Rob has guided the Center since 2008 to become the respected regional innovation and investment partner it is today. Under Rob’s leadership, the Center launched impact-investment funds to catalyze community development in Millinocket, Maine, Lancaster, N.H., and now across four states (Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont and New York) through the Northern Forest Fund.  

Rob’s first role at the Center was to lead development of programs emerging from the Center’s Sustainable Economy Initiative, and he helped create the Northern Forest Board Forum, and the Rural Development Innovation Group in partnership with the Aspen Institute and the US Endowment for Forestry and Communities. He is particularly proud of the Center’s team and its ability to bring expertise and resources to help Northern Forest people and communities while advocating for the region at the national level. The New Hampshire Union Leader included Rob in its 2003 list of Forty Outstanding Leaders Under 40 in New Hampshire.

Prior to joining the Center, Rob served as director of MicroCredit-NH, an award-winning statewide community economic development program. Previously, Rob founded and served as executive director of Main Street Plymouth, Inc., which received New Hampshire’s “Main Street Program of the Year Award” in 2000. Other experience includes directing Youth Programs at Sagebrush Arena in Hailey, Idaho, and farming and logging in Andover, Vermont. Rob lives in Canterbury, NH, with his wife Tabitha and enjoys running or skiing in the woods, especially with Tabitha and their adult children Alice and William.

Board of Directors