OWEGO — Gwen Kania says a recent health scare changed her perspective on life and helped lead her to the decision to retire as president and CEO of the Tioga County Chamber of Commerce.

“I’ve always kind of thought I’d be retiring at this age I’m at,” Kania, 59 tells CNYBJ in a Jan. 22 phone interview. “But last year I had a bout with breast cancer and look at life differently. Priorities have changed.”

Kania, who notes she is healthy now, says she will step down at the end of May, after 12 years at the organization. She started with the Tioga Chamber in 2008 as director of operations. In 2014, when Martha Sauerbrey left her role as president, Kania was promoted to the top job. 

Kania adds that her move will also give “someone an opportunity to step forward. New ideas are good. It’s good to have a fresh perspective.”

As for what’s on her immediate docket after leaving the chamber, Kania says she will probably take the summer off, golf more, and work on some projects around the house. Then, she’ll look at what she wants to do.

“I’ll take some time to figure it out. I’m not going to totally quit the workforce,” Kania says. “I will likely do something, but it won’t be in a leadership position.”

She will also spend more time with family and friends. What she’s been through reminded her how important that is. “It was a change in perspective after you have a cancer fight,” she says.

Kania won’t be easy to replace, the Tioga Chamber’s board of directors says.

“Under Gwen’s leadership, many new programs such as the Annual Job Fair, the Chamber OJT [on-the-job training] program, and Restaurant Week were added. She also saw the Chamber through our Centennial year,” Roseann Cole, chair of the Tioga Chamber board and owner of Upstate Safety Services, said in a statement.

Kania says she will miss the interaction with business owners and managers on a day-to-day basis. “The business community is very welcoming and collaborative and out for the best interest of the whole community,” she says.

Kania says her top challenge has been “doing everything that a big chamber would do with just 2 people.” In addition to the president/CEO post, the Tioga Chamber also employs Adrianne Goodrich as director of operations.

Search process

The Tioga Chamber’s board of directors says it hopes to fill the president and CEO position quickly enough to allow for maximum training time. It has posted the job on indeed.com and its own website job board (https://www.tiogachamber.com/jobs/) and is still accepting candidates.

 The position’s salary is listed at $48,000 per year. The job also has additional compensation in the form of bonuses.

The chamber is not using a search firm. Instead, it has a search committee composed of seven board members that is handling the hiring process.

“We are very hopeful, We’ve gotten some good candidates so far,” says Kania. The résumés come though Kania, who removes the names before forwarding them to the search committee. 

When asked why, she says, “Everybody knows everybody in Tioga County. We’re trying to take away any bias as far as gender or what have you.”