StrongLand Chamber of Commerce directors will spend the coming months attempting to achieve the impossible, one board member said.
The task: Replacing outgoing chamber President Allan Walzak, who will retire March 1, exactly 21 years after his tenure began.
“I have never met such a dedicated employee in my life,” chamber board member Anthony Ferrante said. “It doesn't matter what it was, the job was always first.
“Replacing him will be totally impossible.”
Walzak, 66, of East Brady is only the second president in the chamber's history. Susan Maine led the chamber from its creation in 1984 through 1991, chamber officials said.
The chamber evolved out of a merger among the chambers in Apollo, Leechburg, Lower Burrell and Vandergrift. At its inception, it had 126 members. It now has 350, and board members credit Walzak with being instrumental in attracting them.
With Walzak at the helm, the chamber added the Tour de StrongLand bicycle race, the Tour de Trout fishing tournament, river sojourns and the Leadership Alle-Kiski Valley program, among other things. Walzak also was instrumental in launching the StrongLand Home Expo.
“I like his ability to think outside the box,” board Chairman Frank Amato Jr. said. “For the past couple years during the recession, we've been trying to figure out ways to raise money for the chamber. Allan has suggested some things that, when you first hear them, you think they're kind of goofy. But the more you think about them, they're not so goofy.”
Amato said Walzak suggested having a rubber ducky derby. People or businesses would pay to sponsor a duck in the race, which would offer a payout to the winner.
“I don't know if we'll ever have the race or not, but that's one example of some of the ideas he comes up with.”
Amato said he is surprised that Walzak remained with the chamber for more than 20 years.
“A lot of people would just use the position as a stepping stone,” Amato said.
Walzak said he never expected to stay this long. He recalled attending a seminar for chamber of commerce leaders and being told “the average tenure was three to five years.
“It didn't quite turn out like that.”
Walzak has fond memories of working with staff and volunteers during chamber events.
“These guys really work hard, and that's why this chamber is so successful,” he said.
As for post-retirement, Walzak said he might pick up a part-time job but intends to scale back his work load as much as possible.
Looking back on his career, he said, “I just tried to do everything they asked me to do along the way.”
He said it always seemed important for him to make his opinions known and that board members always respected what he had to say.
“The board has been willing to go with a lot of what I suggested.”
Board members said they have the utmost faith in Walzak and have asked him to participate in finding the next chamber president.
“This chamber has been blessed in many ways, notably by Allan Walzak's leadership and energy and the help of energetic volunteers,” chamber board member Joe Cepicka said.
Michael Aubele is a staff writer for Trib Total Media. He can be reached at 724-226-4673 or maubele@tribweb.com.
