The Mid-Hudson Valley business community gathered May 8, at The Country Club at Otterkill in Campbell Hall to honor Amanda Dana, director of tourism for Orange County and executive director of the Orange County Film Office, with the 2025 Women Guiding Women (WGW) Inspiring Leader Award.
The recognition was presented by Orange Bank & Trust Company and Hudson Valley Investment Advisors Inc. as part of the WGW initiative, which was created to empower and elevate women in the business world.
Dana has been an integral part of Orange County’s leadership team since 2018, when she was named tourism director. As the organization expanded, it acquired the Orange County Film Office, which expanded her role to also include serving it as executive director. Dana is the past president of Hudson Valley Tourism Inc., the 10-county regional destination marketing organization. She has more than 25 years of sales and marketing experience in the Hudson Valley, having spent 18 years in executive recruiting/talent management and 10 years in real estate and economic development, including a role at the Orange County Partnership, where she led its Business Retention & Expansion division.
“Amanda’s vision, dedication and passion have helped elevate Orange County’s profile, which has had a tremendous impact on our local economy,” said Carla Alfieri, senior vice president/senior private banking officer at Orange Bank & Trust Company. “She exemplifies a WGW Inspiring Leader, and we were thrilled to honor her at this year’s event.”
The program also included a panel discussion on navigating the stages to a successful and enjoyable retirement, from your 20s to your 60s, as well as potential forks in the road that can pop up along the way. The discussion was moderated by WGW host Kathy Cole, vice president private banking officer, Orange Bank & Trust; and featured Alfieri; and Kelly Lynch-Moloney, vice president/portfolio manager, Hudson Valley Investment Advisors Inc.
Orange Bank & Trust Company is the Hudson Valley’s premier financial institution focusing on commercial lending, business banking, payment processing and wealth management services. For more than 133 years, it has been an economic engine of the community, with more than $2.5 billion in assets and playing a vital role in increasing opportunities for local businesses, creating jobs for generations of residents, spurring region-defining developments and maximizing investments to neighborhood-serving nonprofits. The bank is regularly recognized as one of New York’s top places to work.
