FREEPORT – After a three-month search, the Greater Freeport Chamber of Commerce recently hired Sande Updegraph to helm the 190-member organization.

Updegraph, who replaces interim executive director Carolyn Krahn, will be the third director in less than a year for the130-member chamber. In January, Doug Porter, who joined the chamber as its executive director Nov. 13, resigned for personal reasons and left Maine to return to Florida. Porter replaced Deb King, who left in September to become the executive director of the Brunswick Downtown Association. Krahn will stay on in a member services capacity

Updegraph is no stranger to Freeport, after spending six years as the executive director of the Freeport Economic Development Corp. before retiring in November. She is a former small-business owner and a 20-year veteran of the hospitability industry. Updegraph, who lives in Brunswick, recently talked about the future of the chamber, the challenges the organization faces and what she enjoys about Freeport.

Q: Why did you return to Freeport?

A: The energy, the familiarity, the congeniality, the “can-do” attitude that is pervasive.

Q: Why were you interested in the job?

A: I understand the history of the development and creation of the Freeport chamber, the growing popularity, now 190 members, and I want to be part of the chamber’s increasing influence and positive impact on the Freeport community.

Q: What makes Freeport unique?

A: L.L. Bean, of course. Freeport hosts their headquarters and they have set the standard for integrity, quality and a strong business model. Freeport also is home to an extraordinarily large and engaged residential community. It is beautiful, clean, but also authentic. I have had visitors ask how we were able to recreate a downtown village that looks so real.

Q: Where are areas that could be improved?

A: The relationship between the business and residential communities. I think that they are working for the same goals. It is my hope that the chamber can help with information and discussion to facilitate a better understanding.

Q: What role can the chamber play in the on-going development of the area?

A: We can inform citizens and businesses about local issues and events, host business and professional development seminars and training and support a well-connected business network.

Q: What do you feel is the most important function of this job?

A: To create value for the members with events and information that will help their businesses directly, and to help connect businesses with each other and with residents.

Q: Do you feel that the chamber, Freeport Economic Development Corp. and FreeportUSA have similar functions?

A: Generally, we all provide support for the local business community, but go at it from different directions.

Q. What are the differences?

A: The chamber provides connections and professional development to mostly locally owned businesses. FreeportUSA works to bring tourists to Freeport. That effort benefits locally owned businesses, as well as national brands in the downtown area. The development corporation works to attract new businesses and helps new and existing businesses with navigating town processes and locating appropriate areas for development.

Q: What events is the chamber planning this year?

A: Professional and informational seminars, business and community trade show, fundraising/networking activities such as a golf tournament and a community-wide competition.

Q: Where do you see the chamber in three years?

A: Hosting a statewide entrepreneurial conference celebrating our own entrepreneurs and providing guidance for emerging ideas; a membership of 300; and being considered a model for other business organizations in the state and beyond.

Sande Updegraph