The Gorham Business Exchange (GBE) honors one Gorham business person annually who goes above and beyond for the Gorham community, serves as a mentor and leader, and leaves a lasting impression on all those he or she helps along the way.
“We are very excited to announce Dr. Rob Lavoie, owner of Chiropractic Clinic of Gorham, as the 2020 Business Person of the Year. Dr. Rob has made a positive impact by helping many patients recover quickly, being a past board member of the Gorham Business Exchange, and for the tremendous work he has done with the Gorham Conservation Commission. Dr. Rob truly cares about the Gorham community,” said GBE President Ethan Johnson.
Lavoie grew up in Aroostook County, close to the Canadian border in the small town of Frenchville. He aspired to be a chiropractor as early as high school, going so far as to list it as his future goal in the Wisdom High School yearbook. His undergraduate years were spent at the University of Maine before attending Palmer College of Chiropractic in Iowa.
He graduated in 2004 with a Doctorate of Chiropractic degree and returned to Maine to practice. After working with other chiropractors for a couple of years, Lavoie decided to open his own practice in Gorham. What he saw in Gorham initially continues to appeal to him and others alike…Gorham is a place that continues to grow but maintains a small-town feel with a strong sense of community. Lavoie knew this was a place he could call home.
He opened his doors in 2006 and began building his practice, first at The Old Richardson building on Lower Main Street and then on Elm Street. In 2010, Lavoie moved into the Gorham home he shares with his wife, Amanda, and their two children. In 2014, they purchased the historic Charlotte Millett house at 88 State Street. The refurbished 1890s Maine home is the current location of Lavoie’s practice, Chiropractic Clinic of Gorham.
Photo courtesy of Amanda LavoieRob and Amanda enjoy raising their family in Gorham. Their daughter Alexandra (5) and their son Louie (3) keep them busy, but Rob still finds time to stay very active in his community. He has served on numerous committees. He has acted as a member of the Gorham Business Exchange and has been involved in organizing the Gorham Marketplace event as well as participating as a business owner. He has served as chair of the Gorham Conservation Commission, which has been a catalyst for his true passion: mountain biking and trail building.
Along with a handful of Gorham friends and fellow outdoor enthusiasts, Lavoie has been instrumental in mapping out and building 30+ miles of trails through the beautiful acreage of Gorham. He has collaborated with landowners, formed respectful land use agreements, and has effectively made Gorham a destination for mountain biking as well as multi-purpose trail use.
Lavoie has also served as a board member as well as president of the Greater Portland chapter of the New England Mountain Bike Association and has been the connection between this group of mountain biking enthusiasts and their hundreds of hours of volunteer work to help build, maintain, and improve trails here in Gorham.
Cindy Hazelton, Gorham Recreation Department Director, said, “Rob Lavoie has a passion for mountain biking and all that it entails. He has given freely of his time and vision for mountain biking and Gorham riders of all ages have benefited from his sweat equity and steadfastness in accomplishing these goals.”
Lavoie also had a vision for Gorham to be a place where its community members can recreate outside and enjoy a happy and healthy lifestyle. In addition to his work on the trails, he most recently was the backbone behind Gorham’s new Pump Track, aptly named the Lavoie Bike Park, off of Weeks Road.
“Rob’s efforts to transform a patchwork of small trails into a professionally built pump track and a 30+ mile network spanning public and private land has been a huge win for the town. His ability to coordinate – and motivate – dozens of dedicated volunteers, arrange fundraisers, and maintain solid relationships with local landowners was the driving force that made this all possible, and the results have definitely made Gorham an even better place to live,” said Bill Moreno, Gorham Conservation Commission member.
“Rob has a can do attitude and a second to none work ethic that allows any organization he joins to reach new heights. On behalf of the entire Gorham Business Exchange, I’d like to congratulate Rob on his well deserved recognition and thank him for his many contributions to the business community and the Town of Gorham as a whole,” added GBE board member David Willis.
When he’s not caring for his patients, building trails all over Gorham, and serving on committees to better his community, Lavoie has been found volunteering at various Career Day events in the schools, working with Happy Healthy Gorham, and supporting other local businesses in Gorham. Occasionally, he can be seen riding his mountain bike…usually with a big smile on his face. He has often said, “How you do one thing is how you do everything.” He practices what he preaches by giving his all to his family, to his business, and to his community.