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Three alumni
featured during
spring symposium
I
t was all about the family business
during the spring symposium on
entrepreneurship. The well-attended
panel discussion, “Lycoming College
Innovators and Entrepreneurs,” was
hosted by the Institute for Management
Studies on April 4 and featured Jay W.
Cleveland Jr. ’88, president and CEO
of Cleveland Brothers Equipment Co.
Inc.; Ron “Buddy” Knoebel ’65, owner
of Knoebels Amusement Resort; and
Michael Warehime ’64, chairman of
Snyder’s-Lance Co.
Moderator Bill Kelly, president and
CEO of WVIA Public Media, asked the
panelists several questions submitted by
students. It started with, “While working
your way to the top, did you ever find
it hard to balance your work and home
life?” All three participants had a similar
response: They grew up in the family
business, so home and work were the
same, and everyone had a responsibility
within the family.
Knoebel is the third-generation owner
of America’s largest, free-admission
amusement park, which has been owned
and operated by the family since 1926.
The park features two world-class
rollercoasters, nearly 60 other rides and
award-winning food. As the students’
questions asked about each executive’s
success, Knoebel brought up a sports
analogy that has served him and his
family well through the years, “The
harder you work, the luckier you get.”
Cleveland said the work-home balance
is something he continues to struggle
with, but having an understanding wife
has helped. Warehime also stressed how
important it is to choose a soul mate who
understands the desire that burns inside
an entrepreneur’s heart.
Warehime has more than 40 years
of experience in the food industry. The
newly formed Snyder’s-Lance Co.
finished 2012 with $1.62 billion in net
revenues. Its primary brands include
Snyder’s of Hanover Pretzels, Lance
Sandwich Crackers and Cape Cod Potato
Chips along with newly acquired Snack
Factory Pretzel Crisps. He explained that
having a great business education from
Lycoming provided him a foundation for
learning the ever-changing principles of
the industry. “By having that education, I
was able to rapidly learn things,” he said.
Cleveland, a Lycoming trustee,
joined the family business shortly after
graduation and was named president and
CEO in 2000. He said when he started
out, the company had 235 employees,
but has now grown to more than 1,300
employees.
Cleveland said he is excited to work
for a company that is moving forward
and growing. “It’s always fun to make
money and reward people who work for
you,” he said, adding that Pennsylvania’s
Marcellus Shale industry has provided
a stable business for his company and
contributed to its growth.
Knoebel is proud that his company sells
a positive, family-friendly experience.
In fact, Knoebel is so connected to
the “work family” at his park that he
recognized several Lycoming students in
the audience as his seasonal workers and
referred to them by name.
“I try to get out there and see everyone
on the job,” he said. “I make the effort.”
He stressed that he continually
thinks of ways to enhance the park and
make each person’s experience more
spectacular and special than it was the
year before.
“If they don’t have a good experience,
they won’t come back,” he said. “And if a
customer asks ‘what’s new at Knoebels this
year?’ you can’t say nothing. This year, we
have two new rides and a new game – and
we’re already working on plans for 2014.”
Knoebel also explained the story behind
acquiring the Phoenix rollercoaster, which
became available after a San Antonio
amusement park closed. He said they were
able to buy a $3 million rollercoaster for
$1 million and that the attraction ended up
doubling the park’s attendance.
And although the three discussed their
successes, they also touched upon some of
their failures, setbacks, mistakes made and
lessons learned throughout their careers.
“An entrepreneur has the passion and,
despite the obstacles, they succeed,”
Warehime said, before asking the audience,
“Do you have the passion for something?”
There was one decision that all three
were passionate about as part of their
success – attending Lycoming. “The
valuable part was the education and
experience from playing basketball,”
Cleveland said. “And I had a heck of a lot
of fun doing it.”
Knoebel talked about how Bud
Whitehill recruited him after learning
he was planning on attending another
institution. “Within the first week on
campus, I knew it was the best decision I
ever made,” Knoebel said. “Here, I had a
family that welcomed me.”
INNOVATORS
AND
entrepreneurs
By Dana Borick Brigandi
Participants in the panel discussion, “Lycoming College Innovators and Entrepreneurs,” included,
from left, moderator Bill Kelly of WVIA Public Media and panelists Michael Warehime ’64, chairman of
Snyder’s-Lance Co., Jay W. Cleveland Jr. ’88, president and CEO of Cleveland Brothers Equipment Co.,
and Ron “Buddy” Knoebel ’65, owner of Knoebels Amusement Resort.
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LYCOMING COLLEGE 2013 SUMMER MAGAZINE