Maine Office of Outdoor Recreation Welcomes Deputy Director

November 13, 2023  

Contact: Victoria Foley   

Maine’s Office of Outdoor Recreation (MOOR) today announced that Jeff McCabe has joined the office as Deputy Director.  

Jeff McCabe
Maine's Office of Outdoor Recreation's new
Deputy Director, Jeff McCabe

The Deputy Director will assist with communications and stakeholder engagement;  collaboration with a variety of public, private, and nonprofit organizations to advance access and opportunities; outdoor recreation-related community and economic development strategies; coordinating marketing and promotion of Maine’s recreational opportunities; building awareness of recreation policy and management; connecting businesses and organizations to resources; among other responsibilities all focused on supporting the continued growth of Maine’s outdoor recreation economy as part of Maine’s Department of Economic and Community Development.  

“Maine’s growing outdoor recreation sector is a key part of our state’s economy,” said Heather Johnson, Commissioner of the Department of Economic and Community Development. “Adding Jeff to the team will help the Office of Outdoor Recreation continue to contribute to our statewide goals of talent attraction, innovation, manufacturing, and rural economic development.” 

“The Office of Outdoor Recreation has been a one-person office since it was created in 2018. Adding a Deputy Director is an incredibly important milestone in its continued development,” said Carolann Ouellette, Director of the Office of Outdoor Recreation.  “I am really excited to welcome Jeff and look forward to working together to further advance the work of the Office on behalf of the outdoor industry in Maine.” 

McCabe has worked for more than 20 years in Maine’s outdoor economy and is a registered Maine Recreational Guide and Whitewater 

 Guide. His experience also includes working as Outreach Coordinator for the Northern Forest Canoe Trail, Director of Lake George Regional Park, and Executive Director of the Somerset County Soil and Water Conservation District. His most recent role was as Director of Politics and Legislation with the Maine State Employees Association.  McCabe also served 8 years in the Maine House of Representatives, including one term as Majority Leader (2014-2016). A graduate of Unity College, he resides in Skowhegan with his wife and their three children.  

About Maine’s Office of Outdoor Recreation:  

Maine’s Office of Outdoor Recreation (MOOR) was permanently established in 2019, to leverage Maine’s assets and outdoor recreation heritage to grow the outdoor recreation economy and build Maine’s outdoor recreation brand as part of a coordinated effort with partners from the public and private sectors. Learn more at maine.gov/decd/programs/maine-office-of-outdoor-recreation. Maine is a member of the Confluence of States, a coalition of sixteen states working to strengthen the outdoor recreation economy.  

About the Maine Department of Economic and Community Development:  

The Maine Department of Economic and Community Development (DECD), consists of more than two dozen experts who work to help communities and businesses prosper through a variety of programs providing everything from targeted tax relief to community block grants to tourism marketing. Whether your business wants to make a film here, bring a Maine-made product to market, expand an aquaculture project, or explore financing when moving a business to our state, DECD’s experienced staff can help.    

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