Commissioners for both Columbia and Montour County and the Board of The Columbia Montour Chamber of Commerce recently passed resolutions opposing PennDOT’s plan to implement tolling on nine bridges on Pennsylvania interstates beginning in 2023. The Major Bridge Public-Private Partnership (P3) Initiative would include tolling of the Westbound Nescopeck Creek Bridge in lower Luzerne County. The resolutions support legislation in Harrisburg and a lawsuit filed by several municipalities to block the tolling.
PennDOT’s plan to toll bridges in need of repair or replacement was approved by the Pennsylvania P3 Board in November, 2020. In 2021, the agency held public information sessions to provide details on the nine projects identified. Initially, the plan included tolling in both directions, but was later modified to toll each project area in only one direction. With the anticipation that some volume of traffic will divert around tolled areas, PennDOT identified diversion routes. For the Nescopeck Creek project, the diversion route is Exit 256 onto Route 93 through Nescopeck and Berwick boroughs. Local municipalities have expressed concerns about the impacts of increased vehicle traffic, including safety and wear and tear on local roads.
Businesses are concerned about increased transportation costs. The proposed toll for passenger vehicles is $1 to $2 per vehicle, while commercial vehicles would start at $10. As it would be impractical for many commercial vehicles to take diversion routes, the cost of moving materials across the Interstate would increase daily, particularly for vehicles that would travel through multiple toll areas.
“PennDOT’s bridge tolling plan will create significant disruptions for communities and cost increases for businesses in those project areas,” said Fred Gaffney, Chamber president. “It’s reasonable to expect that, if allowed to move forward, PennDOT will continue the strategy across the state, creating disruptions in other areas. PennDOT and the legislature need to develop a sustainable plan for funding Pennsylvania’s infrastructure that minimizes these disruptions.”
PA Senate Bill 382, co-sponsored by Senator John Gordner, would effectively block PennDOT’s plan by requiring approval for specific tolling by the House and Senate. The legislation passed in the Senate in April and a modified version was approved by the House in November. While the Senate is reviewing the modified version, Governor Wolf is expected to veto it. The Chamber of Commerce supports SB382.
Three municipalities just Southwest of Pittsburgh are pursuing another course of action to stop PennDOT’s plan. South Fayette Township, Bridgeville Borough, and Collier Township in Allegheny County have filed a legal challenge in Commonwealth Court regarding the process defined for implementing tolls. The legislation that allows PennDOT to pursue P3 initiatives requires that specific projects be identified and the impacted municipalities notified prior to approval from the governing body. According to the challenge, that process was not followed. The attorneys representing the municipalities are expecting to present oral arguments in March with the hope of a ruling soon thereafter. As this legal challenge is specific to a bridge in Western PA, the legal team has suggested that other interested groups support this action with the hope that the final ruling will apply to all nine projects. The Columbia Montour Chamber of Commerce is coordinating with other chambers of commerce across the state and state legislators which led to the resolutions that were passed by the Chamber and County Commissioners.
Increasingly, individuals comprising today’s workforce are straddled with significant levels of student loan debt. At the same time, these workers are often conflicted as to whether they should focus on paying off their debt or set aside funds to pay for retirement. As an employer, adding a student loan repayment program to your employee benefit portfolio not only helps them address this dilemma, but also represents a tremendous opportunity to help attract and retain key talent.
In today’s competitive job market, it’s not enough to simply offer the traditional benefit portfolios of the past. Showing prospective talent and valued current employees that you care about their financial future by providing student loan repayment assistance goes a long way to help you stand out among your industry peers. And by structuring the program as a part of your voluntary benefits package, you have the ability to customize the program according to your workplace demographics and budgetary capabilities.
With these programs, the employer first decides how much, if any, they are willing to contribute into the program. Then, based on the vendor chosen, the program options include models focusing on refinancing, consolidation or payroll deductions.
Offering a student loan repayment program not only helps students pay down their loan debt quicker and provides them valuable cost savings, but employers benefit since it also helps to reduce the stress and anxiety levels of these employees, boosting their workplace productivity.
The Columbia-Montour Chamber of Commerce offers its members access to My Benefit Advisor as a solution for employee benefits, including voluntary offerings. For more information about My Benefit Advisor, visit our website at cmcc.mybenefitadvisor.com or contact Glynis Roberts at (800) 377-3539.
On Wednesday, February 9th, organizations and individuals from the area were highlighted during The Columbia Montour Chamber of Commerce’s 81st Annual Meeting. Five awards were presented, recognizing outstanding achievement. The highly-anticipated event was sponsored by PPL Electric Utilities.
The Outstanding Citizen award dates back over 50 years, with the first award being presented in 1970. The Small and Large Business of the Year awards and the Community Progress Award were first established in 2011. The Nonprofit of the Year Award was first presented in 2020.
This year’s award winners are as follows:
Small Business of the Year | Sponsored by First Columbia Bank & Trust: Martz Technologies
This award is presented to a member business or organization of 30 employees or fewer than has done one or more of the following: demonstrated business or community leadership evidenced by diversification and creativity in the development of new products, services and/or markets; demonstrated staying power and positive response to adversity; or demonstrated community involvement.
Martz Technologies has focused on creating value for its clients by optimizing processes, infrastructure, and general resources by integrating the latest technology and automation into business operations since it was founded in 2003. Proudly located in Berwick, Martz Technologies promotes and sponsors community programs in alliance with other institutions that benefit children, students and schools locally and around the world. Starting in 2017, the company began sponsoring the Bloomsburg Fair’s STEM Magnet Competition by donating $10,000 to a local school’s STEM program. They also saw a need in early 2020-2021 when COVID-19 began and began producing cloth masks for the public to help slow the pandemic.
“It’s meaningful to be recognized, we have an amazing group of people that work here,” said Greg Martz, President of Martz Technologies. “The company was founded in 2001 in a basement and now we are one of the leading automation engineering groups in the northern half of Pennsylvania.” “We are dedicated to bringing living-wage jobs and quality of life to our young people in the community.”
Large Business of the Year | Sponsored by DRIVE: Crispin Multiplex
Presented to a business with 31 or more employees and the same criteria as the Small Business of the Year Award, the Large Business of the Year Award was presented to Crispin Multiplex, entering its 117th year in business. No other company in the world has manufactured air valves longer than Crispin Multiplex. A family-owned business, they hold the first U.S. design patent for the product. Their customers include some of the world’s top corporations – from Philips Petroleum, Walt Disney Co., and Anheuser-Busch to Bechtel, International Paper, Black & Veatch, and more. The fourth-generation of Crispins are proud to remain a part of the Berwick community.
“For the past 117 years, we’ve always strived to be the best employer and community member that we can be,” said Darren Crispin, President/CEO of Crispin Multiplex. “We also know that our company is only as good as the people we have around us. We’ve been blessed with many great team members throughout the area.”
Community Progress | Sponsored by World Kinect Energy Services: Northeast Training Institute
The Community Progress Award recognizes a member business or organization that showed improvement in the internal or external appearance of a commercial property through either new construction, renovation, restoration or remodeling, and completed that construction within the last three calendar years.
The Northeast Training Institute (NETI) is an 11,000 square foot training facility located in the Columbia County Business Park in Lightstreet. NETI offers classroom, online and hands-on courses for home inspectors, ICC and UCC residential and commercial code inspectors. NETI is an ICC-certified testing facility. At the heart of the training center is the House of Horrors. The two-story building was built within the training center. The house includes a basement and attic, miswired electrical outlets, incorrectly installed furnaces and badly-joined sewage pipes designed to test the skill set of new home inspectors, affording them 1,000 examples of how things look when they go wrong.
They are also partnering with local schools and universities, along with organizations in need of a state-of-art classroom environment, to teach courses.
“We’re very proud of what we do in the community. We’re very involved in bringing the community together and we do really believe in giving back,” Justin Weber, Chief Operating Officer at NETI, said. “One of our big projects is giving coats to kids in need. Cozy Coats for Kids is the charity that we use. We also are very involved with allowing students from the community to come in and use our facility for training purposes, and that’s all free.”
Nonprofit of the Year | Sponsored by PNC Bank: The Hand in Hand Family Resource Center
Nonprofit of the Year is presented to a nonprofit organization with 100 or fewer employees that has provided diversified and creative aid to the Columbia Montour region utilizing business, personal, and community resources.
The Hand in Hand Family Resource Center helps improve accessibility and acceptance to individuals with special needs. The organization has provided educational programs through schools, the community, and homes to educators, businesses, and caregivers, and programs and opportunities directly for individuals for five years. Programs include a Sensory Tent at large events, a Sensory Santa throughout Columbia and Montour Counties in December, a Construction, Art, Music, Play, Sensory, or CAMPS day, Let’s Get A Job (training for individuals to enter the workforce, and more. The organization has also raised travel and stay funds for local families needing to leave the area for medical care as well as provided a ramp for handicap accessibility to a home.
“We are deeply honored to win this award. We love every moment of every program we do,” said Hand in Hand President, Jennifer Billig. “We started a career exploration program for local businesses to come in and teach the skills necessary to have those jobs. We are also working on a peer partnership program with some of the schools in the area. “
Outstanding Citizen | Sponsored by B.I.D.A.: Lissa Bryan-Smith
The Outstanding Citizen AwardW is presented to an individual that is an employee or volunteer of a member organization who is involved in civic activities beneficial to the Columbia Montour region and who projects a positive community image.
Lissa Bryan-Smith is a nurse by trade and the administrator of Geisinger Bloomsburg Hospital and Geisinger Woodbine. She is a strong advocate for education and mentoring young professional and nursing students. She speaks at all of the STEAM tours hosted at Geisinger Bloomsburg Hospital for local high school students to educate them on the career options in a hospital setting. She has been a champion for projects for Head Start, Bloomsburg University, and the Bloomsburg YMCA. Lissa leads by example and has served a number of organizations in Columbia and Montour counties, including Columbia Child Development Board of Directors and the Executive Board, The Columbia Montour Chamber of Commerce Board, Bloomsburg YMCA, and Bloomsburg University – White Coat Ceremony and Husky Research Board.
“I’ve been with Geisinger for 40 years, 23 of them being at the Geisinger Medical Center. I’ve been so blessed to spend the last 10 years of my career at the Geisinger Bloomsburg Hospital. I share the nomination with so many wonderful people who have done such amazing things in the Columbia and Montour Counties.” said Vice President of Geisinger Bloomsburg Hospital, Lissa Bryan-Smith.
In addition to the presentation of the Annual Awards, the Chamber also announced a new app for smartphones, allowing members to access Chamber information and resources from mobile devices. Users can access the full membership directly from their mobile device, including the ability to email or call a member. The app can send text messages to alert users of a new event or important news item.
The Columbia Montour Chamber of Commerce is a non-profit organization that represents nearly 430 businesses and organizations from the Columbia and Montour County region.
Chamber’s Board of Directors Approved at Organization’s 81st Annual Meeting
BLOOMSBURG – Members of The Columbia Montour Chamber of Commerce approved incoming board members and officers for its 2022-23 fiscal year at the organization’s annual meeting held virtually on Wednesday, February 9th.
Elected to a 3-year term on the Board:
- Jeff Cerminaro, Walker’s Jewelers
- Holly Morrison, Community Giving Foundation
- Chris Stamatedes, PPL Electric Utilities
- Bob Stoudt, Montour Area Recreation Commission
Elected to a 1-year term on the Board:
- Megan Kiliti, Berwick Brewing
- Denise Stone, eXp Realty
- Karen Wood, Service 1st Federal Credit Union
Elected to fill an unexpired, 3-year term on the Board:
- Sharon Wilkin, Design Group
Appointed to 1-year terms by the incoming Board Chair:
- Dan Good, Marr Development
- Adrienne Mael, United Way of Columbia and Montour Counties
- Bruce Schlichter, Kawneer
Elected to a 2-year term as Chair:
- Chris Stamatedes, PPL Electric Utilities
Elected to 1-year terms:
- Vice-Chair – Bob Stoudt, Montour Area Recreation Commission
- Treasurer – Denise Stone, eXp Realty
- President – Fred Gaffney
- Immediate Past Chair – Dan Knorr, Bloomsburg University
Dan Knorr, outgoing Board Chair, also recognized outgoing Board member Christian Force with PB&J Bar and ALTERA Life for his service.
Bloomsburg Children’s Museum and CSIU Partner on After School Maker Camp at Milton Maker Space
The Bloomsburg’s Children’s Museum, in collaboration with the Central Susquehanna Intermediate Unit (CSIU), is bringing their popular After School Maker Camp to the Milton Maker Space, located at 139 S Front St, Milton. This program is geared towards children 6-12.
Programs will run from February 18, 2022 until January 20, 2023.
Maker Camp is free thanks to the PA Smart Grant from the CSIU.
“We are funded through a PA Smart Grant written by CSIU. This is a collaborative project, and the money is designed to reward computer science and STEM programs for students K-12 in the Northumberland County Region,” said Colleen Epler-Ruths from CSIU.
Events will be on the third Friday of the month, 6-7 p.m. The Bloomsburg Children’s Museum started an After School Maker Camp in 2020. This program combines fun, creative tactics with educational science experiments. The after-school camp is a spin-off of the Museum’s wildly popular Summer Maker Camp.
Kicking off the After School Maker Camp is “Intro to Soldering” on February 18. Additional events include: “Art Meets Science- Light up Canvases” on March 18, “Lego WeDo Robotics and Programming” on April 15 and “Kitchen Chemistry: Experimenting with Cupcake Recipes” on May 20. “Create a Motorized Boat” will be kick off the summer on June 17, “Forensic Science- Solve a Mystery” on July 15, “Engineering Challenge” on August 19, “Build a Walking Robot” will take place on September 16 and “Light up Ghosts” is a Halloween themed event taking place October 21. November 18 children will enjoy “Codes and Ciphers” and on December 16 there will be a kitchen-themed event called “Kitchen Chemistry: Boba Tea.” The program ends with a “Sumo Bot Challenge” on January 20, 2023.
Registration is online at https://bit.ly/bcm-at-miltonmakerspace or call the Bloomsburg Children’s Museum at (570) 389-9206.
Siren Test Scheduled for This Friday
This Friday, Bloomsburg University will be testing its emergency siren system at 9:50 a.m.
Thanks to the ongoing support of members and a retention rate of over 92%, The Columbia Montour Chamber of Commerce remains strong entering its 82nd year. Dan Knorr, outgoing Board Chair, highlighted some of the Chamber’s activities over the past year at the organization’s Annual Meeting held February 9th. A full summary is available in the Chamber’s 2021-22 Annual Report 21-22
From PA Chamber of Business & Industry
The PA Department of Labor & Industry has launched the Worker Protection and Labor Law Non-Compliance List, a list of organizations which they contend are either violating Pennsylvania labor laws or owe unemployment compensation taxes, the latter of which includes about 11,800 businesses or 4 percent of all Pennsylvania businesses.
Last October, the Department announced its plan to compile these lists and the PA Chamber responded in a press release, acknowledging that employers who intentionally skirt the law should be held accountable, but also recognizing that violations are often unintentional and recommending that any public list only include companies who willfully fail to comply after exhausting any administrative resolution process.
Employers are already reporting being on the list mistakenly. Businesses are encouraged to check the list and if they are on it, mistakenly or not, to take steps for removal:
Unemployment Compensation: Contact Collections Support at 412-565-5121 if you are on the list mistakenly to make payments or set up a payment plan. Employers can also make payments electronically at www.uctax.pa.gov. This is the largest list which includes 49 employers from Columbia County and 10 from Montour.
Labor Laws: Email the Bureau of Labor Law Compliance, at ra-li-slmr-llc@pa.gov to make a payment or set up a payment plan.
Workers’ Compensation: Organizations can make payments and set up payment plans by contacting the Bureau of Workers’ Compensation at ra-li-bwc-helpline@pa.gov or by calling 717-772-3702.
If you have further issues, please reach out to PA Chamber Director of Government Affairs Alex Halper at ahalper@pachamber.org.
SEDA-COG’s 2022 Board Officers Elected
Board officers for SEDA-Council of Governments (SEDA-COG) were elected at the Dec. 7 public meeting
The 2022 SEDA-COG Board of Directors’ officers will be Mifflin County Commissioner Kevin Kodish, president; Centre County Commissioner Mark Higgins, first vice president; Montour County Commissioner Ken Holdren, second vice president; Larry Reisinger of Perry County, secretary; and Dennis Van Benthuysen of Snyder County, treasurer.
The 2021 officers were Juniata County Commissioner Mark Partner, president; Kodish, first vice president; Higgins, second vice president; Reisinger, secretary; and Van Benthuysen, treasurer.
Kodish said he is looking forward to serving as board president in the new year.
“Serving as board president for 2022, I look forward to continued service with our dedicated board of directors and our professional staff. Together, we will continue to administer existing programs and identify new opportunities to encourage and support long-term economic growth. These efforts serve to strengthen the quality of life throughout our 11-county SEDA-COG region.”
SEDA-COG Executive Director Kim Wheeler thanked outgoing board President Mark Partner for his service to the agency.
“Board President Partner has done an exemplary job leading throughout unprecedented times. We deeply appreciate his guidance,” Wheeler said. “We are eager to see what we can accomplish with Commissioner Kodish at the helm.”
Board member appointments and reappointments took place in January. The SEDA-COG board is a 22-member, county-based policy board representing both public and private sectors.
SEDA-COG is a community and economic development agency in Lewisburg and is one of seven Local Development Districts in Pennsylvania. SEDA-COG enhances the quality of life and economic advantage for residents and businesses in the 11 central Pennsylvania counties through its vital partnerships and initiatives.
In a presentation from Seven Mountains Media, participants will learn tips for maximizing their social media business page(s). The following topics will be discussed:
When is the best time to post? How often? Join Leslye Schumacher Social Media Rockstar with Seven Mountains Media for a FREE informative workshop. Learn how using social media can help your business grow and how to interpret social media analytics. Followed by a live Q & A session. All who register will receive an on-demand link to view the presentation at your convenience.
Leslye’s background in media spans 25 years and includes working for both large and mid-size television, radio and newspaper companies. She has held positions in sales, management, marketing and sales event planning and production. She currently trains Seven Mountain’s multimedia specialists on how to create effective digital campaigns for clients.
Click here to register.
Adults that need help with basic computer skills including using email, the internet, and Microsoft Office applications can receive free coaching at the Bloomsburg Children’s Museum. Through a partnership with the Central Susquehanna Intermediate Unit (CSIU), coaching with access to computers and the internet is available three days a week. The coach can work with people who have never used a computer before.
Lab hours are Monday, 10 a.m. – 4 p.m., Tuesday, Noon – 4 p.m., and Thursday, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Interested individuals can drop by during those hours or call Rick at the CSIU at 570-523-1155 ext 2320.
Area Employers Invited to Talk with Students at Vo-Tech Open House
Columbia-Montour Area Vocational-Technical School is holding an open house on Sunday, February 6th from 1 to 4 p.m. for junior high school students considering attending the school and their parents. Area employers are invited to attend to talk with students about job opportunities. Interested employers should contact Tracy Gillespie by February 1st at tgillespie@cmvt.us or 570-784-8040 ext. 3322.
New Board Members Announced for Community Giving Foundations: Bloomsburg and Danville
The Community Giving Foundation: Bloomsburg recently welcomed four new members to its 2022 Board of Directors. In addition to the four new board members, the Bloomsburg board is represented by: John Thompson (chair), Pam Young (vice chair), Donna Coombs, Lynn Cromley, Tom Kapelewski, Jessica Lehman, and Patti Leighow.
Ms. Elizabeth Dowd
Ms. Dowd is a resident acting company member with the Bloomsburg Theatre Ensemble (BTE). She moved to Bloomsburg from Chicago to pursue private study with legendary acting teacher Alvina Krause when she became part of the founding of BTE. Forty-four years later, Bloomsburg has long been the place she calls home. Ms. Dowd is the grateful partner of Rand Whipple and mother to two adult children. She is an active community member, most recently with the Coalition for Social Equity, Women in Action workgroup, and co-organizer of the “Bloomsburg Reads” event.
Dr. Heather S. Feldhaus, PhD
Dr. Feldhaus is a sociologist who specializes in the study of social problems. She earned her BA and MA in sociology at the University of South Alabama and her PhD at Southern Illinois University at Carbondale. She is currently the Interim Associate Provost for Faculty Development, Dean of Graduate Studies, and Professor of Sociology at Bloomsburg University. She also founded the Center for Community Research and Consulting at BU. Her research focuses on how communities define and think about social problems and how this shapes their efforts to solve problems. She is particularly interested in issues surrounding rural poverty and homelessness.
Dr. Feldhaus enjoys being active in the community. She is currently the vice president of the board of directors for the Community Strategies Group and serves on the United Way of Columbia and Montour Counties allocations committee. She is a regular volunteer for the Bloom Seed Library and uses her professional skills as a frequent volunteer or consultant for many regional groups that need help with strategic planning or data collection and analysis. Dr. Feldhaus lives in Orangeville with her husband and two sons.
Mr. Jeff Lylo
Mr. Lylo is the owner of J. Lylo Jewelers, located in downtown Bloomsburg. Born and raised in Berwick, he graduated from Berwick High School and then Penn State University with a degree in Hotel, Restaurant, and Institution Management. After completing gemological certifications and apprenticing at Good as Gold (Bloomsburg), Mr. Lylo opened his own business in 1999. Through the jewelry business, he plays a role in community members’ major life events from births to engagements to wedding anniversaries. This role is a legacy from his grandfather, owner of Nespoli Jewelers, who instilled the importance of personal relationships with customers.
In addition to his constant presence at J. Lylo Jewelers, Mr. Lylo also serves on the board for Downtown Bloomsburg, Inc. As the father of two active boys, he can often be found around town at youth sporting events, church activities, and school performances.
Mr. Leo V. Sokoloski
Mr. Sokoloski is the Chief of Police at Bloomsburg University, overseeing the day-to-day management of police operations and life safety, property protection, and investigations on campus. He also serves as a consultant for the Central Susquehanna Intermediate Unit, offering school crisis preparedness and practical services to help make schools safer and ready for all emergencies. Mr. Sokoloski was the previous Chief of Police for the Town of Bloomsburg for 12 years. He has served on many initiatives and community groups across the region to promote education and safety for local residents.
The Community Giving Foundation: Danville recently welcomed four new members to its 2022 Board of Directors. In addition to the four new board members, the Danville board is represented by: Bonnie Trump (chair), Linda Brown (co-vice chair), Dennis Hummer (co-vice chair), Wendy Tripoli (financial liaison), Donna Cush (secretary), Ken Ackerman, Marc Baranouski, David Betz, Kimberly Burke, Greg Cole, Mark LaMotte, Christen Mowad, Mary Petrick, and Gary Visneski.
Mrs. Marsha Albertson
Mrs. Albertson is a Senior Accountant at HRI, INC., an asphalt manufacturing and construction company located in Muncy, PA. She is a 1989 graduate of Hughesville Area School District and graduated from Bloomsburg University with a BS in Business Administration. She has worked with HRI, INC. for 25 years. Mrs. Albertson owned Fran’s Dairy Bar in Millville for 13 years and Grandma Edwards’ food stand at the Bloomsburg Fair for 10 years. She enjoys relaxing on the beach, entertaining, and spending time with family and friends. She also finds great pleasure in volunteering and fundraising, which she has done over the years through her son’s sporting teams. Mrs. Albertson has been married for almost 26 years. They have a son who attends Bloomsburg University and a daughter in high school.
Mr. Tim Karr
Mr. Karr grew up in Selinsgrove. Following college, he served with the Army Black Horse Armored Cavalry Regiment as a 1st Lt. on the East/West German Border, followed by two years with the Reserves. Returning to the area in 1973, Mr. Karr opened Villager Realty, Inc. Today, he serves as CEO/President of Villager Realty, a sales leader in the Central Susquehanna Valley with 33 agents, three locations, and appraisal, relocation, development, and construction divisions. He resides in Riverside with his wife.
Mrs. Shelley Nemeth
Mrs. Nemeth is currently an independent consultant specializing and focusing on the training of pre-school teachers and educators. As an early childhood education professional, she has extensive experience in classrooms, administration of childcare programs, managing multiple childcare facilities, early learning programs, public relations, staffing, recruitment, curriculum development, staff training, and developing leadership training materials.
Originally from Canada, Mrs. Nemeth and her husband have lived in the United States since 2000 and have been happy to call the Danville community home since 2007. In addition to her professional activities, Mrs. Nemeth is involved in a local book club, church fellowship, and pursuing her personal interests of cooking, art, and decorating.
Mr. Bob Stoudt
Mr. Stoudt grew up near Turbotville and graduated from Warrior Run High School. He holds a bachelor’s degree in Geography/Environmental Planning from Bloomsburg University and a master’s degree in Geography from Indiana State University. After living in Indiana for several years, he moved to Pittsburgh to work for Navigation Technologies, a digital mapping company. Mr. Stoudt and his wife moved back to Watsontown in 2002, where he continued to work part-time until the births of their three kids. While being a stay-at-home dad, he volunteered with a number of local organizations for several years. In 2010, Mr. Stoudt became part-time deputy director of the Montour Area Recreation Commission (MARC) and assumed the role of Director later that year—a role he continues to hold today.
Mr. Stoudt’s recent volunteer service has included board/committee roles with: Columbia Montour Chamber of Commerce; Columbia Montour Partnership for Community Development; Columbia Montour Visitors’ Bureau; Warrior Run Community Corporation’s Pathways Committee; Montour County Recreation Authority; Friends of Allegheny Wilderness; SEDA-Foundation; Watsontown Borough Parks Renovation Committee; Western Pennsylvania Conservancy Land Steward; and the Boy Scouts of America. Additionally, he has worked with 31 Eagle Scout candidates and one Girl Scout Gold Award candidate on projects through his roles with the Warrior Run Community Corporation and Marc, with another four projects now underway.