Green and Blue Career Advice

E2Tech’s Orion Breen moderated the Green & Blue Careers panel in the Exploring Maine Industries series hosted by Southern Maine Community College, University of Southern Maine, and Educate Maine to help students learn about different industries in Maine with the goal of supporting students’ career exploration and understanding of the world of work. The “green and blue” economy encompasses a wide range of job opportunities in various sectors including: marine, aquaculture, agriculture/horticulture, sustainability, stormwater, clean & renewable energy and other related fields.

Panelists who shared their their college-to-career journey in this video include:

• Chris Cary, COO & CMO, New England Ocean Cluster and Assistant Director of Commercialization, University of Southern Maine 

• Garron Dorr, Horticulturist & Horticultural Therapist, Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens 

• Lorren Ruscetta, Island Institute Fellow - Town of Chebeague, Island Institute 

• Samantha Bengs, Research Associate - Fisheries Ecology Lab, Gulf of Maine Research Institute  

• Stephanie Taylor, Executive Director, Kennebec County Soil & Water Conservation District

In a state defined by its forests and its coastline, the idea of “green and blue careers” can feel both intuitive and elusive. It gestures toward something expansive—an economy rooted in land and sea, sustainability and science—but for students and career changers, the pathways into that world are not always obvious.

This Green & Blue Careers panel set out to clarify those pathways. What emerged was less a tidy roadmap than a more honest portrait: a field full of opportunity, shaped as much by curiosity, adaptability, and relationships as by any single degree. The panel brought together professionals from across Maine’s environmental and ocean sectors. Their work differed widely, but their stories shared a common thread: very few had followed a straight line to where they are now. For example, one panelist began in music before pivoting into marine science. Careers in Maine are rarely linear, and that does not need to be considered a flaw—it can be a feature.

That flexibility reflects the nature of the sector itself. “Green” and “blue” careers span everything from renewable energy and sustainable agriculture to fisheries science and coastal infrastructure. They include hands-on work outdoors, technical research in labs, policy and planning roles, and entrepreneurial ventures. As was discussed in the panel, the defining principle is sustainability—work that supports environmental health, economic viability, and community well-being all at once.

But if the scope is broad, the challenges can be many. Maine’s clean energy and ocean sectors are growing (see the new Maine Clean Energy Industry Report), and with that growth comes a demand for workers—more technicians, more scientists, more planners, more communicators. At the same time, the landscape is shifting. Federal funding priorities change. Projects like offshore wind face roadblocks. Workers in the field must learn not just technical skills, but resilience and adaptability.

For students considering these careers, the panel’s advice was both practical and philosophical.

Start with experience. Internships, research opportunities, and even volunteer roles are often great entry points. They are, as one speaker described them, “free trials”—a way to test an industry, build skills, and make connections without long-term commitment. 

Just as important is the willingness to experiment. Try different roles. Take risks. Don’t be afraid to pivot. Panelists emphasized that understanding what you don’t want to do can be just as valuable as finding what you do.

Underlying all of this is the importance of relationships. Networking, the panelists suggested, is less about formal events and more about genuine curiosity. Talk to people. Ask questions. Follow up. Seek mentors. Whether it’s a professor, a supervisor, or a professional you admire, those connections often open doors that credentials alone cannot.

And then there are the so-called “soft skills”—communication, time management, the ability to work with others. In a field that spans disciplines and sectors, these skills are not secondary; they are essential. A marine scientist must communicate findings to policymakers. A planner must engage with local communities. A conservationist must translate technical knowledge into practical action.

The panel illustrated how careers evolve over time, shaped by experience, relationships, and a willingness to adapt. For those entering Maine’s green and blue economy, that may be the most important lesson. The opportunities are real and growing, from the forests to the fisheries, from boots on the ground in small towns to research institutions with a global perspective. But the path into that world is not a straight highway. It is, instead, a network of trails—some well marked, others less so—waiting for those willing to explore them.