Former LePage official and Maine native to lead state chamber of commerce
Courtesy / Maine State Chamber of Commerce
The Maine State Chamber of Commerce named Patrick Woodcock its president and CEO, effective Oct. 2.
Three months after its leader resigned, the Maine State Chamber of Commerce’s board of directors has named a longtime energy expert as president and CEO.
Patrick Woodcock is a former director of Maine’s Energy Office under Gov. Paul LePage and commissioner of the Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources who brings nearly two decades of public affairs experience to Maine’s largest business association.
His appointment takes effect Oct. 2.
He succeeds Linda Caprara, a chamber employee and advocacy vice president, who served as interim president and CEO since the resignation of Julia Munsey in late June for personal reasons.
In February, Munsey succeeded Dana Connors, who retired after almost 30 years as president.
As commissioner of the Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources under Gov. Charlie Baker, Woodcock led a staff of 60 and oversaw offshore wind procurements, new building codes, solar policies and other state and regional energy matters. He also served on the board of the National Association of State Energy Officials, and several state and regional energy boards.
As director of Maine’s Energy Office from 2013 through 2016 under LePage, Woodcock helped advance air-source heat pump adoption and additional energy efficiency investments in Maine, and served on the board of Efficiency Maine Trust. He served as an energy and environment adviser to former U.S. Sen. Olympia Snowe, R-Maine, from 2005 through 2012.
“The Maine economy is at a critical moment — including encouraging signals from historic population growth and recent state revenues — but it also faces acute challenges such as housing scarcity, labor shortages and broader competitiveness challenges,” said Woodcock.
“I look forward to collaborating with the business community, the governor, the legislature, and Maine’s congressional delegation to maximize economic opportunities throughout our state with a singular goal to make Maine a top state to live, work, learn, visit and do business.”
The Maine State Chamber represents 5,000 businesses of varying sizes and sectors across Maine on state and federal issues that affect the economy.
Maine State Chamber Board of Directors Chair LuAnn Ballesteros, who is vice president of external and government affairs for the Jackson Laboratory in Bar Harbor, said Woodcock’s “ability to work collaboratively and creatively to build consensus, combined with his commitment to Maine’s business community and economic future, make him an excellent fit for the role leading Maine’s largest business association.”
Woodcock is a Hampden native who graduated from Bowdoin College in 2004 with a bachelor's in government.
In a letter to members on Thursday, Ballesteros wrote, “Patrick is eager to get to work representing Maine businesses and looks forward to meeting and reconnecting with many of you, and to collaborating with the business community, state leaders and policy makers, and Maine’s congressional delegation to maximize economic opportunities throughout our state.”
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