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Chamber Staff
Maxine C. Neal
President
Max arrived in Watkins Glen, New York in the fall of 1991 and discovered the exciting and exhilarating opportunity to serve as the President of the Schuyler County Chamber of Commerce as it was called then … in 2008, the name was changed to the Watkins Glen Area Chamber of Commerce. Chamber leadership proved to be love at first sight and a passion that remains with her today. A prairie girl from Lincoln, Nebraska, life’s travels brought her to New England where she was fortunate enough to land a wonderful husband, with whom she produced three beautiful children … now there are five glorious grandchildren to be thankful for! Chamber leadership remains her passion … Max retired from Chamber work; was called back in as Interim #1; then Interim #2; and now she serves, with pleasure, as President of the organization … a position she will hold for one year while providing management and leadership guidance to her named successor.
The opportunity to serve the community; to welcome visitors from our United States and twenty countries from all over the world; to make a difference to the well-being of the business community; to assist businesses to succeed; to encourage and motivate people seeking to take a risk; and to interact with community leaders is a gift for which Max is and will forever be, grateful. It’s about passion, about energy, about commitment and dedication and above all, love of community!
Travel is a passion as well. Max is blessed to have been able to travel to many countries, enjoy many experiences, share life’s stories with strangers, and is always looking for what’s around the next corner and as Willie Nelson portrays in one of his most famous songs … ready and anxious to be “On the Road Again”…these days traveling with her good buddy and companion … Baxter the Boxer Dog!
Rebekah LaMoreaux
Chief Financial Officer and Chief Operating Officer
Rebekah LaMoreaux, Director of Operations and Finance, joined The Chamber staff in October of 2008. Prior to this position, she contracted with the Chamber to perform all bookkeeping functions. She is now responsible for all accounting, operations, and human resource functions. Rebekah’s career began at Schuyler Hospital in the accounting office, where she worked for seven years. When Rebekah left the hospital in 2005 to stay home with her young children, she was the Assistant Director of Human Resources and a Junior Accountant. She stayed home for the next 3 years running two different businesses – a registered group daycare and a consulting business. While wearing her “consultant” hat, she contracted with Corning’s Gaffer District as their 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 currently the treasurer for Schuyler County Child Care Coordinating Council.
Rebekah has been living in the area since she was ten, and currently resides in Burdett with her husband, Michael, and their children, Ryanna and Alexandria. Rebekah is a member of The Bible Speaks Community Church in Millport, NY. She enjoys reading, writing poetry, cooking, and basketball. She is pursing her associate’s degree in Business Administration at CCC and will being working towards her bachelor’s degree in Accounting next semester at Empire State College.
Miranda O. Polmanteer
Director of Tourism and Marketing
Miranda O. Polmanteer was hired at the Chamber in early 2008 as the Director of Tourism and Marketing. A Penn Yan native, Miranda is very familiar with the Finger Lakes Region, and loves working to promote an area that she believes is so special. With travel and tourism being one of her main hobbies, Miranda has traveled to all of the continental United States since she was born. From family vacations across country in a motor home; college road trips and get-a-ways with her husband; work-related travel and more, she strives to continue visiting and learning about new places.
Miranda graduated from SUNY Oswego with a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration and a minor in economics. During college, Miranda interned and worked for the National Bank of Geneva, now Five Star Bank; and was involved in financial and customer service duties. She also interned with Northwestern Mutual out of Watertown, NY where she studied sales, marketing and financial planning. Upon graduation she worked for Wall Street Financial Group and then for Ontario ARC, where she was the Communications and Events Coordinator. Throughout high school and college, Miranda also traveled and worked with her father on marketing and sales projects for the family business.
With a broad range of experience including business, banking, marketing, public relations and publication design, Miranda brings over seven years to her position at the Chamber. She greatly enjoys her work, and is excited to be in an environment that combines each of her past experiences and interests. She lives in Penn Yan with her husband, Gavin and their two cats and dog. When she’s not working or traveling, she spends time with her family and friends, and enjoys interior design and gardening projects. Miranda is a member of the Watkins-Montour Rotary; serves on the Schuyler County Planning Commission; serves on the Schuyler County Historical Society Board of Trustees, and is a Leadership Schuyler Graduate.
Emily Hubbell
Tourism and Information Coordinator
Emily was born, raised, attended school and still currently resides in Schuyler County. During her senior year at Watkins Glen High School, she was enrolled in each of the college courses that the high school offered. She was also the captain of the cheerleading squad, president of the National Honor Society, Rotary Student and Business Student of the Month. In 2004, Emily graduated third in her class. Upon graduation, she went on to Binghamton University, where she was accepted into the prestigious School of Management.
Emily graduated in December 2007, with her Bachelor’s degree in Business Management with a concentration in Advertising and Marketing. While at college, she was hired as a Residential Life Assistant. As the assistant, she worked on advertising for her dorm community as well as several office tasks. Emily was inducted into Sigma Alpha Lambda, a national honor and leadership organization, as well as the National Scholars Honor Society.
Emily enjoys spending time with her family; both immediate and extended, and her dog. In her free time she takes pleasure in reading, going to the gym and watching movies.
Katie Strawser
Visitor Center Coordinator
Katherine Strawser, Visitor Center Coordinator, joined the chamber full time in early 2008. 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. Katherine’s main focus is in the Chamber’s Visitor Center, where she meets and greets travelers, as well as answering the phones and questions about the area. Katherine also does a lot of administrative work, staffs the Business & Education Committee and helps with upcoming events when needed. Katherine feels that because she is local to this area, that she can tell the visitors first-hand about places to see, as well as interesting facts that they may not have known.
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. 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, 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.
Watkins Glen Area Chamber of Commerce
2010 Board of Directors
Debra Whiting, Chair
Red Newt Cellars & Bistro
Rob Halpin, 1st Vice Chair
The Halpin Firm, Robert L. Halpin, Attorney at Law
Vicki Schamel, 2nd Vice Chair
Keller Williams Realty
Anthony Fraboni, Treasurer
HSBC, USA
Donna Davis, Secretary
Sunset on Seneca
Tom Phillips, Past Chair
Watkins Glen School District Superintendent
Dawn Burlew
Corning Enterprises
Jim Guild
Famous Brands Outlet
Susannah E. Knapp
O'Susannah's Quilts and Gifts
Ted Marks
Atwater Estate Vineyards
Brian McKenzie
Finger Lakes Distilling, LLC
Thomas G. Merrill
Professional Land Surveyor
Josh Navone, Esq.
Schooner Excursions, Inc./Malabar VII True Love
Michael Printup
Watkins Glen International
Rick Stelzer
Schuyler Hospital
Ex-Officio:
Tom Gifford
Schuyler County Legislature
Kelsey Jones
SCOPED