staff bios

Sonia Huntzinger, Executive Director

Huntzinger served as an event coordinator for the Downtown Bethlehem Merchants Association before being promoted to vice president of the regional Chamber of Commerce, where she oversaw the efforts of six Main Street managers in seventeen downtown commercial districts throughout the Lehigh Valley. Her enthusiasm for her job came from cultivating sustainable relationships with merchants, other local organizations, and municipal officials--all in the interest of bettering the communities.

Through her downtown revitalization efforts, Huntzinger had opportunities to establish and direct city-wide marketing, brand development, and tourism marketing initiatives, partnering with local historic museums, colleges, festival organizers, and arts organizations. She wrote, received, and reported on grants from local and state governmental agencies for tourism and downtown revitalization efforts. She advocated for small businesses and implemented strategies to educate property owners and minimize storefront vacancies.

While serving as director of a visitors and conference bureau, Huntzinger coordinated efforts to create long-range tourism marketing strategies and managed all publicity and advertising programs, created comprehensive and profitable destination guides, and managed large city-funded tourism budgets.

Most recently, Huntzinger served as marketing and communications manager for a housing development corporation to gain experience with another component of city revitalization.

Now, here in York, she has returned to her primary passion working in a downtown district, strengthening the local economy through revitalization, small business development, and destination marketing.

Chad Myers, Downtown Business Development Liaison

As downtown business development liaison, Myers collaborates with the Economic Development Department of the City of York and the York County Economic Development Corporation to identify and recruit local, regional and national retailers to downtown York.  He focuses on researching and compiling trade area demographic information to market downtown York to prospective businesses, and to assist businesses in understanding the City permitting and inspections process.

Myers has nearly a decade of nonprofit management experience and was most recently employed as the workplace campaign director at United Way of York County where he oversaw the annual workplace campaign. He has been heavily involved in community organizations including the United Way’s Emerging Leaders Society, York Young Professionals and the York ChamberFuel.

Amanda P. Meyers, Marketing Manager

As marketing manager, Meyers is responsible for managing Downtown Inc events including First Fridays, Go Green in the City, the Downtown First Awards and the annual Downtown Kickball Tournament.  In addition, Meyers oversees marketing and communications for the organization including monthly e-newsletters, the website, and public relations outreach.

Meyers has a strong communications and development background, and has experience in a variety of industries from Fortune 500 companies, to higher education, to non-profit.  Meyers relocated to central PA three years ago from western North Carolina where she worked as the resource development manager for a private, non-profit community development corporation.

Jody Chesla, Office Manager

As office manager, Chesla provides staff support, maintains the database listings for Main Street York and the York Business Improvement District Authority, and oversees day to day operations of the office. She holds associates in specialized business in accounting and business administration from Cambria-Rowe Business College, and a bachelor of science in technical management from DeVry University. Prior to her 2011 start with Downtown Inc, Chesla worked as an office manager and tax preparer for H&R Block.