Are you here for this event?
Show Dates:
June 12-14, 2026
Show Hours:
Friday:
2:00 PM – 9:00 PM
Saturday:
10:00 AM – 8:00 PM
Sunday:
10:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Location:
Blair County
Convention Center
1 Convention Center Drive
Altoona, PA 16602
ABOUT US
Discover Blair County is your gateway to everything that makes Central Pennsylvania special. We highlight the heart of Blair County – from the rolling Allegheny Mountains and scenic trails to the local shops, restaurants, and family-friendly attractions that define our community. Whether you’re visiting for a weekend, exploring new business opportunities, or looking for your next adventure, Discover Blair County connects you with the people, places, and experiences that make this region a vibrant place to live, work, and explore.
Who We Are
The Blair County Alliance for Business and Economic Growth
The Blair County Alliance for Business and Economic Growth is a private non-profit 501(c)6 organization whose mission is to grow the economy, attract new investment and improve the quality of life for all Blair County residents.
The Alliance serves as Blair County’s leading resource for facilitating economic, community and business development. Through our coordinated economic development financing programs, member services, advocacy, technical assistance, and all things in between, our goal is simple: to ensure Blair County is the best and most competitive community it can be to attract and retain talent, investment, and job opportunities for future generations to come.
The Alliance has three-member affiliated entities: The Altoona Blair County Development (ABCD) Corporation, the Blair County Chamber of Commerce and Discover Blair County.
Alliance Member Organizations:
- Discover Blair County (DBC) is a (501(c)6) nonprofit, non-membership-based organization DBC has been designated as Blair County’s official destination marketing organization. DBC’s mission is to promote, leverage and support Blair County’s: 1) events, lodging, and meeting venues; 2) historic, cultural and art centers; and 3) public and private active recreation assets that attract business and leisure visitors for overnight stays and new residents to Blair County Pennsylvania. DBC works to ensure a consistent marketing message and effective communication tactics that convey Blair County as a unique business, conference and visitor destination. Its vision is to ensure that Blair County is a highly sought-after, valued destination for business and leisure visitors.
- The Altoona-Blair County Development Corporation (ABCD) is a private non-profit 501(c)3 certified economic development corporation. We work as a catalyst for business expansion in Blair County, Pennsylvania and through regional partnerships. For over 60 years ABCD has been dedicated to business growth and wealth creation throughout Blair County. Since our founding in 1946 ABCD has facilitated over 2,000 projects reflecting more than $2 billion in total project costs and the creation/retention of thousands of jobs.
- The Blair County Chamber of Commerce was founded in 1887 as a membership association of businesses and organizations working together to promote, inform, educate, and advocate for the membership and the community. The Chamber now has more than 1,000 members constantly looking for new ways to make an impact. Whether it is a program that we initiate or an event in which we collaborate with others, we get results! Our members’ success is vital to us and that is why the Chamber takes pride in its advocacy role by looking for ways to help our member businesses succeed.
Morgan Koziar
Director of Marketing & Operations
Discover Blair County – Visitor Experience
morgank@discoverblaircounty.com
Cell: (817) 774-1542
Visitor Experience
Blair Alliance
Economic Development
Chamber of Commerce
Stephen McKnight
President & CEO
Blair Alliance
stevem@abcdcorp.org
O: (814) 944-6113 x 1 | M: (814) 312-5251
Matthew Fox
VP Business Retention & Expansion
Blair Alliance
mattf@abcdcorp.org
O: (814) 944-6113 x 2 | M: (814) 418-9205
Colleen Carruthers
Executive Assistant
Blair Alliance
colleenc@abcdcorp.org
Office: (814) 944-6113 x 7
Renae Lynn
Economic Development Program Manager
Economic Development
renael@abcdcorp.org
Office: (814) 944-6113 x 5
Marcus Edwards
SBA Program Administrator & Economic Development Lender
Economic Development
marcuse@abcdcorp.org
Office: (814) 944-6113 x 6
Linda Stotler
Marketing & Communications Manager
Chamber of Commerce
lstotler@blairchamber.com
Office: (814) 943-8151
Jessie Covert
Membership Development Manager
Chamber of Commerce
jcovert@blairchamber.com
Office: (814) 943-8151
Brittany Mayer
Digital Media Manager
Chamber of Commerce
bmayer@blairchamber.com
Office: (814) 943-8151
Megan Rossman
Membership Engagement Manager
Chamber of Commerce
mrossman@blairchamber.com
Office: (814) 943-8151
Alliance Board Members
Executive Committee:
Ann Benzel, Chair
Benzels Bretzel Bakery
Mark Ritchey, 1st Vice Chair
Curry Rail Services
Mike Settimio, Secretary
S&T Bank
Troy Campbell, Treasurer
Altoona First Savings Bank
Ron McConnell, Immediate Past Chair
Operation Our Town
Phil Freeman, Asst. Sec./Treasurer
Reliance Bank
Dan Hoover, Asst. Sec./Treasurer
Roaring Spring Blank Book
Frank Montecalvo, Asst. Sec./Treasurer
St. Francis University
Joe Sheetz, Asst. Sec./Treasurer
Sheetz, Inc.
Advisory Members:
Alicia Tiracave
Blair County Administrator
Chris McGuire
Manager, City of Altoona
Legal Counsel:
J. Benjamin Yeager, Esq.
Yeager & Eberhardt Attorneys at Law
Board Members:
Michele Barnes – Amtran
Josh Barnhart – NPC
Robert Bilger – Kish Bank
Andrea Cohen – Blair Companies
Mike Corso – UPMC Altoona/Bedford
Derek Coughenour – James E. Van Zandt VA Medical Center
Ron Darbeau – Penn State Altoona
Bruno DeGol, III – DeGol Organization
Michael DelGrosso – DelGrosso Foods
Joe Diamond – PA Farm Bureau
Richard Fiore, Jr. – Leonard S. Fiore
Nick Gates – First National Bank
Brad Hatch – Altoona Area School District
John Horell – GAEDC Chair
Brian Irwin – Irwin Financial
Jeff Long – Jeff Long Construction
Matt Pacifico – City of Altoona
Bo Pratt – Rockland Manufacturing
John Russell – InspectionGo
Kirsten Stratton – KMS Interior Design
Darin Tornatore – Keystone Environmental
Adam Ward – Ward Transport & Logistics
Nicole Zernick – Greater Altoona Career & Tech Center
Blair County Chamber of Commerce
Advisory Board Members:
Jamie Stumph, Co-Chair
Advantage Resource Group
Superman Berrow, Co- Chair
B4 Club Therapy
Carter Cerully – CareerLink
Mike Corso – UPMC Altoona
Becky Crilly – Reliance Bank
Rebecca Culp – Berry Solutions Group
Joe Diamond – PA Farm Bureau
Richard Fiore, Jr. – Leonard S. Fiore, Inc.
Randy Frye – St. Francis University
Cory Gehret – Stiffler McGraw
Diana McClure – Keller Engineers
Matt Muccitelli – Park Home
Glenn Nelson – Fort Roberdeau
Kirsten Stratton – KMS Interior Design
Darin Tornatore – Keystone Environmental
Discover Blair County
Advisory Board Members:
Ann Benzel – Alliance Board Chair
Nate Bowen – Altoona Curve Baseball
Joseph DeFrancesco – Railroaders Memorial Museum
Donna Gority – ArtsAltoona
Donna Himes -Blue Knob All Seasons Resort
Matt Krueger – Sugar Run Brewing Company
Todd Lewis – Shoe Fly Stores
Gianna Marcelli – Wingate by Wyndham
Ben Mazur – Allegheny Trailrunners
Katie Millward – Fairfield by Marriott Altoona
Jane Sheffield – Allegheny Ridge Corporation
Matt Stuckey – Stuckey Automotive
Philip Sukenik – Hoss’s Steak & Sea House
Ex-Officio Members
David Kessling – Blair County Commissioner
Amy Webster – Blair County Commissioner
Laura Burke – Blair County Commissioner
Planning
No one should set a course without a good map. Our mission, goals and the steps needed to achieve them are the result of solid planning effort with community input every step along the way. While our 5-year strategic plan is our north star, the Alliance planning foundation is wide and deep. Below is a planning resource library. Check out a copy – There are no late return fees!
- ABCD Corp. Strategic Plan
- 2024 Blair Alliance Annual Report
- 2023 ABCD Corp. Annual Report
- 2022 ABCD Corp. Annual Report
- 2024 Alltogether Altoona Comprehensive Plan
- Altoona Vision-A Framework for Action
- Ahead of the Curve – Altoona Housing Strategy & Downtown Investment Plan
- Southern Alleghenies Regional Housing Plan – 2023
- Blair County 2030
- Blair County 2021-2045 Long Range Transportation Plan
- Southern Alleghenies Region Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy 2020-2024
- Alleghenies Ahead – Comprehensive Plan
- Hybrid Workforce Feasibility Study – Southern Alleghenies Region
- Alleghenies Outdoors – Moving the Recreation Economy Forward 2024
- Growing Outdoor Recreation for PA 2023
SITE SELECTION INQUIRIES
Matthew Fox
mattf@abcdcorp.org
814-944-6113 x2
FINANCING INQUIRIES
| Tom Seasoltz toms@abcdcorp.org 814-944-6113 x3 |
Renae Lynn renael@abcdcorp.org 814-944-6113 x5 |
CHAMBER OF COMMERCE INQUIRIES
| Megan Rossman mrossman@blairchamber.com 814-943-8151 |