LancasterThriving_150th Commemorative Issue

150TH ANNIVERSARY COMMEMORATIVE ISSUE

Congratulations Lancaster Chamber on

150 Years!

We thank you for your leadership and service to the business community.

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CAR ING F O R

L A N CASTER B E YO N D O UR D O O R S

At Penn Medicine Lancaster General Health, we believe care is more than what happens in a hospital.

It’s when we all come together to help our neighbors. We know that safe housing, access to healthy food, and emotional and behavioral support are essential to the well-being of our community.

As Lancaster’s most trusted health system for generations, we never stop working to deliver care far beyond our doors by teaming with equally dedicated partners to improve lives, here in the place we call home.

Learn more about our community initiatives at CaringForLancaster.org

14

Reflecting On Legacy & Envisioning Our Future

contents

6

8

July 22,1872

Reflecting On Our Business History

Read a special letter from Tom Baldrige, Lancaster Chamber President & CEO, on legacy, gratitude, and looking towards a bright future.

Explore a timeline of major events from the last 150 years and celebrate milestones that have impacted the business community in Lancaster County.

We’re honored to elevate 14 impactful leaders who have shaped, and continue to shape, business and community in Lancaster County. Read their stories, ranging from personal reflections to industry exploration to future-forward ideation, and celebrate their perspectives, commitment, and dedication to our community.

59

Let’s Celebrate

Our celebration page showcases three main moments for our 150th Anniversary in 2022. Let's toast to the past and look towards the future.

64

Meet Our Sponsors

We’re grateful for the incredible businesses and people who are sponsoring our 150th Anniversary.

Meet our sponsors for this special celebration.

COVER PHOTO

Thanks to Drone Geek Productions for the incredible shot of Lancaster County that is on the cover of this special edition issue. Follow them on Instagram at @thedronegeek and check out their website at dronegeekproductions.com.

View Past Issues at LT.HoffmannPublishing.com

Spread the Word #LCThriving #LancasterThriving #HoffPubs #LancChamber

FIND US ON: LancasterChamber.com

5

A LETTER FROM TOM BALDRIGE

a group of downtown Lancaster “merchants and businessmen” met at the Cooper Hotel on West King Street where, per the Intelligencer Journal, “an interesting meeting was held.” Topics included street paving, education, credit practices, water supply, and the overall economic health of our community.

The premise of the meeting was based on the belief that businesses could get more done for themselves and the community by working together, instead of working alone.

And, an organized effort to align a business agenda was in everybody’s best interest.

It was at that meeting on that night in that hotel that Lancaster businessmen officially established the Board of Trade and asked businesses to contribute $5 each for dues.

Since that meeting, the Board of Trade has taken on different names, different projects, and different priorities; what has remained constant is the continued belief that businesses and our community are better off when we collaborate than when we try to do things ourselves.

Through the years – 150 years to be exact! – what is now known as the Lancaster Chamber has leveraged the voice and involvement of the business community to help shape what we now know as a thriving Lancaster County: a community of resolve, innovation, hard work, and philanthropy.

The Chamber’s journey has included some amazing moments. From advancing the early cause of public education to influencing current curriculum to ensure alignment with present-day needs; from leading the effort to secure an airport for Lancaster County to championing projects like Clipper Magazine Stadium and the Lancaster County Convention Center that add to our quality of life; from advancing philanthropy through the establishment of the Lancaster County Community Foundation to celebrating leadership through the creation of Leadership Lancaster; from providing platforms to invite local networking and a “Think Local” mindset to showcasing best business practices and offer shared learning; from advocating for a new train station in Lancaster to pushing for the Route 30 by-pass; from helping with the war efforts on a number of fronts to establishing the local Urban League during the racial tensions of the 1960s; and from advancing the cause

6 | LANCASTER THRIVING! | 150th Anniversary Commemorative Edition

of business by promoting a positive business climate to partnering with social service agencies to eradicate poverty, the business community has been a driver in who we are as a community today.

This year, we celebrate 150 years of milestone moments and visionaries, 150 years of business support, engagement, and leadership, and 150 years of business impact in Lancaster County.

Yet, this year we also want to shine the light on the future, the next 150 years. The aspirational challenges and opportunities that remain ahead of us, and the continued resolve we will need to push forward.

In this commemorative edition of Thriving!, we tried to capture that history, those moments, and some of the visionaries that have brought us to this point in time. And we’ve also tried to capture a glimpse into our future, as we use this milestone year to not just look back and celebrate local business, but look ahead to ensure a thriving tomorrow.

This marriage of the past and present was recently on full display when all of our authors for this edition gathered on the Ware Center stage for a picture (page 14-15). As the photographers worked to get the shot ready, we asked each person to introduce themselves and share an overview

of their article for this magazine. The ongoing conversation was nothing short of magical and fully representative of the love, the thoughtfulness, and the dedication our local leaders have to this wonderful community.

From Dale High sharing the history of the High Companies’ philosophy of “giving back” to Daniel Wubah’s review of the historic linkage between education and business in Lancaster County; from Larry Zook’s look back at the religious influence in the development of our retirement community economy to Melisa Baez’s look forward about the importance of equitable and inclusive practices as a key tenant to our future entrepreneurial success; and from Michelle Rondinelli recounting of the Kitchen Kettle Village story and the impact on tourism to Troy Clair capturing the history of how Lancaster finds itself in the center of the world’s live entertainment industry, the discussions offered an amazing look back and look ahead on what is – and will be – great about the Lancaster County community. And, how significant the role of business has been – and will be – throughout.

It was a real honor to capture these stories, to shine the spotlight not on the Chamber but rather on many companies who have made the Chamber possible. We are indebted to all our Members for your 150 years of ongoing support and we will never forget that we wouldn’t be who we are without your belief in the power of working together to ensure a thriving future.

Our history is your history. Our Vision – Lancaster County.

A thriving community for all – is all our work.

Thanks for sharing the journey. Now, let’s celebrate!

Sincerely,

A special thanks to those who made this issue happen.

The opinions expressed in this material are for general information only and are not intended to provide specific advice or recommendations for any individual.

Lead Editor & Content Manager: TONY GORICK Creative Services Manager at the Lancaster Chamber Visual Design & Content Support: MOLLY CROUSER Events & Partnerships Manager at the Lancaster Chamber Assistant Content Editor: ASHLEY GLENSOR Programs & Marketing Specialist at the Lancaster Chamber Photographers: OLÉ HONGVANTHONG and HEIDI CASTILLO, PhotOlé photole.com Cover Photo: DRONE GEEK PRODUCTIONS dronegeekproductions.com Photoshoot Furniture Design: INTERIORS HOME interiors-furniture.com Styling Support: KNOCK KNOCK BOUTIQUE shopknockknock.com FILLINGS fillingsclothing.com Issue Graphic Designer: JENI RATHMAN

©2022 All rights reserved. No portion of this publication may be reproduced electronically or in print without the expressed written permission of the publisher.

Lancaster Thriving! is published quarterly by

Tom Baldrige, President & CEO Lancaster Chamber

150TH ANNIVERSARY TASK FORCE Steve Geisenberger, Walz Group Katie Sandoe, Kathryn Sandoe LLC / Girls On The Run Robin Sarratt, Lancaster History Justin Antoniotti, WGAL Brian Nguyen, Community Action Partnership (CAP)

Josh Nowak, Lancaster Marriott at Penn Square Walt Legenstein, Certified Carpet J. Seroky, High Concrete Alison van Harskamp, Armstrong Flooring Lisa Horn, Kitchen Kettle Village

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7

Reflecting on Our Business History EXPLORE A TIMELINE OF MOMENTS THAT HAVE IMPACTED BUSINESS GROWTH ACROSS LANCASTER COUNTY.

1729

Lancaster County is organized as the fourth County in the state of Pennsylvania

1794

1730

The Lancaster Newspaper, now LNP, is founded

Central Market opens

1832

The Strasburg Rail Road is founded

1853

1770

Marshall College moved to Lancaster, Pa., and merged with Franklin College to form Franklin & Marshall College

The Demuth Tobacco Shop opens

1861

Julius Sturgis Pretzel Bakery is founded

1872

On July 22 a meeting to form the Board of Trade was held at 8pm at the Cooper Hotel, located at 35 West King Street.

Around one hundred people turned out for the occasion. They discussed the state of the roads in Lancaster, which were made of cobblestone and dirt; paving the roads would allow for water runoff and create better infrastructure for the city.

Their original agenda also included the economy of the city and county, credit practices, plentiful supplies of water, the construction of new schools and other public buildings, and transportation issues. This began the Lancaster Chamber of Commerce (officially named in 1919), founded with the idea that the power of a group is greater than that of an individual.

8 | LANCASTER THRIVING! | 150th Anniversary Commemorative Edition

1855

Beginnings of Millersville University

Read the article

by Dr. Daniel Wubah, President of Millersville University, on page 26.

1873

The Fulton Theatre, then the Fulton Opera House, opened

Read the article

by Marc Robin, Executive Director of the Fulton Theatre, on page 20.

1886

1882

Milton S. Hershey began and ran the Lancaster Caramel Company

Fulton Bank is founded

1878

Watt & Shand opened its New York Store on East King Street

1879

Frank W. Woolworth opened his five-anddime store on Queen Street

1901

1903

The Lancaster Board of Trade advocates for water filtration plan that includes a filtering plant to help the health of Lancaster citizens and community.

1899

Elizabethtown College is founded

Thaddeus Stevens College of Technology is founded

1906

Armstrong, Inc. moves headquarters from Pittsburgh to Lancaster, PA

1895

1893

Lancaster General Health hospital opens

New Holland Tractor, now known as CNH, is founded

1892

Hamilton Watch Company is founded

Lancastrian John M. Mast invents the wood and spring mousetrap, which would later become one of Woodstream’s best-known products

1910

Street and Road Committee of Lancaster Board of Trade, now Lancaster Chamber, lend every possible assistance of Lancaster business interests towards bringing about the repair of the Gap/ Coatsville stretch of the Lancaster Turnpike (Rt. 30).

1912

The Lancaster Chamber was one of the founding members of the United States Chamber of Commerce.

1932

1935

The Lancaster Municipal Airport is dedicated (officially named Lancaster Airport in 1951)

1933

Lancaster Bible College is founded

1919

The Board of Trade combined with the Retail Merchants Association to officially form the Lancaster Chamber of Commerce.

Stauffer’s of Kissel Hill opens

1940s

The Lancaster Chamber supported the war effort by working with manufacturers to develop a “United War Chest” to coordinate fundraising for the war effort and assist veterans in finding employment when they returned to the US.

1894

The Wilbur Bud is created

1896

Lancaster General Health established its School of Nursing, now the Pennsylvania College of Health Sciences

1905

1890s

Electric streetcar lines were built, connecting Lancaster city to the county boroughs

1920s

With philanthropy a growing and unique American concept, the Chamber helped to launch the Lancaster County Community Foundation

Hammond’s Pretzels and Turkey Hill are founded

1931

High Welding Company is founded, now High Companies Read the article by Dale High, Chair Emeritus of the High Companies, on page 16.

Continued on page 10 LancasterChamber.com

9

1944

A mill is purchased for the start of Wenger Feeds, now the Wenger Group Read the article by Abby Lowry, Assistant to the Chairman of the Board of the Wenger Group, on page 38.

1945

The Manheim Auto Auction is founded

1963

1950

1946

With an increase in tourism to the county, the Lancaster Chamber launched the beginnings of what we know today as Discover Lancaster.

Dutch Gold Honey is founded

Church World Services is founded Ten Thousand Villages is founded, along with the fair trade movement

Dutch Wonderland opens

1949

WGAL is founded

1960

1961

The Lancaster Chamber started what has now become the Economic Development Company (EDC) of Lancaster County.

Lancaster Laboratories, now Eurofins, is founded Landis Homes, now Landis Communities, is founded.

Read the article by Larry Zook, President of Landis Communities, on page 32.

1965

Lancaster Museum of Art is founded

1966

1981

1966

Community Action Partnership of Lancaster County is founded

Read the article by Vanessa Philbert, CEO of Community Action Partnership of Lancaster County, on page 22.

The Lancaster Chamber of Commerce and Industry name was adopted.

1952

Oregon Dairy opens

Clair Brothers, now Clair Global, is founded

Read the article by Troy Clair, President & CEO of Clair Global, on page 34.

1954

Read the article by Michelle Rondinelli, President of Kitchen Kettle Foods, Inc. on page 28.

1970s

The Lancaster Chamber begins to offer professional development programs, special events, value added products, and networking as a way to connect and train the local business community.

1972

Eden Resort opens

1977

The Lancaster Chamber of Commerce and the Lancaster Area Manufacturer’s Association merge to become The Lancaster Association of Commerce and Industry.

1976

Sight and Sound Theatre opens

10 | LANCASTER THRIVING! | 150th Anniversary Commemorative Edition

1953

Lancaster County Motors was founded Kitchen Kettle Village begins

1971

Park City Center opens

1982

1982

Pennsylvania College of Art & Design is founded

1984

Leadership Lancaster is founded by the Lancaster Chamber and Junior League.

Read the article by Kate Zimmerman, Executive Director of Leadership Lancaster, on page 44.

1997

Lancaster Chamber celebrates 125 years and hosts Colin Powell, 65th United States Secretary of State, at the Annual Dinner.

The first Willow Valley property was developed

1988

Cargas is founded

1988

Read the article by Chris Ballentine, Community Relations Manager at Willow Valley Communities, on page 50.

Auntie Anne’s is founded

1994

2007

2005

Spooky Nook Sports opens

2012

The Lancaster County Community Foundation’s Extraordinary Give fundraising event begins

Read the article by Read the article by Melisa Baez, Former Scott Fiore, President of TriStarr Staffing, Chief Program Officer on page 40. at ASSETS, on page 46.

The Lancaster Chamber, in partnership with the Jay Group, hosts a visit from President George W. Bush.

Clipper Magazine Stadium opens

2013

TriStarr Staffing is founded

ASSETS is founded

Lancaster General Health Campus opens

The Lancaster Chamber wins National Chamber of The Year through the Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives.

1989

1993

1997

American Music Theatre opens

Read more about the Lancaster Chamber Annual Dinner celebration on page 13.

2003

1988

The Lancaster Chamber partners with the City of Lancaster to renovate the Southern Market Building, making it the Chamber’s new office space.

2008

The Ware Center, part of Millersville University, opens

2006

Penn Cinema opens

2011

The Turkey Hill Experience opens

2009

The Lancaster Marriott at Penn Square and the Lancaster County Convention Center open

2008

The Lancaster Chamber launches the mentorship program that pairs students from local high schools with business mentors to help the students navigate career options and opportunities.

Continued on page 12 LancasterChamber.com

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2013

The Lancaster Chamber wins National Chamber of The Year through the Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives.

2014

2016

PhotOlé Photography is founded

2014

Read the article by Olé Hongvanthong & Heidi Castillo, Owners of PhotOlé, on page 54.

The Lancaster Chamber drops “of Commerce’’ from name and logo.

Rock Lititz opens

2020

The Lancaster Chamber named finalist for National Chamber of The Year through the Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives.

2020

Lancaster Chamber, Economic Development Company of Lancaster County, and the County of Lancaster develop the Recovery Lancaster project focused on providing funds and other resources for businesses during the COVID-19 pandemic.

2022

LANCASTER CHAMBER CELEBRATES THEIR 150TH ANNIVERSARY

12 | LANCASTER THRIVING! | 150th Anniversary Commemorative Edition

2018

Lancaster Farmland Trust preserves their 500th farm in Lancaster County.

OUR

Annual Dinner

past

SPEAKERS 1982

Mark Russell

1988

Jeanne Kirkpatrick

1989

Julius Erving

1992

Helen Thomas

1993

George F. Will

1997

General Colin L. Powell

1999

Katie Couric

2000

Walter Cronkite

2001

Former Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher

2003

As one of the largest gatherings of business and community leaders across the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, the Lancaster Chamber welcomes over 2,000 attendees to network together, celebrate our collective success, and hear from an inspiring speaker. It also serves as a way to support the work of the Lancaster Chamber and ensures the organization’s future sustainability.

For 150 years, the Lancaster Chamber has gathered this way – an annual meeting that sought to bring together business owners, leaders, elected officials, and community members for the opportunity to celebrate accomplishments, recognize our challenges, find solutions, serve the community, and lead the progression of business and our economy.

In the last 40 years the event has transformed into the celebration we know today! While we continue to emulate the gathering as it has historically existed, we began to honor individuals or businesses for their impact on our community, found new ways to celebrate Lancaster County, and welcomed a top-level keynote speaker to offer an inspiring message. The list of guest speakers is robust, with a variety of former United States Presidents, world

Madeleine Albright

2004

Steve Forbes

2005

Former President Bill Clinton

2008

Muhammad Yunus

2009

T. Boone Pickens

2011

leaders, entertainers & musicians, thoughtleaders & economists, and so much more!

What had once been an annual meeting, has transformed, specifically over the last 40 years, into what it’s now known as: a true celebration of Lancaster County business and business leaders.

We look forward to our 150th Anniversary Annual Dinner in May 2022 to toast to the legacy of Lancaster County as we look towards the future of business and community. LT

Former President George W. Bush

2012

Former Prime Minister Tony Blair

2015

John Legend

2016

Malcom Gladwell

2018

Carson Wentz

2019

Indra Nooyi

2020

Former Prime Minister Theresa May

LancasterChamber.com

13

Reflecting On Legacy & Envisioning Our Future

Pictured from left to right: Larry Zook, Landis Communities, Tom Baldrige, Lancaster Chamber, Melisa Baez, ASSETS and ELUME, Michelle Rondinelli, Kitchen Kettle Village, Chris Ballentine, Willow Valley Communities, Scott Fiore, TriStarr Staffing, Troy Clair, Clair Global, Vanessa Philbert, Community Action Partnership of Lancaster County, Daniel Wubah, Millersville University, Olé Hongvanthong & Heidi Castillo, PhotOlé, Abby Lowry, The Wenger Group, Marc Robin, Fulton Theatre, Dale High, High Companies, and Kate Zimmerman, Leadership Lancaster 14 | LANCASTER THRIVING! | 150th Anniversary Commemorative Edition

We’re grateful to elevate 14 stories from some of Lancaster County’s most impactful leaders. These individuals reflect on who we are now and look towards who we can become.

Page 16 to 41: E xploring key industries through the eyes of those who shape them Page 44 to 51: Envisioning our future by those leading the way Page 54: Technology takeaways as we navigate a shifting business landscape

Photoshoot Location: The Ware Center, Millersville University Photography: PhotOlé Furniture: INTERIORS HOME Accessories: Knock Knock Boutique and Fillings LancasterChamber.com

15

EXPLORING KEY INDUSTRIES

Dale High Chair Emeritus of the High Companies

O

ur High family did not specifically choose to locate a business in Lancaster, PA, in 1931, when my father purchased a small welding shop (still memorialized at the original location on Lemon Street) to create High Welding Company. It could not have been more fortuitous, however, as he had simply tried to make a living where he was planted.

A culture of grit and strong work ethic was already established in our community of craftsmen and entrepreneurs.

Many immigrants arrived in Lancaster bringing their considerable talents and skills with them, the result of which were important contributions like the Conestoga wagon, the long rifle, and much more, resulting in important contributions to our country’s development.

Also, at that time, while there was not a lot of thought about how ideal the location was for heavy manufacturers with easy access to steel mills and other resources, and the proximity to the major markets of the rapidly growing East coast, manufacturing began to grow in Lancaster with the likes of Armstrong, RCA, Slaymaker Lock, Hamilton Watch, and a fledgling High Welding Company that was to grow into the High Companies of today.

My own experiences at High began when I was very young, 13 or 14 years old, going to our shop on the corner of James and Water Streets with my father to work on Saturday mornings.

Most of my work at that time was painting bridge railings. As a child growing up, our assets were very limited. Our personal car, for example, had a hitch to pull a welder trailer during the work week, and when I got in the back seat of the old black 1937 Dodge on Sunday morning to go to church, my feet were perched high on boxes of welding rods for use during the next week.

16 | LANCASTER THRIVING! | 150th Anniversary Commemorative Edition

When I was a junior in high school, our company had moved to Old Philadelphia Pike in East Lampeter. I always wanted to be part of the family business, and so I approached my father about the need for the company to grow to support our expanding family. He said that we could not afford to expand or purchase new equipment, even though there was a large market opportunity. I pushed repeatedly then to start an additional shift.

He said, “Okay, if you have so much conviction around this, you do it.” Being 17 and feeling invincible, I took on the challenge. After causing lots of issues in both productivity and quality for our first shift, I appealed for their help.

They allowed our second shift a 2-hour training overlap and gave us temporary experienced workers from first shift for oversight. By the time I returned to my senior year of high school, it was working pretty well.

When I graduated from Elizabethtown College with a Business Administration degree and joined High fulltime in 1963 as its first college graduate, we were beginning to grow in size and move from repairing old bridges to building new ones. I worked with my father, Sanford, and brothers, Calvin and Don, initially. Early on, I was convinced that we were to have a culture that respected all co-workers and would give back to our community reinforcing what I learned at Elizabethtown, whose motto was “Educate for Service.” Out of that, we developed The High Philosophy of building trustworthy relationships and being innovative leaders, as it was clear to me that “we are creating the environment we needed so that our culture could persevere.”

Over the years that followed, along with a strong team of leaders and other High family members, I was able to help lead the company to diversify its efforts, which later proved helpful in light of the cyclical nature of our enterprises. Today, the High

companies include steel bridge superstructure fabrication and erection, precast concrete building systems, heavy hauling transportation, steel and precast erection services, metal processing and distribution, general contracting and architectural design, parking garage engineering, and repair and maintenance services.

High also includes a full-service real estate group of companies offering development, brokerage, property management, and investment solutions, and other ventures, all while operating with an environmental consciousness and a keen interest in aesthetics and sustainable building practices for the longterm. The company holds industrial, multi-family, hotel, and retail assets throughout the eastern United States, with the largest concentration here in Lancaster County. Greenfield, a thriving business park and center for community, was the start of the real estate business, and today is one of the company’s largest assets.

We have been so fortunate to benefit from a great leadership team, supported by outstanding co-workers. It has been a life-long opportunity to work with those with vision, outstanding values, strong work ethic, respect for each other, and a mindfulness and compassion for our community. I have always felt strongly that “outstanding service to our organization, our customers, and our community is what it means to be a leader.”

Philanthropy has long been a value of the High Family’s commitment to our community, whether through the High Foundation, corporate, or personal giving. We are, after all, only stewards of the assets allotted to us, so it is only natural that they should be shared with others as we have the opportunity. “We are not here for ourselves; it is what we can do to make the world a better place... for our customers and for our communities, that counts.”

Along with many other organizations, I have had the opportunity to serve as a past chair of the Lancaster Chamber, the PA State Chamber, and served on the Board of the U.S. Chamber. The Chamber merged with the manufacturing association in Lancaster many years ago and has served manufacturers of Lancaster County well, in my opinion, with combined assets and leadership. Congratulations to Lancaster Chamber on an outstanding 150-Year Anniversary!

There are many challenges facing manufacturers in our area today. Among them are skilled labor shortages and supply chain challenges. Helping to address these challenges, we have partnered with the Spanish American Civic Association,

Thaddeus Stevens College of Technology, Lancaster County Career & Technology Center, among others, to create a more skilled, inclusive, and diverse workforce. As immigrants served an important role in building our communities in the past, so an increased flow of immigrants can bring strength, innovation, and vitality to our businesses and community today! It is my belief that we benefit from the best ideas and skills, no matter who brings them forth. A skilled, diverse workforce leads to economic value and prosperity for our community, the result of which is more manufacturing remaining in our County, which also goes a long way to solving supply chain issues.

It is important for businesses to be involved in helping to create a better community.

I have long believed that we need to be mindful about our future with visionary business strategy, but also with an aligned vision for our community. The High companies were fortunate to lead and be part of projects that achieved shared company and community strategy and vision, whether through the revitalization of Olde Town Lancaster in the late ‘70s and early 80’s, or through the development of the Lancaster Marriott at Penn Square hotel/convention center project 20 years ago.

Because of my concern about the impact of losing family businesses in our area, I helped start The High Center at Elizabethtown College. I saw that if these businesses did not transition ownership locally, community engagement and investment were often lost. Some 130+ businesses now benefit from this program.

It is exciting for me to contemplate the future of Lancaster County, say 25 to 40 years in the future. What could our community be like if we work together to forge a future of purpose and intent, rather than simply drifting aimlessly?

Lewis Corell said, “If you don’t know where you are going, any road will get you there.”

My own years are more limited now, but I am encouraged when I see young, enthusiastic, and entrepreneurial leaders emerging to lead us into the future. These are folks who see the big picture and are determined to cut through the divisions and lack of civility that can be seen around us to make a positive difference right here, right now, and into the future. LT

Thank you to High Companies for being the Presenting Sponsor of our 150th Anniversary celebration.

LancasterChamber.com

17

We're all about connection.

Follow us on social media to stay engaged, informed, and connected as we celebrate our 150th anniversary year and beyond!

Instagram @lancchamber Facebook @LancasterChamberPA Twitter @Lanc_Chamber

Visit lancasterchamber.com for events, stories, and more

The Wenger Group, Inc. is a leading family-owned agricultural products and services organization, which includes Wenger Feeds, LLC, Dutchland Farms, LLC, Nutrify, LLC, Risser Grain, LLC, and Hoober Feeds.

With over 450 team members and ten feed milling locations in two states, the company is a regional provider of poultry, swine, and dairy feeds, performance ingredient solutions, conventional and specialty eggs, grain, fertilizer, and allied services in the Mid-Atlantic Region.

101 West Harrisburg Avenue Rheems, PA 17570 1.800.692.6008 | thewengergroup.com

18 | LANCASTER THRIVING! | 150th Anniversary Commemorative Edition

Proud to support the Lancaster Chamber of Commerce.

Investing in what matters most.

Our communities.

1.800.FULTON.4 • fultonbank.com Fulton Bank, N.A. Member FDIC. Fulton Bank is not affiliated with the Lancaster Chamber of Commerce.

We’re honored to sponsor Lancaster Chamber’s 150th Year.

Connected to our communities.

Barley Snyder is committed to serving our Lancaster community by volunteering and supporting local businesses.

Congratulations to the Lancaster Chamber on 150 years of service!

Truist Bank, Member FDIC. © 2021 Truist Financial Corporation.

Truist, the Truist logo and Truist Purple are service marks of Truist Financial Corporation.

www.barley.com | 717-299-5201 LancasterChamber.com

19

Marc Robin Executive Artistic Producer at the Fulton Theatre

S

how Business. According to one definition, it is the vernacular term for all aspects of the entertainment industry. Another definition states: The arts, occupations, and businesses that comprise the entertainment industry.

themselves, they heard it was really bad and want to see for themselves, they want to escape into the world of a fairy tale, they want to be inspired, they want to be challenged, they wish to simply be entertained, and many other reasons.

My definition…My life.

All the above examples have one thing in common, which many of our audience members do not even think about. They sit in our theatre and as the lights dim to darkness, they become a GATHERING of our community. They may have come in as an individual, a couple or a small group, but they end up as part of a larger community for that show.

They laugh, listen, applaud, breathe, and cry as one with this new group as they experience a performance that is happening only for them.

It’s what separates live theatre from film. This audience exists in that moment in time and for ONLY that moment, for that one performance. Never to be repeated.

For as far back as I can remember the world of theatre has been my home. It started at age four and continues to the present day 56 years later. I have been a Performer, Usher, Box Office Manager, Telemarketer, Dresser, Dance Captain, Theatre Manager, Choreographer, Gift Shop Sales Manager, Writer, Singer, Composer, Director, Ensemble Member, the Scarecrow in Oz and a Valet Parker. I have been involved in this creative world in tap shoes, jazz shoes, and pointe shoes. I have worn several administrative hats including Development, Marketing, Human Resources, Publicity, Education, and Facilities. I have been a Dance Coach, Student, Adjunct Professor, Guest Artist and a humbled Actor awaiting an audition.

Without question, the most rewarding, challenging, and life sustaining identity is my current one as the Executive Artistic Producer of the Fulton Theatre where I switch out all the hats and shoes I have worn in my life on a daily basis.

I have been asked to write on the impact that the arts have on our community and our lives. To do that, I would like to break down the term “Show Business” as individual words.

Only then can I really explain what the arts bring to us all.

Let us start with SHOW, because it is the most obvious.

When an audience member enters a theatre to “see” a show, they are attending for a myriad of reasons: it is a show they really want to see, they have been dragged there by a loved one, they heard it was really great and want to see for

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Fulton Hall was built in 1852 as a space to gather our community and the Fulton Theatre (and all arts associations) continues that tradition to this day. This shared experience has an impact on every individual that they may not even be aware of. This collective experience is what the theatre is all about. It is why we do what we do and why we tell our stories. We want to reach the souls of those bodies in the dark and give them all that they hoped for, to present a story that enriches their life or makes them think differently. To entertain them so that a bad day can be forgotten and someone who may have drudged in to the show is granted the opportunity to dance down the aisles at the end. To create an experience that allows a child to believe that anything is possible and to inspire the adult to help create those possibilities. To push the boundaries of conversation by offering subjects and topics that excite and invite conversation that will last into the

next day, the next week and, if we are lucky, change minds for the future.

The impact from a show is so much more than whether someone “liked” it, or not. It is about changing the collective soul of that audience in some way so that they are better (or changed) for having seen it. At least, that is our hope.

It is also to invite our entire community to be ONE and to see themselves reflected on the stage, in the faces of our actors and in the stories that are being told. It is a safe and remarkable room where every human is valued and seen.

The BUSINESS part of the equation is a bit more complicated.

Most assume that it is based on the financial income and expense of our industry. That is true, but there is more to it. Yes, there is the Economic Impact that any organization brings to its area. The Fulton generates over 20 million dollars of impact on our community. In 2003, the Fulton Theatre had the privilege of receiving the Lancaster Chamber’s Exemplar award, honoring the theatre for making a major impact on the community. That impact is partly comprised from the expenses we incur with local businesses as we build our sets, costumes, production and what is spent by our visiting artists.

The majority of the Fulton’s Economic Impact, however, is on the community’s use of hotels, transportation, and restaurants.

We gather over 180,000 guests in a season and they all contribute to the equation. We have hundreds of guests that travel to our area, stay in our hotels, and experience our community. However, let me open this up beyond the Fulton and look at the big picture of many Artistic Organizations.

The Fulton is actually one of the “medium kids on the block.”

Sight & Sound Theatre brings in hundreds of thousands of audience members to our community; American Music Theatre has an enormous impact on the “other side” of Lancaster and we have dozens of arts organizations that all gather their audiences as a community. Fun fact, in 2017, Arts Organizations had an $878 billion impact on our Nation.

It is the “non-financial” part of the definition I would like to focus on, the collaboration between organizations.

Community partnerships and sponsorships bring businesses together with the arts. For example, the advertising that though paid for, unites that company with the arts. The business of education and the inspiration that we instill in our young artists to grow into the next generation of Jonathan Groffs. Though there are funds exchanged for the service, when a child has grown because of the arts, it is priceless.

They can speak with confidence because they have had a

theatrical experience that taught them how to find and use their voice or gave them the inspiration a young adult may have to become a lawyer because they saw Legally Blonde.

Which is a true story I was just told by a member of a recent group tour I was leading. When I said something about our production of Legally Blonde the guest told me that his daughter had seen the show as a child and is going into law because of it.

The most important point I would wish for you to take away from this is the following: The arts ARE essential. We need them to excite our minds with creativity and wonder. We need them to allow us to reflect and discuss. To be entertained and to have conversation as to why we were (or were not) able to grow, to learn, to engage, and to be excited.

The arts matter because WE matter and our stories matter.

I have been given the opportunity of a lifetime to be a part of the creative community of artists that make up the vibrancy of the Lancaster Arts Scene. Without question, it is also my most fervent wish to change the collective soul of our audiences with the work we present and the way we present it. I have had the honor of working at the Fulton for 20 years and I feel passionately that, during this time, I, along with the most amazing collaborators, artisans, and employees, have helped to bring the arts to a wider audience and to bring the Fulton Theatre’s name to a stronger national presence. I am proud that many of our audiences arrive at the theatre and are surprised at the beauty of our building as they enter our doors to see the show they have “heard about.” In the “old days,”they were coming to see the astonishing building they had heard about and then to see the show.

For whatever reason you attend, please know how grateful every artist is to you for allowing our dreams to come true by telling our story, which is all of our stories, in this national historic treasure that is centered in the heart of this very special community. LT

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Vanessa Philbert CEO of the Community Action Partnership of Lancaster County (CAP)

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he Sector Long before the establishment of a formal community benefit sector, generosity has grown deeply in Lancaster County - an idyllic place woven through wandering farmland where farmers have nourished the bodies of their neighbors since its origins in the 1730s. A little more than half a century after the origin of the county itself, we see a first glimpse into the generous spirit of Lancaster County, when in 1793 it shared financial support and essential provisions with the City of Philadelphia amid an outbreak of the yellow fever.

After the turn of the century, community benefit organizations began to take shape. The Female Benevolent Society organized in 1816 when fifty-three women gathered together to provide for those in Lancaster who could not provide for themselves. In 1861, The Patriots Daughters, led by Lancaster native Rosina Hubley, collected and distributed bandages, bedding, and clothing to Union soldiers in Gettysburg during the Civil War. Over time, this work for the betterment of the community evolved with the needs of all Lancastrians. Through the late 1800s and early 1900s, we gained many organizations still serving the community, including the Lancaster County Community Foundation, Lancaster Public Library, Lancaster Recreation Commission, Water Street Mission, and Crispus Attucks Community Center. The sector grew through significant historical moments like the Great Depression and the Civil Rights Movement, and it continues to grow today.

Early on, much of the heart of this work in Lancaster was led by women who identified a need in their community and acted to meet those needs, a tradition that I am honored to carry on today as the first female CEO of Community Action Partnership of Lancaster County (CAP).

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The Action America was built on the promise that every family should have an opportunity for success. Yet, today’s uneven economy has put a good quality of life out of reach for many Americans.

Community Action was born from President Lyndon B. Johnson’s War on Poverty and from the advocacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. The Economic Opportunity Act of 1964 created the national Community Action Network of locally-focused organizations that connect millions to greater opportunity to empower individuals, families, and communities to succeed.

The nation’s 1,000-plus Community Action Agencies embody our spirit of hope and share a commitment to honoring people where they are while supporting them to realize the life they aspire to. Community Action Agencies look deeply into our communities, utilize data and elevate the voices of those we serve.

CAP of Lancaster is focused on creating a prosperity agenda that interrupts generational poverty with programs that assist families at every age and place in life. Founded in 1966, CAP has grown considerably, and today, more than three hundred CAP team members show up every day to support thousands of local families each year. Knowing that poverty is complex, and its contributing factors vary, CAP is committed to creating innovative, person-centered initiatives to augment our many long-standing and successful anti-poverty programs that advance the social and economic mobility of families.

We are committed to transforming generational poverty into economic prosperity so that all can thrive.

The Journey Life is a journey filled with high and lows – a journey laced with laments, lessons, and leaps. Our journeys are unique but there is much to learn from those who came before us. Growing

up in my neighborhood in Brooklyn, NY, I was surrounded by generations. My grandparents came to the states with their children from Puerto Rico, searching for a place where they could access the prosperity promise made by the main land.

They worked wherever they could with limited English and limited education, but they managed to provide for seven children. Their children took what their parents had invested in them and started their own lives producing seventeen grandchildren – each generation with access to a bit more than the generation before them.

What a legacy and what a responsibility. While generational poverty is an oppressive burden, generational prosperity is richer and deeper than just financial wealth. Its remnants are found in our communities, our businesses, our generosity, our compassion, and in our commitment to continue to leave the world better than we found it.

As I think about my journey there are a few pivotal moments.

I began my career in the nonprofit sector over 25 years ago.

Through the summer youth employment program, I worked at a career services center for individuals who were unemployed or underemployed. The Job Readiness Resource Center provided me with experience, exposure and with a small paycheck to help alleviate the sting of poverty. The clients we served were showing up trying to push past survival to stability, and as the youngest of three to a single mother doing her best to provide for her family, I was no stranger to surviving. My mother navigated the world trying to push beyond survival so her children could see a path where they could do better and dream bigger. I was profoundly impacted by the laments I witnessed as a child.

My parenting journey started while in high school, and I made an intentional decision to move into the workforce. My connection through summer youth employment helped me to officially start my career in the non-profit sector. This was the moment where I began to understand the value of social capital. The connection from summer youth employment provided a domino effect for me to begin exploring the workforce, and a passion for helping people was ignited within me.

In 2002, my husband and I took a leap and relocated from NYC to Lancaster. We were a young family looking for a place to call home, a place to raise our girls and a place where we could thrive. CAP was essential to stabilizing our family. The services and support we received allowed us the space to catch our breath, settle in, and connect to our new surroundings. A couple of years later I would join the CAP team on the front lines supporting children and families.

To be honest, for many years I felt like I was bouncing between crisis and stability – living in the tension of laments and lessons. But one day I was pushed to take another leap – while working full-time and raising young children, I began my post-secondary career. Soon after graduation, I would make my way back to CAP, and in 2019, I took on the role of CEO

believing that I made my grandparents proud and hoping my contribution to the world is evidence that nothing is wasted from the sacrifice of those who came before me.

As a sector and a community we have a responsibility to see people wholly – to see their families, see their struggle, and see their potential. When needed we undergird them, we walk alongside, and we celebrate every win along the way.

That responsibility doesn’t belong to one sector – it belongs to us all.

The Future If we have learned anything from the past, we know that people, businesses, and communities are impacted by each other, and at any point you can be anywhere on the prosperity continuum. The prosperity continuum moves through three distinct areas: from crisis, to stability, to thriving. It is often true that we tend to focus on crisis response, however, thriving communities refine the pathway to help and excel progress to prosperity.

As the Chamber prepares to serve the Lancaster County community for the next 150 years, my hope is that the Chamber will continue to invest in the business and community benefit sectors. Knowing intentional partnership between both sectors is essential to the wellbeing of the community at large, this commitment should be deeply rooted in a reciprocal philosophy where the needs of the business community are informed by the needs of employees. I envision a business community committed to “sustainable employment” that provides immediate economic stability with a pathway from crisis to thriving.

My hope for Lancaster is to accelerate our commitment to building a thriving community which is: – a place where businesses are thriving – large and small – a place where the needs of both the employers and employees are intentionally met – a place where families have access to and can make choices for living whole and healthy lives – a place where children can excel because their gifts are nurtured and celebrated – a place where young people have the space to explore the world and their place in it – a place where those who are aging can reimagine how they can contribute to their community – a place where collaboration and partnership across sectors is the fuel for Lancaster’s future My hope is that the current generation and the generations to come live with conviction to take on challenges with courage and compassion. Lastly, in the spirit of the community benefit sector – my hope is to align our actions to benefit the entire community with a clear commitment to equity, to justice and to prosperity for all. To quote Nelson Mandela: “Overcoming poverty is not a gesture of charity, it’s an act of justice.” LT

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Comedians Impressionists Magicians Illusionists Hypnotists Ventriloquists Jugglers Bands Musical Acts Caricature Artists Mimes Disc Jockeys Speakers and much more!

Call today to book specialized entertainment or Keynote Speakers for your next event!

717-761-7612 or check out our website www.brpentertainment.com 24 | LANCASTER THRIVING! | 150th Anniversary Commemorative Edition

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U L T A A T R I O G N N S O C

150

ON YOUR

YEARS...

We’re a proud partner of you and our local workforce.

Millersville University is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Institution. A member of Pennsylvania’s State System of Higher Education. 8447-UCM-1221 -CL

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Daniel Wubah President of Millersville University

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n September 2017 while visiting Ghana, a family member told me that we had relatives in Pennsylvania, but I never imagined that they lived in Lititz on the outskirts of Lancaster.

Fast forward to July 2018, when I arrived at Millersville University as the newly minted 15th president. A few weeks later, I was invited by Mr. Baldrige, president of the Lancaster Chamber, to consider serving on the Board of Trustees, which I accepted with alacrity.

Shortly thereafter, I received a call from my relatives nearby who later came to pay homage to me in my role as chief in Ghana. Never in my wildest dreams had I imagined that after living in four different states during the past three decades, my journey would bring me to a thriving community like Lancaster County. For that I am grateful.

Millersville University (MU) and the Lancaster Chamber trace their roots to the midnineteenth century when community leaders were collectively engaged in enhancing the quality of life and commerce in the region.

Founded in 1855, Lancaster County Normal School, the progenitor to MU, was established as the first normal school in Pennsylvania with the ideals that teacher preparation and classical learning are essential elements of public education and enlightened citizenship. Thomas H. Burrows, architect of the Pennsylvania General System of Education, and James Pyle Wickersham, a pioneer in teacher education and the second principal of Millersville State Normal School, were community leaders who saw the need for a quality teacher training institution to support the development of the Commonwealth’s emerging public education system. With a belief that the Lancaster community was a beacon on innovation and progress, Wickersham was responsible for the development of the curriculum which served as the model for other normal schools in the state and set the early standard for teacher training.

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Since 1855, when the inaugural class session took place, MU has been a Lancaster County institution committed to the education, economic growth, and welfare of local citizens. The university has grown and evolved alongside the city and region while adjusting to meet the changing needs of the population. Through peacetime and wartime, economic strife and financial resurgence, the university and the business community have weathered the storms and faced the challenges together. For example, during the twin hardship periods of the Great Depression and World War II, the university continued to train teachers to support the regional economy through partnerships with the Lancaster Board of Trade.

Just as Millersville University’s name and programs have evolved to meet the needs of the community, the Lancaster Chamber has also changed over its 150-year history.

The links between the two organizations in the early days of the Normal School and the Lancaster Board of Trade are noteworthy.

For example, Christian Herr was a founding member of the Board of Trustees of the Lancaster County Normal School and his son, Thomas Herr, was a founding member of the Lancaster Board of Trade.

Also, the Wickersham Family were influential members of the Lancaster Board of Trade during its early years. After a century and a half, the university and chamber have forged a stronger bond by focusing on the prosperity of Lancaster County and south-central Pennsylvania.

While the core educational mission of the university has remained constant since its founding, the impact on the community has grown as the needs for a skilled and competent workforce has increased. By transitioning to a state teachers’ college in the 1920s and becoming a multi-faceted state college with graduate degrees in the early 1960s, the university

demonstrated a commitment to a diverse educational experience as well as collaborations with community partners to respond to local and regional workforce needs. The first graduate programs that began in 1959 focused on the need for high quality teachers with advanced credentials in elementary education, vocational education, and counseling to meet the rapid post war population growth that saw Lancaster County eclipse the 250,000-population mark between 1950 and 1960.

At that time, the university changed its name to Millersville State College.

This evolution in purpose and programming continued through the 1980s as the university grew and diversified its curriculum at the undergraduate and graduate levels. The modern Millersville University emerged in the mid 1980s with the creation of the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education by the state legislature in Act 188. Working with local business leaders, President Joseph Caputo championed the emergence of a coordinated system to improve the access and quality of public higher education in the county and region. The attainment of university status during the Thornburgh-Casey years initiated a process of diverse professional training in the liberal arts, business, as well as economic education, while maintaining a strong teacher preparation curriculum.

As Lancaster County’s demographic profile has shifted towards becoming a destination for retirees from the northeast US in recent years, the Chamber and the university have paid attention to the work force needed to support a prospering community. For example, Millersville University is one of the leading producers of healthcare professionals to support this growing population. During the past two decades, economic demands have led to the need for bachelors and masters trained nurses, social workers, emergency managers, and business leaders. In response to this demand, the university has developed interdisciplinary programs that lead to careerready skills for our graduates. This has been made possible by the generosity of alums and supporters such as Lisolette Weirheim, class of 74, who left a gift of $4.2 million for the MU Department of Nursing. Recently, Dr. Samuel Lombardo and his wife, Dena, have donated $8 million to the university to support our new College of Business, with a purpose of educating skilled workers to support small and medium sized start-ups and innovative entrepreneurs.

of the Ware Center in downtown Lancaster. Coincidentally, this acquisition brought the university back to the very block in Lancaster City where the first teachers’ training sessions were held. The Ware Center addresses the university’s priority in community engagement by showcasing a wide array of performing arts, hosting community groups such as Hourglass Foundation, SCORE of Lancaster Lebanon, city government and Lancaster Chamber events and programs, as well as several youth programs and international performers throughout the year. This facility also enables the university to connect in meaningful ways to the city by facilitating civic and corporate partnerships that contribute towards local and regional development. Such efforts have led to recognition of the university by the Carnegie Foundation as a “Community Engaged” institution.

Also, the Ware Center, and the adjacent Fulton Theatre, have become a hub of cultural activity that contributes towards the vibrant arts and culture renaissance in downtown Lancaster.

We will continue to open our doors, our stage, and our meeting rooms to community groups so that we can help bring people together to address critical issues in the local community and region.

Now more than ever, MU is striving to meet our core value of “public mission” by serving as an anchor institution and community asset. We do so by sharing the core values of the Chamber through equipping our students with skills needed to serve our community well in whatever industry or business they find themselves. As Lancaster’s major public institution of higher education, we will continue to play a unique role in supporting workforce development, assisting community problem-solving and engagement, fostering diverse arts and cultural activities and making a positive economic impact. Ultimately, MU’s function in Lancaster simultaneously intersects and aligns well with that of the Chamber.

On behalf of our university, I congratulate the Lancaster Chamber on the milestone anniversary of 150 years. As president of Millersville and a board member of the Chamber, I am honored to serve these two organizations and be part of a vibrant and prosperous Lancaster community. LT

Millersville University’s engagement with Lancaster County extends beyond educating a skilled labor force to providing cultural and civic opportunities to the community. This past year, MU celebrated the tenth anniversary of the purchase

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Michelle Rondinelli President of Kitchen Kettle Foods, Inc.

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ur Village of 40 specialty shops, restaurants, and lodging stemmed from very humble beginnings in my grandparent’s garage in 1954. To think a stack of kettles and a few dozen recipes would eventually turn into a community of shops that welcomes over 800,000 people each year is something that none of us could have imagined.

My grandfather, Bob Burnley, was always the big picture thinker and my grandmother, Pat, made sure all the details were covered while also raising three young children.

He and his brother-in-law, Paul Weaver, were told by a friend, Ralph Gamber (founder of Gamber Glass & Dutch Gold Honey), about a widow near Harrisburg that had a small wholesale jam and relish business for sale. The idea intrigued the two young men because they were interested in starting a food business to appeal to the increasing number of tourists coming to Lancaster County.

Paul Weaver and my grandfather purchased the business for $5,000 and my grandmother gave up her auction clerk job that she held with her father to help with the business. While the decision to buy the jelly business was not a popular one with either set of parents, it didn’t stop them from pursuing their dreams.

My grandfather kept his full-time job and my grandmother was busy making batches of jelly that they sold to Stroheman’s Bakery in Philadelphia. They soon realized that the wholesale business was a tough way to get started and decided to shift their efforts to selling retail.

This jelly business started with a belief in sharing the culture and uniqueness of our area with the rest of the world as well as a passion for service that came so naturally to my grandparents. They were keenly focused on the experience and created a space that allowed guests to watch them work.

That open kitchen concept has been one of the key drivers of

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our success over the years and continues to be the main focus in our flagship store, the Jam & Relish Kitchen.

My grandparents continued to look for ways to attract more visitors and decided to invite Schreiner’s Flowers to open a plant shop. Later in 1963, Earl and Molly Clark from Dutch Wonderland opened a gift shop. A craft shop, leather shop, and snack shop were soon to follow. By 1968 Paul Weaver had sold his portion of the jelly business to my grandparents who were looking to grow that part of the business as well.

The second generation, having grown up spending days labeling jars, filling shelves and many other necessary business tasks, began to return to the family business in the 1970s. Mike, Jim, and Joanne focused their efforts on implementing processes and procedures that allowed the business to be profitable while continuing to expand.

As time went on, the Village continued to attract visitors from all over the world, becoming a regular stop for many tour companies that wanted to give their guests a taste of what Lancaster County had to offer. They came to see the Amish, to sample local flavors, and purchase jams, relishes, quilts, and leather goods.

I grew up just down the road from the business and started bussing tables in one of our restaurants at the age of nine.

I had the opportunity to work in many of our shops before I left for college to major in Business in 1996. After graduation, I returned full-time to pursue my passion for hospitality and the family business. I feel so fortunate to go to work every day doing what I love while working alongside my father, Mike.

The third generation consists of my cousin, Devon Burnley, who purchased her father’s operating company in 2016, and

myself. Together, we are committed to honoring our history, while also striving for ways to stay relevant in the world of brick-and-mortar retail.

We’ve done this by focusing on the guest experience while introducing food concepts such as wine, olive oil, and gourmet meats and cheeses that a foodie is sure to love. In addition, we carefully select national brands that will allow our guests to have a complete and memorable shopping experience.

It really does take a Village to be successful. The commitment and dedication of our team and tenants to our Vision, Mission, and Values is undeniable and one of the keys to our longevity.

Our culture is what sets us apart from other organizations and allows us to deliver a consistent experience for our guests.

We are committed to Spreading Happiness to our guests, our team, and everyone we do business with.

We know a strong culture, coupled with quality products and a commitment to provide an exceptional experience, will lead to positive results. We also know that we are extremely fortunate to be able to deliver these things in a community with a nationally recognized brand. Lancaster County’s success from a tourism standpoint is a combined effort from so many properties that are committed to many of the same things that we are at Kitchen Kettle Village.

As a tourism destination and one of the leading industries in this county, we can tout our incredible theaters, attractions, amazing shopping, a variety of restaurants and markets, along with beautiful hotels, and of course the Amish culture.

There is no other place that offers the downtown and main street experiences we have, while only being a few miles from picturesque views of our stunning farmland.

We help one another when things get tough and the last two years have been perhaps the most difficult our community has faced. Our industry weathered the COVID storm and is coming out the other end an even stronger destination that so many are flocking to experience. We rely on Discover Lancaster to get the message out to our surrounding areas and see it as our job to entice them to visit us when they are in the county. We are thankful for the marketing efforts this organization has provided our industry over the years and look forward to welcoming many new faces in the future.

We also have a sincere appreciation for our relationship with the Lancaster Chamber and all they have done for the business community for the last 150 years. The resources and expertise that we have access to at a local level are top-notch and something not easily found in other areas.

Thanks to the Chamber we’ve been able to network with professionals throughout the county, develop young leaders with the help of their training programs, navigate business challenges using the resources provided, and give back to the community with various volunteering opportunities.

I am amazed at the history of this organization and the impact they’ve had on our county. There is so much to celebrate from our past and I’m excited to think about what the future may bring. Happy 150th Anniversary, Lancaster Chamber! LT

According to the “Power of Lancaster County Tourism” report that was completed in 2019 by Tourism Economics, close to 9 million people visit this county each year, spending over $2.24 billion in 2018 alone. This spending helps create jobs, both directly and indirectly related to the industry, while also infusing tax revenue into our local economy.

We have something special here in Lancaster County.

Something that other destinations would love to replicate.

While they may be able to do that with similar products or experiences, they can’t match the people that make it all happen. The love that residents have for this community is so evident and translates into all that we do. There is a sense of care and compassion here, which shows up in philanthropic giving, volunteering, and forward-thinking.

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Thank You Board of Trustees

Thank you to the incredible leaders who make up our Lancaster Chamber Board of Trustees. They provide immense value to the Chamber by sharing their perspectives, ideas, and solutions as we navigate the business and community landscape in Lancaster County.

MICHELE BALLIET, Superintendent, Elizabethtown Area School District ALEX BRAME, Central PA Regional President, Truist BRIAN DOMBACH, President, GSM Industrial, Inc. ANDY DULA, President, EG Stoltzfus SCOTT FIORE, President, TriStarr Staffing RACHEL GALLAGHER, Senior General Manager, Park City Center DONNA KREISER, Co-Chair, Financial Services & Public Finance Group, McNees Wallace & Nurick, LLC

GRANT MARKLEY, CFO, ACG CAROLINE MURARO, President, LNP Media Group MIGUEL NISTAL, President and CEO, Woodstream

J SEROKY, President, High Concrete Group MICHEL VERMETTE, President and CEO, Armstrong Flooring, Inc. STACY WHISEL, President, Godfrey

VANESSA PHILBERT, CEO, Community Action Partnership of Lancaster County

CHUCK WHITE, Vice President, Marketing, White Oak Display & Design

MICHELLE RONDINELLI, President, Kitchen Kettle Foods, Inc.

CARRIE WILLETTS, SVP & East Region Market President, WellSpan Health

KATIE SANDOE, Owner, Kathryn Sandoe LLC and Executive Director, Girls on the Run of Lancaster & Lebanon

Thank You Chamber Team!

Tom Baldrige, President & CEO, Heather Valudes, Vice President, Sarah Maser, Operations Director, Tom Wallace, Business Development Director, Steve Progin, Finance Director, Tony Gorick, Creative Services Manager, Molly Crouser, Special Events Manager, Javar Colon, Business Development Specialist, Paige Barr, Database Administrator & Resources Manager, Ashley Glensor, Programs & Marketing Specialist, Abby Williams, Programs & Events Coordinator, Julie Houck, Staff Accountant, Melissa Lewis, Customer Experience Specialist, Sandi Thompson, Sr. Business Programming Manager, Tom Finger, Print Room & Operations Manager, and Annette Auchter, Print Room & Operations Coordinator.

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DANIEL WUBAH, President, Millersville University

We are grateful for the incredible Lancaster Chamber team that has given their time, their ideas, their dedication, and their commitment to our vision and mission. As we celebrate our 150th Anniversary, we want to specifically thank the Chamber team for all they have done, and continue to do, in positioning our organization to best serve the Lancaster County business community.

g n i d a e r Sp iness Happ Since 1954

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Larry Zook CEO of Landis Communities

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or nearly as long as there has been a Lancaster Chamber, nonprofit organizations, many connected with local faith groups, have been providing aging members of the community with safe places to live and the services they need as they age. Currently 17 Continuing Care Retirement/ Life Plan Communities in Lancaster County serve more than 12,600 residents and employ more than 8,500.

Their combined payrolls top $279,000,000 which generate significant revenue in state and local taxes along with more than $12,200,000 in property taxes and other payments, making aging services one of the larger sectors of the Lancaster County economy.

My connection to aging services began when I was a child. I visited retirement communities, including Mennonite Home and Landis Homes, along with members of my church, as we provided music and devotional programs. The journey continued in the early 1980s when I began working at Eastern Mennonite Missions (EMM) in Salunga, PA while doing undergraduate studies at Millersville University in business administration and computer science. EMM was the organization responsible for starting Landis Homes in 1964. In mid-1982, soon after I began working at EMM, Landis Homes was separately incorporated as a non-profit corporation with board members appointed by Lancaster Mennonite Conference (now LMC) and EMM. EMM created Landis Homes to be a retirement community to serve retired Mennonite missionaries, pastors, church workers and all who desired to be part of an active community of Christlike love. In my 10 years at EMM, I met persons serving around the world, like Dr. Lester and Lois Eshleman, who served at Shirati Hospital in Tanzania. They had given their lives in service as a doctor and nurse in Africa, and when we met,

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they were looking forward to joining the community at Landis Homes at the end of their time in Tanzania. While at EMM I appreciated being able to complete a Masters of Business Administration with a concentration in urban economic development at Eastern University in St. David’s, PA, where teachers included Tony Campolo and Ron Sider. This training piqued my interest in both urban engagement and social enterprise/entrepreneurship.

After my wife, Dawn, and I spent two years teaching English in Chongqing, China from 199294, as part of a joint program of EMM and Mennonite Central Committee, we returned to Lancaster and I began serving as one of Landis Homes’ first IT staff persons. In the following years in my servant leadership journey at Landis Homes, I had the privilege of supporting other areas including Human Resources, Finance, Volunteer Services, Housekeeping and Laundry, and Dining Services.

When Ed Longenecker announced his retirement as president in 2006 after serving for 30 years, including over 13 years as a wonderful mentor, I had the privilege to begin leading Landis Homes in January 2007 alongside many compassionate and creative team members.

In 2014, as Landis Homes celebrated our 50th anniversary, I devoted time to understanding our history and learning the stories of how our founders, including persons like Orie Miller, Frank Enck, Ira Buckwalter, Sanford High, and Charles Good, brought their many gifts of discernment and experience together to launch a community of Christ-like love. Frank Enck encouraged the other founders “to keep in mind our vision of creating community rather than a traditional old people’s home facility.” Sanford High arranged a road trip to Florida to visit four innovative retirement communities and prepared an 8-page summary which encouraged the founders to continue the planning and influenced the way the community was

built. Other founders reached out to local communities with longer histories like Mennonite Home, Brethren Village and Welsh Mountain Home, along with newer communities like Calvary Fellowship Home in order to establish the strongest foundation possible for Landis Homes.

The relationships our founders cultivated continue today as local retirement communities connect regularly to share learning and seek to better serve the community. The 17 members of Lancaster Area Senior Services (LASS) collaborate to connect with legislators and as other elected leaders in Lancaster County as we seek to serve both those who live in our retirement communities as well others throughout Lancaster County. We also collaborate to offer an annual Explore Retirement Living Open House event.

Just as Lancaster County has changed throughout the decades, so has the field of aging services. One significant inflection point for Landis Homes came in 2008 when the board took on the challenge of a strategic listening process. What we heard was a clear call to keep retirement living strong at Landis Homes, but to also focus on serving the approximately 80 percent of seniors who didn’t have the financial resources to live in traditional retirement communities. This led to the creation of Landis Communities and the development of services designed to care for persons in their own homes as well as provide housing options for persons at a variety of income levels. Landis Home and Community-Based Services programs now serve clients across the County and beyond.

Landis Quality Living provides living options in Manheim Township, Lancaster City and the New Holland area, with plans for additional locations.

As those of us in the aging services sector look forward, we have both challenges and opportunities facing us. The challenges mirror those broadly present in many segments of Lancaster’s economy. The ability to attract quality staff is certainly an important one. We seek team members who understand our mission and values and who see their work as “more than a job,” viewing serving others as part of their calling in life.

Technology is another challenge to impact our business models. During COVID-19 we have seen glimpses of this as we used electronic tablets for residents to communicate via video with loved ones, saw online meetings replace many inperson meetings and began to normalize online video visits with healthcare providers. We believe this is just the start of where advances in technology are taking us. LeadingAge, a national membership organization of which many of the local senior care communities are members, has created a Center for Aging Services Technology to expedite the development, evaluation, and adoption of emerging technologies that can improve the aging experience. Many of us are exploring telehealth applications, internet and social networking applications, computer-based monitoring and symptom questionnaires, wearable and embedded monitoring

devices, and software- and internet-based games. Across the nation, some are exploring using robotics to deliver meals to residents in campus settings, and several LASS members have hosted international developers of this technology. Given my technology background, I find this a meaningful area of innovation and learning!

Opportunities exist in the simple demographics of an aging population. The Lancaster County Office of Aging notes that, of the County’s total population of 544,000, approximately one out of every four residents is 60 years of age or older.

The proportion of individuals who are 60 years and older has been on a gradual rise over the last 15 or more years and will continue through 2060. The aging baby boomer population, combined with a decrease in the younger population, is a primary factor in driving the growth of the 60+ cohort.

Another opportunity is the willingness of businesses to try creative collaborations across sectors to see what new models can emerge. We are now seeing the rise of construction companies and developers jointly working with senior providers to determine how they can work together to provide new housing options for those above the age of 55. We have seen developers own buildings with senior service providers holding master leases, which allows providers to avoid huge capital outlays at the front end of building projects.

Also, in a world marked with increasingly lonely and disconnected people, our sector is providing places of connectivity and community. A 2017 AARP study found social isolation and loneliness is costing Medicare an estimated $6.7 billion annually. Seniors who are lonely and/or isolated see increased physical and mental health needs. The same study noted those who were isolated were nearly 30% more likely to need care in a skilled nursing setting. This has huge ramifications for families and loved ones. By providing caring, safe places for those in our County who would otherwise be lonely and isolated, the senior services sector is helping reduce the future needs of those who are aging and their families. We are again reminded of our founders’ vision to “create community.”

Landis Communities and other organizations serving seniors in Lancaster County benefit greatly from the Chamber.

From providing opportunities for continuing education to supports they offer businesses and nonprofit organizations; the Chamber continues to bring value to its members and the larger community while being willing to change when that is needed.

Looking both back to my childhood and forward to what the future holds for senior living providers, I remain convinced that Lancaster County will continue in the forefront of being a wonderful place for persons of all generations to engage in active community life where all thrive, including those age 55 and over. LT

LancasterChamber.com

33

Troy Clair President & CEO of Clair Global

I

n 1954, my grandfather, Roy Clair, Sr., gifted his sons a public address [speaker] system for Christmas. They used the system for sock hops, Easter egg hunts and other local events, and their hobby quickly turned into a passion, which eventually became a career.

I remember the distinct smell of our garage on Main Street in Lititz – the one where my dad, Gene Clair, and his brother, Roy Jr., started the business I would eventually run, the place Clair Bros.

Audio was founded. The smell had a burning quality which came from a process known as re-coning, where the moving components in a speaker are replaced. I often found myself in awe, watching my dad and uncle working so hard in those early days. It was inspiring, really. Little did I know as a five-year-old that these memories would so greatly impact the rest of my life and lead to many opportunities for success in the future.

Clair Bros. Audio, which has become Clair Global, is a family business. In fact, we are already introducing the fourth generation of Clairs to the shop - sweeping floors, filing papers, and building cables, much like I did in the very early days. Growing up, I spent some time with my dad on the tours he was mixing. I started traveling with him during my summers as a kid. At eleven, I went out with The Osmonds and by fifteen I was on the road with The Rolling Stones. If I wasn’t throwing a football with a band’s drummer, hanging out backstage amongst the crew or just being a normal teenager (even if it was in a stadium or on a tour bus), I was helping my father fix a PA or sitting with him behind the mixing console, watching him do the work that he loved. I learned a lot in those early days. The steadfast and rapid pace of touring culture was thrilling. I was hooked from the beginning.

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While over the years we have expanded exponentially, our home base has always been in Lancaster County. We quickly grew out of Mom and Dad’s garage and moved to an old barn in Lincoln. Every time we moved to a new and bigger shop, we thought we would never get big enough to fill it. But from Brickerville to Manheim and eventually to our current location at One Ellen Avenue in Lititz, we have continued to grow and outgrow each space.

We were often urged to relocate from our hometown to a major metropolitan area like New York or Los Angeles, but Dad and Uncle Roy saw the value of staying local.

Lancaster County served as an incredibly strong foundation for Clair’s core business and operations while our road staff worked globally, truly mobilizing the Clair brand.

Roy and Gene knew that the unbelievable work ethic of Lancaster residents set the county apart. In fact, in the early days, before we hung systems with the help of motors and rigging, they enlisted the help of wrestlers from Franklin and Marshall College who had just the right mix of strength and grit to stack the massive speakers every night on tour.

The county is booming with a local industrial infrastructure (mostly supporting the agricultural market), so it was easy to come by local vendors, machine shops and metal shops to source materials and parts. Also, the area is filled with master craftsman who understand the workmanship that goes into the manufacturing of our technically demanding products.

Additionally, Lancaster’s location was perfect because of its central proximity to three major East Coast hubs – making it ideal for moving gear. The richness of the area’s food, culture, and traditions, the stable cost-of-living and temperate climate also make it a place people want to live, so recruiting topnotch employees to the area is no problem.

While we’ve always remained deeply rooted in Lancaster, Clair Global has expanded nationally and internationally through new locations and acquisitions. This process always happened very naturally by meeting like-minded business owners whose companies’ values, work ethic, and culture aligned with Clair’s. Today, we have thirteen locations worldwide spanning six states and eight countries. By following our instincts and strategically seeking out partners who shared our values, we were able to hit geographical mark after mark while keeping our headquarters in Lancaster County.

state. We don’t do these things because we feel obligated to, we do them because we are part of this community, and it is part of us. Lancaster County is our home, and we are proud to be here. LT

I’ve also been incredibly fortunate to watch the success of Clair Global transition into the success of Rock Lititz. With Clair firmly planted in South Central PA, Tait Towers began calling Lancaster home in 1978, and the county soon became a mecca for live entertainment companies. To give a bit of history, we owned a building we called Water Street Studios which was a small rehearsal spot on Water Street in Lititz, now occupied by Appalachian Brewing Company. We opened Water Street Studios back in the late ‘70s/early ‘80s which saw the likes of Bruce Springsteen, Kenny Rogers, Billy Joel, YES, and more. This concept for a local rehearsal space, born from the collective production experience of local businesses, was the seed for what would become Rock Lititz. Eventually Clair and TAIT came together to officially build this truly one-ofa-kind and collaborative Production Community. We were thankful to have the unwavering support of Warwick Township who championed the project in order to keep our businesses local through the Lancaster Farm Preservation Trust as well as flood plain restoration efforts. Rock Lititz is now home to over 30 leading vendors in live events, streaming, TV/Film and more – it has become a cornerstone to the Live Production industry.

The philanthropic spirit instilled in us by Gene and Roy continues today, and we believe it is important to give back to and partner with the community that has so graciously given to us. Because we have one of the country’s best chocolate manufacturers down the road, we send Wilbur Buds to thousands of clients and vendors every holiday season, and because we love living in a place where family still comes first, we built a Little League baseball field at our headquarters, and because we are so proud of our town’s annual 4th of July celebration in Lititz Springs Park, we are always involved in the event. Most recently, the Rock Lititz Community was able to assist the Vaccinate Lancaster Coalition by managing on-site logistics for one of the highest-volume vaccination sites in the

LancasterChamber.com

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Congratulations on

150 YEARS

of dedicated service

to our community

AUTHORITY

25 South Queen Street 717-239-1600 lancasterconventioncenter.com

CLOSE TO EVERYWHERE, UNLIKE ANYWHERE. FEATURING: 416 Guest Rooms and Suites & 90,000 sq ft of Meeting Space lancastermarriott.com

36 | LANCASTER THRIVING! | 150th Anniversary Commemorative Edition

Congratulations to the

Lancaster Chamber for 150 Years of creating a thriving community!

F U R N IT U R E

DESIGN

M AT T R E S S E S

RUGS

3130 Columbia Avenue, Lancaster • interiorshome.com

Congratulations on 150 Years!

GROWING & LEARNING

Together

TO SERVE AGING ADULTS IN LANCASTER COUNTY

1001 E Oregon Road, Lititz PA 17543 | 717.837.9877 | LandisCommunities.org LancasterChamber.com

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Abby Lowry Assistant to the Chairman of the Board of The Wenger Group

L

ancaster County has long been known for the many beautiful farms with fertile fields and animals grazing mile after mile. The agriculture community has played an integral part in the history of the area. The Wenger Group, currently in the third generation of our family, has a rich and long history in Lancaster County.

Before becoming involved in milling, Mel Wenger, my grandfather, owned the first self-serve grocery store in Lancaster County and was one of the only grocery stores in the United States to sell dog food. This relationship with Purina dog foods opened the door for Mel to purchase the Wolgemuth Mill in Rheems in 1944. Purina offered educational seminars that helped him transition into the feed milling profession.

He often would tell me how much it helped him get his start in nutrition and formulation. Mel continued to broaden his education in nutrition and soon began developing his own animal nutrition formulas. Education is something that Wenger’s continues to support. We offer continuing education to our employees and scholarships to their children. Additionally, in January 2022 we will be launching the Wenger Animal Nutrition Academy to enhance all our team member’s knowledge of animal nutrition and how it impacts protein production.

The mill that started at only 1,800 tons per year in 1944 quickly began to grow. During this time period, feed was delivered by Wenger’s in bags. In that era, feed bags were made of cotton, and with the economic troubles during and shortly after the war, many families would use the bags to make clothes.

Wenger’s would occasionally put feed in different bags so that the families could get different material. The popularity of the M.M. Wenger formulas was growing, and the amount of feed being produced was steadily increasing. With the thought of

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expanding in mind, Mel officially changed the name of the mill to Wenger’s Feed Mill in 1951.

Wenger’s Feed Mill was growing and producing double the amount of tons than when it first started. However, towards the end of 1952, a fire broke out in the warehouse. Thankfully the mill was spared, but it was a big loss. My grandpa was always a positive person; always trying to look at things in a constructive way, and he relied on his faith when times were rough. This was no exception. Mel used his keen business sense and positive focus to use this apparent setback as a turning point for his company. Up until this point, he had not made any significant changes to the mill, but he showed his entrepreneurial spirit in rebuilding. Mel replaced the burned wooden structure with a steel building that would better serve the company and incorporated new milling equipment and processes that would set the tone for the future in bulk feeds.

The rebuilding showed his commitment to the young company and provided the opportunity to add two vertical mixers, which allowed for the production of more bulk feed volume.

In the 1960s, the business was growing very quickly and expanding into commercial egg production and bulk feeds.

Wenger’s Feed Mill has been a family business right from the start and the family was growing. Barry Shaw, my dad, and Mel’s son-in-law, joined the company in 1967. Growing up just outside Philadelphia, Barry had no agricultural experience to bring to the company. Mel challenged him to raise three steers on part of the company’s property. Barry quickly learned about animal nutrition! When the steers were ready, he and Mel butchered the steers and shared the meat with the employees. This was so appreciated by everyone that the

following year they decided to do it again and increased the number of animals. This was the start of the Company’s annual meat bonus that we still offer to our team members today.

The Wenger Group has always been innovative. In the 1960s, most ingredients were still delivered in bags and milling was a very manual process. Corn and soybean meal came in bulk and had to be added in batches using weigh buggies. Barry worked with a colleague to create the start of computer automation. They used an auger to run these larger ingredients from the bulk bin directly to the mixer. Using a timer, they were able to determine exactly how long they needed to run it to get the exact amount of corn and soybean meal into the mixer. This was the beginning of computerizing the feed lines.

Barry took a strong interest in poultry and how the birds’ dietary needs changed rapidly throughout their lives. He continued his education by working closely with many different professors and universities. Unique formulas were created that supported the birds during all stages of their lives. A proprietary layer and pullet record system was created in order to show how well the formulas worked. The Wenger Group was the first regional company to have an independent flock service team that supported a wide variety of producers, which led to the development of Dutchland Farms. Mel’s son, Al Wenger, worked for fourteen years with Dutchland to expand the company’s presence in the egg industry to help farmers get the best performance that they could. This quickly expanded into pullet growing, flock servicing and record keeping, and research.

By the early 1970s, the M. M. Wenger formulas had become more popular for our customers than the Purina formulas, and Purina removed Wenger’s as a dealer. This meant that we had to give up all formulas and feeds that were related to Purina. This was a turning point for our company, and the decision was made to move to 100% commercial laying flocks served only by bulk feeds. Unlike some industries, the feed and agriculture industries do what they can to work together.

Wenger’s used this time to refer customers that they would no longer be able to service to other mills.

The early 1980s brought an agriculture disaster to the area.

Avian Influenza, a highly contagious and deadly respiratory disease, hit southeastern Pennsylvania very hard and devastated the poultry industry. Wenger’s, because of our high concentration in poultry, was extremely affected along with our customers. Once again, Wenger team members showed leadership. A “crisis headquarters” was created

in the Wenger’s office area. Bruce Limpert, another uncle, worked with industry leaders and state representatives to develop solutions to help the farmers affected by this tragedy.

The government did come through with a plan to help the bird owners. My dad believed, “We’re all in it together. The stronger the Ag Industry is, the stronger we all can be.” The Wenger Group shared the money that it received with the farm owners. We also realized the need for greater biosecurity and helped to develop biosecurity measures on farms and team members developed the first on-board sanitizing spray systems that are used on all our trucks today.

The Wenger Group has always had a commitment to research and development. Working with BASF, in 1996 Wenger’s was the first feed mill in the country to use Phytase to help to improve the animal’s utilization of phosphorous, which leads to less phosphorous excretion in manure which in turn helps the environment. The Wenger Group is committed to environmental safety and quality. We are also one of the only feed mills in North America to have triple ISO certification and have one of the most advanced laboratories in the Northeast region. That research and innovation focus has continued to today where we have helped one of our layer customers produce the first Hemp egg to be marketed in Pennsylvania.

The Wenger Group has grown substantially over the years to now produce over 2 million tons of feed, and the majority of it has been alongside the growth of our customers. My grandfather had said, “Our growth has been at the result of service. There just isn’t anything, within reason, that we won’t do for our customers.” And this is something that we have strived to continue to do. On several occasions throughout our history, we have helped our customers and even our competitors so that their businesses can continue. The Wenger Group has recently invested in Hoober Feeds and L&K Mills to bring Wenger’s back into the dairy business and has joined forces with Risser Grain to be able to expand our focus in the Agronomy (grain, fertilizer and seed) area, which is critically important to producing quality animal nutrition.

The history of The Wenger Group is full of great team members that have helped to create the company it is today.

Both Mel Wenger and Barry Shaw won the Delp Award from the Lancaster Chamber, an award given to a leader in the agriculture industry who is making an immersive impact on community. It’s this type of innovation and leadership that we strive to achieve in the organization and beyond. Our family is excited about future possibilities and will continue to support our industry and serve our communities while seeking new and innovative ways to grow and evolve. LT

LancasterChamber.com

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Scott Fiore President of TriStarr Staffing

F

or almost 25 years, I have been business partners with Joan Paxton, the entrepreneur who founded TriStarr Staffing. We’ve seen Lancaster through a couple of recessions, a pandemic, and hundreds of other changes large and small that have made it the rapidly growing town that it is today.

Joan is now the current Chief Administrative Officer of TriStarr Staffing and has seen her business through 33 years of change. After 30 years of being “the boss” here at TriStarr, she has recently stepped back from the daily duties of president and now stays more behind the scenes on projects, mainly focusing on compliance and internal training. She noted, “I still pay close attention to our clients and how our role as their staffing partner needs to evolve to keep pace with an ever-changing workplace.”

I am the current President of TriStarr Staffing and oversee the day-to-day operations of the Staffing and Recruiting divisions of the business. I also provide consulting services to search committees for president, executive director, and other senior leadership positions. Being active day to day with a wide variety of clients who turn to TriStarr for help with staffing issues, I’ve been honored to have a unique and up-to-date pulse of the current state of the workforce. I’m tasked with continuing the success that Joan started more than 30 years ago, and they are big shoes to fill.

When Joan started TriStarr, there were many more barriers for young women entrepreneurs. “There was opportunity here,” she said, “but it was a struggle, and having your voice heard then was much more difficult than it is now. It was a challenge to develop professional relationships, get resources, and nurture our reputation. But there were local institutions then

40 | LANCASTER THRIVING! | 150th Anniversary Commemorative Edition

that were willing to take a risk on me, and those relationships are still strong today.” I echo what Joan shared – Lancaster is a small town; you have to prove yourself again and again and because of the size of the business community, you can’t really afford to have any major mistakes.

When TriStarr opened in 1989 we used adding machines, typewriters, and rotary phones. We didn’t even have spreadsheets to keep track of our employees – it was all done on cards. Automation has created so many efficiencies for office workers since then. When search engines became popular there was fear that it would replace a staffing service – the same with job boards and the internet. Technology changes, and the overall industry had to pivot and figure out how to manage it. But Joan enjoyed the challenges, noting that “changes are what keeps it fun. Every 5-10 years something pops up that makes us reconsider our entire business model and how we work with our clients and associates.”

One of the incredible aspects of our community is that businesses in Lancaster are loyal to those that they work with. It’s an extremely close-knit area and business owners want to work with people they know, are familiar with, and ultimately who they trust. Lancaster has a large number of businesses diverse in size and scope and because of this the economy remains fairly stable. TriStarr has done business with some of the largest employers in the county, and some of the smallest, but they all have the same desire for results and quality of service, which TriStarr provides. We consistently rate very high in our customer service scores, both for our clients and employees. This is what built our business and what will allow us to remain competitive as things change.

Businesses here in Lancaster have really high expectations

– you can’t compete here without delivering. It’s why I love doing business here. We earn our chops every day.

Companies also look at the services TriStarr provides in a different way now. We used to be a company that simply provided someone to fill in for an absence; somebody was out on medical leave, or sick, or had found a new position.

Now TriStarr works with our partners in a much more strategic way and have so many more employees who are longer term and not just a stop gap for a few days or weeks. We’ve been able to provide a robust benefit package for those employees as well, so that it makes sense for them to continue as longterm employees of TriStarr.

Growth in population and the business climate are the biggest changes I’ve seen in Lancaster since starting at TriStarr. Back then, the manufacturing sector was the largest employer and downtown was nowhere near as vibrant as it is today. I’m very excited to see the diversity of Lancaster City and county improve – we are all better when we experience viewpoints different than our own. With change comes opportunity, and there is an abundance of opportunity here in our County to grow, transform, and adapt even more.

Joan has shared her excitement regarding the young people that are staying here. “Lancaster has become a better place to live, a better place to learn, and a better place to create, and those components help make it a better place to work as well,’’ shared Joan. “Companies change and make change because of the young people, and those that are staying here give me hope. There is always work to be done and we can always do better, but the younger generation driving the change makes the future look very bright.” I agree – experiencing the influx of young entrepreneurs making Lancaster County their home will only strengthen the future workforce and community.

As far as the outlook for the future, it’s apparent that technology will be a major driver of change in our business. How we work with our employees and clients will look different – our success will depend on how well we manage that, and I intend to do it well. Recruiting and retention are and will continue to change rapidly. Companies that remain successful will be those that embrace change – employers who allow for the most flexible workplaces will attract the best talent. Even more important will be whether or not companies truly embrace diversity. I really believe that those companies that do not create and implement real plans to diversify their workplace will be the ones left behind.

Whether at TriStarr or at another company, adaptability is crucial in a shifting and expansive business landscape. With many unknowns about what’s next, it’s important to evaluate your processes, your systems, and your goals to ensure you’re aligned with the current needs.

“Unexpected” is the word that Joan shared again in describing her journey thus far. So much has changed since TriStarr opened but what has remained throughout are passionate individuals striving to better their community for themselves and others.

We’re proud that TriStarr is part of the robust, impactful, and collaborative small business community in Lancaster County.

It’s the drive of these incredible small business entrepreneurs that creates an effective, sustainable, and vibrant community.

We hope that you, in your own company or organization, will also channel a passion for people as we forge new paths into the future and make Lancaster County a sustainable, successful community full of growth and transformation. LT

One of the most inspiring parts of staffing is seeing where individuals end up next. The system Joan built encourages this growth. She shared that TriStarr has clients that were once TriStarr temporary employees or worked directly for TriStarr at one point. The company can be a crucial stepping stone for people to move onto other jobs and be a wonderful transitionary opportunity. We have sent out an incredible workforce of employees, who bring the skills they learned and honed at TriStarr and are able to give them back to the Lancaster community daily. It’s very cool to be a small part of so many different businesses and to be involved and helping the community in so many different ways.

LancasterChamber.com

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CONGRATULATIONS ON 150 YEARS OF SERVING LANCASTER BUSINESSES.

Good People.

Guaranteed.

TriStarrJobs.com

Chamber-qtr-150-year-thrive-mag-A6.indd 1

12/13/21 10:26 AM

“HE OWNED ME” SURVIVOR JL

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42 | LANCASTER THRIVING! | 150th Anniversary Commemorative Edition

COMING SOON

Lancaster Pediatric Center

Penn State Health Children’s Lancaster Pediatric Center will offer Lancaster County residents convenient and comprehensive pediatric care in an environment completely designed for children and teens and their families.

BY THE NUMBERS

Located on Harrisburg Pike at the former Toys R Us.

Building size: 47,000 square feet

Convenient services for every family:

Pediatric specialties on-site: 20 Ages of patients: 0 months to 18 years old Exam, consultation and procedure rooms: 48 Parking spaces: 241

• Primary care • Walk-in appointments

• Imaging • Laboratory services

Comprehensive pediatric care in these specialties: Adolescent medicine Allergy/immunology Behavioral health Cardiology Dermatology Endocrinology Gastroenterology

Infectious diseases Nephrology Neurosurgery Neurology Ophthalmology Optometry Orthopedics

Otolaryngology Psychiatry Pulmonology Rheumatology Surgery Urology

LancasterChamber.com

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ENVISIONING THE FUTURE

Kate Zimmerman Executive Director at Leadership Lancaster “ Vulnerability is the birthplace of love, belonging, joy, courage, empathy, and creativity. It is the source of hope, empathy, accountability, and authenticity.”

— Brené Brown, Daring Greatly

W

hen I originally set out to write this article, I was writing to encourage a workplace of the future built on the lessons I have learned as a leader during the COVID pandemic.

I have learned about the power of connection and the intimacy of knowing each other’s families and pets, knowing each other’s homes, and knowing each other’s casual wear, thanks to the strange beauty of Zoom. I have learned about the grace and empathy required to lead in the face of unmeasurable loss and grief. I have realized that our team members were and are experiencing deep and real trauma. I have learned that our worlds collapsing into one place, our kitchen tables becoming the site of homeschool and work deadlines and community and connection, is a challenge to lead from and lead through.

Most importantly, I’ve learned over and over again about the power of vulnerability. I’ve learned how much I cannot do it all, how much I needed to be able to say to someone “I’m struggling,” and I have reaffirmed how important it was to create a space where others could say it to me.

I believe these all to be important lessons leaders should pull from as we move into the future. I believe we are our best selves, the best leaders, and build the strongest teams

44 | LANCASTER THRIVING! | 150th Anniversary Commemorative Edition

and community when we lead from a place of connection, of grace, of empathy, and of vulnerability.

The more I began to think about it, though, the more it became clear what a privilege it actually is to be vulnerable, to not only have the space to be vulnerable myself but to also create room for others’ vulnerability.

All of our workplaces are different. The needs and skills required to function in a nonprofit such as mine compared to a bank or a manufacturing plant vary greatly. There was a point last year when my husband walked past my “home office” (kitchen) and overheard an emotional Zoom conversation. He later remarked to me “You know, I don’t think I’ve ever heard as many people cry during my entire banking career as I’ve heard while you’ve been home.” The cultures of our two industries are very different and I’m afforded the ability to encourage vulnerability much more in my sector.

But why? Why is vulnerability a privilege? Why is supporting the needs of our teams industry specific?

According to Brené Brown, vulnerability is “uncertainty, risk, and emotional exposure” and it has measurable benefits to organizations during times of crisis and upheaval but also as we build to a new future.

Jeff Polzer, a professor of organizational behavior at Harvard University, describes the power of vulnerability. “People tend to think of vulnerability in a touchy-feely way, but that’s not what’s happening,” he suggests. “It’s about sending a really

The Forbes Communication Council tells us the 12 Benefits Of Embracing Vulnerability In Leadership include driving trust, demonstrating strength of character, inspiring creativity, encouraging psychological safety, connecting through authenticity, and building stronger teams, among others.

What organization wouldn’t benefit from even a handful of these examples?

More so, while these examples are specifically work and leadership related, I know my personal relationships are more meaningful when I embrace the power of vulnerability as well.

So, as we stand on the cusp of another year, a year filled still with uncertainty and aftershocks from all we’ve survived to this point, my greatest lesson is that of vulnerability, and my greatest hope is that vulnerability is not just a privilege of the few or industry specific. I hope we enter the next 150 years as our best selves, the best leaders, and build authentic, vulnerable teams and community. I hope we all have the privilege and share with others the “courage to show up, be seen, take risks, ask for help, own our mistakes, learn from our failure, and lean into joy”1. LT

1

ENVISIONING THE FUTURE

clear signal that you have weaknesses, that you could use help. And if that behavior becomes a model for others, then you can set the insecurities aside and get to work, start to trust each other, and help each other.”

https://jiroyliderazgo.wordpress.com/2012/11/21/ vulnerability-and-inspired-leadership/

LancasterChamber.com

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Melisa Baez Former Chief Program Officer at ASSETS, Current CEO of ELUME

I

magine this: Lancaster has just been recognized as the most entrepreneurial city in the United States. Our business community, driven by the spirit of young, diverse entrepreneurial startups, is known as the hub for sustainable businesses. The local economy has been strengthened and elevated by the thriving benefits of our successful business community and the infrastructure that has been created to allow such growth.

The people that are driving this change represent the future of business: Lancaster County’s young, diverse, and talented entrepreneurs leading us confidently forward with their convictions and values.

If we can harness the rising workforce and their shared values, advance collaborations among Lancaster’s stakeholders, and nurture our environment for startups, this can be our future.

THE NEXT GENERATION OF BUSINESS LEADERS By 2025, over 70% of the workforce will be made up of millennials and Gen Z. If living through this pandemic hasn’t already made this abundantly clear, these generations are demanding shifts in every system that forms our communities. The hope is for new systems and structures that allow diverse individuals to thrive in an economy that is inclusive and equitable, all while not accepting oppressive behaviors and mindsets.

The “great resignation” is telling the business community that this workforce has options. The rising generations are leading with a collective shared value system. The future’s business leaders must listen deeply and adapt to those values in order to attract and retain talent. What we are seeing today, in addition to the “great resignation,” is an increase in entrepreneurial startups embodying values for change.

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Entrepreneurship is an option where individuals are able to tackle our society’s toughest challenges through innovative business models. Entrepreneurship provides these young people the freedom to design solutions that will benefit their future in a way that works for them.

COLLABORATIVE EFFORT OF LANCASTER’S STAKEHOLDERS In the past two decades, Lancaster’s economic growth has been driven by the collaborative efforts of various stakeholders. I want to recognize that our rich heritage of generational business ownership served as a foundation for that growth, yet the future demands that more people participate in strengthening our economy.

With the increase in tourism and economic growth, we have witnessed another type of growth: inequity. Since 2012, poverty rates continued to grow until about 2017, until we saw a decline to our current city poverty rate of 23.9%. That population living in poverty continues to be predominantly communities of color. We also witnessed a lack of diverse representation of the businesses that were launching in the city. The Mayor’s Coalition to Combat Poverty showed us that in order to reach gender equity in business ownership, we would need an increase of 73% of womenowned businesses and a 115% increase in businesses owned by people of color. We need stakeholders across Lancaster County to advance equity in the business landscape to reach a vibrant future.

NURTURING ENVIRONMENT FOR STARTUPS The key ingredients that are setting Lancaster up to be nationally recognized for its entrepreneurial ecosystem are the works of existing campaigns and collaborations

• Promoting platforms that nurture our existing diverse startups: Dollars that are spent with local startups and businesses, especially those owned by people of color, increase the investing power of these owners and families.

This creates long-term positive effects and hope of building generational wealth in communities of color. ASSETS’ business directory and initiatives like the Black Business Expo help amplify the exposure of diverse businesses.

• Creating a prepared work force and making entrepreneurship a priority: Organizations such as ASSETS, SCORE, Lancaster City Alliance, and additional partners of the Entrepreneurship Coalition running Cultivate Lancaster are working to simplify access to entrepreneurial resources.

Their expertise and ability to provide accessible quality resources to local startups and businesses is what will help close the educational and access gaps for our rising leaders.

• Investing in the leaders of tomorrow: Our leaders in Lancaster must continue to advance policies and longterm investments in making entrepreneurship accessible, moving from providing short-term relief during the COVID pandemic to robust continued support.

What makes Lancaster unique and capable of achieving an ambitious vision is what stands at the heart of the County: its community. Organizations, such as the Lancaster Country Community Foundation, have helped amplify how generous and philanthropic our citizens are. Our community continues to be values-driven. We know who we are as we stand today, and now it is time to amplify the diverse voices of our rising workforce to shape our future and empower them to create a future that benefits us all. LT

ENVISIONING THE FUTURE

specifically designed to ignite startups and the support to nurture a diversity of established businesses. These include:

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Celebrating our 25th Anniversary

Wishing the Chamber a Happy 150th Birthday FROM YOUR 12 YEAR YOUNGER MEMBER...

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From the Rhoads Energy team...

Congratulations on your 150th Anniversary!

As we celebrate our 105th anniversary in 2022, the Rhoads Energy Family of Companies is appreciative of the support and partnership our company and team have shared with the Chamber and their staff. We are honored to be part of the Lancaster Chamber’s legacy in our community. Our entire team congratulates you on this milestone anniversary!

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Chris Ballentine Community Relations Manager at Willow Valley Communities “A change is gonna come.”

S

am Cooke soulfully sang those words in his 1964 protest song, written in support of Black Americans as they fought for equality. It was a time of civil unrest due to tense race relations, a government in transition.

Again, change is on the horizon. Today we’re in the midst of major shifting trends in business and employment.

Almost daily, there’s news about the increasing number of people leaving jobs and the workforce. The latest Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey (JOLTS) reported 4.4 million Americans abandoned jobs in September 2021. Some are resigning to start their own businesses.

In spite of how concerning this workforce shortage may be to employers, it’s an important time to dream and consider the possibilities of entrepreneurship.

Personally, I’m excited for local, national and global acceleration in entrepreneurship. In July 2020, the U.S. reached a record high of over 551,000 applications for starting a business, an explosive growth of 95% compared to 2019. And, according to a recent article in Forbes, another significant upsurge in new businesses has happened during the pandemic, again surpassing last year. This increase of new startups offers hopeful introductions of innovation, of creativity and from different perspective.

Importantly, this surge in entrepreneurship includes Black business ownership. Having more entrepreneurs of color, who are braving the challenging journey to create their own businesses, is thrilling. Over the past decade the number of African American-owned firms grew 34.5 percent, from 1.9 million to 2.6 million.

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Stories of African-American led businesses operating in every industry, from finance to healthcare are inspiring to me.

Especially when those narratives are entrepreneurs of color, who are friends and neighbors right here in Lancaster County.

How energizing to look at our local business startups, notably those led by and empowering younger BIPOC producers. It’s awesome to see them bringing their passions to life, and offer services that positively impact the community.

It’s crucial to have these businesses become established fixtures here in Lancaster. Importantly, they address needs of the underserved while also increasing representation across industries, professions, and trades. These businesses contribute to a more diverse landscape within our business community. Also, it helps to connect leaders, whose insight and experiences can positively model entrepreneurship, with the communities whom they serve. Unfortunately, when these examples are not present, it’s truly felt. As an African-American male, it’s discouraging not to see those who look like me in areas of leadership and ownership.

Even at this stage of my career I want to be connected to peers, elders, and even younger trailblazers who are aspirational and accomplished.

Along with increased representation, I hope that growing attention is given to addressing inequities associated with access to opportunities and resources. In addition to the normal challenges of running a business, Black owners have historically faced discrimination from the financial system.

Typically they have had to navigate a considerable funding gap in comparison to White owners. Implementing changes that eliminate these discrepancies will help to improve the

In recognition of these gaps, some are introducing alternatives to their standard practices. Nationally, a number of large corporations are committing to making changes. JP Morgan Chase promised an additional 15,000 loans to Black and Latino small businesses and Bank of America announced a $1 billion similar commitment. Other non-financial corporations have also promised dollars dedicated in support of minority vendors, and the Small Business Administration has made efforts to prioritize loans for minority businesses and underserved communities.

In addition, there are exciting services and programs designed to accelerate business development locally, like the culinary business incubation that is underway at Southern Market, and offering to supportively nurture them from start to success. It’s inspiring to see this local movement in our own community in Lancaster County.

“Change will not come if we wait for some other person or some other time. We are the ones we’ve been waiting for. We are the change that we seek.”

—former President Barack Obama Change is up to us. Together, we need to ideate and implement more creative solutions to propel entrepreneurs.

Today, let us focus our collective energy addressing social equity to achieve equitable excellence tomorrow. LT

ENVISIONING THE FUTURE

experiences of BIPOC entrepreneurs starting a business and also contribute to their sustainability.

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Practical Nursing

Serving Lancaster County for Generations!

The 50+ year old Lancaster County Career & Technology Center (LCCTC) does not quite have the longevity as the venerated

THEN

NOW

Lancaster Chamber of Commerce…yet!...but the LCCTC is proud to work with the Chamber to improve the business, economic, and cultural life of the county.

Like the Chamber, the LCCTC does not look the same as we did at our outset. We have changed to meet the interests of our

Electro-Mechanical Engineering Technology

students, the advances in technology, and the needs of Lancaster

NOW

County industry. The LCCTC has turned tens of thousands of high school students and adults into vital members of the workforce and community. Grandparents who began their careers in our programs have seen their grandchildren attend the LCCTC. We will always work to continue to offer relevant programs and pathways to higher education for generations to come!

THEN

Congratulations again to the Lancaster Chamber of Commerce for 150 years of service!

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Celebrating 50 Years of supporting Individuals with Intellectual Disability and Autism while they Impact the World with their Capabilities

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TECH INNOVATION

Olé Hongvanthong & Heidi Castillo Owners of PhotOlé Photography

T

hink about how much has changed over the last 150 years when it comes to technology.

Even the last few decades saw the rise of social media as a catalyst for marketing, connection, and influence. What could the next 150 years bring? As we look into the future, it’s imperative all businesses evaluate the ever-shifting landscape of technology as a crucial component of their success. With the surge of social media, AI, competitive digital marketing, and more, now more than ever technology is key to your business sustainability.

Olé Hongvanthong & Heidi Castillo, Owners of PhotOlé Photography and the team behind our photo spread and portraits of Lancaster County leaders, offer a moment-in-time takeaway on technology and the importance it will have for you as we look into the future.

We got into photography when the professional market was still shooting and working with film and searching for a business in the yellow pages was the norm. While we developed our skills in analog, our generation learned and adopted technology early on. Tech was at a pivotal moment transitioning photography from film to digital and signaling the death of the telephone book. Even though our first language was film, we entered the business arena fully digital as we had learned to identify patterns and trends in data and understood the importance of keeping up with the pace of technology. In 2021, over 2.14 billion people worldwide are expected to buy goods and services online (Statista).

The pandemic has changed online browsing and shopping habits and your position in the ecosystem lies on your online presence and participation.

We do a lot of research on user experience for our line of work and have gathered insights on what is working. As we look towards a business world that’s changing at an ever-rapid pace, technology will only be more critical moving ahead.

A 2020 Doctor.com Customer Experience Trends in Healthcare report noted that 61% of consumers searched for the right health care provider online and 56% of patients will consult

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3 different online sources when researching a provider. This proves that the customer experience begins at the research stage. The internet is an immense place and people will browse your virtual spaces to investigate if you have authority in your field or industry and scan your online participation.

They want to check if you have been recognized or received any press for the work you are doing.

Recognition from a professional association or organization can bring potential customers peace of mind and minimize buyer’s remorse. Potential customers read online reviews available to understand the experience others have had with you and your products or services. Customer reviews give potential clients an idea on your performance and accountability. If service has slipped once and led to a bad review, take this time to listen to the dissatisfied customer, change the experience, and turn the customer into an ambassador.

Researchers have learned that neurons in the visual cortex respond much stronger to faces than to city landscapes or objects (ScienceDaily). The images on your digital platforms play a vital role in customer experience and engagement.

Choose faces that are welcoming and can connect to your

virtual audience. Product images should highlight details and features. Show customers how to use products and maintain them. A new way to impress your audience can be rendered with a guided 360° virtual tour of your physical space or product and giving them the option to buy directly from your website. An augmented reality (AR) experience can enhance the customer experience and bring people together. This is a great tool to build relationships with Gen Z and Alpha who are the most tech-literate generations. If you are an orthodontist, develop a riches-to-rags or high-stakes survival AR experience. The experience can encourage patients to arrive on time, afford the office time if it is running behind, and help build community. The biggest brands invest on visual assets annually, as it helps them develop stronger relationships and create better engagement with their customers.

Eighty-eight percent of consumers who search for a type of business on a mobile device call or go to that business within 24 hours (Ipsos). The fastest way to lose a potential customer is not having a way for them to reach you directly.

List your physical address on your website and if you’ve moved, make sure to update that information on both your website and Google Business Profile. Sometimes including every piece of information about your products and services might not be practical. Listing a telephone number can promote engagement and arranging to have a person who can answer is crucial. A call that is not returned might cost you an opportunity or sale. A potential

customer in the research stage might be more comfortable with low-pressure communication. List an e-mail address and check the email account regularly, as a timely response is expected.

Customers who shop online still crave a human element.

Consider adding a chat feature on your website so you can connect with customers live. Your physical and digital space should be seamless. Give customers the ability to book your services online and a digital check-in option for your physical space. Deliver reminders of upcoming appointments through text communication and grant potential clients a contactless payment option.

Spending time to help people in their digital journey to learn more about you, your organization, and your products or services can give you an opportunity to thrive in your field. If you are unable to execute any of these tips, outsourcing the work to someone who is an expert in an area you may have a weakness in can be a strength and help you stay competitive.

If we could give one piece of advice to our past selves, it would be to claim space in any new digital territory. In the beginning, it may not be clear when it might be needed but becoming familiar with it and participating in it will prepare you for when the time comes. Are you ready for the next big change in tech as we look towards the future? LT

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A Community of Care At WellSpan Health, our team members are your friends, neighbors and family.

We don't just care for our neighbors by providing quality health care, we are in our communities, every day, supporting life-changing programs.

We are part of a Community of Care – supporting other non-profits who are also focused on advancing the health and wellness of our communities.

We know you. We care. And it shows.

WellSpan is proud to support the Lancaster Chamber of Commerce.

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LancasterChamber.com

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CELEBRATE

We ’re Celebrating

Because Of Your Support The reason we’re able to celebrate our 150th anniversary year is because of you. It’s because of the businesses and organizations that realized by working together we can build towards a community of prosperity for all.

We’re celebrating all year long with commemorative events, special edition spotlights, milestone moments, and more. We invite you to join us and toast to the last 150 years – and the next decades that promise a bright future for business, community, and most importantly, the people who make Lancaster County a place to thrive.

May 2022

150th Annual Dinner Celebrate 150 years and look towards the future with excitement, hope, and a promise of business & community growth.

July 22, 2022 Founder’s Day

Our milestone moment event celebrates the day the Lancaster Chamber was founded with networking, engagement, inspired artistic creations, and a night to remember.

Fall 2022

Historical Journal Partnership with LancasterHistory We are partnering with LancasterHistory to launch a special edition Journal of Lancaster County’s Historical Society focused on the robust history of the Lancaster Chamber, local business community, and County.

LancasterChamber.com LancasterChamber.com

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SALUTING THE LANCASTER CHAMBER Supporting Healthy Communities for 150 Years!

Reach Your Target Audiences Where They Live, Work and Play.

Connecting Advertisers to Highly Desirable, and Engaged, B2B and B2C Prospects in Pennsylvania.

HoffPubs.com In business since 1990, Hoffmann Publishing Group, Inc. is the “Official Publishing Partner” of Regional Bar Associations, Medical Societies, Home Builder Associations, Business/Trade Organizations and Community Groups.

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Connect with the Excitement!

Congratulations Lancaster Chamber!

150 Years and Going Strong for Lancaster County Businesses & Communities

Grudi is proud and honored to be Lancaster Chamber’s Mobility, Telecom & IT partner, offering businesses many benefits, services and cost savings through Grudi Advantage.

grudiadvantage.com

Grudi is 30!

Connecting Businesses in Lancaster County and Beyond Since 1992 Thanks to our awesome customers, staff and partners for making us your first choice for Managed Mobility, Telecom & IT. As part of our 30th anniversary celebration, we are rolling out our new brand identity, logo, website and

more. Look for it! We are also delighted and so proud to have been named one of the 2021 Best Places to Work in PA by Central Penn Business Journal and Lehigh Valley Business – in fact, we are #2 in our category.

Thank you, all!

View Case Studies Read about how Grudi has helped businesses save money, optimize their services, eliminate hassle and regain valuable staff time. grudiassociates.com/new_case_studies

Phone photo credits: www.pinterest.co.uk & www.knowyourmobile.com

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The support and generosity of our 150th Anniversary Sponsors gives us the opportunity to celebrate this incredible moment in time, while impacting our ability to serve our business community for the next 150 years!

PRESENTING SPONSOR

CHAMPION SPONSORS

CATALYST SPONSORS

SUPPORTING SPONSORS Armstrong Flooring Certified Carpet Community Action Partnership (CAP) Conrad Siegel Ephrata National Bank

Everence Godfrey Grudi Associates New Holland North America/CNH Industrial Rhoads Energy

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RKL LLP Warfel Construction Wellspan Health

A Special Thank You

to our Past Chair Legacy Sponsors for our 150th Lancaster Chamber Anniversary!

We are grateful for incredible leaders like these that are investing in the success and sustainability of Lancaster County business and community.

• Peter Barber, Two Dudes Painting • William Bash, Van Scoy, Maurer and Bash • Steve Geisenberger, Walz Group • John Herr, Serta Mattress (Retired) • Barry Huber, Trout, Inc. (Retired) • Craig Kauffman, People’s Bank

• Walter Legenstein, Certified Carpet • Nelson Longenecker, Four Seasons Produce • Robert Macina, Penn Medicine/Lancaster General Health • George Rettew, RETTEW • Mark Ritter, Northumberland National Bank

Not A Member? Join us and invest in Lancaster County's future.

Visit lancasterchamber.com.

• Michelle Rondinelli, Kitchen Kettle Foods, Inc. • Pete Scudner, Stifel • J. (and Nicole) Seroky, 2022 Lancaster Chamber Board Chair/High Concrete • Ralph Simpson, Warfel (Retired) • Kim Smith, Barley Snyder (Retired) • Phil Wenger, Fulton Financial Corporation

Congratulations to the Lancaster Chamber for 150 years of serving our community!

Happy 150th Anniversary to Lancaster Chamber Landscape Architecture Land Planning Construction Services Civil/Municipal Engineering Water/Wastewater Engineering Transportation Engineering Su Surveying & GIS Services Retaining Wall Design Athletic Facilities Design & Consulting

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FIRST PLACE to turn for CARE.

Cold and flu season is here. Your UPMC primary care team is the first place to turn to for treatment of cold symptoms, earaches, coughs, stomach aches, and rashes. Your doctor’s office can help you with the best care option, whether it’s an in-person or a video visit. And the UPMC Central PA portal provides on-demand video appointments with UPMC providers. For more information about our care options, or to find a doctor, visit UPMC.com/CentralPARightCare.

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12/23/21 11:02 AM 67 LancasterChamber.com

Congratulations on

150 years!

The Lancaster Chamber is a powerful voice for business and the workforce of Lancaster. Thank you from a long-time member.

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Lancaster Marriott at Penn Square and Lancaster County Convention Center

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Community Commitment.

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