Susquehanna Style FACES 2021

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Susquehanna Style has always been a champion for local businesses. The men and women behind the organizations on the following pages are the faces of commitment and success.

We salute their entrepreneurial spirit and present to you the 2021 Faces of the Susquehanna Valley.

TEXT BY RACHEL CURRY PHOTOGRAPHY BY KARLO GESNER

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MELISSA GROFF, SOLVIT ACADEMY THE FACE OF REVOLUTIONARY EDUCATION IN LANCASTER It's true that leaders never stop learning. Melissa Groff and her husband proved that when they thought up the idea to open their own school in Lancaster after reading a book called Courage to Grow.

Much like the school in the book, Melissa's Solvit Academy creates education that is genuinely fun and relevant.

Melissa says, "Many parents say that their children are disappointed on Fridays. Can you imagine loving school that much?"

Solvit Academy is part of the Acton Academy network. This means it's a learner-driven community that focuses on students' agency to discover what they can do to change the world. Solvit offers private elementary education for ages 5–11, and plans to add middle and high schools so the younger kids can matriculate.

The children at Solvit Academy learn differently than Melissa did.

Rather than memorizing for standardized tests, Solvit students learn

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to ask good questions, become leaders, and maintain self-motivation throughout their lives. This learning happens in the day-to-day as well as big events like the annual Children's Business Fair. Although Solvit will never teach to a test or make it a primary focus, they do administer IOWA exams to monitor progress. On average, Solvit's learners advance two grade-level equivalents each year.

For Melissa, getting here took a lot of unschooling.

"We have the chance to give our children a better education, and you can find it at Solvit," she says.

Sign up for an open house through the listed QR code.

354 N Prince St, Suite 110, Lancaster, PA 17603 solvitacademy.com | 717-435-9498

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CHRISTINE SPEROS, BSN, RN, ORTHOPEDIC ASSOCIATES OF LANCASTER THE FACE OF OUTPATIENT JOINT REPLACEMENTS If you thought having a streamlined outpatient joint replacement surgery was too much to ask, think again. Orthopedic Associates of Lancaster is the only ambulatory surgery center in Lancaster, Lebanon, and Dauphin counties offering outpatient hip and knee replacement.

Christine Speros, BSN, RN offers a unique service as Outpatient Joint Nurse Navigator.

"I meet each patient when they are first scheduled for surgery and keep in contact throughout their entire recovery period," says Chris, who operates out of the Lancaster and Lebanon offices. She works with the patient and their chosen support person every step of the way.

From Orthopedic Associates' location in North Pointe Surgery Center in Lebanon, Chris and her team are able to provide patients with hip

and knee replacements without the need for a hospital stay. They come in for the surgery in the morning and are discharged by early afternoon, which means greater ease and less fees.

"A phrase that I hear regularly from patients is 'I want my life back,'" Christine shares. "They want to get back to the activities that they have not been able to perform due to joint pain. They want to be free from the limitations that pain can cause."

That's exactly what Chris and the rest of the team at Orthopedic Associates of Lancaster do: give people back their independence.

1701 Cornwall Rd, Lebanon, PA 17042 fixbones.com | 717-299-4871

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THE TEAM AT JAMES STREET MEDSPA THE FACE OF THE JAMES STREET GLOW It's not often you find a tribe with the same passions as you.

Fortunately for Ashlee Ludwig, Jamie Garland, and Dr. Nazafarine Keyvani, they met their matches. Together, the team built a spa that performs facials, laser treatments, chemical peels, injectables, massage, energy work, spray tanning, permanent makeup, microblading, and more.

"At James Street MedSpa we have a very clear vision: to provide medical grade services in the relaxing environment of a day spa," says Ashlee.

This means their clients get the warmth and relaxation they love, while retaining the medical-grade expertise needed to perform complex care.

Their laser services are robust, including laser hair reduction, removal of facial vessels, leg veins, brown spots, and skin rejuvenation.

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Jamie says about the beloved James Street clients, "We take pride in educating them on their skin and not just giving them a treatment."

Why? Because self care is about more than aesthetics. It's about a deep-seated confidence, and the right skin care journey can help build that. With Dr. Keyvani's experience as a board-certified gynecologic surgeon and cosmetic injector, and Ashlee and Jaimie's combined 30 years of experience in the industry, one thing is for certain: the James Street glow is real.

459 N Prince St, Lancaster, PA 17603 jamesstreetmedspa.com | 717 740 516

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NICKI NAFZIGER, AGAPE CARE

THE FACE OF IN-HOME CARE IN LANCASTER What does unconditional love mean to you? To Nicki Nafziger, president of home care service Agape Care, it means being there for those who need it most.

"Agape Care was born out of seeing a need and wanting to fill a need," says Nicki. She started the company back in 2006 with her mom and a family friend. Nicki's background in insurance and senior care plus her mom's senior services experience helped foster a company that truly filled a gap.

Agape provides non-medical in-home care for people all across Lancaster County. Their services extend to aging people as well as those recuperating from surgery, living with a long-term illness, or living with a physical or intellectual disability. Caregivers can

also assist with light housekeeping, meal prep, transportation, independent living skills, and more.

With Agape, there's no red tape like larger operations. They remain a family-run business. Nicki lives in the same community she works with alongside her family and pets, and she serves on the Penn Manor School Board, Civitas Lancaster, and more in her spare time.

Nicki didn't pull the name Agape out of a hat. It's the Greek word for unconditional love. She says, "We strive to serve our clients, caregivers, and community with this type of love."

2137 Embassy Dr, Suite 214, Lancaster, PA 17603 agapecare.org | 717-393-7308

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LITITZ SPRINGS

THE NEW FACE OF A HISTORIC LITITZ LANDMARK When David Stoudt purchased the Lititz Springs Inn & Spa in 2017, he never could have predicted the rollercoaster ride to follow. The historic landmark, home to the award-winning Bulls Head Public House, was already an established institution. But after two years of hands-on ownership that saw multiple renovations, a global pandemic and subsequent economic recession closed the business for three months. This crushing blow was unprecedented but couldn’t dull the spirit of the historic property or its dedicated owner.

While the inn was closed to the public for several months, work carried on behind the scenes. The team completed multiple updates, set out on a deep clean of the building, and tackled an attic declutter 250 years in the making. Amazingly, the inn had never been closed for more than one day in its entire history, so this downtime wasn’t all bad.

Today, the Lititz Springs Inn & Spa is thriving. The addition of spa services on the second floor was met with great support while key new hires, including General Manager Robert Commero, bring years of upscale hospitality experience to the team.

This continued growth is also due in part to key investments by David Stoudt. “We have a number of exciting updates and infrastructure improvements planned for 2022 and beyond,” said Stoudt. “We have built a legacy around our dedication to Downtown Lititz, and we are proud to play a vital role in the fabric of this community. The future looks bright here on the square.”

14 E Main St, Lititz, PA 17543 | 717-626-2115 lititzspringsinnandspa.com

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THE TEAM AT THE JDK GROUP THE FACES OF TRANSFORMING LIVES The internationally awarded team at The JDK Group has a mission, and it's to build relationships with clients and the community to create flawless events worth celebrating that change lives.

"We are in the business of transforming people’s lives for the better.

This translates into bettering the lives of all people we serve—whether that’s through creating a unique and unforgettable event experience through flavorful food, jaw-dropping design, and personable service for our clients and community, or through coaching and encouraging our team members to discover new life-long passions through purpose-filled work,” says Director of Marketing, Michelle Hare.

Based in the Harrisburg area, The JDK Group offers full-service catering and events, floral design and decor, and event management and production. They work at countless venues across the entire Central Pennsylvania region.

“When we receive feedback about how an event helped reunite family members after a trying time of separation or helped an organization reignite their company culture after a major transition, it fills our hearts with gratitude for what we get to do everyday,” says JDK’s President, Steve Sanchez. For JDK, outcomes like that are priceless.

The JDK Group is a team of purpose-driven, passionate people. Their company values of flawless execution and constant innovation would be nothing without such a tight-knit company culture filled with talented and passionate employees. Clients and employees alike have the chance to be a part of the JDK family for life.

Interested in joining the team? Email employment@thejdkgroup.com.

Looking to plan an event? Email info@thejdkgroup.com.

1 Bishop Pl, Camp Hill, PA 17011 | thejdkgroup.com 717-730-4661 | @thejdkgroup

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