Chamber Welcomes Director of Member Engagement
The Columbia Montour Chamber is pleased to welcome Taryn Crayton to the staff to fill the role of Director of Member Engagement. In this role, Taryn will provide leadership in delivering a high return on investment to members by serving as the driving force in forging member connections and executing and enhancing the organization’s events, communications, and programs. In addition to her work with the Chamber, Taryn will also spend a portion of her time coordinating programs, events, and communications for the Chamber’s Foundation, including but not limited to Leadership Central Penn, the organization’s 31-year-old community leadership program.
Taryn is no stranger to community organizations, having begun her professional career at the Lehigh Valley Economic Development Corporation. She holds a B.A. in Communications from Eastern University and is a 2022 graduate of Leadership Central Penn, and has also worked for several small businesses. Most recently, Taryn worked for five years as an Advertising and Printing Sales representative with the Press Enterprise. She is also involved in the community and serves with the Bloomsburg Rotary and on the Board of Directors for Bloomsburg Children’s Museum. In 2022, she served as a Chamber Ambassador.
“We’re so excited to have Taryn on our team,” said Chamber President Chris Berleth. “She comes to us with a wealth of community knowledge, she’s widely regarded for her professionalism and leadership, and her love for our region will be a huge asset as we work to meet the Chamber’s mission. She’s going to be a wonderful resource for our members and community stakeholders.”
Taryn is a dance teacher with Danceworks by Amber in Bloomsburg, and translated her passion for dance into studio ownership, as she is the owner/director of Remade by Dance in Barnesville. Taryn and her husband Derek live in Berwick with their dog Millie.
Please join us in welcoming Taryn to the Chamber. She can be reached at tcrayton@columbiamontourchamber.com.
Welcome New Member – Dead Man Walking Distillery
The Columbia Montour Chamber of Commerce is pleased to welcome its newest member, Dead Man Walking Distillery, a craft distillery that began "with forty years of friendship, zest for life, and a few near-death experiences". Expecting to open its doors in grand style in May, this home-grown distillery is focused on quality. "We want our products and this place we're making to be something people truly enjoy. Natural flavors and a home-town feel are a big part of that," said Co-Owner Derk Reed. The distillery, when open, will feature recipes that are hand-crafted in small batches. Flavors include "Morgue-a-Rita", "Pumagranite", "For the Kraut with Gout Cranberry", "J&D's Root Beer", "Sour Cherry", "Strawberry Tart", "Blue Ribbon Apple Pie", "Peach Cobbler" and there's room to add seasonal recipes. The space will be available for small groups and private events, and additional tastings outside of business hours will be available by appointment.
Welcome to the Chamber, we look forward to celebrating the opening of your doors with you!
Welcome New Member – Fusion Homes, LLC
The Columbia Montour Chamber of Commerce is pleased to welcome to its membership Fusion Homes, LLC. Located in the Village of Lightstreet, Fusion Homes, LLC builds stick-built and modular homes – both residential and commercial. Each project is unique no matter which direction you choose to build. They offer high quality, great turnaround times, and cutting-edge energy efficiency knowledge that will save each of their customers well into the future. Customer satisfaction is a priority in all of the relationships that they build with each and every customer, and they are committed to seeing your project through from design, land prep, permits, foundation, and inspections to your completed job.
With completely customizable floor plans and an in-house designer who can modify any floor plan you choose, the team at Fusion Homes will sit down with you to determine the floor plan that fits your needs perfectly. No project is too small, and they also enjoy taking on remodels and additions.
Visit their showroom today to meet the interior designer who can show you the wide variety of products and finishes we have to offer for your dream home!
At Fusion Homes, their goal is to get to know your story, not just your timeline and your budget. Check out more!
Welcome to the Chamber!
Welcome New Member: Aloysius, Butler, & Clark
The Columbia Montour Chamber of Commerce is delighted to welcome one of its newest members, Aloysius, Butler & Clark, one of the largest full-service, independent ad agencies in the mid-Atlantic and one of Adweek's 50 "Top Shops" in America. Some agencies are purely PR shops. Other firms are paid search experts. In 45 years, Aloysius, Butler, & Clark has yet to find a client who only needs one thing to help their business grow. With industry experts spanning all disciplines, they work to bring the best practices to all of their clients, across all industries and verticals. Healthcare campaigns get a strong retail call to action. Retail clients get B2B warming drawer strategies. Recruitment clients get a deeper understanding of human psychology, thanks to their behavior change experience. Their integrated approach has produced remarkable results.
Their average client tenure is 10+ years, they have an average of 8.8 years tenure per employee, and they've won hundreds of awards.
Aloysius, Butler & Clark has three locations, including Wilmington, DE, Philadelphia, PA, and Bloomsburg, PA. Some of their expertise includes brand building & identity, market research & planning, interactive design & development, media planning & buying, public relations & crisis management, social media & social monitoring, motion graphics & animation, diversity & inclusion, and inbound marketing.
Welcome to the Chamber!
For more about Aloysius, Butler & Clark, visit www.abccreative.com.
Berleth Selected as Chamber President
On Friday, the Chamber’s Board of Directors selected Chris Berleth, the organization’s Vice President, to succeed Fred Gaffney in the role of President. Gaffney will be leaving the organization to pursue other opportunities. The two will be working together through a transition period to be completed by March, 31st. The process to fill the Vice President position will begin immediately.
“On behalf of the entire board, I extend our sincere thanks and best wishes to Fred Gaffney who has provided inspiring and tireless leadership for the Chamber, its members, and the community at large,” said Chris Stamatedes, Chairperson of the Chamber Board. “While we are sad to see Fred move on, we do consider ourselves fortunate that we have a depth of talent in our staff, allowing us to quickly fill this position with our current Vice President, Chris Berleth.”
Berleth joined The Columbia Montour Chamber in August of 2022. Previously, Chris was with the Greater Susquehanna Valley Chamber in Shamokin Dam for six years as Executive Director of Membership and Leadership. In his role with the Columbia Montour Chamber, Berleth has provided leadership in delivering a high return on investment to members through the development and coordination of communications, programs, and events of the Chamber and its Foundation. He is an Eagle Scout and a 2015 graduate of Leadership Susquehanna Valley, and holds a B.A. in Political Science and French from Gettysburg College. Chris, his wife Kali, and their two children, Remington, and Rutledge, reside in Pine Township, Columbia County.
“I am honored and humbled to have the opportunity to lead the Chamber in the counties I call home,” said Berleth. “For more than twenty years, Fred Gaffney has served the business community and the chamber industry, positively impacted countless organizations and individuals, and served as a mentor to many in the profession. I will work hard to continue his good work, learn from his example, and match his energy so that we may continue to prosper together.
I look forward to working with the Chamber’s board, members, volunteers, and staff to grow the organization, promote an increasingly vibrant community, and ensure the vitality of organizations in the region.”
Gaffney was first hired by the Chamber in March of 2002 as Director of Marketing and Communications. He was later promoted to Vice President and left the Chamber in November 2006 to become the Executive Director of the Seneca County Chamber of Commerce in Seneca Falls, NY. Gaffney was rehired by The Columbia Montour Chamber in May of 2010 as president upon the retirement of his predecessor and mentor, Ed Edwards.
“It has been my privilege to serve the Chamber and its members over a nearly 21-year timespan in my various capacities,” said Gaffney. “With a dedicated board and staff in place and Chris’ leadership, I am excited for the future of The Columbia Montour Chamber of Commerce and offer my assistance whenever appropriate.”
Recap: 2023 Annual Meeting
The 2023 Annual Meeting sponsored by PPL Electric Utilities was a smashing success, with nearly 200 Chamber members in attendance at Frosty Valley Resort. Check out the photos taken by Kali Berleth of Cozy B Photography. Click on the album below and swipe left/right to advance the pictures!
Columbia Montour Chamber Announces 2023 – 2024 Board
The 2023 – 2024 Board of Directors of The Columbia Montour Chamber of Commerce was announced at the organization’s Annual Meeting sponsored by PPL Electric Utilities, held on Tuesday, February 8 at the Frosty Valley Resort in Danville.
The following individuals were elected to the Board of Directors and will begin serving on April 1, 2023.
Elected to serve a 3-year term on the Chamber Board:
Renee Gerringer, Ronald McDonald House of Danville
Adrienne Mael, Susquehanna Valley United Way
Bruce Schlichter, Kawneer
Chris Hill, Pine Barn Inn
Elected to serve a 1-year term on the Chamber Board:
Todd Shawver, Commonwealth University
Deb Shade, Elmdale Inn Bed & Breakfast
Dan Good, Marr Development
Elected to fill unexpired, three-year terms:
Mike Morgan, Geisinger
Travis Petty, Grieco & Petty
Elected to serve as Officers:
Chris Stamatedes, Chair
Bob Stoudt, Vice-Chair
Holly Morrison – Treasurer
Appointed by the Board Chair for 1-year terms:
Jason Huff, Autoneum
Aaron Stagliano, McKonly & Asbury
Jon Littlewood, First Keystone Community Bank
Other Board members continuing to serve:
Jeff Cerminaro, Walker’s Jewelers
Holly Morrison, Community Giving Foundation
Josh Nespoli, Community Strategies Group
Bob Stoudt, Montour Area Recreation Commission
Tim Wagner, Downtown Bloomsburg, Inc.
Jeff Whitenight, First Columbia Bank & Trust
Megan Kiliti, Berwick Area YMCA, Dan Knorr, Commonwealth University of PA, Denise Stone, eXp Realty, Karen Wood, Service 1st Federal Credit Union, and Elaine Woodland, First Keystone Community Bank, were recognized for their service to the board as their terms expired.
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Chamber Releases 2022-2023 Annual Report
At the Columbia Montour Chamber's Annual Meeting, sponsored by PPL Electric Utilities, Board Chair Chris Stamatedes reported on the health of the organization by way of the 2022-2023 Annual Report. Thanks to the ongoing support of members, the Chamber remains strong entering its 83rd year. In his review of the report's highlights, Stamatedes noted the uptick in in-person Chamber events, strong member engagement through local advocacy efforts, the hiring of new staff, and the strategic focus on the workforce by both the Chamber and its Foundation.
Check out the highlights of the past year here, in the 2022-2023 Annual Report.
Chamber Announces 2023 Award Nominees
The Chamber will honor one award recipient in each category at its annual dinner at Frosty Valley Resort on February 8, 2023.
The Columbia Montour Chamber of Commerce is proud to announce the nominees for the organization’s 2023 Annual Awards. The awards will be presented at the Annual Meeting. This year’s event is the 82nd for the organization and will be held at the Frosty Valley Resort on February 8th at 5:00 p.m.
This meeting provides an opportunity to recognize organizations and individuals for their extraordinary efforts in serving the community throughout the year. The Chamber will present five awards: Small Business of the Year, Large Business of the Year, Nonprofit of the Year, Community Progress Award, and the Outstanding Citizen Award.
The Outstanding Citizen Award, the longest-tenured award, was first presented in 1970. The organization added the Small Business of the Year, the Large Business of the Year, and the Community Progress Award in 2011. The Nonprofit of the Year was first introduced in 2020.
Criteria for the awards are as follows:
Businesses with less than 30 employees that have demonstrated business leadership as evidenced by diversification and creativity in the development of new products, services, and/or markets, and who have demonstrated staying power, positive response to adversity, and community involvement are eligible for the Small Business Award. Businesses which meet the same stringent criteria and have more than 31 employees are eligible for the Large Business Award.
501(c)3 organizations with fewer than 100 employees that have met the requirements of the business of the year award and have also demonstrated aid to the community through personal and/or business resources, leadership, or support of community projects or other board participation are eligible for the Chamber’s annual Nonprofit Award.
Organizations that improve the internal/external appearance of a commercial property through new construction, renovation/restoration, or remodeling and have completed construction within the last three calendar years qualify for the Chamber’s Community Progress Award.
Individuals who are employees or volunteers of a member of the Chamber and are involved in civic activities beneficial to the Columbia-Montour region and project a positive community image are eligible for the Chamber’s highest individual recognition, the Outstanding Citizen Award.
Nominees for the 2023 Annual Awards are as follows:
Nonprofit of the Year – Sponsored by PNC Bank
- The Good Samaritan Mission – Danville, PA
- Community Giving Foundation – Berwick, PA
- Hand in Hand Family Resource Center – Berwick, PA
- Bloomsburg Children’s Museum – Bloomsburg, PA
- Central Susquehanna Opportunities – Shamokin, PA
Community Progress Award – Sponsored by World Kinect Energy & My Benefit Advisor
- Lions Gate – Bloomsburg, PA
- Bason Coffee & More – Danville, PA
- Elmdale Inn Bed & Breakfast – Bloomsburg, PA
Outstanding Citizen – Sponsored by B.I.D.A.
- Rachel Shaffer, Bloomsburg University, Columbia County Historical & Genealogical Society
- Harry Mathias, Mathias Educational Leadership Consulting, LLC
Small Business of the Year – Sponsored by First Columbia Bank & Trust
- Shanty Secrets – Danville, PA
- InnoTek Computer Consulting – Bloomsburg, PA
Large Business of the Year– Sponsored by DRIVE
- Millville Mutual Insurance – Millville, PA
- MC Federal Credit Union – Danville, PA
To attend the dinner and awards ceremony in support of these outstanding nominees, register here.
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The mission of the Columbia Montour Chamber of Commerce is to represent local employers in supporting vibrant, sustainable communities in Columbia and Montour counties.
Welcome New Member – The Venue at Liberty Valley
The Venue offers over 10,000 square feet of usable indoor space, including three main event rooms, a cocktail lounge sporting a nearly 40 foot bar, two luxury suites, and an outdoor seating area on the deck. Large windows offer ample natural lighting to illuminate the luxurious grey washed wood floors, crystal chandeliers, and elegant granite countertops.
Enjoy a panoramic view under airy 19 foot ceilings in The Main Ballroom, privacy and rays of natural sunlight in The Liberty Room, and the perfect meeting and reception space in The Valley Room. Outdoor events space is also available, but all of the space is amplified by a professional staff and in-house caterers who can help with your wedding, bridal shower, birthday party, or corporate meeting.
Welcome to the Chamber!
Learn more about The Venue at Liberty Valley by visiting their website.