Eric Blom has been a journalist in Maine for 20 years, much of it as a business reporter and editor. He's been inside factories, office buildings and retail shops throughout the state, meeting with workers, shoppers, investors and executives about their hopes and fears. These days, as local and business news editor, he has a bird's eye view of what's happening in Maine commerce.

Eric, who was born in Rhode Island, has been heading north for some years now. He graduated from Boston University, edited a weekly newspaper in Belmont, Mass., and worked at the now-defunct Peabody Times in Massachusetts before coming to Maine. He lives in Portland with his wife and two children.

Knowing Maine's Business is a gathering spot for the respectful exchange of information and ideas about the marketplace.