Letter From the Editor

Welcome to the spring edition of Commerce Quarterly magazine where we will be recognizing and reliving all things Annual Dinner and Business Excellence Awards.

If you were one of the lucky 800 attendees to our Annual Dinner on May 11 at Santander Arena, then you know that the evening was filled with great food, networking, an inspiring keynote address from speaker Scott Hamilton and even, an on-theme ice luge for blue cocktails.

It was truly a celebration of all things good and positive in the Greater Reading business community. This year was also the most competitive year in recent memory with 15 businesses entering that had never entered before. This was partly because this year’s new criteria allowed for businesses who were not headquartered in Berks County but could show that 50% of their annual revenues originated from Berks County to enter. Also, GRCA’s dedicated staff emailed and called many members to encourage them to apply and be honored. Unfortunately, not all businesses who entered made the list, making this year’s list more prestigious than ever.

Miss out on this year’s event? No worries, check out page 8 for a link to the playlist of videos shown at the event. This year, GRCA member Imageworks Film & Video, Inc. filmed and produced the high-quality videos. Lead Producer Lorrie King and Director/ Cinematographer John Krawlzik brought the golden theme to life in each of them.

After watching the videos, learn more about the two companies to claim the top spots in Category 1 and Category 2. Translogistics credits its success to not only great customer service, but also offering its customers a wide range of products and services. Read all about it on page 14.

The Category 2 winner, American Barber and Beauty Academy, has experienced significant growth in the past three years as the COVID-19 pandemic drove enrollment as people were seeking training for new careers or second jobs. Check this article out on page 15.

If this year’s event is any indication of how the Berks County business community is doing, I’d say things are looking up!

Visit our website

For the most up-to-date schedule of events, training and webinars, visit GreaterReading.org and click on the events calendar at the top of the page. Please note: GRCA will use the most current information available to determine whether events and training will be held virtually or in-person.

GRCA BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Chairman Daniel R. Langdon – East Penn Mfg, Co., Inc. Vice Chairman Ernest J. Choquette – The Stevens & Lee Companies Treasurer Jeffrey R. Rush – Fulton Bank Secretary Michael A. Duff – Penske

DIRECTORS

Gregg A. Bogia – Bogia Engineering Inc. John H. Gallen, Jr. – EthoSource Jim Gerlach – Greater Reading Chamber Alliance Laura Haffner – Wells Fargo Bob Harrop – East Penn Mfg, Co., Inc. Sara Kuzma-Stump – Suburban Testing Labs Susan D. Looney – Reading Area Community College Jamey Maack – Industrial Metal Plating Debra L. Millman, Esq. – Greater Berks Development Fund Michele L. Richards – Fulton Bank David C. Roland – Truist Timothy D. Romig – Customers Bank Peter Rye – Brentwood Industries David W. Stonesifer – Herbein & Company, Inc. Christina L. Weeber – East Penn Mfg, Co., Inc. John Weidenhammer – Weidenhammer

GREATER READING CHAMBER OF COMMERCE & INDUSTRY BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Chairwoman Michele L. Richards – Fulton Bank Vice Chairwoman Sara Kuzma Stump – Suburban Testing Labs Solicitor Timothy Dietrich – Barley Snyder Treasurer Laura Haffner – Wells Fargo Secretary Gregg A. Bogia – Bogia Engineering Inc.

DIRECTORS

Lucy Cortez – Community First Fund Brian Dietrich – Ernst & Young (EY LLP) Jonathan Encarnacion – UPMC FOR U, INC. Josephina Encarnacion – SBDC – Kutztown University Becky A. Eshbach – UGI Utilities, Inc. Andrea Funk – Enersys Johanny Cepeda-Freytiz – Mi Casa Su Casa John H. Gallen, Jr. – EthoSource Jim Gerlach – Greater Reading Chamber Alliance Jack Gombach – Community Networking Resources Dr. George Grant – Penn State Berks Dan Gring – D&B Construction Dr. Jill M. Hackman – Berks County Intermediate Unit Bob Harrop – East Penn Mfg. Co., Inc. Joey Jurgielewicz – Jurgielewicz & Son, Ltd. Daniel B. Laws, Jr. – DaBrian Marketing Group Kristi Gage-Linderman – Gage Personnel Paul Oxholm – Sharpoint Partners, Inc. Ryan Redner – Redner’s Markets Jennifer C. Rivera – FirstEnergy Corp. Dr. Rudy Ruth – Alvernia University Peter Rye – Brentwood Industries Alan Shuman – Shuman Development Group David W. Stonesifer – Herbein & Company, Inc. Ira Tauber – Triose John Weidenhammer – Weidenhammer

GREATER BERKS DEVELOPMENT FUND BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Chairman Dan Langdon – East Penn Manufacturing Company, Inc. Vice Chairman Ernest J. Choquette – Stevens & Lee/Griffin President Debra L. Millman, Esq. – Greater Berks Development Fund VP/Treasurer/Secretary Jeffery Rush – Fulton Bank Secretary Michael Duff, Esq. – Penske Truck Leasing

DIRECTORS

Richard Bashore – Reading Electric Motor Service, Inc. Joseph Butto – Tompkins VIST Bank P. Michael Ehlerman – Yuasa Battery, Inc. Jim Gerlach – Greater Reading Chamber Alliance Scott Hauseman – Fulton Bank Ginger Kunkel – Tompkins VIST Bank Susan D. Looney – Reading Area Community College Jamey Maack – Industrial Metal Plating David C. Roland – Berks BB&T Timothy D. Romig – Customers Bank David Shaffer – EnerSys Joseph Sigle – Santander Bank Sally Stewart – Greater Reading Chamber Alliance Michael Vind – FSL Public Finance Christina L. Weeber – East Penn Manufacturing Company, Inc.

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