BINGHAMTON, N.Y. — A woman whose spouse grew up in Broome County will serve as the next president and CEO of the Greater Binghamton Chamber of Commerce.
Jennifer Conway, a graduate of Syracuse University, replaces Lou Santoni, who announced in December his plan to retire as chamber leader.
Conway will begin working with Santoni today until his retirement, and officially begins her duties as president and CEO on May 2, the Greater Binghamton Chamber said in a news release issued Friday.
The organization said it chose Conway following a three-month search that attracted more than 100 applicants.
The incoming CEO recently relocated to the Binghamton area with her family from Graham, Texas (about 100 miles west of the Dallas–Fort Worth area).
Conway and her husband, Ryan Conway, relocated to Binghamton in December for his position as an attorney for the City of Binghamton. Ryan Conway was born and raised in Endicott.
Jennifer Conway was CEO of the Graham Chamber of Commerce and Convention & Visitors Bureau for the past three years.
She also worked as senior financial analyst for the nonprofit Kenneth Copeland Ministries in Fort Worth, Texas, according to her LinkedIn page.
Conway is a 2005 graduate of SU’s Martin J. Whitman School of Management, earning a bachelor’s degree in accounting and business/management.
“I am thankful to be in a position as the president and CEO of the Greater Binghamton Chamber of Commerce to work alongside the people and businesses of this community to make the Greater Binghamton area a vibrant place to live, visit and do business in New York state” Conway said in the chamber news release.
Texas accomplishments
During Conway’s time in Texas, she increased the Graham Chamber’s revenue more than 50 percent and increased membership more than 20 percent, the Greater Binghamton Chamber said.
She also worked to bring the community’s chamber, convention and visitors bureau, and Main Street program “under one director.”
Under that partnership, Conway raised funding to build a new visitor and business center for the community.
The facility now houses the Graham Chamber of Commerce and Convention & Visitors Bureau and economic development office. The community’s city council also meets there as well, according to the news release.
Contact Reinhardt at ereinhardt@cnybj.com