MCED names Gooding's permanent replacement

Courtesy / The Maine Center for Entrepreneurial Development Thomas Rainey will assume the roll of executive director of The Maine Center for Entrepreneurial Development starting Sept. 6.

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By Staff

The Maine Center for Entrepreneurial Development announced on Tuesday that Thomas Rainey has been appointed the executive director of the organization, effective Sept. 6.

Rainey has over two decades of experience in technology-based economic development and entrepreneurship in rural communities, according to MCED. Rainey also developed and served as president of the Vermont Center for Emerging Technologies in partnership with the University of Vermont, and served a similar role for the Northern Arizona Center for Entrepreneurship and Technology incubator in Flagstaff, Ariz.

Lee Cheever had served as interim executive director following the March announcement of the departure of Executive Director Don Gooding.

“Tom is the right person to help MCED transition to the next level,” Catherine Renault, chair of MCED’s board, said in a statement. “He has demonstrated success in delivering business assistance services to high-growth companies in rural and underserved areas, and significant results identifying and securing funding for these programs.”

She added, “We were also impressed with his international experience, including with Canada and Europe, as well as his strong business and personal ties to New England and Quebec.”

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