Business Leaders: Volunteer Jim Godbout helped transform a church into a nonprofit teen center

Photo / Tim Greenway Jim Godbout, a business owner and longtime volunteer, was the general contractor on the transformation of a former church in Biddeford into a second location for My Place Teen Center.

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By Renee Cordes

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Jim Godbout, the owner of Provencher Fuels and Jim Godbout Plumbing & Heating Inc. in Biddeford, with more than 70 combined employees, is a longtime volunteer for organizations including My Place Teen Center. For the Westbrook-based nonprofit, the 61-year-old was the general contractor on the $3.7 million transformation of St. Andre’s Church into a second teen center.

Mainebiz: When did you start volunteering and why?

Jim Godbout: I started coaching Little League baseball at age 17. I was brought up in a broken home and, being the oldest, had many responsibilities to care for my younger brothers. I was fortunate enough to have so many great mentors from family to so many in the community.

MB:Who were your role models growing up?

JG: My grandfather, step-grandfather, many coaches, teachers and older bosses when I was in cooperative education, and old friends had a direct impact on me. They taught me that sacrifice and caring for others are the most important things we can do in life.

MB: How did you get into coaching Little League?

JG: I always loved baseball, grew up with it, and saw the impact it makes on youth from discipline to camaraderie. We learn to win and lose. Many coaches I had made a huge impact on me. I have also coached youth football and youth hockey.

MB: What prompted you to get involved with My Place Teen Center?

JG: Construction is in my blood. I have done it my entire life building so many things to help local communities, so when Donna [Dwyer, executive director of My Place Teen Center] asked me, I saw the passion she has with children. St. Andre’s was also the church that my wife Lynn and I attended, so I could not say no – although the magnitude of scope scared me at first.

MB: In renovating St. Andre’s Church for My Place Teen Center, what was the biggest challenge the crew had to overcome?

JG: Some days we had a crew of nearly 50 working on the project. There were so many things, like brick walls falling down, slate-copper roof leaks, fire sprinkler, HVAC, but worst was removing the pigeons and the several inches of bird poop covering most of the interior of building we had to clean up before starting

MB: What other volunteer projects are you most proud of and why?

JG: Waterhouse Field in Biddeford has been a major renovation for the community, with hundreds of volunteers to make that project happen. It was very special to see so many people coming together for the ultimate goal of providing for our youth. I had been volunteering at Waterhouse renovating the place many times since 1988. Some of the old timers I worked with for many years taught me what it meant to sacrifice ourselves for others. The 2018 remodel with new turf, bleachers lighting, locker rooms and drainage work made this facility so much more useful and sustainable for the community.

MB: How do you balance running two companies and volunteering?

JG: Balance is hard. I have worked 80-plus hours a week for the past 45 years, so it’s a bit of routine now. I get up very early do some self-care, walk the dog, then it’s off to work building our next generation of workforce through direct mentoring. You could see me up on a roof or in a ditch with a shovel directly working with my team. I am fortunate enough to have some of the best people working for me, who understand caring for others is such an important mission.

MB: How long do you intend to keep volunteering for?

JG: I will continue as long as my health permits. I have been very actively giving my time to renovating the Seeds of Hope Neighborhood Center in Biddeford, also starting to pull together a team to build a new concession area and bathrooms for Girls Little League softball. I am also donating my time to build a splash pad in Saco. I have been a very active Rotarian for many years supporting our local communities.

My Place Teen Center

myplaceteencenter.org / 75 Bacon St., Biddeford

What it does: Westbrook-based nonprofit provider of programs and support for at-risk teens in Westbrook and Biddeford. The Biddeford center opened earlier this year in the former St. Andre's Church.