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Month: March 2026

Park Home Joins CBICC Network as Investor Level Member

Posted on by Jules Slater

CBICC is proud to welcome Park Home as an Investor-Level member of the Chamber.

Since 1940, Park Home has been a trusted, family-owned furniture destination in Central Pennsylvania, helping generations of customers turn houses into homes. With a wide selection of quality furniture and mattresses for every room, Park Home combines product expertise with a genuine commitment to service.

What truly sets Park Home apart is its people. Their experienced team focuses on building relationships, offering expert guidance, and providing free in-home design consultations that help customers feel confident in their choices. That care and consistency have earned Park Home recognition as a community favorite and a business families return to year after year.

We’re glad to welcome Park Home into the CBICC network and appreciate the lasting connections they’ve built with customers and the broader community.

Thrive HR Management Opens Office in State College

Posted on by Jules Slater

State College, PA – Thrive HR Management is pleased to announce the opening of its office located at 330 Innovation Park, Suite 205, State College, PA, providing a home base for its growing team and expanded services to local businesses and nonprofit organizations.

Since opening in 2021 as a fully remote firm, Thrive HR Management has experienced steady growth. The new office location was established following the hiring of additional staff and the continued expansion of services to organizations throughout the region.

The office provides space for collaboration, team training, and client meetings. While Thrive HR often works directly onsite with clients, the State College office allows the team to host meetings and work closely together as the company continues to grow.

“Since launching Thrive HR in 2021, we’ve had the opportunity to support more than 150 employers in Centre County and the surrounding area,” said Becky Dreese, Owner of Thrive HR Management. “Opening an office in State College reflects our continued growth and our commitment to serving our local business community. As we expand, we look forward to building a team of experienced HR professionals who can partner with more businesses.”

Thrive HR Management offers practical HR advice and solutions to small businesses and nonprofits, including coaching, onboarding, offboarding, policy creation, compliance, job descriptions, and workplace best practices.

To learn more about Thrive HR Management or schedule a consultation, visit www.thrivehrmgmt.com.

CBICC Welcomes Three New Members

Posted on by Jaimie Confer

We’re excited to welcome several new members to the Chamber of Business & Industry of Centre County this February. Each brings a different set of skills and services, and together, they add to the strong network of businesses supporting our community every day.

Teeter Insurance Agency: The Teeter Group is an independent insurance agency serving Central Pennsylvania, offering personal, commercial, and employee benefits coverage. Their team works closely with clients to understand what they need and help them make smart decisions when it comes to protecting their business, family, and future. With access to a wide range of insurance carriers and more than 100 years of combined experience, they’re able to offer thoughtful guidance and coverage that can adapt as life and business change. Learn more about Teeter Insurance Agency here.

GoodHands Roofing: GoodHands Roofing provides residential roofing services across Central Pennsylvania, including repairs, replacements, and inspections. Founded by brothers Mahlon and Melvin Fisher, the company is built on a simple idea: do the job right and treat people well. That approach shows up in their attention to detail, the way they communicate with customers, and the pride they take in their work. They also give back locally by donating a portion of their profits to charities and churches in the communities they serve. Learn more about GoodHands Roofing here.

Paramount Contracting: Paramount Contracting, founded in 2005, specializes in wall and ceiling construction for projects of all sizes, from smaller jobs to large, complex builds. Their team focuses on clear communication, accurate estimates, and delivering work on time, something their clients have come to rely on. Over the years, they’ve earned recognition as one of the region’s fastest-growing companies and a Best Place to Work, reflecting both the quality of their work and the strength of their team. Learn more about Paramount Contracting here.

These are the kinds of businesses people rely on every day, and the impact of that work shows up across our community. We’re glad to have them in the CBICC network and to highlight the role they play in keeping Centre County strong.

SpeedPro Central PA Now Open for Business, Offering Large Format Printing Services

Posted on by Jules Slater

Scheduled to host Grand Opening Event on April 13, 2026, featuring demonstrations and a raffle

Bellwood, PA  – March 17, 2026  – SpeedPro, a leading provider of best-in-class large format printing and graphics, today announced the opening of SpeedPro Central PA, its newest studio serving businesses throughout Central Pennsylvania under the ownership of locals Sara and Jake Bilthuis.

The studio will host a grand opening event on April 13, 2026, at 11:30 am ET. The event invites local business owners and community members to tour the facility with a variety of activities and refreshments planned:

  • Print demonstrations on the studio’s EFI 16 H+ flatbed UV printer and HP 700W latex printer.
  • Catered refreshments from locals K&J BBQ and Rachel Bites, alongside other refreshment offerings.
  • A raffle where attendees have the opportunity to win a gift card, a bottle of K&J BBQ sauce, and other merchandise.

Jake brings over 20 years of operations management experience with Norfolk Southern Railroad, while Sara brings 20+ years of experience across government contracting, casework, volunteering, and raising their family. The couple’s decision to open the studio was driven by a shared desire to build something of their own, one that balances family life with meaningful impact in the local business community, and a passion for creative vinyl design.

“We’re excited to bring SpeedPro’s large-format printing services to Central PA,” said Sara Bilthuis. “Our goal is to help local businesses stand out with bold, high-quality graphics that elevate their brand and bring in new business for them.”

“We hope to create a positive environment for our studio to succeed in, and by extension, see other local businesses succeed thanks to the passion and quality of services we bring,” added Jake Bilthuis.

SpeedPro Central PA specializes in large-scale, high-resolution graphics, including car wraps, banners, decals, trade show displays, wall murals, and indoor and outdoor signage. The studio hopes to quickly establish itself as a top-performing location within the SpeedPro network while establishing strong partnerships across the region.

The studio will serve the Greater Central Pennsylvania region, including Bedford, Juniata, Altoona, State College, and beyond. Join the community for this grand opening event, located at 526 N. 4th St., Ste. 1, in Bellwood.

For more information on SpeedPro Central PA, please visit: speedpro.com/central-pa

About SpeedPro

SpeedPro is a 130-location franchise in the U.S., specializing in large-format printing. SpeedPro’s primary product applications include wall, window, and floor graphics, event displays, digital displays, signs, and vehicle and fleet wraps. SpeedPro serves a diverse range of industries, including advertising and marketing companies, retail, healthcare, museums, galleries, restaurants, franchises, event venues, educational institutions, and more. SpeedPro’s mission is to partner with businesses to achieve success through innovative visual solutions.

Media Contact: 

Crackle PR 

SpeedPro@Cracklepr.com

 

Thrive HR Management Announces Promotion of Ava Wagner to Senior HR Generalist

Posted on by Jules Slater

State College, PA – Thrive HR Management is pleased to announce the promotion of Ava Wagner to Senior HR Generalist, effective February 23.

Wagner joined Thrive HR Management nine months ago shortly after graduating from The Pennsylvania State University, where she earned a degree in Psychology. During her first six months with the company, Wagner completed extensive on-the-job HR training supported in part by funding from PA CareerLink’s On-the-Job Training program.

Since joining the company, Wagner has quickly demonstrated strong aptitude for human resources practices and client service. She now leads a variety of HR-related projects for small businesses and nonprofit organizations served by Thrive HR Management.

 “We were fortunate to learn about Ava through a mutual connection,” said Becky Dreese, Owner of Thrive HR Management. “Her hiring has allowed us to expand the services we provide and support more small businesses and organizations throughout Centre County. I’m excited to see how her role continues to evolve as the company grows.”

Founded in 2021, Thrive HR Management provides fractional HR consulting and human resources support to small businesses and nonprofit organizations across Pennsylvania.

To learn more about Thrive HR Management, visit www.thrivehrmgmt.com.