GRCA names new chair, welcomes new board members

Sara Kuzma-Stump, director of sales and marketing at Suburban Testing Labs Inc. Has been named chair of the Greater Reading Chamber Alliance for 2023. Laura Haffner, regional bank president at Wells Fargo will serve as vice chair. 

Jack Gombach, government affairs consultant for McNees Strategic Solutions Group has been named treasurer.  

“The GRCA does great work to help businesses in our community grow. From training, networking, economic development support, and connecting companies to important resources, I’m so proud to be a chairperson of this great organization,” said Stump in a release. “When the Greater Reading Area thrives, our businesses succeed. We need to create a community where employees and potential companies recognize our area as a great place to live, work and play. And I’m excited to be a part of that.”  

Stump succeeds Michele Richards, director of Treasury sales at Fulton Bank, who will now serve as immediate past chair. 

 “On behalf of the chamber board, we are extremely appreciative of the terrific leadership Michele provided over the last year,” said Jim Gerlach, president & CEO of the GRCA. “Her professionalism, common sense problem-solving, and dedication to the Berks business community were outstanding and helped move the Chamber to a higher level of service and accomplishment for both our members and the County’s communities.”  

The board also welcomed four new board members: Alba Fernandez, vice president and community lender at Community First Fund; Ben Leisawitz, a partner at Barley Snyder, LLC; Mike Riley, an account executive at EthoSource; and Stephen Bonner, vice president of operations at DoubleTree by Hilton Reading.