The Chamber of Southern Saratoga
County has reorganized and realigned staff
responsibilities to better fit the program
of work for 2013-15 and beyond.
Pete Bardunias, Chamber president and
CEO, said the changes took effect Jan. 1.
Christine Donohue assumed the new
position of vice president of finance and
administration.
In that new job, she is responsible for oversight of the management of the office and coordination of financial aspects of the Chamber and its partnership programs such as the Chamber Angels and Community Development Program.
Nigar Hale assumed the new position of vice president of membership and marketing. She is responsible for interaction with members, prospects and generating publicity. Bardunias said a new position of membership manager will be created and the new hire will report to Nigar to assist in coordination of this effort.
Sheila Whinnery, the current member services assistant, will report to the director of finance and administration under a new as-yet-undetermined title, Bardunias said.
Bardunias said also announced that Loretta Rigney left the Chamber staff at the end of December after over seven years of service. She will be working with Primerica Financial Services, focused on recruiting and training individuals interested in owning their own financial services business educating and coaching families on becoming properly protected, debt free, and financially independent. She will also be conducting financial wellness workshops for employers and community organizations.
“We appreciate her service and wish Loretta and her family well in this new chapter in her career,” said Bardunias.
He said the Chamber and its duties, as business climates change, is always in the “state of flux.” The reorganization was something the Chamber had been eyeing as it developed its strategic plan. The departure of Rigney for a new, challenging job, led to “a perfect opportunity for both of us” to change.
Donohue’s job handling finance and administration, Bardunias said, used to be seen as skin to a bookkeeper. “Now it’s much more strategic … there’s more stewardship of finance” and more duties involved. The new position will better meet those needs.
The marketing and communications duties now handled by Nigar were handled by Rigney as vice president. Those duties also need special attention to meet the changing needs of the Chamber and its members.
“Both of these ladies have MBAs and both will be vice presidents,” he said. The realignment “will allow us to better serve our membership and it’s going to help the Chamber continue to grow,” said Bardunias.
Photos Courtesy of Chamber of Southern Saratoga County