Newly appointed Biddeford-Saco Chamber of Commerce Director Matt Lewis is eager to welcome the public to the chamber.

“This chamber is open to everyone,” Lewis said. “Anyone’s voice is welcome in this chamber of commerce.”

Lewis, who has lived in Saco for a few years, took over as director in May, after Jim Labelle stepped down.

Labelle served as director for seven years, and announced his retirement this spring.

“We have had positive growth and new ideas under our previous director Jim Labelle,” Saco Mayor Jodi MacPhail said.

Lewis moved to Maine from San Francisco after the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown. He took a job serving as executive director of Hospitality Maine, a nonprofit organization that represents the interests of the hospitality industry.

When the opportunity to direct the Biddeford-Saco Chamber of Commerce popped up, Lewis jumped at it.

“I’m proud to live here,” Lewis said. “I’m very happy to be here and be up and running. I know I have big shoes to fill.”

As director, Lewis hopes to run the organization similarly to Labelle, who made sure to be involved in the community.

Lewis puts an emphasis on listening to others, and said it is important to him that Biddeford and Saco residents know they are welcome at chamber events.

One of Lewis’s first events as chamber director is the annual ChamberFest, which takes place Thursday, July 17, at Mechanics Park in Biddeford from 5 to 7 p.m.

ChamberFest is an outdoor business exposition first created by Labelle, and will host about 40 businesses this year.

The voices of younger representatives and leaders are also important to Lewis.

“I’m particularly pleased to see that we have a very vibrant younger leadership community here,” he said. “That will certainly be welcomed.”

Lewis looks forward to growing the chamber, which currently has over 500 members, including from outside communities like Kennebunk, Waterboro, and even Dover, New Hampshire.

“The chamber is a very valued organization,” Lewis said.

MacPhail said she is “excited” to work with Lewis.

“He brings a lot of experience in working with the tourist industry, and will show how to capitalize on that to benefit our local business,” MacPhail said. “Matt is looking to keep the chamber moving forward.”