State of the County

Description

Shape the Future. Champion Progress.

Lancaster County stands at a pivotal moment—facing challenges and opportunities that will define our region’s future. Join the Lancaster Chamber for State of the County, where we’ll take a deep dive into the key issues shaping our economic and community landscape: education & workforce, housing, and innovation.

This event will explore how Lancaster compares to state and national trends, what these insights mean for local businesses, and—most importantly—how we can take action. A leading expert will set the stage with a high-level presentation and data analysis, followed by a panel with in-depth perspectives from business, industry, and community leaders.

Key Areas of Focus:

🔹 Education & Workforce: The Talent Landscape – How is Lancaster positioned for workforce development and education, and what do future trends mean for employers and educators?

🔹 Housing: Affordability, Availability & Impact – What do national and state housing trends tell us about Lancaster’s challenges and opportunities?

🔹 Innovation: Driving Economic Growth – How can Lancaster foster a thriving innovation ecosystem and position itself as a leader in emerging industries?

The event will conclude with a Response Panel, bringing together leaders across industries to connect insights to action—ensuring we leave with tangible strategies for businesses, policymakers, and the community. Our panelists include: Jill Hackman (ELANCO School District), Alex King (Puffer Morris), and Rich Willet (Ecore International).

Why Attend?

🌟 Gain a wider perspective – Understand Lancaster’s position in state and national benchmarks.
🌟 Engage with experts – Learn from thought leaders in workforce, housing, and innovation.
🌟 Turn insights into action – Discover strategies to navigate challenges and drive progress.

Let’s gain a wider perspective—and turn it into local impact.

Thank you to our Presenting Sponsor!

MEET THE EXPERTS & PANELISTS

Ryo Tashiro will speak on Housing: Affordability, Availability & Impact

Outreach Economist and Advisor, Federal Reserve Bank Philadelphia 

As an outreach economist and advisor, Ryo Tashiro travels across the Third District, speaking to various groups about the economic outlook and the functions of the Federal Reserve. Ryo views interactions with the public as two-way streets. Not only does he see the importance of informing the public about what is going on with the economy and at the Fed, Ryo also thinks it is important to hear what individuals across the District are experiencing in the economy. Many of the research topics Ryo has pursued were inspired by these conversations with the public. Those topics include his two main areas of focus, labor economics and demographics. Among his many contributions to the Bank, Ryo is notably responsible for the Chamber of Commerce for Greater Philadelphia Economic Outlook Survey.

Prior to joining the Bank in June 2016, Ryo was a business analyst for Bloomberg, where he conducted research on issues related to equity data quality. He has a master’s degree in economics from the University of Michigan–Ann Arbor and a bachelor’s degree in economics from Kenyon College.

Abby Smith will speak on Innovation: Driving Economic Growth

President & CEO, Team Pennsylvania

Abby Smith's work has focused extensively on building strategic public-private partnerships to address long-term issues that no one sector can tackle alone. Abby's 20-year career includes high-level strategic planning and leading collaborations at the state level in Pennsylvania as well as in several other states, along with ample experience as a grant and project manager overseeing multi-million-dollar grants and serving on various state-level councils. In early 2023, Abby received an Above & Beyond Award, honoring Pennsylvania women of "public and civic mind" who have demonstrated exemplary leadership in their field, combined with having made significant contributions to society.

Formerly the Vice President of Policy & Programs and Senior Advisor to the Foundation, Abby also served as the Director of Education & Workforce Development. Previously, Abby worked as a policy specialist at the PA Department of Education; for Teach For America as a recruitment director; and as a 7th grade social studies teacher and Teach For America corps member. 

Abby earned her undergraduate degree from Yale University and master's degrees in teaching from The Johns Hopkins University and in public policy and management from Carnegie Mellon University. Abby serves as the Chair of the Board of Directors of the Jewish Federation of Greater Harrisburg and JCC and is a board member of the Jewish Community Foundation of Central PA. As Chair of the Federation, Abby spearheaded the acquisition of a new Jewish community campus - the Alexander Grass Campus for Jewish Life. Abby lives in Hershey, PA with her husband, twin sons, and dog Comet.

Lauren Miller will speak on Education & Workforce: The Talent Landscape!

Associate Program Director for Educational Partnerships & Executive Director of the Lancaster County STEM Alliance

Lauren has a diverse background in education, having taught middle and high school science in both urban and rural settings. She has served as a High School Assistant Principal, consultant, and Supervisor of Curriculum and Instruction, and now works as the Associate Director of Educational Partnerships at IU13. In this role, she fosters connections between education, business, and community partners to develop innovative instructional models that enhance student learning and workforce readiness. Lauren is also a faculty member in the Master of Science program at Lebanon Valley College. She holds an M.S. in Geology and Astronomy from West Chester University and a doctorate in Educational Leadership and Change from Drexel University. She is the Executive Director of the Lancaster County STEM Alliance and the regional director of the ENGINE of Central PA.