The Happy Valley Adventure Bureau Board of Directors recently elected Bellefonte-area business owner and Spring Township supervisor David Capperella as chair of the board for Centre County’s tourism promotion agency, effective July 15.
Capparella, president of Capparella Furniture, succeeds outgoing chair Jennifer Brooks-Stahl, corporate director of sales for Hospitality Asset Management Company, who completed her two-year term.
“It’s an exciting time in Happy Valley and I’m so fortunate to be surrounded by a wonderful group of board members and staff, who represent the best of our community,” Capperella said in a statement. “I’m so excited to be following in the footsteps of exceptional leaders who have raised the bar for our performance in marketing Happy Valley and all that it has to offer.”
Capparella expects the HVAB to “continue to drive new ideas and opportunities in tourism and economic impact” throughout Centre County, according to the organization.
During Brooks-Stahl’s tenure as board chair Centre County saw record visitation numbers in 2024 and reached $1 billion in visitor spending for the first time. Among the highlights of her two-year term, she cited the establishment Happy Valley Sports & Entertainment Alliance. The alliance, developed in a partnership between Penn State and the HVSEA, hired its first executive director, Eric Engelbarts, and helped bring high-profile events to the region, including the Luke Combs concert at Beaver Stadium and the Hoppy Valley Brewers Fest.
“As I pass the torch, I am confident that The Happy Valley Adventure Bureau will continue to thrive under the leadership of David Capperella,” Brooks-Stahl said. “I look forward to seeing the Bureau reach even greater heights during his term.”
With Capparella becoming board chair, Vince McDonald, chief international strategy officer at AccuWeather, moves into the vice chair role. Eric Rusnak, attorney with Pillsbury, Winthrop, Shaw and Pittman and president of the Philipsburg Revitalization Corporation, will serve as treasurer.
The HVAB Board also welcomed three new members:
- Laura Philippi, director of sales and marketing, Happy Valley Hotels;
- Mandy Stitzer, vice president of operations, Hospitality Asset Management Company
- Michael Lee, general manager and principal owner, Nittany Valley Sports Centre
Two new reciprocal board members joined as well:
- Lee Anne Jeffries, executive director, Downtown State College Improvement District
- Lorraine Mulfinger, interim executive director, Downtown Bellefonte Inc.
Outgoing board members are Brooks-Stahl; Edward Tubbs, CEO of Hospitality Asset Management Company; Tim Bowser, proprietor of Elk Creek Café + Aleworks; and Tom Fountaine, State College Borough manager.
