Emmanuel Lutheran Church has been part of the Indian Valley Community for over 160 years. We are a community gathered by God and sent out in mission to the community in which we are planted. In 2020, at the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic, we felt called to help people in need by starting a daily feeding ministry, offering food to our neighbors facing food insecurity. The E-Meal ministry, as it came to be known, has grown in just four years to be an important part of the social safety net in the Indian Valley. Backed by the generosity of a caring community, Emmanuel has “handed up” over 536,000 meals, raised over $200,000 in funding, and now serves over 250 families each week. E-Meal is a volunteer-run ministry, using over 6,000 volunteer hours per year and involving over 170 individuals in service to God and their neighbors.
As Souderton’s Community Church, Emmanuel is even more than its feeding program. In 2021, we partnered with Worthwhile Wear to renovate our formerly empty parsonage into three modern apartments that can be a safe home for women who have survived human trafficking. We work closely with “Help-to-Help” a local organization of Central American immigrants who raise funds to support community projects in their home countries and right here in the Indian Valley. Emmanuel is host to two Montgomery County Pre-K/Head Start classes, and most recently has entered into partnership with Along the Way, a ministry providing free childcare to single parents.
Franconia Café & Market is a gathering place for the community. A place where friends meet, business deals are negotiated, old cronies sip coffee, groups gather for a meeting, hearts are consoled after loss and gifts are exchanged in celebration. Families, singles, young and old agree that the Café is as close to small town life as we can get.
Through 23 years of restaurant business, we have employed over 600 people from our community. Our goal is to treat our employees the way we would like to be treated. We have taught young teens the importance of hard work and communication and have savored the senior staff that have worked alongside of us helping us to grow.
Being a part of the community has taken on many different facets. Supporting local sports teams, contributing to local causes, hosting fund raiser events and giving meals during Covid are just part of the story. The real story is the bonds that have been forged while giving back. Many customers that grace our doors daily come because of the connection made while working side by side, sharing ice cream after a ballgame or throwing cornhole at a local tournament.
We survived 9/11, 2008, 2011, Covid regulations and are still navigating the employment nightmare left in the wake of 2020. We started this journey in a brick building in Telford and we have expanded our horizon to now include the Old Towne Cracker Co. which has become more than we could have imagined. Two locals making a difference amidst a community that has walked beside them at every turn.
Excel Communications Worldwide is a Montgomery County-based leading technology solutions provider, headquartered in Harleysville, PA. Excel leverages over two decades of experience to provide expertly integrated, diverse, state-of-the-art telecommunications solutions for a growing list of clients across diverse business lines and industries – from design to installation, to implementation, to responsive service.
In 2022, Excel was certified by the Women’s Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC). President Kristen Mallonee has facilitated this venture which has not only been beneficial for Excel by opening doors to a network of resources, but it has supplied numerous targeted business opportunities.
This past year, Excel, along with its sister companies: Integrated Security Systems and Universal Door Services, has moved onto a new campus, which allows us not only to grow, but to continue to expand our core value of giving back to the communities we serve. Being under one roof, we are developing a collaborative spirit and efficient resource utilization among the teams. We are committed to fostering teamwork and excited to continue growing relationships.
Moving forward, Excel is excited to continually deepen our industry expertise and commitment to excellence, while looking for ways to further deliver known and unknown solutions to our partners. We aim to provide superior service and exceptional value for the clients we serve while continuing to set standards in technological advancement.
Once again, thank you for this incredible honor. We are truly humbled and grateful for the recognition.
Ken grew up in rural central Pennsylvania and spent some of his early years on a farm. While he earned money milking cows, he realized farming was not a future career path.
Ken’s business career began in 1972 as a carpenter for APM, Inc. in Allensville, a True Value Home Center. Owner, Karl Westover, soon promoted him to work as his assistant. Eventually, Ken coordinated the company’s marketing/ advertising programs, purchased building supplies, and managed pricing for two retail locations.
In 1986, Ken moved his family to Souderton where he joined Penn View Christian School (now Dock Mennonite Academy) as Business Administrator and Development Director. Ken left Penn View in 1994 to become Corporate Marketing Director for Rosenberger Cold Storage and continued in that role in 1998 when CS Integrated LLC purchased the company. In the fall of 1999, he accepted a position with Detweiler, Hershey & Associates, P.C. as Marketing Director and began his consulting and training journey.
In 2002, he co-founded Higher Ground Consulting Group, LLC. The firm is known for its quality leadership development and coaching programs. Ken has worked with hundreds of leaders in dozens of regional and national companies. He has facilitated classroom and virtual learning events, coached and mentored in one-on-one sessions, and been a workshop speaker at a variety of industry events.
In 2016 Ken was named program director for LEAD Indian Valley, this chamber’s well-known leadership development program. During his tenure, LEAD IV has graduated 143 persons (including this year’s cohort of 29). He is an Authorized Partner for Everything DiSC® and The Five Behaviors of a Cohesive Team™. In 2007 he was a contributing author to a family business book and has written hundreds of blog posts about leadership. He has also appeared as a guest on a number of local and national podcasts.
Throughout his career, Ken has been active in many business, faith, and trade organizations including leadership and board positions with Indian Valley Chamber of Commerce, Upper Bucks Chamber of Commerce, Bucks-Mont NARI, Souderton-Telford Rotary Club, ASSETS Montco, Delaware Valley MEDA, Peaceful Living, and Salford Mennonite Church. He has served on fundraising event committees supporting St. Luke’s Penn Foundation, Indian Creek Foundation, Peaceful Living, and Philadelphia Mennonite High School. Ken has received numerous honors including Community Service Awards from the Indian Valley and Upper Bucks Chambers of Commerce plus awards from Bucks-Mont NARI and NP United Way.
Ken has been married to his wife, Melody, for more than 49 years and they reside in Belleville where they moved in 2020 to retire. They are active members of Maple Grove Mennonite Church where Ken serves as Leadership Team chair, member of the Interim Pastoral Team, and teaches Sunday school. They have an adult son Josh (married to Jill Wenger) who live in Virginia.
PARTNERING TO PROVIDE A HEA LTH Y, P RODUCTIVE WORKPLACE
For more than 40 years, our Employee Assistance Program
has helped you care for your #1 asset, your
Our goal is to ensure the mental health of your employees so that they can consistently and effectively contribute to the growth of your
No matter what stressors your employees face in or out of
we have services and a local team of experts ready to help.
In 1924, Norman L. Bergey opened an automotive repair shop in Franconia, PA. From the very start, Norman established a method of treating customers that was based on the Golden Rule -- everyone who walked through the door was treated the way he wanted to be treated. 100 years later we strive to honor our founder’s business philosophy every day.
DRIVEN TO SERVE
Salon Hours:
Monday 10-7
Tuesday - CLOSED
Wednesday 10-7
Thursday 10-7
Friday 10-7
Saturday 9:30-5
Sunday CLOSED
Natural Services Natural Services
and Products and Products
beanbagfoodprogram.org
Feeding children in the North Penn, Souderton Area, and Quakertown Community School Districts
Stopping Hunger So Kids Can Focus. Learn. Succeed.
