ROCKLAND — The Penobscot Bay Regional Chamber of Commerce is pleased to announce the hiring of its new President and CEO Eric Belley. A nationwide search was undertaken to fill the position vacated by Tom Peaco in June. Since then, Gordon Page has acted as interim president and CEO and will help with the opening weeks of Belley’s transition. Belley will commence work for the Chamber on Sept. 26.
Belley is a familiar face in the Camden-Rockland Region, having served as a business development officer for several local community banks over a near 25-year span. In his role as a business banker, Belley assisted many small and medium sized companies in developing business plans and making business-to-business connections, while providing financial education, training, and lending services.
Being an advocate for the local business community grew out of his experience as a senior business consultant working on some of the nation’s largest bank mergers during the 1990s and developing a successful consultative approach to addressing and solving problems.
“Eric Belley is a superb addition to the Chamber with his breadth of knowledge about the Camden-Rockland region, and his experience within the local business community will allow him to hit the ground running,” stated Sheila Lowe, Chamber board chair.
Also well-connected as a community volunteer, Belley has served as chair of the Knox Waldo Regional Economic Development Council, past treasurer of United Midcoast Charities, past president of the Midcoast Junior Golf Association, and instructor for the Five Towns Communities That Care STAR Program. He is a graduate of the Midcoast Leadership Academy Alpha Class, and he has enjoyed being a Rotarian, with the Camden Rotary Club from 2005-16, and more recently as president of the Fernandina Beach Rotary Club from 2020-21.
From 2016-20, Belley was living full-time in Florida, pursuing several entrepreneurial ventures based in the Amelia Island area. These successful enterprises gave him an appreciation for the challenges that every business owner faces on a daily basis. He was awarded the Customer Service Professional of the Year by the Nassau County Chamber of Commerce in 2019.
Belley moved back to Maine in May 2022, where he has been working remotely and enjoying time developing his residence in Appleton. He also enjoys playing tennis and traveling. He lives in Appleton with his fiancé, Bonny, her son Ivan, and their Goldendoodles, Buddy and Belle.
“Moving back to Maine was a great decision for me and my family. As president and CEO of the Penobscot Bay Regional Chamber of Commerce, I am eager to put my varied skill set to work for the Camden-Rockland Region. I look forward to meeting our members at upcoming Chamber events, discussing their needs, and working with Chamber staff members, Amy Rollins and Diane Norton, as we promote the region’s business community and its amazing natural resources,” stated Belley upon accepting his new role.
The Penobscot Bay Regional Chamber of Commerce serves as a primary business conduit for the Camden-Rockland Region, which encompasses 27 municipalities within and surrounding Knox County. As the third largest Chamber organization in Maine, it represents the coming together of businesses, nonprofits, governments, and citizens in support of a vibrant and growing region with unparalleled quality of life and place. To learn more, visit www.CamdenRockland.com (tourism website) and www.PenBayChamber.com (membership website).
