Advertisement. Advertise with us

The End Of An Era:

The Jim Empie Era

Jim Empie, an player in the Otsego County banking scene for 45 years, is retiring today as Key Bank's vice president/manager at the Cooperstown branch in landmark 103 Main St. A native of Worcester and graduate of SUNY Cobleskill and RIT, Empie joined the management training program at the National Commercial Bank & Trust in Albany in 1970. As the bank went through a number of transitions before becoming part of Cleveland-based Key Bank, Empie helped manage branches in Cobleskill, Worcester and Cooperstown, as well as serving at area manager for Otsego County. Active on the Otsego Chamber Board of Directors, he helped initiate the annual Key Bank/Otsego Chamber Small Business Award, now in its 14th year. He has no immediate plans for retirement, other than to continue his duties at Worcester fire chief, and enjoying his and wife Michelle's daugthter Kristen, son Seth and four grandchildren, all living in Worcester. Flanking Empie in photo are two longtime associates, Personal Banker Peg Chicorelli, a colleague since 1973, and Nicole Vanderwerker, lead teller for seven years. His successor will bes Allen Ruffles, an Edmeston native. (Jim Kevlin/allotsego.com)
Stop by and wish him well, as Jim Empie, a player on the Otsego County banking scene for 45 years, is retiring today as Key Bank’s vice president/manager at the Cooperstown branch in landmark 103 Main St. A native of Worcester and graduate of SUNY Cobleskill and RIT, Empie joined the management training program at the National Commercial Bank & Trust in Albany in 1970. As the bank went through a number of transitions before becoming part of Cleveland-based Key Bank, Empie helped manage branches in Cobleskill, Worcester and Cooperstown, as well as serving as area manager for Otsego County. Active on the Otsego County Chamber Board of Directors, he helped initiate the annual Key Bank/Otsego Chamber Small Business Award, now in its 14th year. He has no immediate plans for his retirement, other than to continue his duties at Worcester fire chief, and enjoying his and wife Michelle’s daughter Kristen, son Seth and four grandchildren, all living in Worcester. Flanking Empie in photo are two longtime associates, Personal Banker Peg Chicorelli, right, a colleague since 1973, and Nicole Vanderwerker, lead teller for seven years. His successor in the corner office at Main and Pioneer Alley will be Allen Ruffles, an Edmeston native. (Jim Kevlin/allotsego.com)

Posted

Tags

Related Articles

Time Out Otsego: 04-14-26

POETRY—5 p.m. “Village Verses.” Kickoff event for monthly multi-generational poetry appreciation group. All welcome. Village Library of Cooperstown, 22 Main Street, Cooperstown. aviva330@gmail.com…
April 13, 2026

Time Out Otsego: 04-06-26

POTTERY—1:30-4:30 p.m. Open Studio. Experienced potters work on personal projects. No instruction provided. Fees apply. Held 1:30-4:30 p.m. on Monday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday and 6:30-9:30 p.m. on Thursday. The Smithy Clay Studio, 1 Otsego Court, Cooperstown. Gallery@SmithyArts.org or https://smithy-clay-studio.jumbula.com/LateWinter2026/OpenStudio8Weeks…
April 5, 2026

Time Out Otsego: 04-04-26

EASTER—11 a.m. Easter Egg Hunt featuring the Easter Bunny and more. Free. Hyde Hall, 267 Glimmerglass State Park, Cooperstown. (607) 547-5098 or https://www.hydehall.org/events2025…
April 3, 2026

PUTTING THE COMMUNITY BACK INTO THE NEWSPAPER

For a limited time, new annual subscriptions to the hard copy of “The Freeman’s Journal” or “Hometown Oneonta” (which also includes unlimited access to AllOtsego.com), or digital-only access to AllOtsego.com, can also give back to one of their favorite Otsego County charitable organizations.

$5.00 of your subscription will be donated to the nonprofit of your choice: Friends of the Feral-TNR, Super Heroes Humane Society, or Susquehanna Society of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals 

Visit our “subscribe” page and select your charity of choice at checkout

SUBSCRIBE