The Oil Region Alliance of Business, Industry & Tourism announces the retirement of Executive Vice President Daniel Twombly and hiring of Debra Sobina for the same position.

Twombly served as the Executive Vice President of the ORA for the last seventeen years, focusing on the organization’s finances and managing the rehabilitation of the Downs Building in Oil City. He officially retired September 30.

“My work career mirrors the legacy of the region — 25 years refining and packaging oil products at the Pennzoil Refinery in Rouseville and, most recently, working to preserve, interpret, and enhance the birthplace of the oil industry through the ORA,” Twombly said.

“We are sorry to lose the expertise and camaraderie of Executive Vice President Dan Twombly,” said John R. Phillips, II, ORA President and CEO. “But we wish him all the best in this next phase of his life and thank him for his 17 years of dedicated service to the ORA.”

Sobina was a founding board member when the ORA was formed in 2005. Throughout the years she served numerous ORA board terms and offices including that of Treasurer, where she worked closely with Twombly on the ORA’s financial reports.

Sobina’s previous employment includes a long history in the banking industry and more recently administrative and academic positions at Clarion University.

“I am so genuinely happy to return to work in Venango County and the Oil Region National Heritage Area, and pledge my best efforts to the board, staff and members of the Oil Region Alliance, and to all the constituents of the Oil Region,” Sobina said.

Twombly and Sobina worked together throughout much of 2022 to ensure a smooth hand-off; both addressed the ORA’s membership during the September annual meeting. Twombly reflected on favorite memories from the post and Sobina looked forward to promoting community vitality.

This article was published in the Venango Chamber’s November 2022 VenangoWorks! Newsletter.