Press Release
From: Cynthia Oswald
Date: 4/15/08
Re: 2008 Chamber Scholars Program Deadline May 2, 2008
For Immediate Release

County Chamber Makes $8,000 Available in Scholarship Program - Deadline May 2, 2008
Up to four $2,000 awards available to graduating High School Seniors

Livingston County Chamber of Commerce/LCEA (Livingston County Education Alliance) will award up to four $2,000 scholarships to graduating high school seniors attending college in 2008. The Chamber's scholarship program is now accepting applications. Application forms are available at the Chamber office, 4635 Millennium Drive, Geneseo, 243-2222, on the Chamber website, www.livingstoncountychamber.com and at all high school guidance departments.

Helen Zamboni, lawyer with Underberg & Kessler, is chairing the Scholarship Committee. The committee has determined contest criteria and will judge all applications. Sponsors, New York State Department of Labor JSEC (Job Services Employer Committee), Genesee Valley Motors and the Livingston County Chamber Agriculture Committee fund two of the awards.

The awards are categorized in two areas: an essay competition for students living in Livingston County, applications are available at all Livingston County high school guidance offices and at the Chamber website, www.livingstoncountychamber.com and a project presentation competition for Genesee Valley BOCES C.G. May Center students, with at least one scholarship going to a student with an interest in agriculture. Vocational students should contact the C.G. May Center office at 658-7900 for information.

"Once again, LCEA and the Chamber are proud to be part of this long standing community initiative," says Chamber President and Executive Director of LCEA, Cynthia Oswald. "The scholarship program is one of the ways business supports education in Livingston County."

Applications must be postmarked by Friday, May 2, 2008. Recipients will receive a cash award to be used for their college or technical career training expenses. In addition, recipients will be guests of the Chamber at the annual Business & Industry Day Awards Luncheon on Friday, June 20, 2008 to be held at the Genesee River Restaurant in Mount Morris.

2007 Livingston County Chamber of Commerce George Traber Community Service Award Goes to Jon Shay!

This year, on recommendation of the Award Nomination Committee, the Chamber created the Livingston County Chamber of Commerce George Traber Community Service Award. The Award Nomination Committee, which was headed by Tim McMahon and included Kathryn Hollinger, Eric Barnard, Kevin Denton, Matt Gaynor and Julie Marshall, The award is named after George Traber, a dedicated volunteer. George is one of the founding fathers of the Chamber, Chairman of the Livingston County IDA, Chairman of the Livingston County United Way Board, a life-long member of the Boy Scouts and the 2006 New York State Economic Development Volunteer of the Year.

The committee developed criteria, screened nominations and weighed them against the criteria for the award.

Selection criteria for the award included:

• The nominee should display evidence of leadership, volunteerism, and service to Livingston County.
• The nominee should evidence contributions that led to significant change or improvements to the community.
• The nominee should evidence a commitment to volunteerism and civic engagement over a period of time, with specific examples provided to support the nomination.

It was this process that brought the Chamber to Jon Shay, Vice President and co-owner of Main Tire Exchange.

Whether it’s picking up garbage along the highway, a charity golf tournament, Rotary, community parade, hospital or hospice fundraisers, Jon is there with support, time, expertise and most importantly, a positive attitude. His leadership and civic engagement inspires others and is the benchmark in our community.

His resume of community service projects stretches over more than twenty years and includes; serving as a member of the executive council of Five Rivers Council of the Boy Scouts of America; member of the Dansville Protective Fire Department; member of the Dansville Fish and Game Club; past president of the New York Motor Truck Association; founding director of the New York State Motor Truck Insurance Co.; past president of the Dansville Rotary; member of the long-range planning committee for the Dansville Central School System; 15 years on the board of directors for Noyes Memorial Hospital and co-chair of the fund-raising campaign for the surgical center expansion; on the board of directors for the Dansville Economic Development Corporation; a representative on the GLOW Work Force Investment Board; a volunteer Junior Achievement Business partner; a founding father of Vincent House hospice in Wayland; and serves on the Livingston County Empire Zone Administrative Board.

Jon was thanked for his many years of commitment to Livingston County, as well as his civic service throughout the region and presented with a plaque on behalf of the Chamber by, Bill Bacon and Tim McMahon. Jon also received certificates from NYS Senator Dale Volker, NYS Senator Catharine Young, NYS Assemblyman Dan Burling, NYS Assemblyman Joseph Errigo. Congratulations Jon!

The Livingston County Chamber of Commerce took the opportunity on December 14th at the Annual Membership Meeting and Holiday Update Luncheon held at the Yard of Ale in Piffard to recognize Deb Cisco for her 20 years of service.

Deb has played multiple roles during her twenty years at the Chamber, and usually, all at the same time; as Office Manager, Members Benefits Specialist, Insurance Director, Finance Administrator and unofficial fashion consultant for the Chamber. She also serves as Finance Administrator and co-chair of the Golf Tournament Committee for our 501c3 affiliate LCEA and was critical to the creation of that organization.

During her years at the Chamber she has seen the organization grow from a monthly lunch group that offered insurance to their members in a tiny storefront, to a short stint in an old bank building, and on to a basement location for many years. Now a two affiliate, five division organization, offering over 30 programs and initiatives with its own facility Deb has been a part of it all.

Insurance, our largest value to membership is overseen by Deb. An account with multiple insurance companies and products, it is the largest association group in Western New York. Deb never wavers in her commitment to affordable insurance for all. You will often hear her on the phone with a member trying to help them navigate the health insurance system.

Her LCEA legacy consists of paying off the building project loan, overseeing the finalizing of LCEA and administrating, through LCEA, our first two outside educational fund, and accepting and administering an endowment for a high school scholarship program.

She is involved in multiple county level committees and is an advocate at the state level for affordable health insurance coverage.

A life long resident of Livingston County, and one of its best cheerleaders, Deb is a Leadership Livingston Graduate and lives with her husband Bob in their beautiful historic family home in Griegsville.

On behalf of the Chamber Board of Directors, Chamber members and community, Carl Lutz, Chairman of the Board presented Deb with a recognition plaque and a twenty-year pin. She also received certificates of recognition from New York State Senators, Dale Volker and Catherine Young and New York State Assemblymen, Dan Burling and Joe Errigo.

For Immediate Release
From: Cynthia Oswald
Date: 12/17/07

Livingston County Chamber of Commerce Announces 2008 Board of Directors

The Livingston County Chamber of Commerce is pleased to announce the second year term of Chairman of the Board, Carl A. Lutz, owner of Protection, Savings & Growth Consulting in Avon. Carl has been a member of the chamber board since 2003 and has served as a board member for the Business Education Alliance. He is an active member of the Livingston County community and three years ago led a successful campaign as chairman for the Livingston County United Way.

Serving with Carl as the Chamber's newly elected Executive Committee for 2008 are: Bonnie Swanson, Key Bank - Vice-Chairperson, Steve Boscoe, Padgett, Business Services - Secretary, Tracy Ingraham, Steuben Trust Company - Treasurer, George Traber, IDA - Appointed, Bill Bacon, Five Star Bank - At Large and Jim Coniglio, Underberg & Kessler - Past Chairman.

The membership of the Livingston County Chamber of Commerce has also elected three new area business leaders to serve on the 2008 Board of Directors. Our newly elected directors are: John Quinlan - Quinlan's Pharmacy and Quinlan's Medical Equipment and Supply, Mike Schinski - SUNY Geneseo Business Department, Jim Wissler - Nicholas H. Noyes Memorial Hospital.

The Chamber would like to thank out going board members: Mike Glover - Genesee Valley BOCES and Janice Infantino - NYSEG for their years of service to the Chamber.

The balance of the board for 2008 is made up of existing board members serving three-year terms: Virginia Amico - Liv. Co. Board of Supervisors Designee, Gary Blythe - Image City Interiors, Inc., Les Cole - Commodity Resource Corporation, Matt Gaynor - Bank of Castile, Kathryn Hollinger - Genesee Valley Council on the Arts,Walt Isaac - Eastman Kodak (Retired), George Kuyon - Deer Run Winery, Ray Martel - American Rock Salt, Tim McMahon - Catholic Charities of Liv Co. (Retired), Phyllis Meyer - Dairy Knoll Farms, Sue O'Hearn - O'Hearn Machine & Tool, Corp., Patrick Rountree - Livingston County Economic Development

With over thirty programs and initiatives, the Chamber Board of Directors is charged with formulating and directing policy for the organization.

For more information on how you can become a member of the Livingston County Chamber of Commerce at 243-2222. Information is also available on our website, www.livingstoncountychamber.com .

Reaping Tourism Benefits

(GENESEO, NY - November 7, 2007) Tourism is a $1.3 trillion dollar industry in the United States, $37 Billion in New York State and $200 Million in the Finger Lakes Region of New York State. Livingston County is reaping the benefit of tourism and at the Livingston County Chamber of Commerce 1st Annual Tourism Harvest Luncheon the local Festivals and Events in the county were highlighted for their major contribution to attracting tourists into our communities.

"When a visitor stays overnight in a community they, on average, contribute $192 per day into our local economy," according to Lisa Burns, Livingston County Tourism Director as she addressed the attendees during the luncheon. "A one day visitor spends $94 and based on numbers submitted by several of our local events, this year alone we saw over 130,000 visitors with roughly half coming from outside Livingston County and approximately 20% of those visitors stay for more that one night at our local accommodations," she continued. "Tourism works for Livingston County and is a great economic driver."

The newly remodeled Valley Oak Event Center at the Quality Inn Geneseo hosted the tourism event with over 80 attendees, including a large contingency from Dansville present to help Dorothy Hotchkiss celebrate being awarded the "William Pryor Letchworth Award for Excellence in Tourism." The award was named and sanctioned by the Letchworth family and honors its namesake and recipient as "tourism advocates." Ms. Hotchkiss conveyed her honor to be in such fine company as Mr. Letchworth and encouraged the group assembled to help promote our beautiful county and spread the word about our attractions and events.

In addition to the award and report on the benefits of tourism for our county the event showcased Mike O'Brien, Rochester's RNews "Getaway Guy" as the keynote speaker. Mr. O'Brien spoke about the many tourism attributions of Livingston County, including the Abbey of the Genesee which proved to be one of his most successful featured stories. Additionally he highlighted many other destinations and spoke about the process of taking a great destination story and making it fascinate its viewer in just three minutes.

The tourism office of the chamber produces the county's visitors guide and tourism website and administers the I Love New York Matching Funds Grant Program. The local festivals and events apply for marketing assistance under this grant and in 2006 the tourism office awarded over $26,000 in grants.

Mike O'Brien, Rochester's RNews "Getaway Guy"
Lisa Burns, Livingston County Tourism Director

Chamber’s First Small Business of the Year Award Event Draws Record Crowd!

Physical Therapy Professionals, P.C. was the recipient of the Livingston County Chamber of Commerce first annual Small Business Award. The award was given at the Chamber’s September 12th After Hours event held at Temple Hill Bed & Breakfast in Geneseo.

Over sixty guests attended the evening’s festivities. New York State Assemblyman Joe Errigo was in attendance, along with wife Kathy and his assistant, Bonnie Turner. Governor Elliot Spitzer’s regional representative, Jennifer SanFilippo was also in attendance. Staff from the Physical Therapy Professionals, P.C. Caledonia, Lakeville and Mount Morris locations attended the event along with the recipients’ parents.

Carl Lutz, owner of Protection Savings & Growth Consulting in Avon, and Chairman of the Chamber Board of Directors, presented Andy and Dawn Mattle, owners of Physical Therapy Professionals, P.C. with the Chamber’s 2007 Small Business Award. Joe Errigo presented Andy and Dawn with a certificate of recognition and New York State Assemblyman Dan Burling sent a certificate of recognition for the couple.

Physical Therapy Professionals, P.C. opened their first office in Lakeville in 1994. Andy and Dawn have both received their doctorate degrees while working through their expansions. Also, Andy has recently been elected to the Livonia School Board while Dawn has been busy raising funds for Teresa House in Geneseo. Both are very active in their church, St. Matthews Parish and have two children, Ryleigh (12) and Reid (9).

The Chamber would like to thank our event hosts, Gail, John and Mary White for opening up their beautiful, historic business for the September Chamber After Hours event.

Congratulations Physical Therapy Professionals, P.C. and the Mattle family!

To receive more information about this monthly networking event, Temple Hill Bed & Breakfast or the Chamber call the Livingston County Chamber of Commerce at 243-2222 or visit our website at www.livingstoncountychamber.com

L to R: Mary and Gail White the gracious hosts of the Livingston County Chamber September After Hours Event and Small Business Award Ceremony held at Temple Hill Bed & Breakfast in Geneseo.

L to R: Andy Mattle and Dawn Mattle owners of Physical Therapy Professionals, P.C. receive Certificate of Recognition from New York State Assemblyman Joe Errigo, as MC for the ceremony, Carl Lutz, Chairman of the Chamber Board of Directors looks on.

Dom Genova, owner and president of Genesee Valley Motors, Chrysler Dodge Jeep presented Cynthia Oswald, president of the Livingston County Chamber of Commerce with a $640 check for the, "Drive for the Chrysler" promotion at the annual Livingston County Chamber of Commerce/LCEA Distinguished Leadership Golf Tournament on June 4th.

"The Chamber appreciates this generous gift from Genesee Valley Motors", says Chamber President Cynthia Oswald. "Their leadership in helping to make our golf tournament a success and supports the programs and initiatives of the Livingston County Education Alliance (LCEA), the Chamber's 501c3 affiliate."

In addition to the "Drive for the Chrysler" test drive promotion, Genesee Valley Motors, the Chamber's 2004 Livingston County Business of the Year, sponsored the hole-in-one competition at the Tournament, was the 2007 Event Sponsor for the Farmer Neighbor Evening and contributes each year to the Chamber Scholars Program, a scholarship opportunity for Livingston County high school seniors.

Dom Genova, owner and president of Genesee Valley Motors, Chrysler Dodge Jeep presented Cynthia Oswald, president of the Livingston County Chamber of Commerce with a $640 check for the, "Drive for the Chrysler" promotion at the annual Livingston County Chamber of Commerce/LCEA Distinguished Leadership Golf Tournament on June 4th.

State's Chief Marketing Officer Visits the County
(GENESEO, NY - July 20, 2007)

Thomas Ranese, Governor Spitzer's newly appointed Chief Marketing Officer for Empire State Development was in Livingston County last week to view and learn about the attractions that bring visitors into our communities.

Accompanied by Lisa Burns, Livingston County Tourism Director, Mr. Ranese along with a marketing specialist from Saatchi & Saatchi Advertising from New York City visited Letchworth State Park and the communities of Caledonia, Avon, Geneseo and Mt. Morris.

"It was a whirlwind afternoon of quick glimpses and plenty of narration but it was extremely beneficial for Mr. Ranese. He was truly engaged and curious about our county." noted Burns. "We were afforded this great opportunity to showcase the county to the person whose direct responsibility it is to market the many tourism virtues of New York State."

Mr. Ranese oversees the "I LOVE NEW YORK" brand and all related marketing efforts for the state. Currently in its 30th year, the brand and its iconic logo remains ahead of its time in recognition; however, with online advertising moving marketing efforts in a new direction Mr. Ranese states, "We are charged with enhancing our marketing, particularly online to drive measurable results for the New York State economy through tourism."

The Livingston County Tourism Office as well as all tourism offices within the state is the recipient of the yearly Matching Funds Grant from the Empire State Development office to assist in the marketing of the county's many tourism related attractions, festivals, accommodations and communities. Governor Spitzer has gone on record as making an explicit commitment to grow the tourism economy in the state and has increased funding to the "I LOVE NEW YORK" program. Tourism is currently a $43.4 billion industry in New Your State.

Thomas Ranese at Letchworth State Park

Tourism Hits the Road
(GENESEO, NY - June 18, 2007)

Seeing is believing. That is exactly the concept that the Livingston County Chamber of Commerce Tourism Office is tasked to convey during their annual motorcoach tour of the county.

On Thursday, June 14th a group of fifty local residents, including the chamber's "Leadership Livingston" class learning about how tourism works as an economic generator for our county took to the roads of Livingston County, via luxury motorcoach to see, for themselves that this county has several tourism strong points and is a viable destination for vacation seekers,

Called a familiarization tour, or "FAM" tour for short, the objective is to highlight the many attractions and tourism options within our county, create awareness with local residents about how "tourism friendly" our county is and to have our own residents become "tourism ambassadors" for our county and the Finger Lakes Vacation Region.

"The tourism office links our community's many tourism virtues together by showcasing all there is to do and see," notes Lisa Burns, Livingston County Tourism Director, "and we seek to educate local residents about these virtues, instill pride in our history and then encourage them to become the voice for attracting more visitors. After all, word of mouth is the best form of marketing."

This year's tour took place on Flag Day so the theme was all about red, white and blue. The day began in a fitting way, in Mount Morris, the home of Francis Bellamy the author of our nations "Pledge Allegiance to the Flag." How tourism works for our community was conveyed to the participants, a group pledge at the newly installed Flag Pole at the Mt. Morris Dam Visitors Center, lead by county historian Amie Alden took place then the tour was underway.

Visits on the tour included the Abbey of the Genesee and a shopping stop in Caledonia. Merchants in that community rolled out the "red, white and blue carpet" for the group and showcased the outstanding shopping options Caledonia has to offer. The motorcoach traveled along historic Rts. 5 and 20 and enjoy lunch, including a choice of either a red, white or blue soup at the American Hotel in Lima.

Hemlock Lake, 1812 County Store & Savor the Moment Tea House, the newly renovated Quality Inn Geneseo, our "Little Finger Lakes Wine Path" and the newly constructed SUNY Geneseo Integrated Science Center where other stops during the day.

The tour was designed an orchestrated by a committee of the Tourism Advisory Council with support from all the vendors and attractions along the route. In addition to the stops during the day the county historian traveled along and provided historical commentary while facts and trivia about the county filled the travel time.

"Our county is much to big to include every corner in one day," notes Burns, "we construct each tour based on a theme and although we may not get to every community in the county during the day we certainly provide information about those areas we didn't stop by."

As one tour participant stated, "I've lived here all my life and never knew that there used to be homes on Hemlock Lake, that a major Revolutionary War battle was fought here or that we had so much to offer visitors. This was an eye opening experience." The tourism committee already has the plan laid out for next year's county tour.