MHPC Staff
Tarren R. Bragdon
Chief Executive OfficerTarren R. Bragdon is Chief Executive Officer of The Maine Heritage Policy Center. Prior to becoming CEO in January of 2008, Tarren served for five years as the Center's Director of Health Reform Initiatives.
During 2001 and 2002, he served as the special assistant to the President of the Maine Senate, Senator Richard Bennett. In this capacity, he provided policy research, analysis and advice on a variety of policy areas, focusing on healthcare and tax policy.
From 1996 through 2000, Tarren served in the Maine House of Representatives representing District 119, part of Bangor. He is the youngest person ever to be elected to the Maine House, being sworn in when he was just eleven days past the constitutional requirement of twenty-one years of age. During his tenure in the house, he served on the Joint Standing Committee on Health and Human Services. He worked for three years at non-profit child welfare agency overseeing community relations and licensing compliance. He has served as Adjunct Faculty to the Maine Technical Community College System. He received his Bachelor of Science degree in Computer Science from the University of Maine and his Masters of Science of Business degree from Husson College.
Tarren lives in China, Maine with his wife, Anna, and son Wyatt and daughter Waverly.
email: tbragdon@mainepolicy.org
Stephen L. Bowen
Director, Center for Education ExcellenceStephen L. Bowen serves as the director of the Center for Education Excellence, and focuses on education policy for The Maine Heritage Policy Center.
He taught in Middle and High Schools for ten years before joining The Maine Heritage Policy Center in 2007. In 2002, he was elected to the first of two terms in the Maine House of Representatives, representing Camden and Rockport. During that time, he served on the Marine Resources and State and Local Government Committees, and the Select Committee on Regionalization and Community Cooperation. He spent his second term on the legislature's Appropriations Committee, during which time he helped negotiate several state budget and bond bills.
Steve has a B.A. in Political Science from Drew University and a Masters of Education from George Mason University. He has also served on the Knox County and Rockport Charter Commissions, and currently serves on Board of Trustees for Northeast Health, which operates PenBay Medical Center in his hometown of Rockport, where he lives with his wife Heather and daughters Emily and Katherine.
email: sbowen@mainepolicy.org
J. Scott Moody, M.A.
Chief EconomistJ. Scott Moody serves as chief economist. Scott has over 10 years of economic policy research and economic modeling experience from his work with The Tax Foundation and The Heritage Foundation. He has authored and co-authored over 50 published articles and books. He has testified twice before the House Ways and Means Committee of the U.S. Congress.
He has been invited to speak before various organizations such as the National Conference of State Legislatures and the American Legislative and Exchange Council. His work has appeared in Forbes, CNN Money, State Tax Notes, the New York Sun, the Portland Press Herald and the Bangor Daily News.
He is on the Board of Directors of The Council for Community and Economic Research (C2ER, formerly ACCRA) and is on the editorial board of the Journal for Applied Research in Economic Development co-published by the University of Southern Mississippi and C2ER.
Mr. Moody received his Bachelor of Arts in Economics from Wingate University (Wingate, N.C.). He received his Master of Arts in Economics from George Mason University (Fairfax, VA).
email: jsmoody@mainepolicy.org
Heather Noyes
Director of DevelopmentHeather Noyes joined The Maine Heritage Policy Center in August 2006. Heather coordinates all of MHPC's ongoing development work, and also manages all special events for the public and donors. Prior to joining MHPC, Heather worked with and is a graduate of The Protocol School of Washington. She brings more than a decade of management experience and in-depth knowledge of business etiquette and international protocol.
email: hnoyes@mainepolicy.org
Sandy Cleveland
Office ManagerSandy Cleveland joined MHPC in September of 2006 as executive assistant. A Maine native, Sandy grew up in the Greater Portland area, and graduated with honors from Falmouth High School. In her new role as Office Manager, Sandy provides administrative support to Tarren Bragdon, the Board of Directors, as well as the rest of MHPC's staff. She also serves as MHCP's bookkeeper, purchasing agent, and source for employee benefit information. Sandy brings with her more than twenty years' experience as executive assistant to several senior-level managers, including those at Cole Haan, Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield and Gofish.com.
email: scleveland@mainepolicy.org
Sam Adolphsen
Coordinator, Center for Open GovernmentSam Adolphsen, coordinator for the center for open government, joined the Maine Heritage Policy Center in January, 2009.
Sam graduated from Husson University in May 2008, with a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration. He worked as a senior technology coordinator for Husson, and has served as a campaign manager to several candidates for the Maine State Senate. In his position at the Maine Heritage Policy Center, Sam manages government transparency and technology projects, including the MaineOpenGov.org website and blog.
Sam lives in Augusta with his wife Kara.
