REGISTRATION DEADLINE: Friday, May 1
The Greater Reading Chamber Alliance (GRCA) invites you to buckle up and get ready for takeoff at its 113th Annual Dinner. Join GRCA as it welcomes Mike Massimino, former NASA Astronaut, as its keynote speaker. Massimino will present “Be Ready for the Future: Change is Inevitable, Accept and Embrace It.”
The Annual Dinner will honor and celebrate the remarkable businesses of Greater Reading through its Business Excellence Awards in Category 1 and Category 2.
The Dinner is the largest gathering of business leaders in Berks County. Network with more than 700 business neighbors for a cocktail hour and enhanced photo opportunities.
Mike Massimino
Former NASA Astronaut, Columbia University Engineering Professor
Mike Massimino is a spacewalker from the final two Hubble Space Telescope servicing missions, where he and his crews traveled faster and higher than any other 21st‑century astronauts and enhanced Hubble’s discovery power a hundredfold. He performed the most intricate repair ever attempted in space, set a team record for cumulative spacewalking time on a single shuttle mission, became the last person to work inside Hubble and was the first person to tweet from space—all after overcoming years of rejections and even a medical disqualification on his path to becoming an astronaut.
Beyond NASA, Massimino has appeared widely on television, including “The Big Bang Theory,” hosting Science Channel’s “The Planets and Beyond,” commenting on Discovery’s “Space Launch Live,” and featuring on National Geographic’s “One Strange Rock” and Netflix’s “Worn Stories,” along with regular appearances on major morning shows, late‑night TV and news networks. He is the author of “Moonshot: A NASA Astronaut’s Guide to Achieving the Impossible,” which distills lessons from spaceflight into practical guidance, as well as the New York Times–bestselling “Spaceman” and its award‑winning young readers edition.
Keynote Speech
Be Ready for the Future: Change is Inevitable, Accept and Embrace It
Companies go through reorganizations and changes to grow their business and prepare for future opportunities in the changing marketplace. Often these transformations are met with resistance by team members who are happy with the way things are, but leadership needs to clearly communicate the benefits of these changes to gain buy-in. Massimino relates changes in the space program to changes in today’s business world. During his career, NASA pivoted from working independently to embarking on global partnerships with the space faring countries of the world including Russia, and commercial partnerships with private space companies. Leadership made it clear that although many would be uncomfortable with these changes, they were needed to secure the future of space exploration, improve international relations, and stimulate a new space economy. Massimino encourages audiences that although they may have an initial reluctance to accept change, they should embrace it as an opportunity for future greatness and success.
Footage of Mike Massimino Covering Artemis II
Massimino has made several recent appearances in the news covering Artemis II.
Examples of Mike Massimino Speaking
Massimino uses humor and his unique storytelling ability to inspire audiences to identify the passion in their work, to use teamwork and innovation to solve problems, to provide leadership in the face of adversity and crisis and to never give up when pursuing a goal.
Pre-order Mike Massimino’s Book
Moonshot: A NASA Astronaut’s Guide to Achieving the Impossible
GRCA Annual Dinner attendees have the exclusive opportunity to pre-order Moonshot: A NASA Astronaut’s Guide to Achieving the Impossible by Mike Massimino. Pre-orders are being coordinated through Firefly Bookstore and are available in both paperback and hardcover editions. Orders close Wednesday, May 6. The first 50 hardcover copies will be signed by Mike himself, making this a must-have keepsake from an unforgettable evening.
In addition to hearing from former NASA astronaut Mike Massimino, attendees will step into a fully immersive, space-themed experience filled with interactive moments around every corner. Snap a selfie with Pepper the dancing robot, touch a real meteorite, test your skills landing a spacecraft with CatapalloVR, or unwind in Reading Truck’s Speakeasy Lounge. With something exciting for everyone, this is more than a dinner—it’s an experience you won’t want to miss.
Each year at the GRCA’s Annual Dinner, we recognize the growth and vitality our member companies represent through the Business Excellence Awards. Nominated companies are ranked according to annual revenue growth – those with $1M in annual revenue for the past three years and those with $250K in annual revenue for the past three years.
Do you want to meet Mike Massimino? Dinner sponsorship opportunities are available. For more information contact Jackie Stiles.
Platinum Sponsor
diamond Sponsor
Gold Sponsor
- Illusion Sound and Lighting
concierge Sponsor
- Cherry Bekaert
VIP Sponsors
- American Crane & Equipment Corp.
- Brentwood Industries, Inc.
- D&S Elite Construction, Inc.
- East Penn Manufacturing Company
- Penske Transportation Solutions
- Reading Bakery Systems
- RKL LLP
- Visions Federal Credit Union
- Vision Mechanical, Inc.
experience Sponsors
- CatapalloVR, Inc.
- Reading Truck, LLC
Robot experience Sponsor
- RobotLAB Delaware Valley
Swag Sponsors
- Diamond Credit Union
- M&T Bank
dessert Sponsor
- Sweet Street Desserts
After party sponsor
- DoubleTree by Hilton Reading
Showcase Sponsors
- American Crane & Equipment Corp.
- Berks Career & Technology Center
- Dunmore
- Neag Planetarium of the Reading Public Museum
Table Sponsors
- Alvernia University
- Berks County Convention Center Authority
- Berks County Living
- Betterview Counseling and Trauma Recovery, LLC
- Comcast Business
- Customers Bank
- DESCCO Design & Constructions, Inc.
- Diamond Credit Union
- EMPOWERMENT Behavioral Health LLC
- Entech Engineering, Inc.
- Ethosource, LLC
- First National Bank
- Fulton Bank
- Grant Manufacturing & Alloying Inc.
- Interlace Communications, Inc.
- Jeff Martin, Century 21 Gold
- Kitay Law Offices
- Lamar Outdoor Advertising
- Mail Shark
- Members 1st Federal Credit Union
- MG Architects, Ltd.
- New Castle Lawn & Landscape
- Performance Toyota
- PhytogenX, Inc.
- Rhoads Energy
- SolveIT Solutions, Inc.
- Spotts Insurance Group
- Stoney Creek Rentals, Inc.
- The Stevens & Lee Companies
- Truist
- WFMZ-TV69 Berks Edition
