RUMFORD – Tuesday was Susan Johnson’s first day on the job as the River Valley Chamber of Commerce’s new administrator. It began at 7:30 a.m. when the former resident of Barcelona, Spain, was introduced to chamber officials at the regular board meeting in the River Valley Technology Center’s conference room.

“I’m really happy to be part of this group,” the native New Englander said, briefly introducing herself as an engineer with more than 30 years of industrial experience in Europe.

“It’s nice to be home. I was looking for something to stay in this area. I have a lot of the skills of what they were looking for, and, I’ve done a lot of business development,” said Johnson, a plastics engineer who was born, raised and educated in Lowell, Mass.

She was previously employed by Nubiola, an inorganic pigment manufacturer in Barcelona. Johnson was the company’s global business and technical manager, tasked with developing Nubiola’s new businesses in North and South America, India, Romania, Spain, China and Japan.

A self-described career nomad, Johnson was one of six candidates interviewed within the past two weeks to succeed chamber Administrator Scott Galbiati. After six months on the job, Galbiati resigned Friday, taking a marketing job with Oxford Federal Credit Union in Mexico.

Chamber Director Barbara Laramee said Johnson was one of three people brought back for a second interview.

“We felt confident with Susan, because she brought an incredible education, and we really thought she would have a lot to offer,” Chamber Second Vice President Sharon Manjourides said after the meeting.

“She has what it takes … to develop the chamber and take us where we want to go,” she added.

Johnson said she has experience in research and development, sales, technical service, operations and manufacturing. She has also worked with state officials in Georgia, building a business for a company, worked with technical colleges and a chamber of commerce in Indiana.

Johnson has three children: a 35-year-old son in New Hampshire and two granddaughters, ages 4 and 6; a 33-year-old son living with her in Rumford, and a 27-year-old daughter living in Santa Rosa, Calif.