AUGUSTA — Secretary of State Charlie Summers has appointed a Stillwater businessman to serve as Maine’s small business advocate, a position created under a law aimed at removing burdensome business regulations.

Jay Martin, whose appointment was announced today, is a UMaine graduate with a 16-year career in the restaurant industry. He’s credited with expanding the Bangor-based Coffee News publication across the U.S.

Martin will reach out to businesses with 50 or fewer employees to address regulatory concerns and to resolve enforcement actions. He’ll also advise the Regulatory Fairness Board, which will report to the Legislature and to the governor on ways to improve the state’s business climate.