March is Women’s History Month, a time to celebrate the immeasurable contributions and achievements of women across history, culture, society, business, and all facets of life.
At the PA Chamber, we are committed to building a stronger, more competitive economic future with greater opportunities for every Pennsylvanian. We proudly count women and minority-owned businesses among our membership, valuing the unique experiences and insights they bring to our collective voice. We collaborate closely with our local chamber partners, drawing on their insights into the triumphs and challenges of doing business in Pennsylvania. As the leading statewide advocates, we communicate these stories to elected officials, working to ensure that policies are enacted and upheld to boost our competitiveness and make Pennsylvania an ideal state to live, work, and thrive.
We are honored to feature three women leaders from diverse sectors: a thriving business, a prominent local chamber of commerce, and a statewide government agency. Individually, they bring backgrounds and talents that have driven the success of their respective organizations. Collectively, they are building a stronger future for Pennsylvania through their commitment, passion, and vision. Through their own words, they tell their stories of navigating their careers, the lessons they’ve learned, and how they are striving to support other professional women.
SARA TAYLOR: TAYLOR CHIP COOKIES
Passion and Perseverance
We didn’t start Taylor Chip with some grand vision—it all started in our tiny apartment kitchen, just the two of us, trying to make the best cookie we’d ever had. Dougie [Sara’s husband] has always loved cookies—like, to an almost obsessive level. But his favorite ones were made with Crisco. And coming from a background where we grew our own food and avoided processed stuff, I just couldn’t get behind that. I told him, We are not eating cookies made with Crisco forever.
At first, he resisted—hard. He didn’t believe we could get that same gooey, chewy, melt-in-your-mouth texture with just butter. But I was determined to prove him wrong. So, we spent over a year and a half tweaking, testing, and perfecting our recipe until we got it just right. That became our date night activity—just us, in the kitchen, experimenting and figuring it out together.
The pivotal moment? Our wedding. We made our own cake and handed out our cookies as favors, and people would not stop talking about them. Friends and family started asking if they could buy them, and before we knew it, we were selling cookies out of our apartment.
We had no business plan. No investors. No money. Just a really, really good cookie and the belief that we could make something out of it. We emptied our bank account three times, worked 60-90 hour weeks, and built this company brick by brick. Now, we’re ranked #285 on the Inc. 5000, were named Forbes 30 Under 30, have seven retail locations and nationwide shipping, and now we’ve taken the Taylor Chip experience to the next level by including ice cream, cookies, and coffee.
It’s wild to think about where we started and where we are now, but the truth is, we’re still in the middle of it. We’re still taking risks, still pushing forward, and still figuring it out as we go.
Leading Through Learning
Before Taylor Chip, I was a server at a restaurant, and Dougie was running a music studio while doing labor jobs like landscaping on the side. Neither of us had ever built or led a team at this scale before, but we knew what it should look like—we just had to figure out how to create it.
The biggest thing we’ve learned? You don’t have to have all the answers to be a leader, but you do have to be willing to figure them out. Leadership isn’t about being perfect—it’s about taking responsibility, making decisions, and showing up for your team every day. People don’t need a flawless leader; they need one who listens, learns, and keeps moving forward.
From the beginning, we’ve prioritized creating a work environment that’s actually fun, uplifting, and positive. We know what it’s like to work jobs that feel draining, where leadership is rigid, and where no one seems to care if you enjoy what you do. That’s never what we wanted for Taylor Chip. When people want to be at work, everything is better—our product, our service, and our ability to grow as a team.
So, if I had to give one piece of leadership advice, it would be this: You don’t need to be perfect to lead. You just need to take ownership, stay willing to learn, and create a space where people feel valued, supported, and excited to be part of the team. That’s what makes the difference.
A Powerful Partnership
I don’t really see success in business as a “women vs. men” thing. To me, it’s about working together—building something meaningful with the people you trust most. For Dougie and me, that means leaning into our strengths, supporting each other, and staying focused on our bigger vision, not just for Taylor Chip, but for our family.
I think the conversation around women in business sometimes misses the fact that success doesn’t have to mean doing it alone. There’s so much value in partnership—whether that’s with a spouse, a business partner, or a great team. The way Dougie and I have built this business has been together, and I wouldn’t want it any other way.
For women, especially those who want to grow something while also prioritizing their families, I hope the next decade brings more examples of success that don’t require sacrificing one for the other. I want women to feel like they can build, lead, and take risks—but that they don’t have to do it at the expense of what matters most to them. Whether that’s through strong partnerships, great teams, or just making choices that align with their values, success should feel like something that fits your life—not something that forces you to change who you are to achieve it.
Growing Through a Growth Mindset
When I think about the future of women in business, I don’t think about titles or movements—I think about the kind of women who don’t settle. Women who push themselves, who take care of their families, their health, and their work with the same level of commitment. Women who refuse to become stale, who keep growing, learning, and building—whether that’s in business, at home, or both.
Over the next decade, I want to see more of those women stepping up. Not just to lead companies, but to lead in life. To be present in their homes, disciplined in their health, and relentless in their work ethic. Success isn’t about proving anything to the world—it’s about refusing to coast through life.
I want to see more women who are fully alive—pushing their limits, refusing complacency, and setting a standard in every area of their lives.
A Recipe for Success
The biggest challenge isn’t about proving anything to anyone—it’s about staying faithful to what we believe we’re called to do. Every day, regardless of where the company stands, we want to step out in faith, trusting that we’re building something with purpose.
We’ve taken massive risks, emptied our bank accounts multiple times, and had to make tough decisions without guarantees. There have been moments of uncertainty, but we keep moving forward because we believe Taylor Chip is bigger than just a business—it’s the path we’re meant to walk. Challenges will always come, but our job is to stay faithful, work hard, and trust that the next step will reveal itself in time.
HEATHER VALUDES (LOCAL CHAMBER LEADER)
Called to Community
I went into college undecided, chose political science because of my interest in civic engagement and the example from my parents, and that set me down the path I’m on. I had an amazing internship opportunity where I got to know our elected officials, and that, coupled with growing my network, led me to where I am today. I’ve been at the Lancaster Chamber nearly 14 years, advancing in my roles, skills, and depth of knowledge/network. I love the work because every day is different, and the environment for business is continually evolving and changing, so we get to stay at the forefront of that work and provide resources and opportunities for businesses. If I think about a pivotal moment for my career trajectory, it was going through the Leadership Lancaster program and the connections I made through that. Those connections helped me initially get in the door at the Chamber and are still connections I have today.
Learning and Leaning In
Years ago, Nora Roberts stated about balance – “the key to juggling is to know that some of the balls you have in the air are made of rubber and some are made of glass.” This was literally life changing for me in how I viewed balance in so many ways, from work, to kids, to volunteering – it’s key to discern what is glass! I am not afraid to admit when I don’t know something, but that is largely because while I may not know the answer to something at that moment, I know where to find answers! Knowing who to turn to for answers, perspective, or insights is invaluable.
I also admire the females in my family—my mom, aunts, and grandmothers—who were all working women forging paths in their career fields. They were all looked to as resources for their coworkers, problem solvers, and people who could figure things out. I really admired that and try to be that person for others.
Future-Focused
The role of women in business is growing, with increasing representation in leadership roles and entrepreneurship. As more women take on these roles, their perspectives will shape workplace culture, community development, and approaches to innovation. Women breaking barriers opens new markets and opportunities, brings new approaches to leadership through greater attention to collaboration, and our adaptability and agility to navigate complex situations and make decisions highlight the importance of women in leadership roles. As we look to support the next generation of women in business, it is critical to ensure aspiring women leaders see the role models, have the support in workplaces needed to raise families without sacrificing advancement, and that we, collectively, create community for women leaders.
As we lead, we’re bound to get lots of advice and opinions on how to be the best at what we are doing. It is important to find a way to get past the senseless advice, not take opinions personally, and to trust our instincts and know the reasoning behind our decisions. If I feel firmly rooted in how I approached something, having gathered the information, opinions, and guidance that will best help me make that decision (and knowing that sometimes the decision is mine alone), then I feel strength in trusting my judgment. I strive to always lead from a place of authenticity while being both warm and commanding at the same time. It’s a pretty constant balancing act of doing both what feels natural, and what needs to be done to move the work forward – and doing it in a way that lifts the whole team. For me, leadership is always a work in progress.
STACY GARRITY (PA TREASURER)
Profile in Courage and Service
Advice I’ve used throughout my career is something that my dad told me when I was young — “Winners never quit, and quitters never win.” I’ve carried this with me throughout my whole life.
I started my career as a cost accountant and worked my way up to become one of the company’s first female vice presidents – a role that did not come without its challenges. Throughout my military career, I was also working in the private sector; and balancing these two careers took a lot of time, effort, and dedication.
When I first ran for office in 2020, and then again in 2024, I carried these values and my dad’s words with me, which I know helped lead me to success.
More than two million women Veterans live across the country, and about 66,000 of those brave heroes live right here in Pennsylvania.
One of them is my own mom. She served proudly in the Navy Reserves for 20 years, and she was a great role model for me and my sisters. I’m incredibly proud of her service to our country.
Like every Veteran, my mom is an American hero. She raised me to be strong and a leader, and that served me well in the Army Reserve.
We need strong women in our military to encourage the next generation to serve our country. I want to thank every woman who served before me and who served alongside me for their dedication to protecting our nation’s freedom.
Know Yourself, Trust Yourself
In any moment of doubt, staying focused on the mission is important. Like my grandmother always said, “Everything happens for a reason.” Once, I was passed up for a promotion and trained the man who got the job. I decided then to do my best to help him succeed in his new role. Sometimes it boils down to how you react to a setback. I got a director position at the same company a few months later. Something that felt disappointing in one moment became a catalyst for my future success.
The only person you have to prove anything to is yourself. There were countless moments, especially in my military career, when I proved to myself that I could do whatever my duty was.
One example is my last deployment to Southern Iraq, where I was the acting Battalion Commander at Camp Bucca with 1,200 soldiers in my command, and more than 7,000 detainees in our custody.
When 225 death row detainees were transferred to my facility part way through the deployment, my interpreters let me know they wouldn’t speak or look at me because I was a woman.
I told them that was fine, because I was sure they’d come looking for me to ask for things. I was right – within hours, they were lining up to talk to me.
We were the first internment facility to have zero escape attempts and zero abuse allegations. I will always be proud of the work that my brothers, my sisters, and I did during every deployment.
Frontline Leadership
When you’re deployed in a combat zone, no one asks you what your political affiliation is. They want to know that you have their back. So, when I was elected state treasurer and told to get rid of staff with opposing views, I said, “I ran a battalion in a war zone, I think I can put together a staff.” I didn’t get rid of anyone. I operated the same way in the public sector as in the private sector. I surrounded myself with the best people – and that’s the reason my office has been so successful and shattered numerous records.
“Success” isn’t an end-all or a stopping point. It’s a continuing effort and can mean different things to different people. Every day, I wake up, do my job to the best of my ability, and make sure I’m there for my family. Success for me is living a good life, making a difference for others, and knowing I did my absolute best with whatever came my way.
I want to be remembered as someone who leads from the front, and I don’t expect anyone to work harder than I do. I’m more concerned with getting things done than being the one who gets the credit for something.
Everyone faces different challenges when they enter the workforce. If a girl from rural Bradford County can become the VP of an international company, a colonel in the U.S. Army Reserves, and the state treasurer, anyone can do it. Don’t let anyone, including yourself, tell you it can’t be done.