Bangor, Maine – Raymond J. Cota, Jr. of Orono is the new president of the Maine Real Estate & Development Association (MEREDA), a statewide organization of commercial real estate owners, developers and related service providers. MEREDA promotes responsible development and ownership of real estate in Maine through legislative advocacy, educational programs and professional networking opportunities.
Cota is vice president of Webber Oil Company, where he has worked for the past 24 years. He served as town manager of Orono from 1979 to 1984. Cota succeeds Roxane Cole, a commercial real estate broker and principal in Ram Harnden Commercial Real Services in Portland, who has led MEREDA for the past two years.
“MEREDA has seen tremendous growth in its membership, programs and statewide presence under Roxane’s leadership,” Cota said. “We have a solid foundation to build on as the organization continues to address the many challenges and opportunities facing the Maine commercial real estate industry.”
Cota, who has served on MEREDA’s board of directors for the past 22 years, most recently as president-elect, said Maine’s commercial real estate sector remains strong, but the overall economic downtown, coupled with the rising costs of fuel and materials, means that developers and owners will have to work smarter and be more creative in putting projects together.
Cota is a graduate of Husson College and a U.S. Army veteran who served in Viet Nam. He is a member of Orono Library Foundation, and chair of the Building Committee. He also serves on the board of the Target Industrial Corporation, is a member of the Maine Overseers of the Bar Grievance Panel A, and is a past president of the Action Committee of 50. Cota is married with two grown children.
Founded in 1985, MEREDA is an organization of commercial real estate owners, developers and related service providers, whose mission is to promote an environment for responsible development and ownership of real estate throughout the State of Maine. For more information, visit www.dev.mereda.org.
