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Massena Chamber of Commerce executive director steps down for 'sabbatical'

Posted 4/23/18

MASSENA -- The Massena Chamber of Commerce’s executive director is taking a “temporary sabbatical,” he wrote in a letter announcing his decision to step aside from his post. Nathan LaShomb, who …

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Massena Chamber of Commerce executive director steps down for 'sabbatical'

Posted

MASSENA -- The Massena Chamber of Commerce’s executive director is taking a “temporary sabbatical,” he wrote in a letter announcing his decision to step aside from his post.

Nathan LaShomb, who has led the organization since 2015, said he made the decision to take a break from the position because of funding issues.

“Nathan feels that a temporary sabbatical was in the best interests for his staff. With Nathan not taking a paycheck, the Chamber will be able to save money and given additional time for dues and sponsorships to come in. This will allow Associate Director, Lindsey Breitbeck and Media Manager, Daykota Snyder to stay employed, as he believes their roles are most crucial to the benefits of our members,” reads a letter from LaShomb and Chamber president Jason Hendricks. “When Nathan took the position as Executive Director back in 2015, it was with dwindling numbers of memberships and an event schedule that was upside down in expenses. Since then, Nathan has slowly built back our chamber to what it should be. In doing that, Nathan has grown an audience that is bigger than any chamber in the region. However, with the saturation of competing events and festivals in the area, countywide budget cuts of both family and corporate owned businesses, the lack of volunteer participation, and other mounting variables, our Executive Director has come to this decision.”

LaShomb will still participate in a limited number of chamber-related activities.

“Nate will still be accessible for ribbon cuttings and brief meetings. He will be taking this time to go back to his own business, Forevermore Studio Photography, where his wife has been managing and trying to bring back the business they have lost in his absence,” the letter reads.

The complete letter is at https://bit.ly/2HNRYrQ.