From beginning as a member of Senator Edmund S. Muskie’s and Senator George J. Mitchell’s Washington, D.C. staff focusing on Maine economic development projects and federal legislation to over 22 years as CEO and President of Eastern Maine Development Corporation, Bangor, Maine, a regional full service economic, business, community and workforce organization, Michael has a long career committed to the growth and development policies to benefit the region, State, and Nation.

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Michael was also was appointed by President George W. Bush to serve as the State Director for USDA’s Rural Development in Maine, a post he held for eight years, and successfully engineered Maine projects obtaining over a billion dollars of federal support.  He has also served as the Economic Development Representative for the US Department of Commerce for Maine, Rhode Island, and Connecticut and was also appointed by Governor John McKernan as Maine Commissioner of Economic and Community Development, and the first Director of the Maine Quality Centers of the Maine Community College System.

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Michael has been active in civic organizations which has included service on the Bangor City Council (including the position of Mayor), Vice Chairman of the Maine Municipal Association, President of the National Association of Development Organizations, President of the Economic Development Council of Maine, and Chairman of the Maine Technical College System board of trustees.