Dana Eidsness

Dana joined Maine International Trade Center as a partner in January 2014 to open and run the newly-formed Maine North Atlantic Development Office (MENADO). In this role, Dana works with MITC, Invest in Maine and partners to develop trade and investment opportunities for Maine businesses in North Atlantic markets, including Northern Europe, Scandinavia and Eastern Canada. Additionally, Dana interfaces with the Arctic Council Secretariat, the North Atlantic Ocean Cluster Alliance and other Arctic and North Atlantic-related organizations, to represent Maine’s interests and to ensure that the state is included in important discussions regarding North Atlantic resources, sustainable development and emerging trade routes.

In prior positions, Dana served Director of International Business for the Vermont Chamber of Commerce, managing their international program and Shanghai Office, she was Executive Director of the Forum on Democracy & Trade from 2009-2011, Vermont Director of International Trade and Director of the Vermont Global Trade Partnership from 2005-2009; and she worked as a regional director for the Maine International Trade Center and as an International Project Manager for the Maine Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP), a program of the U.S. Department of Commerce and National Institute of Standards and Technology. Earlier in her career, Dana worked in the private sector in a variety of international positions and as an international business development consultant

Eidsness holds a B.A. in International Studies, with a minor in International Business and emphasis on Chinese language and culture from Dominican University in San Rafael, CA. She completed 2 years of study at World College West (now Presidio World College in San Francisco) in the International Service and Development Program. Dana lives on Orr’s Island with her husband and two daughters.