Kim Schaller, vice president and Chief Marketing Officer for Hershey Entertainment & Resorts Company, oversees the marketing responsibilities for the entire company.  Schaller was the first female VP in the company's history and her appointment marked the first time that Marketing was represented at the VP level.

Schaller is responsible for coordinating the overall branding initiatives for the company by maximizing the branding synergies across all operating divisions.  Employed with Hershey Entertainment & Resorts Company for more than 18 years, Schaller has held several positions within the Company, including Managing Director of Corporate Sales & Marketing and Director of Marketing for Hersheypark.  Schaller was appointed vice president of marketing in 1997, and in 2004, was elected as Chief Marketing Officer, continuing with all of her responsibilities in her current position as vice president of marketing.

A graduate of The Pennsylvania State University, Schaller holds a bachelor’s degree in advertising.  Her area of professional expertise includes travel and tourism, and  destination marketing.  She serves on the Executive Committee of Hospitality Sales & Marketing Association International and is a past chair and member of Susquehanna Area Regional Airport Authority.  Throughout her professional career, Schaller has been recognized as one of the top marketing professionals and has won numerous awards for her efforts in the industry.  

Patricia L. Gadsden
 

Pat Gadsden is the founder and President of Life Esteem Inc., a personal and professional enrichment training/consulting firm.  She is an entrepreneur and respected workshop and seminar leader who works with businesses, state agencies, colleges and schools, and educational and human service organizations.  Mrs. Gadsden has made numerous presentations and speeches at conferences and conventions. After becoming a caregiver for her father she expanded her business focus and created Aging Wisely Seminars for Baby Boomers and Their Families with specific interest around care giving issues.  She is the author of Caregiver Basics: A Primer for the Family Caregiver.  She also co-hosts a weekly public affair TV talk/show program called Life Esteem, on the CBS Harrisburg affiliate television station, WHP-TV 21.

Monica Gould

Monica Gould is the President of Strategic Consulting Partners, a certified Women’s Business Enterprise, has been in business since 1994. Strategic Consulting Partners specializes in Strategic Planning, Operations Planning, Organizational Development, Project Management and Leadership Development Training. Prior to starting Strategic Consulting Partners, Monica was an executive in both MCI Telecommunication Corporation and Whirlpool Corporation. In each company, she was charged with new business start-ups, team and leadership development, and strategic and marketing planning. She has a MBA in marketing from American University. In 2007, Monica became an approved and certified consultant for both Leadership Management Institute (LMI) in Texas and Pennsylvania Association of Non-Profit Organization’s (PANO) Standards of Excellence Program.

Deana Hollister

Deana Hollister is a seasoned HR professional with 15 years of hands-on experience.  She is currently the HR Director for Rhoads & Sinon LLP, a law firm in the Harrisburg area.  She has significant experience working as a strategic business partner with executive management to help shape the desired culture of the organization.  Her background includes working as a senior HR consultant for HR consulting firms, working with clients from various industries.  Deana has also spent 10 years as a vice president in HR for a community bank in Lancaster County. 

Julie A. Lichty

Julie A. Lichty is an independent Business & Career Coach based in York, PA.  Julie partners with clients in central Pennsylvania and across the country providing professional, results-oriented business and career coaching services. As a former vice president for a $250 million dollar media group and with 20+ years in business development and planning, human resources, and coaching, Julie works with clients to strengthen and improve their business operations and their careers.  Her proven coaching process helps clients get focused, discover what they really want, and achieve their goals.  She has a B. S. degree in Psychology & Business and is a graduate of Leadership York.  She is equally committed to making a difference for her coaching clients as well as in her community and around the world.

Fred Lovelace

Fred Lovelace is the founder and President/Principal Consultant of The VitalLink Consulting Agency. He has over 40 years experience in management and management-related positions requiring proven personnel and project management skills.  The scope of his experiences include contract administration, expertise in providing direction and supervision to the activities of people and projects, management of financial and property assets for operational and support activities, and abilities and experience in problem solving and decision making.  He has demonstrated knowledge and skills in the areas of training development, counterintelligence and security investigations, system development and acquisition, and principles and actions required in the management of systems test and evaluation.  Fred’s educational background includes a Bachelor of Science degree in Education from Indiana State College, Indiana, Pennsylvania (currently the Indiana University of Pennsylvania);  a Masters of Science degree in Systems Management from the University of Southern California and an Associates of Arts degree in Paralegal Studies from the University of Maryland, European Division.

Amber Lovette

Amber Lovette is a graduate of the University of North Carolina at Greensboro where she earned a Bachelor of Arts in Communication. She has a seven-year background in marketing management with CBL Properties, a nationwide top mall developer. As the Director of the North East Regional Division for ThreeDM Communications, she is a partner in expanding this marketing consulting company to the Harrisburg area.  Simultaneously, Amber introduced the Ladies Who Launch Incubator to the greater Harrisburg market in February 2005 and has been facilitating workshops for women entrepreneurs as well as leading the Incubator Ongoing program and was coordinator and host of the inaugural Ladies Who Launch Live event in April 2007.

Dr. Lucia Murphy

Dr. Lucia Murphy, also well known as “Dr. Murph,” has inspired organizations and individuals to leverage their unique strengths and talents to create success that sticks. She brings the power of cutting edge practices and Human Performance Technology approaches to help her clients create sustainable success. Through leadership of her business, DoctorMurph.com, she focuses on proven strategies for innovative executive, entrepreneurial, and team development. She is the author of the forthcoming book entitled, Leaderspeak: 7 Conversations that Create Sustainable Success.  She is fluent in English and Spanish and has appeared both on television and in radio broadcasts. Lucia has developed her expertise from over 20 years of corporate and academic experience. On the corporate side, Lucía has made significant contributions to marketing, strategy, and human performance technology for Fortune 100 companies, including Xerox, Frito-Lay and Campbell Soup. In academe, Lucia has taught, published and developed important thought leadership pieces for Penn State University and the University of Arkansas.

Deb Pajak

Deb is a financial planner with Wienken & Associates in Camp Hill, Pennsylvania.  She has been in the financial services industry for fifteen years.  She is dedicated to helping her clients achieve financial peace of mind through education and comprehensive planning.  She works with individuals, families, and small businesses to achieve their goals.  Deb graduated from Penn State University with highest honors.  She is a Qualifying Member of the Million Dollar Round Table (2002-Present) and also has qualified as a Leader’s Qualifier for Mass Mutual Life Insurance Company. She holds the CFP®, ChFC®, CLTC, and Series 7 designation.

Rick Pierce

An award winning teacher and motivational speaker, Dr. Pierce holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology from Monmouth College in New Jersey, with a minor in Interpersonal and Small Group Communication. He received his Masters of Science degree in Counseling from the Pennsylvania State University and later received his Doctor of Philosophy degree from Texas Tech University in the area of Counseling Psychology. In addition to his consulting work, Rick has extensive leadership experience in both the non-profit and for-profit arenas.  Rick has owned his own small business, has served on several major Boards, and most recently served as a member of the Senior Leadership Team for one of the nation’s larger non-profit organizations where he had oversight responsibility for a staff of 300+ professionals and para-professionals and an annual budget in excess of $13.5 million. Prior to his corporate experience, Rick was a tenured Associate Professor of Human Development and Family Studies at the Pennsylvania State University where he taught courses in all areas of Life-Span Development and served as a member of the Penn State Graduate Faculty.  Over the past 25 years, Rick has designed and conducted numerous seminars, workshops and training experiences in such diverse areas as interpersonal and small group communication, team building, conflict resolution, time management, program development, supervision and leadership development, as well as human growth and development, relationship enhancement, values clarification, clinical supervision and counseling and psychotherapy.

Jim Rowell

Mr. Rowell holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Secondary Education and Mathematics from Potsdam State College in New York. He received his Masters of Science degree in Education, with a focus in Instructional Technology and Media Management also from Potsdam State College. Jim has had extensive experience as a professional trainer and supervisor and most recently served as the Director of Learning and Performance for a large organization where he had oversight responsibility for all of the learning opportunities for approximately 1,300 employees.  Throughout his 20 years of professional experience, Jim has provided hundreds of hours of training and consulting. Jim has personally designed and conducted numerous seminars, workshops and training experiences in such diverse areas as human growth and development, relationship enhancement and development, values clarification, crime prevention, time management, program design, crisis management, standards development, conflict resolution, team building, management and supervision, and leadership development.

Marcia Rynearson

Marcia Rynearson is no stranger to success as both a business owner and competitive player in the corporate world.  She is the CEO of ActionCOACH of Central Pennsylvania, a business coaching firm.  Her coaching firm was recently recognized as the #1 ActionCOACH franchise in North America.  Marcia works with business owners and entrepreneurs to help them increase sales, improve profits, and eliminate chaos.  Her business improvement toolbox includes over 400 strategies that have successfully helped businesses all over the world.

Angela A. Thomas

Angela Thomas, of Latsha Davis Yohe & McKenna, P.C., is a member of the firm’s Employment and Labor Law Group.  Her practice concentration is employment law and litigation.  She advises clients on wage and hour issues, affirmative action, discrimination matters, hiring practices and terminations, policy development, labor relations, and executive compensation matters.  Angela has tried labor arbitration and National Labor Relations Board Hearing.  She has handled audits by the U.S. Dept. of Labor, PA Dept. of Labor & Industry, and the Office of Contractor Compliance Programs for clients.  She is a frequent lecturer on employment and labor law issues.  Angela is also past President of the Board of Directors for the PROGRAM – “It’s About Change.”

Karen Young

Karen Young, founder and President of HR Resolutions, has been involved in personnel and human resources for nearly 20 years. Her background includes in-depth experience in distribution, service and manufacturing organizations on the East Coast.  Her company evolved from Karen’s passion for her profession and her desire to provide solid, up-to-date human resource expertise for small businesses that have no need for a full-time HR department. The mission of the Company is simple – provide peace of mind to businesses through time saving, money saving and convenient personalized approaches to Human Resources. Karen’s proudest accomplishment to date is being recognized as one of Pennsylvania’s Top 50 Women in Business in 2007.

Dana Zamolyi