Board Members
Connie Herzig
Board Chair
Connie Herzig (Board Chair) has been an active community member since 1988. She has been a vital leader at the Oneonta Job Corps Academy and served as a Physical Education teacher and coach at Cooperstown Central School District for 27 years. She was inducted into the Cooperstown CSD Hall of Fame in 2023.
Connie is active in many community organizations including the Otsego Sailing Club and the City of the Hills Chorus. She was recently awarded the Volunteer of the Year Award by the Otsego County Chamber of Commerce. She lives in Oneonta with her husband, Gary Herzig.
Sean Lewis
Vice Chair
Sean Lewis (Vice Chair) currently serves as the President & CEO of the Otsego County Chamber of Commerce. This is Sean’s second stint in our region, having served as the Advertising Director at The Daily Star from 2011 through 2015. After a 25-year career in the newspaper business, he and his family returned to Otsego County in 2022.
Gabrielle Argo
Secretary
Gabrielle Argo (Secretary) has served on the board of Hill City Celebrations (formerly First Night Oneonta) since 2017. She is a passionate community volunteer, having grown up in Oneonta. In her professional life, Gabi works full-time as the Public Relations Director for Bassett Healthcare Network, and volunteers at A.O. Fox Hospital, A.O. Fox Nursing Home, and Bassett Medical Center in the No One Dies Alone (NODA) program. She has also served on the board for the Tri-Town Coalition on Substance Abuse Prevention (COSAP).
Aaron R. Tolbert, Ph.D
Academic leader, teacher, and scholar
Aaron R. Tolbert, Ph.D. is an academic leader, teacher, and scholar with two decades of experience in higher education, with a decade in executive academic roles. He has served in small regional public and private colleges both in Maine and New York as well as having served in the two largest higher education systems in the country, the SUNY (State University of New York) system and the California Community College system. Aaron is currently the Assistant Vice President of Academic Affairs at Hartwick College.
Jennifer Hill
Community Engagement Coordinator for Tobacco Free Communities
Jennifer Hill serves as Community Engagement Coordinator for Tobacco Free Communities: Delaware, Otsego & Schoharie. In this position, she gets to do what she loves most – engaging with people to make our communities better for everyone, especially kids. Jennifer has lived in and engaged with many communities throughout the nation and the world; first as a diplomat’s daughter, and then as an academic’s spouse. Jennifer moved to Oneonta in 2018.
Gail Glover
Vice President for strategic communications at Hartwick College
Gail Glover serves as the vice president for strategic communications at Hartwick College. She is responsible for developing and implementing the College’s brand vision, positioning strategy, licensing, marketing and public relations campaigns. Before joining Hartwick, Gail held leadership roles at Dutchess Community College, Bucknell University, SUNY Geneseo and Union College.
Dawn Amankwaa
Registered Nurse with a leadership role in the Bassett Healthcare Network
Dawn Amankwaa is a Registered Nurse with a leadership role in the Bassett Healthcare Network. Currently residing in Cooperstown, Dawn is pursuing her Master of Science in Nursing, specializing in Leadership and Administration, while holding a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Capella University. Beyond her professional endeavors, she takes pride in being a mother to three special needs children and finds tranquility in photography and exploring the breathtaking countryside.
Heather Ross
Owner/Operator of Polar Bear Homemade Ice Cream & More
Heather Ross is the owner/operator of Polar Bear Homemade Ice Cream & More. Established in 1949, her family-owned business carries on tradition by producing artisan handmade ice cream along with other old-fashioned favorites. In addition to her entrepreneur experience, Heather is an agent/Director of the Franklin Fire Ins. Co. She also participates in and donates to many local community initiatives.