Baxter State Park Authority Names Bissell New Park Director

December 28, 2005

Today at a meeting at Baxter State Park headquarters in Millinocket, the three members of the Baxter State Park Authority (Attorney General Steve Rowe, Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife Commissioner Dan Martin, and Maine Forest Service Director Alec Giffen) appointed Jensen Bissell of Milo as the new Park Director.

Bissell has more than 30 years of experience in resource management and has served as Resource Manager of Baxter State Park since 1987.

The Baxter State Park Authority spent two months reviewing more than 70 applications and conducting personal interviews with a number of the applicants. Authority Chair Steve Rowe noted that the quantity and quality of the applicants speaks well of the park and of former director Buzz Caverly's exceptional stewardship.

Rowe said, "The Authority carefully reviewed all applications and spent considerable time interviewing several applicants. In the end, we were swayed by Jensen Bissell's strong resource and operational management skills as well as his keen sense of devotion to Baxter State Park." Rowe noted that, in addition to performing park resource management duties over the years, Bissell has also participated in the development of park policy, planning, personnel, and operational decisions.

Rowe said, "Jensen has done a superb job as Resource Manager, and we expect that he will do the same as Director."

STEVE ROWE, ATTORNEY GENERAL, 207-626-8599