The Pittsburgh North Regional Chamber will have an easy time acclimating its new executive director to the area and the job.

The board announced Thursday that its chairman, Jim Boltz, has been named to the chamber’s top job.

The chamber covers an area from Pittsburgh to just north of Zelienople, and from eastern Beaver County to just east of Route 8.

Boltz has been a chamber member for almost 10 years, and has served on the board for eight years. He has been board treasurer, and has been board chairman since January.

“I really appreciate the opportunity they’re giving me,” Boltz said of the board’s decision to offer him the top job. “I think we have common goals, and I can lead the organization to achieve the goals they have set for me.”

He replaces former president and CEO Rebecca Martin, who abruptly resigned April 1, effective that day, after only 14 months on the job.

Boltz said he went through every step as the 247 other candidates did for the job, including the initial telephone interview. He said he left the room when the position was discussed at chamber meetings.

“I was not privy to any information about the search,” Boltz said.

He said he excused himself when the board interviewed the two other final candidates for the job.

His new position begins Monday, when Boltz will cease day-to-day operations of his business, Minuteman Press. He said his wife will run the family-owned shop, which they have owned for nine years.

Before buying Minuteman Press, Boltz was general manager for Kaufmann’s Department Store for almost a decade.