Erica LaCroix Submitted photo

Erica LaCroix, Winslow town manager, has been selected as Maine Town, City and County Management Association’s 2022 Rising Star recipient, a recognition which highlights a public administrator who has brought new vitality and professionalism to his or her respective community. In her position since 2020, she has more than 25 years of experience in local and state government.

“Erica has worked hard to move the town forward while advocating for the needs of Winslow and its residents in both a conscious and respectable manner,” says Winslow Town Council Chairperson Dale Macklin, according to a news release from the Central Maine Growth Council. “She has continued to prioritize beautification and infrastructure improvements while bolstering the municipality’s tax base and employee’s salaries; we look forward to her future success.”

Previously serving as a budget and policy analyst for the State of Virginia’s Department of Transportation, LaCroix has also worked as the senior administrator for the Operations and Maintenance Division of the Lansing, Michigan, Public Service Department. Her experience working in public service, paired with her dedication to empowering meaningful community development, has allowed the town of Winslow to repave Benton Avenue, implement a Coffee with the Manager series to invite public input toward planning initiatives, and secure more than $1 million in Congressionally directed spending to support the Chafee Brook pump station.

“MTCMA is proud to award the Rising Star award to Erica LaCroix of Winslow; this award is given to a Maine Municipal Manager with less than five years of service to the profession,” comments MTCMA President Jay Feyler. “Manager LaCroix has displayed exceptional leadership during her short tenure in Winslow, while also immersing herself in various other groups and activities. MTCMA congratulates Manager LaCroix, and we look forward to having her part of the association for many years to come.”

LaCroix’s Coffee with the Manager series, which invites residents and community members to impart meaningful insight and public input to the town, has inspired the creation of the Winslow Garden Club. In less than a year, the club has been instrumental in making significant contributions to Fort Halifax Park and Winslow’s Bay Street corridor. By focusing on supporting vibrancy and beautification efforts throughout the municipality, the town will continue to grow and be promoted as a waterfront destination necklacing the Kennebec River for businesses, families and economic development.

“As a new town manager, Erica is quite literally changing the face of Winslow; I am thrilled that Erica was chosen as the 2022 Rising Star Award recipient,” elaborated Oakland Town Manager Ella Bowman. “She has worked hard to find ways to not only better the quality of life for those living in and passing through this old mill town, but she’s also finding ways to pay for new programs that enhance the safety and livability for Winslow residents.”