According to a news release sent out by the Chamber, Bullis, 58, will assume overall management and leadership _ in concert with the board of directors _ of all Chamber operations.

The Chamber represents the business community in Cooperstown and hosts events like PumpkinFest and SnowFest.

"The opportunity to serve and represent the business community in Cooperstown is unique," Bullis said Wednesday. "It’s one of half a dozen world-class centers of tourism in New York state and the northeast. I’m looking forward to joining the team and helping to keep things moving.

Bullis has been an employee of the college for 26 years and served as dean of institutional advancement at the college from 2001-2006.

Prior to his tenure at Herkimer, he worked in the field of substance abuse counseling, directing a residential treatment facility in Ithaca. He also served four years in the U.S. Navy on the flight deck of the aircraft carrier Independence.

Bullis will replace Polly Renckens, who retires at the end of February and has served in the post for the past eight years.

Renckens said Monday she hasn’t had an opportunity to meet Bullis yet, but thinks he’ll be a great fit for the community.

"The board of directors is very, very impressed with his credentials," she said. "We plan to work very closely together during the transition."

According to the release, Bullis has an associates degree in behavioral science, a bachelors degree in psychology and a masters degree in counseling from Herkimer County Community College, the State University of New York at Cortland and the State University of New York at Oneonta, respectively.

Bullis said he hopes to build on the solid foundation Renckens and the board have significantly strengthened over the past decade and plans to spend his first few weeks "wearing down the shoe leather."

He said he’s already met with several board members and plans to talk and listen extensively to businesses and individuals affiliated with the Chamber.

For now, Bullis said he and his wife will continue living in Fairfield, which is about a 30-minute drive. Eventually, he said, they would like to move closer to Cooperstown.