From Where I Sit…
By Bob Garrett
President & CEO – Greater Susquehanna Valley Chamber of Commerce
Executive Director – Leadership Susquehanna Valley
Chamber Board is Rolling Along
Jeff Reber is bringing the Board of the Greater Susquehanna Valley Chamber of Commerce back together for his 2025-2026 term in an in-person format. His hope is to create better cohesiveness and communication among all board members with this change. At their meeting earlier this week, the board members got to meet their new Membership Director as well as their new treasurer.
Moving quickly, our new Treasurer, Cameron Hummel, presented the January month-end report which was unanimously approved. This was followed by his predecessor, Greg Zeh with the presentation and unanimous adoption of our 2025 Budget. This budget anticipates much more activity in terms of premier events, monthly meetings, member meetups, and many other opportunities for you and your fellow chamber members to get together and network.
The meeting also focused on our various committee structures and the appointment of co-chairs for each committee. For the time being our Chamber will operate with two full-time staff and a handful of consultants. These consultants assist with everything from LSV Program Days to Summits, and other large-scale meetings.
Our strategic plan is being rolled out with graphics showing that according to hundreds of responses to our Biennial Survey of Members the issues of accessible and affordable childcare as well as job related transportation are now the top issues among employers in our valley. Following close behind is government over regulation, as well as the continuing worker shortages. While no longer our top issue, but still very important are the few remaining gaps in our broadband and high-speed internet accessibility.
Please note that lots of events, activities, and meetings are now on the Chamber calendar for the coming year. Always the best resource to learn about what’s on the horizon is our website at gsvc.org.
By working together our best days lie just ahead.
Pictured left to right are Jeff Reber, Chamber Board Chair and Union County Commissioner; Chad North, your new Membership Director; Greg Zeh, Chamber Board Vice Chair and Weis Markets CIO; Tom Crissinger, new board member with The Mifflinburg Bank and Trust, Stan Carey, new board member with UPMC; Steve Stumbris, returning board member and Director of the Bucknell Small Business Development Center; Ryan McNally, returning board member with Wellspan-Evangelical; Bob Garrett Chamber President and CEO/LSV Executive Director; Aimee Buehner, Immediate Past Board Chair with the Bowen Agency; and Cameron Hummel, new Board Treasurer with Weis Markets.
