Chamber Director Celebrates 25 Years Serving Peters Township

A loving wife, mother, grandmother and former model, she’s topnotch in and is celebrating 25 years this year.  Director Carol Foley remembers when the population in PT was 5,000 and sheep grazed on the area’s hillsides.

“The chamber was organized in 1954,” she said. “The landscape was a lot different then.” 2012 marks her 25th year as chamber director and her dedication for the position is unmatched.

“Peters is a great place to live, work and play,” she said. “People care about their kids and what goes on here. I feel so blessed to be in this community. It’s a good community.”

As executive director, in one aspect, Foley is responsible for programming membership—and programming she does. With approximately 400 members, the Peters Township Chamber is one of the largest in the region.

Following an event, a member recently told Foley, “This was just so relaxing and the people were just the right people—the right mix. The entertainment and food were great, and it was the best two and a half hours I’ve spent in a long time.”

Foley said she enjoys getting out in the community, calling on new businesses and those not so new.

“I try to reach out,” she said. “We do as much as we can to involve the . I know from talking to other chamber executives—they don’t all have the same kind of rapport that we have within our municipality.”

Although, she said it hasn’t always been that way.

“When I came in, it was not,” she said. “I had a lot of fence-mending to do. It took a little while—and that’s OK. We were able to turn things around. It’s been a great relationship.”

Foley credited township manager and police Chief Harry Fruecht for their years of tireless efforts and commitment.

“We are doing things that work to a degree,” she said. “Not everything works the way you want it to, but it’s evident it can.”

Foley said she’s very thankful for her administrative assistant—Anna Pikelis—who’s worked part-time for 10 years, as well as a very supportive board of directors.

“I’m so lucky to have Anna,” she said. “We operate the same. We get things done. When she finishes something, she knows exactly what to do next. She’s always planning for this or that, and is updating our webpage.”

Foley grew up in Follansbee, WV and graduated third in her class. She completed business school in Steubenville, OH and continued to work in Dean Martin's hometown for 10 years. Her oldest son was born in Pittsburgh; her second son was born in Kentucky, where she and her husband lived next.

Shortly before starting with the chamber, Foley had returned home to Pittsburgh and worked for a home healthcare agency, taking care of two families in particular—a very caring position, she said.

A friend who was on the chamber board suggested she apply for the open director position. Foley said she put together a resume and was interviewed.

The rest, you could say, was history.

Two years into the job, Foley remarried and this year marks her and her husband Ed’s 22nd anniversary. Together, they have six kids and 10 grandchildren. Ed has worked as a pediatrician at The Washington Hospital for 35 years.

Their relationship, Foley shared, has worked beautifully. They originally met years ago at their church——where their kids grew up together singing in the choir.

Foley is the editor of the church newsletter, and said she and Ed have always enjoyed being involved. A favorite thing of theirs is a yearly beach vacation.

So what’s next for the chamber? Foley said they’re always looking forward, inviting prospective members, and social media will play a key role soon.

“We realize that this is where it’s at,” she said. “Some things are going to be changing. We need to progress a little further in that field.”

One misconception, she said, is that people think their business must physically be in Peters Township to join. There are several members that are located outside of the borders but do business in Peters.

Foley said she’s always impressed with business owners’ enthusiasm and creativity, and how they "care about the esthetics of their business" and “seem genuinely happy to be in this place.”

“We’re kind of like the tourism bureau,” she said. “When you don’t know who else to call, the chamber office is a good place to get some answers.”

If you’re interested in joining the chamber or have questions, Foley invites you to visit the chamber's website here or call 724-941-6345.

Editor’s Note: We’re genuinely happy and so thankful you’re here Carol. Thank you for all you do. Congratulations on 25 years! We wish you many more. We’re thrilled to feature your story on International Women’s Day.

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