For Immediate Release                                                                                 
Wednesday, Feb. 5, 2025                                                                                                         
Media Contact: Katie Clark
Cell: 207-233-2230
 
AUGUSTA, Maine (Feb. 5, 2025) – The Maine State Chamber of Commerce is pleased to welcome the newest members of the Chamber’s Board of Directors and newly-elected officers. The slate of directors was confirmed at the Chamber’s membership meeting in November, 2024. The first board meeting was held on Friday, Feb. 24, 2025.

Joining the Maine State Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors for a term beginning on Jan. 1, 2025 are:
Elise Baldacci, President of the Maine Credit Union League, Peter Cianchette, Vice President of Cianbro, David Daigler, President of the Maine Community College System, Sam Hight, Dealer Principal, Hight Ford Inc., Skowhegan and Hight Chevrolet GMC, Farmington, Nick Ireland, Chief Financial Officer at Seven Islands Land Company, Melinda Kinney, Vice President of Government Affairs at Martin’s Point Health Care, and Julie Rabinowitz, Communications Director for General Dynamics Bath Iron Works Corp.

Also joining the Board of Directors to replace parting board members with unexpired terms are:
Jennifer DeChant, External Affairs representing Summit Utilities/Colorado Natural Gas, Barry Doyle, President/CEO at Kennebec Technologies, and Kristine Ossenfort, Senior Government Relations Director at Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield.

Elected as board officers are:
Michael Bourque, President and CEO of MEMIC was elected as Board Chair. Geoffrey Baur,  Vice President of Finance at IDEXX Laboratories, Inc. will serve as first vice chair, Beth Greenlaw, President and Chief Sustainability Officer at Sea Bags will serve as second vice chair, Paul Bolin, Executive Vice President and Chief People & Administrative Officer at Northern Light Health will serve as treasurer, Ann Robinson, partner and Chair of Pierce Atwood's Government Relations & Lobbying Practice Group at Pierce Atwood LLP will serve as secretary, Melinda Caterine, Shareholder at Littler Mendelson, P.C. will serve as a member on the executive committee, and LuAnn Ballesteros, Vice President, External and Government Affairs at the Jackson Laboratory will serve as the past board chair.

​For more information, and a full list of the Chamber’s Directors, see our website. 

For Immediate Release                                                                                           
Monday, February 3, 2025
Media contact: Katie Clark
207-233-2230 (cell)
 
AUGUSTA, Maine (Feb. 3, 2025) – The Maine State Chamber of Commerce has been monitoring the news regarding President Trump’s proposed tariffs on imports from Canada, Mexico, and China. The White House announced on Saturday that the planned tariffs would go into effect on February 4, 2025, and apply to all imports.
 
These tariffs would significantly impact trade relations with the United States' largest trading partners. Of particular concern for the State of Maine are the proposed 25% tariffs on Canadian goods and 10% tariff on energy imports. Canada is Maine’s top trading partner, and Maine is in a particularly unique situation being second in the nation both in the percentage of Maine’s imports coming from Canada (67%) and exports going to Canada (52%).    
 
The Maine State Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Patrick Woodcock issued the following statement in response:
 
“The broad and significant tariff imposed on Canadian imports will be particularly damaging to our state’s economy given Maine’s unique and significant trade position with Canada. While we welcome a comprehensive strategy to promote domestic manufacturing, we are concerned that applying a tariff to all imports will be disruptive to existing supply chains and manufacturing in Maine, and result in a material increase in energy costs right when Maine businesses and households are struggling with energy bills this winter. We hope for a quick resolution so as to not disrupt supply chains and avoid extended increased costs on Maine households and businesses.”