The Circle Winter 2022 Edition
Inside this issue... Getting to Know... pg. 2 ◆◆◆ Upcoming Events pg. 3 ◆◆◆ New Members pg. 3 ◆◆◆ Chamber News pg. 4 ◆◆◆ Member News pg. 5 ◆◆◆ Member Spotlight pg. 6-7
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Thank you to our Winter 2022 Chamber Champion:
Letter from the Editor & Year in Review Dear New Oxford Chamber members, Wow - it’s hard to believe it is 2022 already! I want to start out by saying thank you. I am grateful to work with each and every one of our members, from our businesses and organizations to our individual and honorary members. Thank you for being leaders in our community. As we move into 2022, I’d like to briefly reflect on some of the Chamber’s milestones from this past year. In 2021, the New Oxford Area Chamber of Commerce... • Created its first full-time position • Welcomed 36 new members (31 businesses and five individual members) • Held the following community events: 65th Annual Market on the Square (August 14), 14th Annual Harvest Day Festival & Parade (October 23), 2nd Annual New Oxford Harvest Hunt (October), Annual Tree Lighting (November 27), Small Business Saturday (November 27) and 2nd Annual Light Up New Oxford (December) • Held two new member breakfasts - one virtual and one in-person • Relaunched our monthly mixer series in August • Launched our quarterly Lunch & Learn series with a Social Media Marketing program in September • Created Shop Small Bingo to encourage shopping and supporting local • Started a community e-newsletter to keep the community up-to-date • Celebrated 25 member anniversaries (15 year and above to be celebrated at the 1st Annual Awards Banquet in January on Wednesday, January 26, 2022 at Inn 94). I am looking forward to keeping the positive momentum going into the new year. There are plans to roll out additional member benefits and programs in 2022. We are also looking forward to growing both Market on the Square (Saturday, June 18, 2022) and the Harvest Day Festival & Parade (Saturday, October 22, 2022). With a passionate and hardworking board of directors by my side, I look forward to continuing to serve our local businesses and community members in 2022 and beyond. If there is ever anything the Chamber can help you with, please feel free to reach out to us by emailing info@newoxford.org or calling (717) 624-2800. You are also more than welcome to stop in at the Chamber office at 27 Center Square in New Oxford. Don’t forget to take full advantage of your member benefits throughout 2022. A full list of benefits is available at: newoxford.org. Happy 2022 and best wishes! Sincerely, Michaela Shaffer Editor & Director of Membership & Marketing
Getting To Know... Board of Directors: Ashley Hershey, President Brown Schultz Sheridan & Fritz CPAs & Business Advisors Lyle Pitner, Vice President Lyle R Pitner State Farm
The New Oxford Chamber is excited to introduce a new feature in our quarterly newsletter called “Getting to Know...” Each quarter, we will feature one of our Chamber board members. Our board members are imperative to our organizational success, and we are excited for you to get to know them a little better through this new feature! This quarter we are kicking things off with our Chamber treasurer, Christina Palermo. Tina has been a member of the New Oxford Chamber board since 2018 and has also served as the organization’s treasurer for four years. She works for M&T Bank and is the branch manager at the Dart Drive location in Hanover.
Jennifer Meckley, Secretary Members 1st Federal Credit Union
Q: What is your favorite part of your job at M&T Bank?
Christina Palermo, Treasurer M&T Bank
A: What I love best about my job are the relationships I make with my clients and coworkers. It is very rewarding to be able to make a difference in people’s lives.
Dorothy Robinson, Borough Liaison New Oxford Borough
Q: Why did you decide to get involved with the New Oxford Area Chamber of Commerce?
Janise Bankard YWCA Hanover
A: When I was 16, I came to New Oxford to antique and absolutely fell on love with the town. I joined the Chamber to be part of the town’s future. I love the team of board members we have. Everyone pitches in and helps get the job done. I feel that is because we all feel something special for this town.
Chad Collie Allied Plaster & Construction Heather Laughman HD Entertainment April Majka Individual Member Janice Swartz UPMC Hanover
Tina and her dog, Lucas
Q: Aside from necessities, what could you not go a day without? Anyone who knows me would tell you I am an animal lover and that the faces of cats and dogs are my stress reliever and put a smile on my face...that and Diet Coke.
Chamber Staff:
Q: What’s the top destination on your must-visit list?
Michaela Shaffer Director of Membership & Marketing
A: On my bucket list, which grows everyday, is to one day visit Sicily where my grandfather immigrated from.
“The Circle” is a quarterly publication of the New Oxford Area Chamber of Commerce. Members interested in submitting news for future issues are encouraged to contact the Chamber at info@newoxford.org
We appreciate Tina being our first interviewee for “Getting to Know” and look forward to introducing our other board members in future issues of “The Circle.”
The New Oxford Area Chamber of Commerce is a volunteer-based, non-profit organization. Board meetings are held the fourth Thursday of each month and are open to Chamber members. For additional details, please contact us at info@newoxford.org.
New Year, NEW HOME!
Karen Tavenner, REALTOR® ABR,SRES
Re/Max Quality Service, Inc. 1147 Eichelberger Street Hanover, PA 17331 Cell: 717-253-3259 Office: 717-632-5111 karen.tavenner@yahoo.com www.karentavenner.com Serving MD and PA
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New Oxford Area Chamber of Commerce
Welcome New Members!
Upcoming Events
1st Choice Computer Solutions 560 Carlisle St.. Hanover, PA 17331 (717) 646-0880 1stchoicecomputers.com Computer Sales & Services
Children’s Aid Society - God’s Closet Ribbon Cutting Thursday, January 20, 10:30 a.m. The Nicarry Center, 343 Lincoln Way West, New Oxford
Baker Truck & Auto Collision 699 Kohler Mill Rd. New Oxford, PA 17350 (717) 624-2159 bakertruckandautocollision.com Automotive
1st Annual Awards Banquet Wednesday, January 26, Doors and cash bar at 5:30 p.m., Dinner at 6 p.m. with program to follow Inn 94, 4805 Carlisle Pike, New Oxford February Membership Mixer in support of the YWCA Hanover Safe Home Thursday, February 10, 4 to 6 p.m. Furs by Susan, 1 Frederick St., Hanover Q1 2022 Lunch & Learn presented by UPMC Wednesday, February 16, 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. The Markets at Hanover, Hanover March Membership Mixer Wednesday, March 16, 4 to 6 p.m. Gettysburg Montessori Charter School, 888 Coleman Rd., Gettysburg
Drayer Physical Therapy 6145 York Rd. New Oxford, PA 17350 (717) 819-9401 drayer.urpt.com/locations/new-oxford Health & Wellness Re/Max Quality Service/Homes for Heroes/Sue Pindle 1147 Eichelberger St. Hanover, PA 17331 (717) 542-0397 Real Estate Susquehanna Door Service 218 W. Golden Lane New Oxford, PA 17350 (800) 481-8595 sdsdoors.net Construction, Contractors & Engineering Vida Charter School 120 E. Broadway Gettysburg, PA 17325 (717) 334-3643 vidacharterschool.com Education
Individual Members: Torren Ecker and Pat & Sue Senft
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Chamber News Meet the 2022 New Oxford Chamber Board of Directors At the October 2021 Annual Membership Meeting, Ashley Hershey, BSSF CPAs & Business Advisors; April Majka, individual member and Lyle Pitner, Lyle R Pitner State Farm were elected to the 2022 Chamber Board of Directors. This will be Majka’s first term and Hershey and Pitner’s second term. Their terms will run through the end of 2024. Ashley Hershey has served as the president of the New Oxford Chamber since mid2019. She is a manager at BSSF CPAs & Business Advisors. She has worked in public accounting since 2012 with extensive experience in financial statement, tax and consulting services. Hershey graduated from Shippensburg University with both a Bachelor of Science in accounting and personal financial planning and a Master of Business Administration (M.B.A.). Hershey is also a Certified Information Technology Professional (CITP). In addition to the New Oxford Chamber, She is involved with the VNA of Hanover & Spring Grove and the Hanover Area Chamber of Commerce. She resides in New Oxford with her husband and son. April Majka moved to New Oxford from Frederick, MD in 2020 and has taken an active role with the New Oxford Chamber and community over the past two years. She has loved antiquing since she was a child and has many happy memories of visiting New Oxford. Majka’s professional experience includes working in all aspects of retail sales, including store management and buying. She has worked in various retail settings, from large corporations to a farm market. Majka was also a multimillion-dollar realtor in the metro DC area. Recently, she worked as an expert in children’s antique toy marbles for an auction house. She currently works parttime for a store in New Oxford. She can often be seen walking her German Shepherd Mango around town. Lyle Pitner has served as the vice president of the Chamber since 2020. Pitner is the owner of Lyle R Pitner State Farm in New Oxford. He became a State Farm agent in late 2019 after spending 20 years with Staples in sales, operations and management. He attended college at IUP and Drexel University. Pitner is also a former volunteer firefighter/EMT. One of his biggest passions is community involvement. In addition to his involvement with the New Oxford Chamber, Pitner is a member of The Chamber of Gettysburg and Adams County and Rotary of Gettysburg. Previously, he was a board member for the York/Adams Youth Football League and a former Bermudian Springs Youth Football League Director. Pitner is a longtime resident of Adams County and currently resides in Lake Meade with his family.
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New Oxford Area Chamber of Commerce
With a recent update to the Chamber by-laws, Janise Bankard of the YWCA Hanover has also joined the 2022 Board of Directors. Janise Bankard is the Director of Development at the YWCA Hanover. Bankard previously raised lifesaving funds for the Adams County Housing Authority and the American Lung Association in Pennsylvania before joining the Eichelberger Performing Arts Center as the development manager. Bankard has always felt called to dedicate herself to the missions of nonprofit organizations, and she is now working to eliminate racism, empower women and promote peace, justice, freedom and dignity for all. Bankard enjoys spending time with her husband Kevin, her daughters, Jessica and Kristin, and her grandchildren, Charlie Rae, Anna and Adam. The executive commitee officers for 2022 are: President Ashley Hershey, Vice President Lyle Pitner, Secretary Jennifer Meckley and Treasurer Christina Palermo. Rounding out the 2022 Board of Directors is Chad Collie, Allied Plaster & Construction; Heather Laughman, HD Entertainment; Dorothy Robinson, New Oxford Borough; and Janice Swartz, UPMC Hanover.
It’s Time to Renew Your Membership for 2022 The beginning of the year means it is time for membership renewal! Membership renewal letters were sent to all members in early January. At just $100 per year for business/professional membership and $30 per year for individual membership, your investment in our Chamber remains a great deal! Need a refresher on what you can get with your Chamber membership? Be sure to check out our Member Benefits Guide, which can be found on our website and at the Chamber office. Some of our benefits include: promotion on the Chamber website and social media pages, advertising opportunities, networking opportunities, insurance coverage, community involvement and sponsorship opportunities for large-scale Chamber events. Please take a few minutes to look at the 2022 Sponsorship & Advertising Opportunities Guide to see what we have in store for this year. Interested in any of these opportunities? Simply select the options you are interested in on the form you received with your membership renewal letter and send the form back with your 2022 investment. If you have not submitted your membership renewal form and payment yet, be sure to send it in soon! We use the renewal forms to keep your business listings on our website accurate. If you have any questions, please contact us at info@newoxford.org or (717) 624-2800. Thank you for your continued membership and support!
Member News Destination Gettysburg Welcomes New Team Members
Everoak Insurance Adds Two Agents to Team
Destination Gettysburg recently welcomed back Carl Whitehill as its vice president and also welcomed two new team members, Tammy Myers and Rick Kennis.
Everoak Insurance Group recently announced two additions to their growing staff.
Whitehill, who previously served as the organization’s media relations manager and director of communications from 2008 to 2018, will now play an instrumental role in helping Adams County’s travel community rebound from the COVID pandemic by promoting the region as a top destination in the Mid-Atlantic. As part of his role as vice president, Whitehill will directly manage a team of six employees whose primary responsibilities include partner relationships and marketing. In addition, he will remain the organization’s primary contact for media and communications. Whitehill has spent the past three years working for the Community Progress Council in York, as the director of marketing and communications Myers, a long-time leader in the Adams County tourism community, is Destination Gettysburg’s new director of partnership, leading the organization’s partner relationships and recruitment of new businesses. She comes to Destination Gettysburg after a long career with the Gettysburg Heritage Center. Kennis, who spent years in Gettysburg with WGET and WGTY and most recently with West Shore Homes in Mechanicsburg, returns to the community as Destination Gettysburg’s new director of marketing. Kennis will coordinate marketing efforts to ensure that the rich experiences available to travelers are reaching potential visitors across the country.
PA Dept. of Environmental Protection (PADEP) certified for the analysis of municipal, commercial and residential water and wastewater
LABS, Inc. 125 Enterprise Drive New Oxford, PA 17350 (717) 259-6550 www.labsinceb.com
MD Dept. of Health certified for the analysis of drinking water Swimming pool analysis for homeowners and commercial properties
Kristy Winters joins Everoak as an account executive for personal insurance. She is a native of Westminster, MD. She attended Westminster High School and graduated from Villa Julie College (now Stevenson University) with a bachelor’s degree in business administration. Winters has been in the insurance field since 2015. Jared Lawrence is a native of Hanover. He grew up in McSherrystown where he attended Delone Catholic High School. Lawrence’s professional career consists of 21 years of banking experience prior to joining Everoak Insurance as a licensed agent specializing in commercial insurance.
Did your company recently win an award? Did you hire a new employee? We want to share the good news with other members and the community! Send us your press release at info@newoxford.org. If a photo is included, please ensure it is high-resolution. Please submit business briefs by Friday, March 18 for inclusion in the Q2 2022 newsletter. Business briefs are included as space allows and at the discretion of the chamber.
NOW OPEN INSIDE THE NORTH HANOVER MALL!
Don't forget to also visit our two main locations at: North Hanover Center 1110 Eichelberger St. Hanover, PA 17331 (717) 632-0589
Chambersburg Mall 3055 Black Gap Rd. Chambersburg, PA 17201 (717) 263-7007
www.blackroseantiques.com
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Member Spotlight: Fuhrman Creative LLC While this allowed Kathi to understand the importance of small businesses, it also introduced her to the struggle to find an ideal work life balance as her parents missed out on milestones over the years. Despite her respect and appreciation of small businesses, Kathi felt that becoming a small business owner was not the right path for her when she started her career. Nevertheless, back at the crossroads in her insurance career, Kathi made a decision she swore she would never make - she chose to start her own small business. From the beginning, Kathi knew she had to put some ground rules in place. She would operate her business on her own terms, always maintaining control of her schedule and priorities. With a passion for marketing that she discovered during her time in the insurance industry, Kathi’s goal was to help small business owners with their marketing so that the owners could take the time they would have spent on marketing and instead put that valuable time into being with their families and experiencing life outside of work.
Kathi Fuhrman celebrating the five year anniversary of her business, Fuhrman Creative, in May 2021
Work life balance. It’s something we hear all the time, yet so many of us struggle to achieve it. Kathi Fuhrman, owner of Fuhrman Creative, knows the feeling of trying to find that balance all too well. After 10 and half years of working in the insurance industry, Kathi found herself at a crossroads in November 2015. She loved her job and her industry, but, at the same time, she was feeling burnt out. In addition to juggling many roles at work, Kathi was also missing out on spending time with her family. She needed to make a change. Kathi grew up in an entrepreneurial household. Both of her parents were deeply involved with building and running their own small businesses.
Kathi’s approach to being a business owner has proven to be successful. As Fuhrman Creative approaches its six-year anniversary in May 2022, Kathi continues to write her own rulebook. Over the past few years, her team has grown to 10, including herself and her husband Frank, who produces and creates digital videos and pictures for clients. The team members at Fuhrman Creative all have local roots, which makes them deeply invested in the community and businesses that they serve. Kathi strives to run her business in a different way, putting an emphasis on being a person – parent, spouse, friend – before being an employee. Her belief in offering grace and avoiding placing unnecessary pressure on her team members continues to be a successful formula as both her team and clientele grow.
A DA M S E L E CT R I C COO P E R AT I V E , I N C .
Reliable.
Stable.
KEEPING THE LIGHTS SHINING
for 33,000 member-accounts in Adams, Cumberland, Franklin, Perry and York counties
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New Oxford Area Chamber of Commerce
Responsive. 1-800-726-2324 | adamsec.coop 1338 Biglerville Road , P.O. Box 1055, Gettysburg, PA 17325-1055
S i s a p s o
A m h t i
two additional pieces published as a ghostwriter in the Post. Kathi’s other favorite memory and accomplishment is reaching her fiveyear revenue milestone before year four in February 2020. With her revenue milestone reached, Kathi was able to accomplish another one of her goals – adopting a local non-profit as a client for free. Kathi chose Roots for Boots, an organization that addresses the needs and challenges of military heroes and their families, as her non-profit recipient. She hopes to expand this initiative in the future.
Kathi at the East Berlin Turkey Trot with her husband Frank and her sons Ajay and Arie
Stacey Rice, the assistant marketing coordinator at Fuhrman Creative, is grateful for Kathi’s leadership, saying, “Working for Kathi…is such a blessing. Kathi is an amazing boss and mentor! She provides a flexible and professional work environment and gives constructive, positive feedback. Kathi is supportive of my role as wife and mother, something I wasn’t sure I could find in a job. She also creates engaging opportunities for achievement and offers possibilities for growth.” As Fuhrman Creative continues to grow, Kathi is grateful for the memories made on her business journey so far. When asked about her favorite memory related to her business, two memories came to mind. The first memory is the publishing of Kathi’s first article in the Huffington Post in December 2016. Since then, she has had
Hanover
Promoting peace, justice, freedom and dignity for all.
Despite the continued growth and success of her business, Kathi continues to keep her family as her priority. Kathi, Frank and their sons, Ajay and Arie, are active in the community. The whole family recently participated in the East Berlin Turkey Trot benefitting Roots for Boots. Kathi and her oldest son Ajay also served as guest radio hosts in support of New Hope Ministries’ Feed-a-Friend initiative in early December 2021. During their hour on the radio, they received pledges for approximately 17,000 cans of food! When Kathi and her family aren’t out in the community, they enjoy watching movies together. They’ve even watched the entire Marvel series in chronological order! So, that work life balance that can seem hard to find? While no two people are the same, Kathi has found a balance that works for her and allows her to feel fulfilled both professionally and personally. With a thriving business and happy home life, Kathi looks forward to what the future has in store. About Fuhrman Creative: Founded in May 2016, Fuhrman Creative is an online marketing agency based in Abbottstown offering search engine optimization, content writing, Google AdWords and social media marketing services for local businesses. To learn more, please visit fuhrmancreative.com, or give Kathi and her team a call at (717) 965-4406.
24/7 Hotline 717-632-0007 Providing services for victims of domestic violence and human trafficking.
Serving the Hanover and the Greater Hanover Area for 102 Years! Fulfilling our mission and supporting the community with these services: Childcare, Domestic Violence & Human Trafficking Victims Services, & Social/Racial Justice Outreach Winter 2022
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New Oxford Area Chamber of Commerce 27 Center Square New Oxford, PA 17350 717-624-2800 info@newoxford.org newoxford.org