Saultite named International Bridge manager.

• Position: International Bridge Administration

Saultite Peter M. Petainen has been appointed the new general manager of the International Bridge Administration (IBA) in Sault Ste. Marie. He's the first Canadian to hold the job.

Long-time manager Phil Becker retired from the role in January after serving as manager since 2001.

Petainen took on his new position on Feb. 28. Prior to that, he had served as the IBA's chief financial officer for 14 years.

According to a news release, Petainen will be responsible for overall maintenance and operations of the bridge, in addition to fostering community relations and customer service, and maintaining partnerships with the U.S. and Canadian border crossing agencies.

Petainen said ensuring the bridge re mains a catalyst to cross-border trade and travel--rather than an impediment--will be his main focus.

"As a joint partnership with the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) and Federal Bridge Corporation Ltd. (FBCL), we want to continue our outreach to the communities," Petainen said in the release.

"We want to provide a high standard of customer service, and maintain a safe and open connection between the two Saults."

Hailing from Sault Ste. Marie, Ont., Petainen graduated from Lake Superior State University in Sault Ste. Marie, Mich., with a bachelor's degree in accounting.

He served for 15 years in the Canadian Forces, where he worked as a flight instructor and administrator, retiring in 2006 with the rank of captain, and was the...