72  meeting attendees

Marshall Snively welcomed everyone to the meeting, thanking them for attending and encouraging regular participation, noting that attendees are welcome to bring a friend. He reminded the group that these meetings are open to all small business owners and nonprofit leaders in the City of Lancaster.

Marshall also recognized and thanked the Legacy Sponsors and Visionary Sponsors, acknowledging their consistent support and emphasizing how essential their contributions are to advancing the Lancaster City Alliance’s mission.

Dave Aichele then introduced Brittanie Rico, the new Team Coordinator for the Alliance. He also expressed gratitude to community partners: Millersville University at The Ware Center for hosting the meetings, Discover Lancaster for sponsoring the Merchant Meetings, and Colonial Parking for providing parking in the lot across Prince Street.

Elspeth Moffatt reviewed the Great Meeting Guide with the group to ensure it was a successful meeting.

Starting in August, Merchant Meeting registrations moved to Eventbrite, and this will continue in September. Due to growing attendance and limited space in the Binns Room, registration is required. Late arrivals may be turned away once capacity is reached. A sign will be posted if the room is full.

Elspeth Moffatt thanked everyone who attended the Stadium District Plan Open House last month, noting the strong turnout. For those unable to attend, a survey on the draft plans for the area around Penn Medicine Park (formerly Clipper Stadium). The Stadium District Planning Survey can be accessed here and remains open through Friday, August 29.

Kathlene Carroll Sullivan was excited to announce that PA State Representative Nikki Rivera and Representative Ismail Smith-Wade-El will host a Small Business Grant Workshop at The Conference Center at IU13 (1020 New Holland Avenue) on Thursday, September 11, from 9:30 – 11:00 a.m. Breakfast will be served. Small business owners eager to learn more about local & state grant resources should RSVP by Friday, August 29, to reprivera@pahouse.net  or repsmithwadeel@pahouse.net
   

Save the date: Lancaster City Fall Restaurant Week will take place Monday, September 8, through Sunday, September 14. Celebrate Lancaster’s finest culinary scene with a week of specials and events. Lancaster City Alliance is a proud founding sponsor of Lancaster City Restaurant Week!

Fall Lancaster City Merchant Mixer: The Merchant Mixer has a new date, set for Monday, October 6, at The Imperial Event Center Terrace from 5:30–7:00 PM. Our gracious host will provide light bites, and, as usual, the first drink will be compliments of Lancaster City Alliance. This event is open to small business owners, managers, professionals, and non-profit leaders located within the City of Lancaster. Registration is now open here!

VeloCity 2025: The hottest party of the year – returns bigger and better than ever on Thursday, September 18, from 5:00–9:00 PM at Tellus360. The event will spotlight Lancaster’s best in art, culture, food, music, and fashion. Colleen Wagner reminded the group that donations are still needed for Velocity, thanked members for their contributions, and explained that general admission tickets are still available! Get yours today here!

VeloCity Silent Auction: Shine a spotlight on your brand – Whether you’re a boutique, restaurant, service provider, or innovator, your contribution can elevate your brand and help build a thriving downtown for us all.  Your donation to the VeloCity Silent Auction will help make this event unforgettable for our small business community and our city! Complete the VeloCity Silent Auction Donation Form today.

Member Introductions

• Sandy Gambone, from Water Street Mission, shared about their career and financial services and invited members to reach out if they need employees.
• Frith Rooney, from the Lancaster Fringe Festival, announced the festival will be held in Lancaster, PA, from May 21–24, 2026.
• Chris Ballentine from Southern Market and Willow Valley communities was excited to announce that Lynn and Gray Coffee Co. will be opening in Southern Market this September. Chris Ballentine will be serving as a dynamic emcee for VeloCity 2025!
• Corinne Foster from Girls on the Run Lancaster–Lebanon promoted the upcoming Kicking Up Kindness event, with tables and seats available. Corinne is seeking silent auction items and sponsors. Learn more about the event here.
• Ryan Bainbridge, Business Relations Manager for the Lancaster Chamber, announced tonight’s Business and Baseball event and the first Small Business Summit on Wednesday, October 29.
• Michelle Littrell, travel advisor for the City of Lancaster Welcome Center, shared that they are temporarily located inside the Marriott and provide brochures to 15,000 annual visitors. Any small business in the City of Lancaster that wishes to promote their business to thousands of tourists each year should drop off marketing materials to Michelle at her location in the lobby of the Lancaster Marriott at Penn Square (25 S. Queen Street)
• John Heinly, Director of Donor Advising for the Lancaster Public Library, announced an ice cream social to be held on Friday, August 22, at the Vintage Candy Shop, with 10% of sales benefiting the library.
• Renee Rivera from Envy Studio at 24 W. King Street was excited to tell the group about their “Harvest of Radiance” event schedules for September First Friday. All are welcome!
• Dani Moniz of Drift Spa invited members to a Harmonic Flow floating sound meditation event on Sunday, August 24, at the Lancaster Marriott pool.
• Carole Kirchner, representing SoWe, announced a free concert in Culliton Park on Friday from 6–9 p.m., featuring food and live music, and complimentary sweet treats from Mezcla Ice Cream.
• Timm Wenger, director of Neighbors Community Center, described the Conversation Cafés to the group. They are available in English, Spanish & Japanese. He was also excited to announce that the Taste the World tour will begin in September, and that venue rental is available at  Hub450.
• Kristen Simon, Vice President of Sales & Marketing for the Lancaster Stormers, was delighted to share that the team is in the playoff hunt with one month left in the season.
• Jennifer Diaz, from Reimagine Beauty Med Spa, announced the Fall into Wellness event on Saturday, September 13, from 9 a.m. until 12 p.m.
• Rachel Skye, founder of  Rachel Skye Coaching, promoted her 8-week confidence program for women.
• Dan Hall, from Morefield, spoke to the group about the upcoming Long’s Park Arts Festival on Labor Day weekend from Friday, August 29, to Sunday, August 31. He mentioned that volunteers are still needed. Learn more details here.
• Corinn Kirchner, PPM Real Estate, is also a volunteer for CASA, an organization that provides advocates for children in the foster care system. She told the group about the upcoming Heroes Gala & Benefit Auction at the Lancaster Marriott on Saturday, September 13, at 5:30 p.m. A special extended RSVP is available for all attendees here.
• Emily Gonzalez, owner of Gem’s Catering and Ina’s Pierogi Shop, announced the Masquerade Gala Women’s Empowerment Event on Sunday, September 7, at the Trust Performing Arts Center from 5:30 – 9:30 p.m. Tickets are available here.
• Annie Weeks from LancasterHistory invited everyone to check out their Events Calendar at LancasterHistory.org for a variety of upcoming events. 

Member Spotlight: Fox Den Indoor Golf

MIM Committee member Jacob Gallant introduced the August Member Spotlight, featuring Fox Den Indoor Golf. Co-owner Tyler Fox shared remarks about the venture.
View the full presentation here.

Special Presentation: Reimagining Networking – Strategies for Building Meaningful Impact

MIM committee member Jason Konopinski introduced the Special Presentation, featuring Jennifer Diaz, Executive Director at Leadership Lancaster, who spoke on Reimagining Networking. Jennifer reflected on her own journey, navigating life as both an introvert and an extrovert, and managing facial blindness, which often makes traditional networking challenging. She discovered the power of storytelling, realizing that sharing authentic experiences built a true community. She reminded the group that people may forget what you say, but they will never forget how you made them feel.
View the full presentation here. 

Presentation: Planning for a Merry Q4 and Holiday Season

MIM committee member Mike Williams introduced Planning for a Merry Q4 and Holiday Season. Jess Wolfe, Marketing Strategist and partner at the 51group, laid the groundwork for next month’s discussion on how to market effectively in Q4 and the Holiday Season—especially in today’s uncertain economy. She stressed the importance of early planning and preparation for challenges such as staffing shortages and shifting consumer demand.

Jess urged businesses—particularly those in food, retail, and tourism—to take stock of their holiday readiness now. Her insights will continue in the September Merchant Meeting, where she’ll guide us toward actionable strategies to maximize holiday marketing efforts and set the stage for a prosperous 2026.

To help shape that conversation, we ask all attendees to complete the survey below by Friday, August 29.

Q4 & Holiday Season Planning Survey
View the full presentation here.

MIM Committee Report:

Attendees were invited to share suggestions for future merchant meeting presentation topics. Some of the suggested subjects included: social media, marketing on a budget, and staffing. A follow-up survey will be sent to gather input.
 

 If you would like a “COMING SOON” sign for a City of Lancaster small business, you can request one here.
 If you are interested in a Ribbon Cutting Ceremony for your City of Lancaster small business, please complete the request here.

Closing Comments:

Marshall concluded the meeting with thanks to all participants, a reminder to contribute Silent Auction items for VeloCity, and an invitation to the next Merchant Meeting on Wednesday, September 17.

Next Merchant Meeting – September 17,  2025 – The Ware Center