Staff Writer
CARIBOU — Walt Elish has been as synonymous to Aroostook Partnership for Progress as Maine is to moose, but the president and CEO of the economy-enhancing organization is scheduled to bid Aroostook County adieu on Friday, Sept. 30 as he heads to Colorado to become president and CEO of Northern Colorado Economic Development Corporation.
Aside from his work at APP, Elish also serves as the executive administrator for LEAD (Leaders Encouraging Aroostook Development), a Presque Isle City Councilor, a member of the St. Mary’s Church Council and the Parish of the Precious Blood Finance Council. He also served on the executive committee of the Maine Municipal Association and the Board of Directors for the Economic Development Council of Maine.
According to Elish, the decision to take the position in Colorado came after much deliberation with his family.
“This was not an easy decision and not one we took lightly,” Elish said. “This has been home for the last 15 years.”
While Elish will still be working for APP until the end of next month, NMDC Executive Director Bob Clark said that they’ve already received many calls from applicants eager to become the next APP president and CEO.
The APP board has not had an opportunity to meet since notified of Elish’s resignation.
Clark intends to meet with the APP board after Labor Day to discuss how they’d like to proceed, and while Elish may be leaving, APP’s not going anywhere.
“The work of the partnership will continue,” Clark said, mentioning that NMDC staff will most likely be filling in to perform the daily work of APP until a replacement is found.
Elish didn’t have much advice for his successor, just a recommendation that they have “passion for The County.”
Elish’s passion for the county doesn’t seem to be waning any time soon, as there’s much here he admits he’ll miss, like driving around the Aroostook roads with his family, whether it’s on a motorcycle or a car.
“There are so many beautiful vistas in The County, and we’ll miss hiking at the Nordic Heritage Center,” he said, mentioning what a nice asset the center is for the community, whether for hiking, biking or skiing.
Aside from fond memories and stories, Elish takes with him experience gained by working for Aroostook County to help promote northern Colorado.
“One of the things we do quite well here is to coordinate resources and activities, and what they’re looking for is someone to come in and bring all the economic development agencies together and have everyone moving forward together in the same direction,” Elish said. “That’s precisely what we do here and what we’ve been successful in doing both through NMDC and APP.”
According to Elish, the mission of the Northern Colorado Economic Development Corporation is much like APP in that it aims to attract new jobs and businesses to Larimer County.
Elish moves to Colorado with his wife, Therese, his son, Paul, and his daughter, Anne.
