Marci Dake, new administrative assistant for the Endless Mountains Heritage Region, enjoys a view of the Martin’s Creek Viaduct at Kingsley from the Martin’s Creek Viaduct Overlook, a project of the Brooklyn Historical Society.
The Endless Mountains Heritage Region (EMHR) has announced that Marci Girven Dake of Wyalusing has assumed the role of administrative assistant, effective Sept. 11. Her arrival at the organization is perfectly timed, according to EMHR executive director Cain Chamberlain, as one very active year winds down and planning begins for 2024.
The 1989 Wyalusing Valley High School graduate is the daughter of Wyalusing mayor Suky Burgess and Alan Girven of Williamsport. Marci attended both Mansfield University and Keystone Junior College, garnering degrees in English and Written Communication, respectively.
Marci worked in banking and as a title clerk before taking a break to raise her two sons, Alex and Brandon, with her husband, the late Jody Dake. As an employee of Proctor & Gamble, Jody accepted a transfer to West Virginia, where the couple resided for about four years until Jody passed away in 2022 and Marci returned to Wyalusing.
She saw a Facebook posting announcing the opening for administrative assistant and viewed the opportunity as a potential new beginning. She had known Cain and his family for many years and once even had Cain in her classroom when she served as a substitute teacher.
“Like so many, she left the area to experience more of the world, but came back,” Cain said of Marci. “She calls the Endless Mountains home, and that’s important for this particular job.”
Since starting with the EMHR, Marci has been immersed in the Partnership Mini-Grants Program, acquainting herself with projects underway, and those being wrapped up from the previous year. She has also applied herself to the EMHR’s social media platforms and maintaining the website.
Marci already demonstrated a good grasp of Bradford and Sullivan counties, so Cain thought a driving tour of Wyoming and Susquehanna counties was in order. On Sept. 25, the two of them visited Vosburg Neck State Park, Riverside Park, Seneca Park, the Dietrich Theater, Nicholson Heritage Association (above), Dennis Farm (below), Martin’s Creek Viaduct Overlook, Salt Springs State Park, and the Susquehanna County Historical Society Museum in Montrose.
She was impressed by the scope of the Heritage Region’s support for such a variety of projects spread over those two counties alone. “I still have a lot to see yet,” Marci noted. “And maybe I’ve seen it but didn’t connect the dots yet to the EMHR.”
Cain related that Marci came out on top of a pool of highly qualified candidates for the position. “With her knowledge of the area, her education, and her strong work ethic, we know that she’ll pick up things quickly,” he stated. “She brings a lot to the table”
“I know a lot of people, so I have a lot of connections,” Marci said in reference to one of her strong points. “I have a new life now. My kids are grown up, and I’m finding my new niche.”
Along with Cain, other EMHR staff, and various committee members , Marci will become more involved with the EMHR’s water trail program, the organization’s updated Management Action Plan, and the EMHR’s bid for designation as a National Heritage Region.
For more information about the Endless Mountains Heritage Region, interested readers are encouraged to log on to EMHeritage.org.