BRUNSWICK

In every organization there are those who escape the spotlight, but epitomize commitment as they work diligently behind the scenes turning ideas into reality and getting things done.

After 28 years of being one of the most knowledgeable, versatile and beloved employees of The Times Record, Caelie Smith is retiring from the newspaper she’s cared for and immersed herself in as an advertisement representative and so much more.

“The thing that I think in my mind is most striking about Caelie is that she doesn’t forget a thing,” said Circulation Manager George Reichert, who has been with the paper since 1977. “She’s my go-to person for spelling or even some ethical things, and she’s so easygoing. The fact that practically everybody in Bath knows her isn’t surprising because she just is that kind of person.

“She’s genuinely interested in the people and I think it’s clear from things I’ve heard, when people say ‘Oh, I know Caelie!’” said Reichert.

She went about her job in an easy way and makes people feel comfortable. A loyal employee, Smith has cared about the integrity of the company.

Reichert said Smith does a great job getting tasks done. She is one of the few people who can jump in to do several other jobs and has even snapped pictures for the newspaper.

Advertisement Dispatcher Arline Losier describes Smith as highly adaptable, illustrated by the many hats she wears. And she seems to know the answer before you ask the question. Most will say they’ve never seen Smith angry either, though Losier said, “I’ve seen her turn a darker shade of pink.”

For 10 years, Losier managed the paper’s former Bath office on Front Street and within Smith’s territory.

“I have the highest respect for her,” Losier said.

Knowing many business owners herself, she said with a smile that, “I got the feeling that even if they didn’t want to advertise, they didn’t feel they had a choice. She just talks people into doing things that are good for them.”

Smith has been involved in the Rotary Club of Bath for many years and has worked with Main Street Bath, always plugged into her community in a way that also helped her sell more ads.

Will Neilson, co-owner of Solo Bistro in Bath and past president of Rotary Club of Bath, said his experience working with Smith has been the same with the Rotary and as a customer of The Times Record. He highlighted her salient qualities in both contexts — a very high degree of reliability and a great sense of humor.

“She’s just always a pleasure to work with and for the terminally scatterbrained such as myself, that reliability thing is huge,” Neilson said. “It really makes a difference when you know you can count on someone to hold up their end when you’re barely able to hold up your end. Over the years, I have really grown to like and admire her.”

As an ad rep it can be hard to keep track of what advertisers are doing, Neilson said, especially when advertisers don’t keep track of it very well themselves. Smith, like all good sales people, could always identify what she had to offer that was helpful to potential customers, what it is they need. And she was knowledgeable about her product, Neilson said.

“She had the people skills to deliver what I needed in a way that both taught me and gave me something I needed in terms of advertising,” he said.

Smith has served as secretary for Rotary. Now, she’s preparing to take over as president in July.

“I think the Bath Rotary is going to have a fantastic year next year under her leadership,”

Neilson said. “She thinks ahead about what needs to be done and does it.”

Mike Fear, the owner of Now You’re Cooking in Bath, said he knew Smith through Rotary even before opening his Front Street business. Regardless of which organization she was involved in, “she always seemed to be there, often in the background, getting things done.”

“She was a doer and not an asker and just did it without too much fuss, and seemed to enjoy it,” he said. “And she is very community-minded.”

As an advertising customer, Smith would come by to see what Now You’re Cooking needed for advertising, Fear said. She was very patient and the most memorable occasion was during the Christmas shopping season when it was crazy in the store.

“But we also needed to advertise, so she came by for an advertisement and needed it fairly quickly,” Fear recalled.

He just needed to get on the computer quickly but then a customer came in and needed a package wrapped.

“I said, ‘If you get the package wrapped, I’ll get the ad for you,’” Fear told Smith.

So she did.

“(It was) a much better job than I could do honestly,” he said.

During her work at The Times Record, Rotary or Main Street Bath, she may not always have stood out in the front ranks, “but definitely stood out in what she has contributed to the community,” Fear said.

Carolyn Lockwood, director of Main Street Bath, said Smith has been an incredible asset for her organization and the city of Bath. Smith really knows Bath, she said, and has already signed up to be the cochair of the Blarney Days Committee. She also will help Lockwood with the big Bath brochure that goes out to 40,000 people regionally.

“I can’t wait to work with her on some other projects,” Lockwood said. “I’m just very excited that she’s staying in the community.”

Smith is one to keep a cool head when other tempers flare, and finds ways to lift spirits for co-workers. Cheryl Atwood and Janine Christensen, who both work in composing, said Smith brings in treats all the time, making gingerbread cookies for Christmas, and she ran the office 50/50 raffle.

“I think she’s trained everyone here,” said Atwood of the advertising department staff. Only downside: “She has the worst penmanship ever.”

Everybody gets along with Smith, who is just a sweet person, Atwood said.

“She’s the one who knows more than anybody here,” she said. “I mean she knows it all.”

“She’s the brick that holds us together,” Christensen said.

“Caelie is the personification of teamwork and integrity,” said Publisher and Advertising Director Larry Hubner. “She worked well with both co-workers and clients. Nobody will miss her more than me, and I wish her nothing but the best for her future.”