Nancy Buffone Named President of Amherst Area Chamber Board

AMHERST — The Amherst Area Chamber of Commerce announced the election of Amherst resident Nancy Buffone, executive director of External Relations and University Events for UMass Amherst, as president of the organization. Buffone assumes leadership of the chamber following the two-year term of Lawrence Archey of Hampshire College.

Amherst resident Julie Marcus, principal of New England Environmental, has been elected vice president of the chamber. The chamber also announced the election of six community leaders to join the chamber’s board of directors: Robin Brown, Lord Jeffery Inn; Sean Cleary, Amherst Copy and Design Works; Heidi Flanders, Integrity Development; Katelyn Lockhart, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Hampshire County; April Williams, J.F. Conlon and Associates; and Peter Vickery, Esq., attorney at law. The appointments will be effective Jan. 14, at the chamber annual meeting.

The chamber also acknowledged those stepping off the board after years of dedicated service to the organization: Kathryn Grandonico-Chiavaroli, Lincoln Real Estate; John Kokoski, Mapleline Farm; Reza Rahmani, Moti Restaurant; and Meredith Schmidt, UMass Campus Center.

“I am honored to help lead the board of the Amherst Area Chamber of Commerce, as the chamber plays a critical role in the economic and cultural vitality of Amherst and the local communities,” said Buffone. “I look forward to continuing to build relationships with our members and to providing opportunities and avenues to expand the economic base in Amherst. The partnerships between the towns of Amherst and Hadley, in particular, the institutions of higher learning, and the business community are essential to our shared success.”