Executive Director, John Shea

Prior to joining the Piscataquis County Economic Development Council in March 2019, John Shea was the Executive Director of the Aquidneck Island Planning Commission (AIPC) in Middletown Rhode Island.  John came to the AIPC in 2018 from New Hampshire, where he led a fiscal policy think tank in Concord.  John also served as Head of Policy and Economic Advisor to the Government and the Falkland Islands, and owned his own company formed to promote foreign investment in the New England clean energy and high technology sectors.

But the bulk of John’s career has been spent at the New England Governors’ Conference, Inc. (NEGC), a regional governors’ policy institute focused on economic development, energy, environmental issues and conservation.  John held several positions while at the NEGC, most recently as its Executive Director.  While at the NEGC, John led the development of the world’s first multi-jurisdictional, international climate change action plan, and a regional mercury program that has served as a model for similar efforts throughout the world.

John was born in Brooklyn, New York, and holds degrees in Economics and Sovietology.

 

Community Development Specialist, Georgia Underwood

Georgia has worked for Piscataquis County Economic Development Council since September 2015 as a Community Development Specialist. Prior to working for PCEDC she had worked in Workforce Development with Eastern Maine Development Corporation as a Career Advisor for Penobscot and Piscataquis County. In 2018 PCEDC and Helping Hands with Heart created the Maine Highlands Investment Partnership (MHIP) this partnership created a bridge between Social Subsystem and the Economics Subsystem in how we live, work and play in our region.

Georgia’s role is to coordinate, collaborate, and convene with all sectors of Community Development. Her work involves sectors from tourism to economic development, food systems, health and well-being, education and workforce development. Georgia has lived in Piscataquis County for a majority of her life. She is a graduate of Foxcroft Academy, and a Graduate of the University of Maine.