Chamber Director Candidate Biographies
Brad Bernard has over 20 years of banking and lending experience. Along with receiving his undergraduate degree in Business from Ithaca College he has also attended the National Institute on Consumer Credit Management from the American Financial Services Association in conjunction with Marquette University.
Brad has been an active volunteer with local charities including Big Brother Big Sisters, Habitat for Humanity, Health Care is a Human Right and the Shandaken Historical Society. When not at work, he enjoys attending concerts, spending time outdoors with his family and three dogs.
Brad has been an active volunteer with local charities including Big Brother Big Sisters, Habitat for Humanity, Health Care is a Human Right and the Shandaken Historical Society. When not at work, he enjoys attending concerts, spending time outdoors with his family and three dogs.
Josiah Brown is the President and CEO of Famous Destination Marketing Inc. Although he does destination consulting under that name the primary brand the public sees is the “New York’s Best Experiences” brand. The NYBE brand is working to support upstate communities through the power of well managed and thriving visitor economies. After driving over 750,000 miles visiting tourism destinations and experiences, Josiah has lived up to his nickname of “The New York Sherpa”. As the founder of the “New York’s Best Experiences – Mobile Visitors Center” concept and activation he has never left his foundations of visitor first brand and marketing strategies. Josiah is the past chair of the New York State Tourism Industry Association and on the Advocacy Committee at Destinations International.
Misty Fields, is the Director of Continuing Education and Professional Studies at SUNY Delhi. She has been with SUNY Delhi for 15 years and in Higher Education for over 20 years. Prior to coming to SUNY Delhi, she worked at SUNY Cobleskill and Utica School of Commerce in Oneonta. Misty serves on the Chenango, Delaware, and Otsego County’s Workforce Development Executive Committee and is the Secretary for the New York State Continuing Education Association. She received her Master of Arts in Higher Education Administration from Stony Brook University. Misty has strong ties to Delaware County and the local area as a graduate of Sidney High School and resident of Sidney Center, NY.
A native, New Yorker, Gasstrom was raised on a dairy farm in Herkimer County. He obtained his B.S. degree in electrical engineering from Worcester Polytechnic Institute (MA) and his M.B.A. in Technology Management from the University of Phoenix (AZ). John has worked in various roles for NYSEG in Binghamton & Ithaca, NY (1991-2002) and for Georgia System Operations Corporation in Tucker, GA (2002-2019). He was the CEO of Indiana Electric Cooperatives in Indianapolis (2019-2022) and has taken the reins as CEO & General Manager of Delaware County Electric Cooperative (DCEC) as of August 2022.
John has done project work for the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) and has served on national level committees and working groups representing rural electric cooperatives in the areas of cyber security and electric reliability. Gasstrom currently resides in Bovina Center and is passionate about rural life and helping create a “quality of place” for small communities. In his spare time, he enjoys making wine and sharing his creations with friends and family.
I am the owner of Outdoor Adventure Recreational Services, a canoe, kayak, paddleboard and tube rental business on the Upper Delaware River. I also operate Gateway Shuttle Services, a vehicle moving service for fishermen and boaters.
I am married to Laurie, we have 2 wonderful children together. I have previously served on the County Chamber board, as well as the IDA/LDC, and am a past president of the Hancock Chamber of Commerce.
I look forward to working with my fellow business owners to improve the business climate in our beautiful area!
I am married to Laurie, we have 2 wonderful children together. I have previously served on the County Chamber board, as well as the IDA/LDC, and am a past president of the Hancock Chamber of Commerce.
I look forward to working with my fellow business owners to improve the business climate in our beautiful area!
From Harpersfield, NY, Damian Hill is a full-time owner at Shaver-Hill Maple. A third-generation maple producer who since college has returned home and expanded his family’s business to 10,000 maple taps. As a Cornell University Applied Economics & Management graduate and Alpha Gamma Rho Fraternity alumni, Damian is connected all through NYS Agricultural and even in parts across the country. At Shaver-Hill Damian conjoins his unique business mindset to the table while working with his father and uncle. Damian has led his family’s business to new heights in a short period of time with many goals and aspirations to come. As a Board Member of the NYS Ag Society, Damian is now also working shoulder to shoulder with a wide range of agriculturalists on the NYS Ag Society Board of Directors.
Catherine Huber serves as the District Superintendent of ONC BOCES. In that capacity, Dr. Huber provides support and resources to the nineteen component school districts in the ONC region which spans Otsego, Delaware, Schoharie, and Greene counties as well as serving as the CEO of ONC BOCES. Dr. Huber has worked as classroom teacher, staff developer, curriculum coordinator, principal, director, and assistant superintendent in schools across Western New York before moving into the superintendency in Alexander.Catherine relocated to the region in October 2020. She is committed to engaging in service to the region that she now calls home. She serves as a board member of The Otsego County Chamber of Commerce and ARC Otsego in addition to her work as a member of the core leadership team of the Regional Innovation Council. Catherine has volunteered at the Cooperstown Food Pantry and with the Cooperstown League of Women Voters.
Tara grew up in Walton, attended culinary school in Rhode Island, and pursued a restaurant career in Seattle. Upon moving back to her hometown she opened a successful restaurant and dove headfirst into the community. Tara is currently president of the Walton Chamber of Commerce. Tara subsequently closed her restaurant and is currently chef at The Hamden Inn. She prides herself as a champion for shopping local (especially for food), being as green as economically possible and being a supporter of the arts both in the community and in her restaurant.
Amy Warner is the Executive Director of the A. Lindsay & Olive B. O’Connor Foundation. Originally from DeLancey, Amy spent much of her life throughout the Northeast and abroad. She and her husband (a Delhi native) returned to Delhi in 2013. They now reside in Meredith with their three children. With a degree in Non-Profit Business Management from Boston University, Amy’s career has focused on fundraising development for nonprofits and grantmaking through philanthropic organizations. Additionally, Amy sits on the board of the Delhi Campus Child Care Center (DC4).