Tamara J. Silzle

Receptionist/Executive Assistant

Advancement

About Tamara

I am an executiveassistant for the office of advancement. I am the first point of contact, both in person and on the phone for our donors. I work directly with the Senior Vice President and Chief Advancement Officer. Some of my work involves processing gifts and assisting with the budget by paying bills and tracking expenses.

Prior to working at Chautauqua Institution, I worked for 14 years in the legal field: 7 years as a legal secretary and 7 years as the confidential secretary to the Honorable County Court Judge John T. Ward (retired).

Why did you choose to work at Chautauqua? What do you like about working at Chautauqua?

Growing up, my mother would bring my sister and me up to visit Chautauqua Institution on Sundays during the summer. In the mid ’80s, my mother became the manager of the Chautauqua Bookstore so we moved to Chautauqua County. The Institution is where I spent my high school and college years. I worked in the Amp, the library and bookstore.

The position I currently hold became available at a point in my life when I was looking for a change. Returning to Chautauqua is like returning home for me.

Professional Affiliations

I am a Notary

Personal Interests

I am currently learning sign language with the hope that someday I will achieve interpreter status.