The Harrisburg Regional Chamber & Capital Region Economic Development Corporation (CREDC) today announced the eight visionary leaders and businesses to be honored for creating positive change in the Harrisburg region at its annual Catalyst Awards celebration.
Catalyst Awards are presented to those who demonstrate a commitment to making a difference in their communities, creating more opportunities for business and building a brighter future in the Harrisburg region, according to a press release.
The Chamber & CREDC will host the Catalyst Awards ceremony Dec. 4 at the Hilton Harrisburg and the Whitaker Center for Science and the Arts. The event will begin at 5:30 p.m. with a heavy hors d’oeuvres reception at the Hilton, followed by the awards program at 6:30 p.m. in the Sunoco Theater. Tickets are available at HarrisburgRegionalChamber.org.
“We are incredibly proud to honor this group of businesses and individuals for their dedication to growing our community,” said David Black, President and CEO of the Harrisburg Regional Chamber & CREDC. “We’ve had more nominations this year than our past years, and we credit our Catalyst Awards committee with making difficult decisions on who to honor when we have so many impactful organizations in our region.”
The winners include the following individuals and companies, with the information gathered from a press release:
Athena Award
Claudia Williams, The Human Zone, LLC: Speaker, author and founder of The Human Zone, Williams provides leadership mentoring, development and training and a variety of strategic human resources support across a broad range of industries. Williams developed frientorship®, an individual and team development model that encompasses key principles of friendship, mentorship and leadership. She regularly donates her time to help leaders make better decisions, to help employees maximize their potential and to help businesses thrive in our community – and beyond.
Business Diversity Champion Award
Todd Snovel, PA Commission on LGBTQ+ Affairs: Snovel has demonstrated a commitment to the ideals of diversity and inclusion through his 15-year career. Based on Snovel’s leadership and success in inclusive practices, he was appointed by Gov. Tom Wolf to lead the Pennsylvania Commission on LGBTQ Affairs, the first of its kind in the nation. In his role, Todd serves as a He now travels across 67 counties of the Commonwealth, engaging with businesses, organizations, health care systems, schools, and networks to raise visibility and support for LGBTQ communities.
Catalyst Award
Dr. Eric Darr, Harrisburg University of Science & Technology: Darr, president of Harrisburg University of Science & Technology, stepped into his leadership role in 2012 after serving the university since its inception as chief financial officer, then as provost and executive vice president. Darr has led the university through an explosive period of growth and prosperity within the last year, helping to build it into a powerful economic driver for Harrisburg and the region as a whole.
Corporate Citizen of the Year
UGI Utilities, Inc.: At UGI Utilities, Inc., providing safe, reliable and efficient energy for its customers and communities is a core value, as well as positively impacting the lives of its employees and the communities it serves. UGI Utilities, Inc. and its employees dedicate their community efforts to the areas of education (childhood literacy, career awareness, STEM programing), community development (nonprofit support), disaster response (partnership with American Red Cross) and the environment (support for environmentally-friendly projects).
Emerging Business Leader of the Year
Blake Lynch, Harrisburg Bureau of Police: The Harrisburg Bureau of Police recognized an opportunity to fortify its mission by engaging a dedicated civilian liaison – a bridge to facilitate communication and cooperation between Harrisburg’s police officers, its citizens and community partners. With his gift of communication and passion for the Harrisburg community and the Bureau’s mission, Lynch stepped into this role. In less than two years, he has transformed his role as the city’s Community Policing Coordinator into a driving force for positive partnerships between Harrisburg’s citizens and law enforcement who risk their lives daily to protect them.
Government Leader of the Year Award
Rep. Sheryl Delozier, Pa. House of Representatives: Delozier, A Cumberland County Republican, is currently serving her serving her sixth two-year term on behalf of the residents of the 88th District. For more than 25 years, she has helped rape and domestic violence victims in a variety of capacities, including as an escort, hotline volunteer and board member. She placed emphasis on clean slates and fresh starts through bi-partisan cooperation by developing legislation that was signed into law to seal low-level criminal records after 10 years without a subsequent criminal arrest.
Small Business of the Year Award
Triscari: Triscari Video Web Marketing consists of a highly-trained and motivated professional team of artists, technicians, sales and marketing specialists who take great pride in the quality of their work. For over 45 years, it has been their belief that technology is an invaluable tool for effective messaging — but only when it’s used effectively. The team encourages all businesses that are planning to integrate media into their marketing, recruitment, training, and educational programs.
Volunteer of the Year Award
Sylvia Hepler, Launching Lives, LLC : Sylvia Hepler, President of Launching Lives, LLC, is a career development specialist for managers and executives based in Mechanicsburg. She supports clients as they upgrade their current job performance, seek a promotion, and plan/navigate a career transition. Trained and certified by The Rescue Institute in Colorado and Quantum Endeavors in Chicago, Hepler has helped develop and sustain women’s mentorship programming at the Harrisburg Regional Chamber, such as the Chamber Business Women speaker series and the CBW Lean In Circles, formed after the national Lean In Circle model.
Tickets are available for the Catalyst Awards online through the Harrisburg Regional Chamber website at https://www.harrisburgregionalchamber.org/catalystawards/.