Posts by tacrayton

Chamber Staffer Selected for U.S. Chamber Foundation Education and Workforce Fellowship Program The U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation announced Taryn Crayton, Director of Member Engagement of the Columbia Montour Chamber of Commerce, was selected to participate in the twelfth cohort of its premier business leadership program. The Business Leads Fellowship Program trains and equips leaders…

The New Networking: Why Strategic Alliances Beat Surface-Level Contacts Surface-level connections are easy; strategic alliances take intention and trust. Real growth happens when relationships move beyond business card exchanges to shared outcomes. Leaders must invest time and purpose in building alliances that yield mutual value. Shift your networking mindset: think long-term, collaborate often, and build…

Your Business Isn’t Too Small to Build a Brand Branding isn’t about size. It’s about clarity, consistency, and purpose. Small businesses with strong brands grow faster and retain more loyal customers. A brand is the promise you keep, not just the logo you use. Start with your story and values. Then build visual and verbal…

Invest in Your Team: Leadership & Workforce Development Opportunities Is your business ready to build stronger leaders and take advantage of workforce funding? The Columbia Montour Chamber and The Foundation offer two powerful professional development programs and have WEDnetPA funding help eligible businesses cover the cost. Leadership Central Penn Applications now open for the 2025–2026…

  June 30, was the end of the Fiscal Year and, technically the deadline for state lawmakers and Gov. Josh Shapiro to finalize a budget plan for the next Fiscal Year starting July 1st. As of this writing, however, negotiations are reportedly ongoing with no clear path to a finalized budget plan. Key sticking points…

Scaling Your Impact: From Doer to Delegator to Developer Businesses plateau when leaders don’t evolve. If you’re still the hub of every decision, you’re not scaling—you’re stalling. True growth happens when leaders shift from doing tasks to developing people and systems. This article walks through that essential transition: from Doer to Delegator to Developer. The payoff: a business that grows…

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…

PA Chamber to Lawmakers: Approach Childcare as a Workforce Issue Source: PA Chamber of Business and Industry The PA Chamber continued its push for comprehensive childcare reform last week, telling state lawmakers Friday that Pennsylvania must treat childcare as a core workforce issue, not just a matter of funding or social policy. Testifying before the…

Think Bigger: How Systems Thinking Gives Small Business Owners a Smarter Edge If you’re constantly putting out fires in your business, you might be treating symptoms instead of fixing systems. Systems thinking helps you connect the dots across hiring, sales, customer service, and operations. It’s not theory. It’s a practical mindset that builds efficiency, resilience,…