
(File photo, 2021)
May 2021: ARCC President and CEO Michael Bittel speaks at the ribbon cutting of the Cooper Street affordable housing complex in Glens Falls.
He is not sick, and he was not fired. Michael Bittel, the 54-year-old president and CEO of the Adirondack Regional Chamber of Commerce, is just retiring.
“I think a lot of people are surprised,” he said. “There really is no story behind this story."
He said he loves working with the community — he called it a “blessing,” a word he turns to often when describing his work with the Chamber — but he is ready to pull back and spend more time with his wife, Wendy Bittel, whom he calls “my best friend.”
"To do this right, it’s a 10- to 12-hour-a-day job," Bittel said. He has travelled a lot during his career.
Previously, he worked for Quad/Graphics and as an executive with King Arthur Flour and has been a leader in the Washington County Republican party. He has held the job at ARCC since 2018.
In the press statement announcing the retirement, Marc Monahan, ARCC Board Chair and Regional Executive VP of NBT Bank, wrote: “Throughout his tenure with the ARCC he has shown a passion, drive and desire to help all of our members and supporters. Although the past couple of years have been extremely challenging as we navigated the constant pressures of the pandemic, we are stronger today than ever before.”
Monahan wrote in a follow-up email that the executive committee is in the process of searching for a full-time replacement, hoping to have a person by summer.
"We have not identified anyone at this time, but have already been contacted by many people that have shown an interest in discussing the opportunity," he wrote. In the meantime, he expressed strong support for the chamber staff.
Bittel says that he hopes to help the group find his replacement. Although having a full-time replacement would be nice, he said, finding the right fit is more important than the timing.
"There's so many people that support what's going on here at the Chamber. That will continue with or without me. It's because of the team we have here and the board that we have," he said. That team is Tricia Rogers, Amanda Blanton, Carol Ann Conover, and Karen Mattison. He knows they can handle his departure, he said.
Bittel has served on the Glens Falls Civic Center Coalition, the Glens Falls Business Improvement District (BID), the USDA Farm Service Agency, the Greater Glens Falls YMCA Board, the Saratoga/Warren/Washington Workforce Development Board, Warren/Washington County Industrial Development Agency (IDA), the Warren County American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) Advisory Committee, the Reopen Washington County Committee, and the Warren County Economic Development Task Force.
“I love the people around me. I love this community. That’s the one bittersweet thing, is leaving this role to serve this great community,” he said.
Along with spending time with family, Bittel is planning to hunt, fish and golf more. He turns 55 in June.