Bisaillon-Cary stepping down as head of Maine International Trade Center

Photo / Tim Greenway Janine Cary, president and state director of Maine International Trade Center in Portland.

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Gov. Paul R. LePage and Maine International Trade Center Board of Directors announced today the departure of Janine Bisaillon-Cary as state director of international trade and the appointment of Wade Merritt as her successor.

Bisaillon-Cary has served as president of Maine International Trade Center for the past 11 years and as vice president of the trade center from 2000-2006.

Merritt joined MITC as an international trade specialist in 1997 after a brief tenure with the U.S. Commercial Service. He was promoted to the position of vice president since 2006, following six years as director of MITC's regional office in Bangor.

“Janine has been a tireless leader in her efforts to champion Maine exports and attract international businesses to Maine,” LePage said in a news release. “We are sorry to see Janine go, and we wish her all the best in this exciting next chapter in her career. Janine took the lead on trade missions to Europe, Latin America and Asia over the last six years. I am confident the Trade Center is well positioned for continued success in the future.”

The past 11 years have been a time of growth and expansion for MITC, launching international initiatives including StudyMaine (international student attraction), Invest in Maine (foreign direct investment) and most recently, the Maine North Atlantic Development Office (MENADO), which develops opportunities for Maine in the North Atlantic and Arctic region.

Since 2006, MITC has developed robust trade education and business assistance services, aiding over 14,000 individuals with market assistance and providing trade education to over 8,300 Mainers in areas such as export compliance, international finance, and logistics.

On the overseas front, MITC has brought 340 Maine delegates to trade shows or trade missions on five continents in the past 10 years - resulting in nearly $150 million in reported export sales - and hosted visits from investment groups from Europe, Asia, Canada and Latin America. In recognition of its excellence in international trade and export development services, MITC was awarded the prestigious E-Award from the U.S. Department of Commerce in Washington, D.C., last year.

“We are appreciative of all the growth and energy that Janine has brought to the organization,” noted John Wolanski, MITC board chairman. “We have worked together as a board on this succession plan and are pleased that the governor has selected Wade as the new director of international trade."

MITC members and partnering organizations will celebrate Bisaillon-Cary's tenure with attendees at the upcoming Trade Day 2017 on May 25 at the Cross Insurance Center in Bangor.