Central PA Chamber Staff
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Maria is responsible for daily operations of the Chamber, working in conjunction with the Board of Directors, Committee Chairs and Chamber affiliates, school districts and community partners. She is also Chairman of M.A.I.D.A. (the Milton Area Industrial Development Association), the local economic development arm of the Chamber who is responsible for development of the Milton Industrial Park. Maria was hired by the Chamber Board in October of 2006. Her prior experience of nearly 20 years in the fast paced and demanding environment of the transportation and logistics industry prepared her to begin the task of re-establishing the Chamber as the resource for business and individuals in the Central PA region. Her first task was to oversee the approval and implementation of a three year Strategic Plan, which was completed during her first month. She is a 1983 Shikellamy High School and 1995 Susquehanna University graduate with a degree in Accounting, began her Chamber volunteerism with the Events committee, served as the Co-chair of the Budget & Finance committee, spent 5+ years as a MAIDA committee member, and most recently served on the Board of Directors. Her passion for economic development has led her to also sit on the Board for the Northumberland County Industrial Development Authority, as a member of the SEDA-COG Rural Planning Organization and the new regional economic group the Economic Development Council of Central PA. Email: mculp@centralpachamber.com
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Tea Jay is responsible for all of the accounting needs of the Chamber and its affiliates. She also works very closely with the President & CEO. Prior to her tenure at the Chamber, Tea Jay was the Administrative Assistant for Home Instead Senior Care of Lewisburg where she was initially hired to be the Assistant of the Be a Santa to a Senior Program. Prior to her tenure at Home Instead Senior Care Tea Jay worked for Yorktowne Cabinetry of Mifflinburg. Tea Jay started as an Industrial Engineering Coordinator and then was promoted to Document Control followed by Document Control Area Lead. Previous to Yorktowne Cabinetry Tea Jay advanced in various positions with The Grand Candlelight Theatre and Rockwell Center of Milton. Tea Jay started as a receptionist through a Community Exploration Program and advanced to Administrative Assistant, Assistant Coordinator for Ticket Sales and Group Sales Representative. During her tenure at the above mentioned businesses Tea Jay was honored with such awards as You Make a Difference Award (Yorktowne Cabinetry), Employee of the Month Award (Yorktowne Cabinetry), Unscene Hero Award (The Grand Candlelight Theatre and Rockwell Center). Tea Jay is a graduate of Milton Area High School from the Business Curriculum and was a member of the National Honor Society as well as Vocational Student of the Month. Tea Jay was also a contestant in the Milton Harvest Festival Princess Pageant. Tea Jay has an established reputation as an extremely organized, highly motivated, dedicated self starter who takes direction well. She performs administrative functions and customer service with a high level of quality and pride. Tea Jay is successful at effectively multi-tasking, problem solving, detailing and communicating both verbally and in writing. Tea Jay takes her work very seriously while keeping a sense of humor and perspective.Email: tjaikey@centralpachamber.com
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Bruce is responsible for membership recruitment and membership retention as well as all aspects of marketing for the Chamber. He assists members with benefit programs, works with the Events & Membership committee, developing marketing and outreach strategies for new membership recruitment and existing membership retention. Prior to his tenure at the Chamber, Bruce was Director of Programs & Events for the Greater Susquehanna Valley Chamber of Commerce prior to that he was Director of Development at Oklahoma Wesleyan University in Bartlesville, Oklahoma. Bruce is a graduate of Susquehanna University, Selinsgrove, PA where he received a degree in Business Management. He is also a graduate from Development Marketing Associates, Woodland Park, Colorado were he became a Certified Development Professional. Email: bsmith@centralpachamber.com
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Barbara works closely with the Business & Education Committee and all of the partnering school districts assisting with career development activities including the Central PA Career Fair, Business & Education Association Award, Career Exploration, Career Speakers, Job Shadowing, Legislative Breakfasts, School Counts, and AP/NOCTI Awards. In addition to the work with the Business & Education Association, Barbara also serves as program director with Building Leaders for the Susquehanna Valley. BLSV serves Columbia, Montour, Northumberland, Snyder, and Union County school districts. Barbara grew up in a little town of barely 800 in the Blue Hills of Northern Wisconsin on a 250 acre dairy farm. The second youngest out of 9 girls, she had the great advantage of a fantastic childhood of baby calves, finding spring kittens in the hayloft, along with a lot of hard work! She was the first girl in FFA in her high school and the small town spirit and the love of the land, family and community has played a very large and grounding role in the foundation of her life. She went on to study Fine Arts and English in college in Rice Lake, WI and then earned a Business Management Degree in Lake Charles, LA where she was a radio personality for several years at one of the largest stations in that area. Her radio career spanned almost a decade and moving around the country was nothing new as she worked in Wisconsin, Texas, and Louisiana, both on air and behind the scenes. She won an Addy award for copywriting and producing an ad campaign for a regional retail chain, earned 5 CMA nominations for her station with her presentations, and worked in corporate accounting. People have always been her main focus in life, whether it was her family or a patient in crisis at the hospital where she worked triaging the Helpline for the Employee Assistance Program. Barbara loved being a realtor, and has owned a resort and a professional cleaning company and understands the challenges and rewards of being self employed and a small business owner. Email: barbarak@centralpachamber.com
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Kelly is the Acting Director for the Greater Susquehanna Keystone Innovation Zone (GSKIZ). She is responsible for assisting new start-up companies, entrepreneurs and businesses under 8 years old. She also indentifies local, state and federal funding sources and works with partnering universities to identify university level resources. Kelly is responsible for business consulting for potential KIZ clients. Prior to her employment with the GSKIZ, Kelly was Business Development Officer for ASET Solar prior to that she was Associate Director for Career Development & Employment Training in Scranton, PA. Kelly is a graduate of Peirce College, Philadelphia, PA where she received a Bachelor of Science & Associate of Science degree graduating Magna Cum Laude and Valedictorian. Email: kelly@gskiz.com
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