Stutzman, 31, is Executive Director of the Maine Highlands Guild, a non-profit organization supporting the arts in the Dover-Foxcroft area. She is an adjunct professor of anthropology at the University of Southern Maine. She serves on the Governor's Council for the Creative Economy, as well as on the steering committee of REALIZE!Maine.

FUN FACTS

Favorite band:

Nickel Creek

Favorite place in Maine:

The "apple tree" field at Stutzman Farm, Sangerville

If you had 24 hours to live, what would you do?

Spend every second with my family: while flying my hang-glider.

I want everyone to know...

the Community Theatre troupe at the Center Theatre in Dover-Foxcroft ROCKS!

Where are you from and where did you go to school?

I am from Dover-Foxcroft. I graduated from Foxcroft Academy, and then enrolled at Emerson College in Boston for musical theater. I realized the major wasn't the right career choice for me, so I transferred to the University of Maine at Farmington. At UMF, I got involved in the archeology department. After graduating from UMF, I went directly into a Ph.D. program in anthropology at the University of Pittsburgh. I moved back to Maine in 1999 and finished my Ph.D. here in 2002.

What brought you back to Maine?

My husband (who is also from Maine) and I missed the four seasons, the nature, and the skiing, hiking and biking without having to drive two hours out of the city. We also missed the cultural part of Maine: the small, quaint, hometown feeling. Pittsburgh just wasn't New England.

What is the history of the Maine Highlands Guild?

When I was finishing up in Pittsburgh, I got a call from the economic development council of Piscataquis County. They knew we were looking to come back to Maine; people on the council knew my husband and I and our families. They were looking for a contractor to do research on the cultural assets of the region and how they could be leveraged for economic development. The research led to the establishment of the Maine Highlands Guild in 2002.

Describe what you do in your role as Executive Director.

In my role I work to help artisans develop the skills through education to run viable businesses and to access new markets. We go to ten national wholesale shows annually to market local artists' work. In the past couple of years we have helped artists sell over $120,000 in placed works in stores throughout the US.

We also have hosted a number of community events to bring art to the public. For instance, the first Wednesday of every month at (the restaurant) Abel's in Dover, we have art exhibition with wine and cheese, which is popular. We've also developed numerous community partnerships with stores; Guild products are featured in local stores such as the Moosehead Outlet Store and Monroe Saltworks Stores. Lastly, we have a holiday kiosk at the Bangor mall.

You have an obvious passion for the arts and are a very strong advocate for the Creative Economy. Why is this so important to you?

Itís so important to me because it just makes sense, especially for people my age. The Creative Economy concept is about people living where they want to live and jobs are following people to these places. People are creating the jobs and making them happen. Therefore, having a community that people want to live in is just as important to economic development as creating a business park.

When I look at our story, we live here because we wanted to live here, and we created the jobs that we have. All of our friends who have come back to the area have the same story.

Arts are an important part of communities that people want to live in. Itís one of the reasons we worked so hard to renovate the Center Theater in Dover. (The theater has) 350 seats. We had a concert series from June through December last year, and every show was sold out.

Has the theater renovation impacted economic development?

A new restaurant opened because of the theater renovation - Abel's, where we do the art openings. There's definitely been some impact.

Based on your experience, what does it take as a young person to live, work and thrive in Maine?

You've got to love Maine for what it is, because that gives you the determination to figure out how to stay here. The best thing you can do is make connections with other people, especially in the rural parts. It's important to meet up with others for support, new ideas and new connections. That's definitely part of (the) REALIZE (initiative).

Don't be afraid to create something new if you want to stay. You can be entrepreneurial within established businesses and also on your own.