Maryland's Low Ratings Result of Pro-Environmental Legislature
New Hamsphire Executive Director Named 40 under 40
New Hamsphire Executive Director Named 40 under 40
Jim O'Brien, Executive Director of GSCVA, was recently named one of the 40 individuals under the age of forty in NH by the only statewide newspaper, the Union Leader.
Link to the article: http://www.unionleader.com/article.aspx?headline=Jim+O%27Brien%3a+Nonprofit+promotes+conservation+agenda&articleId=a6c3f80f-417a-4a47-8ebc-072283e98ca3
Jim O'Brien: Nonprofit promotes conservation agenda
By KRISTEN SENZ
Contributing Writer
Wednesday, Jan. 17, 2007
Age: 31
Residence: Contoocook
Birthplace: Manchester
Family: Wife, Amy Carrier-O’Brien; sons, Aiden, 10, Owen, 3, and Liam, 8 months
High school: Manchester Memorial High School
College/post-grad degrees: B.A., University of New Hampshire
Current job: Executive director, Granite State Conservation Voters Alliance
Key past positions held: Director of development, Concord Area Red Cross; campaign manager and chairman, Gordon Humphrey Gubernatorial Campaign (2002); owner, Stepping Stone Management (political and technology consulting company); director of operations, Citizens for Civic Pride (organization that campaigned for Manchester Civic center referendum vote)
Volunteer activities: Steering Committee, Leadership Greater Concord; Steering Committee, Carbon Coalition; trustee, Greater Concord Leadership and Education Foundation; parent volunteer, Hopkinton Independent School
Most admired person (outside your family): Martin Luther King, Jr.
Key current professional challenge: To help elect leaders from both parties who will make the protection of New Hampshire’s environment a top priority, and to hold those elected officials accountable for their voting record while in office.
Last major achievement: Helping to make New Hampshire’s environment a key issue in several important State Senate races during the 2006 election. Also, leading the effort to raise over $2 million to build the new Concord Red Cross headquarters and training center.
Biggest problem facing New Hampshire: The aging of New Hampshire’s population and the inability to keep young professionals in state. Statistics show that those moving to the state are retirees and older professionals, while younger workers are leaving the state for economic opportunities, a more urban setting and because of the cost of living and buying a home is more expensive in New Hampshire. This is a major long- term problem for the state as a young educated workforce is necessary to continue economic growth, and to provide the resources necessary for the state to care for the older population.
Favorite place in New Hampshire: Summit of Mount Liberty, Franconia Range
What book are you reading now? "Independence Day" by Richard Ford; "This Grand and Magnificent Place: The Wilderness Heritage of the White Mountains" by Christopher Johnson; and "Guns, Germs and Steel: The Fate of Human Societies" by Jared Diamond
How do you relax? It's very hard to really relax with three small children, although I find hiking, reading, cooking, and spending quality time with my family as ways to break away from work.
What Web sites do you visit most often? Drudge Report, Dr. Bill Siroty’s New Hampshire News Links, New Hampshire newspaper Web sites
Favorite TV show, radio station or musical artist: Television: Baseball and football; Musical group : Phish
CONTOOCOOK – With a list of previous jobs that includes gubernatorial campaign manager, fund-raiser, small business owner, and enviro-political activist, it's hard to believe that Jim O'Brien of Contoocook is only 31 years old.
O'Brien, a New Hampshire native, is the executive director of the Granite State Conservation Voters Alliance, a nonprofit organization that lobbies for environmental interests in Concord. As the first full-time director of the alliance, O'Brien helped environmentally minded senators and state representatives get elected to the New Hampshire Legislature during last year's election.
In 2002, O'Brien managed former U.S. Sen. Gordon Humphrey's gubernatorial campaign, and had Humphrey been elected, he would have made O'Brien his chief of staff. Prior to that, O'Brien owned and operated Stepping Stone Management, a fund-raising, media and technology consulting firm. In 1999, O'Brien was director of operations for the campaign that brought the Verizon Wireless Arena to Manchester.
Since 2002, O'Brien has served as development director for a variety of nonprofit organizations, including the Concord Area chapter of the American Red Cross, where he helped raise $2 million for the construction of a new headquarters and training center. Nearly all of O'Brien's work has focused on the growth and development of organizations that serve the residents of New Hampshire.
Looking toward the future, O'Brien said he sees maintaining a strong population of young professionals as New Hampshire's biggest challenge.
"Statistics show that those moving to the state are retirees and older professionals, while younger workers are leaving the state for economic opportunities, a more urban setting and because of the cost of living," he said. "This is a major long-term problem for the state as a young, educated workforce is necessary to continue economic growth, and to provide the resources necessary for the state to care for the older population."
A graduate of Manchester Memorial High School and the University of New Hampshire, O'Brien now lives in Contoocook with his wife, Amy Carrier-O'Brien, and their three children, Aiden, 10, Owen, 3, and Liam, 8 months.
