The York County Economic Alliance (YCEA) is proud to announce the 2022 Showcasing YoCo awardees, and exciting changes for this year’s event.

Sponsored by WellSpan Health, the celebration will be held Friday, May 20 at the Wyndham Garden. The evening includes a Social Hour sponsored by Harley-Davidson Vehicle Operations at 5 p.m., and dinner and entertainment beginning at 6 p.m. A variety of local artists, musicians, and performers of all genres will be featured throughout the course of the evening. New this year: attendees are able to purchase a raffle ticket to purchase a 2022 Harley-Davidson motorcycle!

The Awardees:

A true celebration of York, recipients of the Ignite Young Professional Award, Small Business of the Year, ATHENA Award, White Rose Appreciation Award, and the Revolutionary Award for Innovation and Entrepreneurship will be honored this evening as well. We are proud to announce:

Ignite Young Professional Award Winner, presented by Barley Snyder –
Jada Richardson, York County Planning Commission

Jada is a York City native and a York High Class of 2012 alumni. She holds a bachelor’s degree from Indiana University of Pennsylvania and a master’s degree from York College of Pennsylvania. Currently she works as the Equity and Inclusion Community Planner at the York County Planning Commission where her job is to improve access to programs and services offered by York County. In addition to her work Jada serves in varying capacities with boards and organizations including as Secretary/Treasurer for York City Human Relations Commission, York City Planning Commission, DreamWrights Community Arts Theatre and NAACP.

Small Business of the Year Award Winner, presented by Truist –Simply Local

Simply Local at the Glen Rock Mill Inn supports local and PA small businesses who provide high quality handmade products. They offer hand dipped ice cream and quick bites, as well as locally made crafts, treats, gifts, and wines. Karen Dietrich is the owner of Simply Local at the Glen Rock Mill Inn. She lives in Glen Rock with her husband Ray and believes that small businesses are the heartbeat of the community. She has a lifelong passion for making and creating, and she loves being able to provide a retail space where makers can join together to sell their heartfelt creations. Karen also enjoys teaching yoga classes at Simply Local.

ATHENA Award Winner, presented by Traditions Bank –Dr. Pamela Gunter-Smith, York College of Pennsylvania

Pamela Gunter-Smith began serving as president of York College on July 1, 2013. She previously served as Drew University’s provost and academic vice president, as well as the Porter Professor of Physiology at Spelman College. She has also held academic appointments at The George Washington University and the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences. For 12 years before joining Spelman, she was a research scientist and science administrator at the Armed Forces Radiobiology Research Institute in Bethesda, Md.

Gunter-Smith holds a B.S. in Biology from Spelman College and a Ph.D. in Physiology from Emory University. She conducted postdoctoral studies at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine and the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston. She has published in the areas of gastrointestinal physiology and membrane ion transport and is the recipient of grants to support science education and her research. Gunter-Smith is a graduate of the 2001 HERS Summer Institute for Women in Higher Education Administration. In 2003-2004, she was an American Council on Education Fellow at the University of Miami working with the University’s president Donna Shalala.

During her tenure at York College, Gunter-Smith has advanced programs that serve the greater York community and provide high impact engagement and learning for the College’s students.  Gunter-Smith is married to J. Lawrence (J.L.) Smith, who retired in 2015 as a systems administrator for I.B.M.  The Smiths are parents of two adult sons, Lealand of Nashville, Tenn., and Philip of Rockville, MD.

White Rose Appreciation Award Winner, presented by Glatfelter Insurance Group – Larry Miller

The York County Economic Alliance established the White Rose Appreciation Award as a way to recognize and support those individuals who, over the years, have played an active role with the YCEA and within the York community. The award recipient is chosen for his or her career success and community involvement through the years and the influence he or she has had on others in the community.

Over a 50-year career in banking, Larry Miller worked from a management trainee to Executive Chairman of PeoplesBank and Chairman, President and CEO of Codorus Valley Bancorp, Inc.

Beyond his work in the financial sector, Larry continues to be an active member of the York community through a multitude of boards and committees including United Way of York County, PA Association of Community Bankers, Boy Scouts of America York-Adams Council, Farm and Natural Lands Trust of York County, York County Community Foundation, Better York, Martin Library, Cultural Alliance of York County, WellSpan Health, York Symphony Orchestra, and many more.

Revolutionary Award for Innovation and Entrepreneurship Winner,  presented by McNees Wallace and Nurick, LLC – Wolfgang Confectioners

“At Wolfgang Confectioners, We Have You Covered.”

Founded in York, PA in 1921, Wolfgang Confectioners is one of the oldest family-owned confection companies in the United States. Today Wolfgang Confectioners includes an incubator facility at the site of the historic downtown York factory, as well as a state-of-the-art, 137,000 square feet commercial manufacturing facility in Loganville, PA maintaining enrobing, panning, and molding capabilities. The company produces various confection products for customer’s segments ranging from large CPG’s, emerging brands, private label, snack companies, and nutraceuticals. They offer Kosher, Non-GMO, Gluten Free and USDA Organic certification options produced in an SQF certified facility.

Tickets for this event typically sell out, and are available here through the YCEA website. Don’t miss your chance to join us in celebrating our 2022 award winners, see York’s talent showcased live, and win a chance at a Harley-Davidson!

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