As CEO and owner of The Jay Group, Dana Chryst heads one of the leading marketing fulfillment companies in the United States and the top women-owned business in the state of Pennsylvania.*
An industry veteran with more than 25 years experience, Chryst literally grew up with The Jay Group. The daughter of founder J. Freeland Chryst, she got her start with the company as a child, being featured in client ads and learning the business from the shop floor.
After officially joining the company in 1981 as an account executive, Chryst worked her way to the top, learning every facet of the business and eventually becoming president in 1991. She purchased controlling interest in the company in 2000, and assumed the role of CEO from her father. Today, The Jay Group represents many industry-leading companies including Johnson & Johnson, Reebok International, Heineken USA, Deere & Company, CertainTeed and iRobot (maker of the Roomba line of vacuum cleaners).
Under her leadership, The Jay Group has been recognized as one of Inc. 5000’s Fastest Growing Privately Held Companies in America. The company was also named one of the Top 100 Best Places to Work in Pennsylvania for four years in a row.
An active community member, Dana has been the recipient of several prestigious awards including the Athena Award and both the American Heart Association’s and Lancaster YMCA’s Volunteer of the Year Awards. On the business front, Dana was recognized with the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award, The Stevie Award for Women in Business (finalist) and Central Penn Business Journal's Pennsylvania Top 50 Women in Business. She also serves on the Board of Directors of Lancaster General Health, Fulton Bank, Fulton Financial Corporation and Hershey Entertainment and Resorts Company.
Chryst received a business degree from Millersville University.
CURRENT AFFILIATIONS
Fulton Financial Advisors
Board of Directors
Hershey Entertainment & Resorts Company
Board of Directors
Fulton Bank, Lancaster, PA
Board of Directors
Lancaster General Health/Lancaster General Hospital
Board of Directors
RECENT AWARDS
Personal
2009 Women’s Business Enterprise Star
Women’s Business Enterprise Council
2008 Volunteer of the Year
American Heart Association
2008 Hall of Achievement Laureate
Junior Achievement of Central Pennsylvania
2006 Stevie Award for Women in Business (Finalist)
2003 The Ernst and Young “Entrepreneur of the Year Award” for Business Services
2003 Athena Award
Lancaster Chamber of Commerce and Industry
An award given to an employer with significant business accomplishments, who is active in community and charity work, and aids in the advancement of businesswomen
2003 Pennsylvania’s Best 50 Women in Business
Business Journals of Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development
CORPORATE
2009 Top Diversity Owned Business
DiversityBusiness.com
2008 Top 100 Women Owned Businesses in PA*
DiversityBusiness.com
2008 Top 100 Privately Held Businesses in PA
DiversityBusiness.com
2007 Top Diversity Owned Business
DiversityBusiness.com
2006-2007 Inc. 5000 Fastest Growing Privately Held Companies
2002 – 2006 Top 100 Best Places to Work in PA
Central Penn Business Journal
2002 – 2006 Top Fifty Fastest Growing Companies
Central Penn Business Journal
2002 – 2005 Top 100 Privately Held Companies in PA
Central Penn Business Journal
2004 Business of the Year Award
Central Penn Business Journal
2004 Employer of the Year
PA Chapter National MS Society
2002 Performance Excellence Award
Lancaster Chamber of Commerce and Industry
PREVIOUS AFFILIATIONS
American Heart Association
2008 Go Red for Women Campaign, Chairman
Lancaster Chamber of Commerce
Strategic Planning Committee, 2007-2008
Lancaster Family YMCA
Board of Directors, 2000 – 06, VP 2003, President 2004 -05
Chairman, Capital Campaign 2005
Lancaster County Association for the Blind
Board Member 1994 – 1999
Pennsylvania Dutch Council, Boy Scouts of America
Alternative Funding Taskforce, Chairman, 2007
Lancaster Symphony Board
Board Member 1994 – 1997
Millersville Foundation Board
Board Member, 1992 – 1998
President, 1994 – 1995
Lancaster Chamber of Commerce and Industry
Board Member 2001 – 2002
Vistage (formerly TEC) Group
International CEO Think Tank, 2002-2008
Big Brothers Big Sisters
Big Sister Program Participant