Congratulations To This Year’s 10 New Leaders
Dame Leadership is happy to announce this year’s 10 New Leaders:
Alycia Paulus
Director of Marketing & Communications, Conte Wealth Advisors
Alycia provides marketing initiatives and support for all advisors, she is responsible for managing events, directing the firm’s marketing efforts, communications on behalf of the firm and expanding Conte Wealth’s brand awareness. She holds an MBA in Marketing from the University of Phoenix and a Bachelor’s in human development and family studies from Penn State University. Alycia enjoys spending her time taking photos, reading, exploring, watching true crime and paranormal documentaries, and listening to great podcasts. She lives in Carlisle, PA with her rescue cats, Jack, Olive, Finn, and Milo.
Alycia’s photography and videography has been featured in several publications in Pennsylvania such as Pennsylvania Magazine, PennLive, Cumberland Valley Appalachian Trail Club Newsletter, and the PA Vegetable Marketing & Research Program’s Pennsylvania Vegetables cookbook.
Davis Holliday
Founder and CEO, Searcher Films
Davis is the founder and CEO of Searcher Films, a premiere video production agency specializing in high-production video campaigns serving clients across central Pennsylvania. In the two years since its founding, Searcher Films has completed work for Duck Donuts, Harrisburg University, and The Foundation For Enhancing Communities. When he’s not on set, Davis can be found hiking the AT, longboarding, or at home with his wife Christie, and their cat Nacho.
Derek Whitesel
Advancement Officer, Harrisburg University of Science and Technology
Derek joined the Advancement Team at Harrisburg University in February of 2023. He would describe himself as a hard-working, flexible, and compassionate professional who has worked in the Central Pennsylvania area for various nonprofits.
Derek studied Elementary Education and International Studies while earning his bachelor’s degree at Shippensburg University. He also worked at a local Boy Scout Camp during the summers and after college, began his career at the New Birth of Freedom Boy Scout Council. There, he found a passion in working for nonprofit organizations and serving the community. After building a foundation in fundraising, member management and program delivery he went on to work for the Harrisburg Regional Chamber & CREDC. In 2015, Derek became the second-ever Executive Director of the Harrisburg Young Professionals and worked to help make the city a great place to live, work, and play. After serving in that role for five-and-a-half years, he moved on to lead the events and conference services at Central Penn College.
Derek currently lives in Marysville with his wife and two children, dog, and cat.
Diwash Subedi
HR Manager, Relevant Home Care
Diwash Subedi works as an HR Manager for Relevant Home Care at the moment. I received my Information Systems degree from Penn State in December 2022. My pursuit of new goals has always been aided by learning.
Jesse Mutchler
Plant Operations Manager, Dutch Valley Food Development
I have grown up in manufacturing. Starting out of high school as a machine operator, I worked at a local manufacturing plant. After a year of working, I chose to join the Marine Corps Reserve. My employer chose to keep my job open for me so upon completion of my time in the Marines I went back to work. I moved into new roles learning the technical side of manufacturing, into supervision, then moved on to become a planner/buyer. After 15 years in manufacturing I moved into customer service, sales, then eventually into logistics to run our distribution facility. Through all those role changes, I had the opportunity to work for and beside some incredible leaders as well as some not so incredible leaders. What became very clear is that the right (or wrong) leader can have a huge impact to your satisfaction in any given role. I also had the opportunity to develop some leaders over time, and to see them grow and develop was one of the most satisfying things I have experienced in my work career. I look forward to continuing to learn and develop ways to improve my leadership skills.
Jon Knepper
Director of Pre-construction, Inch & Co Construction
Jon has worn many hats throughout his 20 years in the construction industry. Rising through the ranks from his first job as a mason-tender to his current role as the Director of Pre-construction at Inch & Co Construction, Jon has gained an intimate knowledge of his industry. He is a lifelong resident of south-central PA and has a Bachelors in Business/Marketing from Penn State University. Jon has always valued and appreciated hard work and hopes to pass that quality on to his 3 children Ava, Selah and Hays. But, at the end of the day, he knows he couldn’t do what he does without the support of his wife of 9 years, Chelsea. (Jon was not paid to include that last sentence..)
Lindsey Holtzman
Director of Events, Harrisburg Regional Chamber & CREDC
Lindsey’s journey into the world of event planning began during her freshman year in college. It was ignited by her love for the movie “The Wedding Planner,” and coupled with insightful classroom presentations from industry professionals. Recognizing her natural talents in this field, she began her career as a wedding planner at Felicita Garden Resort & Spa after graduating from Messiah College in 2006 with a B.A. in communications.
After a year of transforming brides’ dreams into reality, Lindsey seamlessly transitioned into the world of corporate events. This shift allowed her to broaden her expertise. With her keen eye for detail, she adapted her event planning capabilities to create impactful and memorable experiences for the Harrisburg Regional Chamber & CREDC. Through several promotions with the organization over the years, Lindsey currently serves as their Director of Events. In this role, she orchestrates the planning, development, and implementation of more than 80 events annually: ranging from large regional gatherings to various networking opportunities. Facilitating connections and fostering growth among business members in the community is one of the most fulfilling aspects of her job.
Her passion for knowledge and growth fuels Lindsey’s dedication to her profession. She actively seeks opportunities for professional development, constantly expanding her skill set and staying ahead of industry trends. In 2012, she received the Institute of Organizational Management designation (IOM) from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and is currently enrolled in the Dame Leadership 10 New Leaders Program. She was also selected as one of Central Penn Business Journal’s 40 Under 40 recipients in 2022.
While not originally from the Harrisburg area, Lindsey has embraced it as her home for nearly two decades. She currently resides in Susquehanna Township with her husband, Greg, and their two children, Scarlett and Leo. When she’s not immersed in event planning, Lindsey finds joy in reading, hiking, spending time with friends and cherishing precious moments with her tiny humans.
Nicole McCartan
Marketing and Business Development, STEM-UP Network
Nicole McCartan is a self-motivated and driven professional who possesses experience in Project Management, Marketing, Direct Sales/Sales, and Education. Education background includes ABD in Psychology, Master of Business Administration with a concentration in Marketing and a Bachelor of Science Degree in Public Relations and Marketing. Nicole has given countless hours to her community and continues to grow as a servant leader. Nicole’s mission is to be a spotlight for her daughters and a floodlight to young people to empower and charger their inner light to reach their fullest potential.
Stephanie Lake
Systems Engineer, GEA
Stephanie Lake is a Systems Engineer at GEA in York, PA. Stephanie has over a decade experience in the Manufacturing industry with a focus on continuous improvement. She is completing her MS Analytics in August, and understands the complexity and importance of data driven decision making, especially for topics that are difficult to measure. She is a strong believer in bringing out the best people, or as they say in “Lean” – untapping human potential. Stephanie leads Lean-in circles, promoting gender equity and sustainability in the workplace. When not outside exploring the wilderness of Pennsylvania, you might find Stephanie binging a sci-fi show on Netflix.
Sydney Kyler
Chief Operating Officer, Enders
Sydney Kyler serves as the Chief Operating Officer of Enders, a thriving insurance, benefits, and financial services firm headquartered in Harrisburg with over 65 employees and offices throughout Central Pennsylvania. With steady leadership and a keen eye for how details influence the big picture, Sydney derives her greatest joy from seeing her teammates grow and flourish while setting the standard for client service in the insurance industry.
Sydney feels a profound responsibility to give back to the community that she calls home. She proudly volunteers with Harrisburg Young Professionals and served as its President in 2021, honoring her commitment to empowering and engaging the city’s emerging leaders. As the Board Secretary of Theatre Harrisburg, Sydney brings her business acumen and artistic sensibilities to support the local theater community.
Outside of her professional endeavors, Sydney is deeply energized by the local arts scene and serves as a pianist for local theater and choral groups. Sydney lives in Harrisburg with her exuberant and mischievous Golden Retriever, Telly.