Staff Writer
PRESQUE ISLE – Matt McHatten, senior vice president of external operations at MMG Insurance, was recently named by Mainebiz as one of the next 10 people shaping the future of Maine’s economy.
“Every year Mainebiz does a special issue where they pick 10 people across the state that they feel are influencing the shaping of Maine’s economy and other types of business happenings,” said McHatten, “and I was nominated and selected for the award.
“What was really neat was that they brought forth a really nice perspective on our area, and they also selected another individual from here, Matt Bell, for the honor, as well,” he said. “That’s pretty neat for Aroostook County to have two people recognized like that.”
McHatten spoke with the publication’s editor several weeks ago and was asked to keep the acknowledgement under wraps.
“She then made arrangements for the interview, which she conducted,” he said. “It was quite a lengthy interview. She wanted to know a lot about what’s going on with young professionals in The County, how I’ve been involved in that, how our company’s been involved, and things like that.
“Subsequent to that, they had a photographer come up here and take the photos,” said McHatten. “It was all very professionally done.”
Featured in the Oct. 19 issue, McHatten has actually been quoted in Mainebiz before.
“I’ve been quoted a couple of times. One was an article about the Young Professionals Institute and another article regarding climate changes’ effect on the insurance industry in Maine,” he said. “Mainebiz is a magazine very much focused on elements and things that are driving the economy in Maine and business-related issues. It’s a very, very solid publication in that regard.”
McHatten, 41, said he was “definitely surprised” to be chosen as one of the next 10 people shaping the state’s economy.
“You go through your work and you do the things you do because they’re important to do, but to be selected and recognized certainly is quite an honor,” he said, “and it’s very humbling when you look at the other individuals who have been selected in the past. For me, equally important, was to make sure when I had the opportunity to talk about what’s going on that there was depth and perspective about what we’re doing as a company, but more so all the great things that are happening here in northern Maine.
“To have the ability to be featured in a relatively prominent publication talking about that was important because obviously this area is important to me,” said McHatten. “I’m humbled by the recognition, but pleased that they were looking in all facets of the state for great things. For me, it’s as much about Aroostook County as it is about me.”
The son of Lynwood and Penelope McHatten, Matt grew up in Ashland. After graduating from Ashland Community High School in 1986, he went to the University of Maine at Orono where he studied finance and received a bachelor of science degree in 1990. He has been at MMG Insurance for a little over eight years.
McHatten and his wife, Kelly, have two daughters, Shaye, 11, and Paige, 7.
Larry Shaw, president and chief executive officer of MMG, said McHatten was very deserving of the recognition.
“We were not surprised Matt was chosen,” said Shaw. “He’s been a valuable addition to the executive management team and is an energetic, hardworking, creative individual who’s had quite an impact on MMG since he’s been here. It’s a well-deserved honor.”
McHatten was recognized at an awards banquet Nov. 5 in Portland along with the other nine recipients.
Matt McHatten
