“The Belfast Area Chamber of Commerce is pleased to announce the hiring of our new Executive Director, a person who will be familiar to many in our community!” said the Chamber, in a news release.

Dorothy Havey has accepted the position succeeding Steve Ryan, the outgoing director. Havey expects to start in her new role in early July.

Havey has served the community in many ways over the years. She was the Executive Director of Our Town Belfast in its early days and has held management positions with several nonprofits including the Owls Head Transportation Museum, the Farnsworth Art Museum, The Institute for Global Ethics and the Penobscot Marine Museum. She lead the Belfast Area Chamber from mid-2013 to the end of 2014 during which both membership and activity increased. During that tenure, she was lured away to serve as Director of Constituent Services for Sen. Mike Thibodeau for several years. She currently serves as the Director of Development for Waldo CAP.

In accepting the position, Havey said: “I’d like to congratulate Steve Ryan on his retirement and applaud the staff and board of directors on the success of the Chamber. It is exciting to be returning to the position and I look forward to the years ahead as we welcome visitors, friends and family, and of course, a return to economic growth.”

Havey is an eleventh generation Mainer, growing up in the small town of Sullivan, the daughter of the local postmaster. She is a graduate of UMaine with a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration.

Havey lives in Belfast with her husband and the family pets. She enjoys her role as a Belfast Free Library Trustee and is an active member and past president of Rotary.

The Belfast Area Chamber’s goal is to support economic prosperity across Waldo County through networking, education and promotion of the region and its businesses. More information is at www.BelfastMaine.org.