BRIDGTON – Jim Mains, executive director for the Greater Bridgton Lakes Region Chamber of Commerce since November 2009, has accepted a position as general manager of the 18-hole Bridgton Highlands Country Club.

Mains, 60, will leave his chamber post March 22 and begin his new job at the club April 1, just in time for the spring golf season.

Mains, a lifelong Bridgton resident, started playing golf at Bridgton Highlands at age 11 and has been a member ever since. In 1992, he was part of a group of 22 Bridgton residents who bought the Bridgton Highlands course at public auction, and he remains a shareholder in the public course. He’s excited to take over the manager’s position overseeing all staff as well as the pro shop and clubhouse operations.

“It was a tough decision for me. I truly enjoy the chamber work, I really do. The opportunity came up and I decided, at my age, this would be the opportunity to jump, so I did,” Mains said, adding that he’ll enjoy having more time with his family, as well.

Mains said his chamber position will be hard to leave since he’s made many friends with business people in the chamber’s 13 member towns, which include Bridgton, Brownfield, Casco, Denmark, Fryeburg, Harrison, Lovell, Naples, Raymond, Sebago, Stow, Sweden and Waterford.

“I’ve learned how dedicated and hard-working the small business people in our area are, what a commitment they make to their own business and then the commitment they also make to their communities,” he said. “We all know running a small business is more than full-time, yet they also give their time to help the chamber and other organizations within their communities, so I’ve developed a great deal of respect for those people.”

Bruce and Bill Chalmers, owners of the Chalmers insurance agency, led the group of investors that bought the course in 1992, and still oversee the course. Contacted Tuesday, Bill Chalmers said he is “thrilled” to have Mains coming to lead the organization.

“Jim adds a lot of talent to the Bridgton Highlands management team,” Chalmers said. “He’s been very connected with the Lakes Region for his entire lifetime, including the chamber of commerce. And he’s been a businessman in the local area for his entire career, and we are thrilled to have him on board as manager.”

Chalmers said the public course expanded after the group’s purchase in 1992 to include nine additional holes and tennis courts.

Chalmers also said he, his brother Bruce and Mains play golf nearly every weekend in the summer. And while Mains said he’s no better now than he was when he was 11, Chalmers disagreed.

“He may be worse,” he said.

Jim Mains will leave his Greater Bridgton Lakes Region Chamber of Commerce post in late March.   
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