September/October 2018 | Page 33

Since taking the helm in July, Rich has enjoyed the opportunity to interact with PDAIS staff at the Central Office. He is looking forward to new challenges and “working with people who aren’t afraid to face them head on with a clearly- defined plan, positivity, hard work, open communication and a determination to succeed. “ Rich is a native of Chambersburg. He met his wife Susie while they were students at Penn State. Susie also works for the Bell agency, managing the personal lines department. Rich and Susie have a daughter, Mandy. She is a recent graduate of Penn State and works for Major League Baseball as the beat writer for the New York Yankees. Rich is an avid sports fan, especially the Washington Redskins, New York Yankees and Penn State Nittany Lions, and was a long-time girls’ elite travel team softball and basketball coach. He has served on the State Auto Insurance Company President’s Advisory Board, the Mutual Benefit Insurance Group President’s Advisory Board and the Motorists Insurance Group President’s Advisory Board, as well as the Mercersburg Chamber of Commerce Board. The many community organizations Rich has been involved with include the Chambersburg Relay for Life (treasurer), Chambersburg Kiwanis Club (Fundraising Chairperson and past president) and the Chambersburg, Waynesboro, Mercersburg and Shippensburg Chamber of Commerce. He is a former long-time volunteer and “wish granter” for the Make-A-Wish Foundation and started the Franklin County Truck Convoy benefitting the Make-A-Wish Foundation back in 2003. If you have any questions for Rich, you can reach him at [email protected] or (717) 264-7518, ext. 2010. Leaders Extend Gratitude to Gil Davis PDA extends a huge thank you to Gilbert R. Davis, for his 19 years of dedication and service in guiding PDAIS as its chief executive officer. Upon PDAIS’ opening in 1999, Gil served as vice president of marketing and general manager before his tenure as CEO began in 2000. Gil successfully guided PDAIS through its formative years and several challenging periods of transition. He was honored by the Central Penn Business Journal as one of Central Pennsylvania’s dynamic business leaders for 2005 in their “Forty Under 40,” an annual award honoring the top young professionals under the age of 40 for excellence in business, commitment to community and professional achievement. “I have known Gil for 15 years and always made it a point to say hello and talk when I ran into him at dental meetings in my area. He was always ready to assist with any insurance issues I had. He was also very willing to support our district meetings,” said Dr. Scott Aldinger, chairman of PDAIS Board of Directors. “I enjoyed my time on the PDAIS Board with Gil and he was always available to explain the workings of PDAIS and the insurance industry. I wish him all the best in his next endeavor.” Under Gil’s leadership, in 2010 PDAIS began managing PDA’s Endorsed Vendor Program and then in 2014, he steered PDAIS through the acquisition of Bell Insurance, Inc. “Having worked closely with Gil, particularly during the acquisition of the Bell agency, he always demonstrated a calm, can-do demeanor during a very ambitious project for PDAIS,” said Dr. Jon Johnston, chairman of PDAIS Board of Directors from 2011-2016. “He was committed to providing the best possible service to PDA and the members and clients of the agency. The PDA and PDAIS owe Gil great gratitude for his leadership.” Dr. Lawrence Kenney has worked with Gil for many years, including his recent time on the PDAIS Board of Directors. “I had the opportunity to get to know Gil through my extended tenure on the insurance committee and then with PDAIS,” Dr. Kenney said. “During that time I traveled with Gil to California for TDIC annual meetings, and one year my wife and I extended our stay to attend the Disney theme park with Gil’s family. There are no adjectives of a positive nature that do not apply to Gil. Gil is a devoted family man with three daughters and his wife Michelle. He and Michelle have a strong religious component that is a focal point in the raising of their family.” “At PDAIS Gil was a motivated and creative CEO with extensive understanding of the insurance marketplace,” Dr. Kenney added. “Gil always presented a positive attitude regardless of the many challenges in launching PDAIS and then being instrumental in the current purchase of the Bell Insurance agency. PDA/PDAIS could not have found a more determined, hardworking, trustworthy and loyal individual to guide them through the myriad of barriers encountered in the ongoing saga that is PDAIS. We have truly lost a valuable asset with Gil’s departure.” SEP TEM BER/OC TOBER 2018 | P EN N SYLVAN IA DEN TAL JOURNAL 31