Ashley Smith is now in her fourth week as Be Here Program Manager at the Chamber. We encourage everyone to stop by and meet her or schedule a meeting with her, but we wanted everyone to get to know her a little better.

Tell us about your background:
I am a Venango County native and Franklin High School alumni. I spent 5 years with the County Planning Commission and then opened my own business, Zaccari Home Inspections, in 2020. I love being involved in the community and am active with multiple local organizations.

What are you most excited for in your new role?
I am most excited about collaborating and building relationships throughout our communities. Managing the Be Here initiative, I have the opportunity to contribute to the growth of connections within our region each and every day. Being able to make a positive contribution in my community gives me great satisfaction.

What inspires you?
You know that look on someone’s face when they are smiling and their eyes are bright and their body language is open and friendly; that full of happiness feeling is inspiring to me. It’s authentic and contagious. We can all create space where people are “seen” as their genuine selves making each of our lives and communities richer by supporting each other’s passions.

What are your hobbies outside of work?
Among other things, I love to go on historic walking tours, roller skate, float down the river, fish, and read, but my favorite hobby that takes the majority of my time is coaching Franklin High School’s Bandfront.

This article was published in the Venango Chamber’s December 2022 VenangoWorks! Newsletter.