After serving six years on the Windham Economic Development Corporation (WEDC) board of directors, Dan Hancock has called it quits.

Hancock, a resident of Naples who works as a regional bank officer at Gorham Savings Bank, has served as the president of the WEDC’s board since November 2011. With a 2-month-old daughter and an increased workload at his job, Hancock said he did not have enough time to preside over the WEDC board.

“My wife and I just had a baby in January, and I’ve taken on some additional responsibilities for work,” Hancock said. “As much as I’ve loved the work that we’ve done with the WEDC, I just don’t have the same time capacity that I’ve had in the past.”

Hancock said he is especially proud of his work on the town’s economic development plan.

“The strategic plan brings it all together, so you have more focus, more collaboration, and I think you’re going to see more results,” Hancock said. “It will help the businesses that are here. It will help bring more consumers to Windham. Part of what that plan does is try to bring some more diverse industries to Windham. Looking at a business park. Looking at perhaps some retail anchor stores.”

In 2013, Hancock served as the president of the Sebago Lakes Region Chamber of Commerce, as well. Hancock said the Windham’s economy has grown since the depths of the 2008 financial crisis during his first year on the WEDC – in part, thanks to increased collaboration between the chamber and the town government, he said.

“When I started was really right in the middle of the recession, and at that time, you were seeing more businesses close, the vacancy rate was higher. Retail sales, which are a very important part of Windham, were as low as they had been and declining, and all of those things have started to turn around over the last two years,” Hancock said. “Part of it is the economy starting to recover. That is a big help. Over the past couple years there’s been a lot more collaboration. The WEDC has worked closely with the chamber of commerce, worked closely with the Town Council, worked closely with town staff. There are shared goals and everybody’s pulling in the same direction.”

WEDC Executive Director Tom Bartell said he was also “somewhat surprised” by Hancock’s departure. Bartell called Hancock “a voice for business development and business growth.”

“We will miss him,” Bartell said. “He has been an incredible asset to the board of WEDC and to the town of Windham.”

Dan Hancock