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NEW MEMBERS

WEED ROSS GROUP
4 Monroe Street, Ellicottville
716-699-2388
Email • Website

They are committed to providing clients with quality insurance plans, a personal relationship, and the lowest rates available, whether you’re shopping for auto, home, life or business insurance, their experiences team will provide excellent service.

MEMBER NEWS • MEMBER NEWS • MEMBER NEWS

GOACC MEMBER Omnis Technologies is offering an ebook is for small business owners taking their first step into cyber security research. If you're concerned about ransomware, phishing, and wireless network hacks, this ebook has the information you're looking for. eBook Download

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Community Bank enjoys helping their friends and neighbors within their community and their Olean employees are always eager to help support local nonprofits. Community Bank N.A. donated food, cleaning supplies, blankets and monetary assistance to the SPCA in Cattaraugus County. The SPCA in Cattaraugus County is a private, nonprofit, no-kill shelter providing adoption services for homeless and neglected pets.

For more information about Community Bank, visit cbnanews.com. For more information about the SPCA in Cattaraugus County, visit online. For more information about Community Bank, visit online.

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Attorney Kevin M. Habberfield, Esq. from Black, Lyle & Habberfield, LLP was again selected by his peers for presence in the 27th Edition of The Best Lawyers in America by US News & World Report.

Kevin joined Black, Lyle & Habberfield, LLP as an Associate attorney in 2008 and was made equity Partner in April of 2011. He is admitted to practice law in both New York and Pennsylvania and practices in personal injury, nursing home negligence, wrongful death, medical malpractice, and premises liability.

Recognition of this honor by Best Lawyers is based entirely on peer review. Kevin has been selected the last three years. Congratulations, Kevin on this much deserved honor!

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WALK TO RAISE FUNDS FOR PFEIFFER: This Woods Walk fundraiser is instrumental to keeping Pfeiffer Nature Center open and available to our community. The Woods Walk will take place over a two week time period from September 26 to October 12 at the Lillibridge Property, Portville. Two walking routes will be pre-designated for you to choose from and will include an easy 30 minute walk and a moderate 45 minute walk. To participate, there is a $25 registration fee for adults and a $15 registration fee for Children. A Pfeiffer Nature Center T-shirt will be given to each person who registers. Registration and T-shirt orders can be made by visiting their website or by calling the office at 716-933-0187.

T-shirts can be picked up at the Pfeiffer Nature Center office, 14 South Main Street, Portville N.Y., on Saturday September 26th and Sunday September 27th from 8-12, Tuesday September 29th, Wednesday September 30th or Thursday October 1st from 10am- 7 pm or by calling the office to make a special arrangement. If you would like to support Pfeiffer Nature Center but you are unable to participate in the walk, please consider placing an order for a T-shirt for yourself, your family or friends. Your friendship and support is greatly appreciated and they look forward to seeing you on the trails at Lillibridge!

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MEMBER SPOTLIGHT • MEMBER SPOTLIGHT

The key to living a sweet life starts at home. La Dolce Vita is a locally owned café and bakery that opened on February 11th, 2020. Owners, Laurie Green and Cheri George, both share the same love for baking which is why they chose to expand their passion into a business. “We graduated from high school together, met up at our class reunion, did some weddings together last year and here we are.”

The energy from the staff is contagious; they have a passionate group of ladies who love what they do best, bake. Laurie Green commented on both her staff and customers saying “We are truly blessed to have both great customers and a very dedicated and hardworking staff. They remind us every day why we started this business and have truly made each day worth it.” Initially, they envisioned their bakery to have a few customers a day but they have had steady business and have built a strong customer base since their opening. La Dolce Vita is a café and bakery that Olean needed. “We want to be a community hub where our customers can hangout, work, have meetings, gatherings, and build connections in a welcoming setting that feels like home.”

La Dolce Vita prioritizes their customers, putting them first and accommodating to each taste by giving each customer something different and unique. They offer a large selection of menu items that can be found on their website, a seasonal selection, daily specials that they share on their Facebook page, and offer accommodations that range from vegan, gluten, or dairy free. Not only do they satisfy your cravings, they also support the local community and local businesses by promoting and selling goods, buying locally owned breads and ingredients, and doing collaborations with other surrounding businesses.

What are some things we can expect to see from La Dolce Vita in the future? Their grand opening, which was postponed due to COVID-19 requirements, is still to be determined but will take place soon. They’re remodeling; expanding their kitchen area and adding air conditioning units and they are hoping to start planning some cooking classes, hosting cooking events and having more collaborations with other locally owned businesses.

Visit La Dolce Vita located on 113 North Union Street in Olean, New York. Open Tuesday-Saturday from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m., closed on Mondays and Sundays. You can also search their menu on their website, like them on Facebook, or place a custom order with them by calling 716-379-8438 but remember they book quickly and appreciate a 4-5-day notice before placing your request. La Dolce Vita, the sweet life starts at home.

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GOACC NEWS • GOACC NEWS • GOACC NEWS

#AHOPstrong SAVINGS in ONE BOOK

Greater Olean Area Chamber of Commerce organized and is now selling an #AHOP Strong Coupon Book. This book contains coupons from businesses across the Allegany, Hinsdale, Olean and Portville Areas as well as our member companies throughout NY/PA. The coupons are in a tear away book, printed by GOACC member Register Graphics of Randolph.

For our member restaurants, they are advertising their weekly specials and offering an additional discount. For our member retailers and service providers, some are offering a percentage off, or straight savings on a certain total, even FREE item with purchase of set amount. The GOACC office jumped in and offered a BOGO half price on its Santa Claus Lane ornaments. Ornaments retail at $25 – this is a savings of $12.50. The half price ornament is one of our past ornaments (2019 and before). You can purchase the 2020 ornament at full price, but then the half off cannot be an additional 2020 ornament.

Erica Dreher, GOACC Member Services Manager, stated, “Coupon books have been around for many years and are now enjoying a renewed interest due to the desire to save money. We are confident our coupon book will not only bring savings to locals and visitors but it will attract more visitors to the AHOP Area.”

As a member organization and with all that has been going on with COVID-19, the board of directors at GOACC wanted to get something out to help the business community. This idea was generated in April, but GOACC wanted to have members set with their COVID-state regulations, hours, cleaning procedures before presenting this book. Members were given this opportunity to be in this book FREE as a part of their membership.

The books are available for purchase at GOACC for $5 each. In appreciation for the Chamber’s members, a special discount of two books for $5 will be awarded to any Chamber business purchases. The books will also be available for purchase online. For more information, please call GOACC at 716-372-4433 or email.

#AHOPstrong

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ADVERTISE in the VISITOR GUIDE/MEMBER DIRECTORY

GOACC is printing/producing this new guide for visitors and residents and members alike! Ad prices range from $140 to $660. Please call 716-372-4433 and talk to Lisa on the guide. Advertisement form

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Help GOACC Grow

The Greater Olean Area Chamber of Commerce strives to be a member driven business organization that provides benefits, programs, services, and events to enhance the area's quality of life and economic climate. GOACC has been the leading business organization in the greater Olean area since 1906. Today, GOACC has continued to network the community with our local businesses and have worked to encourage the success and growth to the Olean area.

Would you like to help GOACC grow as a chamber? GOACC invites their members to participate in their Greater Olean Area Chamber of Commerce Investor Referral Program. As a valued member, you can play an active role in helping grow our chamber to become bigger and better than ever before. By referring companies or organizations to the GOACC, you are not only contributing to the vitality of our broader business community, but also to the continued success of your colleague’s business.

How does it work? Easy, all you do is fill out the referral form, let the company you are referring know that GOACC will be in contact with them and will inform them of the values of a chamber membership and more! There are no referral limits and when you refer a company who becomes a member of the Chamber, GOACC will extend their gratitude by giving members $25 in chamber credit (membership event, or Shop Olean gift certificates) as well as acknowledging their company in an article in the GOACC monthly newsletter. Your referrals lead to new chamber investors and new business connections.

For more information on the Greater Olean Area Chamber of Commerce’s Investor Referral Program or other GOACC events and activities, please call GOACC at (716) 372-4433, visit our website or email.

ANNUAL REPORT 2019

Chamber Membership

Chamber Membership--Membership with the Greater Olean Area Chamber of Commerce stayed at approximately 575 members in 2019. That means the majority of area businesses throughout the greater Olean area are part of the Chamber. We welcomed many new businesses and organizations to our ranks.

During last year, members took advantage of many benefits the Chamber offers including member-to-member discounts; assistance with advertising, marketing and promotion; and guidance in exploring cost-saving measures like health insurance programs, energy saving incentives, and grants. Through various sponsorships or setting up booths at the many Chamber events during 2019, our members were able to promote their businesses and reach new customers.

Our weekly #MemberMonday posts on social media continued to perform well — and became a sought-after benefit. Each week, the Chamber highlighted a different member on Facebook with a boosted post to ensure it reached residents in the community.

That promo went over so well, the Membership Committee added Testimonial Tuesdays! During #TestimonialTuesday, the Chamber looked for positive testimonials from the community about our members. Maybe you had a great meal, received top quality customer service, found the perfect item at a local merchant? Whatever the experience... the community gave out kudos to our members -- it was great!

The Chamber’s Lunch and Learn series was a benefit taken advantage of by many of our members. The Chamber held one-hour sessions in which speakers presented on a variety of topics, such as Marketing 101; Self-Defense for Business People and Estate Planning for the Individual and BusinessOwner, pertinent to business owners.

GC - Gift Certificate Program

Gift Certificate Program -- The Chamber sold nearly $306,900 in gift certificates throughout 2019, with $162,890 sold in December (increase from 2018 figure $140,467). Of the gift certificates sold in 2019, thousands were redeemed at more than 233 local businesses. Beauty shops, restaurants, day cares, grocers, and stores of all sizes benefit from the program.

The Chamber instituted the Gift Certificate Program in 1995. During its first year, $9,000 in certificates were sold and 35 member businesses participated.

The uniqueness of the program is that it encourages redeemers of the certificates to discover products and services available at businesses in our area, businesses that support the chamber. Many of the gift certificates were sold via phone calls and emails to customers across the country buying gifts for local residents.

Online sales
The Chamber’s online shop site continued into 2019 with sales. The shop.oleanny.com site allows the Chamber to sell its gift certificates, ornaments, other merchandise event tickets online. The second season saw similar sales of 2018 in 2019 with $5,907.00.

MNE: Member networking events
For the 2019-2020 season, GOACC added CASH MOBS to its member networking events schedule. This schedule also includes a reduced number of Business After Hours (5). This opportunity (BAHs) to meet and network with other members is a valuable business resource. Call it networking, schmoozing; mingling whatever. All your member employees are eligible to attend. The schedule can be found online.

NEW STAFF
The Chamber saw the addition of a new staff member, Abby Irvin as our staff intern. We are excited to welcome this former Allegany Limestone Central student and current JCC student to our team.

Workforce Development

Workforce Development--Since 1977, the Chamber has administered the Chamber On-the-Job Training Program, helping reduce the cost of training new staff for many of our area’s employers. The Chamber received another grant for the program totaling $100,590 for employee training in 2019. That money was used by 36 different local companies to train a total of 42 employees. The average hourly wage of those trained was $14.12.

Through an affiliation with the One Stop Career Center in Cattaraugus County, the Chamber provided assistance to another 30 companies across the county in training and hiring 49 new employees. Companies benefiting from the program ranged from the area’s largest employers to smaller stores.

Annual Dinner 2019
Greater Olean Area Chamber of Commerce recognized four fixtures in the local business community at its Annual Dinner held on November 7 at Good Times of Olean’s Events Center.

Brian O’Connell, Jr. was awarded the 2019 L.O.U.I.E. Award. The L.O.U.I.E. Award is bestowed upon an individual who symbolizes the enterprising spirit for the greater Olean community, qualities which were embodied in the life of Louis Marra.

Both Henry H. Hill and Angee’s Restaurant were each given the 2019 Enterprising Business Award. The honor is presented to a business or a non-profit organization which exemplifies the unique “hometown” charm of the greater Olean area in manners of administration/operation, customer service, or marketing efforts.

The Chamber’s Presidential Award, an honor given to a business, organization or individual that is iconic and integral to the fabric of the business community in the greater Olean area, was given to Olean Family YMCA.

Chamber Events

Chamber Events--The tenth-annual Greater Olean Area Outdoor & Rec Sports Show held January saw many visitors brave the snowstorm that hit that weekend. The show, which featured 34 vendors all specializing in different ways to enjoy the outdoors, was held at Daniel Carter Events Center.
The 47th-annual Greater Olean Area Home Show welcomed nearly 1,927 visitors in April. Seventy-two vendors participated, displaying and demonstrating products from hot tubs to gardening supplies, along with heating and cooling systems.

The Chamber Clambake, held in June at War Veterans Park, in Olean. More than 550 attended and enjoyed an evening back in one of its mainstay locations. Grand Slam Grill served up a delicious menu.
The sixth-annual Corporate Golf Classic, held in July at the Bartlett Country Club, had 22 foursomes compete. Tournament winners were Dresser-Rand in the Corporate Division and Fox Financial in the Community Division. Through its 50/50, the Classic raised $400 to the Mental Wellness in Cattaraugus County Fund.

D.J. Butchello, John Cappelletti, and the late Larry Chiarenza were named as the 2019 Taste of Olean Hospitality Wall of Fame Award recipients. The Hospitality Wall of Fame recognizes individuals and/or businesses who have made a significant contribution and given exceptional service to the food service/ hospitality industry in the past and who may continue to do so.

To mark the 2019 holiday season, the Chamber released two ornaments depicting Beef ‘n’ Barrel Restaurant and the Archbishop Walsh Academy.

2019 Chamber Volunteers

Chamber Volunteers-- Rachel Askey • Adam Jester • Bill and Patty Aiello • John Ash • Mark Baker • Ellen / Bill Bathurst • Bob Bell • Al Bernstein • Vicki Blessing • Tim Smith • Bonnie Babcock • Abbey Bowser • Sarah Bradley • Terry Brairton • Suzy Broadbent • Scott/Christie Brook • Maria / Dan Brooks • DB & Bob Busan • Anne & Andy Carlson • Trisha Carney • Andrew Caya • Michelle/Mike Caya • Ruby Constanza • Wayne / Sue Cooper • Kelly Crandall • Jason Crisafulli • Jeff and Anne Crouch • Daniel DeMarte • Scott Derwick • Trista Dickerson • Jon Blade • Wendy Eaton • The Thompson Family • Tim Finan • Eric Garvin • Leslie Morey • George Nasuta • John Gerringer • Matt Gnan • Kathy Grandusky • Char Granger • Jesse Gugino • Patti Gulnac • Lynn & Mike Gumtow • Sarah Hagg • Sue Hannon • Dave & Barb Hastings • Kelly Hendrix • Frank Higgins • Mari Howard • Megan Jennings • Matt Kahm • Vicki Kearns • Chris Kenyon • James & Sandy Keough • Lynette Korsa • David/Irene Krahe • Heather / Monica Krotz • David Kwiatkowski • Randy & Kate Langdon • Steve / Eileen Lanza • James Lee • Lori / Chuck Lee • Tim Lemon • Sue LeRoy • West Long • Joyce Louser • Carol Mahoney • Danni & Katie • Mike Martello • Cora Martin • Chuck Massaro • Joann McAndrew • Laurie McCarthy • Sue Mccauley • Michiko/Earl McElfresh • Joan McGonnell • Paul Melfi • Shauna Miller • Rick Moore • Ginger & Tom Moser • Amy & Brenda Murphy • Cam Myers • Mike / Sally Nenno • Tim O’Keefe • Rotary Club of Olean • Deb / Randy Opferbeck • Roxanne Padlo • Bob Parker • John Petruzzi • Steve Piccirillo • Amber & Keith Pierce • Joan & Richard Pingitore • Steve Pokrzyk • Brent Raabe • Anna/Phoenix Reisner • Mary Rich • Nate Rodgers • Dominic / Jen Rogers • Fred Saradin • Anita Schmidt • Amy Schneggenburger • Frank & Birdie Skrobacz • Tammy Skrobacz • Sandy Sleggs • Mary Smith • Mike Smith • Paula & James Snyder • Bill / Cindy Sorokes • Kim / Craig Southard • Jeff and Jody Spears • Tracey Spears • Audra Stevens • Colleen Taggerty • Charles/Sharon Talbot • Otto Tertinek • Ryan Wheeler • Kelly Wilber • Krissy Williams • Linda / Gil Witte • Donna Woodruff • Ann Marie & Dennis Wright • Ken Wright • Tom, Mack Yanetsko • Lisa Zlockie

2019 Volunteer Of the Year

Tom Yanetsko
2019 Volunteer Of the Year--In 2019, Tom Yanetsko, supervisor with Dresser-Rand Co., received the designation. Meme Krahe Yanetsko, Chief Operating Officer stated, “We appreciate all of our volunteers, but are especially thankful for Tom and how he steps right in to whatever volunteer job we hand him, takes charge and organizes that particular job duty!”

“It goes hand in hand that a husband and wife help each other, but Tom goes above and beyond with his behind the scenes work here at the Chamber,” added Mrs. Yanetsko, Tom’s wife. “I cannot think of one event that Tom hasn’t volunteered for at the Chamber… Taste of Olean – brew serving; Sports Show – working the ticket booth; Golf Classic – placing the hole sponsor signs out, Home Show – wine / beer serving; Corporate Challenge – directing runners; Santa Claus Lane – directing traffic; and other job duties include – decorating for Christmas, placing signs out for the events, setting up for Gus Macker, delivering event items, hanging signs, the list goes on and one.”

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