Business Leadership Forum: Empowering Local Business through Storytelling
You're invited to the Business Leadership Forum: Empowering Business Success Through Local Storytelling.
Join local business leaders for an inspiring day filled with powerful stories of local business success, and to learn new ways to elevate your business through the power of storytelling.
The lineup of established business leaders from Columbia and Montour Counties will be apart of panels, roundtables, and keynotes designed to share best practices and offer practical solutions to grow your business and our community. Check out our speakers below with more speakers being added!
Rob Dillion - Customer Experience Breakout Session Panelist
Rob is the fourth-generation president of Dillon Floral and was appointed President in 1995. He has served the industry as a director of PFIA and President of Roses Inc. His career goal is to lead Dillon Floral Corporation to its 150th birthday (2025); allowing the family legacy to continue to the fifth generation, enriching the lives of those who contribute to the company’s success by being the most helpful supplier to professional florists within reach of Bloomsburg, PA. Involved in the community Rob sits on the Millville Mutual Insurance Company board serving as the board Chairman and serves on the board of Journey Bank.
Mark Lawrence Giesen - Marketing Experience Breakout Session Moderator
Mark has been the Director of Community Engagement at the Danville Area Community Center (DACC) since August 2023. In this role, he spearheads fundraising, grant writing, outreach, and marketing initiatives. Before joining the DACC, Mark enjoyed an award-winning 30+ year career in radio, primarily at WKOK, 94KX, Eagle 107, and 100.9 The Valley. Mark resides in Northumberland with his "Lovely Bride" and has an adult daughter living in Oregon. Mark hunts, fishes, and enjoys bike riding with his Lovely Bride.
Chris Hill - Customer Experience Breakout Session Moderator
Chris Hill grew up in the Williamsport Area and spent much of his early career in the food and beverage side of hospitality. Chris is the Director of Sales and Catering for Pine Barn Inn with Shaner Hospitality Group and has been there since 2015. Most recently, he joined the Columbia Montour Chamber of Commerce as a board member. Chris currently lives in Danville with his wife and five sons where he enjoys coaching soccer and watching his son’s other sporting events.
Nancy Lawton-Kluck - Keynote Speaker
Nancy Lawton-Kluck has always seen philanthropy as more than just funding—it’s about forging partnerships that spark lasting change. Serving as Director of Philanthropy for the Geisinger Foundation she manages over $140 million in funds, strategically deploying resources, cultivating relationships, and driving campaigns that matter. Nancy Lawton-Kluck’s story is one of relentless dedication to making a difference. Through her strategic vision and unwavering commitment, she continues to shape the future of philanthropy, one transformative initiative at a time.
Kim Kus - Marketing Experience Breakout Session Panelist
Kim was raised in St. Charles, IL., a western suburb of Chicago, and studied architecture at Savannah College of Art & Design. Currently, she is the proprietor of Brewskis Coffee & Bar. With the knowledge of graphic design & experience in restaurants, she creates the marketing and social media for her business and assists Downtown Bloomsburg Inc. Her hobbies include biking, camping, live music, and walking her dog, Luna.
Drew Sassaman - Marketing Experience Breakout Session Panelist
Drew Sassaman is a partner and realtor at Villager Realty Inc. in Danville. Serving buyers, sellers, and investors across a five-county region, Drew has redefined the traditional approach to real estate with his cutting-edge social media strategies. His use of both modern and traditional marketing techniques has made an impact for his clients.
Tina Welch - Lunch Roundtable Facilitator
Tina Welch is the founder of Welch Performance Consulting, a strategic Human Resources consulting firm that helps employers create great workplaces. Known
for putting her heart and soul into the organization, Tina takes a practical approach when evaluating any HR system or process, training, development, or coaching opportunity, to ensure that it is tailored to achieve the business strategy desired.
Karen Wood - Customer Experience Breakout Session Panelist
Karen is the Chief Experience Officer at Service 1st Federal Credit Union, a $678 million credit union headquartered in Danville, Pennsylvania. Karen provides leadership, management and direction to its twelve branch offices including the development and delivery of its retail strategy, member experience, sales strategy and operations.