Dave Edwards is a Penn State Alum who received a Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting. He spent his career working in the Washington, DC metro area. He worked at a publishing company for 7 years, a partnership for 2 years and the last 33 years of his career were spent working at a non-profit association in Bethesda, MD.  The non-profit he worked for was The American Society of Health-System Pharmacists which had over 220+ employees, had combined assets of $150M+, and a combined annual revenue of $60M. In 2017, he retired as Vice-President, Chief Financial Officer. Dave moved to the eastern shore of Delaware in February 2019, and lives just outside of Bethany Beach, DE. He enjoys volunteering at the community food pantry, Meals on Wheels, the Josh Freeman Foundation, and various church committees. He also enjoys golfing and boating. Dave has enjoyed connecting with the Penn State community and looks forward to more involvement with the students.   

Daillard Paris Jr. is the Director of Petroleum Supply & Trading at Sheetz, Inc., a renowned chain of convenience stores and coffee shops. Leading the renewable fuels trading arm and the supply chain logistics team within the Fuel Management Department, Daillard plays a pivotal role in overseeing the operations of over 700 Sheetz fuel locations. 

Daillard’s has been a driving force in expanding the gas offerings to include cutting-edge renewable fuel options, providing customers with both cost-effective and environmentally friendly choices. His leadership has been instrumental in navigating the complexities of the fuel industry, ensuring Sheetz remains at the forefront of progressive and innovative fuel solutions. 

Beyond his professional accomplishments, Daillard takes pride in his role as a devoted parent to his five-year-old son, Jacmel. Hailing from Queens, NY, Daillard is a “former” Marine, embodying the values instilled during his service while maintaining a deep sense of connection to the Marine Corps ethos. 

Daillard is a Hofstra University alumnus, holding a Bachelor of Science in Accounting. He has conquered seven Spartan races, showcasing his commitment to personal challenges and perseverance. An avid world traveler, Daillard combines his love for exploration with his dedication to creating a sustainable future through his work at Sheetz.  

Melanie serves as the Director of Business Development at ARROW Land Solutions in Altoona, PA. She previously served as the General Manager of Lakemont Park, the Executive Director of the United Way of Blair County, and School Director of two sites of NHS Schools after beginning her career working in the field of behavioral health and developmental disabilities. Melanie has a B.S. degree in Psychology with a minor in Biology from the University of Pittsburgh, a M.S. degree in Psychology from Shippensburg University, and an M.B.A. from University of Phoenix.  

Melanie has previously served on the United Way of Pennsylvania Board of Directors and Strategic Planning Committee, the local LHOT/FEMA Board, the Saint Francis University Community Partners Advisory Committee, and the South Hills School of Business and Technology Business Management and Marketing Advisory Board, among others. Currently, she is the President of the Rotary Club of Altoona-Sunrise and serves on the Blair County Chamber of Commerce Leadership Blair County Adult Committee and Alumni Committee as well as the Mountain Lion BackPack Fundraising Committee. Melanie and her husband David reside in Bellwood and have two children: Taylor and Arik. 

Juls Bratton is the Director of Sales & Marketing at Homewood at Martinsburg, a Continuing Care Retirement Community.  She is also the Founder/President of Girls Night Out Altoona, Inc. raising and donating over $1.5 million dollars. She started her professional career as a buyer for all 42 locations of Hoss’s Family Steak and Sea House restaurant chain, Donor Resources Representation for the American Red Cross and most recently Director of Sales for DelGrosso Family of Companies covering a 3-state territory. 

Juls has served on many boards over the past 30 years, Northern Bedford County HS Athletic Association raising $1.6 million dollars and receiving matching funds of $1 million, Church of the Brethren Disaster Response, Muscular Dystrophy Association, Blair County Relay for Life, Multiple Sclerosis Society/Lobsterfest, American Red Cross, Family Services, Inc., Daughters of the Nile and Ladies Oriental Shrine of North America.  She is a 2016 graduate of Leadership Blair County and the recipient of the 2019 Blair County Chamber Donna Gority Volunteer of the year. 

She was recently named the 2024 Wise Women of Blair County Community Volunteer of the year. 

Juls and her husband Bill reside in New Enterprise and share four children and 8 grandchildren. 

Juls lives her life by following her favorite quote “We make a living by what we get. We make a life by what we give” by Winston Churchill.  Be a giver! 

James embarked on his entrepreneurial journey in 2001, acquiring Best Way Pizza establishments in Duncansville and East Freedom in 2002, Hopewell in 2012 and Huntingdon in 2019. Fast forward to 2023, and James boasts an impressive 22-year track record in business operations. He is the proud owner and operator of three Best Way Pizza locations, a full-service restaurant, The Dream in Hollidaysburg, and nearby Beech Tree Café, a popular hot spot for coffee, doughnuts, and creative sandwiches.

As a self-made localpreneur, James strongly emphasizes direct ownership involvement within his establishments. His commitment to fostering a dedicated and motivated local staff underscores his contribution to restoring restaurants and keeping community favorites intact.

Proud owner-operators James and Laura have four incredible children: Grant, Olivia, Mila, and Clark. They reside in the same community where they work daily, contributing to the continued success of their hometown’s favorite eateries. 

Jesse Ickes is a financial advisor and shareholder with Beck, Smithbower, Ickes Financial, LLC., located in Altoona, PA. His firm is a full-service financial advising firm dedicated to working with individuals and business on all financial services needs.  Jesse is passionate about helping people plan and save for financial freedom!  Jesse’s lead focus is retirement planning and providing education to participants on their employer-sponsored retirement plans.   

Leading to his career in financial services, Jesse graduated from The Pennsylvania State University with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with a concentration area in account and a minor in entrepreneurship; he served as the President of the Sheetz Fellows program.   

Servant leadership has continued to be important to Jesse as he builds his practice.  Jesse currently serves on several non-profit boards in our community and continues to be engaged in their missions of helping people.  Jesse was recently re-elected to Altoona City Council where he is working to enhance our community for a new and prosperous Altoona where working families want to live and call Altoona home.  Jesse enjoys barbell club 3-days a week at Gorilla House Gym—health and fitness are important to him as well as his faith in Jesus Christ.  Jesse lives in Altoona with his wife, Nicole, and their children: Samuel, Timothy and Elizabeth.