The Greater Concord Chamber of Commerce’s Concord Young Professionals Network (CYPN) introduces you to another “Young Professional of the Month,” Todd Fabian.
How old are you? 37
Where do you live? Concord.
Where do you currently work? Director of the Concord Public Library.
Where did you go to school? I grew up in Pennsylvania and stayed through graduate school, successfully garnering student debt all across the Keystone State. High school was in a suburb of Lancaster, Penn. I started my college education with a B.A. in writing/business through Juniata College, to a Master of Library and Information Science at Clarion University, and finished with a Master of Education at Millersville University.
What do you like to do for fun? I really enjoy exploring anywhere, but especially northern New England. I like to meander around scenic roads to find new trails to bike, water to kayak or mountains to snowboard. On my travels I always research local cuisines to taste, unique shops to browse and new breweries to sample.
Favorite places to be? I really just enjoy getting out into nature and finding a quiet spot to pause, look around and be thankful most of New Hampshire has no traffic congestion!
Last book you’ve read? The Bad-Ass Librarians of Timbuktu. The title alone is a must pick up for any librarian who longs hopelessly to be Indiana Jones, but it’s also a fascinating look at how a handful of dedicated people smuggled countless literary works out of Mali before they could be destroyed. Sadly, throughout our written history, destroying texts and other records of cultural and informational heritage of peoples is a common practice among invaders.
How did you find out about CYPN, and how has it benefited your business or you personally? Last year a colleague mentioned an event hosted by CYPN and of course my first question was, “What’s CYPN?” It has been beneficial to attend various CYPN events around Concord and make the library more visible in a different community outlet. It’s also been great to network and get to know other young professionals around Concord.
Most inspirational person in your life: A buddy I grew up with has had a litany of bad luck health issues over the last several years. Despite the spate of negativity, every day he rises and battles, stays positive and feels just a bit better every day. He is strength, courage and bravery all personified and a daily reminder to live life to the fullest and wash the negativity away.
What’s your favorite restaurant in Concord? I like to walk around Concord for lunch a few times a week and lately I’ve definitely been frequenting Wellington’s (Marketplace) the most. Cheese sample, yes please! I’m hoping after the Main Street project is complete we’ll have many more restaurants to check out, perhaps some that are even open on Sundays, gasp!
What’s your favorite place to go in Concord? I’ve got a few city trails left to cross off my list, so those are definitely up there.
Favorite movie of all time? I’m not sure I can pick only one, but I enjoy movies that are either so clever or so cleverly fallible that they leave me just confused enough that I need to watch them again and again. . . . Movies like Inception and Prometheus.
Favorite famous person? Tom Oar, a homesteader from Yaak Valley, Mont. He probably doesn’t know that his old ways of living are preserving the past, which makes him famous to me, but that’s part of the charm. He’s also one of the characters featured on the TV show, Mountain Men on History Channel.
If you could visit any country, where would you go? New Zealand is near the top of my list, partly to see the Shire and Mordor.
Where is the best place you’ve visited? I am big fan of Belgium. If more people sat outside regularly to eat mussels and fries, and read, all the while sipping Trappist beers, then the world would be a happier place.
Who would you really like to meet? I’d love to eat a glutinous meal with Anthony Bourdain.
