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.