Brian Hodges

Hi, I'm Brian Hodges, Director of Economic and Community Development for the coastal community of Camden, Maine.

Brian Hodges is the Director of Economic and Community Development for the coastal community of Camden, Maine.  He accepted this position after a successful 20 year career in Maine State Government, culminating in the appointment to Deputy Commissioner of Maine's Department of Economic and Community Development.  During his state government career, he received awards for Employee of the Year as well as Manager of the Year.  He managed the redesign and upgrade of his agency's website and reconstructed a basic CRM internal database into a web-based system allowing for internal and external access as well as a detailed program reporting used by the Maine State Legislature.  In Camden, he has successfully obtained numerous grants and designations to improve the attractiveness and visibility of the community.

Deputy Commissioner, Dept of Economic & Community Development at State of Maine

January 2010 - March 2011

Executive position reporting to the commissioner of DECD and primarily responsible for personnel, financial, and operational aspects of a state government, cabinet level agency. Additional duties included managing legislative activities and responding to media inquiries, special projects assigned by commissioner, and representing commissioner in his absence. Significant accomplishments include successful planning and implementation of first ever Governor's Jobs Summit, agency-wide redesign of website resulting in multiple divisions residing under one umbrella concept thus saving financial and personnel resources, oversight and coordination of agency budget planning totaling $12.5 million

Director of Tax Incentive Programs at State of Maine

May 2008 - December 2009

Senior-level position reporting to the Commissioner of DECD and primarily responsible for directing, operating, monitoring, and evaluating the Pine Tree Development Zone (PTDZ) program, Municipal Tax Increment Financing, and Employment Tax Increment Financing programs. Several additional responsibilities including database design/management, Small Business Advocate, and delegate for boards, commissions, and task forces. Significant accomplishments include developing new legislative language for broadening of the PTDZ program to a statewide basis and developing a methodology to determine fiscal impact; analyzing agency costs as they relate to information technology and recommending areas for cost savings; designing, developing and overseeing the contract and functionality of a new, comprehensive economic development database.

Policy Development Specialist at State of ME, Dept of Economic & Community Development

March 2006 - April 2008

Senior-level staff position representing the State of Maine as a liaison between top management of corporations, state government, and private/public economic development entities. Fostered business start up, growth, expansion, and retention in Maine for both in-state and out of state clients; facilitated meetings with service providers and client representatives; provided resources, technical assistance, and financial tools necessary to attract investment; identified regional trends affecting businesses and the economy; recommended initiatives that address these trends.

Management Analyst II at State of Maine, Maine Revenue Services

January 2000 - January 2006

Supervised and developed staff of 8; coordinated implementation of paper and electronic tax filing programs for annual processing; represented division at meetings and conferences; conducted public presentations of agency's available technologies; acted as media contact to advertise and promote taxpayer programs; reviewed work requests to analyze/determine scope, feasibility, and cost benefit factors; managed systems projects with contract staff.

Management Analyst I at State of Maine, Maine Revenue Services

January 1998 - January 2000

Involved in the design, development, and testing of systems projects including new or revised work processes within existing tax systems and projects that support customers of the division's automated processing systems; acted as interface between system users and computer programming staff; project coordinator for Internet filing of Sales tax returns, Internet filing of Individual Income tax returns, and Electronic filing of Individual Income Tax returns.

Claims Adjudicator at Maine Department of Labor

1991 - 1998

Economic & Community Development Director at Town of Camden

March 2011

Directing and overseeing the economic initiatives and development activities of the Town of Camden. Responsible for administrative and technical work involved in the enhancement of the economic and community well-being of the Town. Involves close cooperation and assistance with all municipal departments as well as local, regional, and statewide development organizations.

Thomas College

2007 – 2010

MBA

University of Maine

1987 – 1991

BS

Concentration: Business Administration, Management

Mt. Blue

1984 – 1987

Social media, statistics, staff development, theater, symphonies, cooking, and cruise vacations.