Rick Bryant, the executive director of the Central Pennsylvania Festival of the Arts has announced that he’s retiring from the organization at the end of January 2023.

Thirty years ago, Lance Shaner and his brother Fred were looking for a new home for their progressive hospitality business. They explored Atlanta, Durham, Chapel Hill and Austin, but it was Happy Valley that caught their eye. “It was hard to beat the quality of life that we saw here,” Lance said.

State College, PA, Sept. 6, 2022 – The Happy Valley Adventure Bureau (HVAB) is now accepting nominations for the first annual Happy Valley Hospitality Awards.

The awards will recognize excellence in the local food and beverage, and lodging industries, with a special award open to employees working in any hospitality-related establishment,
including performance venues, museums and other attractions. The awards are a component of the HVAB’s Happy Valley Hospitality campaign, launched earlier this summer to recognize and appreciate those working in the industry.

Prior to joining the Chamber of Business and Industry of Centre County (CBICC) as President and CEO in September of 2021, Greg Scott spent 25 years leading large-scale business operations for major universities.

After a challenging year, Happy Valley, PA is well-positioned to become a premiere four season destination across visitation segments.

The Happy Valley Adventure Bureau, joined by Penn State Intercollegiate Athletics, announced a formalized effort to elevate Happy Valley’s standing as a premier sports and entertainment destination through the creation of the Happy Valley Sports and Entertainment Alliance.

With the announcement and launch of HappyValleyTalent.com, an initiative by the Happy Valley Adventure Bureau, Chamber of Business and Industry of Centre County, and partner organizations in August, businesses and organizations are now uniquely positioned to make the most of new opportunities to engage university students.

When the pandemic shutdown and subsequent mitigation requirements threatened the livelihood of local restaurants, the community responded in a big way. Now, residents and fans can support the Happy Valley, PA hospitality industry in several other ways.

Happy Valley, PA’s hospitality industry is looking for passionate, creative and hard-working individuals to capitalize on a rebound in travel.