Meet the Staff
Amy M. Kneller – Office Manager
Amy coordinates and responds to all telephone, email and walk-in inquiries at the Chamber office. Amy serves our members by planning all events, registration, marketing and communications. She is responsible for managing accounts payable, accounts receivable and bookkeeping functions at the Chamber. akneller@columbiachamber-ny.com
Debbye Byrum – Membership Director
The Membership Director manages all benefit programs for Chamber members. In addition to healthcare, energy and other benefits, the director arranges member ribbon cuttings and special promotions to meet the needs of members. The Director welcomes referrals as she is also responsible for the recruitment and retention of Chamber members. dbyrum@columbiachamber-ny.com
Bill Gerlach – President & CEO
Bill was born in Wilkes Barre Pa. and raised in Claverack NY. He has Business Degrees from SUNY Cobleskill and Marist College.
He started his career in sales with the former Kd Office Work Inc. He had several roles with Kd eventually becoming an equity partner. When Kd was sold to a Fortune 500 company he started a 14 year career in banking where he started in Business Development and eventually became a
VP of Commercial Lending at First Niagara Bank. In recent years Bill obtained his NYS Property and Casualty and Accident /Health Licenses and served as a broker for Marshall and Sterling Insurance.
During his long career he served 2 stints on the Columbia County Chamber of Commerce’s Board of Directors and credits his years at the Chamber with helping him attain many of his career goals.
Bill lives in Hudson N.Y.
