By Wayne E. Rivet

Staff Writer

The Greater Bridgton Lakes Region Chamber of Commerce is in transition.

Monday, the Chamber released news that Executive Director Sue Mercer was leaving the organization.

“The Chamber of Commerce would like to wish a fond farewell to Sue Mercer. She served the Chamber well for seven years and we would like to wish her all the best in her future endeavors,” read the press release. The same message is the lead information on the Chamber’s website.

The released noted that the Chamber is currently staffed Mondays and Tuesdays from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Fridays from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. “to serve and support our members.”

The News reached out to Mercer via e-mail, but did not receive a response.

Chamber Board of Directors president Heidi Edwards (Personal Banker, Norway Savings Bank) did comment on the direction the organization plans to head in.

“First, I would like to share that like many other organizations, going through last year with COVID really made the Chamber board evaluate our effectiveness as well as our efficiencies. We have a full board of Directors for the first time in a long time and many of our Directors are new to us and bring with them a variety of experience and some fresh new ideas! We are working hard to reevaluate what we do, why we do it, and how we do it,” Edwards said. “We’re upgrading our technology and working to be a better supporter of local businesses. This is going to be a truly transitional year for the Chamber.”

Edwards said the Chamber may pass on filling the executive director position and opt for a different approach.

“The position that Sue left is not necessarily the position that we will need filled; though we haven’t worked out specifics yet,” she said. “With a volunteer board of business professionals, these things take a bit longer than they would for a regular business so you’ll have to stay tuned for a while longer on that.”

Edwards added that given many of the proposed changes, “Sue felt that it was time for her to move on.”

“She will be missed by the board as well as our members. Sue brought a lot to her position. She was a very outgoing and personable face for the Chamber. Sue knows everyone and everyone who knows Sue likes her. She really invested herself in the business of the Chamber and worked hard to maintain membership levels; always being one of the first people to reach out to new businesses to welcome them to the area and invite them to join the Chamber,” the Chamber president said. “Sue also coordinated many successful after-hours events and was the person you could count on to work in any capacity needed at our fund-raising events. She took great pride in being the organizer of our annual awards dinner; sharing in the successes of our members was a highlight for Sue!”

The Chamber’s Executive Board for 2021includes: President, Heidi Edwards, Norway Savings Bank; Vice President, Michele Jordan, Badger Realty; Past President, Kristine Karlsson, Chalmers Insurance Group; Secretary, Jessica Putnam, Edward Jones Investments; Treasurer, Dylan Anderson, Jones & Matthews P.A.

The Board of Directors include: Dana Chandler of Chandler Funeral Home, Charlotte Kelly of Key Bank, Ken Murphy of The Umbrella Factor, Nicholas Orgo of M.A.N.E. Catering and Event Services, Jill Rollins of Bridgton Hospital, Brian Sullivan of Bear Mountain Inn and Ruth York of Point Sebago.