Crayton Completes U.S. Chamber Foundation Education and Workforce Fellowship Program

Bloomsburg, PA – The Columbia Montour Chamber of Commerce is pleased to announce that Taryn Crayton, Vice President of the Chamber, has completed the twelfth cohort of the Business Leads Fellowship Program, the Foundation’s premier business leadership initiative focused on education and workforce development.

The six-month Fellowship Program equips leaders from state and local chambers of commerce, economic development agencies, and trade associations with research, resources, access to national experts, and a peer network to strengthen their capacity to address pressing education and workforce issues in their communities.

“Communities like ours don’t solve workforce and economic challenges by accident—they do it through leaders who are willing to lean in and build solutions,” said Chris Berleth, President of the Chamber. “Taryn Crayton is exactly that kind of leader. Through the U.S. Chamber Business Leads Fellowship, she’s brought back insight, energy, and real momentum that is already shaping programs like Leadership Central Penn and Educator in the Workplace. Because of her work, Columbia and Montour Counties are better positioned to tackle the issues that matter most.”

“We created the Business Leads Fellowship Program in response to the needs of our state and local chamber partners,” said Kyle Butler, Senior Manager, Programs, K–12 Education at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation. “These leaders understand better than anyone the essential connection between education and economic development, and we are proud to support them as they drive meaningful change in their communities.”

Following a competitive application process, Taryn was selected to join 34 other state and local chamber executives, economic development professionals, and association leaders in the twelfth cohort. Throughout the program, Fellows participated in both in-person and virtual sessions covering the full talent pipeline, including early childhood education, K–12 education, postsecondary education, and workforce development.

With the completion of the fellowship, Taryn now joins the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation’s national Business Leads network of more than 400 chambers of commerce and statewide associations actively engaged in education and workforce initiatives across the country.

For more information on the Business Leads Fellowship Program, visit the program’s website.