Winners: 2025 PA Small Business of the Year

The Pennsylvania Chamber of Business and Industry is proud to announce Hocus Pocus Cleaning of Schnecksville and The Lexis Group, LLC of Harrisburg as the inaugural winners of the PA Chamber’s 2025 “Small Business of the Year Awards” – a celebration of economic excellence and the entrepreneurial spirit driving small businesses across the Commonwealth.

We are proud to honor these two 2025 PA Small Business of the Year Award winners along with other distinguished honorees who have demonstrated exceptional achievement in areas such as growth, innovation, community engagement, and entrepreneurial spirit. Together, these business leaders are driving their local economies and moving Pennsylvania forward.

WINNERS: Small Business of the YeaR

The Lexis Group, LLC – Harrisburg, PA

Founded by Alexis Isenberg in 2009, the Lexis Group overcame extraordinary challenges—including Alexis’ courageous battle with breast cancer—to reemerge in 2019 with a renewed vision and a seasoned leadership team ready to take advantage of market opportunities. Guided by its mission to deliver quality engineering and site design services, Lexis has grown to be a trusted leader in Subsurface Utility Engineering and civil engineering solutions across the Mid-Atlantic. The firm’s remarkable achievements include expanding to acquire a Pittsburgh-area firm and additional locations in Eastern PA; adding 61 employees in 2025; and achieving remarkable revenue growth from $2,500 in October 2019 to just under $10 million today. As a woman-owned, disadvantaged business enterprise, the Lexis Group is more than just a business – it’s leading an effort to shape communities and advance opportunities for women and minorities in STEM, proving that integrity and innovation can drive lasting impact.

Hocus Pocus Cleaning – Schnecksville, PA

Over the last 12 months, this woman-owned cleaning company has expanded into new service areas and launched innovative offerings, including pet care and after-hours commercial cleaning, allowing them to tap into new client markets and better utilize their team’s talents without sacrificing quality. This smart, steady leadership is also evident in Hocus Pocus’s impressive growth, with the addition of 13 new employees who are encouraged to feel empowered in a company that trains them, promotes a “work-life balance” in scheduling, coaches and promotes from within, and fosters a culture where team members feel seen, supported, and safe to grow. In addition, the company’s intentional community engagement – from supporting families facing housing insecurity to championing mental health and inclusion – reflects a deep commitment to making a positive impact beyond business. With a nearly 25 percent year-over-year revenue increase, Hocus Pocus is setting the standard for operational excellence and proving that success is built on empowerment, resilience, and heart.

ADDITIONAL HONOREES

Entrepreneurial Spirit

Bowers Home Improvements – Mahanoy City, PA

 

Jeff Bowers is literally a household name in Mahanoy City, having entered many of the homes in the town where he lives and works. Bowers Home Improvements is heavily engaged in the community as an active member of the Mahanoy Area Chamber of Commerce and a proud supporter of local athletic clubs. Bowers even recently invested in a makeover for the Mahanoy Area Basketball locker room. Owner Jeff Bowers was also the 2023 Mahanoy Chamber Member of the Year, won the Mahanoy City “Citizen of the Year” Award in 2024, and was the 2025 Mahanoy Area High School graduation speaker.

Google Moyer-Drabick and you’ll see that the accounting systems and IT firm led by Wendy Moyer Drabick consistently delivers 5-star quality work. Known for keeping her services affordable and engaged in her local chambers of commerce, Wendy’s familiarity in her hometown and reputation for quality service has earned her several accolades, including the “Emerging Entrepreneur Award” from the Greater Reading Local Chamber, and the “Women-Owned Small Business of the Year” and “Women of Influence” awards from the SBA and the Greater Lehigh Valley Chamber.

Moyer Drabick – Barto, PA

Lightning Hair Lounge – Saxonburg, PA

Shelbie Moser has built Lightning Hair Lounge on a foundation of passion and community – and that commitment is driving growth. As a leader, Shelbie empowers her team to be self-led, allowing her to focus on recruiting top talent and expanding the client base. The salon also gives back through community events, including a “Lightning Love Box” program that distributes beauty products to women in need, and “Mommy and Me” classes at the local library, where stylists teach parents how to do simple hairstyles for their kids. Helping the community feel bold, bright, and beautiful is at the heart of Lightning Hair Lounge, and they’re leading that effort from the inside out.

Tavern on the Square, a historic restaurant located in rural Lawrence County near Westminster College, opened in May 2024 after a $3 million investment to restore the 1849 Antebellum Building – a regional landmark that had served the community for 90 years. The owners, husband-and-wife team Matt and Maggie Noble, were determined to bring it back to life. Since then, the restaurant has welcomed more than 80,000 people and lives up to its mission of bringing good food to the community, while fostering an environment that values and respects its employees – what they call the “Tavern Way.” The Tavern on the Square also boasts a social media success story, having significantly grown the restaurant’s Facebook page, doubling its followers to nearly 10,000, and expanding its Instagram presence to 4,000 followers. The Nobles also have dreams for the year ahead, focusing on community engagement and representation within the agritourism community.

Tavern on the Square – New Wilmington, PA

The Stove Shop Fireplace Experts – Phoenixville, PA

The family-owned and operated company operates with integrity and commitment to service. Amidst a year when several long-time team members retired, The Stove Shop Fireplace Experts pivoted by earning one of the top fireplace installation designations in the industry with NFI certification in gas. They also stay true to the same mission they’ve held since 1977 – to help customers stay warm and save money – and to serve with grace (patience with customers), generosity (the spirit of community abundance), and grit (a vow to continue producing quality work while prioritizing health and safety).

As one of the few consulting firms in the U.S. specializing in Positive Organizational Behavior—the study and use of measurable, developable positive psychological strengths to enhance workplace performance and well-being – Work Wisdom offers a distinctive, research-based approach to helping teams and leaders thrive. Work Wisdom’s team is also highly engaged in the community, and over the past year has deepened its commitment to supporting real-world changemakers across local businesses, nonprofits, and school districts and taking on civic leadership roles to affect positive change. This has led to attracting new clients and nurturing long-term relationships. Work Wisdom has been honored by the Pennsylvania Keystone Business Alliance as the 2025 LGBT Business Enterprise of the Year, a recognition that celebrates their dedication to inclusion, community impact, and values-driven leadership.

Work Wisdom LLC – Lancaster, PA

See Me Rolling – York, PA

The biggest challenge for mobile billboard service See Me Rolling this year was managing rapid growth. The company’s decision to expand their eye-catching LED billboard fleet led to increased visibility and demand, propelling their service to new geographic markets. Now, clients can reach audiences in areas beyond central PA where traditional billboard inventory is limited or unavailable – and their LED trucks offer greater visibility and higher resolution than ever before. See Me Rolling is also hyper-focused on every client, customizing campaigns to specific neighborhoods, event zones, and commuter corridors. This attention to detail has doubled See Me Rolling’s client base, strengthened partnerships with regional media agencies, and positioned the company as a go-to out-of-home solution that literally brings messages where billboards don’t exist.

COMMUNITY CHAMPIONS

Moonshot Museum – Pittsburgh, PA

Engagement in aerospace and engineering is opening new doors for students at Pittsburgh’s Moonshot Museum, a 21st-century-focused space museum focused on career readiness. Operated by Astrobotic Technology, Moonshot Museum offers interactive exhibits on space exploration, robotics, and STEAM careers – an area where Pennsylvania excels, thanks to our leadership in education, tech innovation, and advanced manufacturing. One of the museum’s signature initiatives, the Junior Space Conference, is a first-of-its-kind program in Pennsylvania that introduces high school students to aerospace career pathways by translating NASA insights into age-appropriate content. Additional STEM-focused efforts include the “Mobile Moonshot” outreach program, which has reached more than 20,000 students, as well as partnerships with the PA Chamber and Lt. Governor Austin Davis’s office to host Aerospace and Aviation Day in May. At Moonshot Museum, the sky isn’t the limit – the moon is!

You won’t see traditional advertising for Fun Fore All, a Pittsburgh-area family fun center with go-karts, mini-golf, an arcade, and various other indoor and outdoor seasonal events. That’s because the company’s marketing budget is directly reinvested in the community through sponsorships, donated gift cards, and event support. To date, Fun Fore All’s total giveback exceeds $100,000 – a reflection of the team’s belief that “when our neighbors thrive, we all thrive.” One annual signature event, Holiday Miniature Golf, donates a portion of its proceeds to Highmark Caring Place, supporting children and families coping with loss, and is very well attended. As the community’s success is Fun Fore All’s success, their organic social media growth continues to develop rapidly, which translates directly into foot traffic and brand loyalty. The company’s steady engagement with the Butler County Chamber of Commerce has also opened new doors for growth, collaboration, and involvement with the community.

Fun Fore All – Cranberry Township, PA

Camp Susque – Trout Run, PA

Nestled in the rolling mountains of north-central Pennsylvania, Camp Susque has offered outdoor recreational opportunities for kids, families, corporate retreats, and more since 1947. Camp Susque believes in financial accountability, with 91 percent of donations going directly to programming, and community involvement. Last year, Camp Susque led fundraisers benefitting the local fire department and sent 42 fully loaded RVs to families in need in North Carolina. While these decisions were made amid its own fundraising challenges, the team determined that they needed to “lean in to our community,” making them a true community champion we’re proud to recognize.

“Purpose in every pour” captures the essence of Soltane Café, a charming small-town coffee shop dedicated to connection, inclusion, and quality. Affiliated with the Chester County nonprofit Camphill Soltane, the café offers meaningful work opportunities for individuals of all abilities. Today, 10 individuals with intellectual and/or physical differences are part of the team, some of whom have been with them for as long as 14 years. These employees bring invaluable contributions to the café’s mission of inclusion and opportunity for all. The team actively participates in local events and recently celebrated a unique honor: an Emmy Award for a news segment featuring a barista with Down syndrome whose heartfelt explanation of what it means to work her dream job—being accepted, having fun, and feeling valued—perfectly reflects the spirit of Soltane Café.

Soltane Café – Phoenixville, PA

Sign Language Interpreting Professionals (SLIP) plays a vital role in bridging communication gaps for Deaf and individuals with hearing loss across Pennsylvania. This woman- and family-owned business navigated generational ownership changes this year while staying true to its mission of promoting accessibility and inclusion. SLIP’s commitment to community is evident through its active involvement in film festivals, advisory councils, and educational workshops—initiatives that foster connection and cultural competence statewide.

Community is at the core of the PA Workforce Development Association’s work. As Pennsylvania’s workforce association, PWDA connects local boards, educators, employers, and service organizations across every region of the Commonwealth to create inclusive pathways to opportunity. Over the past year, PWDA expanded its reach through statewide forums, leadership summits, and signature events that foster collaboration and spotlight innovation. Beyond convening partners, PWDA actively shapes policy to help ensure that local voices have an impact on state and federal decisions. This commitment to collaboration and impact makes PWDA a true Community Champion.

Innovation Excellence

A family-run, global marketing research firm, Moore Research Service, Inc. has achieved steady social media growth this year through its strategic and consistent postings. Among the most viewed and liked social campaign was titled “Women-Led. Women-Owned.” Founded by Peggy Moore in 1969 and powered today by a majority female team, Moore Research has spent decades breaking barriers in market research. The team’s WBENC certification is more than a credential—it’s proof of their commitment to leadership, innovation, and inclusion in an industry where diverse voices matter.

With a 200 percent year-over-year increase in annual revenue growth powered by strategic partnerships and targeted communications platforms, Colonial Gold & Silver stands out as a marketing innovator. The company’s choice to collaborate with Todd Hoffman, the creator of Gold Rush (a Discovery TV series following amateur gold miners), to launch Hoffman Gold and open its brand to new audiences by bringing his officially mined gold nuggets, paydirt, and exclusive mine experiences directly to customers; as well as its rapid growth across the popular online shopping marketplace ‘Whatnot,” has skyrocketed the growth of this highly successful company.

Colonial Gold & Silver – Ligonier, PA

Rittenhouse Communications – Philadelphia, PA

This Philadelphia-based technology company specializes in designing and installing smart building solutions for properties throughout the Mid-Atlantic region. This year, their team made a winning move in innovation when they doubled down on an in-house design-build, single-pane-of-glass technology model – anchored by its own PropKey platform. The shift allowed Rittenhouse Communications to own the entire technology lifecycle for multifamily and hospitality properties, encompassing design, integration, remote monitoring, and tenant experience. This resulted in the company increasing its margins, expanding nationally, and capturing a new group of clients, all of which have driven significant growth and revenue. The investment in its technology has allowed Rittenhouse to operate like a boutique firm with the capabilities of a national company – meaning every project and installation receives a level of pride and precision that sets them apart.

Culturally defined as the “Backstage of the World,” the Mediatwist Group is a digital marketing and entertainment agency headquartered at Rock Lititz and committed to applying commercial creative genius to social impact projects. Last year, the team achieved major success through its “Stories that Serve” social media strategy, which merged storytelling with humanitarian narratives. Its reels, featuring veteran stories and behind-the-scenes footage from Rock Lititz, consistently delivered high engagement and awareness. From collaborating with music icons like Sammy Hagar and Run-DMC to empowering veterans and Indigenous leaders, Mediatwist represents the best of Pennsylvania’s creative, resilient, and community-driven spirit. The company seeks to bring major Hollywood music and entertainment projects to PA – and that’s ingenuity at its finest.

The Mediatwist Group – Lititz, PA

GROWTH ACCELERATORS

As one of the 64 contestants in the PA Chamber’s 2025 “Coolest Thing Made in PA” competition, Denim Coffee isn’t only “cool,” it’s catching on. It seems like everywhere you look in central PA, a new Denim Coffee is opening its doors. The Chambersburg-based company has grown by 45 percent this year despite the surge in coffee commodity costs. They’ve achieved this through local chamber partnerships, strategic growth opportunities, smart business decisions – such as deciding where and when to expand their shops – and a relentless commitment to delivering exceptional coffee to their dedicated (and growing) customer base across their seven central PA cafes.

Denim Coffee – Chambersburg, PA

Pursuit Advocacy – Harrisburg, PA

A Harrisburg-based government affairs firm, Pursuit Advocacy specializes in guiding clients through state legislative, procurement, and regulatory challenges—and its impressive growth over the past year reflects strategic vision and execution. Owner Laura Kuller’s most impactful move was securing a permanent office directly across from the state Capitol, positioning the firm at the heart of policymaking. Coupled with the addition of three new team members to manage an expanding portfolio, the firm has demonstrated a keen ability to convert strong client relationships into sustained growth. Built on a culture of hard work, passion, flexibility, and connection, Pursuit Advocacy continues to thrive—creating an environment where both clients and employees succeed.

With an impressive 80 percent year-over-year revenue increase driven by bold, strategic innovation, Mosquito Assassin Pest Control is a true growth accelerator. The company transformed its business model by introducing recurring service plans—creating predictable revenue streams and boosting customer retention by up to 80 percent. Paired with savvy local marketing, streamlined operations through technology, and a commitment to eco-friendly solutions, these moves positioned Mosquito Assassin for scalable growth in a competitive market. From hiring new team members to expanding service offerings, this family-owned business exemplifies how ingenuity and customer-focused strategies can fuel rapid success.

Disclaimer: Selection as a Small Business of the Year is based on information available at the time of review and is intended to recognize business achievement. The PA Chamber does not endorse, certify, or assume responsibility for the actions, practices, or views of award recipients, and reserves the right to modify or revoke recognition.