Tory Irgang stepped in for Vince Horrigan and Randy Sweeney to introduce our speaker Andrew Nixon the President and CEO of Chautauqua County Visitor’s Bureau where he has been employed since January 1991. Prior to that, Andrew was the Managing Director and Marketing Coordinator for the organization. Before working at the Visitor’s Bureau, Andrew worked for Chautauqua Institution for three years as Assistant Marketing Director.

Vince Horrigan introduced Mark Geise who will speak to Rotarians today on the state of economic development in Chautauqua County.  Mark has broad experience in both the private and public sector of business development and planning in our country.  Early in his career he was founder and president of a byproduct and re-use company in Fredonia and went on to be Sales Manager, and Operations Director in the glass processing industry in St. Louis.  Mark has extensive experience as a senior planner in ecology and environment.  Mark’s work in the public sector includes Director of Development for the City of Dunkirk, Director of Planning and Economic development for Chautauqua County, Director of Economic Development, Monroe County and currently serves as the Deputy County Executive for Economic Development in Chautauqua County and CEO, County of Chautauqua’s Industrial Development Agency.  Mark has a Bachelor’s degree in environmental design and a Master’s in urban planning from the University of Buffalo,  He is married to Katie Geise, former President of the Rotary club of Jamestown.

Vince Horrigan introduced Randall Perry who is Executive Director Chautauqua Lake and Watershed Management Alliance.

Randall Perry is the Executive Director Chautauqua Lake and Watershed Management Alliance. He works on a variety of lake, watershed and research initiatives in partnership with Alliance Members and other stakeholders aimed at protecting and enhancing the health and usability of Chautauqua Lake.