SIGN UP for NEWS EMAIL — Would you like to be updated twice a month with the Chamber's Cybernews? Cybernews is an emailed publication with activities and upcoming events and programs of GOACC and its members. Please visit this site.

Members are #1 Priority

GOACC is HERE for our MEMBERS and our COMMUNITY: New York State has deemed the Greater Olean Area Chamber of Commerce office as essential with limitations – staff is in the office at a reduced level; we are answering our phones, connecting with you are members; and available for purchase of gift certificates. The building is on lock down, but you are able to call ahead order or knock and shop.

Staff has been connecting with its members to gauge immediate needs and to hopefully help with questions that they may have in regards to COVID. Staff has created lists of supermarkets/food retail and restaurants that lists delivery options, hours and other pertinent information. As a member driven organization, the Chamber is also mentioning member services to help companies with their immediate business/work needs -- Working from Home and Cleanliness of Your Place.

Office hours are now Monday thru Friday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

GOACC Needs Your Events!

NEW DEADLINE -- APRIL 14th The Greater Olean Area Chamber of Commerce is preparing its May 2020 through January 2021 Events and Activities brochure. Events located in Cattaraugus, Allegany counties in New York State, as well as McKean and Potter counties in Pennsylvania are encouraged to send in information about their events. Needed information should include event name, date, location, telephone number and event details.

GOACC is extending the deadline to send this information as some area events may have postponed and rescheduled events due to the COVID-19 Virus. The new deadline is set for Tuesday, April 14th with a release of brochure still set for May 1st.

This brochure is delivered to over 150 locations in a 100-mile radius of Olean. It is also sent to both regional visitors center in New York, and one in Pennsylvania. Send your information by phone to 716/372-4433, fax to 372-7912 or email.

DREHER Promoted, CARPENTER Joins, HOWARD Leads

The Greater Olean Area Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors has announced staff promotion, staff addition and its slate of officers.

Erica Dreher, who joined GOACC in May 2017 as member services coordinator has been promoted to member services manager effective February 1, 2020. Mrs. Dreher’s position’s primary focal point is on the needs of the chamber members. This includes counseling, provision of information services, membership retention and expansion, networking, and other direct membership activities including facilitation of major events that benefit members. She also has taken over organization of the Chamber’s Olean Area Young Professionals and will lead the One Stop Operator oversight for the Workforce Development Board.

“Erica has done a wonderful job as administrative assistant but with some recent changes internally, it was decided to have a full time staff member focused on the Chamber’s members and their employees,” stated Meme K. Yanetsko, GOACC COO. “Our members are the backbone of our organization and we thank the board for allowing us the dedicated full time staff member to oversee our members,” she added.

Lisa Carpenter has joined GOACC staff effective March 16th as its full time administrative assistant. Mrs. Carpenter, life long resident of Olean, will provide program and administrative support to the GOACC staff to ensure the achievement of fiscal and program goals established by the organization.

“Lisa will be a great addition to the Chamber staff. She is the Chamber’s front line person -- one of the most important people in any organization. These frontline workers perform the difficult tasks needed to keep operations running smoothly, all with a smile on their face,” stated Mrs. Yanetsko.

At the January GOACC Board of Director’s meeting, the board announced its slate of officers for the 2020 year: President, Mari Howard, Intandem; Vice-President, Vicki Blessing, Park Centre Development; Secretary, Jason Crisafulli; and Treasurer, Adam Jester, Southern Tier Technical Services, LLC.

New to the Board for the 2020 term includes: Mr. Jester; Dennis Pezzimenti, Howard Hanna Professionals and John Stahley, Siemens Dresser-Rand. Andrew Caya will serve in the ex-officio role for 2020.

Greater Olean Area Chamber of Commerce, located at 301 North Union Street in downtown Olean, has been the leading business organization in the greater Olean area since 1906. Their business plan reflects activities related to lobbying local and state leaders and developing programs, to supporting workforce development, small business owners, large corporate entities, non-profit organizations, manufacturers, and area residents.

MEMBER NEWS

SPCA Sponsorship Opportunity

Cattaraugus S.P.C.A. is offering sponsorships as follows: $250 for one month/$2500 for one year sponsorship:

The company can come in and take a picture with their sponsor animal that they choose. The photo is then loaded onto the SCPA Facebook page, with their company tagged in the photo and their 10K followers will help do the rest of the work.

The company gets advertisement and the animal gets exposure and hopefully an adoption! Once the animal is adopted, the SPCA can take a picture with their new family (something we already do!) and the company gets another post, branding the company with sponsored adoption of a homeless animal! Everyone wins here!

The benefit to the company is solely based on the power of social media. So it is important to keep an eye on the SPCA’s page so you can share the posts and "like" or "love" the posts that they will be putting up. The more sharing, liking and attention the posts get, the more traction it gets and the more benefit to the animal and the company.

To sponsor and help an animal find a forever home, please go online. You can also call 716-372-8492, text 716-986-5840 or email.

Welcome Jeff Zewe

Jeff Zewe, RN, BSN, MBA, has been appointed President and CEO of Upper Allegheny Health System (UAHS), Olean General Hospital (OGH) and Bradford Regional Medical Center (BRMC), effective March 15. Zewe is currently senior vice president and chief operating officer at UAHS, a position he’s held since 2015. Zewe takes over for Timothy Finan, who in January announced his intension to retire. Finan has served as president and CEO of Olean General Hospital since 2006 and has been president and CEO of UAHS since the system formed in 2009.

Shares Are Now Available

Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) registration for Spring, Summer and/or Fall shares of Canticle Farm’s weekly harvest are now available. Registration and payment is easy; at the Tuesday Market or by calling the Farm office 716 373-0200 X 3358. Some advise from Canticle Farm includes: Know your food sources. Know how it is grown. Know your farmers.

The Canticle Farm shares include the weekly harvest of vegetables from their fields and the chance to work your inner chef all season long - plus you're supporting a local farm and farmers.

Congratulations Rusty Rooster

Congratulations to Rusty Rooster Farm & Vintage LLC of Portville, NY with their designation and certification of being named New York State Women Business Enterprise. What does that mean to this GOACC member? Rusty Rooster Farm will have access to MWBE procurement and/or contracting opportunities with New York State agencies and authorities; can qualify for lending and bonding programs only available to certified MWBEs; and gain entrance to a statewide network of services and support for MWBEs, as well as invitations for business development workshops, webinars, etc. Congrats Jean and crew!

New Branch

Olean Area Federal Credit Union is constructing a full-service branch location in Portville, slated to open in first quarter of 2021. The site is 160 South Main Street and will feature loan, teller and membership services, as well as a 24-hour walk-up and drive-thru ATM.

Farmers Market APP

GOACC Member, R.E.A.P. has begun distributing applications for its 2020 season seeking vendors who grow, raise, cook or create their own products. To request an application, email farmersmarketofolean@gmail.com or write REAP Farmers Market, PO Box 723, Olean, NY 14760. Applications received by March 30 will be notified of the board’s decision by April 13. Additional applications will be reviewed at future board meetings. For more information, please contact Stephanie Beneng, market manager email.

NEW MEMBERS

WELCOME NEW MEMBER Olean 1854FC – This member is a men’s amateur soccer team based in Olean that plays in the Buffalo District Soccer League, BDSL. The BDSL is the premier adult amateur soccer league for the Buffalo and Western New York area and are one of 14 USASA Elite Amatuer Soccer Programs in the United States. The league games run from May to August. The team currently plays their home games at St. Bonaventure University. To contact Olean 1854FC, please call 716-373-6721 or email.

•-------

WELCOME NEW MEMBER The Salvation Army – This member serves the physical and spiritual needs of those who are suffering in greater Olean. Through generous donations to The Salvation Army of Olean, NY, they have had the opportunity to touch the lives of those in need; families struggling to put bread on the table and keep a roof over their heads. Some of the services they provide include rental and utility assistance, food, clothing, personal care items, transportation and furniture. To contact the Salvation Army, please call 716-372-6740 or email. Their office is located at 310 East State Street, Olean, NY.

•-------

WELCOME NEW MEMBER Techno Metal Post Western Twin Tiers LLC – This member provides helical pile foundations, the only ones in the industry to be recognized as alternatives to prescriptive foundations and footings. They are recognized (IAPMO ER-481) for decks and other residential accessory structures, for new construction, and for additions on residential occupancies built under the following codes: 2015, 2012, 2009, 2006 International Residential Code (IRC). Helical pier installation which require no excavation can support most anything. You can build on them the same day they are installed. To contact the Techno Metal Post, please call 814-817-1111 or email. Their office is located at 252 Bolivar Drive, Bradford, PA.

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.”

PAST NEWSLETTERS