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January awards

Accounting 

Camp Hill-based accounting and advisory firm Brown Schultz Sheridan & Fritz was named the No. 2 Best Accounting Firm to Work For in the mid-sized firm category and the No. 3 Best Firm for Young Accountants by Accounting Today in 2022. 

Banking 

Matt Berger, an investment and trust services market manager with Chambersburg-based F&M Trust, recently received an Under 40 in Wealth Management Award from the American Bankers Association. 

Millersburg-based Mid Penn Bankhas been named, for a second consecutive year, the Best Small Bank in Pennsylvania by Newsweek on their America’s Best Banks list for 2023. 

Law 

Lancaster-based Barley Snyder announced that U.S. News & World Report and Best Lawyers have named it a “Best Law Firm” in 26 practice areas. 

Real Estate 

Camp Hill-based Landmark Commercial Realty announced that Barb Murdocca, chief operating officer, and Michael Rohm, senior associate and director of valuation advisory, were each recently given the Greater Harrisburg Association of Realtors Professional Merit Award. 

Paula Wolf is a freelance writer 

ACNB Corp. sets earnings record in 2022

Gettysburg-based ACNB Corp., the financial holding company for ACNB Bank and ACNB Insurance Services Inc., announced record financial results for 2022.

ACNB posted net income of $35.752 million, an increase of $7.918 million, or 28.45%, compared with 2021. This year-over-year increase was primarily driven by increases in net interest income of $12.181 million and commissions from insurance sales of $2.156 million.

The corporation reported net income of $10.199 million for the three months ended Dec. 31, 2022, an increase of 126.90% compared with the fourth quarter of 2021.

“We, at ACNB Corp., are extremely pleased to report another year of record earnings for 2022 totaling more than $35 million,” James P. Helt, ACNB president and CEO, said in a release. “This corporate achievement was not anticipated at the start of the year, but neither were the economic conditions that evolved during the year. In response to inflationary pressures, the unprecedented actions of the Federal Reserve resulted in seven interest rate hikes beginning in March of 2022 for a fed funds target rate range of 4.25% to 4.50% at the end of the year.”

The steep interest rate changes during the year pushed the fed funds rate to its highest point since December 2007, he noted. “These interest rate increases were a major contributor to ACNB Corp.’s 2022 earnings performance as assets repriced more quickly than liabilities, which coupled with asset growth resulted in strong net interest income performance.”

“Despite these unusual and unprecedented economic times,” Helt said, the corporation completed key strategic initiatives planned for 2022, including the acquisition by ACNB Insurance Services Inc. of the business and assets of Hockley & O’Donnell Insurance Agency in Gettysburg in February and the opening of the new Upper Adams Office in Biglerville in October as ACNB Bank continued its plans for optimization of the community banking network.

Paula Wolf is a freelance writer

Santander will shutter three central Pa. bank branches

Santander Bank will close three of its central Pennsylvania branches in December, according to the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency.

The comptroller’s weekly bulletin is the record of receipt and actions taken on applications and notices filed by national banks and federal savings associations.

For the week of Dec. 11-17, the bulletin shows that 13 Santander locations in Pennsylvania and New Jersey will shut their doors sometime in 2023. The local branches affected are:

· 355 W. Fifth St., Quarryville, Lancaster County

· 986 Lititz Pike, Kissel Village, Lititz, Lancaster County

· 17 W. High St., Carlisle, Cumberland County

In 2021, 147 more bank branches closed than opened in Pennsylvania, S&P Global Market Intelligence reported, as the growth of digital banking creates a waning demand for bricks-and-mortar spaces.

Paula Wolf is a freelance writer

Forging her own Path

Casey Khuri’s route through the commercial real estate world first started in banking in the midst of the 2008 financial crisis. 

Today, as vice president at Cumberland County-based NAI CIR, the mother of three has made herself known as a business leader focused on community impact in the greater Harrisburg area. 

After Khuri graduated from Temple University’s Fox School of Business with a degree in business administration in 2008, she began working for Commerce Bank, now Metro Bank, as a financial analyst.  

When Khuri reflects on the launch point of her career in the financial sector, she acknowledges that in many ways, 2008 was the worst time to enter the field.  

Khuri became privy to the critical conversations lenders were having with their clients in the midst of major economic shifts. These conversations became formative experiences that Khuri says helped her learn the ropes of building positive client and community relations, a skillset that would become invaluable throughout her career journey.  

After spending one year as a financial analyst and one year as a junior lender, Khuri became a lender, a role she stayed in until leaving Metro Bank in 2015 to pivot into commercial real estate at the family-owned company, NAI CIR.  

Community Impact 

Khuri’s father and president of NAI CIR, Robin Zellers, had dropped hints that he wanted to see Khuri part of the company prior to her leaving Metro Bank.  

Zellers had been involved in the commercial real estate world since before Khuri was in college and she remembers him driving around their community, pointing out commercial spaces that were changing ownership or gaining new tenants, telling stories of what the spaces were and what they would become.  

“Having that experience and history when I was young, I really saw how a company can affect a community, if done right,” Khuri said. “Our company is 50 years young, as we like to say. We’ve been in this world for a while, but we have relationships here that go back that long and those relationships have really been the ones that have helped shape the community.”  

Values of humility, community involvement, and hard work are anchors of Khuri’s career. She said she does not shy away from embracing experiences that would allow her to step into positions of leadership.  

While working at Metro Bank, Khuri became involved with Harrisburg Young Professionals at the encouragement of other lenders at the bank. Khuri, a former Temple University soccer player, started playing sports with other members of Harrisburg Young Professionals. She met the people who led the organization and was encouraged to participate, joining a committee, then the board, and eventually becoming board chair for the organization.  

“I saw what a small young profession not-for-profit could do [without] a ton of resources, but with the resources of people,” Khuri said. “To watch how easy it was to just donate some time and see an immediate impact on the community, I was kind of hooked.” 

In addition to being part of Harrisburg Young Professionals, Khuri holds board positions on some of Harrisburg’s most notable community benefit organizations including Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Capital Region, the Whitaker Center, Capital Region Economic Development Corporation, and Herbert, Rowland & Grubic, Inc.  

Khuri possesses a robust understanding of how business can impact a community, and how professionals can leverage their influence and time to build up the places where they live and work. She says this value of community service and contribution was ingrained into her at the onset of her career and is proud to have maintained it as a core value in her work.  

“By being a part of these organizations, I was not only doing good for the community, but I was doing good for the businesses I represented. And you can’t discount that.” 

“She just brings an energy and a focus that is welcome in our industry,” Zellers said. “Her efforts in the community have been very broad and very deep. She is absolutely not intimidated by taking a leadership role [and] she represents our industry and our company extremely well in the community.” 

Growing as a Leader 

With her extensive community involvement and professional experience, Khuri has become a distinguished community leader, as well as an inspiration for other women in business.  

“I walked into the finance world in 2008, and luckily it was 2008, so at least there were women that [had] paved a road for me to walk, but I still walked right into the boys club,” Khuri said. 

“I had confidence in my ability, I knew I was intelligent, I knew I could figure out anything I wanted to figure out,” Khuri said. “But I [knew] that I had to prove myself. I knew that I was a young female in a male-dominated industry.” 

Khuri said she took, the approach of “working harder” to earn the trust of her peers, managers, and clients she was working with at the time, and prove that she could grow into the roles she would eventually inhabit.  

“Your result is going to be what proves you, not the fact that you’re a woman working hard, not the fact that you’re a man trying to work hard…the fact that you’re a person in a role and you’re working hard. I think that’s what people care about the most. Do your job and do it well and that is going to be what elevates you,” Khuri said. 

With the experience of working in male-dominated industries, Khuri has used the insight she has gained to create more equitable platforms for the agents and staff members she leads at NAI CIR, with the aim of cultivating a place where her organization’s stakeholders can succeed.  

As Khuri has progressed in her career and gained leadership experience, she has identified key ingredients that make for positive and impactful leadership.  

“I have found the greatest success with both confidence and humility, and I think most people think that they’re mutually exclusive and they are not,” Khuri said. “When you are confident, you have the courage to lead [but] you have to be humble. [Your] humility will then remind you that you can’t do it alone, and you shouldn’t do it alone,” Khuri said.  

Khuri has seen the value of collaboration and advocacy for fellow professionals firsthand, and seeks to pay it forward in the leadership roles she currently holds.  

“I wouldn’t be where I am at CIR or in any of my board memberships without the people that mentored me. I had women at the bank spread [their] wings to include me intentionally,” Khuri said.  

As a mom of three kids, Khuri is transparent about the acrobatics required to maintain a family, a full-time job, and occupy several board positions.

“It’s not fair to try to do 50% at both of them. It makes sense that sometimes you’re going to give a little bit more to one than to another, but you have to identify that you can prioritize both family and career,” Khuri said. “I hope I’m creating a good example for my kids, especially my daughter, in demonstrating you can do that, but also in giving yourself grace to know that it’s not going to be a perfect balance.” 

Newsmakers: RKL LLP, Stock and Leader and ECORE International

Salvatore Anastasi, Wilfred Bentley, Michael Koch, Debra Lechner, Shari Sell and Glenn Rambler
Salvatore Anastasi, Wilfred Bentley, Michael Koch, Debra Lechner, Shari Sell and Glenn Rambler.

Accounting

Manheim Township-based RKL LLP named Michael Koch leader of its valuations practice, which identifies and analyzes a business’ value and cost drivers. Koch is a certified valuation analyst and has experience in valuation, financial modeling and projections, and litigation support.

Associations

Arlington, Virginia-based American Intellectual Property Law Association elected Salvatore Anastasi second vice president. Anastasi is a patent attorney, partner and intellectual property practice group chair with Lancaster-based Barley Snyder.

Chicago-based American Bar Association Section of Intellectual Property Law named Joseph R. Falcon III chair of the patent litigation committee. Falcon will also serve on the America Invents Act Task Force and Patent Section 101 Task Force. Falcon is a partner and intellectual property attorney with Lancaster-based Barley Snyder.

Banking and finance

Jonestown Bank & Trust Co. named Glenn Rambler a commercial relationship manager. Rambler will help meet the financial needs of businesses and business owners in Lancaster and Lebanon counties.

Construction

East Hempfield Township-based B.R. Kreider & Son Inc. named Dean Stoner senior estimator.

Consulting

Harrisburg-based Dame Leadership named Mark Walker an assessment solutions practice leader. Walker will assist in the marketing and delivery of employee assessment services. Tedd Wheeler was named a leadership consultant. Wheeler will provide companies with coaching and strategic planning services. He is a U.S. Army veteran.

Insurance

Swatara Township-based Millers Mutual Insurance named Mickey Bekelja vice president of finance, chief financial officer and treasurer. He will manage, analyze, and ensure integrity of treasury operations and partner with Millers’ business units to monitor and guide the company’s strategic direction and support business operations.

Law

York-based Stock and Leader named David M. Walker counsel in the school law group. Walker will focus on general solicitor, labor and employment issues, school business, construction, contracts and pupil services matters.

Manufacturing

Lancaster-based Ecore International named Debra Lechner chief marketing officer. Lechner will oversee the planning and execution of marketing and advertising initiatives to support the company’s mission and strategic business goals.

Nonprofits

Lancaster-based Tenfold named Wilfred Bentley chief community investment officer. Bentley will lead the Tenfold Community Lending team, which focuses on increasing homeownership opportunities for underserved people in Adams, Cumberland, Dauphin, Franklin, Lancaster, Lebanon, Perry and York counties.

Real estate

Manheim Township-based Sable Commercial Realty named Justin Geisenberger senior vice president. Geisenberger will help with business development and strategic company decisions. Geisenberger is a licensed real estate salesperson and Certified Commercial Investment Member.

Retail

East Hempfield Township-based Gish’s Furniture named Shari Sell manager of the East Earl store at the Shady Maple Complex.

Compiled by Amy DiNunzio

PeoplesBank to donate landmark building to Glen Rock borough

York-based PeoplesBank is donating its building at 1 Manchester St., Glen Rock, which is on the National Register of Historic Places, to the borough of Glen Rock.

PeoplesBank, A Codorus Valley Company and wholly owned subsidiary of Codorus Valley Bancorp Inc., was founded as the “First National Bank of Glen Rock, Penna” in 1864. It was one of the first businesses established after Glen Rock’s incorporation in 1859, a release said, serving as a catalyst of economic growth in the post-Civil War era through the present.

In addition to housing the Glen Rock borough office, the building is home to the Glen Rock Historical Preservation Society, which operates a museum. The society will expand the museum into the portion of the building vacated by the bank as part of the donation, which will be finalized next month.

PeoplesBank, with assets in excess of $2.4 billion, will continue to serve Glen Rock residents at nearby financial centers offering a full spectrum of services.

Society President Jon Nicklow said, “With PeoplesBank’s donation of this historic building located in the center of our town, we have an opportunity to showcase Glen Rock’s place in local history.”

Craig Kauffman, PeoplesBank’s president and CEO, added: “As the birthplace of PeoplesBank, Glen Rock holds a special place in the hearts of every PeoplesBank associate. The donation is another example of the bank’s long-term commitment to the community and our commitment to memorializing the legacy of PeoplesBank’s contribution to the prosperity of the area.”

Paula Wolf is a freelance writer

Newsmakers: Manufacturers’ Association, Orion Strategies and Penn State College of Medicine

Star Gibbs, Barb Murdocca, Michael D. Williams, Tasha R. Stoltzfus Nankerville, Maria Di Stravolo Elliott and Jason Kreider 
Star Gibbs, Barb Murdocca, Michael D. Williams, Tasha R. Stoltzfus Nankerville, Maria Di Stravolo Elliott and Jason Kreider. PHOTO/PROVIDED

 

Associations

Martin R. Siegel
Martin R. Siegel

The Daily Pennsylvanian Alumni Association, an organization of alumni who contribute to the University of Pennsylvania’s student newspaper, elected Martin R. Siegel president. Siegel will provide mentorship, communication and fundraising efforts, and assistance to students with media operations. Siegel is an attorney with Lancaster-based Barley Snyder and a member of its real estate and environment and energy practice groups.

 

 

Manchester Township-based Manufacturers’ Association elected Star Gibbs and Michelle Finch board members. Gibbs is talent programs manager at The Hershey Co. Finch is senior director of workforce development with Wolfgang Confectioners.

Chapel Hill, North Carolina-based American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery elected Dr. April Armstrong president. Armstrong is chair of the department of orthopaedics and rehabilitation at Derry Township-based Penn State College of Medicine and Hershey Medical Center.

Lemoyne-based Pennsylvania Association of Realtors named Barb Murdocca a member of its executive committee, representing the commercial sector. Murdocca is a Realtor and chief operating office of East Pennsboro Township-based Landmark Commercial Realty Inc.

Banking and finance

Millersburg-based Mid Penn Bank named David D’Angelo a commercial loan officer and senior vice president.

Gettysburg-based ACNB Bank named Michael D. Williams vice president and commercial loan officer. Williams will be based in the York loan office and build commercial customer relationships and provide commercial loan services for southcentral Pennsylvania customers.

Communications

Washington, D.C.-based Orion Strategies named Scot Andrew Pitzer a senior manager in its Harrisburg office. Pitzer will create, lead and execute strategic communications and government relations campaigns.

Education

Derry Township-based Penn State College of Medicine named Dr. Mark Stephens associate dean for medical education for the University Park curriculum. Stephens is professor of family and community medicine and was interim associate dean.

Health care

Derry Township-based Penn State Health named Heather Brooks vice president for health system operation command centers – patient logistics. Brooks will be responsible for the health system transfer center and patient flow platform in the Penn State Health clinical platform network.

Law

Charmaine E. Nyman
Charmaine E. Nyman

Lancaster-based Barley Snyder named Tasha R. Stoltzfus Nankerville an associate and member of the litigation practice group. Charmaine E. Nyman was named an associate and member of the business and real estate practice groups in the Hanover office.

 

 

 

Nonprofits

Lancaster-based Fulton Theatre named Maria Di Stravolo Elliott a member of its board of trustees. Elliott is a partner with Lancaster-based Barley Snyder and is in the real estate practice group and construction industry group.

Manheim Township-based Compass Mark named Oliver Arthur a board member. Arthur is a certified public accountant and manager in the audit services group at Manheim Township-based RKL LLP.

Self-storage

Manchester Township-based Moove In Self Storage named Robert Harnsberger district manager. Harnsberger will hire, train and counsel site-level staff; review pricing and competition surveys; employ or contract for security, maintenance and landscape services; and prepare employee performance reviews, property budgets, operational reviews and expense reports.

Staffing

Brett Ford
Brett Ford

Camp Hill based JFC Workforce named Brett Ford director of recruitment. Ford will develop a team of recruiters to meet the hiring needs of the Central PA region.

 

 

Other

Manheim Township-based Peak Capital Inc. named Jason Kreider assistant controller. Kreider will assist in day-to-day accounting functions and provide financial analysis for special projects for all companies in Peak’s holdings.

Compiled by Amy DiNunzio

Mid Penn Bank to open financial center in Allentown

Mid Penn Bank, a wholly owned subsidiary of Mid Penn Bancorp Inc., is opening a financial center in Allentown, its first full-service financial center in the Lehigh Valley.

A ribbon-cutting is being held today.

The new office, at 3900 Hamilton Blvd. in the Shops at Hamilton Center, received approval from the Pennsylvania Department of Banking and Securities and the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp.

“We are pleased to announce our plans for continued growth in the Lehigh Valley market and are excited to bring this modern and convenient facility to our existing customers,” Region President Frank Heston said in a release. “We also look forward to welcoming new individuals and businesses from the region to Mid Penn and our brand of banking.”

The bank is completing renovations of the new facility, which will feature multiple drive-thru lanes. Customers will be able to conduct traditional banking and account servicing, and have access to trust, wealth management and insurance products.

The office will also house regional commercial lending and cash management teams, led by Heston. Manager Mary Briody has been hired to oversee retail activities and day-to-day operations.

Mid Penn Bancorp Inc., the parent company of both Mid Penn Bank and MPB Financial Services Group LLC, operates retail locations in 16 counties throughout the state and has total assets of more than $4.3 billion.

Paula Wolf is a freelance writer

Orrstown Financial to close five more bank branches

Shippensburg-based Orrstown Financial Services Inc., parent company of Orrstown Bank, announced that it is closing five branches and adopting other staffing adjustments to improve efficiency.

The changes are due to “a rapidly changing banking environment,” a release said.

The five branches are in Chambersburg (Lincoln Way East); East Earl (Shady Maple); Mechanicsburg (Simpson Street); Orrstown; and Spring Run (Path Valley). The closures, subject to regulatory approval, are expected to be completed later this year.

ATMs will remain at the Orrstown and Path Valley locations.

When combined with the 11 branches that closed in 2020 and 2021, Orrstown Financial will have eliminated 16, or 43%, of its branches, since the end of 2019.

“The bank is not exiting any markets and is simply adjusting its distribution model within existing markets,” the release noted.

Staffing adjustments will involve eliminating certain bank positions and the early retirement of three officers. Orrstown Financial expects many of the impacted branch employees to fill vacancies within the organization.

The company plans to use some of the savings generated from these initiatives to address ongoing wage pressures and make additional investments in technology.

“The actions announced today serve as a critical step toward repositioning the franchise to focus on emerging delivery channels and digital solutions and maximizing our efficiency through continued automation,” Thomas R. Quinn Jr., Orrstown’s president and CEO, said in the release.

“We will still seek to expand the franchise through strategic placement of brick-and-mortar locations along with providing best in class digital solutions. We intend to continue to provide the service our clients have come to expect while broadening our impact across the region.”

Paula Wolf is a freelance writer