Meeting Agenda
Lancaster City October Merchant Meeting Agenda
Wednesday, October 21, 2026
8:30 a.m. to 10:00 a.m.
Binns Room│Ware Center for the Arts
- Introductions/Announcements: Marshall Snively, President, Lancaster City Alliance.
- Special Presentation: The Business of Belonging: Inclusive Customer Service Practices. Creating a welcoming and inclusive customer experience isn’t just good values – it’s good business. This presentation explores practical ways businesses can better serve and connect with customers from marginalized and BIPOC communities. Through real-world examples, attendees will learn how everyday interactions, language, and environments can foster belonging, build trust, and strengthen customer relationships – helping create spaces where everyone feels seen, respected, and valued. Presented by Alissa Calhoun, Entrepreneur Trainer, at ASSETS.
- Presentation: Lancaster City for the Holidays. Unwrap the Magic of the 2026 Holiday Season! Learn what the City has in store for this year’s celebrations, and discover how your small business can shine by partnering with marquee events like the Mayor’s Tree Lighting, December First Friday, Small Business Saturday, and Lancaster Shops Late. Presented by Kristen Simon, Bureau Chief of Tourism, and Ruby Mundok, Social Media and Tourism Marketing Manager for the City of Lancaster.
- Presentation: How Your Business Can Harness the Power of the ExtraGive.
Lancaster County’s one-day celebration of generosity is also an opportunity for local businesses. Learn how partnering with a nonprofit during the ExtraGive on Friday, November 20 can elevate your brand, increase visibility and foot traffic, and strengthen connections with the community. Presented by Valentina Schade, Communications Manager, Lancaster County Community Foundation Presentation: Impact of the Lancaster County Convention Center. Explore key findings from the Lancaster County Convention Center and Lancaster City Alliance joint business survey and what they reveal about the Convention Center’s impact on local businesses, customer traffic, and spending. Learn how we can better connect Convention Center visitors with Lancaster City’s business community. Presented by Kevin Molloy, Executive Director of the Lancaster County Convention Center Authority.
- Member Intra Marketing Committee Report. Presented by Kathlene Carroll Sullivan, Digital Media & Engagement Manager, Lancaster City Alliance.
- Open Discussion
PLEASE NOTE: Our next Merchant Meeting will be the Special Milestone Awards Meeting, held on Wednesday, December 2, 2026, in The Atrium at the Ware Center for the Arts.
