Sault Chamber names interim CEO until new boss is found

The Sault Ste. Marie Chamber of Commerce has a new interim chief executive officer.

Don Mitchell was named to the position earlier this month,

“Don has proven to be a great asset to the Chamber through his years of volunteering on the Board of Directors," said Chamber president Derek Jackson, in a prepared statement. "I was privileged to have joined our board and learn from Don when he was in his second term as President. While looking at the organization through a new lens, Don will be able to quickly step in and support our team, our board and ensure our operations continue seamlessly for the betterment of our membership."

A longtime resident of the Sault, Mitchell spent 30 years as an insurance broker with Algoma Insurance Limited and was a partner vice president of Commercial Lines.

Mitchell is also currently the chair of the Board of Governors at Sault College and previously spent time as president of the Sault Ste. Marie Economic Development Corporation, chair of the Sault Ste. Marie Enterprise Centre, chair of Mayor John Roswell's Sault Ste. Marie Multi-Modal Committee and chair of the Sault Ste. Marie Transportation/Infrastructure Committee. He is also a two-time past-president of the Sault Ste. Marie Chamber of Commerce.

In a statement, Mitchell said he is "thrilled to be back with the Chamber."

"I am eager to support our members as well as our team at both the staff and board levels through this stage of our transition," he said.

Jackson said the Chamber plans to continue recruiting efforts to bring in a CEO long term.

"Our team will continue our recruitment efforts, which are already underway. We look to bring in a long-term CEO who will be able to transition smoothly with the work Don will be continuing," Jackson said. "Our members trust us to hire the best individual for the role and we are following a thorough process to ensure we do exactly that."