Southern Tier Opportunity Coalition stops paying its executive director

The Press & Sun-Bulletin reported that Southern Tier Opportunity Coalition has stopped paying its executive director.

John Hayek, executive director of STOC since 2005, is now working as an unpaid volunteer of the nonprofit organization, choosing to remain active with the group because he believes in its mission, he said. The change occurred several weeks ago.

STOC formally announced its formation in 2003 with the goal of stimulating economic development in the region using help from members of the academic and private sector. The group's previous executive director was Howard Lucy, who served in the position for about two years.

Diana Bendz, STOC president, is now also acting executive director of the organization, she said. "The economy hit us ... we lost dollars from our membership," she said. Read more here.