Last Friday, February 17, our board of directors concluded a 3-month search for a new President and CEO of the Lewiston Auburn Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce.  Rebecca Swanson Conrad will begin as our new President and CEO on March 27, 2017.  The search process was extensive, generating over 50 applicants from across the country.  Our 11-person selection committee led the search process, which included three rounds of interviews, with the final being in front of the entire board, extensive testing of the applicants, and thorough reference checks. We were thrilled with the tremendous interest in the position from a group of highly qualified applicants.

Rebecca Swanson Conrad is currently the Vice President for Institutional Advancement at Maine College of Art in Portland, Maine where she has worked since 2006. She was co-owner with her husband of Austin’s Fine Wines and Foods for 20 years, and for 3 years owned and operated Rÿsen Home Garden & Antiques, a retail gallery promoting local art and products that supported international women’s economic development. Both shops were located in downtown Auburn. Prior to Rÿsen, Conrad’s career spanned 21 years in higher education administration at Bates College, including 1999-2003 when she served as executive director of LA Excels, the college’s non-profit community development partnership in Lewiston-Auburn focused on leadership, arts, educational aspirations and economic revitalization. She served on the Maine Arts Commission for seven years, with four as vice-chair. Volunteer board roles include chair of the Lewiston Auburn Economic Growth Council, past chair of L/A Arts and Androscoggin Home Care & Hospice, vice chair of the Maine Association of Nonprofits and as a board member of Advocates for Children, the Androscoggin County Chamber of Commerce and the advisory boards of USM/LA College and Central Maine Community College. Conrad received her BA in English from Bates College and studied in the New England Studies MFA Program at the University of Southern Maine. She lives in Auburn with her husband Austin Conrad, Jr. and her cat, Charles Mingus.

The entire board of directors, and particularly our 11-member selection committee deserve a tremendous amount of credit for the time and effort they put into a very extensive search process.  They were ably assisted by former board chair, Art Boulay of Strategic Talent Management.

The purpose of the Chamber Member Employee Scholarship Program is to recognize an employee of a LA Metro Chamber member who has shown effort in advancing his or her education at the college level.

Scholarship Awards

Scholarships of $1000 each will be awarded annually. The scholarships will be awarded directly to the recipient. One award will be made per individual, although the award may be divided to apply to two semesters of college work.

• Preference will be given to applicants who have not previously won an Adult Scholarship from the Lewiston Auburn Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce

Eligibility

Applicants will…

• Be employed 20 or more hours by a member in good standing of the Lewiston Auburn Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce
• Begin course(s) within 6 months of receiving award
• Be matriculated in college-level coursework applicable toward an Associates, Bachelor’s or Master’s degree
• Have a high school diploma or equivalent
• Be at least 18 years old

Application Requirements

• Scholarship application
• 250-300 word typewritten essay (see attached)
• Completed employer verification form
• Professional letter of reference/recommendation (more points will be given when the author is knowledgeable of the applicant’s professional work and/or collegiate work and speak to: motivation, financial need, aspirations, etc.)
• Unofficial transcript or letter of acceptance for upcoming semester
• Application MUST be complete to be considered!

Deadlines

The application and employer verification form must be received by May 5, 2017. Recipients will be notified by June 2, 2017 (Scholarship recipients will be notified by mail/e-mail.)

2017 Scholarship Application is now available! Download it here

Congratulations to our 2017 Annual Award recipients!

Tickets are available to purchase for our 2017 Annual Meeting, Thursday, January 26, 2017 at the Ramada Inn, Lewiston.

Ray Geiger – Chamber Champion

The Ray Geiger Award is the highest honor given to a member by the Lewiston Auburn Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce. It is the chamber’s most prestigious award. It is given to an individual who has proven to be a champion of and for the chamber. The award is presented to an individual who has invested a great deal of time, energy, and resources into furthering the chamber’s mission and working toward bettering our communities.

The winner is… Peter Chalke

Theresa Samson – Women’s Business Leadership

The Theresa Samson award honors a successful woman business owner or primary manager, for her business success, career achievements and contributions to the community. Businesses led by women are and will continue to have a noticeable impact on the economy. This annual award helps inspire the continued growth of women leading businesses in our community.

The winner is… Cyndi Robbins

Ken Additon – Small Business Advocacy

The Ken Additon Small Business Advocacy Award goes to an individual who has demonstrated commitment to small-business advocacy above and beyond policies that specifically impact their own business or industry and a proven history of volunteer efforts to advance and improve the overall small-business community. In addition, success in advocating for pro-small business policies and success and growth as a small-business owner.

The winner is… Michael Dostie

Icon Award

The icon award is a community person, business or organization that has truly become an icon in our community. This community icon will be immortalized forever with the creation of an actual icon to be utilized in the LA Metro Chamber’s branding.

The winner is… Simones Hot Dog Stand

Community Service Award

The Community Service Award honors outstanding individuals or organizations that give their time and expertise to the community, above and beyond their own field of endeavor, and demonstrate excellence, creativity and initiative in all they do. The recipient is an inspiration to the community, both in their profession and in their efforts to make the LA region a better place to live, work and play.

The winner is… Kora Shrine Center

Business Leadership Award

A business, agency, organization, community or non-profit corporation which has helped invigorate the economic health of the area while also contributing to the social, cultural, intellectual or physical well being of the LA region.

The winner is… Geiger

President’s Award

An individual or organization chosen by the chamber president for an outstanding achievement or recognizable contribution.

The winner is… Lewiston High School state champion soccer team

Outstanding Chamber Member Award

An individual or organization chosen by the chamber staff for their outstanding contribution to the chamber.

The winner is… Life Center at John F. Murphy Homes

8 Strategies for Aspiring Leaders, LA Metro Chamber Premier Speaker Series, August 19

On Friday, August 19 from 8am to Noon, the LA Metro Chamber will host 8 Strategies for Aspiring Leaders as part of their premier speaker series. The seminar will be held at the Hilton Garden Inn Auburn Riverwatch, 14 Great Falls Plaza, Auburn.

This seminar addresses the challenges you face as a new or emerging leader. You’ll leave with actionable strategies and tactics you can put into practice in your business or company culture – today. This is not a lecture!  You’re part of an engaging conversation — complete with group exercises to help you develop Character Disciplined Leadership at ALL levels, independent of title or position!

Perfect for:

• Aspiring leaders within an organization
• Recent college graduates
• Leadership development candidates
• Professionals transitioning to a new leadership role
• New Entrepreneurs / Business Owners

Your session includes:

• The SL 15: online questionnaire identifying leadership challenges and goals prior to the event. Findings will become part of your group discussion
• Your copy of “8 Strategies For Aspiring Leaders”
• Your personal Sensei Leader workbook
• Complimentary access to our online program

BONUS: Signed copy of the Sensei Leader included — limited to the first 50 registrations!

Presenter: Jim Bouchard of Black Belt Mindset Productions, LLC. “I’m a former drug addict and two time college dropout. I used to think that was a miserable resume for someone who trains leaders to be better people. I now know that it is the perfect resume.  Leaders are made, not born.  I’ll go a little further, leaders are transformed. Leaders are people who transform themselves through their experiences, opportunities and challenges to become the people others count on for inspiration, guidance and action. I transformed myself from a loser to a leader––from a drug abuser to a Black Belt, and later to Sensei. Over 25 years of teaching I helped hundreds of others transform themselves into Black Belts, and thousands more discover their best selves.”

Jim’s keynotes, workshops and seminars help you build and maintain a strong culture of “character disciplined leadership,” the foundation of organizational success. He is an internationally recognized business speaker, trainer and author of The Sensei Leader and Think Like a Black Belt.

“The Sensei Leader was a home run! (Jim’s) presentation was outstanding and we couldn’t be happier.”

Download the flyer to print and share!

Reserve your seat today! Price is $149 for LA Metro Chamber members and $249 for non members. Registration is available at www.LAMetroChamber.com. For questions, call 207-783-2249.