AUGUSTA – The Alliance for Maine’s Future, the state’s largest business supported, pro-economy political action committee, has hired Abby Holman, as its new executive director.

She will help educate employers and employees about some of the key issues surrounding Maine’s business climate and encourage them to be more active in the political process.

Rich Merk, president of AMF and executive vice president of Hancock Lumber, said, “We are thrilled that Abby has taken on this important role.”

Holman’s most recent position was as the executive director of the Maine Forest Products Council, the statewide trade association for the forest products industry, the state’s largest employer. She also led the successful effort against the last forestry referendum, which was defeated by the largest margin of any statewide referendum.

Holman is serving as adjunct faculty at Colby College. She has worked in Pierce Atwood’s Environmental and Governmental Relations Department and served as press secretary for U.S. Senate candidate Olympia Snowe and legislative director and counsel to Gov. John R. McKernan.

A native of Lewiston, she lives on a farm in Fayette with her husband and daughter.

The new AMF Office is located in Augusta and can be contacted through [email protected].

Unicorn bought by Three Rivers

THE FORKS – Joe Christopher, president of Three Rivers Whitewater Inc., announced his company’s purchase of Unicorn Expeditions. It is the largest single buyout and transfer of state-regulated river allocations in Maine rafting history. The transaction triples Three Rivers’ passenger carrying capacity on the Kennebec, Dead, and Penobscot rivers.

In addition, the acquisition of the 23-year-old Unicorn Expeditions will include an expansion of food, beverage, and lodging facilities in both Millinocket and The Forks. While the amount of the sale is undisclosed, the transaction will create eight new year-round jobs within the next year.