CAMDEN – The Friends of Midcoast Maine has hired Jane Bechtel Lafleur as its new executive director. The Friends of Midcoast Maine is a grassroots organization dedicated to the principles of “smart growth.” The organization began three years ago in response to the increasing concern with sprawl in the mid-coastal communities along the Route 1 corridor and the need to address it locally and regionally.

The organization consists of residents from Brunswick to Belfast and involves representatives from agriculture, business, real estate, home building, law, retailing, planning, municipal officials, and regional and state leaders.

Lafleur comes to the organization with a strong background in city and regional planning. She grew up in Maine and began her planning career with the Lewiston Planning Department. She later served as the planner for Conway, N.H., and South Burlington, Vt., and, in Maine, wrote the Regional Bicycle and Pedestrian Plan for Androscoggin Valley.

Most recently she has served as layout and production manager for the Five Town Connections newspaper for the Camden, Rockport, Hope, Appleton and Lincolnville school systems.

She has been active in planning and community organizations and served in leadership positions of the PTA, the Conway Planning Board, Auburn School Public Facilities Committee, the Taylor Pond Yacht Club, the Camden-Rockport Newcomers and Neighbors Club and others.

She holds a master’s degree in city and regional planning from Harvard University and lives in Camden with her husband and two children.