gather in good company

Lakemont Park General Manager unanimous choice out of 28 applicants

Lakemont Park General Manager Barry Kumpf has been hired as the Blair County Convention Center's general manager.

"I'm very excited," Kumpf said. "I know this is a great opportunity."

As general manager, Kumpf, 53, will focus on convention center's day-to-day operations and efforts to bring in more business.
Authority Chairman Robert Halbritter, who was on the convention center’s selection committee, said Kumpf received a unanimous vote.

The committee, he said, looked at resumes from 28 candidates and interviewed five.

"I couldn't be more delighted," Halbritter said. "Barry is an extremely detailed individual with a lot of creative ability ... and he's the kind of individual who can get things done."

Kumpf said he has ideas and is ready for a new challenge after working 16 years at Lakemont Park.

He said he has enjoyed working at the park and will miss the people he has worked with. He said he has offered to remain through the end of June or early July for what he called key operating weeks of an amusement park.

As far as getting started at the convention center, Kumpf said he wants to analyze its history and look for ways that it could be a multi-use facility.

“We have to start thinking of ourselves as being more than the premier conference and meeting center in Central Pa." Kumpf said.