Brian Langley, owner of the Union River Lobster Pot restaurant and State Senator, has been named to the Maine Tourism Association’s (MTA) Board of Directors. He was unanimously voted in as a board member at the MTA’s Annual Meeting on May 11 in Lewiston.
“We are thrilled to have Brian join our team with his extensive background in the restaurant business, years of legislative experience and reputation as a coalition builder,” said Chris Fogg, CEO of the Maine Tourism Association.
Langley, who resides in Ellsworth, owns and operates the Union River Lobster Pot Restaurant. He graduated from the University of Southern Maine and Syracuse University, and spent 27 years teaching culinary arts at Hancock County Technical Center. Langley is deeply involved in the community: volunteering with the Boy Scouts, serving on the board of the First Congregational Church of Ellsworth and serving as treasurer of the American Culinary Federation’s Downeast chapter. He also has served 10 years in the Maine Legislature representing the people of Hancock County—two years in the Maine House of Representatives and eight years in the State Senate. Langley and his wife have two grown children.
“Maine’s tourism industry deserves a great deal of credit and respect for all that it does for the economy and the people of Maine. It is one of Maine’s largest industries and offers a wide variety of jobs--some entry level, some highly skilled and everything in between. The jobs at every level provide a person the chance to turn it into a career, and live and work in Maine,” said Langley.
Fogg stated, “With Brian’s help we can continue to highlight the great work being done by Maine’s tourism workers. Brian’s thorough understanding of the issues facing tourism, including workforce and housing challenges and rising costs of doing business, will help further our mission and be a great asset for all our members.”
The Maine Tourism Association has over 1,500 members representing a full range of tourism businesses including restaurants, lodging establishments, camps and campgrounds, retail, amusements, and guides and other services. The MTA Board of Directors has included, in recent years, people who work directly in the tourism industry such as hotel, restaurant, retail store and campground owners as well as those who work with and benefit from the tourism industry such as teachers, bankers and attorneys.