We’ve got great news to share!

As you most likely know, your CANYS Board of Directors worked diligently this past fall to envision a new direction for our association.  Through a dynamic process including an outline of our hopes and expectations, requests for proposals and face-to-face interviews with four highly qualified firms, we are excited to share the news that we have engaged Peter Aust to lead and administer CANYS as our Executive Director, effective immediately.  The proposal from his consulting firm, Excelsior Strategies was dynamic, forward thinking and spot on as to how to take CANYS to a new level. Our board could not be more excited about Peter’s future leadership and we hope you will be, too!

Most of you know Peter, but if not, you will shortly.  He has been in our chamber industry for over 17 years and has served as the President and CEO of both the Adirondack Regional Chamber of Commerce and the Chamber of Southern Saratoga County.  During those tenures, he served two terms on the CANYS Board including chairing it in 2006 where he conducted a ‘listening tour’ by visiting many chambers across the state.    He established the former Health Care Task Force of CANYS to address the challenges being faced with providing affordable health insurance through chambers of commerce to small businesses/sole proprietors.  His extensive experience in chamber leadership includes serving as Chairman of the Board of Regents of the US Chamber’s Institute for Organization Management in Los Angeles and has served on the Government Affairs Council of the Business Council of New York State, the Communications Committee of ACCE and on the Executive Committee of the former Tech Valley Chamber Coalition.  In a nutshell, he ‘gets it’ and we’re confident in his abilities to lead our association.  So, please join me in welcoming Peter ‘back’ to CANYS and I’m sure you’ll be hearing from him soon.  

All the best,

Barbara Ann Heegan, President & CEO

Otsego County Chamber of Commerce

2019 Chair - CANYS