Discovering the Living Filter: A Hidden Gem of Sustainability in State College
Just beyond the quiet curve of Cricklewood Drive, behind the familiar trees of Toftrees, there’s a place where water works a little harder—and nature responds in kind. It’s called the Living Filter, and while it’s not marked with signs or paved trails, it’s one of State College’s most quietly remarkable spaces.
Necessity Is the Mother of Invention: How WPSU Can Rise, Not Fall, in the Age of Reinvention
WPSU is not dying. It’s waking up.
Yes, the headlines are sobering: $1.4 million in lost federal funding. Another $800,000 cut from Penn State. That’s a $2.2 million hit for a local media powerhouse that’s been serving 24 counties for over 60 years.
But what got buried in that story is this: Penn State has still budgeted $3.35 million for WPSU this year—and again next year.
That’s not a funeral fund. That’s a challenge grant from reality. It says: We believe in you—but it’s time to evolve.
Speak to Someone, Not Everyone: How to Create Meaningful Reach in a Noisy World
We’re all chasing attention these days—but what if the goal wasn’t reach but impact?
That’s where the humble eletter still shines: one thoughtful tactic that can break through the noise and actually build connection.
The $80,000 Question: Not Just Noise—But a New Way Forward
By Greg Woodman I’m in the business of communication. Of storytelling. Of building trust between a brand and its people. And every day, I talk to exhausted founders, nonprofit directors, and marketing teams who are all asking the same thing: Why isn’t this cutting through? They’re spending more than ever—often around $80,000 a year (average […]
The Hidden Tech Powerhouse: Why Centre County’s ‘Sensor Valley’ Is a Bet on the Future
The ground is shifting beneath us.
Across the country—and here in Centre County—longstanding assumptions about population growth, job security, and economic identity are being challenged. Our population has been slowly declining since 2018. Outside of Penn State, fewer than 50,000 households remain. Automation, AI, and remote work are rewriting the rules of employment.
In the midst of all this uncertainty, it’s fair to ask: What’s next? What do we have that the future needs?
The answer may be hiding in plain sight.
The Local Giant: How Don Hamer Built Big Without Leaving Happy Valley
In a world where success is often measured by how far you can go, Don Hamer proved that greatness could be built by staying right where you are.
Run with Heart — Because That’s How We Lead, Live, and Grow Together
Last month, we kicked off our first Community Conversations with a powerhouse panel of leaders who embody what it means to serve, shape, and spark change in Happy Valley.
Where STEM Gets Real: Why the Rivet Is the Answer to Education’s Hard Questions
When Penn State announced the closure of seven campuses, it sent shockwaves across Pennsylvania. Some saw it as abandonment. Others as hard-nosed financial pragmatism. But behind all the headlines was a much deeper question—one every community dependent on higher education must now confront:
What business are we really in?
Tea Leaves on Education? Palantir’s Fellowship Hints at Higher Ed’s Shifting Value
Palantir Technologies—a data analytics giant co-founded by tech investor Peter Thiel—has launched a provocative new initiative: the Meritocracy Fellowship, directly challenging the traditional college-to-career pipeline.
