class notes
• Craig Rodenberger ’93, Landisville, was hired as director of marketing at Ephrata National Bank. • Sheri Horner ’94, Lititz, was named interim principal at Akron Elementary School in January 2013. • Kia Damon ’97, State College, is an assistant women’s basketball coach at Penn State University,
where she serves as the recruiting and offensive coordinator for the Lady Lions. The team won the Big Ten regular-season title in 2013 and 2012. • Kent Wissinger ’97, Hockessin, received the Alumni of the Year award from Millersville
Promoting Lancaster County tourism
Kathleen Frankford ’90 embarked on her newest adventure in late January 2013 as president of the Pennsylvania Dutch Convention & Visitors Bureau (PDCVB). “This is a wonderful opportunity,” says Frankford, who was known an Kathleen Keller back in her days at Millersville University. “Lancaster County has so much to offer, and I am looking forward to being a part of marketing the county.” Frankford credits her education at Millersville with laying the foundation for a diverse career in tourism, entertainment and marketing. She majored in communications and initially planned a career in broadcasting. Then she became intrigued with marketing and public relations, and garnered experience through internships with the Pennsylvania Builders Association, the State System of Higher Education and Community Hospital of Lancaster. After earning her master’s degree in journalism with an emphasis on public relations at Temple University, Frankford took a position with the National Multiple Sclerosis Society doing marketing, fundraising and creative design for the nonprofit organization. Her next step was advertising and public relations for the Crown American Corporation, doing mall and department store marketing. “I was manager of marketing and sales at Hershey Entertainment Resorts for seven years, which was a great experience,” says Frankford, adding that she handled everything from Hershey Bears ice hockey to the introduction of the Great Bear roller coaster at Hersheypark. From Michael Bolton to REM to Meatloaf to Clint Black to James Taylor, she promoted concerts at Hershey and welcomed the performers to the stage at Hershey, where they were each presented with a Hershey’s chocolate bar.
42 Class Notes Spring-Summer 2013
University’s chapter of the Public Relations Student Society of America (PRSSA) in April. He is the communications manager for Wilmington Trust in Delaware. • Galen Charlton ’98, Seattle, Wash., a software engineer at LibLime, was named one of 2013’s “Movers & Shakers” by Library Journal magazine. This prestigious award recognizes 50
outstanding library professionals and their commitment to excellence and innovation in the field of librarianship. • Amadi Ramos ’98, Landisville, works for the missile products division of ATK in Elkton, Md., and was able to watch NASA’s first rocket launch of 2013. The Atlas V rocket was powered, in part, by retro-rockets that he designed.
Positions with Dodge-Regupol doing marketing and branding, Cumberland Valley Visitors Bureau in Carlisle serving as tourism director, the Whitaker Center in Harrisburg as vice president of sales and marketing and most recently as vice president of sales and marketing at the American Music Theatre paved the way to her latest endeavor with the PDCVB. “Lancaster County may be one of the most diverse destinations in the country,” says Frankford, pointing out that membership with the Visitors Bureau includes Amish quilt and furniture makers, Pennsylvania Dutch restaurants, farmers’ markets and bed-andbreakfast inns. But that’s just the half of it—or maybe just a third or quarter of it. Lancaster County has outlet stores, shopping centers, fine dining, international cuisine, theater, music, art galleries and museums, elegant hotels, microbrews, wineries, pubs, sports venues, boutiques, charming small towns, bicycling, rails to trails, historic sites, a convention center and much more. “People who live here may not realize how diverse and unique Lancaster is,” says Frankford. “It is such a fun thing to market and develop the brand.” As president of the Pennsylvania Dutch Convention & Visitors Bureau, she will be marketing some 700 member restaurants, inns, stores and attractions that make up the county’s tourism industry. As the county’s second largest industry—after agriculture— tourism brings some 10 million visitors to the county. And Frankford is determined to keep them coming. Despite the big challenges that lie ahead for Frankford, she has her priorities in line. She and her husband of two years, Todd, have a busy, active blended family with their three children along with two dogs and two cats. “Needless to say, I have a lot of energy. I thrive on it,” says Frankford, who is also a runner and a voracious reader. Looking back at her days at Millersville, Frankford is glad she made the choice that she did as a senior at Palmyra High School. She thrived on being a cheerleader at Millersville and a member of Delta Zeta sorority, where she made lifelong friends and “sisters.” Then there was Dr. Bill Dorman, who she credits with inspiring her toward her career path. “I can’t say enough about how Millersville prepared me for all the things I’ve done, and all the things I plan to do with the Visitors Bureau,” says Frankford.