February 2019 February Officers, Directors Elected at Annual Meeting More than 300 members attended the Chemung Chamber's 113th Annual Meeting on Wednesday, January 16th, at new venue the Arnot Mall. For photos and a complete listing of event supporters, please see Page 6. The following Officers and Board members were voted into office by the membership at the event. The Chamber would like to thank them for their service this coming year. Board of Directors Members Executive Committee Officers Dawn Burlew, Corning Enterprises Jeff Kenefick, Chair, Five Star Bank Chris Goll, Cameron Manufacturing & Design Lou DiFabio, Immediate Past Chair, Jonathan Lawrence, Arnot Health Chemung Canal Trust Company Scott Proudfoot, Perry & Carroll Kathy Sticker, Treasurer, Mengel, Metzger, Barr & Co. Jeff Kenefick JR Reazor, pladis Global* Jan van den Blink, At Large, The Hilliard Corporation Chamber Board of Jeff Streeter, Streeter Associates* Jamie Gensel, Vice Chair, Fagan Engineers Directors Chair Dr. Richard Terry, LECOM Jim Frame, Vice Chair, GST BOCES 2019-2020 Michael Printup, Vice Chair, Watkins Glen International *Returning Board member elected to a second term. Kamala Keeley, President & CEO, Chemung County Chamber For a full Board roster, please visit www.chemungchamber.org. Register Today! 2019 Economic Forum Chemung County Wednesday, February 20, 2019 Chamber of Commerce 7:30 to 9:30 a.m. Holiday Inn Riverview, Elmira Featuring the exciting developments at Airport Corporate Park with panelists: Scott Beecher, President, Ward Diesel Filter Systems Daniel Bower, President & CEO, Hunt Engineers, Architects & Land Surveyors, P.C. Michael Greenfest, Senior Manager, Wayfair John Ullman, President, John G. Ullman & Associates Moderated by Jim Frame, Superintendent, Greater Southern Tier BOCES This event fills fast, visit www.chemungchamber.org to reserve your spot! www.MarkTwainCountry.com Mark Twain Country CVB to Host Spring Event Campaign Will your tourism business be hosting any St. Patrick or spring events? The Chamber’s Convention & Visitors Bureau (CVB) will be launching an online campaign to collectively promote area happenings occurring mid-March through May. If you have an event you’d like considered, email Cynthia Raj at [email protected] with the name, date, a 1-2 line description and the web link where full details can be found. There is no charge to participate. WGI to Host Woodstock 50 Music Festival in August Rolling Stone announced in January that Watkins Glen International has been chosen as the host site for Woodstock 50, an outdoor music festival that will mark the 50th anniversary of the original Woodstock and is estimated to bring some 50,000-100,000 festival goers to the region. The event will be held August 15-18, 2019, and is bound to boost the economy of the Southern Tier and beyond, as much of the local inventory was booked within 24 hours of the announcement. The Chemung CVB will be working with area tourism offices to support the success of the event and showcase the Southern Finger Lakes Region. More information about artists and tickets will be available soon. Chamber’s Tourism VP to Chair Regional Committee Cynthia Raj, the Chemung Chamber’s Vice President of Tourism Promotion, has been appointed to serve a 2-year term as President of the Finger Lakes Regional Tourism Council (FLRTC), an organization comprised of the 14 official County Tourism Promotion Agencies of the NYS Finger Lakes Vacation Region. The mission of the group is to maximize the economic impact of tourism in the region. The Finger Lakes Regional Tourism Council supports tourism through the administration of region-wide programs and marketing efforts. Another key element of the organization's programming is a public relations program, which the council contracts with New York City-based Quinn PR. The ten-year partnership with Quinn PR has resulted in more than 2,020 media placements for the Finger Lakes Vacation Region in such noted publications at the New York Times, U.S. News, Conde Nast and the Huffington Post, and has generated more than 12 billion cumulative media impressions for the region. The partnership has proven so successful that in 2018 the U.S. Travel Association awarded the FLRTC’s public relations campaign with top honors due to its clear vision, strategy, execution and results. “It is a pleasure to represent the Finger Lakes alongside this vibrant group of industry colleagues,” Raj said. “Working as a collective over the past decade has helped bring an awareness of the region to both national and international audiences in a way that individual counties simply can’t do.” Hill Top to Serve up Valentine Romance Looking for an extra special dinner for your Valentine? Although Hill Top Inn is closed for the season, it will be open to serve up dinner on Thursday, February 14 through Saturday, February 16. Call 607-732-6728 for reservations. Member & Chamber News Online Sexual Harassment Training Available First Heritage's Rourke to Retire to Chemung Chamber Members After nearly twenty five years in the credit union industry, The Business Council of New including the past ten as CEO of First Heritage Federal York State is offering online Credit Union, Daniel Rourke will retire effective February 1. sexual harassment training for their member Chambers. This First Heritage has experienced tremendous growth opportunity extends to any during Rourke’s tenure. Under his leadership, assets business that is a member of and deposits each grew by 50%, fueling a loan growth those Chambers, so Chemung Chamber members are of over 170% and bringing the credit union’s total loan eligible to receive the training at the member discounted rate. portfolio to over $300 million. Membership grew by 27% while maintaining an exemplary level of service to The training, a joint venture by Leadership Logic and its members, indicated by the most recent membership Gillespie Associates, is a 45-minute interactive online survey where the credit union received the highest course that exceeds the standards set by New York State satisfaction score in its history. Rourke also led the path for anti-sexual harassment training. The cost is $31.37 into new markets by opening branch locations in both per employee per year when you apply the Chemung Mansfield, Pennsylvania and Hornell, New York, as well Chamber discount code. as coordinating several mergers over the years. To take advantage of this opportunity, please visit: Thomas Pisano will serve as president and CEO of the credit https://www.gillespieassociates.com/bcnys-chambers/ and union upon Rourke’s retirement. Pisano and Rourke have enter the code AC031 (AC "zero" 31). Please contact the been working together since January 2018 to implement Chamber with any questions at 734-5137. transition plans and long term-strategies for First Heritage. Chemung Canal Welcomes New Hire Chemung Canal's Real Estate Lending Stay warm Department recently welcomed Robert this winter Avvampato to their team. and bank from home! Robert brings with him more than 28 years of mortgage lending experience; he is client-focused and ready to help whether buying or re-financing, Avvampato making the process as smooth as possible. He has knowledge and experience with many mortgage products, from First-Time Home Buyer loans to Jumbo loans, and is ready to assist with home-buyer education to application, closing and beyond. Robert lives in Corning and is involved in several community organizations, including the Kiwanis Club of Corning and the Corning Southside Neighborhood Association. He will be covering the Steuben, Schuyler and Chemung Mobile App Mobile Deposit Mobile Pay Web Banking Debit Card County markets along with Originator Heather Mingos. chemungcanal.com For more information, please call 737-3737 or e-mail [email protected]. Member News Roundup ▶The Chemung County Nonprofit Network will ▶ That's Amore!A Caberet-style Musical Valentine, will begin meeting again in 2019. The group’s first meeting was take place on Saturday, February 2 (7 p.m.) and Sunday, Tuesday, January 29th from noon to 1:30 pm in the lower February 3 (2 p.m.) at Community Arts of Elmira. level conference room of the Chemung County Chamber of This performance will feature classic songs of love, romance Commerce. CCNN is open to all nonprofit leaders whose and heartbreak performed by Beth Herbst (Soprano), organizations serve the residents of Chemung County and Cathy Russo (Soprano), Joe Milliken (Tenor), Leslie Bresee who have an interest in working together to better meet (Baritone) and Nolan DeSanto (Piano). General admission their needs. Lunch will be provided. Donations appreciated. seating is $10 at the door and includes delectable desserts Future meeting dates are March 26th, May 28th, Sept 24th, and ambrosial beverage. and Nov 26th. Please RSVP by calling or e-mailing Andy Fagan, Cornell Cooperative Extension Chemung County ▶ Watkins Glen International announces the addition Executive Director, at 607-734-4453, ext 231. of two members to the staff, Becky Mitchell and Makinsey Carolus. Mitchell will serve as the Group Sales Manager ▶ X-Gen Pharmaceuticals has just been granted and Carolus as a Corporate Sales Executive. Mitchell joins a National Women’s Business Certification from The Glen from sister track Talladega Superspeedway. Her the Women’s Business Enterprise National Council daily responsibilities include creating new markets for group (WBENC). The certification means that the business ticket and hospitality sales, and coordinating with tour is woman-owned, operated, and controlled. X-Gen bus operators, youth and college groups and city agencies. Pharmaceuticals focuses on keeping up with the changing Carolus graduated from Elmira College with a Bachelor’s of health care industry and creating products that last longer Science in Business Administration. Her previous experience than its patented expiration. For more information, please includes internships at Howell Liberatore and Associates and visit: www.x-gen.us The Hilliard Corporation.