Hi, I'm Sam Flinkstrom
I’m Sam Flinkstrom --- a native of South Berwick, a licensed engineer, small business owner, father, and candidate for Town Council. I grew up on Academy Street and now live just over a mile from there. My life partner, business partner, and co-everything, Roxanne, and I have two daughters: Summer (5) and Cleo (17 months). My parents still live in the house I was raised in, and Summer now attends Central School --- just like I once did.
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I graduated from Marshwood in 2008, where I served as class president, then went on to study Mechanical Engineering and Mathematics at the University of Vermont. While there, I continued to develop my leadership skills as Treasurer and later President of the university’s SAE Mini Baja Club.
After college, I spent over a decade in the energy services industry, managing and designing infrastructure projects for public clients including the FAA, DOE, DOD, and the School District of Philadelphia. I got my start working on the kinds of projects towns often oversee --- large-scale solar installations, HVAC upgrades, streetlight replacements, and water conservation systems.
I’ve always enjoyed the challenge of leading complex projects --- not just completing the work, but building a team that’s aligned around a shared goal. In my experience, the more collaborative the team, the fewer the conflicts, and the easier it is to solve the ones that do arise. That kind of teamwork leads to better outcomes, and it’s the mindset I’ll bring to the Town Council. When residents are frustrated, misinformed, or not feeling heard, we owe them a response that’s respectful, constructive, and grounded in the idea that public service means working for the people.
In 2019, I came back home to South Berwick and started Sefco --- my own engineering and project management firm. As owner and principal engineer, I design mechanical systems for all kinds of buildings, including projects similar to the ongoing Town Hall renovation. From navigating the bid process and evaluating contractors to solving constructability challenges and delivering cost and energy-efficient results, I bring real-world experience that’s directly relevant to the work ahead.
Alongside Sefco, Roxanne and I also own and operate Happy Valley Beer and Wine Garden --- South Berwick’s first community-focused restaurant. Before opening in 2023, we spent years working through the Planning Board process for a Change of Use on our downtown property. That experience gave us a front-row seat to just how frustrating and discouraging it can be to navigate town processes. Opening a business here shouldn’t feel like a battle --- it should feel like a partnership. I know how much clear communication, consistency, and a welcoming attitude matter, and I’m committed to making it easier --- not harder --- for small business owners to invest in South Berwick.
After our first season at Happy Valley, I became more grounded in the work of helping South Berwick thrive. Roxanne and I launched Wicks Collective --- a nonprofit focused on revitalizing community life and creating welcoming third spaces --- and I also became involved with the Historic District Commission to help care for South Berwick’s historic character while planning for its future.
​I believe South Berwick should be a place where people come to feel connected, supported, and be inspired to build something. To make that possible, I believe we need spaces that foster such community. As a father, I care deeply about the town my daughters are growing up in. I want South Berwick to grow thoughtfully, invest wisely, and protect what makes this place special --- not just for our generation, but for theirs. I’ve spent my career designing systems, leading public projects, starting businesses, and creating spaces where the community can come together. I’m running for Town Council because I believe in practical, transparent leadership that puts people first. South Berwick deserves a local government that listens, plans for the long term, and works for everyone who calls this town home.