A walking tour of downtown York’s craft breweries to support Downtown York Inc initiatives is set for Oct. 28.
Downtown Inc said the return of the beer and food pairing event, Sweetest Pint, will run from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m., with check-in beginning at 1:30pm and tours departing at 2:05pm.
Tickets are $30 and $15 for designated drivers.
The Sweetest Pint Tasting Tours are a series of walking tours in Downtown York featuring a craft beer sample provided by a local brewery and a small tasting plate of local food.
Proceeds from ticket sales benefit Downtown Inc, whose mission is to drive, enhance and encourage investment in Downtown York through promotions, placemaking, public safety, and economic development.
This year’s Sweetest Pint tour, led by 10 community volunteers, will include stops at seven locations including Bound Books, OMG Studios, Gather 256, Skid Row Garage, House of Yoga, and The Cantina.
Each location will include a sampling of a fall-inspired food paired with a local craft beer.
The York County Economic Alliance (YCEA) has introduced a new website to help companies recruit workers.
YCEA said WhyYorkPA.com, which launched Tuesday, will also help attract residents to York by highlighting what the county and city have to offer.
“This website tells our story,” said Kevin Schreiber, president and CEO of the YCEA. “We are an engaged community where people in all career paths are inspired and encouraged to explore their creativity, resulting in an enriched quality of life for all. We often hear from employers across all industries that they need a tool to help recruit, and retain, the best talent possible, and this is to aid that.”
Resources include:
Neighborhoods and regions around the County, as well as the amenities in each, plus the cost of living, home sales, and education.
Professional services, job opportunities in all industries, entrepreneurship and networking.
Events, art, shopping, recreation and more.
The site also includes the stories of those who chose to call York home, led by the creative talents of Our York Media. The site was developed with input and support from leading companies and agencies in the York County area including Harley-Davidson York Vehicle Motor Operations, WellSpan Health, York Water Company, Leadership York, Explore York, Central PA IEC, SCPa Works, rabbittransit, and more.
“This site includes input from several partners including those in commercial and residential real estate, small business owners, and the HR departments of major employers in York. It’s meant to be ever developing, and those who have information to share are encouraged to do so,” Schreiber said.
Meredith Mills and Michael Leader – PHOTO/PROVIDED
Country Meadows Retirement Communities and Ecumenical Retirement Community has a new president and CEO.
Meredith Mills, granddaughter of former Gov. George Leader and Mary Jane Leader, who founded Country Meadows, will take the helm of the Hershey-based organization.
Mills takes over from Michael Leader, who, after more than 30 years leading the organization, will serve as executive chairman.
“I have every confidence in handing over our organization’s leadership to my niece. Meredith has been leading teams on campuses and at the home office for more than 11 years and did an outstanding job guiding us through the pandemic,” Leader said.
Mills has held various positions at Country Meadows including marketing director, campus executive director, vice president of strategic planning and most recently, COO.
She has a master’s degree in Health Administration from Penn State University and an undergraduate degree from Franklin and Marshall College.
“I cannot express in words what an incredible honor it is to follow not only in the footsteps of my grandparents, parents, and uncles, but also in the footsteps of so many of the Country Meadows and Ecumenical ‘family members’ who have committed many years to our mission to serve seniors,” Mills said.
This year marks the 61st year of the Leader family’s involvement in the senior living industry, which contrasts with a 2010 report by the Conway Center for Family Business that found the average lifespan of a family-owned business is just 24 years, Country Meadows said.
Mills promotion transitions the family’s third generation into the top leadership role, despite a 2010 study that found just 13% of family-owned businesses are passed down successfully to a third generation.
“I consider it a privilege to transfer leadership to such a capable and experienced member of the third generation of our family,” Leader said, “Nothing pleases me more than to ensure that Country Meadows and Ecumenical Retirement Community will remain a family-owned and family-managed organization led by such an outstanding CEO.”
It was Mills’ respect and admiration for her grandparents that led her to a career in senior living.
“I was motivated to come back to Country Meadows by my grandfather’s request to see the third generation more involved and was blessed to be able to spend a few years at Country Meadows while he was still with us,” she said. “His strong commitment to innovation, integrity, and empowerment was impressed upon me during that time, and I am grateful for the opportunity to receive further mentorship from my uncles and father.”
PPL Corp. has promoted Francis Sullivan to executive vice president and chief operating officer.
Sullivan succeeded Gregory Dudkin effective Jan. 1. Dudkin is on extended medical leave and is not expected to return, PPL said.
Francis Sullivan
Sullivan will report to PPL President and Chief Executive Officer Vincent Sorgi and oversee Allentown-based PPL’s regulated utility operations, with the presidents of PPL’s Kentucky, Pennsylvania and Rhode Island utility companies reporting to him. Dudkin will remain executive vice president while on medical leave.
“Greg has been an exceptional leader and colleague, someone who has always been focused on delivering the highest levels of service to our customers, developing high-performing teams and inspiring a culture of innovation within PPL,” said Sorgi.
“He will be missed, and we wish Greg and his family the very best as they deal with these difficult times,” Sorgi said. “At the same time, I have complete confidence in Fran and our operations leadership team as we continue our focus on creating the utilities of the future, executing our clean energy strategy and driving long-term value for our customers and shareowners.”
Sullivan brings more than four decades of energy industry experience to his new role. He joined PPL as vice president–Operations Performance on Oct. 1, 2021. Prior to PPL, he served as senior operations advisor for Kindle Energy LLC for more than two years and as an independent consultant to the power sector since 2018.
From 2008 to 2018, Sullivan served as NRG Energy’s senior vice president of operations and was accountable for one of largest portfolios of generation assets in the U.S. While at NRG, Sullivan was instrumental in driving operational excellence that resulted in a decade of continuous improvement in safety, environmental compliance, generation availability and operational efficiency, PPL said.
Prior to that, he served for more than a decade in a variety of leadership roles with Public Service Enterprise Group. He has a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering from Union College and a master’s in business administration from Drexel University.
“Fran’s strong leadership skills, insight and experience will make him an excellent addition to our executive leadership team as we continue to transform PPL and to position it for growth and success in a changing energy landscape,” Sorgi said.
Lancaster-based HDC MidAtlantic (HDC) has promoted Tammie Fitzpatrick to chief operating officer.
Fitzpatrick previously served as HDC’s director of Real Estate Operations. She has worked in Real Estate Development for more than 15 years, including nearly seven years working for Lancaster-based nonprofit housing developers to find solutions to the affordable housing crisis and create housing equity for all.
Tammie Fitzpatrick
As COO, Fitzpatrick will facilitate the development and implementation of the organization’s strategic plan and annual workplans, leading the coordination of departmental goal setting and execution, building staff capacity, managing long-term complex projects, and providing leadership to the Property Management, Resident Services, and Human Resources departments.
Fitzpatrick will be a key member of HDC’s leadership team, serving as a proxy for President and CEO Dana Hanchin.
“We are thrilled to have Tammie step into the role of Chief Operating Officer at HDC,” said Hanchin. “Her years of experience, commitment to our mission, and results-driven approach is well suited to help take HDC into the new year and on to the next step as an organization.”
Prior to joining HDC, Fitzpatrick worked at Community Basics, Inc., LeFevre Funk Architects, and Miranda Architects.
“I am excited to take on this new role at HDC,” said Fitzpatrick. “Our strategy is clear, and I look forward to working our team who is focused on achieving success in the years to come.”
Fitzpatrick received her Bachelor of Architecture degree from Virginia Tech and holds a master’s degree in Real Estate Development from Georgetown University. She is a registered Architect in Pennsylvania and volunteers on several boards and committees that support housing initiatives including the Lancaster County Coalition for Smart Growth, Coalition for Sustainable Housing, Lancaster Equity, Leadership Lancaster Program Committee, and co-chairs the Women in Housing and Finance of PA Steering Committee.
Harrisburg-based Millers Mutual Insurance (Millers) has promoted Jeffrey Pratt to president and CEO effective Sept. 16.
Pratt joined Millers, a niche property and casualty insurer. as vice president and CFO in 2015 and most recently served as executive vice president, CFO and treasurer.
Jeffrey Pratt
“This is a well-deserved promotion,” said Dave Lavery, board chairman. “Jeff is highly respected for his leadership in combination with his moral and ethical character and industry, business, and financial expertise. He has made significant contributions to the organization throughout his tenure, and the board and I look forward to supporting him in his new role as president & CEO.”
Prior to joining Millers, Pratt served in various financial division positions at Penn National Insurance including the director of financial planning and analysis. He started his career at what is now M&T Bank, where he progressed through various positions in both the retail and commercial divisions within the South-Central Pennsylvania and Baltimore, Maryland markets.
“It is an honor to be entrusted with the leadership of a company that has been providing our policyholders financial protection for over 130 years,” said Pratt.“I am extremely fortunate to work with the very talented, trustworthy, and humble staff at Millers. With the help of the entire leadership team, I also look forward to continuing an environment that fosters passion, teamwork, and both personal and professional growth.”
Pratt received his bachelor’s degree in business administration from the University of Colorado at Boulder, graduating magna cum laude. He earned a Master of Business Administration in finance and accounting at Mount Saint Mary’s University from which he graduated with honors. He currently holds a Certified Treasury Professional designation and a Licensed International Financial Analyst designation.
He has served on the boards of Hanover Day Nursery, Inc. and Hanover Capital Management, Inc. He is a Bridges Society Member of the United Way of the Capital Region and has led the Millers Mutual Charitable Giving Committee for the past few years.
Lancaster-based Wohlsen Construction Co. has promoted Bernard L. “Bud” Grove to senior vice president of Senior Living.
Bernard L. “Bud” Grove
In his role, Grove will lead Wohlsen’s senior living initiatives across its geographic footprint and provide support and expertise to assure client and project expectations are delivered.
Grove has served in numerous roles in the construction industry during his career, from field supervisor to engineer and project manager to project executive.
He joined the Wohlsen team in 2011 and has served in various capacities, including vice president of government division, project executive, and vice president of operations. He recently served as vice president of project development, providing preconstruction and budgeting oversight for Wohlsen’s senior living clients.
Marietta-based Donegal Insurance Group named David Sponic senior vice president of Personal Lines.
Dave Sponic
Sponic succeeds Jeff Jacobsen, who will transition into an advisory role leading up to his retirement in early 2023.
Sponic previously led Donegal’s Personal Lines Marietta Marketing and Home Office Underwriting Operations. A Penn State graduate, he began his career with Donegal in 1990 as a personal lines underwriter and has played a leadership role in nearly every strategic Personal Lines initiative, the company said.
“As we move into the future, no one knows more about the detailed operations of Personal Lines at Donegal than Dave, who has played a critical role in designing, building and leading just about every function over the last three decades,” said Jeffery Hay, senior vice president and chief underwriting officer for Donegal Insurance Group.
“Dave is well respected by our internal team, and externally, amongst peers and agents,” he said. “His robust industry knowledge, leadership and strategic perspective will position Donegal well to navigate the highly competitive and ever-changing Personal Insurance marketplace.”
Based in Donegal’s Marietta Home Office, Sponic holds his Pennsylvania Property & Casualty license and serves as the vice chairman of the PA FAIR Plan Board, and former chairman of the Mutual Inspection Bureau Board.
Jacobsen’s retirement caps more than 40 years in the insurance industry including three decades with Donegal.
A new campaign aimed at the younger generations hopes to promote philanthropy in a new way.
Janice Black, CEO pf TFEC – PHOTO/PROVIDED
Janice Black, CEO of Harrisburg-based The Foundation for Enhancing Communities (TFEC), said philanthropy makes people think of a person with a certain amount of wealth and stature.
“That is not true. Anyone can be a philanthropist, even a child,” she said.
To promote giving on a small scale, TFEC kicked off its first Spark! Contest last week to help individuals within the Greater Harrisburg area realize their philanthropic dreams, no matter their age, gender, income level or ethnicity.
The winner of Spark! will receive a $10,000 area-of-interest fund where dollars will be used to support local nonprofits and empower them to make a difference in their communities, for a cause they are passionate about, she said.
The campaign was born out of the foundation’s efforts to rebrand and increase visibility in the community. “People can give us any amount of money, $5, $10, even $1 and know it helps,” she said. “It’s really rewarding.”
The younger generations, she said, are still building their careers and finances, but they like to give small amounts to many causes. “We want to inspire them to think about the things they are doing and encourage them to do more,” she said.
“It’s incredible what people can do when they have the thought. It doesn’t matter how they do it as long as they are helping others,” she said.
Michael Blymier, marketing and communications officer for TFEC – PHOTO/PROVIDED
Michael Blymier, marketing and communications officer for TFEC, said the foundation is asking people to submit ideas they are passionate about. Once the applications are received, the public will vote on the ideas online.
“The money will stay here in an area of interest fund and money will be given out every year,” he said. “We’ve already gotten five or six letters.”
TFEC is asking people to consider what motivates them and the causes they care about most and submitting it for a chance to create their own fund. Submissions are being accepted through Thursday, June 30, after which all verified entries will be open to the public for voting and the passionate doers are able to spread the word and ask individuals to show their support for the cause they most want to see funded.
The top five finalists with the most votes move on to the closing round where the public participate again by casting their final votes and selecting the winner. The official Spark! winner will be announced Wednesday, September 7, 2022.
“TFEC exists to help all individuals make a difference and contribute to the passions and charitable dreams that drive them. Spark! helps us deliver that message and start fostering the next generation of givers. We want everyone to feel empowered and know they can create real change in their community.” said Black.
PNC Bank promoted Mark Yasenchak to senior vice president and senior business development officer for its Institutional Asset Management group in Central and Northeastern Pennsylvania.
Mark Yasenchak, senior vice president and senior development officer for PNC Bank’s Institutional Asset Management group. PHOTO/PROVIDED
Based at PNC’s Camp Hill office, Yasenchak will be responsible for engaging with clients to identify solutions and provide actionable insight regarding their investment and ancillary needs for retirement, charitable and corporate assets.
Yasenchak joined PNC in 2019. His career in financial services spans two decades.
Yasenchak graduated with a Bachelor of Science in finance and economics from West Chester University. He also holds the Chartered Financial Analyst designation and the FINRA Series 6, 7, 63, and 66 licenses. He is a member of the CFA Institute, the CFA Society of Philadelphia and Government Finance Officers Association of Pennsylvania.
Yasenchak and his family live in Silver Spring Township. An involved member of the community, he is the president of Cumberland Valley Softball Association and is a member of the Spring Silver Township Recreation Advisory Council.
McConkey Insurance & Benefits has named Michael Harter president and CEO/principal.
With more than 15 years at McConkey and nearly 30 years of experience in the insurance industry, Harter assumed his new position on January 1.
He previously served as executive vice president/principal. Since 2007, Harter’s role at McConkey had centered around servicing a sizable client portfolio and providing strategic leadership as the company grew.
He was a multi-line claims representative focusing on automobile, general liability, property and workers’ compensation insurance before joining the York-based company, which describes itself as “a leading provider of financial security and risk management solutions to businesses around the globe.”
“Mike is the right leader for McConkey,” Chairman of the Board Steve Buterbaugh said in a release. “I’m confident Mike’s extensive background will support our goals of continuing to strengthen business and community partnerships, provide innovative solutions to our clients and expand McConkey’s presence.”
“I’m looking forward to keeping the traditions of the firm while expanding our product service offerings to clients,” Harter said. “Our model of noncommissioned consultants and executives providing a consultative approach is the reason I joined the firm and the reason we are able to continue providing top tier personnel and service to our clients.”
RKL LLP named Michael De Stefano as chief operating officer.
Michael De Stefano is new chief operating officer for RKL. PHOTO/PROVIDED
The CPA and advisory firm said De Stefano was promoted from CFO and joined the firm’s partnership April 1.
In the new COO role, De Stefano will oversee the firm’s finance, IT, HR, administrative support and building and asset management functions, the company said.
CEO Ed Monborne will remain focused on executing RKL’s strategic objectives and shaping the firm’s future through new service development, innovation, M&A opportunities and leadership pipeline.
“As we continue to help our clients get future-ready, we must do the same here at RKL,” said Monborne.
“Mike is a well-respected leader at RKL whose attention to detail, pursuit of efficiency and commitment to excellence make him a perfect fit for our new COO role,” he said.
De Stefano served RKL as an audit manager when he joined the company in 1995. He left to join a Central PA-based transportation and logistics company in 2009 as controller and eventually CFO and vice president of finance.
De Stefano, who rejoined RKL in 2019, will continue to oversee RKL’s finance function as a COO and the firm’s current corporate controller and financial controller will assume day-to-day management of the Finance Department.
De Stefano is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA), the Pennsylvania Institute of Certified Public Accountants (PICPA) and Institute of Management Accountants (IMA). He holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from Bloomsburg University.
De Stefano and his family reside in Elizabethtown.
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