New Richmond Area Chamber hires interim director

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Paul Mayer

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New Richmond native Paul Mayer has been hired by the New Richmond Area Chamber of Commerce to serve as interim executive director.

Mayer steps in to fill the position vacated by Russ Korpela, who had served as the Chamber’s director for about seven years. Korpela took a job as the new director of Momentum West, a regional economic development organization.

For Mayer, the Chamber post is a new hat for a man who returned to his hometown several years ago after he retired from a career in international business. Since his return to New Richmond, Mayer has been doing what he can as a volunteer and paid consultant to assist businesses in getting established and growing.

His most recent part-time jobs have been as president of the New Richmond Economic Development Commission and as an economic development consultant for the city. He’s also worked closely with Engineered Propulsion Systems, a new aviation company, to help them find investors and develop a new airplane engine.

“This is my hometown and I just want to do whatever I can to help,” he said.

When he was approached by the Chamber leadership about serving as an interim director, Mayer said he was glad to say yes.

“I’m looking forward to it,” he said. “Russ did a tremendous job, and he’s set the position up so that it operates very smoothly.”

Mayer said the timing of the transition is perfect because the Chamber is in its “quiet time” of the year with few big events to plan for.

Mayer said he has some skills that will benefit the Chamber membership, but doesn’t have all the tools to fulfill the complete job of director. He said he’s committed to reaching out to local businesses and serving them in any way he can.

Mayer said he expects to be in the interim job for no more than three months, as the Chamber Board of Directors searches for and hires a permanent replacement.

“They’re just looking for someone to maintain the operation,” he said. “This is a way for me to help out while they figure out what they are going to do.”

Tags: new richmond, business