The Maine Department of Marine Resources (DMR) has announced the appointment of a board for the newly created Maine Lobster Marketing Collaborative (MLMC).
Formed in October for the effective marketing and promotion of Maine Lobster, this is a first major action for the new marketing initiative.
“Maine Lobster is an iconic American product that has a long history of feeding seafood lovers around the world while fueling Maine’s coastal economy,” said Maine Governor Paul R. LePage. “Maine’s lobster industry has a rich tradition of independent fisherman dedicated to sustainably harvesting this deliciously sweet seafood. We are confident that our industry’s cooperative marketing investment and direct involvement on the new MLMC board from lobstermen, dealers and processors will help drive up profitable demand for branded Maine Lobster and further strengthen the overall Maine economy.”
“We sought out a board of leaders, innovators, marketing experts, harvesters, processors, dealers, small business owners and people who are eager to re-energize the Maine Lobster brand,” said Patrick Keliher, DMR commissioner. “I am confident that they will be successful in setting an effective marketing course for the future and creating a new high level of excitement and demand for Maine Lobster.”
The following have been named the new MLMC board:
• Karan Cushman, president of Cushman Creative, a cross-media branding company
• George Gervais, commissioner of the Maine Department of Economic and Community Development
• Frank Gotwals, commercial lobsterman and board member of the Stonington Lobster Coop
• Patrick Keliher, commissioner of the Maine Department of Marine Resources
• Luke Holden, president and founder of Luke’s Lobster and a managing partner and co-founder of Cape Seafood LLC
• Emily Lane, VP of sales, Calendar Island Maine lobster and former Maine Lobster Promotion Council (MLPC) board member
• Peter Miller, commercial lobster harvester, owner of Miller’s Wharf Lobster and former MLPC board member
• Paul Paradis, Bar Harbor town councilor and owner of Paradis True Value in Bar Harbor
• Hugh Reynolds, owner of Greenhead Lobster in Stonington, one of Maine's largest purveyors of live, fresh lobster
• Vaughn A. Stinson, CEO of the Maine Tourism Association
The formation of the MLMC board is the first step in a five-year, multi-million-dollar investment that the industry has committed to marketing Maine Lobster. By law, the MLMC board is comprised of 11 members, including representatives from the lobster harvester, dealer and processor sectors as well as public members with a marketing background. To date, 10 of those members have been appointed, and Commissioner Keliher, who led the board selection process, will continue to review nominees for the eleventh spot.
