Meet the Team
Susan Ruhlin
President + CEO
"We are the ones we’ve been waiting for."
As President and CEO of the Lewiston Auburn Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce, Susan provides strategic leadership to support the Chamber’s members and strengthen the broader regional business community. She oversees day-to-day operations, partnership development, financial stewardship, and long-term planning in collaboration with the Board of Directors and stakeholders across the Chamber’s 16 member communities.
Susan is both a seasoned nonprofit executive and an entrepreneur. She brings more than two decades of experience in economic development, innovation programming, and organizational leadership. Most recently, she served as Managing Director of the Dirigo Labs accelerator at the Central Maine Growth Council, where she launched and led initiatives that supported startup growth, helped secure public and private funding, and built meaningful cross-sector partnerships across Maine and nationally. Her work has included collaboration with national partners such as the Center on Rural Innovation, leadership of Maine’s SBA FAST program, and strategic partnerships with state agencies, investors, and industry leaders.
Susan currently serves on the board of Hewnoaks Artist Residency in Lovell and remains active in Maine’s entrepreneurial and nonprofit communities. She believes Chambers play a vital role in creating connection, advancing opportunity, and ensuring that businesses of all sizes can thrive. She is committed to strengthening relationships across the region and positioning the LA Metro Chamber and its member communities for long-term economic vitality.
Dawn Kulish
Operations Manager
“Work smarter, not harder.”
With a B.S. in history and experience in archival research, Dawn is the one to look to for information and new ideas. She’s not afraid to comb through any and all resources to find answers or inspiration—it’s actually her happy place. Her friendly nature and willingness to learn are invaluable to her team and the community.
When she’s not digging into research or assisting at a Chamber function, you can find her reading, spending time with her family, flexing her photography skills, or getting really into Genealogy.
Nicole Poulin
Communications Coordinator
“You can’t fill from an empty cup, taking breaks and resting is vital!”
As Communications Coordinator, Nicole supports the communications, scheduling and planning of the Chamber’s leadership, including the President + CEO and the Board and Committees of the Chamber. Nicole is our social media maven, supporting the Director of Engagement in promoting our region and members. Nicole spent four years previously in the Chamber industry and brings more than a decade of customer service and office administration experience to the LA Metro Chamber team and membership.
During work you can find Nicole on various social media sites or with multiple browsers open coordinating calendars. When away from the office, you will find Nicole planning her next Disney trip, weight training and running, or supporting local breweries and distilleries. She takes on all these activities with her husband and young daughter.
Sam Herriot
Director of Engagement
“Eventually everything connects – and it makes this big old world feel like a tiny village!”
As the Director of Engagement, Sam is dedicated to serving the LA Metro Chamber’s vibrant membership, fostering strong community relationships, and ensuring that members are fully supported, engaged, and connected. She is passionate about the power of communication and, thanks to a degree in Languages and Politics, loves connecting people to ideas and solutions. She made her home in Maine after a career as a project manager for the British government where her special talent was taking big ideas and figuring out all the moving parts to make them happen.
Outside of work, you’ll likely find her on stage in community theater, swimming in Maine’s lakes (even when they are a bit frozen), or relaxing at home with her wife and two cats, working on a cozy hobby—this year, it’s landscape painting!
Becca Tinkham
Director of Marketing & Communications
"It's kind of fun to do the impossible.”
Becca Tinkham is a graphic designer and marketing professional who has been working in nonprofit marketing and communications since 2016. With a degree in graphic design and a career that’s grown through roles in development, membership, and event planning, she’s become a true one-stop shop for storytelling. As Director of Marketing & Communications at the LA Metro Chamber, Becca especially values the opportunity to promote not just one organization, but the entire LA region—supporting local businesses, strengthening community connections, and helping tell the story of the place she calls home.
Outside of work, Becca is a mom to 3 kids and 3 doggos, a Disney-loving, Halloween-obsessed creative who runs on iced coffee year-round. She and her fiancé are raising an artistic, slightly nerdy family, and you can often find her immersed in community theater as an actress, director, choreographer, or behind-the-scenes creative. Whether she’s designing, volunteering, or connecting people, Becca’s heart is rooted in community, creativity, and supporting local.
Justin Morin
Events Coordinator
Justin Morin brings a passion for community, creativity, and connection to his work with the LA Metro Chamber. Originally from Massachusetts, Justin spent 10 years living in New York City, where he cultivated a deep appreciation for diverse communities and lifelong learning before relocating back to the Lewiston-Auburn area. Prior to joining the Chamber, Justin dedicated nearly five years to Tree Street Youth in Lewiston, where he supported youth development and helped foster meaningful opportunities for local families. His commitment to community-building continues to shape his work today. A lifelong lover of learning and the arts, Justin will step into the role of Artistic Director at Community Little Theatre this fall, further deepening his involvement in the region’s vibrant cultural scene. Justin currently resides in Litchfield with his partner and their two dogs, Charlie and Peaches.
