Maureen Enegren, executive director of the Mount Baker Chapter of the American Red Cross, announced her retirement from the organization after a 26-year Red Cross career.

Enegren served in the chapter’s executive position for 15 years. She first began at the Red Cross in July 1986 as the Mount Baker Chapter’s finance director.

During her tenure as executive, Enegren led the 2005 merger of the Skagit Valley and Whatcom County Red Cross chapters. She oversaw capital building expansions that added classrooms to the Mount Baker Chapter’s office, and also helped the organization bring in annual donations of nearly $1 million.

Enegren received the Whatcom Women in Business Award in 2006.

In a resignation letter to the organization’s board of directors, Enegren wrote: “For the last 26 years I have had the privilege of working alongside the most talented, dedicated and compassionate human beings imaginable with a shared goal to provide lifesaving Red Cross services to our community. It has been my honor and indeed a joy, to lead such a group. … I count myself as one of the luckiest people I know to have had this opportunity. I will continue to support the Mt. Baker Chapter both financially and personally and will sing your praises whenever I am given an opening. You are my Red Cross family and I love and admire each of you. Thank you for making the last 26 years a wonderful experience and for the work you do to make our community a great place to live and work.”

Stacy Rice, the Mount Baker Chapter’s emergency services director, has been named interim executive director.