Chamber and Chamber Foundation Announce Strategic Realignment
Columbia and Montour Counties, PA — The Foundation of the Columbia Montour Chamber of Commerce announces the departure of Tonya Smith, Foundation Director, as she prepares to pursue new opportunities. Tonya has been a dedicated leader and passionate advocate for workforce development throughout her tenure, and the Foundation is deeply grateful for her impactful service.
During her time as Foundation Director, Tonya spearheaded several key initiatives to build stronger connections between education and industry in Columbia and Montour Counties. Most notably, under her leadership, the Foundation expanded its STEM partnerships and established the S.E.A.L. Challenge, an engineering and robotics competition for all school districts in the Chamber’s footprint. She secured funding to develop Educator in the Workplace, a program designed to connect teachers with the skills required in today’s workforce, and she built new partnerships to offer financial literacy programming to middle and high school students in the region. These efforts introduced students to career opportunities in the region, and laid a strong foundation for long-term, sustainable workforce development.
“Tonya’s contributions have been instrumental in shaping the Foundation’s mission and building its reputation as a critical partner in our community’s future,” said Chris Berleth, President of the Columbia Montour Chamber of Commerce. “Her vision and commitment have set the stage for continued success, and we’re excited to build on her efforts.”
To do so, the Boards of Directors for both the Chamber and the Foundation of the Chamber are excited to announce a strategic organizational shift designed to better align and streamline operations. Moving forward, the Chamber will enter into an administrative services agreement with the Foundation. This new structure will unify the staff under one team, enabling greater collaboration and efficiency in achieving the shared goals of both organizations.
“This change is an exciting evolution that allows us to focus even more strategically on workforce and industry development,” said Berleth. “We’re working hard to maximize efficiencies, and Tonya’s work sets up to do just that. These changes set us up to serve the community better, enhance our impact and prevent duplication of efforts.”
As part of this transition, the Chamber is also announcing a new employment opportunity for a Marketing and Event Coordinator. This role will support the missions of both the Chamber and its Foundation by driving engagement, promoting programs, and coordinating events that strengthen the connection between education and business across our counties.
Tonya Smith’s legacy will continue to influence the direction and success of the Foundation, and the entire Chamber team extends their sincere thanks and best wishes as she embarks on her next chapter.
For more information about the Marketing and Event Coordinator position or to learn more about Chamber and Foundation programming, visit www.columbiamontourchamber.com.
Contact:
Chris Berleth, President
Columbia Montour Chamber of Commerce
The Foundation of the Columbia Montour Chamber
570-784-2522
cberleth@columbiamontourchamber.com