Maine Securities Administrator Selected to Head International Organization

Department of Professional and Financial Regulation Commissioner Anne Head announced today that Maine's Securities Administrator, Judith Shaw, Esq., has been selected to serve as President-elect of the North American Securities Administrators Association (NASAA). Administrator Shaw's one-year term as President will begin in 2016.

"The Department is proud of the work performed and accomplishments realized by the Office of Securities under Judy's leadership," said Commissioner Head. "Her commitment to protecting Maine consumers and maintaining a level playing field for industry participants makes Judy an asset for both our Department and NASAA."

NASAA is the oldest international organization devoted to investor protection. In the United States, NASAA is the voice of state securities agencies responsible for efficient capital formation and grass-roots investor protection. The organization's mission is protecting consumers who purchase securities or investment advice, and its jurisdiction extends to a wide variety of issuers and intermediaries who offer and sell securities to the public.

"I am excited to take on this new challenge and look forward to working closely with our industry and regulatory partners," Shaw said. "Maine has been at the forefront of many initiatives, including new capital formation legislation and programs to identify and address elder financial exploitation, and I'm eager to share our experiences in Maine with colleagues in other states and countries."

The Office of Securities protects Maine investors by investigating and prosecuting violations of the securities laws; licensing broker-dealers, agents, investment advisers, and investment adviser representatives; and reviewing registration statements and exemption filings for securities issuers that are seeking to sell in Maine. Consumers may contact the Office of Securities to check an adviser, salesperson or investment, or to obtain other information related to investing, by calling (877) 624-8551 or visiting the Office's website at www.investors.maine.gov.

Maine's Office of Securities is one of five agencies within Maine's Department of Professional and Financial Regulation (www.maine.gov/pfr).