AUGUSTA – Cynthia M. Lear, a corporate manager for the Reny’s Department Store chain, has been elected to the board of directors of the Maine Merchants Association.

“It is always great to have a company so closely identified with Maine retailing to have a presence on our board,” said Maine Merchants’ President John Marden, also a representative of a well-known Maine retailing chain.

R.H. Reny has long been a mainstay of the 70-year-old merchants’ group. Robert Reny Sr. is an ex-officio member of the board, and the firm was the association’s 1981 Retailer of the Year.

Lear has worked at Reny’s for more than 19 years. She now serves in several capacities, including auditing and security. “I can even fix registers if necessary,” she said. Alan, her husband of 35 years, is a retired marine patrol officer who’s is in charge of waterfront security at Bath Iron Works. Son Alex is a photojournalist and songwriter.