Chamber Staff
Rebekah LaMoreaux
President/Chief Executive Officer
Rebekah E.B. LaMoreaux, President/CEO, joined the Chamber team in February of 2008. Unbeknownst to her, during those first cold, snowy Upstate New York days she fell in love with Chamber work and found herself whole-heartedly supporting the mission of the Watkins Glen Area Chamber of Commerce. As she moved from Contract Bookkeeper to Director of Operations & Finance to Chief Financial Officer/Chief Operating Officer, she continued to learn the intricacies of Chamber programs, events, and activities. Rebekah is committed to supporting the Chamber members, constituents, partners, and team. In May of 2010, by unanimous vote of the Board of Directors, she was named President/CEO of the Chamber and is ready to lead this Chamber forward!
Rebekah’s professional career began at Schuyler Hospital (a rural, big-hearted hospital located in Montour Falls, NY) in the accounting office, where she worked for seven years. In 2005, when Rebekah resigned from the hospital to stay at home with her young children, she was functioning in the capacity of Assistant Director of Human Resources and Junior Accountant. For the next three years, Rebekah was the sole-proprietor of two different businesses – a registered group daycare (REBEKAH’S PLACE DAYCARE) and a consulting business. While wearing her “consultant” hat, she contracted with Corning’s Gaffer District (Corning, NY) as its Interim Director of Operations, performed all billing services for two small medical offices, performed Sales Tax Recovery Projects for local non-for-profit organizations, and prepared small business and personal income tax returns.
Rebekah is proud to say that she has lived in the area since she was ten, and currently resides in Burdett, NY with her husband, Mike, and their children, Ryanna and Alexandria. Rebekah enjoys reading, writing poetry, cooking, and playing basketball. Rebekah is actively involved in the community and serves on the following board of directors: The Bible Speaks Community Church - Millport, NY; Schuyler County Partnership for Economic Development (SCOPED) – Watkins Glen, NY; Schuyler County Child Care Coordinating County – Montour Falls, NY; and Finger Lakes Wine Country – Corning, NY. Rebekah is a member of the Watkins-Montour Rotary Club and the Schuyler County League of Women Voters. She is a recent graduate of Leadership Schuyler and earned her Business Administration (A.A.S.) degree from Corning Community College (Corning, NY) in 2009.
Nikita Hairston
Director of Tourism & Marketing
Nikita Hairston, Director of Marketing & Tourism, “hit the ground running” with the Chamber in the bustling summer season of 2011. She immediately fell in love with Schuyler County & the Finger Lakes. The wineries, lakes, people and the beautiful scenery in the State Park, made her feel right at home.
Nikita is responsible for the Chamber's marketing and public relations initiatives, membership recruitment, and event planning. She also supervises the operations and staff of the Chamber's Tourist Information Center.
Previously, Nikita worked in Corning Incorporated's Corporate Communications Department as a Communications Specialist, as a contractor, where she promoted the Global Energy Management initiatives. Through those efforts, she helped secure the company's first Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certified building. Prior to that, Nikita had a career as a television news reporter for several years. As an on air broadcaster, she reported “live” & breaking news for daily news broadcasts for WENY (ABC) in Horseheads, NY; WUHF (FOX) in Rochester, NY; and WGME (CBS) in Portland, ME.
Nikita has lived in upstate New York for more than three years with her significant other and their dog. In her spare time, she enjoys skiing, swimming, kayaking, camping, and anything the great outdoors offers. Nikita believes in staying involved in the community. She is the publicity chairman for the Women of Friendship Baptist Church – Corning, NY. She’s also a member of the Schuyler County Planning Committee. Nikita holds a B.A. in English from Tuskegee University.
Katie Strawser
Office Manager
Katherine Strawser, Office Manager, joined the Chamber full time in early 2008 as the Visitor Center Coordinator. Prior to working full time for the Chamber, Katherine worked part time as a summer staff member in 2007, as well as filling in when needed. In January 2012 Katherine received a promotion and now is the Office Manager. Katherine staffs the Business & Education Committee and helps with upcoming events such as the Monthly After Hours Mixers, July Fundraiser, Annual Celebration, Golf Tournament, and many more when needed.
Katherine graduated from Watkins Glen High School in 2007. She was involved with Watkins Glen cheerleading, Art Club, and Chorus. She was awarded the Peter A. Pevo Award for Education at graduation. Katherine enrolled at Corning Community College during the 2010 Fall Semester and is excited to continue furthering her education. She started her career at the age of 14 by cleaning a local bed and breakfast. She then worked at Seneca Harbor Station as a busser, and at Pick-A-Flick Video Store.
Katherine has lived in Schuyler County since the age of 8, and currently resides in Watkins Glen with her family and her significant other. She loves to do arts and crafts, camping, cooking, and to learn new things about the wonderful area that she lives in. Katherine plans on continuing her career with the Chamber. She loves living in the Schuyler County area, and hopes to one day have a family of her own.
Victoria Franzese
Tourism and Information Coordinator
Victoria Franzese, Tourism and Information Coordinator, joined the Chamber team in the Spring of 2012. She has lived in Schuyler County almost all of her life and is excited to share her experiences with travelers. What she loves about the area is that even though she has lived here for so long, there is always something new to experience.
Victoria is responsible for maintaining social media sites, sending information to perspective travelers and maintaining a vast assortment of information and resources for travelers who stop in at the Chamber’s Tourist Information Center.
Post college graduation, Victoria became an AmeriCorps Volunteer for Catholic Charities of Schuyler County. Her responsibilities included working at Schuyler Outreach Food Pantry, the Watkins Glen Youth Center (WGYC) and running a summer youth employment program in the Community Garden. Upon the completion of her second year of service with AmeriCorps, Catholic Charities hired Victoria to be a Program Assistant at the WGYC. Victoria also held a position as a host at the Blue Pointe Grille.
In her free time, Victoria enjoys sewing, painting, reading, gardening and traveling. She is an active member of her church, where she teaches Sunday school and works in the nursery. Victoria earned an Associates Degree at Corning Community College in Liberal Arts and Sciences and a Bachelor of Science Degree from Ithaca College in Cinema and Photography with a concentration in Still Photography.
Watkins Glen Area Chamber of Commerce
2012 Board of Directors
Vicki Schamel, Chairwoman of the Board
Keller Williams Realty
Carl Blowers, First Vice Chairman
Hawk's View Consulting
Dawn Burlew, Second Vice Chairwoman
Corning Enterprises
Anthony Fraboni, Treasurer
HSBC Bank
Donna Davis, Secretary
Sunset on Seneca Bed and Breakfast
Rob Halpin, Immediate Past Chairman
The Halpin Firm
Director's:
Brett Brubaker, Co-Owner
Seneca Lodge
Rick Carroll, Branch Manager & AVP
Chemung Canal Trust Company
Caroyln Guyer, General Manager
Watkins Glen Harbor Hotel
Susannah Knapp, Owner
O'Susannah's Quilts and Gifts
Andrew Manzer, President/CEO
Schuyler Hospital
Ted Marks, Owner
Atwater Estate Vineyards
Thomas G. Merrill, Owner
Professional Land Surveyor
Thomas Phillips, Superintendent of Schools
Watkins Glen School District
Michael Printup, President
Watkins Glen International
Lindsay Wickham, Area Field Supervisor
New York Farm Bureau
Ex-Officio's:
Dennis Fagan, Chairman
Schuyler County Legislature
Kelsey Jones, Executive Director
SCOPED