Menu
Join us at the Penn Stater Hotel & Conference Center for the exciting unveiling of the Voice of Business: Centre County’s Economic Development Strategic Plan, a pivotal event that promises to shape the future of Centre County!
This is your chance to be among the first to witness the culmination of months of dedicated work and collaboration, as we reveal a visionary plan designed to drive sustainable and smart economic growth for Centre County. Hear directly from area leaders, as we share innovative strategies that will transform our community and open doors to a new vision.
Don’t miss this unique opportunity to connect with key leaders, share your insights, and celebrate the promising future we are building together.
PLEASE NOTE: All food is prepared in a common kitchen. Please make us aware of any allergies. If you need a vegetarian option, please email Benita Rannie, benita@cbicc.org. Thank you!
Greg’s primary responsibility at CBICC is to provide effective leadership to the organization and its members in carrying out the Chamber’s mission, directing internal operations and developing external relationships beneficial to business and community advancement.
He oversees the Chamber’s economic development activity under the banner of the Centre County Industrial Development Corporation/Centre County Economic Development Partnership.
Neeli Bendapudi serves as the 19th President of Penn State and leads the University with a vision grounded in the principles of Purpose, Agility, and Opportunity. With a nearly 30-year career in higher education and business, Dr. Bendapudi is recognized as a leading educator, academic, and executive. She previously served as president of the University of Louisville, in various leadership positions with the University of Kansas and Ohio State, and as the executive vice president and chief customer officer for Huntington National Bank. Dr. Bendapudi is a values-driven leader focused on creating opportunities for Penn State’s students, faculty, and staff to thrive while advancing the University’s values and its land-grant mission of teaching, research, and public service.
Mark Higgins, a Michigan State University graduate with a background in business law, marketing, human resources, and computer science, has a career focused on revitalizing businesses across various sectors. Elected as a Centre County Commissioner in 2015, he served as Vice Chair for seven years and now serves as Board Chair in addition to serving on 36 authorities, boards, and commissions at the local, county, regional, state, and national levels. His expertise has led to the establishment of three business incubators, initiatives to eliminate fossil fuel use in county government, and service on numerous boards and commissions.
Benjamin Kirshner serves as the inaugural Chief Transformation and Opportunity Officer for the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Prior to his current role, in 2004, Mr. Kirshner founded Elite SEM, which later became Tinuiti—an esteemed leader in digital performance marketing. Under his leadership, the agency boasted a remarkable average compound annual growth rate of 50% from inception until its acquisition by Mountaingate Capital in 2017. Following this, the company expanded through the acquisition of three additional agencies, growing to a workforce of over 700 employees by 2020, and was subsequently acquired by New Mountain Capital. Presently, Tinuiti employs over 1,200 professionals across the United States.
Mr. Kirshner's innovative approach to corporate culture has earned widespread acclaim, securing accolades such as the foremost workplace for Millennials in the USA—a recognition featured on the Today Show—and top rankings in Entrepreneur Magazine, Inc Magazine, Best Company to Work For, and Crain's. In 2018, he was ranked the 12th Best CEO in the U.S. by Glassdoor.
Before his appointment in the Shapiro Administration, Mr. Kirshner imparted his extensive knowledge of digital marketing as an instructor for second-year MBA students at Harvard Business School for two years.
Luke Bernstein is president and CEO of the Pennsylvania Chamber of Business and Industry, the largest broad-based business association in Pennsylvania whose membership comprises nearly 10,000 businesses of all sizes and industry sectors—representing nearly 50 percent of the private workforce in the Commonwealth.
A seasoned financial, government, and public policy professional, Luke came to the Chamber in 2022 with more than 20 years of experience in the public and private sectors. In his first month as the Chamber’s president and CEO, Luke helped lead the historic tax reform effort that included the reduction of Pennsylvania’s Corporate Net Income Tax rate from the second highest level in the nation to the eighth lowest by 2031, as well as notable tax relief for small businesses.
Luke has been included in the top 10 of City and State’s “Pennsylvania Power 100” and “Impact 50” for his leadership in making the Commonwealth a better, safer place to live, work, and play.
Before leading the PA Chamber, Luke was most recently executive vice president, chief operations and technology officer at Orrstown Financial Services. He had served as Orrstown’s corporate spokesperson since 2017.
He was previously senior vice president of external affairs at the Pennsylvania Bankers Association from 2015 to 2017 and deputy chief of staff for former Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Corbett from 2011 to 2015.
In addition to his executive leadership roles in the private sector and state government, Luke has experience working at the federal level, as a former appointed advisor in the Administration of President George W. Bush and as an aide in the U.S. Senate. He holds a bachelor’s degree in political science and policy studies from Dickinson College, where he also served as an adjunct professor.
Luke also completed the Duke Leadership Program at Duke University’s Fuqua School of Business. He is a very active member of his community, serving on numerous boards and as a youth sports coach.
It’s not too late to become a sponsor for this important community event! For questions about sponsorship, please reach out to Benita Rannie at benita@cbicc.org.
Thank you to our sponsors
