Get to Know Our Information Center Volunteers

Get to Know Our Information Center Volunteers

Visit Portland’s Visitor Information Centers are hubs for travelers searching for local tours, restaurants, and attractions. They are well stocked with brochures, Visitor’s Guides, maps of the region, and plenty of pro-tips to help make the most of your stay in Greater Portland.

GREATER PORTLAND AMBASSADOR NETWORK

We cannot do what we do without our dedicated volunteers. They highlight partners and recommend local businesses to visitors in the region. They are the first point of contact for many travelers visiting the region. Now is your chance to get to know them a little better.

Ocean Gateway, Photo Credits: Serena Folding

GET TO KNOW OUR VOLUNTEERS

LEROY AND CLAIRE

  • What did you do before volunteering?
    Claire: I started in dental offices as a chairside dental assistant, I took a break when my children were born, then in 1982 I got a full-time job in Westbrook and worked there until I retired in 2006.
    Leroy: I started teaching history at Lincoln Junior High School in Portland, but was most of the time at Deering High School. I taught for a total of 37 years and before I retired.
  • What is your favorite place in the Greater Portland? Why?
    Leroy: I like the Old Port, the fact that there’s always something happening down here. It’s almost like, in some ways, Portland’s kinda like the center of the world, because there are people from all over.

JERRY

  • What did you do before volunteering? I moved here in 1971 with my own business. I was a member of the Chamber of Commerce for over 30 years, I’ve also been with Maine Narrow Gauge for over 20 years, and I’m on the board.
  • If a visitor only had time to do one thing, what would you recommend? Take Portland Discovery’s cruise. Cruise on a boat or cruise on a trolley. That’s how you’ll learn a lot.
  • What is your favorite place in Greater Portland? Why? My favorite place…I’d say DiMillo’s, because the view and the food. I love the water. Any time I can be on the water, I’m a happy camper.

PRUDENCE

  • How did you come to volunteer? What is your favorite part about it?
    I knew wanted to volunteer. I’m excited about the area, so it’s not hard for me to come up with activities for people to do, or why they would want to do them, because there’s just a lot here.
  • What is your history with the Portland area? I moved back here 10 years ago, I’m from Maine originally. Around the time my husband and I were thinking of retiring, we looked at places all over the country, but we decided to come to Portland.
  • Why do you love Portland? The area is gorgeous, and it’s easy to experience the beauty of the place. You don’t have to struggle sitting in traffic for three hours to see some water. I can walk to it. You can walk to Munjoy Hill and you can see it. 

STEVE

  • What is your history with the Portland area? My wife and I moved here in 1991. We moved here for her job. First at New England Rehab Hospital as an occupational therapist, and then at the University of New England as a professor. Before we moved here, I was a firefighter out of Colorado.
  • What is your favorite place in Greater Portland? Why? I would have to say probably Evergreen Cemetery and the surrounding area. We have two dogs, and we go there a lot with the dogs to walk, but there’s also 100 acres of woods around it to walk as well.
  • What is the most surprising thing about Portland? What really surprised me is amount of open space. I think a lot of that is due to Portland Trails and efforts made in the area, but it’s also the city. People who manage the city have paid a lot of attention to keeping open space and maintaining it. 

SUE A.

Sue A., Photo Credits: Serena Folding
  • What is your favorite place in the Greater Portland area, and why?
    I can’t just pick one. I love lighthouses and water views, but also the culture enriched in Portland. With the culture, you also get the Portland Museum of Art which I love.
  • What is the most surprising thing about Greater Portland?
    How beautiful it is. Coming here 22 years ago, I couldn’t believe my eyes, so many trees and colors. Every year after that, the colors still never disappoint.
  • What is your favorite thing to do in Greater Portland? Why?
    I love going to Congress Squared Concerts, galleries, theaters, and craft fairs. Anything that involved culture.

DEB

  • What is your history with the Greater Portland area?
    I moved out here 23 years ago from Boston to live my life. It started to become too high tech.
  • What is your favorite place in the Greater Portland area, and why?
    Eastern Trail in Scarborough. I love to walk from Black Point to Pine Point all along the marsh.
  • What is your favorite thing to do in Greater Portland? Why?
    I love anything cultural. It could be going to the Portland State Theatre, Merrill Auditorium, or just gallery hopping.
Deb A, Photo Credits: Serena Folding

CAROL

Carol, Photo Credits: Serena Folding
  • What is your history with the Greater Portland area?
    I am native Mainer. I grew up on Peaks for 11-12 years. Other than that, I have have spent my whole life here. There has never been a need to move, I planted my down roots here with going to high school and college, getting marriage, having children, ect.
  • Do you volunteer at other locations? If yes, where?
    Prior to Covid, I volunteered at Barbara Bush Children’s Hospital for a year and a half rocking babies in the NICU. It was such an amazing experience to have, they would fall asleep right in my arms.
  • What is the most surprising thing about Greater Portland?
    After living here all my life, I’m surprised how much development has happened within the Old Port. It used to be such a small waterfront, and now it has transformed into something much larger.

STEPHANIE

  • How long have you volunteered at Visit Portland?
    I was part of the original staff working at the 245 Commercial Street location. I believe I started volunteering in 2006, and moved to a paid position in 2010.
  • What is your favorite place in the Greater Portland area, and why?
    This is really hard; I don’t know that I have a favorite place. I go out to lunch once a month with friends, and we like to try new local places each time. But I would say my top is Pine Point at low tide during good weather. It feels like you have endless beach to walk.
Stephanie, Photo Credits: Serena Folding

ELLEN

How long have you volunteered at Visit Portland?

I originally started working at the 245 Commercial Street location. So it must be at least 20 years.

Why do you like helping visitors?

I get to see people from all over, including different countries. I also speak French, so the visitors allow me to use it.

What is your favorite thing to do in Greater Portland? Why?

Just go out and explore. Anywhere. Anytime. Greater Portland is always changing so I always like exploring and seeing it.

FRED AND SHARON

What is your history with the Greater Portland area?

Fred: I have lived in Biddeford my entire life. Born, raised, grew up. I moved to Yarmouth for one year, and moved back to Biddeford right after. Still there today.

Sharon: unlike him, I moved here 40 years ago.

Do you volunteer at any other locations?

Fred: Yes, I was an engineer for the Maine Narrow Gauge Railway for 25 years. I still volunteer there, just no longer an engineer.

Sharon: I also volunteer at the Narrow gauge, as well as the Portland Stage, Biddeford Food Pantry, and Merrill Auditorium. Merrill is actually where we found out about Visit Portland’s volunteers

Interested in volunteering?

Call 207-772-5800 | Email info@visitportland.com

Monday to Saturday – 9am to 4pm
Sunday – 10am to 3pm