Executive Director of Algoma Area Chamber of Commerce to retire

ALGOMA – Rosemary Paladini, Executive Director of the Algoma Area Chamber of Commerce since April 2023, will step down this June to be succeeded by Bradley Kautenburg.

Paladini first started with the Chamber of Commerce as a volunteer after retiring from her full-time job in Appleton, which she held for 31 years.

“My husband and I decided to move to our property here, and so I joined the visitor center to get that social interaction continued. I really enjoyed talking to visitors, telling them about the area, as well as community members who come by,” Paladini said.

The chamber needed an executive director in 2023, when they asked Paladini to help out part-time. She said she was happy to step up, but even as a part-time position, the job of director comes with many responsibilities.

“We have the visitor center, so we’re responsible for that. So making sure we have a visitor center that’s open and available to any guests that come through. I’m also responsible for event management for our large chamber events, such as Concerts in the Park and Shanty Days,” Paladini said.

The chamber strives to provide information, support and entertainment to locals and tourists alike, and tourist numbers have been increasing in recent years, bringing both more opportunities and more work with them.

“For the past several years, we’ve had cruise ships coming in, and we like to be able to greet the cruise ship visitors,” Paladini said. “We have bags that we get stuffed with information about Algoma as well as events, and then also, I’m responsible for the Friendly Algoma Guide. So every year we put out a new guide for visitors. About 15,000 are distributed through print, and then it’s also available on the website for download.”

With the 2025 NFL Draft being held in Green Bay, Paladini has had even more than usual on her plate for these past few months.

“We created draft hospitality bags. Kind of like the cruise ship welcoming people, I wanted to make sure those who were coming to stay here were welcomed as well, and to consider visiting us while they’re here, maybe coming back,” she said. “So we took our Love Algoma bags, and we put the Friendly Algoma in there. We put what kind of crew, what kind of draft events we had going on in the city and draft specials and a dining guide, just so that they had information, and all those were in the rooms where people were staying.”

While the beginning of 2025 has been hectic for the chamber, Paladini said she’s always loved the work.

“It’s been a lot of fun. I really appreciated meeting the business community, meeting the citizens. It’s really been fun to have events. It’s a job that, because people are on vacation, they’re in a good mood, right? Or you’re at events, people are happy and enjoying themselves. It’s really a fun job to have because people are enjoying themselves, and you get to enjoy it along with them,” Paladini said
Even as her retirement approaches, Paladini said she will continue to be available to upcoming Executive Director Kautenburg.

“I am available for him to train, and I will be leaving in mid-June, so that gives him plenty of time to get on board and make a smooth transition,” she said.

Another cruise ship is coming to Algoma on Monday, May 26, which is the first of the season. Then Concerts in the Park will begin on Thursday, June 26. Paladini said her last day will probably be Friday, June 20, so she’s focused on making sure Kautenburg is adequately prepared.

“I didn’t want to put anybody out and in the lurch in starting season. So and then with me not going anywhere, I said we can take all the time we need to make sure I’m being very comprehensive and everything.”

Looking back on her time as both a volunteer and executive director, Paladini said working with the community was the biggest highlight.
“I’m proud of the Algoma community,” she said. “It is really a community of volunteers, and I couldn’t do this — no one could without them, because it really takes volunteers [for every event].”

Paladini said one of the most challenging parts of the job has been the near-constant workload, which is part of the reason why Kautenburg will be taking the job as a full-time position.

“I think that’ll just make the chamber grow more and more, and it’ll help that next person be successful to get everything done that we really would like to have done, from a strategy standpoint, for the chamber,” she said.

While Paladini said the job has been a pleasure, she’s also looking forward to reaping what she’s sown in the community in her retirement.

“I kind of get to be that tourist or that visitor who’s sitting on the beach reading. I always went to the Concerts in the Park, but now I get to sit and listen to concerts. I think I just want to enjoy the things that Algoma has to offer as a citizen,” Paladini said.

Paladini emphasized how grateful she is for her time with the Algoma Area Chamber of Commerce, and how she looks forward to being a part of the community as a citizen while still enjoying the many connections she made while working for the chamber.

“I want everyone to know how much I enjoyed my time being a member, how much I appreciated the business community who helps out and volunteers and contributes, as well as the citizens who contribute. And really, getting to know everyone was such a pleasure. It was such a unique way to meet the community, and now I have people who I will continue to see by building those relationships when I was a director, so I really am appreciative of that,” she said.