Northeast Whitewater
Business owner:
Jeremy Hargreaves
Location:
155 Greenville Road, Shirley Mills, Maine
Opened:
2007
Website:
Nearly 40 years ago, Jeremy Hargreaves looked out the window of his accountancy office and saw a guy mowing the lawn. “He’s got a better job than me,” thought Jeremy and made the decision – there and then – to find a career that he was passionate about. That turned out to be launching Northeast Whitewater in 2007, a business that still uses his accountancy background but finds him doing everything from whitewater rafting and moose tours to waterfall hikes, kayaking, ice cave excursions, eco-based tourism, and more. Jeremy is an educator and trainer, full-service guide, marketer, occasional mechanic, and, of course, savvy businessman with up to 50 seasonal employees, 3 fulltime workers, and a second whitewater rafting business in West Forks, Maine. “I’m the ‘MacGyver’ of the business world,” laughed Jeremy. “I do it all.”
And the response has been big. In 2023, 11,000 people of all ages – from a newborn baby on a moose tour to 80-year-olds rafting – found adventure with Jeremy and his staff. The most popular? Moose tours with 5,000 trips in 2023 followed by rafting (3,000 trips). The interest in Maine’s wilderness does not surprise Jeremy who grew up in Central Maine. “When I was young my parents didn’t have a ton of money so we camped and used the state parks,” he recalled. “My fondest memories are driving in the woods and looking at wildlife.”
Jeremy has a growth mindset and continually looks for opportunities to add services. He now has six glamping yurts, 18 campsites, a café, and a commercial kitchen at his Shirley location which have proven extremely popular. “I want people, especially the younger generation, to understand this business can be a great career. Staff are key to future development and I’m eager to keep growing.” With about half of his staff ages 17-75 years returning year after year, Jeremy is confident in creating a fun and inspirational work environment. After all, it was a passion for adventure that inspired him to take the leap from that accountancy office all those years ago.
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