Are you interested in discovering the amazing individuals who call Greater Reading their home? You’ll be amazed by the diverse and fascinating people who have made this community great. Perhaps you’re eager to uncover the compelling tales of companies that have recently established themselves here, or the longstanding businesses that have thrived for generations. Click on the stories below to delve into the inspiring narratives of our vibrant community. Discover why Greater Reading is the perfect place for you.
LIVE
Greater Reading is full of places for kids and ones that will bring out the kid in you. When you live in Greater Reading, your kids will tell you they are bored a whole lot less. Work becomes something you…
Katie Johnsen Lives in Wernersville Have you always lived here? Did you grow up here, move away, and come back? Did you grow up somewhere else and move here? I moved around a lot as a child – mostly in…
Growing up, going to college was always a dream for Erick Astacio. While it seemed like the dream was out of reach at times, he found a way to succeed. His dream came through when he crossed the stage to…
When you meet Rogelio Flores, it’s hard to believe that he once considered dropping out of high school. The Reading High School graduate recently crossed the stage to earn his baccalaureate degree in electro-mechanical engineering technology, with a minor in…
College you attended: RACC and Penn State BerksCompany: Lockheed MartinWhere do you live? Lower HeidelbergWhere are you from originally?Originally, I am from Las Vegas. I came here after my husband had a job opportunity and then I went back to…
Company: GoggleWorks Center for the ArtsWhere do you live? WyomissingWhat are your favorite local activities to do with your family?When the kids weren’t walking yet, we loved to walk at the Reading Public Museum and trails in Wyomissing. We live…
College you attended: Kutztown UniversityCompany:Alicia: Berks County Intermediate UnitBrandon: Wilson School DistrictWhere do you live? Alsace TownshipWhere are you from originally?Alicia: I am originally from Royersford, Pa., which is in Montgomery County.Brandon: I am originally from Jim Thorpe, Pa., which…
Company: Dolan Construction Inc.Where do you live? Exeter TownshipWhy did you return to Greater Reading after living outside the area?I returned to Reading to be involved in my family's construction business.How has Greater Reading changed for the better since you…
College you attended: Albright CollegeCompany: Reading Area Community College, Miller Center for the ArtsWhere do you live? ReadingWhere are you from originally?Carroll County, MarylandWhat is it about Greater Reading that made you want to stay here after graduation?I wanted to…
Company: Reading Bakery Systems (RBS)Where do you live? MyerstownWhy do you think Greater Reading is a great place to work in manufacturing?The Reading area has a surprising number of globally recognized companies. Each of these companies is providing jobs where…
A Tale of Two Homes In Greater Reading, one can easily travel between rolling countryside, walkable urban areas and historic small towns. Even better, residents can choose to make one of these experiences their home. The mountains called them By Audrey Krupiak, Assistant Director…
WORK
Cassandra Noray, R.T., Radiologic Technologist, Reading Hospital/Tower Health Lives in Reading. As a Radiologic Technologist, Cassandra Noray rotates between the emergency department and operating room — doing portable imaging throughout the hospital. She typically works four, 10-hour shifts. The most…
Vera Hempel, Co-founder and CEO at KissUX and the Co-founder of Cactus Club Creative Kuba Kerner, Co-founder and Head of Product at KissUX and the Co-founder of Cactus Club Creative As co-founders of KissUX, an application prototyping tool and Cactus…
Ashley Chambers, Senior Vice President of Community Impact, United Way of Berks County Lives in Reading. Ashley Chambers leads the Community Impact team, which is responsible for determining community needs, making investments through grants to address those needs, and managing…
Eric Garcia, Elementary Gifted/ Innovation Teacher for Reading School District: 10th & Green Elementary School/ Lauer’s Park Elementary School Lives in Bern Township Garcia is a gifted/ innovation Teacher for the Reading School District (RSD). He teaches at 10th &…
Ebony McNeil, Universal Branch Manager, Members 1st Credit UnionLives in: Muhlenberg Township For more than two years, Ebony McNeil has been the Universal Branch Manager at Members 1st Credit Union in Sinking Spring. McNeil is also the Founder & Executive…
Aftermarket Production Supervisor, SeakeeperLives in: Saint LawrenceIn November 2007, Chad Davis was hired as a machine operator for JOMA Machine Company of Mohnton, which Seakeeper had contracted to machine the components that go into its products. The two companies merged…
Owner & Founder, FRESH Breakfast | Lunch.Lives in: Sinking SpringNicholas Kaltsas began working in his family’s restaurants from a young age, honing his skills and learning the craft. He continues to use his father’s recipes, infusing them with a modern,…
Tasty Innovation A Unique history of snacking By Justin Spannuth, Unique Snacks and Garrett Allen, Harris, Baio & McCulloughThe Spannuth family has been baking pretzels since the late 1800s and Unique Pretzels was officially trademarked in 1921. Family businesses are…
The Grass is Greener Here New Castle Lawn & Landscape grows (literally) in Greater Reading By Tricia Williams, VP of Sales & Marketing, New Castle Lawn & LandscapeNew Castle Lawn & Landscape began as a small side hustle in 1988…
Craving Goodness Homemade Cravings drive, passion fuel growth By: Luisa M. Suarez, Owner, Homemade CravingsHomemade Cravings is a family bakery that started in 2009 in Puerto Rico. After many years of working from our home, we grew and received amazing…
That's a Wrap A manufacturer with its own orbital stretch wrap machine By Andy Brizek, VP of Sales and Marketing, TAB Industries, LLCTAB Industries, LLC was founded in 2005. We are an OEM manufacturer for our own line of orbital…
PLAY
Winter, spring, summer or fall, all you have to do is call Bear Creek Mountain Resort Discover the riveting escape at Bear Creek Mountain Resort, where every season brings its unique adventures and experiences. From biking down tranquil mountain paths…
Greater Reading scores-big in minor league sports By Keith Stamm, Director of Workforce Development, GRCA Sports and the Greater Reading area have a long history together. In fact, our love of sports and our great location have spurred a vibrant…
Greater Reading's main streets full of vibrant art, history and food By Aaron Gantz, Senior Director of Economic Development, GRCA Discover the vibrant and diverse main streets of Greater Reading, each offering a unique blend of history, arts and local…
Occupation: Founder – Gayatri Wellness; City Councilwoman – Reading PA District 1 Why Sihelnik loves playing in Greater Reading: Sihelnik loves to play in Greater Reading because she believes the area provides whatever your heart desires within a 15-minute car…
Greater Reading offers many unique places to perform yoga – warehouses, farms, rooftops, wineries, breweries, on top of Hawk Mountain or next to Blue Marsh Lake. BLDG. 7 Yoga, located in the heart of Wyomissing, offers multi-dimensional yoga classes for…
Rivertribe Outdoors opened in mid-2018 after its founding owner and local native, Jed Wright, purchased the former Schuylkill River Outdoors outfitter, based out of the Monocacy-Douglassville area. Wright began operations quickly after his acquisition, but had some false starts along…
Every year since 1991, an impressive array of jazz musicians, a dedicated staff of presenters from the nonprofit Berks Arts, thousands of fans and an army of volunteers gather to create Boscov’s Berks Jazz Fest. After the success of its…
Setter Ridge Vineyards was developed out of love for English Setters and winemaking. This family owned and operated winery specializes in dry European styled wines. Setter Ridge wine gets its distinctive palette from the farmlands and hillsides owned by the…
With repeating John Lennon faces on the ceiling and even more priceless memorabilia lining the walls, Long Trout Winery in Auburn, Penn. brings more than psychedelic fun ─ the wine selection is as groovy as the atmosphere. While most wineries…
Greater Reading has a thriving wine scene. Whether you are looking for full bodied or light bodied red, white, rose, sparkling or dessert wine Greater Reading has it all. Deerfoot Vineyards and Winery is a small boutique winery located in…
The leaves are beginning to change colors, the air is becoming crisp, fall decorations are popping up and the smell of pumpkin spice is filling our senses indicating fall is on the horizon. Fall is a beautiful time in Greater…
LEARN
Greater Reading boast five colleges and a medical school The Greater Reading area offers an impressive array of higher education options that cater to individuals at all stages of their career journey. Albright College is known for its strong liberal…
Travis Mauger, a first-generation college graduate from Exeter Township, exemplifies a commitment to service and mental health advocacy. After joining the Pennsylvania Army National Guard and experiencing deployment during the attack on the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021, Mauger…
Growing up, going to college was always a dream for Erick Astacio. While it seemed like the dream was out of reach at times, he found a way to succeed. His dream came through when he crossed the stage to…
When you meet Rogelio Flores, it’s hard to believe that he once considered dropping out of high school. The Reading High School graduate recently crossed the stage to earn his baccalaureate degree in electro-mechanical engineering technology, with a minor in…
Penn State Berks is preparing the students of today for the in-demand careers for tomorrow. With 20 baccalaureate degree programs, and the first two years of more than 275 degree programs that can be completed at other campuses, students have…
PA Dream Team Program The Manufacturers Resource Center (MRC) is working collaboratively with schools, industry, and area stakeholders to create innovative programs that feature technical careers, STEM and CTE education to students, parents, and educators. With the assistance of the…
Providing access to career awareness and exploration opportunities for the more than 70,000 students in Berks County continues to be a top priority for the Career Ready Berks Alliance. The Alliance is a coalition of the 18 Berks County school…
Alvernia’s brand new Reading CollegeTowne reconstruction at 401 North Penn Street in downtown Reading nears completion and awaits the arrival of students in August 2021. This exciting extension of Alvernia’s campus is designed as a strategic champion of economic redevelopment,…
As the oldest college in Berks County, Albright College is constantly evolving to meet the needs of the future. Today, key structural projects are being designed to connect all of the different ways that students learn in the 21st century. …
Fifty years ago, Reading Area Community College (RACC) was founded on October 1, 1971. Classes were held for the first time on October 13, 1971, with an enrollment of 265 students. The college operated from several buildings throughout Reading during…
Drexel University College of Medicine at Tower Health welcomed its inaugural class of 40 first-year medical students to its Wyomissing campus on August 2, 2021. The new, state-of-the-art academic building houses standardized patient exam rooms, an anatomy laboratory, small group…
Community Stories
West Reading is set to host its annual Pretzel and Beer Fest on Saturday, April 26, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. along Penn Avenue. The event will feature over 40 vendors offering a variety of pretzels, craft beers, and…
The Berks Jazz Fest has significantly boosted local businesses in Reading and Berks County. The festival attracted large crowds, leading to increased sales for restaurants, hotels, and shops. Business owners reported a surge in customers, with some establishments experiencing record-breaking…
Albright College has announced a tuition reduction for several of its graduate programs to make advanced education more accessible and affordable. The initiative targets programs in business and education, and beginning in the fall 2025 semester, tuition will drop from…
Officials in Reading, Pennsylvania, have announced plans to redevelop the 120,000-square-foot Santander building in downtown Reading. The redevelopment aims to revitalize the area, attract businesses, and provide new opportunities for residents. Specific plans intend to include the addition of retail…
Renovations have started on Reading's Pagoda on Mount Penn, aiming to restore and modernize the 117-year-old landmark while preserving its cultural and architectural significance. The project, under Mayor Eddie Moran's direction and supported by City Council, is funded by $3…
The Reading Public Museum has once again achieved accreditation by the American Alliance of Museums, the highest national recognition for museums in the U.S. Accreditation, which the museum has held since 1982, signifies excellence, accountability, and adherence to high professional…
Reading & Berks County’s Sweet & Salty Trail has officially reopened for the 2025 season, starting on the first day of spring. Originally launched in 2024, the popular trail invites visitors to explore 12 local ice cream shops, candy stores,…
Berks County communities will receive over $200,000 in state funding for infrastructure and public safety projects through the Commonwealth Financing Authority’s Local Share Account – Category 4 Facilities Program. Boyertown Borough will use $66,462 to renovate the Boyertown YMCA, creating…
Greater Reading is fortunate to have a diverse and thriving economy powered by industries that drive innovation, job creation and community growth. Manufacturing, healthcare, education, construction, warehousing and retail are the backbone of our region, representing not only our largest…
Senator Judy Schwank and Representative Jacklyn Rusnock announced that the Mount Penn Fire Company has been awarded a $320,915 grant from the Local Share Account Category 4 Facilities Program. The funding will support the expansion of the fire company’s engine…
A major investment has helped secure the future of healthcare access in downtown Reading. Both private and public partners helped Shuman Development Group get a project to transform the former Community General Hospital into a state-of-the-art medical hub off the…
OurBus, a New York-based company, will launch a new bus route between Reading and Philadelphia next week, following Amtrak’s recent discontinuation of its service. The route, expected to begin by March 21, will offer expanded scheduling, park-and-ride options, and a…
