2009 Archives
Harrisburg Regional Chamber & Capital Region Economic Development Corporation (CREDC) Announces 2009 New Board Members
95th Year of Operation To Be Led by Women Chairs
Sandi Loy Bell Named 2009 Harrisburg Regional Chamber Board Chair and Kelly Powell Logan Named 2009 CREDC Board Chair
HARRISBURG (JANUARY 5, 2009) - 2009 will be the 95th Year of operation for the Harrisburg Regional Chamber and much has changed from as can be seen by the pictures of Past Chairs of the organization that line the walls of the conference room at the office on North Front St. Beginning in the 70's, faces of women began to appear, however 2009 marks the first time both the Chamber and the CREDC Board will be chaired by women.
The Harrisburg Regional Chamber Board of Directors and CREDC Boards of Directors elected their 2009 Board Chairs in December. Sandi Loy Bell will serve as Chair of the Chamber Board of Directors and Kelly Powell Logan will serve as Chair of the CREDC Board of Directors for 2009. This is the first time in the history of the organization that two women will hold both chair positions. 2009 also marks the organization's 95th anniversary.
Sandi Loy Bell is Chief Executive Officer of Skelly and Loy, Inc., and is responsible for planning, directing, and supervising the activities of the firm which provides services in mining, civil, energy, and environmental engineering. She is responsible for the strategic planning of the firm as well as directing all business development programs. She holds a B.A. in Marketing from Pennsylvania State University. Loy Bell is past President of both the American Society of Highway Engineers and the American Council of Engineering Companies of Pennsylvania. She was a 1999 recipient of the 50 Best Pennsylvania Women in Business, 2002 recipient of Central Penn Business Journal's Top 40 Under 40 Award and 2002 recipient of the American Society of Highway Engineers Member of The Year. She is also active in the community serving on the boards for Big Brothers/Big Sisters, Whitaker Center for the Performing Arts, and the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education Foundation. She also participates on Harrisburg Area Community College's Scholarship Foundation Committee.
Kelly Powell Logan is Executive Director of Public Service Programs at American Education Services (AES) and Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency (PHEAA). Powell Logan joined AES/PHEAA in January 2003. She is responsible for providing student loan products and services to colleges and universities within Pennsylvania and across the country, administration of the Pennsylvania state grant and various special programs, and student loan assets management. Prior to joining AES/PHEAA, she spent eight years in Pennsylvania state government, attaining the post of Governor's Cabinet Secretary of the Department of General Services. Powell Logan holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration from Villanova University and a Master of Business Administration degree from Pennsylvania State University. She is also a graduate of the Leadership Harrisburg Area's Executive Leadership Series. Powell Logan is a member of the Penn State Harrisburg School of Business Advisory Council, and member of the Board of Director of Leadership Harrisburg Area.
"The Harrisburg Regional Chamber does an excellent job of representing the voice and needs of the business community," stated Loy Bell. "As Board Chair for the upcoming year, I feel privileged to be a part of the Chamber's success in improving our region's quality of life and our local business climate."
Powell Logan added, "With the coming of the new year, I look forward to celebrating, and building on, the 95 year history of success of the Harrisburg Regional Chamber and CREDC. Working together, the dynamic members, board and staff of CREDC have great opportunity to continue to improve the economic viability of the Capital region."
The additional slate of 2009 Harrisburg Regional Chamber Officers is as follows:
- 1st Vice Chair - Dr. Madlyn Hanes, Penn State Harrisburg
- 2nd Vice Chair - Terry Lehman, bmc
- Treasurer - Maryann Chiavetta, Century Engineering, Inc.
- Secretary - Mike Fiaschetti, Highmark
- RRP - Laura Williams, Giant Food Stores, LLC
The additional slate of 2009 CREDC Officers is as follows:
- 1st Vice Chair - Chip Brown, McClure Company
- 2nd Vice Chair - Gary Stouffer, Rettew Associates, Inc.
- Treasurer - Sue Pera, Cornerstone Coffeehouse
- Secretary - Aji Abraham, Capital BlueCross
While the Chamber and CREDC is one organization, in order to function effectively as a Chamber of Commerce and Economic Development Corporation the legal structure requires two boards of directors one for the 501(c)6 Chamber and one for the 501(c)3 not-for-profit economic development corporation. CREDC was started in 1984 as a separate organization and merged with the Chamber in 1995 to become what is known today as the Harrisburg Regional Chamber & CREDC.
The Harrisburg Regional Chamber & CREDC serves as a catalyst for promoting growth and quality of life in Cumberland, Dauphin and Perry Counties by providing a unique blend of business, community and economic development and advocacy services under one roof to boost our economic vitality and livability as a region. HRC/CREDC has been accredited with four stars from the United States Chamber of Commerce.
