HARTFORD — PJ Skehan, an ever-present voice in the Hartford business community, has announced he will retire as executive director of the Hartford Area Chamber of Commerce at the end of year, saying it is time “to bring new energy and enthusiasm” to lead the booster group.

Skehan, 68, who will pass his 10-year anniversary at the chamber in September, said on Tuesday he will continue to help the chamber with such things as organizing the annual Quechee Balloon Festival, but “it’s never good to stay in one place too long.”

The Hartford chamber, which has about 200 members, operates the visitor center at Quechee Gorge, provides resource information and hosts social networking events for Hartford-area business people, in addition to organizing the balloon festival.

Skehan, a Hartland resident, was originally a glassblower who came over from Ireland with glass-maker and entrepreneur Simon Pearce. He is part of a cohort of Upper Valley Irish craftspeople including furniture maker Charlie Shackleton and Bridgewater gilder and restorer Fiona Blunden. He joined the chamber in 2013, after working at the nature center VINS. Before that he worked at Simon Pearce for 35 years, where he rose to general manager.

“I’ve pretty much spent all my working life here along the Route 4 corridor,” Skehan said on Tuesday.

Skehan — the initials “PJ” stand for Patrick Joseph — said that the recent July flooding “did more damage” to businesses along the Ottauquechee River than Tropical Storm Irene did in 2011 and that trails in the state park near the Visitor’s Center are still closed. In response, the chamber set up a Flood Recovery Resources page on its website with information and links to connect with disaster relief agencies.

“Simon Pearce got the worst of it,” he said.

The Hartford Chamber reported total revenue of about $186,000 and a net assets of about $115,000 in 2022, according to financial filings. The executive director position paid about $62,000 in 2022, the document shows.

Contact John Lippman at jlippman@vnews.com.