Marblehead Chamber names Payson as its new executive director

MARBLEHEAD – The Marblehead Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors has hired Deb Pesanti Payson as new executive director of the Chamber.”Deb’s experience in the nonprofit and business sector will serve Marblehead, the Chamber and our businesses well as we work to strengthen our mission to better serve our members,” said Cynthia Latham, Marblehead Chamber of Commerce President of the Board. “Deb brings a unique skill set which the Board was excited to tap into. As a resident of Marblehead, she knows the strengths of our town and is able to quickly jump in to begin working with the business community.”Payson began her career working for members of Congress in Washington, focusing on health care policy and environmental issues. When she moved to Massachusetts she worked for the Massachusetts Hospital Association as director of grassroots mobilization. She also worked in community relations and public affairs at Salem Hospital. Most recently, she was director of development & communications for the Essex National Heritage Commission, a non-profit dedicated to regional sustainability of historic and natural resources in Essex County. She earned a BA from Colgate University and an MSPA from the McCormack Institute at UMass Boston. She lives in Marblehead.