SAN BENITO — The Chamber of Commerce has a new director aiming to develop workshops to help the city’s businesses grow.
Executive Director Anna Putegnat replaces Sandee Alvarez, who led the chamber for about two years.
The chamber’s board of directors interviewed about 15 candidates before hiring Putegnat, board President Toni Crane said yesterday.
“We’re all excited,” Crane said. “She’s very charismatic.”
Crane said Putegnat’s experience in fundraising, event planning, sales, marketing and social media promotion led the board to hire her.
Putegnat holds a bachelor’s degree in women’s studies from West Chester University in Pennsylvania.
“I’m thrilled to join the San Benito Chamber team as we work together to help our members prosper and succeed in growing their businesses,” Putegnat stated.
Putegnat said she plans to hold workshops to help businesses develop.
“We’re here to help educate local businesses,” she said.
This week, she is meeting local merchants to listen to their needs.
“I’m asking them what we can do to benefit their business,” she said.
Putegnat plans to develop the chamber’s strategic plan aimed at promoting and marketing local businesses.
“The chamber’s core purpose is to foster, enable and facilitate the success of San Benito businesses so our community is financially healthy and all the people living, working and playing in San Benito can enjoy a high quality of life,” she stated.
Alvarez, the city’s former Community Development Block Grant coordinator who took the chamber job in 2016, resigned to accept another position, Crane said.
“We’re going to miss her tremendously,” Crane said. “We enjoyed having her. She was a hard worker.”
The Anna Putegnat File
Bachelors degree — women’s studies, West Chester University
Experience — fundraising, event planning, sales, marketing, social media promotion
