PRESQUE ISLE, Maine — LaNiece Sirois has only been the new executive director for the Central Aroostook Chamber of Commerce for three weeks, but she already has many ideas on how she and the chamber’s board could expand their outreach to more businesses in Aroostook County.
“I knew as soon as I saw the job ad that this was my type of position,” Sirois said. “I really enjoy working with businesses and people, and forming relationships with them. I feel that if you form good relationships, then you’ll be successful.”
Since she began her position in early January, Sirois has been part of many meetings with the chamber’s board of directors, helped to plan their annual awards ceremony and an upcoming Eggs and Issues breakfast series, and developed both short-term and long-term goals for assisting and promoting small-business entrepreneurs.
Sirois has a particular passion for reaching out to folks who own and operate their own “hobby business” in addition to their regular jobs. Since 2010 she has owned MaineSimple, a business that sells all-natural bug sprays, soap and other craft items. She also has served as a human resources professional for Sitel and for the cities of Caribou and Presque Isle, and, most recently, as a workforce coordinator for the Northeastern Workforce Development Board.
“I’d like to look at how we define ‘business’ and how we can help people who know they have great products to offer through their side businesses but might not have an outlet to make themselves known to the community,” Sirois said.
Currently, Sirois is helping to prepare the chamber’s annual directory that showcases the local businesses, clubs and organizations that are chamber members. She plans to hand deliver many printed copies to businesses and introduce herself to business owners.
In the near future Sirois also hopes to begin a new chamber outing called “Monday Afternoons with the Chamber” in which she and board members tour area businesses to learn more about their products and services. They will then post photos and stories about their visits on the chamber’s Facebook page to promote greater community awareness of those businesses. Some of her other goals are to expand the chamber’s marketing strategies and presence on social media.
Sirois is originally from Connecticut and moved to central Aroostook with her family as a youth. She attended Presque Isle area schools and throughout her professional life has served as a member of the Presque Isle Kiwanis Club and is president of the Northeast Society for Human Resource Managers. She now lives in Fort Fairfield with her husband, Sonny Sirois.
As her new position gets off to a busy start, Sirois said she most is looking forward to creating strong relationships between her, the chamber’s board members and local entrepreneurs.
“We have great people on our board who are all passionate about being successful and showcasing both the larger and smaller communities of the region,” Sirois said. “I’m so glad to be able to serve these communities and think creatively about how we can help them.”
