Staff
- Curtis Picard, CAE, Executive Director
Curtis Picard joined the Maine Merchants Association in November of 2007.
Prior to his current position, Curtis was Vice President of Business Development / International Trade for the Vermont Chamber of Commerce. He directed the Vermont Chamber’s International Trade Program with offices in Shanghai, China and Taipei, Taiwan and coordinated the annual Vermont Business and Industry EXPO, the largest Business to Business trade show in Northern New England. Additionally, Curtis acted as Executive Director of the Vermont Aerospace and Aviation Association, a group formed to support the aviation industry in Vermont.
Picard spent a number of years working on numerous special events including the New York City, Boston and Vermont City Marathons, the Vermont Symphony Orchestra, First Night Burlington and the Vermont Mozart Festival.
Picard currently serves as board chair of the Maine Society of Association Executives and serves on the Board of Directors of the Maine Tourism Association, the Council of State Retail Associations and on the Northeast Board of Regents for the US Chamber of Commerce Institute of Organization Management.
He graduated from the University of Vermont in 1991 with a B.S. in Business Administration / Marketing and he received a New York University Certification Diploma in Sports and Event Management in 1993. He is a graduate of the U.S Chamber of Commerce’s Institute for Organization Management in Tucson, AZ in 2008. Curtis earned his Certified Association Executive (CAE) designation in January 2012.
Picard is an avid runner who has completed four marathons including the Boston, New York, Maine and Vermont City Marathons and a former volunteer firefighter. He is married with one son and lives in Topsham.
Recent Tweets
- Follow MMA on Twitter: @mainemerchants
- Debra Hart, Contract Lobbyist
Deb Hart has owned and operated Hart Public Policy for a number of years and specializes in retail and pharmacy issues for the Maine Merchants Association among other clients. She resides in Manchester, ME.
Andy Charles, President, Haven's Candies"The Maine Merchants Association truly is the voice of retailers and merchants across the state. Their advocacy efforts in Augusta are an essential part of maintaining and improving the business climate in Maine. At Haven's Candies we also enjoy substantial insurance savings through the Worker’s Compensation Trust. I cannot overstate the value and importance of supporting this excellent organization."