Samuel Collins

President
S.W. Collins Co.

Laureate 2019

Sam Collins has led the S.W. Collins Company as President for more than three decades. As President, he has expanded the company from one location to five building material hardware stores, a kitchen and bath design center, and a millwork shop. S.W. Collins Companys footprint has expanded from Fort Kent to Lincoln in Penobscot County. He is also a partner in multiple real estate development companies.

Collins has taken an active leadership role in education, his community, and the lumber and building materials industry. He served as a Trustee of Husson University in the 1990s, as chair of the Caribou School Board in the late 90s, and most recently as a co-chair of the Regional School Committee for school consolidation, which resulted in a successful union of three school units. In 2009 the Caribou School system recognized Sam for his significant contributions to the betterment of Caribou Schools. In March of 2010, Collins was appointed to the University of Maine Board of Trustees and served four years as Chairman. During his chairmanship, the University began to realize the potential of One University resulting in the consolidation of business processes, and leading to 80 million in yearly reduced expenses.

In his community, Collins has volunteered as chair of the United Way of Aroostook Campaign, as President of Leaders Encouraging Aroostook Development, and as President of the Caribou Rotary Club. Collins serves on the board of directors of MMG Insurance Company and of Aroostook Federal Savings and Loan Association. Rotary International recognizes Collins as a Paul Harris Fellow, an award for community service given.

Equally involved in and passionate about the lumber industry, Collins has served as chair of both the Retail Lumber Dealers Association of Maine and the Northeast Retail Lumber Dealers Association in New York. He is a past chairman of Enap and currently serves on the board of directors of LBM Advantage, a two billion dollar building material cooperative buying group that serves dealers in the US. In 1992, the industry recognized Collins as the Maine Lumber Dealer of the Year.

An avid skier and biker himself, Collins is an advocate of an active lifestyle accessible to all. He was instrumental in the construction of the Caribou Ski Building, the Caribou High School tennis courts, and the continued existence of the Big Rock Ski Mountain in Mars Hill. Collins has also coached in the Aroostook Youth Basketball League and the Caribou Recreation soccer program.

A resident of Caribou and a graduate of Caribou High School, Collins earned a B.A. in economics and minored in government at St. Lawrence University in Canton, NY. He and his wife, Lise, have four daughters: Tess, Catherine, Laura and Clara.