New leader settles in at Sebago Lakes Region Chamber of Commerce

By Ed Pierce

An experienced leader will serve as the President and Chief Executive Officer for the Sebago Lakes Region Chamber of Commerce.

Amber Rankine is the new President and CEO of the Sebago
Lakes Region Chamber of Commerce. She formerly led the 
Greater Fort Kent Area Regional Chamber of Commerce.
PHOTO BY ED PIERCE 

Amber Rankine started in her new position in Windham earlier this week and she succeeds Robin Mullins in leadership role of the chamber.

“With a robust background in regional economic development, she previously served as the Executive Director at the Greater Fort Kent Area Regional Chamber of Commerce,” said Jonathan Priest, chair of the SLRCC Board of Directors. “Amber brings a wealth of experience and a deep commitment to community growth.”

Priest said that Rankine is eager to build new relationships in the community and is hoping to make a positive difference locally through her work with the chamber.

“She is eager to collaborate with local businesses and stakeholders to enhance the economic vitality and quality of life in the Sebago Lakes Region,” he said. “Please stop in at the chamber and introduce yourself to her at any time.”

As President and CEO of the chamber, Rankine will work in collaboration with the SLRCC’s Board of Directors and will be responsible for all facets of the organization’s performance. Her primary objectives include implementing strategic initiatives to promote the economic prosperity of the Sebago Lakes Region through promoting, marketing, and advocating for the interests of the membership, developing a strong membership base, and supervising all Chamber of Commerce staff.

“Sebago Lakes Region has always been my happy place,” Rankine said. “From the time I could walk we gathered here every summer as a family to visit a camp on Watchic Lake. Since then, most of my immediate family has all migrated to the area and my family has had a desire to live and thrive in the area alongside of them.”

Rankine said that her goal in this new role will be to become a positive support for business and community engagement and to bring to the two together collaboratively.

“In order to do this job well it is imperative to have a good knowledge of the businesses and the community as a whole, so I have a lot of learning to do to get to that point,” she said. “I most look forward to the growth and learning this opportunity will afford me as well as the unique offerings I can bring to it.”

She was born and raised in Eagle Lake, Maine and attended the University of Maine at Fort Kent where she earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Management.

Married and the mother of three children, Rankine said her family is so excited about this transition to living in the Lakes Region.

“My husband has always been a super supportive man and has been able to thrive in any location he desires,” she said. “My children are ready and excited about the amazing opportunities a place like the Sebago Lakes Region can afford them.”

According to Rankine, her previous work with the Greater Fort Kent Area Regional Chamber of Commerce was a rewarding experience.

“My previous chamber and its board grew and thrived substantially in comparison to previous years,” she said. “Opportunities to transition and grow were presented and with the right mindset and a committed board they will undoubtedly continue to do so.”

In her new position with the SLRCC, Rankine says she is bringing new ideas and a new perspective to the organization.

“I hope to shed a different light and outlook on the chamber,” she said. “Different paths and pasts can present some wonderful insight into corporations to help create a broader scope and deeper delve into what is already working well or could potentially need improvement, especially when working effectively with a strong source of knowledge and history like the Sebago Lakes Region Chamber Board and its current director have.”

Thus far she’s been learning as much as possible about the towns and villages that the SLRCC serves and the chamber itself to be able to work effectively as the holiday season nears for the local business community.

“I truly hope to learn the culture, area, and background enough to make a difference and be a solid support to them moving forward,” Rankine said. <

Internship paves way to future success for Windham graduate

By Masha Yurkevich

Most of us remember our first few jobs quite well. For Greta Paulding, one of those first jobs is working for the Town of Windham as a Marketing Intern. The 2023 WHS graduate has been interested in infrastructure reform and town planning for years and at the end of her junior year of high school, she asked RSU 14’s Director of Community Connections, Lorraine Glowczak, if she could help her find a summer job.

Greta Paulding is a marketing intern for the Town of Windham
and was recently offered an internship at U.S. Senator Angus
King's office in Washington, D.C. as a result of her graphic
designs for the Windham Wastewater Treatment site's
groundbreaking event. PHOTO BY MASHA YURKEVICH 

“I mentioned the best scenario for me would be working for the town, but I was certain that wasn’t going to happen,” said Paulding. “Within a week, she came back and said, ‘I’m still figuring things out, but I think I got you a job at the town.’ I was amazed.” She designed an Extended Learning Opportunity for me which allowed me to get school credit through a civil engineering internship. I am the first high school student to work for the town as part of the Windham Economic Development Corporation.”

Each day, Paulding sits down at her desk with a cup of tea and designs something new for the town, from creating logos, maps, and signage, to finding unique and eye-catching ways to provide valuable information to the public.

Paulding first developed an interest in civil engineering and town design three years ago when a research rabbit hole led her to a YouTube channel called “Not Just Bikes” that documented the differences between North American and European cities. “Not Just Bikes” contrasted the benefits of modern European infrastructure with the problems U.S. cities face; many of which she recognized in Windham.

“As I dove deeper, I wanted to find ways to serve my community by advocating for change. Of course, since I now work in marketing, a major part of my job is graphic design,” said Paulding. “I’ve loved art since I could hold a crayon, and it has been an important part of my upbringing. My mother is an excellent graphic designer and she taught me everything she knows. I’m so grateful to have a job that allows me to participate in improving my community through both infrastructure and infographics.”

Within her first month of work, she was assigned to search for septic documents in the town records.

“I spent three months at a desk sorting through papers that were often more than twice my age,” said Paulding.

Though she was originally prepared for a difficult and dull experience, she said that she became invested in the stories she uncovered, told through permits and plans and the occasional letter of complaint.

“I got to know my town in ways I never imagined,” she said.

Not every assignment is a glamorous one. Often, Paulding can spend an entire day looking through papers and barely making noticeable progress. However, by finding ways to enjoy her work, she never gets too discouraged.

“Sorting through files helped me learn how to find fun in every situation,” she said. “When I finally finished, I had collected data for 115 properties in North Windham and helped create a valuable resource for the engineers making the North Windham sewer system a reality.”

As she did more design work for the town, she realized that marketing was a better fit for her than civil engineering. When she told her boss, he quickly helped her find new ways to apply herself that fit what she wanted to study. His flexibility strengthened her appreciation for her work.

“I want to leave a mark on my town before I leave for college. I cannot wait to see how my designs and ideas impact Windham going forward,” said Paulding.

Her internship has also given her a chance to be a bridge between her peers and those who lead and represent the people of Windham. She’s gotten to help her peers speak up for the things they care about.

“I was very surprised and thrilled when Senator King mentioned the possibility of a college internship for me at the groundbreaking for the North Windham sewer system,” said Paulding. “While I do not know what my future holds, I would be honored to serve my community from D.C. and will consider applying for the position in a couple years. Although, I think I might be able to do more good if I stay closer to the people that I want to impact.”

Paulding will be attending Grove City College in Grove City, Pennsylvania to study Marketing and Graphic Design. She hopes to eventually return to Maine to work as an advocate for infrastructure reform.

“It is an exciting time to live in Windham. The amazing people I work with work incredibly hard to make Windham the best it can be,” Paulding said. “I want to thank Lorraine Glowczak for her work to not only give me the chance to live out my dream, but also help countless other students discover their passions. I want to thank my boss, Tom Bartell, for going the extra mile to create new opportunities for me and for always encouraging me to work hard and have fun. I also want to thank all my coworkers for helping me with projects and for being easy to chat and laugh with. Lastly, I want to thank my parents for cheering me on and reminding me to take breaks every once in a while.” <