Clinton County Economic Partnership Celebrates 30 Years
Record photo – Jeannine Lipez
LOCK HAVEN – Tuesday night was a time for celebration for the Clinton County Economic Partnership. A full house gathered at Lock Haven University’s Durrwachter Alumni Conference Center as the Partnership celebrated its 30th anniversary.
It was an evening of recognition for those who played a role in consolidating and advancing economic development in the county three decades ago. Present Partnership President/CEO Mike Flanagan detailed the organization’s origin and growth, from the late 1980s when it was decided that a consolidation of the Clinton County Chamber of Commerce, Industrial Development Corporation and Tourist Promotion Agency would best serve the county, its residents and visitors.
Flanagan said among the leaders in the endeavor were board members or volunteers J. Ralph Lovette, Bill Marino, Ron Pete, Ned McClintock, Bob Lynch, Ron Drewery, Tom Davis, J. Michael Williamson, Joe McClellan, Harold Sweeney, Dan Harger, DiAnn Stuempfle and Lewis Steinberg.
Flanagan said, “It was decided in 1989 to combine the three groups, and fairly seamlessly, the Partnership was born. The first Partnership President was Fritz Spokas, followed by Wes Grand, then Mike Flanagan.”
30 years later, Flanagan said, “The Partnership has a 15 member board with four employees, and 382 dues-paying members. The Partnership continues to have an overall goal of helping to make the county a better place to work and live.”
Rather than presenting the annual Frank D. O’Reilly Award at the organization’s annual dinner, Flanagan said, the Partnership this year elected to honor those who have served on the CCEP all-volunteer operating committee over the agency’s life. Those recognized for three decades of service included Lock Haven University, the law firm of Coploff, Ryan, Welch and Houser, Clinton County, the City of Lock Haven and lastly, Dan Harger, an operating committee member for all of the board’s 30 year existence.” Harger received his award from his son, Dave, who is now operating board president.
The Partnership’s annual Carl Bergdahl Award for tourist promotion went to Henry Sorgen, President of the 18-hundred member Central Mountains ATV Association. Presenter Rich Wykoff lauded Sorgen for his role in spurring tourism growth in the county. For the past five years, Wykoff said, Sorgen has spearheaded the NorthCentral Pennsylvania ATV Initiative, what he called “a visionary effort to greatly expand the number of rideable miles from Clinton County to New York State. So far, some 1,200 miles of riding has been developed, the trail project about one-third completed.
Keynote speaker was Kambiz Damaghi of First Quality Enterprises, Inc. First Quality was the first new industry attracted to Clinton County by the new Partnership setup and is the county’s largest employer.
