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Annual Awards Celebration

Last Thursday was a very special night for the Chester County Chamber of Business & Industry.

Our Annual Awards Dinner brought together 200+ business and community leaders from across the region for an evening of celebration, connection, and camaraderie.

We were proud to honor Jack Lynch, former President & CEO Emeritus of Main Line Health, with a Lifetime Achievement Award for his outstanding leadership and lasting impact on our community.

From delicious food and beverages from our hosts at RiverCrest Golf Club & Preserve, to heartfelt conversations and connections, the night was filled with energy and inspiration.

Thank you to our generous sponsors, including:

Our Presenting Sponsor

Main Line Health

Our Diamond Sponsors

Aqua, Comcast, Energy Transfer & Independence Blue Cross

Our Program Sponsors

Bentley Systems, Buckley, Brion, McGuire & Morris, LLP, Constellation, Fulton Bank, Lamb McErlane PC, Mid Penn Bank, Pennsylvania American Water, Saul Ewing LLP & Stradley Ronon

Our Gold Sponsors

Abel Brothers Towing & Automotive, Inc., Brubacher, CTDI, The Desmond Hotel & Conference Center, Hankin Group, Herbert, Rowland & Grubic, Inc., Krapf Group, Kreischer Miller, Lavazza, M&T Bank, Parralux, Stephano Slack, LLC, Truist, Utility Line Services, The Vanguard Group & West Chester University

Our Silver Sponsors

Brumbaugh Wealth Management, Caddick Utilities, Carollo Engineers, Inc,. Coastal Health Connections, Cozen O'Connor, Delmont Utilities, Inc., DFT, Inc., Gawthrop Greenwood, PC, GHD, Greencastle Associates Consulting, LLC, Kamelot Productions, Meridian Bank, Novocure Inc., S&T Bank, TD Bank, Total Engineering & Consulting Services, LLC, VISTA Today, Volpe Enterprises, Inc., Wawa, Inc. & WSFS Bank

Our Bronze & Dessert Sponsors

AxAdvocacy, Brown and Caldwell, Chester County Food Bank, Entech Engineering, Gannett Fleming TranSystems, Home of the Sparrow, Michael F. Ronca & Sons, Inc. & Nothing Bundt Cakes

And all who made this evening one to remember!

Stay tuned as we continue to recognize our sponsors, partners and friends who brought this event to life!

WCU's Women's Entrepreneurship Conference

Last Friday, CCCBI was proud to be a partner of the West Chester University Women's Entrepreneurship Conference.

As a member of the Chamber Alliance of Chester County, we had the privilege of running a breakout session on Millennial Women Making Their Mark with four Chamber Members, Courtney Rowan of Citadel Banking, Madi Coble of Madi's on a Roll, Patricia Mae Olson of Piqued PR and Sydney Grims of Fearless Restaurants.

Our panelists covered everything from challenges and success to strategies and strengths to inspiration and support systems.

"It was such a funny, raw, and honest conversation about young women coming up in the workforce - in corporate America, the restaurant business, and public relations - and the trials, successes and tribulations along the way," said Laura Manion, who moderated the panel.

This amazing conference hosted over 200 women from across the region for some amazing speakers and conversations, business opportunities and connections, and finally a full day of fun.

Thank you to the Cottrell Entrepreneurship Center at WCU, our fellow Chambers, sponsors and all of the attendees!

Special Ribbon Cutting Ceremony with Scripture Union

On Saturday October 18th in Phoenixville Scripture Union had a fantastic ribbon cutting that was conducted by Brittany Dromey, donor engagement and development director and Gayle Martin, the president that featured live music, cupcakes, coffee and snacks.

Scripture Union had its start in London in 1867 and was established in the United States in 1959. Scripture Union-USA is committed to making God’s Good News known to children, young people, and adults and encouraging people of all ages to engage with him daily in the Bible and through prayer. It is part of a worldwide fellowship of Scripture Union movements active in more than 120 countries and linked by shared principles and a common calling.

Scripture Union-USA continues to provide a variety of Bible engagement publications and resources for individuals of all ages, as well as for families. As we seek to serve the church, we also produce numerous programs for outreach and mentoring.

Etiquette Day for the Youth Leadership Program

On Tuesday, the Chester County Chamber Foundation's Youth Leadership Program visited Penn Oaks for their annual Etiquette Day with the one and only, Michelle Leonard.

Michelle, a well known Realtor and resident of Bryn Mawr, conducted a full day of training on proper etiquette and manners that can be useful in a wide variety of situations, including:

- how to rsvp to an invitation

- how to set a proper place setting at a dinner

- how to determine which is your bread plate and water/wine glass

- which utensils to use for what

- how to properly place utensils when you are finished your meal

- proper napkin placement

and much more!

Michelle also taught the students how to properly introduce themselves and other people and she emphasized the importance of thank you notes and how to write one.

The last activity of the day was how to give and receive compliments.

Thank you to our hosts, Michelle and our Foundation Board Member, Becky Corbin, who visited our students and helped with the activities.

Stay tuned to see where our YLP students go next and donate today to help us support these students for the 2025-2026 program year!

Click Here to Support YLP

Final Session for the Nonprofit Thought Leadership Series

Early yesterday morning, CCCBI held our last session of the Nonprofit Thought Leadership Series for 2025!

The Generative AI Made Simple for Nonprofit Success workshop was a highly engaging and practical session designed to help nonprofit professionals understand and apply AI tools like ChatGPT and Gemini.

Guest speaker Aaron Proietti, Founder of Today's Innovator, gave an in-depth presentation for our guests to help simplify work, save time and support their mission.

Participants explored how generative AI can simplify daily operations, enhance communication, and strengthen mission impact without needing any technical background.

Thanks to all who joined us for a great event!

Legislative Update

Pennsylvania Leads the Nation in Responsible AI

Pennsylvania is now a national leader in responsible artificial intelligence, ranking among the three states in the nation braced and ready for state government AI impact and implementation.

In late September, Governor Shapiro authorized Executive Order 2013-19, establishing a Generative AI Governing Board composed of senior officials from the government's office, the office of administration, the general counsel's office, among others, to oversee the implementation of AI policy across the Commonwealth. PA has also launched the United States' first-ever ChatGPT Enterprise Pilot program, specifically designed for government employees, which further improves access to Microsoft Copilot and brings strong governance standards, training, and AI capacity development. At the same time, PA's centralized IT organization and cloud-based systems enable secure integration of AI controls and data governance, supporting the responsible use of AI across state agencies and positioning PA as a leader in the space.

Pennsylvania's stronghold in the AI space has demonstrated its benefits across various industries. PA has created over $25 billion in private-sector investment and secured 12,000 new jobs, including Amazon's $20 billion investment.

The change is meaningful for small- and mid-sized businesses in local economies like Chester County. It's not just government agencies reaping the benefits; small companies are benefiting as well. At the AI Horizons Summit held in Pittsburgh, Google announced" the AI Accelerator for Pennsylvania Small Businesses," giving small businesses the opportunity for free AI training and tools to help these up-and-coming entrepreneurs and businesses reach new levels of efficiency and enter new markets. Tools such as automated bookkeeping, improved logistics, and marketing AI are decreasing the time and costs required.

In Chester County's mix of family-owned businesses, manufacturers, and service firms, the region is set to benefit significantly from PA's AI leadership. AI enables small and large companies to perform fast analyses of business data, automates routine tasks, and uses chatbots for customer service inquiries. As training programs advance, Chester County employers and employees can thrive further.

As PA continues to move towards accountable AI integration, it establishes an economy focused on safe innovation. For Chester County businesses, this means improved access to technology and strengthened connections between the public and private sectors, as well as an invitation to shape the future of work and the workforce. Commonwealth's recent responsible AI developments offer an opportunity to strengthen the economy, foster collaboration, and further enhance PA's competitiveness.

Click Here to Read our Legislative Agenda

Member Spotlight

Awaken With Light

Awaken With Light® – Redefining Leadership in a Time of Uncertainty

Today’s leaders are navigating unprecedented levels of change, volatility, and complexity. The nation is experiencing historic levels of uncertainty—economically, socially, and emotionally—placing extraordinary pressure on executives and their teams.

That’s where Nancy Gentle Boudrie, Founder & President of Awaken With Light®, comes in. A mindset and leadership coach with over 35 years of business experience, Nancy helps professionals and organizations lead consciously, manage stress effectively, and sustain peak performance without compromising peace of mind.

Her proprietary, trademarked methodology—Pathway to Inner Peace – Featuring the 4R Method®—delivers cutting-edge, science-based tools that empower leaders to navigate uncertainty, think creatively, and inspire with clarity and compassion.

Recognizing that today’s workforce is more stressed than ever, Nancy also offers interactive wellness workshops that give employees practical “micro-practices” to strengthen mental health and emotional well-being. Her programs have supported organizations such as the PA Workforce Development Association, and she proudly serves on the Chester County Economic Development Council’s Hire One and Health Care Connect Task Forces, advancing workforce and wellness initiatives across the region.

Having experienced burnout early in her career, Nancy is passionate about helping others rise above it—teaching that true success is not achieved through exhaustion, but through conscious, connected leadership.

Nancy enjoys spending time with her husband John and their blended family of seven children and ten grandchildren, as well as hiking, yoga, and reading.