Traditionally, September is the start of the Chamber event season, and that holds true for the Northeast Berks Chamber of Commerce, 110 West Main Street, Kutztown.
On Friday, Sept. 18, at the Berkleigh Golf Club, 14623 Kutztown Road, doors open for the first in a series of eight member breakfast programs. A Tax Reform Panel, led by Senators Judy Schwank and David G. Argall, will address the issues and challenges facing businesses in Berks County. Robert J. Hobaugh, Jr., Esq., Stevens & Lee P.C., is the program sponsor.
Internships: Partnering with Businesses to Mutually Benefit Employers and Students is the topic on Friday, Oct. 16, at Moselem Springs Golf Club, 684 Eagle Road, Fleetwood. Presenters will include Mike Kistler, Brandywine Heights Area SD; Tom Miller, Kutztown Area SD; and Chris Spohn, Hamburg Area SD. Student recognition is also on the agenda.
On Friday, Nov. 20, at Keystone Villa at Fleetwood, 501 Hoch Road, Blandon, Main Street Programs in Northeast Berks will be presented by Nancy Brooks, Manager, Kutztown Community Partnership and Deena Kershner, Manager, Our Town Foundation, Hamburg. Lori Schermerhorn, President and CEO, Vision Resource Center of Berks County is a nonprofit partner presenter.
Breakfast Programs are held monthly on the third Friday, with the exception of December, from September through May, at various venues. Student recognition and nonprofit partner presentations are held several times a year in addition to keynote speakers. Doors open at 7:30 a.m. for a catered breakfast, program and networking. Advance $15 reservations are preferred; $20 admission is collected at the door and for non-members.
On Thursday, Sept. 24, starting at 5:30 p.m. at Berkleigh Golf Club, the second-annual Shining Star Event will recognize Shining Star Award winners and a 2015 Member of the Year. Finalists were announced as follows: For Small Business, Diane Dudley, BrowningDudley; Joseph R. Reighn, Reighn Communications LLC; and Brenda Gaul, Furniture Soup, Inc. In the Mid-Sized Business category, Mark D. Crossley, Esquire, Scherline & Associates, and David Kendall/Wendy Kerschner, Comfort Keepers. For Large Business, Beth Heckart, Tompkins VIST Bank; John L. Scott, Santander Bank N.A.; and Gretchen Strouphar, Kelly Services, Inc. For Entrepreneur, Kim Davis, Cynergy Associates, Inc.; Matthew Hilbert, Colasanti Printworks LLC; and Merra Lee Moffitt, Good Life Financial Group. For Nonprofit, Kellie A. Butsack, Alzheimer’s Association, Delaware Valley Chapter; Nancy Brooks, Kutztown Community Partnership; and LuAnn Oatman, Berks Encore. The Advocate and Member of the Year will be announced at the event. Visit www.shiningstarevent.com to purchase remaining tickets.
New member Joyce Galanti, CEO, Family, Marriage and Life Counseling, 15525 Kutztown Road, Kutztown, is hosting a Grand Opening on Thursday, Oct. 1, from 2 to 7 p.m. At 2:15 p.m., the Northeast Berks Chamber will hold a Ribbon Cutting. The public is invited to attend.
On Friday, Oct. 2, Laugh Out Loud Comedy Night will be held at the Kutztown Fire Company, 310 Noble Street. Hosted by comic Steve Borkowski with headliner comic Chip Chantry, this comedy event will also feature performances by Jason Brown and Tyler Rothrock.
This event is open to the public, and $15 advance reservations can be made by calling 610-683-8860. Doors will open at 7 p.m. with $20 tickets will be sold at the door. Light snacks and soft drinks are included with ticket. A cash bar and 50/50 Raffle will be available to patrons.
Earlier in the day, the Northeast Berks Chamber and a number of its business and nonprofit members will participate in a Business-Partnership Project with the Fleetwood Area SD FBLA. A breakfast, presentations to Middle and High School students and a Career Fair will be held in the High School at 803 N. Richmond Street. To participate, email Ethan Miller, at partnerwithbusiness16@gmail.com.
A fall Making Connections Luncheon will be held on Wednesday, Oct. 14, from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., at Cristina’s, 500 Hoch Road, in Blandon. Reservations are $15 in advance and $20 at the door and for non-members. uests are welcome. Post-event, participants will receive a list of luncheon attendees.
The Northeast Berks Chamber of Commerce, now operating in its 26th year, is a resource and a voice for the business community known as the East Penn Valley. For more information about the Northeast Berks Chamber of Commerce, contact Lori B. Donofrio-Galley, Executive Director, at 610-683-8860 or at nbcc@ptd.net. For a full slate of events and to register online, visit www.northeastberkschamber.com.
