Matt Jacobson

Matt Jacobson
Republican candidate for Governor of Maine
Opponent(s) Paul LePage
Steve Abbott
Bill Beardsley
Peter Mills
Les Otten
Bruce Poliquin
Incumbent John Baldacci
Personal details
Born February 4, 1961
Political party Republican
Spouse(s) Dr. Kemedy Kathryn McQuillen
Children Hank Jacobson, Maggie Jacobson
Residence Cumberland, ME
Alma mater United States Naval Academy
Chapman University, MBA
Occupation President and CEO, Maine & Company
Religion Roman Catholic
Website http://www.jacobsonforgovernor.com

Matthew C. Jacobson (born February 4, 1961) is an American politician and business executive, currently serving as Executive Director of the Maine Lobster Marketing Collaborative. On May 7, 2009, Jacobson, a Republican, announced that he will be seeking the 2010 Republican nomination for Governor of Maine.

Early life and education

Jacobson attended the United States Naval Academy, graduating in 1984. He continued his education, earning an MBA from Chapman University in 1992.[1]

Military service

Following his graduation from the Naval Academy, Jacobson was a pilot in the United States Air Force, where he logged over 3,000 hours of flight time in various aircraft, the bulk of which was with the C-130 Hercules. He also served as a flight instructor and evaluator pilot. He was given discharge from active duty in April 1991, after which he continued to serve in the Air Force active reserve until March 2000.[2]

Business career

St. Lawrence & Atlantic Railroad

In 1996, Jacobson was hired as the President and COO of the St. Lawrence & Atlantic Railroad, headquartered in Auburn, Maine. He spent four years in the position, presiding over a massive expansion of revenue for the railroad and the addition of 23 new businesses to its line. During his tenure, the railroad was named North America's best Shortline Railroad by Railway Age Magazine.[3]

Canadian National Railways

Following his time at St. Lawrence & Atlantic Railroad, Jacobson moved to Chicago, where he served as Assistant to the Vice President for Sales and Marketing for Canadian National Railways. In his time with CNR, he was primarily responsible for International and North America Intermodal sales and marketing.[4]

Maine & Company

In 2006, Jacobson returned to Maine to become president and chief executive officer of Maine & Company, a non-profit corporation whose staff provides free and confidential services to companies locating to or growing in Maine, taking over for Joe Wischerath, who had served as CEO since Maine & Co. was founded in November 1995.[5]

As the organization chief executive, Jacobson is responsible for developing and executing business attraction and expansion strategies. To that end, he engages with corporate executives, state and local authorities, as well as other stakeholders. Jacobson changed the organization's focus from a passive go between helping businesses already interested in coming to Maine, to one which actively courted specific companies to attract them to the state.[6]

In his tenure, several major companies have relocated to the state. Among these were NotifyMD,[7] athenahealth[8] and Boston Financial Data Services,[9] which have contributed more than 1,500 new jobs to the state. Jacobson himself has been credited with facilitating these moves, with Mainebiz specifically citing him as the reason athenahealth chose to move to Belfast, ME rather than Burlington, VT.[10]

2010 bid for Governor of Maine

Speculation surrounding potential candidates for Maine's 2010 gubernatorial election began to swirl in mid to late 2008, well before the year's presidential election. Jacobson's name was widely discussed for a potential bid for the Republican nomination as early as September, 2008,[11] but he made no formal announcement regarding his interest until much later.

On February 26, 2009, Jacobson announced that he was forming an exploratory committee to examine the prospects of running for Governor of Maine.

On May 7, 2009, Jacobson made his candidacy official, announcing his run at the Ocean Gateway terminal in Portland.[12]

On July 15, 2009, gubernatorial candidates filed their financial disclosures with the state's Ethics Commission. Jacobson reported raising $38,290 with $10,008 cash on hand.[13]

Personal life and family

Jacobson lives in Cumberland, Maine with his wife and two children. He married Dr. Kemedy Kathryn McQuillen at Our Lady Queen of Peace Catholic Church in Boothbay Harbor on May 30, 1998.

References

  1. ↑ Jacobson for Governor - Official Biography
  2. ↑ Jacobson for Governor - Official Biography
  3. ↑ Jacobson for Governor - Official Biography
  4. ↑ Jacobson for Governor - Official Biography
  5. ↑ Mainebiz - Matt Jacobson takes over as CEO of Maine & Co., with the task of luring new companies to Maine
  6. ↑ Mainebiz - Matt Jacobson takes over as CEO of Maine & Co., with the task of luring new companies to Maine
  7. ↑ Maine & Company - NotifyMD Selects Farmington, Maine as Site for New Care Coordination Center
  8. ↑ Athenahealth, Inc. - athenahealth Signs Definitive Agreement to Purchase Operations Facility From Bracebridge Corporation, a Wholly-Owned Subsidiary of Bank of America Corporation
  9. ↑ Patriot Ledger - Boston Financial Data Services heads to Maine coast this summer
  10. ↑ Mainebiz - Rules of attraction
  11. ↑ The Race for Governor: Is it 2010 yet? (Republicans)
  12. ↑ Exception Magazine
  13. ↑ http://www.mainecampaignfinance.com/public/entity_list.asp?TYPE=CAN

External links