An Important Announcement from Our Board Chair |  Monday, April 25, 2022

Dear Valued Member,

At Friday’s board of directors meeting, Dana Connors, president and CEO of the Maine State Chamber of Commerce since 1994, informed the board that he plans to retire as head of the Chamber at the end of the year after nearly three decades at the helm. Dana said, “After nearly 30 years with the Maine State Chamber and a career spanning more than 50 years - all of it right here in Maine - the decision to retire from the Chamber was extremely difficult. It has been a tremendous honor and pleasure to serve Maine and Maine’s business community at this level for this long. I feel, however, that the time is right for a leadership change at the Chamber, and I look forward to pursuing new opportunities and spending more time with my wife and family.” It has been a true privilege to work with Dana over the years, most recently as the Chamber’s board chair. He is a great example of a leader who listens, works tirelessly to advance the State’s economic future, and has led the Chamber to represent our members’ priorities in an effective and collaborative way. His leadership has served us all well and has also allowed him to attract and assemble an outstanding advocacy team and chamber staff. Dana is seen as a valuable resource for legislators and administrations. It goes without saying that his positive impact on this State and our collective interests are so very appreciated. Numerous accomplishments and achievements mark Dana’s tenure at the Chamber. Included among them are that in his first years leading the Chamber, Dana - along with then Governor Angus King and Commissioner of the Department of Economic and Community Development Tom McBrierty - created Maine & Co., the state’s top entity for business attraction. Dana also has received statewide acclaim for the Chamber’s Making Maine Work series focusing on key economic issues that encourage investment and economic growth in Maine. As a champion for education, including early childhood learning and career and technical education, the Chamber’s Education Foundation was created under Dana’s leadership. His leadership also helped Maine’s business community navigate the many recent challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, including serving on Governor Mills’ Economic Recovery Committee to help develop policy recommendations to stabilize Maine’s economy and build the state’s path forward. Dana’s service on numerous boards and the many awards and honors he has received for his leadership throughout his career - including the honorary doctorate he received in 2015 from his alma mater, the University of Maine - speak to how highly regarded Dana is as a consensus builder, problem solver, and partner on issues and initiatives important to Maine people and the state’s economy and future. He is a respected and prominent voice on issues of importance to Maine’s business community, and well-known for his commitment to improving prosperity for all Maine people, employers, and Maine’s economy. As the Maine State Chamber’s Board of Directors begins the process of launching a search for a new president, on behalf of the board, I would like to extend our deep appreciation and sincere thanks to Dana for his tireless leadership and the example he has set for all of us. I am sure he will be crossing paths with us in the future. We will keep you, our members, updated during this time of transition and as we make plans to celebrate and honor Dana for his extraordinary leadership.

Sincerely, Clif Greim, Frosty Hill Consulting Board Chair, Maine State Chamber