Business development, regionalism and fracking were among topics of discussion at the Chautauqua County Chamber of Commerce annual meeting on Friday at Shorewood Country Club in Dunkirk.
Retired SUNY professor of political science, Dr. Len Faulk, was presented with the first annual Pam Lydic Coalition Builder Award. Lydic, who passed away earlier this year, was the first executive director of the CCCC.
Chamber President and CEO Todd Tranum said, "Pam worked very hard to make the Chautauqua County Chamber of Commerce a reality, bringing together the Dunkirk-Fredonia area with the Jamestown area. We felt it was appropriate that we honor her memory in a way that was meaningful to her - building coalitions and partnership to make our community a better place."
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The Chautauqua County Chamber of Commerce presented its first annual Pam Lydic Coalition Building Award at its annual meeting Friday. From left, Brian Lydic, award recipient Dr. Len Faulk, CCCC Chairman Ken Shearer, and CCCC President/CEO Todd Tranum.
Brian Lydic reflected on his late wife's work in saying, "Pam would be especially pleased that this is being presented to Len Faulk. ... She and Len shared a lot of the same philosophies."
Faulk serves on the Jamestown Strategic Planning and Partnership Commission and the Jamestown Renaissance Corporation. He developed the Center for Rural-Regional Governance at Fredonia and was instrumental in the development of the SUNY Fredonia Technology Incubator. According to a CCCC press release, "he has worked throughout the county and region encouraging collaboration, regionalization and shared services," and neighborhood revitalization.
Faulk said he was "honored to receive this award, especially because of whose name is on it." He spoke of projects in which he has been involved in the area and ongoing work to merge the Jamestown Police Department with the Chautauqua County Sheriff's Office. "Coalitions," Faulk said," are cornerstones of communities."
Tranum also presented the top three winners in the Chamber of Commerce photo contest with their prizes. Kelly Johnson received $350 in gift checks as first place winner. Jonathon Weston was awarded $200 in gift checks for second place, and Sarah Myers was given $100 in gift checks for her third place photo.
The guest speaker was Mary Hajdu, a Jamestown attorney, who discussed opportunities and landowners' issues regarding the extraction of natural gas from the Marcellus and Utica shales during the program.
It was announced Ken Shearer of Chautauqua Marina will continue in his role as Board Chairman in the coming year with Jim Pullan of Jamestown Mattress as vice chair; Jay Warren of Graf Realty, as treasurer; and Ellen Luczkowiak of First Niagara Bank as secretary. One new board member, Curt Anderson of the Small Business Development Center, was elected during the annual meeting.
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