Former Governor of Maine, Angus S. King, Jr. will deliver the opening keynote  address at this year’s 47^th Annual NAASS conference to be held in Portland, Maine on November 7- 10, 2010.  Known as the State of Maine’s most innovative and entrepreneurial leader in recent history, Governor King will discuss leadership roles and strategies through the lens of Joshua Chamberlain, the civil war hero of the battle of Little Round Top.

Chamberlain and his rag-tagged troops defended Little Round Top against all odds from the approaching Confederate army.  The battle became pivotal to the Union efforts and is largely seen as a defining moment of the Civil War.  Chamberlain, who began the Civil War as a college professor, ended the conflict as a decorated General in the Union Army.  In recognition of his role, Grant selected Chamberlain to receive the surrender of the Confederate army after Appomattox.  Joshua Chamberlain, a Maine native, went on to be president of Bowdoin College in Brunswick, Maine. 

Angus King, Jr. became Maine’s second independent Governor in 1995 and served for two successful four-year terms.  In his second term, he was elected Governor by one of the widest margins in Maine’s history.  A lawyer by training (LL.B. University of Virginia Law School, ’69), King began his Maine career as a staff attorney for Pine Tree Legal Assistance--a public service organization dedicated to providing free legal services for low income Mainers.  An ardent environmentalist, he launched a career as entrepreneur in 1989 as the owner of Northeast Energy Management, Inc.  The company focused on large-scale energy conservation projects.  Prior to becoming Governor, he was perhaps best known for his popular public affairs programming on the state’s public television network.

As Governor, King championed education, research infrastructure to the State’s University System and land conservation.  Under his administration, more public lands were placed under conservation easements than ever in the state’s history, thus preserving Maine’s eco-heritage indefinitely.  His investments in research and development provided mission critical investments in the public university system and enhanced the state’s economic development infrastructure.  The investments provided the state with newfound industries in the woods composite, energy conservation and green energy development sectors.  He founded the Maine International Trade Center and more than quadrupled international exports of Maine products.

In his second term, King introduced the first-in-the-nation laptop program.  With investments targeted to a technology endowment, Maine became the first state in the nation to provide every seventh and eighth grader with their own personal laptop—regardless of school district or geographic location.  This innovation assured that every Maine student in the public school system would not be left behind in the digital divide.  The innovation was highly controversial but resulted in a major technology investment and a re-tooling of the curriculum.  The laptop program has since been expanded to include the high school population as well. 

King currently serves on numerous boards, holds teaching appointments at Bowdoin College and Bates College, and is active in other green business ventures.  He lives in Brunswick, Maine with his wife, Mary J. Herman and is the father of five children. 

Registration for the 47^th Annual NAASS Conference is now open.  Hotel arrangements may be made by calling the Holiday Inn by the Bay at 207-775-2311 or 800-345-5050.  You may register online.