Staff Directory
Meet Our Staff
Claudia Pazmany
Executive Director
As the Executive Director of our Amherst Area Chamber of Commerce, Claudia brings a 17+ years of proven business development skills combined with a long history in Capital Campaigns, Philanthropy, Community Engagement, Social Media, and Alumni Relations, where she has built visionary and sustainable movements of giving through work in educational, community and grantmaking organizations.
She brings this work history to our Chamber to build a responsive and professional team that encourages a true partnership with area leaders in collective support of the civic, educational, recreational and economic well-being of the Amherst Area.
She continues to apply her non-profit skills to creating a more just and equitable world as the Advisory Board President of our local chapter of CHD's Big Brothers Big Sisters of Hampshire County and in her previous service as President of Friends of Amherst Recreation, granting over $100K to area organizations to ensure vibrant recreational opportunities in and around Amherst.
Claudia has been a speaker, has trained myriad boards and volunteers and co-led board retreats. She has received training in social media & marketing, database management, board management, and in cultural humility, diversity and inclusion which in turn, support her well in her professional and volunteer leadership roles.
She has served on many search committees, and has been a judge for the Berthiaume Center for Entrepreneurship of UMass Amherst Isenberg School of Management, and is currently working to support Greenfield Community College’s workforce development initiative serving on their Future of Work Advisory Committee.
Claudia resides in North Amherst with her husband of 25 years, and both have advanced degrees from UMass. They have two children, Cary and Vivian, who are both enrolled in Master’s programs. Claudia was born in NJ, raised in Connecticut and grew up in Fairfield County. Though the call to the coastline remains, she calls Amherst 'home' and is happy to serve the community where she works AND lives and support the pipeline to encourage others to work and live here in the 413.
Joan Temkin
Visitors Information Center Coordinator
Lisa Totz
Consultant Coordinating Amherst Area Gift Card Program
A 15+ year veteran of corporate America working for defense contractors, micro-electronics manufacturers and more as a Systems Engineer, Design and Test Engineer and a Lean Six Sigma Black Belt, I was looking for greater satisfaction than just to be a cog in the machine. As an independent consultant, one could be the lubricant - instead of the cog, enabling organizations to become more efficient, effective, proactive and responsive.
Mari Krivelow
Marketing Intern, UMass Amherst Student
MEET MARI
Hi! I attend the University of Massachusetts Amherst, specifically, the Isenberg School of Management. I am a Chancellor's Award Scholarship recipient and am currently in my junior year. I am majoring in Marketing and minoring in Sociology. Marketing has always been my passion, even before going to college. Having this opportunity to work with the Amherst Area Chamber of Commerce and help promote businesses in our community gives me so much joy. I cannot wait to continue helping and growing the recognition, interaction, and awareness of all the different community businesses.
Mari Krivelow is creating digital marketing promoting Chamber members, including Membership Mondays and Foodie Fridays, as well as other fun, interactive social media for Shop Local.