2025 Educational Workshop, Annual Meeting & "DO 6" Awards
Each year, PA Route 6 Alliance brings community leaders and tourism professionals across the 11 County PA Route 6 Heritage Region together in its “Heritage Community of the Year” for two full days of learning, networking, and celebrating Pennsylvania’s scenic Route 6.
2025 Educational Workshop, Annual Meeting & “DO 6” Awards
September 10-11, 2025 | Kane, Pennsylvania
Inform. Inspire. Innovate. Strengthening Communities Together.
Two Days, One Price: Just $85 for the Full Experience
Meet Our Speakers
We are honored to welcome a distinguished group of speakers to the 2025 PA Route 6 Educational Workshop, Annual Meeting, and “Do 6” Awards. This year’s presenters bring a wealth of expertise in Pennsylvania tourism, community-focused arts initiatives, the economic impact of the arts, and adaptive reuse of spaces in our communities. Their insights will inspire and inform as we explore innovative ways to strengthen our communities along the PA Route 6 corridor.
September 10, 2025
10:00AM-2:20PM | Educational Workshop
Location: Wilds Sonshine Factory, 3480 Route 6 West, Kane, PA
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- Keynote: The Vision of Pennsylvania Tourism & Opportunities
Anne Ryan, Deputy Secretary, Office of Tourism - Tourism in McKean County
Rustin Lippincott, Executive Director, Allegheny National Forest Visitors Bureau - Bringing Art to Your Community & The Economic Impact
Karl Blischke, Executive Director, PA Council on the Arts
Sarah Merrit, Director of Creative Communities & the Creative Economy, PA Council on the Arts - What Makes a Welcoming Community & Tools to Maximize on Visitors Experience
Kaitie Burger, Executive Director, PA State Tourism Office
- Keynote: The Vision of Pennsylvania Tourism & Opportunities
2:20PM-4:00PM | Wilds Sonshine Factory Tour & Trolly Tour of The Start in the Sky
Location: Wilds Sonshine Factory, 3480 Route 6 West, Kane, PA
5:00PM-8:00PM | Annual Meeting & “Do 6” Awards Ceremony
Location: Wilds Sonshine Factory, 3480 Route 6 West, Kane, PA
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- Keynote: Pennsylvania Tourism
Anne Ryan, Deputy Secretary, Office of Tourism - PA Route 6 “Do 6” Awards Ceremony
Heritage Community of the Year
Heritage Partnership
Heritage Leadership
Heritage Tourism
Artisan of the Year
Lifetime Achievement
- Keynote: Pennsylvania Tourism
8:30PM | Networking Reception
Location: Table 105, 105 North Fraley Street, Kane, PA
September 11, 2025
8:00AM-1:00PM | Educational Workshop
Location: Six&Kane, 63 North Fraley Street, Kane, PA
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- Inspiring Volunteerism in Your Community
Kate Kennedy, Executive Director, Kane Area Development Center - Programs for Revitalization
Julie Fitzpatrick, Executive Director, Pennsylvania Downtown Center - Old Spaces, New Energy: The Power of Adaptive Reuse
West Penn Sustainable Energy Fund
MYNDDSET
- Inspiring Volunteerism in Your Community
1:00AM-4:00PM | Breakout Sessions – Choose One.
- Creative Communities – More details to come.
Location: PA Wilds Media Lab, 61 North Fraley Street 2nd Floor, Kane, PA
No travel required! The PA Wilds Media Lab neighbors Six&Kane. - Cycling or Hiking (Your choice!) through The Star in the Forest
Location: Kane Trailhead, Viaduct Road, Kane, PA
We will ride about 6 miles round trip and will stop at Country Pines Ice Cream Shop for a sweet treat. Total time estimated for the event is 2 hours.
Anne Ryan
PA Deputy Secretary Office of Tourism
Kaitie Burger
Executive Director, PA State Tourism Office
Karl Blischke
Executive Director,
PA Council on the Arts
Sarah Merrit
Director of Creative Communities
& the Creative Economy,
PA Council on the Arts
Rustin Lippincott
Executive Director,
Allegheny National Visitors Bureau
Kate Kennedy
Executive Director,
Kane Area Development Center
Mark Burke
Founder & Lead Experience Designer,
MYNDDSET
Julie Fitzpatrick
Executive Director,
Pennsylvania Downtown Center
West Penn Energy Fund
Meet Our 2025 “DO 6” AWARD RECIPIENTS
2025 AWARD NOMINATIONS CLOSED
The PA Route 6 Alliance recognizes individuals, groups, projects and communities that exemplify and advance the Alliance’s mission of protecting, preserving and promoting the scenic, cultural, historic and recreational resources across the 11-county corridor of PA Route 6. Awards in the following categories are presented at the PA Route 6 Annual Meeting and “Do 6” Awards Program.
LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD
This award is kept a secret and gets announced during the award ceremony.
Presented to a person or agency who exemplifies outstanding leadership and advances our mission through heritage development.
HERITAGE PARTNERSHIP AWARD
Grey Towers Heritage Association
Milford, PA
Presented to a group, person or organization that has demonstrated excellence in historic preservation, cultural preservation, interpretation, and/or education through cross-corridor thinking and interagency cooperation.
HERITAGE TOURISM AWARD
Lynn Hall
Port Allegany, PA
Presented to a business or project that furthers economic and tourism development while respecting the heritage and cultural resources of the PA Route 6 Corridor.
ARTISAN OF THE YEAR AWARD
Blossoms & Blooms Boutique
Linesville, PA
Presented to an artist or artisan group that exemplifies the goals of the PA Route 6 Artisan Trail program showing regional thinking and cooperation while promoting the arts along the corridor.
HERITAGE LEADERSHIP AWARD
Michelle Gray – Warren County Historical Society
Warren, PA
Presented to a person(s), business or organization for meaningful contributions and/or through partnerships, by enriching our communities through landscape initiatives or historic preservation.
HERITAGE COMMUNITY OF THE YEAR
Coundersport
Potter County, PA
Presented to the designated Heritage Community, who are embracing their Heritage Tourism Work Plans and implementing worthwhile projects and showing impacts and results.
2025 SPONSORS
PA Route 6 Alliance thanks our generous sponsors for helping us make this event a success!
2025 Planning Committee Members:
Rustin Lippincott
Executive Director, Allegheny National Forest Visitors Bureau
Debbie Dean
Allegheny National Forest Visitors Bureau
Candace Hillyard
Executive Director, PA Route 6 Alliance
Rachel Courtney
Program Manager, PA Route 6 Alliance
Design Team of
Old Spaces, New Energy: The Power of Adaptive Reuse
Joel Morrison
Fund Administrator, West Penn Sustainable Energy Fund
Barb Robuck
Director of Marketing, West Penn Sustainable Energy Fund
Mark T. Burke
Founder & Lead Experience Designer, MYNDDSET
Kristi Krott
Project Manager, Six&Kane
John Cleland
SPARKS – Kane, PA
Stephanie Distler
Brick Block – Johnsonburg, PA
Will Hunt
Director of Potter County Planning
Kate Kennedy
Executive Director, Kane Area Development Center
Candace Hillyard
Executive Director, PA Route 6 Alliance
Rachel Courtney
Program Manager, PA Route 6 Alliance
EVENT SPONSORS
FUNDING PARTNERS
INTERESTED IN SPONSORING OUR 2025 EVENT?
Only through the partnerships we’ve developed is this event possible. As we continue to grow as an organization we need to continue the build upon these partnerships too. If you are interested in collaborating with us please submit your proposals to info@paroute6.com. If you are interested in sponsoring you can learn more at the links below.
