AUBURN — The city of Auburn has added a new member to its “growth, quality and investment” team, selecting John Blais as the new urban development specialist.

Blais, a graduate of Unity College and the University of Southern Maine’s Muskie School of Public Service, is assigned to the planning and permitting department. A veteran with extensive experience in government planning and development, Blais has worked previously for the state in the Bureau of General Services/Real Estate Management and Department of Conservation; the Maine Army National Guard as master planner; and the Kennebec County Soil and Water Conservation District as watershed project director.

He also has private sector experience in Maine and California as a project manager/estimator, environmental inspector, civil manager and more.

A resident of Vassalboro, Blais owns and runs a professional, full-service guide company specializing in freshwater fishing.