Peter Cianchette is a Maine

Maine

Maine is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States, bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the east and south, New Hampshire to the west, and the Canadian provinces of Quebec to the northwest and New Brunswick to the northeast. Maine is both the northernmost and easternmost...

 businessman, politician and former United States Ambassador to Costa Rica

United States Ambassador to Costa Rica

The following is a list of United States Ambassadors, or other Chiefs of Mission, to Costa Rica. The title given by the United States State Department to this position is currently Ambassador Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary.-See also:...

.

Early life and education

Cianchette was born and raised in Pittsfield. He attended Maine Central Institute

Maine Central Institute

The Maine Central Institute , is an independent high school, founded in 1866, located in Pittsfield, Maine, in the United States. The school enrolls approximately 500 students. MCI is a nonsectarian institution. The school has both boarding students and day students.-History:The Maine Central...

 and worked as a youth for the Cianbro construction and construction services company which his father, Ival “Bud” Cianchette, and his uncles, Ken, Carl and Chuck, founded in 1949. Cianchette was graduated from the University of Maine

University of Maine

The University of Maine is a public research university located in Orono, Maine, United States. The university was established in 1865 as a land grant college and is referred to as the flagship university of the University of Maine System...

 with a business administration degree.

Career

Ciancette worked in Cianbro’s Dragon Products cement division until 1985. In 1985, he moved to the South Portland area and worked in business there with The Cianchette Group, a public affairs management and business consulting firm; the Portland-based private investment firm, CHK Capital Partners; and, starting in 1998, the business and public affairs consulting firm, Pierce Atwood Consulting, where he served as chief operating officer and executive vice-president.

Public sector

Cianchette served two terms as a Maine State Representative

Maine House of Representatives

The Maine House of Representatives is the lower house of the Maine Legislature. The House consists of 151 members representing an equal amount of districts across the state. Each voting member of the House represents around 8,450 citizens of the state...

 (1996–2000) from South Portland and Cape Elizabeth and was the Republican

Republican Party (United States)

The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...

 candidate in Maine's 2002 gubernatorial election

Maine gubernatorial election, 2002

The Maine gubernatorial election of 2002 took place on November 5, 2002. Incumbent Independent Governor Angus King was term limited, and unable to seek re-election...

. He served on the National Republican Committee and as the Maine general chairman of the Bush

George W. Bush

George Walker Bush is an American politician who served as the 43rd President of the United States, from 2001 to 2009. Before that, he was the 46th Governor of Texas, having served from 1995 to 2000....

-Cheney

Dick Cheney

Richard Bruce "Dick" Cheney served as the 46th Vice President of the United States , under George W. Bush....

 2004 re-election campaign

United States presidential election, 2004

The United States presidential election of 2004 was the United States' 55th quadrennial presidential election. It was held on Tuesday, November 2, 2004. Republican Party candidate and incumbent President George W. Bush defeated Democratic Party candidate John Kerry, the then-junior U.S. Senator...

.

Cianchette was appointed ambassador by President Bush and sworn in on May 8, 2008. He presented his credentials on June 12, 2008 and served until June 19, 2009. He was the 56th person to hold the position and was succeeded by Anne S. Andrew.

Return to private sector

After service in Costa Rica, Cianchette rejoined Cianbro as vice president of business development, announced Cianbro chairman and CEO Peter Vigue. Bud Cianchette continues to serve as honorary chairman of the employee-owned company.

Personal and civic life

A community and civic activist, Cianchette served as a director on the boards of the Make-A-Wish Foundation

Make-A-Wish Foundation

The Make-A-Wish Foundation is a 501 non-profit organization founded in the United States that grants wishes to children who have life-threatening medical conditions. The charity now operates in forty-seven countries around the world through thirty-six affiliate offices.The president & CEO of this...

 of Maine and also served on the Republican National Committee

Republican National Committee

The Republican National Committee is an American political committee that provides national leadership for the Republican Party of the United States. It is responsible for developing and promoting the Republican political platform, as well as coordinating fundraising and election strategy. It is...

 and as director of the Greater Portland Big Brothers/Big Sisters

Big Brothers Big Sisters of America

Big Brothers Big Sisters of America is a 501 non-profit organization whose mission is to help children reach their potential through professionally supported, one-to-one relationships with mentors that try to have a measurable impact on youth....

, the Boy Scouts of America

Boy Scouts of America

The Boy Scouts of America is one of the largest youth organizations in the United States, with over 4.5 million youth members in its age-related divisions...

/Pine Tree Council, the Portland Chamber of Commerce, the Southern Maine Community College

Southern Maine Community College

Southern Maine Community College is a community college in South Portland, Maine, USA, and one of the seven colleges in the Maine Community College System.-History:...

Foundation, YES! to Youth.

He lives in Maine with his wife Carolyn and two children.

External links

• "What Is Peter Cianchette Up To?", Pine Tree Politics, September 21, 2009; speculation about a 2010 gubernatorial run
• "Peter Cianchette Rejoins Cianbro" The Exception Magazine, July 2, 2009; link to July 1, 2009 Bangor Daily News article