Sophia Root, Commerce Chenango Marketing and Communications Coordinator and John Holden, Commerce Chenango Office Manager. (Submitted Photos)

CHENANGO COUNTY – Commerce Chenango President and CEO Sal Testani is excited to announce that Commerce Chenango has hired two full time team members.

Sophia Root started her full-time position as Marketing and Communications Coordinator on June 3, 2024.

Root graduated from Norwich High School in 2021 and is a recent graduate of the State University of New York at New Paltz, where she majored in Organizational Communication Studies. A long time Oxford resident, she is excited to return home and rejoin the community.

Root started working for Commerce Chenango as an Intern early last summer and has continued to work remotely from New Paltz as she finished her degree. Root has been shadowing Audrey Robinson, current Director of Communications and Tourism, with the intent to assume Robinson’s responsibilities when she retires later this year.

“I love being a resident of Chenango County and have had a great time helping with programs, meeting new people and communicating the purpose of the Chamber” Root claimed. “I am excited to concentrate my efforts on this County and continue my work with the Commerce Chenango team, they have made me feel so welcomed this past year.”

John Holden started his full-time position as Office Manager on June 10th, 2024.

Holden grew up in Walton, New York, an active athlete playing football and baseball among other various sports. After high school, Holden attended college at Adams State University in Alamosa, Colorado, and finished up at the University of Colorado at Denver.

Holden has spent his career building experience in communication, leadership, and management. Through these experiences he has spent time traveling the country, most recently living in Florida working in insurance.

Holden moved back to upstate New York to be closer to family and establish a better sense of community. He stated: “I am very much looking forward to the opportunity to work with Sal Testani and this group of talented, knowledgeable individuals at Commerce Chenango.”

Testani said, “We are very pleased to add John and Sophia to the Commerce Chenango team. They bring with them new ideas and a fresh perspective.”

Rounding out the Commerce Chenango team is Director of Communications and Tourism Audrey Robinson, Lu Dick in Membership Development, Program and Event Manager Barb Knowles and President and CEO Sal Testani.

-From Commerce Chenango