STATE COLLEGE, PA – Scholar Hotels and Big Spring Spirits are proud to announce the grand opening this Memorial Day Weekend of a brand-new outdoor patio space at the Big Spring Spirits Tasting Room at Scholar Hotel in downtown State College. This addition offers guests a vibrant new way to enjoy Big Spring’s award-winning cocktails and hospitality in an al fresco setting.
The new outdoor space, located in the front entrance courtyard of the hotel, brings together thoughtful design and downtown energy—creating a casual, yet elevated experience for hotel guests, visitors, and locals alike. Outfitted with comfortable lounge furniture and table service, the space is perfect for sipping cocktails, gathering with friends, or unwinding after a day in Happy Valley.
“The addition of this outdoor space reflects our ongoing commitment to creating memorable, community-focused environments for our guests,” said Ronald Balle, Vice President of Sales and Marketing at Scholar Hotels. “The combination of Big Spring Spirits’ unique cocktail offerings and our newly expanded footprint downtown allows us to enhance the overall experience of staying or visiting the Scholar Hotel.”
The new patio extends the immersive tasting room experience Big Spring Spirits first brought to the Scholar in 2024. Guests can now enjoy a full menu of handcrafted cocktails—featuring Big Spring’s locally sourced, sustainably produced spirits—as well as spirit tastings and cocktail flights, all while taking in the downtown ambiance under the open sky.
“We’re thrilled to be able to offer our guests another way to enjoy our cocktails and hospitality,” said Jose Felix, General Manager of Scholar Hotel. “There’s something about sipping a locally made drink outside, surrounded by the energy of downtown, that just feels right.”
The Scholar Hotel State College is located in the historic Glennland Building and is part of the Tapestry Collection by Hilton. It features standard and extended-stay guest rooms and over 4,000 square feet of meeting space.
Image Attached: Shown left to right: Leslie Temple, Fulton Bank; and Lauren Bryson, Focus Central PA Chair
Milton, PA – Fulton Bank made a commitment to invest $3,000 in Focus Central Pennsylvania for 2025 to support their mission to attract investment that cultivates economic growth in Central Pennsylvania! This mission work drives smart regional economic growth by marketing the region to attract quality investment projects that cultivate economic growth. Recognizing the mission investment in the photo is Leslie Temple, SVP Market Leader/Business Development for Fulton Bank and Lauren Bryson, Executive Director of Focus Central PA.
“Fulton Bank is honored to invest and support efforts that contribute to creating economic growth and opportunity for the communities we serve. We are proud to partner with Focus Central PA to support its vital mission to attract investment to Central PA.” said Leslie Temple, Fulton Bank’s Senior Vice President Market Leader/Business Development.
Fulton Bank was established in 1882 and strives to deliver the best banking experience for their customers. As a part of Fulton Financial Corporation, a $25 billion financial services holding company, Fulton Bank offers a broad array of financial products and services in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Maryland, Delaware, and Virginia. Fulton Bank offers convenience in neighborhoods across the region through over 220 financial centers and specialty offices and almost 300 ATMs. https://www.fultonbank.com/
Focus Central Pennsylvania is part of a committed team in the region that is driving economic growth for communities in Centre, Columbia, Montour, Northumberland, Union, Snyder, and Mifflin Counties. Focus Central Pennsylvania proactively connects with site location consultants and companies looking to expand. This work helps our communities become an even greater place to live and work.
STATE COLLEGE, PA – May 16, 2025 – Kish Bank hosted its 8th annual Kish Celebrates Community reception at the newly renovated Nittany Lion Inn, where 250 attendees gathered in celebration of community and the heroic efforts of the community organizations, nonprofits, and dedicated volunteers of the Central PA region.
“We are here to share our pride in this region, celebrate your commitment to our communities, and recognize the work of so many outstanding organizations and individuals impacting the quality of life here in Central PA,” said William P. Hayes, Executive Chairman of Kish Bank, as he addressed the crowd. “Like you, all of us at Kish are so proud to call this place home, and proud to be part of the lives of the people who live here. And now, as Kish Bank celebrates its 125th anniversary of serving Central Pennsylvania’s communities, it becomes even more important to us that we focus on the tradition of community caring and reinvestment that has differentiated us since our founding in 1900.”
Humanitarians of the Year Award
A highlight of the evening was the presentation of Kish’s Humanitarians of the Year Award to Steve and Patricia Benkovic of State College. Called Penn State’s “first couple of chemistry” for more than five decades of pioneering contributions in their shared discipline to address threats to human health, the Benkovics’ Research Initiative is a funding mechanism designed to directly support fresh, bold research projects at the interface of chemistry and the life sciences.
As Hayes explained, “Together, they have dedicated their lives to unraveling the mysteries of enzyme mechanisms and catalysis. Their groundbreaking research has earned them prestigious accolades, including the National Medal of Science. They believed in the potential of their work and found innovative ways to support and advance their research. As we honor Steve and Pat Benkovic, we celebrate their unwavering commitment to science and humanity. Their journey is a shining example of what can be achieved through resilience, collaboration, and an unwavering belief in the power of science. They have shown us that even in the face of adversity, we can rise above and make a lasting impact on the world.”
The Humanitarians of the Year Award was sponsored by Strouse Electric Inc.
Outstanding Nonprofit of the Year Award
Girls Night Out, Altoona Inc. was awarded Kish’s Outstanding Nonprofit of the Year Award in recognition of being on the front lines of fighting breast cancer here in Central PA.
In presenting the award, Kish Bank President and CEO Greg Hayes said, “What began as a simple ‘pay it forward’ effort has grown into a movement. Since 2008, this entirely volunteer-led organization has raised more than $1.8 million—funds that directly support breast cancer research, life-saving screenings, and financial assistance for uninsured and underinsured patients right here in Central Pennsylvania. This group continues to show what’s possible when purpose meets perseverance.”
The Outstanding Nonprofit of the Year Award was sponsored by UPMC Altoona and its Foundation.
Other Highlights
Kish’s Community Impact Award, an award given annually to a Kish employee for their outstanding volunteering efforts, was awarded to Carolyn Donaldson, Vice President, Community Engagement. Donaldson was recognized for serving her Central PA community by volunteering over 200 hours each year serving on boards and committees, including The Central PA Festival of the Arts, The Altoona Symphony, Special Olympics PA, and as a Trustee for Mount Aloysius College in Cresson, PA.
Kish highlighted its unique partnership with Giv Local, a Certified Benefit Corporation that provides credit card merchant processing with a promise to donate 20% of the revenue back to a local nonprofit of each business’s choosing at no additional cost. Greg Hayes announced that in 2024, a total of $64,475 was donated to 133 nonprofits in Central PA through Kish and Giv Local’s partnership, bringing total donations since its launch in 2020 to over $188,000.
The Bob Perks Cancer Assistance Fund, PA Pink Zone, and the American Cancer Society’s Relay For Life of Mifflin/Juniata were honored for leading the fight against cancer in the Central PA region. Kish celebrated the results of its 2024 Kish for the Cure Campaign, through which employees raised over $90,000 for the three beneficiary organizations. Since its inception, Kish’s annual campaigns against cancer have raised more than $625,000.
The evening also featured Katie Shumacher-Cawley, Penn State Women’s Volleyball Head Coach, as a special guest and keynote speaker. Schumacher-Cawley spoke of leading her remarkable 2024 team to the NCAA Division 1 National Championship, all while publicly battling her breast cancer diagnosis. As the first female head coach to lead a team to this title, Shumacher-Cawley thanked her family, her team, her staff, and her community for their ongoing support and resilience, and spoke of the hard work that continues this upcoming season to build on the success and strength of the team and her survivorship.
Humanitarians of the Year Award recipients. From left: Patricia Benkovic, Bill Hayes, Steve Benkovic
(Lancaster, PA) May 15, 2025 – Providence Engineering is proud to announce that Jonathan U. Dougherty, Ph.D., Vice President, Strategic Initiatives and affectionately known as Dr. J., has been recognized by the Penn State College of Engineering with the Outstanding Engineering Alumni Award—the highest honor bestowed by the College.
A Celebrated Career in Engineering and Education Dr. J. earned his Bachelor of Architectural Engineering in 1999 and his Ph.D. in Architectural Engineering in 2006 from Penn State. With a career spanning more than two decades, he has made significant contributions to the architecture, engineering, and construction (AEC) industry through his leadership and dedication to education. At Providence Engineering, he leads workforce development, marketing, learning and development, and chairs the Employee Stock Ownership Program (ESOP) Committee.
Dana Ziegler, PE, President of Providence Engineering, shared, “Dr. J. brings passion and purpose to everything he does—whether it’s advancing our company’s internal culture, championing future engineers, or supporting the Penn State community. We are thrilled to see his contributions recognized with this prestigious award.”
His impact also extends to the classroom. Dr. J. has taught at both Penn State and Virginia Tech and continues to serve as a mentor and advocate for engineering students and young professionals across the AEC industry.
A Penn Stater Through and Through Dr. J. has a long-standing commitment to the Penn State community. He currently serves as President of the Penn State Engineering Alumni Society, board member of the Fox Graduate School Alumni Society, and board member emeritus of the Penn State Wilkes-Barre Advisory Board. Dr. J. is also past president of the Penn State Alumni Society of Architectural Engineers and. His volunteer efforts have earned him recognition as Penn State’s Volunteer of the Year, and his professional leadership was acknowledged by Engineering News-Record in its 2013 “Top 20 Under 40”.
In addition to his numerous volunteer leadership roles, Dr. J. is known by most Penn Staters as “The Button Man,” for his tradition of wearing a coat covered in over 1,000 Penn State football buttons at Homecoming and other university events. This spirited display has been featured by media outlets and the College of Engineering, reflecting his deep pride in the University and its community.
“We are proud of Jonathan’s accomplishments, both in industry and as president of the Penn State Engineering Alumni Society,” said Tonya L. Peeples, Harold and Inge Marcus Dean of Engineering. “The recipients of the Outstanding Engineering Alumni Award embody what makes the Penn State alumni network so powerful: innovation that solves real-world problems, leadership that inspires others and a commitment to excellence and to the University that spans entire careers.”
ABOUT PROVIDENCE ENGINEERING Established in 1992, Providence Engineering provides Structural, Mechanical, Electrical and Plumbing engineering design and drafting services for new buildings, renovations, and additions. For three decades, we have offered traditional building engineering design, construction means and methods design and served as the Engineer of Record for our clients. We take pride in offering a creative and flexible design approach that helps our client’s vision become reality. This approach, and our legacy of constructible, affordable, and timely results, is why we are the Engineer of Choice. With a team of highly skilled professionals and a 100% employee-owned structure, Providence Engineering is dedicated to delivering reliable, innovative, and client-focused solutions.
Event strengthens regional workforce, offering more than 1,000 open positions in key industries.
State College, PA – May 21, 2025 – More than 275 job seekers from Centre and surrounding counties gathered at C3 Sports on Wednesday, May 14, for the Centre County Spring Job Fair. The event, hosted by PA CareerLink® Centre County in partnership with the Chamber of Business & Industry of Centre County (CBICC), connected job seekers with over 75 employers seeking to fill more than 1,000 open positions.
Job opportunities spanned a wide range of industries including healthcare, education, public safety, skilled trades, manufacturing, retail, banking, technology, and more. Positions ranged from entry-level to experienced, with employment options including full-time, part-time, seasonal, hybrid, and remote roles.
“The goal of this partnership and event was to strengthen our regional economy by connecting residents with meaningful employment opportunities close to home,” said Greg Scott, President and CEO of CBICC. “Bringing together Centre County employers and job seekers from across central Pennsylvania not only helps fill critical workforce needs but also lays the foundation for sustained economic growth in our communities.”
The partnership between PA CareerLink® and CBICC is expected to continue in future years, creating a sustained platform to connect job seekers with employers, address regional workforce challenges, and support long-term economic growth across central Pennsylvania.
“These types of partnerships and events are essential to the success of our regional workforce system,” said Erica Mulberger, Advance Central PA Executive Director. “The job fair created opportunities for job seekers to find meaningful employment and for businesses to find the talent they need. We are proud to support events like this that drive economic success in our region.”
Missed the Job Fair? PA CareerLink® Has You Covered!
Whether you’re growing your team or advancing your career, you don’t have to wait for the next event to take the next step! PA CareerLink ® offers no-cost personalized career support year-round to help job seekers and businesses succeed. From resume help and interview prep to job matching and training programs, we’re here to help you reach your goals. Visit centralpacareerlink.org to learn more.
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About PA CareerLink®
Launched in July 2012, PA CareerLink® is part of the Pennsylvania Department of Labor & Industry’s initiative to transform the landscape of how jobseekers find family sustaining jobs and how employers find the skilled candidates that they need. Through this initiative, a user-friendly, premiere job-matching system has been created to help bridge the gap that currently exists between jobseekers and employers.
PA CareerLink® is an equal opportunity employer/program. Auxiliary aids and services available upon request to individuals with disabilities. Program funded with federal dollars. For more information, visit: https://advancecentralpa.org/about-us/public-notices/.
About CBICC
The Chamber of Business & Industry of Centre County (CBICC) is a dynamic membership organization that champions the interests of private and public organizations. As the region’s leading economic development entity, the CBICC is committed to cultivating a vibrant business landscape by driving economic development, stimulating job creation, and fostering innovation. For more information, visit: www.cbicc.org.
