AMHERST — Members of the Amherst Area Chamber of Commerce will have more responsibilities over the next several months as the organization attempts to function without an executive director and other full-time paid staff.
Amherst Area Chamber of Commerce President Peter Vickery announced March 30 that the chamber intends to transition to a format that takes advantage of the more than 300 members, whom he sees as the chamber’s greatest resource.
“They’re already in charge of all of our events,” Vickery said. “Now our member-volunteers will also help with administration and operations.”
The decision for the organization, founded in 1956, to do without full-time staff means that Jerry Guidera, who has been interim executive director since Tim O’Brien resigned in August after a year at the helm, is departing that role immediately, with only a paid bookkeeper remaining on the chamber’s payroll. In the past, the chamber has had an executive director, membership and marketing director and office staff.
Vickery said that the chamber’s calendar of events remains unchanged and the public shouldn’t notice any difference in operations. The upcoming events include Margarita Madness, which takes place April 26 at the Lord Jeffery Inn, the Taste of Amherst on the Town Common in mid-June, the annual golf tournament in July and the A+ Awards in the fall.
“We are confident that the events we’ll continue to do very well,” Vickery said.
For members, After 5 gatherings and other networking gatherings will also continue.
Guidera said that during his recent interim leadership, he focused on getting the balance sheet in order.
“I think we’re in much better shape,” Guidera said
Guidera, who was also in the interim position for three months when Don Courtmanche left in 2016, said the bulk of work on events is already handled by volunteer committees.
But he said a long-term vision and planning needs to be set by a permanent executive director.
The chamber, he added, is a critical part of the town that can have a say as the new form of government begins.
“For all the concerns from the business community, the chamber remains an important voice, maybe even more so as Amherst transitions to a council-based system,” Guidera said.
Vickery said he is crafting an advertisement and planning the steps to bring in a new executive director.
“We don’t want to be all-volunteer forever,” Vickery said.
The money saved in the coming months should allow the chamber to make a competitive offer.
“It takes a while to do it right. We want to make sure we do an effective search,” Vickery said.
During this period, Vickery said he will continue to share resources with the Amherst Business Improvement District, including the Visitor Information Center on South Pleasant Street.
“We’re very grateful for the cooperation and help from our friends at the BID,” Vickery said.
Former Executive Director Tony Marouilis, who was in the position between 2008 and 2014, said he doesn’t foresee any problems with the approach.
“I think if the plan is executed well with the committee structure in place, I do believe the events can happen for the summertime and be successful,” Maroulis said.
Maroulis credited Guidera with twice stepping in to the leadership role and providing a way for the chamber to be volunteer run for a time.
“I think Jerry’s put everyone in a good position to do this,” Maroulis said.
Scott Merzbach can be reached at smerzbach@gazettenet.com.