A monthly newsletter from the
Chautauqua County Chamber of Commerce February 2017
Lt. Governor Addresses County Chamber A Western New York native, Lieutenant Governor Kathy Hochul had high praise for Chautauqua County when she addressed the Chautauqua County Chamber of Commerce Annual Meeting in January. Speaking before a crowd at Shorewood Country Club, she recalled how, as a youngster, her family frequently traveled from Hamburg to Chautauqua Lake. She fondly reminisced about summer trips to Midway Park and Mayville. She also pointed out that Governor Andrew Cuomo has been focused on working to rebuild the Western New York economy. “It took a Governor from New York City, but who had spent a lot of time seeing upstate New York with his father when he was Governor, to say, ‘Why is this happening? Why are places like western New York so overlooked and forgotten about?’ So he has absolutely changed that philosophy,” Hochul said. Hochul recapped the Governor’s State of the State Address, focused on “Building a New New York,” which calls for an additional $500-million for Western New York projects. In addition the Governor is budgeting $100-billion for infrastructure and transportation improvements including New York City airports and Penn Station. She also noted that millions of dollars invested in tourism statewide have benefited Chautauqua County and other parts of the state. Chautauqua County Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Todd Tranum presented the Pam Lydic Coalition Builder Award to Carol Lorenc. “This award is presented to an individual who has helped move the region forward in a positive direction through collaboration and by building partnership. The award is particularly focused on those who have done their work consistently, but oftentimes in the background,” he said. “Carol is a very deserving recipient.” Lorenc is a former executive director of the Jamestown Area Chamber of Commerce, serving as such during the 1990s. She has worked for the Gebbie Foundation as an assistant to then-executive director John Hamilton. In 1999 in partnership with SUNY Fredonia and Dr. Len Faulk, she helped form and then worked for the Center to Rural Regional Governance. She served on the Board of the Arts Council; as President of the board of The Resource Center; was involved in a variety of organizations that worked with youth; served on a variety of boards including as President of the Board of the YWCA; has been actively involved the development of equestrian trails throughout Chautauqua County; is the former owner of Fox Farm Bed and Breakfast and recently managed a company that took visitors on tour groups titled Amish Flair Tours. Lorenc is a graduate of Jamestown Public Schools, Jamestown Community College, and SUNY Brockport.
Calendar of Chamber and Chamber Member Events 2/8 - 6-7:30pm, Pain Management Series: Knee & Hip Arthritis Treatment Strategies, with special guest Dr. Peter Tomasello, Chautauqua Physical & Occupational Therapy, call (716) 4882322 2/14 - 2pm, Brookdale Lakewood hosts a community reception with the United Senior Council and Chautauqua County Office of the Aging to present our 5th Chautauqua County Senior Sweetheart Contest. Entries are due by 2/9. Call (716) 665-2414. 2/15 - 7pm, Robert H. Jackson Center presents "Jackson's Cobham Castle" at the Warren County Courthouse. The program is free and open to the public. Call (716) 483-6646 2/16 - Experience Chautauqua Networking Event, Roger Tory Peterson Institute
2/21 - 6:30pm, Your Best Interest at Heart, Best of Times Seminar, Christ Chapel, Lutheran, 715 Falconer Street, Jamestown, call (716) 720-9122 2/17-19 - President's Day Weekend Winter Festival, Lakeside Park, Mayville 2/20 - Chautauqua Sports Hall of Fame 36th Annual Induction Dinner, Lakewood Rod & Gun Club, call (716) 485-6991 2/23 - 9:30am-12 noon, Entrepreneurial Workshop: Taxes for Small Businesss, Fredonia Technology Incubator, Call (716) 680-6009 For a year-round list of festivals and events, check the Chautauqua County Visitors Bureau Calendar
For a complete list of courses through JCC Continuing Ed in Jamestown and Dunkirk, check the online course catalog
The Pam Lydic award was established in 2012 to recognize an individual in the region who has worked hard to bring groups of people together around a common goal or objective. This award is presented to an individual that has helped move the region forward in a positive direction through collaboration and by building partnerships. The award is particularly focused on those who have done their work consistently and often times in the background. In addition, the Chamber elected board members and officers for 2017. They are: Chair Curt Anderson, Standard Portable Inc.; Vice Chair Brian Bugaj, Nestle Purina PetCare; Secretary Ann Abdella, Chautauqua County Health Network; Treasurer Neil Frederick, Bush Industries; Immediate Past Chair James Pullan, Jr., Jamestown Mattress Company; Virginia Horvath, SUNY College at Fredonia; New member Chris Maytum, DFT Communications; Matthew Churchill, Water Street Brass; Emily Reynolds, Cornell Cooperative Extension; and the chair of each Community Chamber Board: Dunkirk, Mike Pease, The Chautauqua Center; Fredonia, David Dengler, Larson-Timko Funeral Home; Hanover, Kelly Borrello, Sunset Bay USA; Jamestown, Greg Lindquist, The Renaissance Corp.; Mayville-Chautauqua, Sally Andriaccio, Andriaccio’s Restaurant; and Westfield-Barcelona, Fred Johnson, Johnson Estate Winery. The Chamber Annual Meeting was sponsored by: E.E. Austin & Son, Inc.; Fredonia College Foundation; Jamestown Mattress Company; M & T Bank; Observer; PostJournal; Star Media Group; and Univera Healthcare Southern Tier.
Bellevue University Sponsors and Evening of Comedy, Art, Nature, and Networking at RTPI Need a laugh? Come to the next Experience Chautauqua Networking Event for a special performance by the Unexpected Guests. Where else are you going to find a mix of comedy, art, nature and networking? This is a great opportunity to get a special private look at the Roger Tory Peterson Institute for Natural History and its current exhibit, Focus on Nature XIV. Organized by the New York State Museum, this exhibit features images of nature that people may not otherwise be aware of or able to visualize. In addition to the exhibit, enjoy a special performance by The Unexpected Guests, a local comedy group. This event will be held Thursday, February 16 for Chamber members at RTPI, 311 Curtis Street, Jamestown. It includes complimentary appetizers and a cash bar, and is sponsored by Bellevue University, OBSERVER, The Post-Journal, and WJTN/WWSE/ WKSN/WHUG/WQFX. The cost is $11 per person for pre-registered Chamber members or $13 for walk-in members. To register, call the Chamber at 366-6200 or 484-1101, or sign up online at www.chautauquachamber.org/events. Bellevue University will be the sponsor at our next Experience Chautauqua Networking Event on Thursday, February 16 at RTPI, 311 Curtis Street, Jamestown. You may be asking yourself, who is Bellevue University? In September 2015, Bellevue University, a private, non-profit, accredited university, announced a partnership with Jamestown Community College (JCC) that
benefits current students, alumni, and community members who are interested in continuing their education. Bellevue University is proud to have joined the Chautauqua County Chamber of Commerce in August of 2016 to connect with local businesses and their employees to provide clear pathways to complete bachelors, masters, and doctoral degrees online. While physically located in Bellevue, Nebraska, Bellevue University has been partnering with communities across the country for over 20 years. The Premier Partnership model was created to provide the best possible experience for individuals seeking degree completion and offers one of the friendliest transfer credit policies in the nation. Bellevue University accepts many or all previous credits earned at accredited institutions, which will save time and money for those selecting Bellevue University to continue their education. The Premier Partnership between Bellevue University and JCC also includes full-time, on-campus support. Bellevue University’s local Outreach Manager, Kerri Brown, who will be on hand at the event to answer questions. If you cannot attend, but are interested in learning more, please contact Kerri at 716.338.1400 or kerri.brown@bellevue.edu.
Presidents Day Weekend Winter Festival Events The 2017 Presidents Day Weekend Winter Festival will take place Feb. 17 – 19, 2017 at Lakeside Park, Mayville NY. Some of the many events taking place include contests for children and adults, a pet parade on Saturday (call 716-753-3113 to participate), cold water rescue demo by Dewittville Fire Dept., Polar Plunge on Saturday at noon organized by Family Health Medical Services (call 716-753-7107, Ext. 100 to participate), horse drawn rides by Magic Moments Carriages, ice carving by Brian Stahlsmith and wood chainsaw carving by The Tree Guys (Tactical Tree Solutions) on Saturday, wood crafts for kids by The Tree Guys on Saturday, and a bonfire and flare parade Saturday evening. Go to the chamber web site at www.mayvillechautauqua.org to find a schedule of festival events as well as information on the Polar Plunge. The Chautauqua Township Historical Society Museum located at the old train depot across the street from Lakeview Hotel, Mayville will be open on Saturday, Feb. 18th during festival weekend from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. The museum houses many exhibits from the Town of Chautauqua’s past. This is a gem well worth visiting. Reverie Creamery Cheese Shop, located at 3943 Rt. 394, Mayville will hold a Winter Festival Scavenger Hunt Special, with special pricing on all cheddars – domestic and import, British Cheese and Dutch Gouda with additional 25% off for the entire month of February. Special pricing will apply on some of their house cheeses as well plus a free cup of freshly brewed locally roasted coffee. The 2017 Fire & Ice Volleyball Tournament being held at the Lakeview Hotel volleyball court, Mayville on Sunday, Feb. 19th will also feature a special appearance by the Fireball Girls. Call (716) 553-1423 to participate and event times. On Sunday, Feb. 19th the Dept. of Veterans Affairs will bring their Mobile Vet Center trailer to the festival from 11 a.m. – 4 p.m., providing information and assistance to Veterans. A counselor will also be available on site as well. We hope that our local Veterans will take advantage of this opportunity. Also, don’t forget to participate in the Scavenger Hunt
held during the month of February. There’s no cost, and the instructions and entry forms are available at www.mayvillechautauqua.org as well as the Mayville Chautauqua Chamber facebook page or calling the Chamber office at (716) 753-3113. Thanks go out to our generous festival sponsors: Major sponsors The Media One Group, Town of Chautauqua, Clark Patterson Lee Design Professionals, Village of Mayville, International Union of Operating Engineers Local 17; Platinum sponsors 3 Seas Recreation, Lictus Oil and Propane, Uncle Jack’s Saw Shop, Lakeview Hotel/The Dock’s Restaurant, Northwest Savings Bank, M & T Bank; Gold sponsors Digitell Inc., Kwik Fill/Red Apple, Chautauqua County Visitors Bureau, Chautauqua’s Gateway Graphics, Webb’s Captain’s Table Restaurant, Jeff Lang Enterprises, Jamestown Awning; and Silver sponsors Chautauqua Abstract Company, Portage Hill Gallery, “A” Automotive, Howard Plumbing & Heating, Raymond Downey, Johnson’s Village Pharmacy, Lake Chautauqua Memorial VFW Post 8647, Chautauqua Retail Liquors, Ezra Weise, Andriaccio’s Restaurant, Irwin Bay Cottages, Hogan’s Hut, Empire Energy E&P, The Maple Inn/Maple Group Real Estate, ERA Team VP Real Estate & Vacation Rentals, and Caflisch Pallet and Wood Services.
JCC and the SBDC Offer Website Design Series Workshops For five consecutive Wednesdays in March you can take the five courses in this series to gain a better understanding of your website from creation to customer needs. Take the full series or just one course. The courses are: March 1 – Website Design With WordPress Create your own website in just four hours. Use WordPress software to build a customizable website for personal or business use. Bloggers, small business owners, and all types of companies use WordPress to manage and operate their website. WordPress makes it easy to customize and edit content quickly and easily without learning code. March 8 – Advanced Design with WordPress Advance your skills with WordPress. Learn to set up plugins, configure widgets, set up custom menus, and customize your website template. You will also learn where to go for additional help. Must have taken class above or have experience with WordPress. March 15 – Selling Online with Your Ecommerce Website Let’s start selling online! Learn about ecommerce options such as Shopify, Big Commerce plus how to use a WordPress website as an online storefront. Learn ways to get your shop up quickly and easily with minimal upfront costs.
March 22 – Let’s Boost Traffic On Your Website with SEO Learn the techniques that will allow your website to gain a top spot within a search engine. You will learn SEO techniques such as: title tags, meta descriptions, keywords, quality content guidelines, user experience guidelines and analysis methods. SEO is a critical tool for businesses in the competitive online environment. March 29 – What, When, and Who is Visiting Your Website Find out how many people visit your website, how they found your website, pages they liked and didn't like. Web analytics can help you create a better user experience for your website's visitors and can help you track performance. Learn how to set up web analytics, use tracking codes, and analyze data. Courses run 8am-12 noon on the Jamestown campus for $49 each or $229 for the full series. Call JCC Continuing Ed at (716) 338-1005 to reserve your seat.
Robert H. Jackson Center Presents History of Cobham Castle The Robert H. Jackson Center, a non-profit dedicated to promoting liberty under law through the examination of the life and work of Supreme Court Justice Robert H. Jackson and his legacy's relevance to current events and issues, Robert H. Jackson Center presents 11Jackson's Cobham Castle: Fact or Fiction" on Wednesday, February 15, 2017, 7:00pm at the Warren County Courthouse. Robert H. Jackson Center Executive Director Susan Moran Murphy made the announcement. The program is free and open to the public. Donations are appreciated. Robert H. Jackson Center co-founder and board member, attorney Gregory L. Peterson, will introduce Jackson's tie to Cobham Castle and welcome Robert D. Metzgar, President of North Penn Pipe and Supply, Inc. to discuss Justice Jackson's inspirational story as a 'son of Warren' who enjoyed a remarkable career on the national, as well as international stage The evening's keynote address, "Jackson's Cobham Castle: Fact or Fiction?" will be presented by Kathy Lang, former president of the Warren County Historical Society. She has spoken extensively about her research on the history of the Cobham family and the fabled castle. The Robert H Jackson Day in Warren is celebrated annually in recognition of Jackson's birth in nearby Spring Creek, Pennsylvania. The day will begin with a presentation to all Warren County School District 10th grade students, featuring James C. Johnson, former Chief of Prosecutions for the Special Court of Sierra Leone and Robert H. Jackson International Fellow. Mr. Johnson will link Justice Jackson's contributions to international law and the relevance of his ideals of justice and
fairness in dealing with crimes against humanity, both today and in the past. Mr. Johnson will compare and contrast the recent U.S. presidential transition with recent conflicts faced in Gambia where troops were brought in to ensure post-election relinquishment of power. Each student will receive a revised edition of "Off the Pedestal: Jackson in Jamestown 1909 -1934" by Helen G. Ebersole, compliments of the Community Foundation of Warren . This year marks the 125th anniversary of Justice Jackson's birth in Spring Creek, PA. The 2017 Robert H. Jackson Day in Warren events are made possible, in part, through the generosity of the Community Foundation of Warren County, UBS Financial, lnterlectric Corporation, Warren/Forest Bar Association, Whirley Industries, Burgett & Robbins, Robert Hampson, Attorney-at-Law, Winans-Northwest Insurance, Targeted Pet Treats, lnscale Architects and ERIEBANK. The Robert H. Jackson Center is a 501(c)(3} nonprofit organization that envisions a global society where the universal princi ples of equality, fairness and justice prevail. The Center invites and engages scholars, ed ucators, national officials and international dignitaries to analyze contemporary issues of peace and justice through the relevance of Justice Jackson's body of work.
Comedians Announced for An Evening of Comedy on Feb. 11 in Jamestown, NY Comedians Keith Alberstadt and Myq Kaplan have been announced as the featured performers for an Evening of Comedy at the Lucille Ball Desi Arnaz Museum’s Tropicana Room on Saturday, February 11th. Both will perform two shows taking place at 6:30pm and 9:30pm. Both Alberstadt and Kaplan have appeared on Leno, Letterman, NBC's Last Comic Standing & more. Additionally, Kaplan can be seen in his own Netflix stand-up special, Small, Dork and Handsome. The shows, produced by the National Comedy Center, will include beer and wine served by cash donation. Dinner and cocktail hour will be offered for guests attending the 6:30pm event, and the 9:30pm show will have cocktails only. Shows contain adult content. The annual Valentine's Day event will take place downtown in the Lucy Desi Museum's Tropicana Room at 2 W. 3rd Street,
Jamestown, NY. The Tropicana Room is a re-creation of Ricky Ricardo's famous Manhattan night club. Tickets are available by visiting www.lucycomedyfest.com, or by calling 716.484.0800.
Brookdale and United Senior Council Present Senior Sweetheart Brookdale Lakewood is pleased to announce our annual collaboration with the United Senior Council and Chautauqua County Office of the Aging to present our 5th Chautauqua County Senior Sweetheart Contest. This special county wide contest is driven by the community to recognize one individual for their service, talent, commitment, achievement, or overall positive impact on their family, friends, and the community we live in. All nominees must be at least 70 years young or above and reside in Chautauqua County. They must be nominated by contacting, Theresa Perrin, Resident Program Coordinator of Brookdale Lakewood. She can be contacted at 716-665-2414 or theresa.perrin@brookdale.com, or nominations can be mailed to her attention at 220 Southwestern Drive, Lakewood, NY 14750. All entries are due by Thursday, February 9th. Brookdale Lakewood, 220 Southwestern Drive, Lakewood, NY will be hosting a special community recognition reception on Tuesday, February 14th at 2:00 PM where Becky Blum, from the Office of the Aging will be crowning the 2017 Chautauqua County Sweetheart Winner. This year’s 2017 Sweetheart will be eligible to receive a package of gifts worth over $ 400. In addition, attendees of the event will be entered to win a Peek and Peak Overnight Prize Package valued at $ 400 compliments of Peek and Peak and Brookdale Lakewood. Entertainment and complimentary refreshments will be provided at the conclusion of the crowning. Please RSVP to attend to 716-665-2414 by Monday, February 13th. If you would like to learn more about the Brookdale Lakewood Senior Living Community, please contact Sales Manager, Lisa LaRusch at 716-720-2935 or stop in for a visit at your convenience any time. Brookdale Lakewood is a unique community offering four styles of apartments to choose from and personalized service plans that will cater to individual needs of seniors seeking assistive living.
Village volunteers are recognized in Lakewood Lakewood – The names of the two awardees for the first volunteer of the year awards in Lakewood were revealed during the start of the regular Village of Lakewood Board of Trustee meeting January 23, 2107. Both recipients were caught totally by surprise as Mayor Cara Birrittieri unwrapped a perpetual plaque with their names as the first two. Those receiving the Lakewood first annual Volunteer of the Year Awards are Edward “Ted” McCague for his work leading the effort and chairing the Comprehensive Planning Steering Committee toward adoption of the Comprehensive Plan, and Scott Mekus, of Eventz by Scott, for Co-Chairing the newly created Lakewood Events and Marketing Committee, and bringing larger events and greater marketing efforts under budget during 2016. During her remarks Mayor Birrittieri said, “Ted McCague worked tirelessly for the past two years, and in particular the past year to bring our comprehensive plan to the implementation phase. He has put in countless hours on this document which will stand the test of time.” Both recipients received a star shaped award with a quote chosen for each. The inscription on McCague’s award reads, “The brightest stars are those who shine for the benefit of others.” Birrittieri praised Mekus’ efforts as well, “Scott has been the master-mind behind all of our planning for our events this past year. The detail with which he plans events is amazing, and he has made the village proud.” The inscription on Mekus’ award reads, “Those who can, do, those who can do more, volunteer.” The perpetual plaque can be seen at village hall. It was donated to the village by the mayor and her husband A. Jackson Smith, Jr., Lakewood native, and SWHS ’87. Photo Caption: Lakewood Mayor Birrittieri presents Volunteer awards to Scott Mekus (left) and Ted McCague (right). Photo credit Kaie Smith.
Manufacturing, Science, Technology, and Engineering Mentors Needed! Chautauqua Striders, Inc. has a long and successful history of working with the youth of Chautauqua County through Track &
Field, Tutoring, Life Skills Education, Hispanic Outreach, Advocacy, and Mentoring. For over 37 years our coaches, tutors, and mentors have guided youth in becoming successful athletes, students, high school graduates, and college enrollees. Currently, volunteer mentors are needed to share their expertise, work related success, and individual tricks of the trade, to the future manufacturers of Western New York who are now the innovative students at PTech Academy. Pathway in Technology Early College High School (P-Tech) is an interactive, hands on, and work based Technical school housed at the LoGuidace Center in Fredonia whose future state of the art facility, will be at the former School #6 in Dunkirk. This academic gem in our area gears its students toward 2 year degrees in manufacturing, after their Senior year at P-Tech. The outstanding partnership between Dunkirk CSD, E2CCB, JCC, CCIDA, the MAST, CCCC, Western New York Dream It, Do It! and Striders will produce the next generation of manufacturers and employees who have excellent work ethic and sound academic knowledge, of not only traditional school subjects, but of the trades, as well. These future tax payers of Chautauqua County greatly benefit from our volunteer mentors. During your high school years; as you began your collegiate career, when you entered the work force in your chosen profession, as you overcome challenges and reached personal and professional goals…who helped you along the way? Was there a teacher, a friend, a coach, a neighbor who took the time to truly invest in you? Did that person impact you in a meaningful and positive way? Who were your mentors….who did you look up to and know that they would be there for you in all situations? Are you able to be similar to the person that you trusted, your own mentor; are you willing to lend advise, listen, offer encouragement and assist a small group of P-Tech students, your mentees, in reaching their goals? The time commitment involved is only 1-2 hours each month throughout the traditional school year and perhaps a summer gathering. For such a short amount time, you will surely make a lifelong difference. For more information about becoming a Striders’ P-Tech mentor, please contact the Director of North County Programs, Michele D. Starwalt at 363-2203 or michele@chautauqua-striders.org Photo Caption: Senior Engineering Consultant, Bill Owens of Praxair Cryogenics Demonstration for P-Tech Students and Striders’ DMS Students
UBTCIE and JCC to Present Certified Lean Professional Training Developed for professionals whose role requires mid-level expertise of the Lean methodology of reducing waste, this certification program is appropriate for any industry, from health care and finance to human services and manufacturing. Learn how to eliminate waste, improve on-time delivery, decrease cycle time, and improve product quality. Candidates will implement a continual improvement project that typically results in savings between $10,000 and $40,000. This training program will be held at the Jamestown Community College North County Training Center, Dunkirk, March 1 - April 27. Course features include: Lean Introduction, Kaizen Simulation, Change Management & Team Building, Problem Solving, Kaizen Planning, Project Foundation, Value Stream Mapping (VSM), 5S, Standardized Work, Set-up Reduction, and Pull Using metrics to measure improvements and how they need to tie into the organization's strategic plan Certification through exam & completion of a successful Lean project The Instructor is Peter Baumgartner, CSSMBB. As UB TCIE’s Operational Excellence Director, Mr. Baumgartner is a resident expert in the Lean Six Sigma methodology and tools who has delivered substantial, validated hard and soft savings across a variety of projects in finance, medical devices, insurance, food services, building materials, publishing, and other servicerelated industries, as well as manufacturing. He has nearly 10 years of experience with a global company in serving as the lead on a multitude of process improvement project teams that have delivered record performance in yields, cost reduction, quality and safety. With an M.S. in statistics, Mr. Baumgartner has an advanced understanding and application of statistics, and develops the potential in others through helping them understand Six Sigma and Lean methodologies. For more information contact TCIE at (716)645-8800.
Lutheran presents: Your Best Interest at Heart In its next Best of Times seminar, Lutheran presents Your Best Interest at Heart, on Tuesday, February 21 at 6:30pm. Studies show that people who explicitly make resolutions are 10 times more likely to attain their goals than people who don't. Did you know that over 40% of Americans make a New Year's resolution but only 9% of those people feel like they are successful?
"Your Best Interest at Heart" speaker Jackie Carlson, RD, CDE, will use her 25+ years as a dietitian and Diabetes educator to help you fall back in love and achieve success with YOUR New Year's resolutions! Attendees will learn tips on how to stay active and motivated, make sound nutritional decisions, set goals, work through health -related roadblocks, and avoid or manage diseases like Diabetes, Heart Disease, and more. The event will be held at Christ Chapel, Lutheran, 715 Falconer Street, Jamestown. Light refreshments are provided so RSVP is required. Call 716-720-9122.
Mental Health Association Notes Growth, Promotions, and New Logo Jamestown, NY – When your numbers double in a year, you must be doing something right. And you probably need to make some adjustments to accommodate your growth. The Mental Health Association in Chautauqua County (MHA) is a peer run organization staffed by trained recovery coaches who are themselves recovering from mental health diagnosis and/or substance abuse. For those battling addiction, the availability of peer support can mean the difference between overcoming the addiction, relapsing, and possibly even death. In 2016 the MHA recorded 15,337 daily visits – almost double the 7,714 recorded just a year earlier. In keeping with this growth, the organization has advanced key staff and unveiled a new logo. Dr. Lillian Vitanza Ney, Chair of the MHA Advisory Board, announced, “The Mental Health Association Advisory Board joins the chorus of those congratulating Kia Narraway-Briggs on her appointment as the new Executive Director of the Mental Health Association. Kia is the perfect choice for this position. She is known for her abilities as an excellent leader, administrator, advocate and peer recovery coach all in one. Her calm and steady approach are so important as the MHA continues to carry out its mission during a time of considerable community need. Our Advisory Board is proud of Kia’s accomplishments and looks forward to working with her in this new capacity.”
MHA Board President Carm Micciche said, “I am pleased to announce Steven Cobb as our new Associate Director. Steven has shown great dedication to the MHA and the recovery movement. He became employed at the MHA in 2012 and the board feels that he is a great motivational speaker and has all the qualities to compliment the new administration team.” With his increasing involvement in securing grants, making trips to Albany, and advocating for the organization, Rick Huber’s title has been upgraded to Director of New Program Development. His new title has him focusing on program viability and sustainability. Of her new position, Narraway-Briggs said, “I am excited to work as a team to move forward in the peer movement and to continue to collaborate with outside agencies to better serve our participants and the community.” Narraway-Briggs was also eager to share the new logo approved by the board. Created by Sara Corsi Staley of Wax Lily Design, it incorporates a bell, the historic symbol of the mental health movement and freedom from stigma of mental health diagnosis. Sixteen people in the city of Jamestown died last March as a result of drug addiction. Narraway-Briggs said that deaths from substance abuse are down from earlier last year, possibly because more professionals – including volunteer fire departments, police and sheriff departments, and EMTs – have been trained in the use of Narcan. “We would love to work ourselves out of a job, but we don’t see that happening,” Narraway-Briggs said. While Narcan can reverse the effects of drug overdose and prevent so many deaths, there may be more actual overdoes now as well as possible suicides. “We don’t turn people away. A week can be too long to wait if you are ready for treatment or suicidal. As long as someone wants help, we will find help for them.” Referrals to the Mental Health Association come from treatment courts, community resources, local churches and non-profits, as well as the individual themselves or their family members. The MHA currently employs nine full-time recovery coaches, including one Latino, to provide help and support to the men and women in their program. Recovery coaches work with individuals to set self-sufficient goals that they wish to accomplish. For many, those goals may include continuing their education, obtaining and maintaining employment, securing permanent housing, and increasing visitation with their children or regaining custody. The Mental Health Association also offers more than two dozen peer support groups. At these weekly meetings
participants come in and talk with others across a wide range of concerns. To learn more about the Mental Health Association and its programs, call (716) 661-9044 or visit www.mhachautauqua.org or www.facebook.com/MHAChautauqua. All services and programs are offered free of charge. Photo captions: Key figures at the Mental Health Association in Chautauqua County (MHA) met recently in the sensory room. Pictured are Dr. Lillian Vitanza Ney, Chair of the MHA Advisory Board; Kia Narraway-Briggs, Executive Director; Steven Cobb, Associate Director; and Carm Micciche, Board President. Missing from the picture because he was in Albany is Rick Huber, Director of New Program Development. With a bell being the historic symbol of the mental health movement and freedom from the stigma of mental health diagnosis, it has been incorporated into the MHA’s new logo, as pictured.
Visibility for Your Business through the Chamber One of the many ways the Chamber helps to provide visibility for its member businesses during the year is through display advertising space in the brochure rack in our Dunkirk office at 10785 Bennett Road. We partner with a firm called Profile Display for these ad spaces. They provide the rack space and sell the ads on our behalf. Your business may be receiving a call soon from our partners with Profile Display. They will identify themselves as a Chamber partner company. Ad space in our brochure rack is limited, so if you’re interested, please ask them about the options available. As always, if you have questions about any advertising through the Chamber or one of our media partners, don’t hesitate to give us a call. The Chamber also offers direct advertising through our website and weekly email bulletins for our members and we are always happy to discuss how best to meet your needs as a Chamber member.
www.chautauquachamber.org 10785 Bennett Road, Dunkirk, NY 14048 (716) 366-6200 512 Falconer Street, Jamestown, NY 14701 (716) 484-1101