207-688-8195 Professional Logging Contractors of the Northeast

Executive Director

Dana Doran joined our staff in 2014.

Mr. Doran is a native Mainer and has significant ties to the forest products industry in Maine. Since returning to Maine in 1999, he has cultivated his passion for timber both professionally and personally.  He is a member of the Small Woodland Owners Association of Maine he has owned two woodlots that have been recognized by the American Tree Farm System.  He has also had a unique opportunity to serve in several positions with a diverse set of organizations, both public and private, in Washington, DC and here in Central Maine where logging was a topic of his work on various occasions.

From 1998-1999, Mr. Doran worked as a political appointee for then President William Clinton in the United States Department of Labor. From 1999-2001, he served Governor Angus King as Assistant Commissioner of Public Affairs for the Maine Department of Labor. In 2001, Mr. Doran joined Central Maine Power Company as their Director of Business Development, acting in this capacity until 2003. From 2003-07, Mr. Doran taught social studies and coached varsity basketball at Gardiner Area High School.  His most recent position was as Director of Energy and Paper Programs at Kennebec Valley Community College in Fairfield, Maine.  Mr. Doran held this position since 2010 and also served as Director of Resource Development for the college from 2007-10.

Mr. Doran is a 1996 graduate of Lafayette College, Easton, Pennsylvania, where he earned a B.A. in History/Government and Law. He was awarded an M.P.A. with a focus on Public Administration from the University of Connecticut in 1998. He and his family currently reside in Belgrade, Maine.

Office: (207) 688-8195

dana@plcloggers.org

Deputy Executive Director of Legislative & Public Affairs

Ben Grant joined our staff in November 2023.

Mr. Grant has more than a decade of experience in legislative and public affairs, most recently as Senior Legislative Aide for the Republican Office in the Maine House of Representatives. He previously served as Director of Public Affairs for Dirigo Partners of Cumberland, ME, a legislative aide in the Maine House, and as Acting State Director of StudentsFirst, a nonprofit organization based in California. Mr. Grant also was a self-employed blueberry harvester owner and operator for two years prior to starting his professional career.

Mr. Grant is a 2010 graduate of Thomas College in Waterville, ME, where he earned a B.S. in Sport Management with a Marketing Concentration. He has an extensive understanding of legislative affairs, advocacy, and communications.

Office: (207) 688-8195

ben@plcloggers.org

Deputy Executive Director for Membership & Operations 

Jessica Clark joined our staff in February of 2015.

Ms. Clark has more than 12 years of prior business experience owning and managing several successful franchise locations throughout the Central Maine area. She has also spent over ten years with the Gardiner Main Street program Board of Directors.
Ms. Clark is a 2002 graduate of Thomas College, where she earned a B.S. in Finance and Economics. She was also awarded an M.B.A. in Finance and Economics from Thomas College in 2003.

Ms. Clark has an extensive understanding of the logging industry as a result of family ties to the profession.

Office: (207) 688-8195

jessica@plcloggers.org

PLC Safety and Training Coordinator

Donald Burr joined our staff in the Spring of 2018

Mr. Burr has more than 20 years experience as a logger, primarily as a feller buncher operator for Madden Timberlands. He also has extensive experience supervising crews and working with landowners and their foresters. He has assisted in safety training instruction, and program development. Don is also Fire Chief in Greenbush, a 1 & 2 / EMT B with 25+ years of experience, who started out as a firefighter and then spent ten years as the training officer, before becoming Chief. For the last two years Don has also served as lead instructor and coordinator for the Mechanized Logging Operations Program – a partnership between the PLC, industry, and the Maine Community College System – a role he will continue.

Office: (207) 688-8195

safety@plcloggers.org

PLC Office Coordinator

Vanessa Tillson joined our staff in December of 2021.

Ms. Tillson is a resident of Sidney and she has a strong background in the logging and trucking industry. As Office Coordinator, Vanessa is coordinating the daily administrative affairs of the PLC and working closely with PLC Membership Services Coordinator Jessica Clark and PLC Executive Director Dana Doran. Her resume includes working as a CNA (certified nursing assistant), as a behavioral tech in RSU 18 and working as the Office Administrator for Laney Chiropractic Clinic in Augusta.

Vanessa is in the office weekdays from 8 a.m.-2:30 p.m.

Office: (207) 688-8195

office@plcloggers.org

PLC Membership Services Coordinator

Renee’ Wright joined our staff in November 2023.

Ms. Wright is a resident of Skowhegan and has more than five years of experience in office management, safety roles, and rental operations management for a heavy equipment dealership in Skowhegan, where she worked frequently with logging contractors. Prior to that she worked as a park ranger at Lake George Regional Park in Skowhegan. She is a 2019 graduate of Unity College in Unity, ME with a BS in Conservation Law Enforcement.

Office: (207) 688-8195

renee@plcloggers.org