Sponsored by WellSpan Health, the celebration will be held on Thursday, April 4 at the Wyndham Garden, 2000 Loucks Road. The evening includes a social hour starting at 5 pm, with dinner and entertainment beginning at 6pm.
The Awardees:
A true celebration of York, recipients of the Creative Economy Award, Ignite Young Professional Award, Business Achievement Award, ATHENA Award, Make Things Happen Business Award, and the White Rose Appreciation Award will be honored that evening.
We are proud to announce:
Creative Economy Award, presented by Pennsylvania College of Art & Design – The Conrad Company 
In 1968, Jim and Mary Conrad opened Penn-Air Company in a rented garage with only three product lines. In less than five years, the company outgrew both its space and name. The Conrads moved the new Penn-Air & Hydraulics Corp. to a former fire station in Downtown York, giving them the opportunity to grow their product lines and their workforce.
Fueled by strong relationships with suppliers, Jim expanded operations into Maryland with Pneu-Force in 1988. It wasn’t long before both companies needed more space. In 1996, he integrated operations into a 24,000 square foot headquarters on York’s Industrial Highway. The acquisition of Konstance Pneumatics followed, driving Penn-Air’s growth throughout the years.
PennAir shifted in 2022 to align with its acquisitions made in the last few years with the creation of a holding company, The Conrad Company.
The Conrad Company is an ever-growing collection of dependable manufacturing, distribution, service, and repair brands, helping customers in manufacturing & construction throughout the United States. These brands each have technically capable people committed to solving industry-specific problems and benefit from the cooperative interaction between The Conrad Company’s portfolio: Allied Hydraulic Service Co., Capitol Tool, Compressor Maintenance Co., GreasePoint, Hanover Conveying Systems, PennAir, and Valley Fluid Components. These mutually beneficial relationships enhance each brand by sharing resources, tools, and expertise.
Ignite Young Professional Award presented by Barley Snyder – Daysha Illarza, United Way of York County
Daysha Illarza is a York city native. She currently works for the United Way of York County as the Community Impact and DEI coordinator. Daysha graduated from York College of PA and Widener University where she obtained a master’s in social work degree. She is a part of many community initiatives and collaboratives including serving as Vice Chair of the York County Homeless Coalition, YWCA’s racial justice committee member, and serving as a York County Court Appointed Special Advocate. Daysha’s heart for service was instilled early on by her mother. In her free time, Daysha loves to read historical fiction novels by black authors. As a young professional, Daysha aspires to broaden her impact in the York community, standing on the shoulders of those that came before her.
Make Things Happen Business Award, presented by CGA Law Firm – Katapult Engineering
Katapult is a people-focused engineering firm that sits at the critical intersection of electrical utilities and telecommunications: how fiber gets built safely on utility poles. Katapult is revolutionizing the pole attachments process through ever-evolving software and engineering services with the goal of helping the industry bring reliable utilities to people.
ATHENA Award, presented by Traditions Bank – Jackie Summers, Penn-Mar Human Services
Jackie Summers has been actively engaged in the York County community for more than 35 years, both as a volunteer and in working in the non-profit sector. She is a seasoned professional with experience in organizational planning, fundraising, board development and leadership.
She is the former President of Junior Achievement of South-Central PA and currently serves as Senior Director of Development and Corporate Engagement for Penn-Mar Human Services, a $48,000,000 operation in Pennsylvania and Maryland, which daily serves more than 400 adults with developmental and intellectual disabilities, and 2,000 more through LISS (Low Intensity Support Services).
During her career, she has raised millions of dollars for Penn-Mar, and Junior Achievement, as well as several other non-profits she has volunteered for.
Jackie has been recognized with the Junior Achievement Lifetime Achievement Award, The Central Penn Business Journal Women of Influence – Circle of Excellence Award, the New Freedom Lions Club Award for Outstanding Service and Dedication, and she is a York Federal Fellow.
Jackie is passionate about community and in addition to the many boards and committees she is involved in, she has served in leadership roles for several organizations, some of which are; The Rotary Club of York, Martin Library, The York County Library System, Sparrow Place, The Hugh O’Brien Youth Foundation, and the Southern York County School District Education Foundation.
White Rose Appreciation Award, presented by The Glatfelter Agency – John Polli, Reliance Student
Transportation, Polli Consulting, and Dart Trucking Company.
The York County Economic Alliance established the White Rose Appreciation Award 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.
John Polli serves as President and Owner of three York companies: Reliance Student Transportation, LLC, and Polli Consulting, LLC, both supporting school bus contracts to transport pupils, and Dart Trucking Company, Inc., which is a dedicated carrier of activated carbon for water treatment throughout North American and Canada. Previously, Polli has worked with National Express Corporation, Reliance Motor Coach Co., Inc, and York Waste Disposal, Inc., all located in York.
John is very active in our community, serving on a variety of community boards including Founding Board of Director for Traditions Bank, York County Library System, Pappus House, and Penn State York, Graham Advisor Member, and private boards including Dart Trucking Company, Inc., Precision Cut Industries, Inc., KRB, Inc., and Nutec Facility, Corp. Previously, he’s served as Chairman of the Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors in 2004-2005 among many other important community organizations.
Business Achievement Award, presented by Stock & Leader, Attorneys at Law – Anthony P. Campisi, Chairman of
Glatfelter Insurance Group
Each year the York County Economic Alliance presents the Business Achievement Award to an individual who embodies resiliency, perseverance, empathy, ingenuity, and service about oneself and has demonstrated success in business and their success is synonymous with that of our community’s.
Tony Campisi is a life-long York supporter, born and raised, having attended York Catholic High School and also York College of Pennsylvania. Campisi became President and CEO of Glatfelter Insurance Group (GIG) in 2000, twenty years after starting as their Vice President of Finance/ CFO, and moving up to Executive Vice President of Operations. Glatfelter Insurance Group is an all lines, full-service insurance broker providing a wide array of property, casualty, life, accident, and health insurance products and risk management services to individuals, businesses, and organizations. With more than 500 associates, Glatfelter Insurance Group writes an excess of $600 million in written premium and serves over 30,000 customers in all 50 states and Canada. Under Tony’s leadership, GIG has won A Best Places to Work in PA for 19 consecutive years. He now serves as Chairman for Glatfelter Insurance Group.
Tony’s support for people and organizations making a difference in the community goes beyond just his place of employment. He is currently involved with several boards and committees including the Arthur J. & Lee R. Glatfelter Foundation, Better York, Crispus Attacks Association, United Way of York County, International Association of Fire Chiefs Foundation, PA Early Learning Investment Commission, Penn-Mar Human Services, Rotary Club of York, The Salvation Army, York Area Capital Campaign Advisory Group, York Habitat for Humanity, York County Literacy Council, York College – Trustee Emeritus, and York College Center for Community Engagement.
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 2024 award winners!
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