Meet the Staff
Chris Berleth - President
Chris joined the Columbia Montour Chamber of Commerce in 2022 as Vice President before being named President in April 2023. Born and raised in Rhode Island, he is an Eagle Scout with a B.A. in Political Science and French from Gettysburg College. Chris fell in love with Pennsylvania while a student, and permanently relocated to Columbia County upon meeting and marrying his lovely wife, Kali. He is a 2015 graduate of Leadership Susquehanna Valley and a recipient of their highest honor, the Guy Temple Distinguished Alumni Award. While an executive with the Greater Susquehanna Valley Chamber, he was part of the team named by the Pennsylvania Association of Chamber Professionals (PACP) "2019 Chamber of the Year." In 2021, he was named to Pennsylvania Business Central's "Foremost Under Forty". Chris loves volunteering with his church, The Christian Gospel Fellowship, in Iola, and coaching his sons in Millville Little League as they play the greatest game ever created, baseball. For Chamber-related inquiries, he can be reached at cberleth@columbiamontourchamber.com.
Taryn Crayton - Vice President
Taryn joined the Chamber in April 2023 as Director of Member Engagement and was appointed Vice President in September 2025. In her role, she provides leadership in delivering a high return on investment to members, oversees strategic initiatives of the Chamber and its Foundation, including its youth and adult programs, and executes the organization's program of action. Taryn began her career at the Lehigh Valley Economic Development Corporation and has worked for several small businesses. Before joining the Chamber team, she worked for five years as an Advertising and Printing Sales representative with the Press Enterprise. Taryn is the owner/director of Remade by Dance in Barnesville and is a dance teacher with Danceworks by Amber in Bloomsburg. She holds a B.A. in Communications from Eastern University and is a 2022 graduate of Leadership Central Penn, a program she now leads. Taryn and her husband, Derek, live in Berwick with their dog, Millie. She can be reached at tcrayton@columbiamontourchamber.com.
Amber Hughes - Communications & Events Coordinator
Amber joined the chamber in February 2025 as an intern of communications and marketing. Shortly after her first year, she joined as a full-time staff member and will lead marketing and communications efforts for the Chamber and Foundation, including managing digital platforms, publications, and promotional campaigns. She will also plan and execute events that foster member engagement and support community initiatives across the region. Amber is a graduate of Benton Area High School and is a student at Commonwealth University of Pennsylvania. She is currently pursuing her B.A. in Communications with a concentration in Leadership & Public Advocacy with a minor in Political Science. Her professional background includes previous roles with Northern Columbia Community and Cultural Center, For the Cause Teen Center, and serves as a current board member of Community Giving Foundation- Berwick. Amber can be contacted at ahughes@columbiamontourchamber.com.
Brenda Flanagan - Administrative Assistant
Brenda began at the Chamber in April 2019. She serves as the office receptionist, handles inquiries about the area, and performs many of the day-to-day duties in the front office. Brenda is the person to contact if you want to sign up for an event or need information about Columbia or Montour County. You can contact her at bflanagan@columbiamontourchamber.com.
Deb Sokol – Finance Assistant
At the Chamber, we're especially grateful for Deb Sokol, who wears many hats in our community, including as Office Manager at Sokol, Inc., and as a bookkeeper at several non-profits. A graduate of Bloomsburg University, she holds both a Bachelor's degree in Business Administration with a focus on Accounting and Finance and a Master's degree in Business Administration. Deb may be reached at finance@columbiamontourchamber.com.