ABOUT US

Our Mission

The mission of the Mon Valley Regional Chamber of Commerce is to provide a leadership forum for the business community of the Mid Mon Valley region by offering education, networking and advocacy to its membership.

We invite you to join us today!

Public transit bus at Mon Valley Chamber of Commerce area.

Our Mission

The mission of the Mon Valley Regional Chamber of Commerce is to provide a leadership forum for the business community of the Mid Mon Valley region by offering education, networking and advocacy to its membership.

We invite you to join us today!

Building The Future

The Mon Valley Regional Chamber of Commerce serves the business community of the Mid Mon Valley Region of Southwestern Pennsylvania. The Charleroi Chamber of Commerce, which was organized in 1921, has served the local business community continuously for more than 80 years. In 2001, the Chamber was restructured to cover all areas of the Mid Mon Valley and was renamed Mon Valley Regional Chamber of Commerce. It is a full-time Chamber with its office located in Charleroi, Pennsylvania.

Bridge structure in Mon Valley Regional Chamber of Commerce area.

Building The Future

The Mon Valley Regional Chamber of Commerce serves the business community of the Mid Mon Valley Region of Southwestern Pennsylvania. The Charleroi Chamber of Commerce, which was organized in 1921, has served the local business community continuously for more than 80 years. In 2001, the Chamber was restructured to cover all areas of the Mid Mon Valley and was renamed Mon Valley Regional Chamber of Commerce. It is a full-time Chamber with its office located in Charleroi, Pennsylvania.

Service Area

The general service area of the Mon Valley Regional Chamber is the Mid-Mon Valley region of Southwestern Pennsylvania; however, membership is open to all businesses.

Allenport
Belle Vernon
Bentleyville
California
Carroll Township
Charleroi
Donora
Dunlevy
Elco
Fallowfield Township
Fayette County
Finleyville
Forward Township
Fredericktown
Jefferson Township
Long Branch
Monessen
Monongahela
New Eagle
Newell
North Belle Vernon
North Charleroi
Roscoe
Rostraver Township
Smithton
Speers
Stockdale
Twilight
Union Township
Washington Township
West Brownsville
West Newton
West Pike Run Township

Board of Directors

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Armand Ferrara | President
Realtor, SWC Realty

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I started my real estate career in 1989. I specialize in residential and commercial properties throughout Southwestern Pennsylvania for SWC Realty. I have earned the designations of Graduate Realtor Institute, Seniors Real Estate Specialist, Accredited Buyers Agent Council and the Real Estate Educators Association. I have won many awards for sold units and volume dollars throughout my career. I also am a licensed real estate appraiser with Ferrara Appraisal Service, working with attorneys for their clients estates, divorce and market evaluations.

I am very active in the community. I have been President of the Mon Valley Regional Chamber of Commerce for a 20 year stretch, serving in that same capacity 30 years ago. I have served as the Chairman for the Charleroi Area School Authority until 2020 when it was incorporated into the school board. I am also on a loan review committee for the Washington County Council of Economic Development. In addition, I am on my church finance council and just finished my third term of serving on the Pennsylvania State Real Estate Commission, this past year as the chairman. I am a Lifetime member of the Knights of Columbus, Charleroi Chapter. Over the years I have been an officer of or member of the Washington Greene Association of Realtors, Charleroi Rotary, Pennsylvania Association of Realtors and National Association of Realtors.

I am married to Gerry, and this past year we celebrated our 51st wedding anniversary. We have one daughter, Amanda and son-in-law Brian Pendo along with their two sons, our grandsons, Blake and Tanner who presently go to school in Charleroi. Two more members of the family are my 3 year old Corgi mix, Buddy, and granddog, Magnum, a full blooded Doberman.

Business community leader at Mon Valley Regional Chamber of Commerce.

Richard Mudrick | Vice President
Attorney At Law

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Deborah France | Treasurer
Owner, Audrey’s Draperies

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Debbie France graduated from Belle Vernon and attended Cal U. She started working for Audrey Custom Draperies in 1980 and then purchased the business in 1994. Debbie has served as Past President for the Belle Vernon Rotary and Past Vice President of Charleroi Boro Council. She is currently the Treasurer of the Charleroi Park Trustees and the Treasurer for the Mon Valley Regional Chamber of Commerce.

Woman smiling, representing Mon Valley Regional Chamber of Commerce.

Alyssa Mendola | Secretary
Edwards Mendola, CPA

Woman smiling in professional attire for Mon Valley Chamber of Commerce.

Lisa Neil | Executive Board
President of Southwest Training Services, Inc.

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Lisa Neil is the President of Southwest Training Services, Inc. and an Operator and Point of Contact for four Pennsylvania CareerLink® offices in the Southwest Corner Workforce Development Area, including Washington County, Greene County, Beaver County and Mon Valley locations.  
A graduate of California University of Pennsylvania with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Education, Lisa is also a certified Career Development Facilitator with PA Department of Labor and Industry apprenticeship certification and a Reentry Employment Specialist through the National Institute of Corrections. 
She has been in the employment and training industry for 36 years.  In 2000, she became the President and founding member of Southwest Training Services, Inc; a private, non-profit corporation which provides workforce development services including education, retraining, career development, and employment services to employers, dislocated workers, adults, and youth (ages 14-24) in Washington and Greene counties.  
Lisa is a member of the National Career Development Association and the National Association of Workforce Development Professionals.  She is a member of the Washington County Chamber of Commerce, the Washington County Manufacturer’s Association, the Greene County Chamber of Commerce and is on the Board of Directors for the Mon Valley Regional Chamber of Commerce. 
Lisa also currently serves on:
• PA Workforce Development Association Operations Council – co-chair 
• Penn Commercial Business & Technical School Program Advisory Committee
• Rosedale Technical College Advisory Board
• SF, Inc. Board of Directors – Secretary
• Transitional Employment Consultants (TEC) Executive Board of Directors
• CCAC Advanced Manufacturing Advisory Council
• Greene County, Mon Valley, and Western Area Career & Technology Center Local Advisory Committees
• Western Area Career & Technology Center Adult Education & Carl Perkins Advisory Committees
Chamber of Commerce promoting business growth in Mon Valley region.

Ronalyn Apodiakos
Owner, By George Restaurant

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Ronalyn Apodiakos and her husband George own By George Restaurant, in Monessen.  Before opening the restaurant, she was a small business owner with her own scrapbooking store. She is a graduate of Monessen High School. She earned her Master’s Degree in Speech Language Pathology from PennWest California.  She is also the Event Planner/Caterer at St Spyridon Hellenic Center. Ronalyn is very involved with the community, having served on numerous boards in the Mon Valley. Rona resides in Belle Vernon with George and her 3 sons, Markello, Niko and Dimitri.

April Cacia New-cropped

April Cacia
Washington County Council on Economic Development

Woman smiling at the Mon Valley Regional Chamber of Commerce event.

Christie Johnson
Operations Manager, IGNITE Business Incubator

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Christie Johnson is an accomplished professional with vast experience in various roles, currently serving as an Operations Manager at Ignite Business Incubator and Coworking Space in Washington, Pennsylvania. She has a robust background in operations management, employer relations, and social services. Her career journey includes significant roles such as Employer Relations Coordinator, Service Coordinator, and Director of Social Services, as well as with experience in high-pressure environments. Christie holds a Bachelor of Science in Social Work from PennWest California and is actively involved in community service as a Board Member at Harmony Life Center.

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Corrine G. Laboon
System Communications Manager, Penn Highlands Healthcare

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Corinne Laboon is the System Communications Manager for Penn Highlands Healthcare. She offers more than 35 years of communications marketing experience in the health care, nonprofit and manufacturing industries. In her communications role with Penn Highlands Healthcare, she oversees media relations and internal communications. For 11 years, she served as the Vice President of Marketing for Penn Highlands Mon Valley (formerly Mon Valley Hospital).

Prior to joining the health system, Ms. Laboon was the Director of Internal Communications for UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh. During her tenure, she helped lead the internal and external communications for the Hospital’s move from its Oakland location to the new state-of-the-art $625 million facility in Lawrenceville.

For 13 years, she served as the Director of Communications for the Bronze Division of Matthews International Corporation, the world’s leading supplier of cast bronze identification products. From 1984 through 1994, Ms. Laboon was the Director of Communications for the Greater Pittsburgh Convention; Visitors Bureau (now VisitPittsburgh). Following graduation from Duquesne University with a degree in Journalism, she began her career as a reporter for the Pittsburgh Press and Pittsburgh Business Times. Ms. Laboon is the author of the book, I Will Survive: Techniques for Coping With a Health Challenge.
She is a resident of Pleasant Hills.

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Kellie McKevitt
CEO, SPHS

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I lived in Charleroi for about 50 years. I have worked for SPHS for 30 years, starting as a caseworker and holding various positions, until being appointed CEO in 2021. I have my undergraduate degree in criminal justice from Penn State. I have graduate degree in social work from California University and am a licensed PA social worker. I graduated from Charleroi High School in 1987. I am married for 30 years to Brian,  who works at West Rock (formally Rock Tenn) and I have one son, Chase, who is in medical school.

I have served on many advisory boards and committees, including leadership roles over the years and I am interested in serving to support the economic and social viability of our region.

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Raymond Mosco
Vice President, CFS Bank

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Joan Rakosky
Owner, All Seasons Travel

Board of Directors meeting room at Mon Valley Regional Chamber of Commerce.

Dennis Paluso

Authority of the Borough of Charleroi

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Bio

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Ashley Semen
Executive Director, MMVTA

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Ashley Seman (Altemare) was appointed as Mid Mon Valley Transit Authority (MMVTA)’s Executive Director in September 2019. She was previously MMVTA’s Director of Marketing Planning for 8 years. Graduated from Charleroi High School in 2005 and attended Waynesburg College and California University of PA earning a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration with a minor in Political Science. Currently resides in North Belle Vernon with her husband, Bret.

MMVTA’s administrative offices are located 1300 McKean Avenue in Charleroi and they also have a Bus Garage at the Donora Industrial Park which includes a Maintenance Facility and a Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) Station to fuel their growing feet of buses. MMVTA has a fleet of 30 buses that operates 10 fixed-routes for the area, including all the transportation services for California University of PA.
The Mid Mon Valley Transit Authority serves 21 communities throughout the Mid Mon Valley in sections of Washington, Fayette, Westmoreland Counties and further services via the Route 88 corridor in Allegheny County.

A 21-member board governs MMVTA. Each member municipality appoints its representative. The board member must be a taxpayer in, maintain a business in, or be a citizen of the municipality being represented.

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Phillip C. Sparacella
President & CEO, United Way of Mon Valley

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President & CEO United Way of Mon Valley. Effective fundraiser in the Mid-Mon Valley for over 20 years. Supporting programs to prevent hunger & homelessness. Preparing families, children, seniors and those with disabilities to live their lives to the fullest potential. In addition to his deep commitment to the United Way System the Mid-Mon Valley and his Family, the Monessen native has an educational background in Business Administration and Accounting having worked for a CPA firm, Director of Payroll and Employee Benefits in the Health and Human Service sector and in Radio and Communications as Assistant to the President. He is Treasurer for Mon Valley Paws, Member of St. Mary’s Church and serves on numerous committees. An avid golfer, guitar and piano player and the proud owner of a miniature schnauzer named Louie.

Staff

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Leanna Spada
Executive Director

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Melissa Trombley
Marketing & Events Coordinator

Are You Ready to Join and Become a Valued Member of MVRCC?

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Join the Mon Valley Regional Chamber of Commerce to connect with local professionals, grow your business, and make an impact in our community. Explore the benefits of membership today!

Women leadership event at Mon Valley Chamber promoting empowerment and networking.
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Women in Leadership Series event display at Mon Valley Regional Chamber of Commerce.
Two women at Valentine’s Day event with pink balloons and stars backdrop.
Christmas tree decorated with ornaments and lights in a banquet hall.
Business networking event display at Mon Valley Regional Chamber of Commerce.
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