Learn About Our 2024 Visionary Nominees
Joanna Dennstaedt, Radiant Hope
Joanna is the Founder and Executive Director of Radiant Hope, a non profit organization that is supporting and encouraging lives impacted by cancer, she has chosen to allow the pain she has experienced to be the catalyst for the calling to which she is living out. Joanna is passionate about people, relationships, loving others, and walking through pain and suffering with those hurting. Finding her calling has been a beautiful and captivating story of walking through suffering. Visionary and leader by nature, Joanna has always thrived in a team environment where she can be part of encouraging, equipping, and shepherding others as they bring their own dreams to life. Her enthusiasm is contagious and she loves to see others reach personal goals and empower them in their life journey.
Coaching has been a passion of Joanna’s since being an athlete all of her life. She has coached women, discipled women, and led women for over 20 years. After coaching college lacrosse she is currently the varsity girls lacrosse coach at a Local High School. Whether with her leadership team at Radiant Hope or the many young women in her life she is often surrounded by others and encouraging and cheering them on in life. Joanna has dedicated her life to service and treasures the days she has been given with purpose and passion. Outside of Radiant Hope, volunteering, or coaching Joanna is married to Kevin and also raising her four precious kiddos. Joanna loves spending time with her large family that is spread out all over the United States. In her free time you would find her with her friends, reading, exercising, or drinking coffee.
What advice would you give to your younger self?
Hold your plans loosely. Set goals, strive for success, but often life can take us down a path that is unknown and unwanted. Embrace all of it. Trust that the journey you are on is always preparing your for what is next, shaping and molding you to make a difference in this world. Nothing is without meaning, and nothing is without purpose. Find people that will stand by your side through it all, and keep that circle small, less is often more. The pace that life goes will be quick and demanding, create margin for your life, rest, and say no to what doesn’t matter and yes to what does. You don’t know how many days you will be gifted in this life, so live life to the fullest, difficult things will propels your life into meaning and will give you a beautiful perspective, don’t be afraid of adversity because that is what shapes us.
Do you have a favorite vacation spot? If so, where?
My parents home in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia. My dad grew up on a dairy farm there and they have gone back and build a beautiful homestead. We gather there with all of my siblings, 6 if us from all over, friends, and now our kids. Its a special place with history and memories and its my favorite place to be.
Karyn L. Reber-Hummer, Nothing Bundt Cakes – Camp Hill
After graduating from Central Dauphin High School in 1994, Karyn attended Shippensburg University where she received her Bachelors of Science degree in Education and a Master’s Degree as a Reading Specialist. After a few years of teaching, Karyn continued on and received a second Master’s Degree in Administration from Penn State University, where she was a school principal for years. In 2004, Karyn left the world of education to be a full-time caregiver to her terminally ill mother and helped within her husband’s HVAC business. After the death of her mother in 2021, Karyn was ready to follow a dream with owning her own business. In March of 2022, she began the journey with finding the right brand that matched her personality and that is how the idea of owning a Nothing Bundt Cakes was born. After months of interviews, Karyn was welcomed and approved by Nothing Bundt Cakes to open her first store in Camp Hill, PA. With the support of her husband, Joseph, and daughter, Alexis, Karyn opened the doors on April 22, 2023 where they have been celebrating and spreading joy within their community. The business has been successful from day one and has given Karyn the ability to continue the journey by opening a second bakery in Colonial Park in the summer of 2024. With an amazing team by her side, they are creating magic and it is a dream come true.
If you could choose any song to be your ‘life anthem’ what would it be?
Let It Be- The Beatles. Life is filled with many celebrations but when it comes to the tough times this song reminds me to stay calm and the answer will appear when you need it to appear.
What is your favorite dessert?
Of course it has to be something from Nothing Bundt Cakes. It is our Classic Vanilla Bundt Cake with NO frosting and fresh picked strawberries.
Bobbie L. Van Buskirk, A.P. Williams
Bobbie is the Director of Business Development and Facilities Director with A. P. Williams with over 30 years of expertise in Commercial and Residential Real Estate. She brings a valuable asset to the companies she works with. Bobbie is responsible for managing the real estate holdings of the company and overseeing its development. She also represents the company on industry and community boards, meets with prospective clients and pursues new clients.
Before joining the APW team, Bobbie worked for many well-known developers in Central PA, as well as regional and national groups such as Rouse & Associates Central PA office, First Industrial Realty Trust, First Industrial Development Group, and Crossgates, Inc. In 2005, she was part of the start-up team for Greenwork Development. Bobbie is also a Realtor with RSR Realtors in Lemoyne.
Bobbie is married to her husband Mark and has raised two sons, Damian and Ethan. She was recognized in 2018 by the Harrisburg Builders Association of Metropolitan Harrisburg as Builder of the Year and in 2019 by the American Subcontractors Association as Outstanding Woman in Construction.
What advice would you give to your younger self?
Never allow anyone to questions your value and always believe in yourself.
Do you have a favorite vacation spot? If so, where?
My family loves to travel but if I have to pick one place I think it would be Croatia. We have had two family vacations to Croatia and both times we made amazing memories.
Shelly Wendeln, SPAtacular Escapes
Shelly Wendeln is the Owner/President & CEO of SPAtacular Escapes – a unique, state-of-the-art full spectrum Day Spa providing the healthiest, safest, and most ergonomically friendly environment for both clients and employees alike and is Co-Owner/Board Member of The Carlisle Group (TCG) – a boutique, international, retained – Executive Search & Recruitment firm.
Enticed by her early desire to understand the chemistry behind every living and nonliving element in the world – Shelly decided to pursue and earn her BS in Chemistry at Shippensburg University. After 5 years in the manufacturing realm as a Chemical Engineer/Supervisor, Shelly’s career path made a 180 degree turn in 1997, when she joined her husband, Bert, with the acquisition of TCG. Shelly performed a multitude of responsibilities within TCG from Staffing, Management, Sales & Marketing, Administration, HR, Accounting, and IT/Networking.
Twenty career years later, Shelly realized that she had gotten side-tracked from her initial love and contemplated adding chemistry back into her future pursuits somehow – but in what industry? And then it became clear…Being raised in a family of Cosmetologists (Mother, Sister, Aunts, Cousins, and now her daughter, Chelsie), it only made sense to return to her roots and figure out where she could add value in the spa and salon industry as well as create a succession plan for her daughter. Shelly’s goal was to create a company that provided benefits (which is virtually unheard of in a family-owned salon and spa) and to find the most chemically natural/organic and toxin free products available; especially since her mother’s career ended abruptly when she became hypersensitive to the toxic chemicals utilized in the industry.
Combining years of experience gained by Co-owning The Carlisle Group, from her childhood exposure to the salon and spa industry, and her knowledge of the chemistry behind the products – in October of 2016, Shelly and her husband, Bert, launched their second business venture – SPAtacular Escapes.
Additionally, understanding the importance of housing both businesses in the most ergonomically friendly and healthiest environment, Shelly designed their current 18,100 sq ft. state-of-the-art facility of which Bert and Shelly are the proud real estate owners.
If you could choose any song to be your ‘life anthem’ what would it be?
I couldn’t just choose one:
- “Don’t blink (Kenny Chesney)” cause time will just pass you by
- Life will throw you some curve balls but “never give up (Andy Grammer)”
- Remember that I am “with you all the way (menudo)” and you can “lean on me”
- I have been “knocked down but I get up again”
- And never forget to continue to have “A million dreams (P!nk)”
- When I have tried all I can do and are overwhelmed then it is time for me to let “Jesus take the wheel (Carrie Underwood)”
What is your favorite dessert?
Plain cheesecake which I think represents my philosophy and comments…simplicity is best with a touch of cheesiness at times 🙂
The award recipients will be announced during the Luminary Awards Luncheon taking place on September 5th from 11:30 am – 1:30 pm at the Penn Harris Hotel. Interested in attending? Purchase your tickets here and details on the event can be found here.
Thank you to our generous event sponsors:
