City names Sean Clancy Asst City Mgr for Economic Development

City Manager Karen Conard is pleased to announce the selection of Sean Clancy as Assistant City Manager for Economic Development, replacing Nancy Carmer who is retiring after 36 years with the City. The transition will start on March 14, 2022, when Mr. Clancy joins the City. Ms. Carmer is set to retire on March 31.

The function of Economic Development in the City of Portsmouth is carried out cooperatively by the Economic Development Commission (EDC), the City Manager and this position. The EDC's function is to develop economic development policies, goals and objectives as an advisory commission to the Portsmouth City Council. EDC members include the City Manager, the Mayor and nine residents who represent the local business community.

Mr. Clancy joins the City from Great Bay Community College where he was Associate Vice President, Marketing & Business Engagement. He joined the college in 2016 as Associate Vice President, Corporate & Community Education and was promoted to his most recent position in 2019. Prior to that, he was Manager of Leadership Development for Legacy Supply Chain Services (2011-2016) and Executive Coach with Leverage Professional Coaching from 2006 to 2010. He brings to the City field experience as Irving Oil Corporate District Operations Manager for Residential & Commercial Energy Services, North American Logistics Director of Client Services and four years as General Manager for Customer Relations and for Sales and Marketing with Horizon Lines.

In addition, Mr. Clancy is a current Board member of the Greater Portsmouth Chamber Collaborative and previously served the Chamber as a member of the Business Development Committee. He was a member of the adjunct faculty for Granite State College from 2011 to 2019 and for the University of New Hampshire Paul College of Business & Economics from 2004 to 2019. He is a former Board Member of Leadership Seacoast and a former Committee Member of the Seacoast Human Resource Association, affiliate of the Society for Human Resource Management of New Hampshire.

In announcing Mr. Clancy’s selection, City Manager Karen Conard commented, “When any organization loses the institutional knowledge and professional skills of someone who has served them for decades, as is the case with Nancy Carmer retiring, that organization must seek a replacement who can ‘hit the ground running.’ Sean Clancy is such a person. Having worked with Nancy, the Chamber Collaborative and the City’s business community in many capacities and having worked alongside the City staff, regional and state economic development professionals to help bring our businesses and their workforces through the pandemic, Sean is as ready to take up this important role as anyone could be. I know that as Nancy retires, she leaves the City’s network of economic development resources and partners in excellent shape and in Sean’s very capable and knowledgeable hands.”

In accepting the position, Mr. Clancy stated “As a twenty-year Seacoast resident, I’m thrilled to bring my energy and experience to the task of building on Portsmouth’s economic development successes.”