HERKIMER — The Herkimer County Chamber of Commerce has announced the appointment of Denise L. Cavanaugh to the position of executive director, effective on Monday, May 1.

Cavanaugh comes to the position with a combination of corporate, higher education, and not for profit leadership experience, including leading several non-profit agencies — most recently as executive director of Catholic Charities of Oneida/Madison Counties, the announcement said.

Until assuming her chamber role, she was the coordinator of the College in Prison Program for Herkimer College, according to the chamber announcement.

This appointment follows the announcement of Michele Hummel’s resignation from the chamber’s executive director position to become a founding executive director for Herkimer Next, a non-profit organization that assists municipalities and other nonprofits located in Herkimer County with grants and projects they may not have the bandwidth to complete on their own.

Cavanaugh and her husband are the owners of Raindrops and Roses Bed & Breakfast and Wine Tasting Room in Herkimer.

They have two grown children who reside in the New Hartford area.