Potato board hires director

PRESQUE ISLE — The Maine Potato Board has announced the hiring of Donald E. Flannery from Fort Fairfield as its assistant executive director. Flannery will fill the position vacated by Michael Corey of Easton, who was named the board’s executive last March.

Flannery’s duties will be in marketing, potato-growers relations and business expansion. He also will visit the terminal markets to promote Maine potatoes. Flannery will work with John Logan, the board’s director of advertising and quality control.

“Don’s knowledge [in] working with the potato industry in Maine in the past will be an asset for Maine growers,” said Corey in a prepared statement announcing Flannery’s appointment.

Flannery is a graduate of Fort Fairfield High School and has a degree in agriculture resource economics from the University of Maine. He farmed in Fort Fairfield until 1984, when he became the town’s code enforcement officer and tax assessor. He also was the town’s economic development director.

In 1990, Flannery became the director of community development for the Northern Maine Development Commission. Last year, he formed Flannery Associates where he worked on various projects for the state’s potato industry.