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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)

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