Maine State Economist, State Planning Office
Age: 28
Home: Portland

Where did you grow up and go to high school?
I grew up in Bar Harbor and went to Mount Desert Island High School for two years before finishing at the Maine School of Science and Mathematics in Limestone.

At what point did you decide you wanted to be an economist? What inspired that decision?
I decided my senior year of high school. Looking back I didnít really know what I was getting into. But the more I learned about it, the more I enjoyed it. Economics is part sociology, part math, part public policy. It combines the study of people with quantitative analysis. Also, the concepts of economics are applicable to a wide range of issues, from economic development to environmental policy and even personal interactions. Itís not all about money.

You left Maine for college and graduate school and came back. How did you decide to leave and then return?
I always assumed that I would leave Maine for college. I wanted to live in a city and meet people from diverse backgrounds. I enjoyed doing that, and when I originally came back to Maine after grad school, I wasnít planning to stay. I came back to regroup and figure out what to do next.

I took a four-month research position at the University of Maine thinking it would be a temporary job. I never left because I realized thereís no other place that I care about as much as Maine. And the scale of Maineís population, I believe, amplifies the potential of each individual. Also, after living in cities for a number of years, I was reminded of how nice it is to live in a beautiful natural environment.

Outside of work, what are your favorite things to do in Maine?
Iíve always loved being on the water, so in the summer I sail and kayak. I also like to camp. In the winter, I like spending time in the western mountains ñ skiing, snowshoeing, or just enjoying the scenery. And Portland is one of the best cities I know. Itís large enough to offer a wide range of activities, but it still feels like Maine. People are nice; they say ìhiî to each other on the street.

If you had one message for young people considering Maine as a place to live and work, what would it be?
Donít be afraid of the distance or the cold.  They preserve our unique quality of life, which is the reward for people who are willing to seek out adventure.