Holyoke Chamber seeks criminal investigation of former executive director
HOLYOKE – The Greater Holyoke Chamber of Commerce said Friday it filed a criminal complaint against a former executive director, Jordan Hart, with the Holyoke Police Department.
In a statement, the chamber said an audit revealed evidence of apparent theft and misappropriation of funds.
The Holyoke Police Department received a report from the chamber in June, according to a response The Republican received Friday from Chief Brian Keenan . Holyoke Police said the matter is now in the hands of the Massachusetts Attorney General's Office.
The Attorney General's Office received a request, and it is under review, according to a spokesperson. The Attorney General's staff declined further comment.
The Attorney General's Office regulates nonprofits.
Hart did not respond to calls and text messages seeking comment Friday afternoon.
The chamber's statement said the organization's leadership identified financial irregularities in November and initiated an internal review, led by its Executive Committee, over several months.
A public relations firm issued the statement under the name of Harry Montalvo Cuevas, president of the Holyoke chamber's board of directors.
The statement said the chamber's investigation suggested that Hart used the organization's funds for personal expenses and that certain grant funds designated for specific programs were diverted to other purposes.
The release said Hart's employment with the Chamber was terminated in January.
According to her Linkedin account, Hart worked for the Chamber for just longer than 11 years, the last four of them as executive director.
The statement from the chamber did not specify how much money it believes was misappropriated.
The chamber said it will have no further comment.
The group said it has implemented new financial oversight protocols and will continue to strengthen procedures to ensure fiscal accountability.
"The chamber deeply regrets that this situation occurred and takes the matter with the utmost seriousness," the statement said.
Stories by Jim Kinney
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