Longtime Arts Fest director to step down and other Centre County business news from October
Rick Bryant, the Central Pennsylvania Festival of the Arts executive director, announced last week that he plans to retire at the end of January.
Bryant’s involvement with the festival goes back decades. He joined the festival’s paid staff in 1999 and became executive director in 2005. Before that, he was a volunteer on the trash crew in the mid-1980s.
“I love my job but now it’s time to let someone else run the show” Bryant said in a statement. “We have a great team of paid staff and volunteers, so there’s a firm foundation for my successor to build upon.”
Board President Renata Engel called Bryant “the driving force, the connector, and the person at the helm of the Central Pennsylvania Festival of the Arts and First Night for 18 years.” In a statement, she added, “We are grateful for his commitment and the foundation he established on which we will continue to build.”
The festival board will conduct a national search for a successor and hopes to have the position filled this winter. The organization also produces First Night State College.
The 2023 Arts Fest begins July 12 with Children and Youth Day.
Openings and reopenings
Chick-fil-A at Happy Valley reopened after four months of renovations. The restaurant at 1938 N. Atherton St. in Patton Township closed in June to add a second drive-thru, expand the kitchen and modernize the facility.
Fez Records opened in the Titan Energy Park, 2042 Axemann Road in Spring Township. Owner Michael Fester is also the assistant principal at Park Forest Middle School. The independent record shop — which offers items such as turntables, cassettes, CDs, 45s and new and used vinyls — is open 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturdays and 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sundays.
Business people
The Happy Valley Adventure Bureau hired Josiah Jones as chief administrative officer. He will focus on human resources policies and processes along with budget and contract management. Jones previously worked as executive and marketing director of Clearfield County’s tourism agency.