AC Business December 2025 by The Chamber of Gettysburg & Adams County

Annual Meeting

Updates

Chamber Chance Raffle Tickets On Sale Now! Chamber Chance Raffle Tickets On Sale Now!

The holiday season is almost here, and so is one of our favorite Chamber traditions — the annual Chamber Chance Raffle!

Each $20 ticket offers a chance to win prizes every day in January, including cash, gift cards, or a gun! It’s a fun way to support the Chamber and makes the perfect employee gift or stocking stuffer for the holidays!

Tickets can be purchased online at gettysburg-chamber.org or through any Chamber Board Member.

Santa Sponsor:

mistletoe Sponsor: Frosty Sponsors: reindeer Sponsors:

Web Solutions

Cookie Co.

Hill Country

Sparkle Sponsors:

Bryan Johnson, Chair* SMB Associates

John Husser, Vice Chair* ACNB Bank

Judy Morley, Treasurer* The Gettysburg Cookie Co.

Sarah Sidenstricker, Secretary* Members 1st Federal Credit Union

Darlene A. Brown Individual Member

Isaac Bucher, Immediate Past Chair*

Mister Ed’s Elephant Museum & Candy Emporium

Michael Cogliano, Sr.* WellSpan Gettysburg Hospital

Lisa Duffy UPMC Hanover

Shawn Eckenrode Adams County Technical Institute

Sharon Kebil-Whisler M & T Bank

Kelly Mower Graphics Universal, Inc.

Stacey Schlosser* Biggerstaff’s Catering

Kate Shay Scott & Co. Fine Jewelers

Karen Tavenner RE/MAX Quality Service, Inc.

Becky Van der Groef Hoffman Homes

Wesley Warehime Aero Energy

Carrie S. Stuart, President* The Chamber of Gettysburg & Adams County *Denotes Executive Committee Member

CHAMBER STAFF

Carrie S. Stuart, President carries@gettysburg-chamber.org

Edith Cimino, Operations Manager edithc@gettysburg-chamber.org

Crystal Kleponis, Director of Member Services crystalk@gettysburg-chamber.org

Annie Burns, Communications Specialist annieb@gettysburg-chamber.org

By Shannon McCleary, TREYSTA

Manager

BUSINESS BRIEFS

The bolded businesses in Business Briefs are Chamber members. Submit news to chambernews@gettysburgchamber.org by the second Tuesday of each month for inclusion in the following month’s publication.

Barley Snyder is pleased to announce the launch of its Manufacturing Industry Group, a dedicated team providing proactive, cross-disciplinary legal support for manufacturers navigating today’s fastpaced and complex business environment. The group brings extensive experience across a broad range of manufacturing sectors, including industrial, food and agriculture, consumer goods, chemicals, automotive, and more. Its attorneys provide practical legal solutions at every stage of the manufacturing process, from sourcing raw materials to product development, labor and employment matters, regulatory compliance, intellectual property protection, and dispute resolution. Christopher A. Naylor is partner and chair of the group and brings deep knowledge of the operational, regulatory, and commercial realities manufacturers face.

Keller Engineers, Inc., with locations in Hollidaysburg, State College, and Gettysburg, PA and Haddonfield, NJ is a full-service engineering firm providing client-focused civil and structural engineering, and surveying services.

Keller Engineers is excited to welcome Michael Johnson as Bridge Inspection Team Leader. With over 20 years of experience, Johnson brings a wealth of knowledge in leading bridge inspection teams, conducting scheduled inspections, generating reports, training, and responding to emergency situations involving bridges and public safety. In addition to holding an Associate Degree in Architectural Drafting from Triangle Tech, Johnson is a certified bridge safety inspector and has completed numerous bridge safety trainings.

Adams Electric Cooperative is a not-forprofit, member-owned electric distribution utility that serves 35,000 memberaccounts in Adams, Cumberland, Franklin, Perry, and York counties. They have hired Chelsea Stouffer as a member services representative in the Shippensburg District location. Stouffer, of Shippensburg, began at the co-op November 3. Before coming to Adams, she worked for UPS as a dispatch supervisor. Stouffer is a graduate of Shippensburg Area High School.

UPMC and Orthopedic Institute of Pennsylvania (OIP) partnered earlier this year to deliver comprehensive musculoskeletal health services together, ensuring patients receive worldclass care when and where they need it most. As part of the partnership, OIP will open a new outpatient clinic in the UPMC Memorial Outpatient Services Building, 1703 Innovation Dr., Suite 3136, York, on Feb. 1, 2026, to provide outpatient orthopaedic services and an orthopaedic injury walk-in clinic for urgent care. Patients seen at this location who need surgical procedures will be scheduled at UPMC Memorial. OIP currently has locations in Camp Hill, Harrisburg, Carlisle, Hershey, Millersburg and Newport.

Big Brothers Big Sisters (BBBS) of South-Central PA proudly announces the appointment of MaDonna Awotwi as Director of Marketing and Communications, marking a strategic step in the organization’s mission to expand its community impact and elevate awareness around youth mentorship across the region. In her new role, Awotwi will oversee the organization’s marketing strategy, brand storytelling, digital presence, and community engagement initiatives. Her focus will be on increasing volunteer recruitment, strengthening donor relationships, and amplifying the voices of Bigs, Littles, and partners who make Big Brothers Big Sisters (BBBS) of South-Central PA’s mission possible. Awotwi brings more than 15 years of experience in marketing, public relations, and community development. Prior to joining Big Brothers Big Sisters of South-Central PA, she served as Program Manager for the Center for Innovation & Entrepreneurship at Harrisburg University, where she led regional programs that supported small business growth, women’s empowerment, and youth entrepreneurship.

Hartzell Supply Yard, LLC

#FreshFaces

Who we are and what we do:

Hartzell Supply Yard is a family-owned landscape supply yard located at 2747 Chambersburg Rd., Biglerville. Since opening in March 2025, we offer a wide range of landscaping materials including mulches, topsoils, decorative stones, pavers, flagstone, retaining wall blocks, fabrics, straw, grass seed, fertilizers, and tools (available in bulk or bagged). We serve homeowners, contractors, and landscapers, with custom orders available for select products. We also operate Hartzell Home & Garden Services LLC, serving Adams County since 2003 with construction, landscaping, handyman, and property maintenance services. Hartzell Supply Yard was created to provide the community with a one-stop shop for quality landscaping products and knowledgeable, friendly service.

What we love about the Adams County community:

I love that Adams County residents are so welcoming and supportive of locally owned, and family operated businesses. We really do have a very family-oriented and welcoming feel in this county.

Fun fact about yourself: I love talking and interacting with local and active members of the community and meeting new people to learn from.

CHAMBER CHAT

We Just Launched Our New Website—Explore What’s New! Our brand-new Chamber website is officially up and running—and we can’t wait for you to check it out! We’ve given everything a cleaner, more modern look with updated features that make it simpler for members and community users to find what they need.

With a launch this big, there might be a few bumps along the way. We appreciate your patience as we smooth things out. We promise—we’re on it, and we’re genuinely thrilled about the upgrades and how they’ll elevate your Chamber experience.

Take a moment to explore the new layout, tools, and resources.

Head over to gettysburgchamber.org and see what’s new!

ADVOCACY UPDATES

PA CHAMBER STATEMENT ON THE STATE BUDGET

Pennsylvania Chamber of Business and Industry President and CEO Luke Bernstein issued the following statement regarding the passage of the 2025-2026 state budget and related policies and code bills:

“This budget agreement contains several major victories the business community has long fought to achieve that will enhance our state’s overall economic competitiveness. Meaningful permitting reform is a huge step in the right direction and builds upon last year’s success, while exiting the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI) will provide much-needed clarity and encourage energy development and investment. This represents important progress for Pennsylvania.

“We also applaud the continuation of additional pro-growth tax provisions, including maintaining the phasedown of Pennsylvania’s corporate net income tax and the gradual increase of net operating loss deduction limits, as well as key investments to support workforce development.

“However, the agreement contains a tax provision that will make Pennsylvania less competitive by discouraging research and development investment into the Commonwealth, though we are encouraged that language was included that requires the Department of Revenue to review the provision’s impact, which should inform policymaking going forward.”

2025-26 STATE BUDGET RUNDOWN

On November 12th, the PA House and Senate took a series of votes to finalize the budget for the 2025-26 fiscal year, following an impasse that lasted over four months past the June 30th deadline.

The budget deal passed 156–47 in the House and 40–9 in the Senate.

The fiscal code, which includes many of the policies passed as part of the overall agreement, as well as instructions for allocating funding provided in the budget bill passed 189-14 in the House and 43-6 in the Senate.

The PA Chamber Government Affairs team continues to review the budget and various related code bills to identify provisions relevant to employers and assess the impact on the business community and Pennsylvania’s economy.

For more details, click here.

CONTACT INFORMATION:

Senator Dave McCormick

200 N. Third St., Suite 14A

Harrisburg, PA 17101

717.231.7540

Senator Doug Mastriano

33 York Street

Gettysburg, PA 17325

717.334.4169

Senator John Fetterman

320 Market St., Suite 475E

Harrisburg, PA 17101

717.782.3951

Representative Dan Moul

30 West Middle Street

Gettysburg, PA 17325

717.334.3010

Congressman John Joyce

282 West King St.

Abbottstown, PA 17301

717.357.6320

Representative Torren Ecker

282 West King St., 1st Floor

Abbottstown, PA 17301

717.259.7805

OUT & ABOUT

Annual Meeting | Liberty Mountain Resort | November 13

2025 Award Recipients

MATTHEW SHEADS

OUTSTANDING CITIZEN OF THE YEAR

MICHAEL COGLIANO, SR. CHAMBER VOLUNTEER OF THE YEAR

KIM & JEFF ERDMAN

SMALL BUSINESS PERSONS OF THE YEAR

JENNIFER FLEMING

EDUCATOR OF THE YEAR

TOTEM POLE PLAYHOUSE NON-PROFIT OF THE YEAR

WEIKERT’S LIVESTOCK FAMILY OWNED BUSINESS OF THE YEAR

2025 New Members

A Better Way Forward Business

Coaching, LLC.

Barnes Insurance Services

Brad Shafer / Sites Realty Inc.

Businesswomen Influencing

Gettysburg

Clutter to Couture Cleaning & Organizational Services, LLC

Cold Creek Dog Training

Community Media of South Central PA

Dal-Tile

Darrell M. Sipe Opticians and Hearing Aids

Edsal Manufacturing

Fox Pest Control

Fulton Mortgage Company

Gettysburg Festival of Races

Gonder HR Services

Hartzell Supply Yard, LLC

Henline's Stump Removal LLC

HGM Glass, LLC

HouseMaster serving Blue Ridge

JWE Remodeling & Roofing

Kingdom Custom Decks

McKinney Tile and Flooring

Mobile Media Blasting Unlimited

New Oxford Family Diner

NEXA Mortgage

NEXTStep Martial Arts

Orvis Hill Country

PDS Business Systems & Services

Phil Dibello Roofing

Rapid Response Pest Control

Rettew

Safety Educators, LLC

Sandra Lee Creative, LLC

Seton Center

Smart Paws Academy, LLC.

Smokin Barrel Tactical

The K2C2 Agency

ThinkEzIT .LLC

Wike Counseling Services

1,617,974

Financial Highlights

Programs (County Connections, Legislative, Awards, Gettysburg Wine & Music Festival, etc )

Fundraisers (Golf Outing and The Chamber Chance Raffle)

Membership Investments

Misc. (Website, Directory, Newsletter and E-blast Advertisers, Partnership Income, etc )

Payroll (Four Full-time employees)

Programs (County Connections, Legislative, Awards, Gettysburg Wine & Music Festival, etc )

Fundraisers (Golf Outing and The Chamber Chance Raffle)

General & Administrative (Postage, Equipment Rental, Supplies, Insurance, Bank/Merchant Services fees and Organizational Dues)

Payroll Taxes/Benefits (Taxes, Benefits, Retirement Contributions and Staff Training)

Occupancy (Rent, Cleaning, and Property Insurance)

HOLIDAY DEALS OR HOLIDAY DECEPTIONS? WHAT TO WATCH FOR WHEN SHOPPING ONLINE

Written by Shannon McCleary, TREYSTA Marketing & Account Manager

Who doesn’t love a good deal! With online shopping now easier than ever, so many deals are just a click away. But as nice as it can be, this time of year also brings some risks. Scammers know people are searching for the perfect gift at the perfect price, and they move quickly to take advantage of it. Here’s what to look for when it comes to scammers.

One big concern is the rise in AI images used to falsify real products. Many fake sellers now use realistic images that show items looking sturdier, larger, or more luxurious than they really are. These images can be hard to distinguish from real photos, especially when zooming through holiday deals. Shoppers may believe they’ve discovered an amazing bargain, only to open a package that looks completely different from what they expected!

placed. It’s a busy season, and scammers count on people being too distracted to notice the warning signs.

On top of fake websites and images, fake emails and text messages (often called phishing or “smishing”) play a part in holiday fraud. A message might claim your package can’t be delivered, your payment failed, or you’ve won a gift card—just enough to get you to click a link or enter your details.

“One big concern is the rise in AI images used to falsify real products.”

To spot a scam, look for urgent wording, unexpected links, a sender address with an odd domain, or requests for personal or financial information out of context. If it says something like “Click here to update your account” and you weren’t expecting it— pause! Go directly to the company’s official website or app instead of clicking a link in the message.

The problem also goes beyond misleading photos. Scammers are always looking for ways to make a quick dollar, and holidays are a prime opportunity. Fake websites often pop up around now, copying real stores so convincingly that it’s easy to fall for them.

According to Cornell University’s IT security office: “From November through December, as shopping and travel activities increase, so do the notifications and emails about special deals, package notifications, and reservation confirmations. Scammers know that when we’re overwhelmed and distracted, we are easier prey.”

Additionally, social media ads may lead to checkout pages that look real but exist only long enough to collect credit card numbers. Even familiar online marketplaces can host third party sellers who vanish as soon as orders are

Remember, if a deal looks unusually good, it’s worth pausing to double check before entering any payment information. Check the URL first and never use a debit card for online payments.

And of course, there’s always another option. Supporting local stores helps keep your holiday dollars within our community. Every purchase from a neighborhood shop supports local jobs, strengthens small businesses, and contributes to the growth of our towns. Whether it’s a handmade item, or a familiar storefront, shopping local is a great way to give back while checking off your holiday list!

Shannon McCleary works for TREYSTA technology management, a local IT company in Gettysburg and York. Questions? Please reach out to info@teamtreysta.com.

CHAMBER EVENTS

DECEMBER 4

Christmas Cookie Cash Bash | 4-6 p.m. at the chamber office

DECEMBER 8

Marketing Advisory Committee Meeting | 12 p.m. at the chamber office

DECEMBER 9

Executive Committee Meeting | 8 a.m. at the chamber office

DECEMBER 11

Governmental Affairs Committee Meeting | 12 p.m. at the chamber office

DECEMBER 15

Board of Directors Meeting | 8 a.m. at the Gettysburg Fire Department

DECEMBER 22-23

Chamber office open by appointment only

DECEMBER 24-26

Chamber office closed

DECEMBER 29-30

Chamber office open by appointment only

DECEMBER 31-JANUARY 2

Chamber office closed

Chamber members can spotlight their expertise for free by writing a guest article for our monthly newsletter! If you’ve got tips, insights, or industry know-how you’d love to share with fellow members, we’d love to feature you. Interested?

Email Annie at annieb@ gettysburg-chamber.org for details!

COMMUNITY EVENTS

DECEMBER 1

Turkey Tails Fall Camp | 9-4 p.m.

Strawberry Hill Nature Center & Preserve 717.642.5840 | strawberryhill.org

DECEMBER 5

In Dulci Jubilo – Christmas Concert Series | 7 p.m.

The Gettysburg Choral Society 717.515.3176 | gettysburgchoralsociety.org

DECEMBER 9

Cookie Walk | 12 p.m.

East Berlin Area Community Center 717.259.8848 | ebacc.org

DECEMBER 11

Illuminate: Hope For Brighter Tomorrows | 5 p.m.

Adams County Children’s Advocacy Center 717.337.9888 |kidsagaincac.org

DECEMBER 13

Holiday Open House | 8-5 p.m.

Boyer Nurseries & Orchards

717.677.8558 | boyernurseries.com

DECEMBER 17

Forever Young Country Christmas Lunch and Show 11 a.m. | Hickory Bridge Farm 717.642.5261 | hickorybridgefarm.com

DECEMBER 19

Jingle with JoBo | 5 p.m.

Jo Bo Holstein Farm

717.334.9202

DECEMBER 27

Holiday Barn Dance | 7-10 p.m. Hickory Bridge Farm

717.642.5261 | hickorybridgefarm.com

DECEMBER 29

Christmas Horse Day Camp | 9-4 p.m.

Shining Stars Therapeutic Riding Program 717.451.9509 | shiningstarstr.org

MEMBER RENEWALS NEW MEMBERS

Weaver Memorials Gettysburg

Luke Springer

124 W. High St. Gettysburg, PA 17325

717.435.1020 | gettysburg@weavermemorials.com weavermemorials.com Services

Weaver Memorials Hanover

Kimberly Champaign 715 Frederick St. Hanover, PA 17331

717.435.1020 | hanover@weavermemorials.com weavermemorials.com Services

YorkHoist

Kahla Livelsberger 3344 N George St. Emigsville, PA 17318

717.764.8218 | yorkhoist@hrcbrands.com yorkhoist.com Services

Membership Mixer

JANUARY 15 | 4-6pm

Park Museum & Visitor Center

Kick off the year with an America250 Kick-Off Bash with networking, fun, and community! Mix and mingle with fellow Chamber members while enjoying Chef’s grazing table charcuterie, seasonal desserts, and themed drinks.

Come in your best red, white, and blue or dress as your favorite American historical figure. Explore the museum and the “lights up” Cyclorama at your own pace, with staff on hand to guide you.