Commissioner
 Scott Soares has worked for the Massachusetts Department of Agricultural
Resources (MDAR) since 1996 and during that time has served in a variety
of capacities. Hired as the Commonwealth’s first Aquaculture Coordinator,
his work to develop and implement the Aquaculture Development Program has
enabled continued growth, diversification and expansion of aquatic cultivation
in Massachusetts. He then served a brief tenure as Acting Director of Agricultural
Development, as the agency’s key contact for Agricultural Commission development
and collaboration with the Accelerated Conservation Planning Partnership
that works to enhance the delivery of conservation planning services to
Massachusetts farms by the Massachusetts Association of Conservation Districts,
the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service and the Massachusetts Department
of Agricultural Resources. Following his tenure as Acting Commissioner
of the Department from January to November of 2007, Mr. Soares was appointed
MDAR’s Assistant Commissioner and Chief-of-Staff. In this capacity he worked
with the agricultural community at large, state and federal partners, and
other government officials to strengthen and enhance the long-term viability
of agriculture in our Commonwealth. In April of 2009, Mr. Soares was appointed
by Secretary Ian Bowles to spearhead the Department’s initiatives towards
a vibrant agricultural future for the Commonwealth. Scott Soares has been
recognized throughout the industry as a strong advocate for agricultural
interests including most recently from the Cape Cod Cranberry Growers’
Association for the 2009 Government Leadership Award. After seven years
of active and reserve service to the U.S. Army, Scott graduated Cum Laude
from the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth with a double major in Biology
and Marine Biology and obtained graduate training at the University of
Rhode Island.
Scott J. Soares
Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources
251 Causeway Street, Suite 500
Boston, MA 02114-2151
617-626-1701
Scott.Soares@state.ma.us
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