The Carbon Chamber and Economic Development Corp. celebrated its rebranding Tuesday night with a ribbon cutting and open house at the offices on North Third Street, Lehighton.

“Ribbon cuttings are my favorite part of my job, because we get to celebrate the hard work that goes into running a business,” Kylie Adams-Weiss, the senior vice president of CCEDC, said to its members. “If you run a business, if you own a business, if you know someone who does, you know how hard it is to run a business, and it is the sweat, the tears, the hard work, the late days, and the hours that you put in that are kind of thankless. I’m sure that you can relate to that. It’s a little hard to do something that you love, but also know that it’s exactly what you want to be doing.”

It felt a little strange being on the other side of the ribbon, Adams-Weiss said.

“I get to celebrate you all the time, and it feels very surreal to be up here,” she said. “We have a brand-new team. We have a brand-new look. We’re a brand-new chamber, and we’re really excited to be here.”

As part of the ribbon cutting ceremony, Adams-Weiss received certificates from Rep. Ryan Mackenzie, Carbon County Commissioner Mike Sofranko, and Brad Hurley, a constituent relations director and assistant communications director for state Sen. Dave Argall, in recognition of the work the chamber does for businesses.

Hurley said the CCEDC stands up for people who run a business.

“We need that person to stand up for us at times. We need them to help us at times, and that’s what they’re there for. It’s a great resource,” Hurley said. “I’m excited to see what you can do.”

Sofranko talked about the rebranding, and said the first thing people think when they hear that term is “What was wrong with the old brand?” There wasn’t anything wrong with it, he said.

“They just decided to look forward, move forward,” Sofranko said.

Adams-Weiss said the rebranding actually was in the works before executive director Kathy Henderson retired in 2024. But now with it complete, it was time to launch it.

“I think there’s generally a new excitement about what we’re doing here both as a team and hopefully the community senses that, too,” she said.

The new team also includes Jessica O’Donnell-Gower, the executive vice president of the Northern Tier for the Greater Lehigh Valley Chamber of Commerce; Jared Soto, economic development specialist for CCEDC; and Emily Sewilo, program coordinator for CCEDC.

Adams-Weiss said they have some new initiatives, such as the Lunch and Learn that features a topic for members to learn more about. For example, on Thursday, the topic was “AI Made Simple: Practical Tools for Small Business Success.” They also are increasing their marketing and communication, listening to the ideas that members have for growing their business, and strengthening partnerships.

“Whether it’s the Greater Lehigh Valley Chamber of Commerce, our partners at Pocono Mountain Visitors Bureau, the county, or local municipalities, we know that this is not work that’s done in a silo,” Adams-Weiss said. “Working together is really important to us. We want to make sure we are a powerful resource.”

The rebranding also includes a new logo created by Kathleen Reilly, a graphic designer and illustrator with the Pocono Mountain Visitors Bureau.

“The new logo was designed to represent both the Chamber and its community, showcasing the natural beauty of the region and its mountains. The sunrise symbolizes renewal, growth, and a positive outlook for the future,” Reilly said.

“The open circular form creates two subtle ‘C’s,’ nodding to Carbon Chamber, while the circular shape also represents the connection and togetherness of the community.”

Reilly kept the colors of green and blue from the previous brand, because they “capture the natural landscape while also signifying vitality, trust, progress, and stability,” she said. The colors are just a little brighter.

“My goal was to create a modern logo that feels welcoming and represents the growth and development of Carbon County and its future,” Reilly said.

The CCEDC is open 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday for anyone who would like to learn more about them. More information is also available on their website at www.carboncountychamber.org.