(From the Governor’s Office, 9/4/12) – Today, the Joint Standing Committee on Labor, Commerce, Research, and Economic Development (LCRED) approved Governor LePage’s nominee, Robert A Martin, of Newcastle, to serve as Director of the Maine Technology Institute (MTI). In a vote of 9-0, LCRED recommended Martin as the director of MTI to the Maine Senate. Martin will now appear before the Maine Senate for a confirmation hearing and vote on Thursday, September 6, 2012. If confirmed, he will serve as Director of the Maine Technology Institute.
For Immediate Release: Tuesday, September 4, 2012 Contact: Adrienne Bennett (207) 287-2531
AUGUSTA – Today, the Joint Standing Committee on Labor, Commerce, Research, and Economic Development (LCRED) approved Governor LePage’s nominee, Robert A Martin, of Newcastle, to serve as Director of the Maine Technology Institute (MTI). In a vote of 9-0, LCRED recommended Martin as the director of MTI to the Maine Senate. Martin will now appear before the Maine Senate for a confirmation hearing and vote on Thursday, September 6, 2012. If confirmed, he will serve as Director of the Maine Technology Institute.
“I am pleased to hear that LCRED has approved the nomination of Robert Martin to the Maine Technology Institute. His many years of success in the private sector, as well as his understanding of business development will provide guidance and assistance to Maine innovators and entrepreneurs competing on the global market. I wish Robert the best of luck in the final stages of the confirmation process,” said Governor LePage.
In his testimony, Martin discussed Maine’s place in the global economy. “Maine is at a strategic inflection point. We are in competition with other states for global markets,” said Martin. “We need to innovate to succeed. For me, the role of the director if MTI is to ignite the thinkers and doers in Maine who will make the cash register ring.”
Martin has more than 30 years business experience and has held executive-level positions in national and international companies, including The Washington Post Company; The Strategy Group, LLC; Dainippon Ink & Chemicals; and strategic Equity Partners. These experiences have made Martin familiar with the venture capital communities and the requirements they have for investments. This, coupled with his extensive knowledge of the Maine business community will allow him to market Maine business products and services to a wide array of markets.
Established by the Maine State Legislature in 1999, the Maine Technology Institute is an industry-led, publicly-funded, nonprofit organization that promotes the generation of high-quality jobs throughout Maine. This is achieved by providing commercialization assistance in the form of competitive grants, loans and equity investment for the research, development and application of technologies.