Lancaster Connects

In this episode, Jeff interviews Marlyn Barbosa, the Director at Tec Centro, a groundbreaking workforce program operating under the Spanish American Civic Association (SACA).  Marlyn opens up about the challenges she faced as she moved to a new country with a different language and culture. Discover how she reached out to SACA for support during the transitional phase and became a client in their...

In this episode, Ben and Jeff speak with Dr. Tracey Jones, a renowned author, speaker, veteran, and international leadership expert. Dr. Tracey Jones wears many hats, serving as the President of Tremendous Leadership and T3 Solutions. She carries on the legacy of her father, the legendary Charlie "Tremendous" Jones, in the insurance and motivational arenas. With a diverse background spanning the m...

Still riding high off of the amazing 100th episode, Ben & Jeff discuss their interview with Bret Michaels and share exciting news about ticket & VIP package giveaways for an Bret Michaels at Pardi-Gras 2023 in Central PA. Bret has given the Lancaster Connects community a whopping 40 tickets in total, with 10 pairs reserved for Hometown Heroes and 10 pairs for Veterans, along with a special...

So glad you could join us for our biggest episode yet, hometown hero and rockstar Bret Michaels shares his deep connection to Central Pennsylvania. Michaels, who was born and raised in Mechanicsburg, emphasizes the importance of home and the strong work ethic that characterizes the area's residents. Michaels' love for Central PA is evident in his dedication to giving back to the community. He crea...

Join Ben and Jeff in this episode as they interview Shannon Cleaveland, a CPA and  the owner and founder of Your Accounting Solution, LLC based in Lancaster, PA. With a career dedicated to serving the nonprofit community, Shannon's expertise as a non-profit accounting specialist shines through her accounting firm's mission to provide quality accounting and guidance to nonprofits and small business...

Ben & Jeff speaks with Liz Ackerman, the dynamic Executive Director of the Northern Lancaster County Chamber of Commerce. Liz shares her journey from Member Relations and Events Director to her current role, where she leads a dedicated team in serving over 440 businesses in the vibrant Northern Lancaster region. Liz's leadership style has led to remarkable achievements, including a steady incr...

Join Ben & Jeff on this episode as they dive into the captivating world of Magic & Wonder Dinner Theater with the founder and owner, Brett Myers. He and his team's commitment to innovation and creativity have propelled the business to new heights, making Magic & Wonder a must-visit destination for all magic enthusiasts. From transforming a simple theatre into a whimsical and enchanting...

In this episode, Ben & Jeff sit down with Stephen and Jordan, the dynamic duo behind HQ Water Solutions LLC, a leading provider of water treatment services in Lancaster and the surrounding areas. Stephen, the proud owner and founder, brings his extensive experience in the water treatment industry and a passion for helping others to the table. Jordan, co-owner and Business Development Executive...

The Long's Park Amphitheatre Foundation is a volunteer-driven organization dedicated to curating music and arts in Long's Park, Lancaster County. Their mission is to enrich the quality of life in the community by providing diverse cultural experiences. The foundation's financial resources come from businesses, individuals, and grants within their community. In addition to their events, the foundat...

In this episode, Ben will be joined by Jose Lopez, the President of SACA & SACA Development Corporation. With over two decades of experience in leadership positions, including in commercial real estate and financial services, Jose has a wealth of knowledge to share. Throughout his time at SACA, Jose has implemented a strategic model that encourages stakeholder and staff engagement, empowering...

On this episode, Jeff welcomes Nate Heisey and Mike Williams from H&H Group, a company that has been providing printing and sign-making services to the Lancaster area for over 50 years. Mike is the President of H&H Group. He shares the company's values of Relationships, Integrity, and Problem Solving, which have been refined over time to make the buying experience easier and better for the...

Whiff Roasters is a specialty coffee roaster located in Lititz, Pennsylvania. Since 1999, their focus has always been on superior quality and consistency. They roast only the highest grade Arabica beans acquired from estates all over the world and pride themselves on excellent quality and service. All of their coffees are freshly roasted and made to order in small, custom batches. You can expect t...

In this episode, Ben & Jeff speak with Megan Tomsheck, the Director of Fundraising and Development at VisionCorps. Megan is responsible for overseeing the fundraising and development department, which includes annual campaigns, grant writing, and the annual signature rappelling event, The Eye Drop. The funds raised from these initiatives go towards empowering individuals with vision loss to at...

In this episode, Ben & Jeff welcomes Dawn Cox who is a PT, MSPT, and CFMT. Dawn is a late bloomer by most physical therapist standards as she found herself in PT school at the age of thirty. In an effort to then be on the fast-track immediately after graduating, she signed up for her first functional manual therapy™ course with the Institute of Physical Art (IPA) in 2001 at the recommendation...

In this episode, Ben & Jeff will be joined by Dawn, the Executive Director at Historic Poole Forge in Churchtown, Lancaster County. After completing her undergraduate degree in Behavioral Psychology and French at Stetson University, she joined the Peace Corps and spent three years working in Zaire and the Central African Republic, traveling through West Africa before returning to the US for gr...

In this episode, Ben & Jeff welcomes Margot Hoerner from SCORE, which is the nation’s largest network of volunteers and expert business mentors helping small businesses achieve their business dreams and goals. Since 1964, they have provided education and mentorship to more than 11 million entrepreneurs. SCORE has a local chapter in Lancaster-Lebanon providing mentoring and educational opportun...

In this episode, Ben & Jeff speak with Jennifer King, a full-time Service Dog Ambassador for UDS, to discuss her journey with the organization. Jennifer began as a volunteer in April 2017 and was later hired as the administration assistant to the program. We'll learn about her role as an ambassador and the importance of spreading awareness about the program. Jennifer also shares her personal e...

In this episode, Ben speaks with Maureen Westcott, the Executive Director of The Arc Lancaster Lebanon, to discuss the organization's mission to empower individuals with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (I/DD) to live independent and fulfilling lives. With a personal connection to the cause as a parent of an adult with I/DD, Maureen shares her expertise as both a provider and advocate. ...

In this episode, Ben & Jeff are joined by Frances Gibbons, the Senior Director of Development at the Greater Pennsylvania Chapter of the Alzheimer's Association. Serving 59 counties in western, central and northeastern Pennsylvania, Frances and her team organizes and executes the Walk to End Alzheimer’s® events, the second-largest peer-to-peer fundraising event in the United States.  Here in t...

In this episode, Ben welcomes Jennie Groff, one of the owners of the Lancaster Sweet Shoppe and Stroopies, Inc. located in downtown Lancaster City. With over 23 years of marriage and 4 children, Jonathan and Jennie share their passion for using business to solve social issues and how it has allowed them to connect and serve people from different walks of life through their businesses. They will de...

In this episode, Ben & Jeff welcome Melissa Siwiec, the Executive Director of CMT (Central Market Trust). She brings a wealth of experience in nonprofit management, having served at organizations such as Big Brothers Big Sisters, United Way, and Clare House.  She holds a Bachelor's Degree in Human Development and Family Studies from Penn State and a Master's Degree in Organizational Leadership...

In this episode, Ben & Jeff welcomes Vanessa Philbert, who is the Chief Executive Officer for the Community Action Partnership of Lancaster County. In her role at CAP, she provides leadership and strategic vision to CAP’s 15-plus programs and brings a unique perspective to community problem-solving based on her lived experiences and journey out of poverty. She works to address generational pro...

In this episode, Ben & Jeff welcome Dominic Forte, a former contestant who was on the show, "Lego Masters''. This is where contestants compete for a chance to win $100,000 and be named the next “Lego Master”. Dominic has had a passion for Legos ever since he received his first lego set at 6 years old and it has now evolved into something amazing that brings creativity and skill together. They’...

In this episode, Mandy Richardson, Executive Director of Clare House will be joining with Ben & Jeff to discuss her experience working in nonprofit management and her vision for Clare House Lancaster, an organization that has been helping women and their children since 1980 through a mix of employment-focused programs, short-term housing, and goal-based services. Mandy brings a wealth of exper...

On this episode, Ben & Jeff speak with Jennifer West, a native of Lancaster County and the program director and co-founder of Girls on the Run of Lancaster and Lebanon. Jennifer started the program in 2009 with Carrie Johnson and it has grown from 25 girls to having served over 18,000 girls over the past 13 years. Girls on the Run (GOTR) is a 501 c3 non-profit organization that uses physical a...