BY JEFF CHUDZINSKINorth Country This Week

MASSENA -- The St. Lawrence County Chamber of Commerce has appointed Laura Pearson to represent Massena with the newly integrated chamber.

According to Executive Director Ben Dixon, Pearson has worked with the Chamber since 2013.

"She has managed the Ogdensburg Chamber office during that time and is an employee of the St. Lawrence County Chamber of Commerce as our Business Development Specialist.  She has extensive experience in membership services, fundraising, public relations and marketing, event planning, and business and community development. She has also been the Chamber’s Workforce Development Coordinator, working with numerous partners in the county to help connect employers with workforce and training opportunities, in response to this area of great need expressed by countless county businesses. Laura is also former military," he said.

Prior to working for the Chamber, Pearson was the coordinator for the SUNY Albany Bridge Program Prior to working with the Chamber, Pearson also coordinated for the SUNY Albany Bridge Program.

"Prior to her Chamber work, Laura was the Coordinator for the SUNY Albany Bridge Program that was located at the Akwesasne Boys and Girls Club; at the Massena Community Center before finding a new home at the St. Lawrence Centre Mall. The Bridge Program was focused on workforce development and putting social services clients back to work. Laura's job was to develop partnerships with local businesses and BOCES to help clients get the training and supplies they needed to be successful in the workplace," he said.

Pearson will begin work in Massena half of the week no later than March 4 and will be canvassing the business community with Cathy Moore of Liberty Utilities that day.

Dixon said the Chamber is laying the groundwork for "go time" in Massena and are currently working to get Pearson up to speed to begin serving the community.

Along with Pearson, representation on the Chamber Board of Directors includes Cathy Moore of Liberty Utilities, Jill Winters from NYPA, and Melissa Thomas/Chrissy Moody of Alcoa.

Pearson will also be assisting a new team for the Massena Summer Concert Series and applying for a SLC Arts regrant, Dixon said.

Public engagements will include a meeting with the Massena Rotary on Feb. 27, as well as the Monday Luncheon Group on March 11, he said.

Pearson will also work with Amy Stark for the opening of the new Visitor Center at the  Eisenhower Locks, along with promotional efforts for the total solar eclipse on April 8.

According to Dixon, plans are in the works for Peterson to host a "Planning a Business After Hours" networking event in Massena sometime this spring.

Along with her efforts to grow businesses in the town and village, Pearson will also offer support and collaborate with Fish Massena for their representation of the county at several outdoor sports shows around the Northeast, according to Dixon.

For more information about the St. Lawrence County Chamber of Commerce, visit www.visitstlc.com/