Peter Barber, President
Two Dudes Painting Company 
2016 Lancaster Chamber Board Chair 

In 2016, Lancaster County was at an important moment. There was a sense of possibility across the business community. Employers were growing, new ideas were emerging, and there was increasing recognition that business could, and should, play a role beyond the bottom line – that we could be ‘Businesses for Good.’

As Board Chair at the time, I remember that period not only as one of opportunity, but of collaboration. Leaders across business, government, and the nonprofit sector understood that none of us could move Lancaster County forward alone. We were beginning to recognize that the future of our community depended on our willingness to work together: to strengthen our workforce, invest in our people, and think bigger about what was possible. 

As the keynote speaker at the 144^th Annual Dinner, Malcolm Gladwell shared a deeply effective metaphor comparing basketball and soccer teams and it struck a chord. A basketball team can pivot quickly, often driven by the talent of a single standout player – small, agile, and able to change direction in an instant. Lancaster County, however, is more like a soccer team, where progress depends on the coordinated effort of nearly every player on the field before a shot on goal is even possible. Success comes from shared movement, communication, and alignment when everyone works together toward a common objective, the chances of finding the back of the net greatly improve. 

Nearly a decade later, we find ourselves returning to many of the same ideas that once shaped our thinking yet standing in a very different moment. 

Vanessa Philbert
CEO, Community Action Partnership of Lancaster County 
Current Lancaster Chamber Board Chair 

Nearly a decade later, we find ourselves returning to many of the same ideas that once shaped our thinking, yet we are standing in a very different moment

As I reflect on this work today, I see a community that remains deeply ambitious and collaborative, but one that is also navigating a more complex and urgent path forward. Workforce challenges, shifting expectations around work, rapid technological change, and a growing call for purpose-driven leadership are reshaping not only how businesses operate, but how opportunity is created.

In Lancaster County, we have also come to understand more deeply the importance of connection between economic growth and economic mobility, between business success and community well-being, and between the systems we lead and the people they are meant to serve. The work ahead of us is not just about growth, but about ensuring that growth is meaningful, inclusive, and sustainable.

The values that guided us in 2016 collaboration, ambition, and a commitment to something larger than ourselves still hold true in 2026. What has evolved is our perspective. We now carry the benefit of experience, data, and lived insight from across our community. We are better positioned to align our efforts, to invest in solutions that matter, and to lead in ways that reflect both urgency and care.

This moment calls for leadership that is not only innovative, but grounded. Leadership that listens, that connects across sectors, and that is willing to challenge assumptions in pursuit of better outcomes for all.

This is the moment. 

We hope you join us on Thursday, May 28^th for the 154^th Annual Dinner – not only to hear from Malcolm Gladwell, but to be part of what comes next for Lancaster County.

Tickets are on sale now. 

not secure