Please join PACP and the PA Chamber for one of the most exciting events for local chambers in Pennsylvania - the 2026 Chamber Day event:

Monday & Tuesday, June 1 & 2, 2026

Monday, June 1 - 6:00pm - Evening Reception on the River

Dukes Bar & Grille - 313 S. Front Street, Wormleysburg

Tuesday, June 2 - Chamber Day - Capitol and PA Chamber Offices

Your local chamber of commerce staff and volunteers are invited to join us for a day of networking with other chamber professionals and insightful meetings with key state lawmakers and legislative staff on the issues of importance to job creators and Pennsylvania's local communities. Previous Chamber Day speakers have included Governors, legislative leaders, and key committee chairs.

CLICK HERE for more information and to register!

PACP is proud to have partnered with Artistic Imprints to launch an online store featuring PACP-logo apparel and merchandise. Whether you’re looking for something polished for conference days or casual PACP pride for everyday wear, there’s something for everyone. 

Shop our PACP Store here:

https://shop.goaionline.com/pa_pacp/shop/home

This is a new program for PACP, and we’re thrilled to offer members a fun way to show your PACP pride and represent our profession in style.

The PACP Chamber Industry Consultation Program offers the opportunity to connect one-on-one with a PACP peer professional in a confidential setting. Participants can explore challenges they are facing in their roles, discuss complex issues in greater depth, and gain insight from an experienced colleague.

After completing the information below, you will be thoughtfully matched with a PACP subject matter expert. Once your match is confirmed, you may coordinate directly to determine the best way to connect. Click the link below to get started:

https://www.pacprofessionals.com/programs/chamber-industry-consultations

For any questions regarding this program, or if you'd like to serve as a Subject Matter Expert,

please contact your PACP Administrator, Tiffany Fulmer Ott, at tfulmer@tlfexecutiveservices.com.

We recently introduced PACP Member Check-In Meetings, sponsored by YGM...casual but meaningful opportunities to connect with fellow members via Zoom. These sessions are designed to give you space to ask questions, share challenges, exchange best practices, and hear what others across our chamber community are experiencing. Think of it as time set aside for just you and your staff —no long presentations, just real conversations and peer connection. The Board is implementing these check-ins as part of our focus on strengthening communication and collaboration across PACP this year.

Our next meeting date is scheduled for:

Monday, August 24 – 10:00am

https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/_p5fNjeTRSa14RAvPJD98g

Be sure to click the link and complete the short registration form so that the system will share the actual Zoom meeting link with you. The meeting will be scheduled for an hour.

PA Chamber Raises Concerns Over Legislation Impacting Small Businesses

Pennsylvania has made important steps to improve our business environment, enacting key policies like business tax reform, streamlined permitting processes, and strategic workforce investments that have increased the Commonwealth’s standing in national competitiveness rankings and led to recent historic investments in life sciences, manufacturing, energy, and innovation. Chambers across Pennsylvania partnered with the PA Chamber to help advocate for these reforms. This progress is worth protecting. CLICK HERE to read more.

The PA Chamber will also be hosting a Women in Business Conference on April 2 at the Lancaster Marriott at Penn Square. Click here for more information and to register.

Foundation for Free Enterprise Education

THIS IS YOUR YEAR!
Pennsylvania Free Enterprise Week is right around the corner, and we’ve got the perfect opportunity for our Chamber partners – the PFEW Reality Fair.

The Reality Fair immerses our students in personal financial decision-making, and with just a few hours of your time, you can make a lasting impact. It’s the perfect way to experience the unbridled energy of PFEW and see the power of your partnership in action. But the best part is, you’ll have a great time!

For more information or to sign up, visit https://www.pfew.org/pfew-reality-fair-signup. We look forward to seeing you in Williamsport this summer!

YGM

When most people think about a Total Resource Campaign, they picture the public phase: volunteers out selling, members engaged, and a defined campaign window driving sales results. But what often goes unseen, and is just as valuable, is the sponsorship development process that happens beforehand.

As Kellie Goodman Shaffer and the team at the Bedford County (PA) Chamber prepare to launch their inaugural campaign this April, they have already experienced the impact of the TRC sponsorship development work. Reflecting on the experience, Kellie shared:

“We have found significant value in the sponsorship development process, including a deep-dive into all of our programs, events, and initiatives. The opportunity to see our work through the lens of an industry leader and Chamber champion the caliber of Jason has been incredibly rewarding for our team. We have developed new opportunities for our members, including sponsorship benefits and marketing products we would have never thought of on our own. 

But we have also been pleasantly surprised by how enjoyable and even inspiring this process has been. Jason appreciates the mission and values of our organization and is helping us become the best we can be utilizing the time and resources currently available to us. While we expect the campaign to be a success in terms of revenue, membership engagement, and future time management for our staff, the work our team is doing to prepare for the campaign has been far more valuable than we could have ever imagined. We are already better for the experience - Jason is giving us the tools and the confidence to dream even bigger!”

The Chamber welcomed Jason Ebey from YGM to their office in March as they prepare to launch their first-ever Reach Campaign, known as a Total Resource Campaign (or TRC). A strategic initiative, the TRC is designed to strengthen member engagement while building sustainable non-dues revenue. The spring campaign will mobilize a team of volunteers to connect with businesses across Bedford County, offering opportunities to invest in Chamber program and event sponsorships and marketing products in a more comprehensive and streamlined way. The Reach Campaign represents an exciting step forward in aligning Chamber resources with member needs, while fostering deeper relationships and expanding the Chamber’s impact throughout the Bedford County region.

The Chamber will be hosting a "Banking on Business" Casino Night on Saturday, April 25 at the DuBois County Club.

The Board of Directors of the Chamber is pleased to announce the appointment of Amanda Craig Bradley as President & CEO, effective March 30, 2026. In this role, Bradley will serve as the organization’s chief strategist and spokesperson, advancing the Chamber’s mission to drive regional prosperity and represent the voice of the business community.

The Foundation of the Lancaster Chamber, in partnership with the Ware Center for the Arts, community leaders and arts organizations across the county, has launched the Lancaster County Strategic Arts Initiative, a collaborative effort designed to better understand, strengthen, and invest in Lancaster County’s vibrant arts and culture sector. As a first step in the initiative, the Foundation has engaged Fourth Economy, a nationally recognized community and economic development consulting firm, to conduct a countywide Economic & Community Impact Study of Lancaster County’s arts and culture ecosystem. The study will provide a comprehensive analysis of the arts sector’s economic contributions, community impact, and future opportunities. The findings will help inform the development of a long-term strategic plan for the arts in Lancaster County, led by a community-based task force that will guide the initiative following completion of the study. Read the full press release here.

Our Vice President, Lori Brandt, was recently inducted into the Lebanon County Women's Hall of Fame. She was inducted into the Leadership category. Lori runs our Leadership Lebanon Valley program. She is a wonderful asset to our team and to Lebanon County as a whole!

Coming to the NFL Draft??!! Here is something exciting to take part in before or after the draft to explore the Northside| North Shore of Pittsburgh. Pre-orders will be mailed to you before draft day. Get ready to explore Northside like never before with our Flat Northsiders Scavenger Hunt! This fun, interactive activity is perfect for all ages; follow clues, discover iconic spots, and see how many Northside landmarks you can find. For just $10, you’ll receive everything you need to start your adventure. Sign up today and join the hunt!

The Chamber, in partnership with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation, will host the National Civics Bee® Regional Competition on Thursday, April 9 at Penn State Schuylkill. The event will bring together the top 20 student finalists from across Schuylkill County for a live, in-person academic competition focused on civics knowledge and community engagement. The National Civics Bee® is a nonpartisan initiative designed to encourage middle school students to become more informed and engaged citizens. Open to students in grades 6 through 8, the competition begins with an essay round in which students share ideas for improving their communities. This year, the Schuylkill County competition saw an overwhelming response, with more than 350 essay submissions from students across the region. Click here for the full press release.

The Chamber's Board of Directors and membership are pleased to welcome Mark Ickes as the organization's new Executive Director. Ickes brings a broad level of experience in non-profit executive leadership and retail management to the Chamber's ongoing progress.

After celebrating 21 years of leadership, Susan Williams will begin a new chapter with retirement. Susan announced her retirement effective March 31, and Kat Thompson will be stepping in as her successor on April 1. As she steps into retirement, Susan does so with confidence. She leaves knowing the team she has built is not only capable but energized to lead the Chamber into its next chapter of regional business success. Susan was named PACP's 2023 Keystone Award recipient and served as our PACP Board Chair in 2013. Please click here for the Chamber's blog post celebrating Susan's years of service.

Join the Chamber for our Annual Legislative Breakfast on April 10, 2026 at Stonehedge Golf Course and Event Center. This annual event brings together members of the business community and elected officials for an important conversation about the issues impacting Wyoming County, our region, and the future of our local economy.

Chamber President Francene Pisano has been recognized by the Northeast Pennsylvania Business Journal as one of the Top 25 Women in Business in Northeast Pennsylvania. This recognition highlights women leaders who demonstrate exceptional professional achievement, leadership, and meaningful contributions to their organizations and communities. Francene’s dedication to strengthening Wyoming County’s business community and building partnerships throughout the region continues to make a lasting impact. Congratulations to Francene and to all of the incredible women recognized with this honor!

Save the Date - #ACCE26 Annual Convention has been set for July 20-22, 2026 in New Orleans, LA. Please click here for more information and to register.

We are looking forward to another amazing year at Madison, Athens, & Villanova. Click here to go to the general Institute registration page.