Description

DATE: April 9, 2024

TIME: 11:00 am to 1:30 pm

LOCATION: Annie Bailey's

COST: $30 Members*

*Please log in to register!

What is Lunch with Leaders?

Learn how to navigate your own career goals and interests through the advice and expertise of experienced professionals in Lancaster County. Lunch with Leaders creates the space to engage in conversations with six different local community leaders, rotating from one table of young professionals to another over lunch. Make critical connections, ask burning questions, and discover valuable lessons learned over the course of their careers. It’s basically speed mentoring!

Meet the Leaders!

Dr. Najiba Benabess, Dean of the School of Business at Elizabethtown College

Najiba Benabess serves as Dean of the School of Business and the School of Graduate and Professional Studies at Elizabethtown College, PA. She holds a Ph.D. in Economics from the University of Wisconsin Milwaukee and master’s degree in economics from Western Illinois University. Prior to Elizabethtown College, Dr. Benabess served as the Dean of the Tabor School of Business at Millikin University in Illinois for five years and as the Director of School of Business and Management in Norwich University in Central Vermont. Over the last twenty years, she has a record of teaching undergraduate and graduate courses and advancing to leadership positions. In October 2020, she completed an intensive Leadership Program through Harvard Business School Executive Education. In August of 2021, she was honored with receiving “Dean of The Year” award for making a significant contribution to the success of the Tabor School of Business while supporting the mission of global diversity and inclusion.

Sarah C. Lesser, Senior Vice President - Central PA Market President, Truist

Sarah C. Lesser is the Central Pennsylvania Market President for Truist Financial Corporation. She oversees a team of ten Commercial Bankers serving clients in Lancaster, York, Harrisburg, Lebanon and State College. She oversees an income statement that generated $40 million in net income for Truist in 2023 with over $2 billion in assets. Passionate about the economic empowerment of women, Lesser serves as the Secretary for the Board of Lancaster's Milagro House, is a board member of the United Way of Lancaster County and the Foundation for the Boys and Girls Club of Lancaster.

Aimee Deraco, CEO of Brubaker Inc.

Aimee Deraco is a dynamic and results-driven leader and serves as the CEO of Brubaker Inc, a 100% employee-owned home service and commercial construction company. Prior to Brubaker Inc, Aimee has had a long career leading business in Lancaster County in a variety of industries.  

Her professional achievements include being named to the Forty Under 40 in 2006, a Best 50 Women in Business in 2007, recipient of the Lancaster Chamber’s Athena Award in 2009, earning the 25 Women of Influence Award in 2010, and winning the Women of Influence Community Service Award in 2011. 

Aimee currently volunteers with the Lancaster Chamber of Commerce and Industry as a mentor with the Discovering Paths program, a member of the Athena Award Selection Committee and the Strategic planning committee

Vanessa Philbert, CEO of Community Action Partnership of Lancaster County

Vanessa Philbert, Chief Executive Officer for the Community Action Partnership of Lancaster County, has been engaged in community-building and non-profit work in Lancaster County for the past 20 years. A native of New York City, Vanessa previously held roles locally at the United Way of Lancaster County, the Gate House for Men, and Pressley Ridge. In her role at CAP, she provides leadership and strategic vision to CAP’s 15-plus programs. Vanessa brings a unique perspective to community problem-solving based on her lived experiences and journey out of poverty. She works to address generational problems with generational solutions and through a cross-sector, strategic approach. She holds a Master's Degree in Strategic Leadership and Organizational Development from Elizabethtown College and a Bachelor's Degree in Applied Psychology and Organizational Development from Albright College.

Vanessa serves on the Board of Directors and as Equity Chair of the Community Action Association of Pennsylvania and is Board Chair of Lancaster Equity Community Development Corporation, and she serves on the Board of Directors of the Lancaster City Alliance and the Board of Trustees of the Lancaster Chamber. She is also a member of the President’s Advisory Council at Thaddeus Stevens College of Technology and the Grants & Programs Committee at the High Foundation. She received the Lancaster Chamber’s 2022 Athena Award and the YWCA of Lancaster’s 2020 Woman of Achievement Award.

Miguel Nistal, Advisor and Former President & CEO, Woodstream Corporation

Miguel joined Woodstream in August of 2016 as President and CEO. Miguel’s responsibilities: Chief Executive for the Woodstream Corporation, corporate officer, and member of the board of directors.

Miguel attended Syracuse University earning his BSBE (Bio-Medical Engineering), BSEE (Electrical Engineering), and MBA (concentration in finance).

Miguel’s past work experience includes President and CEO of Swan Products, CEO of Keys Fitness (Ironman), President of the Stanley Hardware Division, and Vice President of the Stanley Hand Tool Division.  Miguel also worked at Thomson Consumer Electronics (RCA) and General Electric.

Miguel has recently retired as the CEO of Woodstream and now remains an advisor to Woodstream Corporation, Bansk Capital Partners and PAI Capital Partners.  Miguel is also a board member of the Lancaster Chamber of Commerce and on the Chamber executive committee.

Tracy Cutler, Executive Vice President, Lancaster County Community Foundation

Tracy Cutler is Executive Vice President at the Lancaster County Community Foundation which stewards a community endowment of more than $200 million dollars. She directs brand, culture, and strategy for the Foundation and leads innovative community-building initiatives including the ExtraGive® that has raised $100 million to support more than 500 nonprofits. Previously, Tracy co-founded the publication Fig® designed to strategically celebrate and grow small cities and served as partner in a boutique branding design firm. She is an active advocate for the power of creativity and human-centered engagement to shape inclusive community culture. Before landing in Lancaster, she lived in in Portland, OR, France, the UK, and the Netherlands. She has studied at the University of Delaware and Georgetown University School of Continuing Studies.

What is the Young Professionals Network?

The Lancaster Chamber's Young Professionals Network (YPN) engages, equips, and empowers young professionals (YPs) to be collaborative leaders and effective business professionals shaping the future of our community.

Thank you to our sponsors!

Presenting Sponsor

Leadership Sponsor

Experience Sponsor

Hospitality Sponsor