Dana Connors receives award for outstanding leadership

BANGOR — Recognized as one of the premier consensus builders for statewide public policy, Dana F. Connors received the Maine Development Foundation’s third annual Leadership For Maine’s Economic Future award Monday.

During the organization’s annual meeting at the Bangor Civic Center, Connors was cited by MDF Treasurer Donna Thornton, of Brewer, for his years of service to northern Maine as city manager of Presque Isle. He later served Democratic and Republican gubernatorial administrations as the state’s transportation commissioner.

The current president of the Maine Chamber and Business Alliance, Connors was selected by incoming independent Gov. Angus S. King to oversee the governor-elect’s transition team. Most recently, Connors volunteered his efforts to help the Decoster Egg Farm in a major corporate make-over after the Turner firm drew recent federal fines for maintaining unsafe and unsanitary working conditions.

Describing Connors’ strengths as unmatched in forging coalitions and public partnerships through creative problem-solving forums, Thornton said the executive has a talent for bringing “the right people to the table.”

“He was deserving of the award for building a career based on public service that has moved Maine’s economic agenda forward,” she said.

Connors, who joins L.L. Bean magnate Leon Gorman and former Bath Iron Works’ chief Buzz Fitzgerald as the MDF’s award recipients, said any of his perceived personal success was actually accomplished with the help of many others.

“Success is not about conflict, but about cooperation,” he said. “It is about harmony — not discord. It is really about the strength of all of us coming together to create what’s right for Maine.”