If you’ve ever met Brad Groznik, he probably tried to get you involved in some kind of community project. According to him, getting involved is the key to being happy in Happy Valley.
A classic State College boomerang, Brad went to Penn State and moved away to cut his teeth in NYC. While there, he fell in love with Andrea, a State College local who was also living in the city. After they got married, were ready to leave the city, and wanted to start a business, they landed back in State College in 2015. They had their daughter Dove in 2019.
Brad helped get the Rediscover State College initiative off the ground, so we thought it would be fun for him to fill us in on some of his favorite things about living in State College!
Day to Day
On a typical weekday, you’ll find me… between campus teaching entrepreneurship and downtown involved in community projects
The weekends are for… family time! Having a five-year-old daughter has opened a whole new door to the town. Between the Schlow Library, Discovery Space, downtown events, local parks and the woods, there’s almost too much to fit in every weekend.
If State College had its own TV show, my character would be the one who is always… pitching the next big thing. I can’t help it. I see so much opportunity here. I have a running list of things I want to help create in town.
Awesome Local Alert!
I’m probably most well-known around town as… Brad from Groznik PR who co-founded Pop Up Ave with his wife Andrea, helped organize Light Up State College, helped launch Rediscover State College, and who also tried to close down Allen Street, but I can also be found teaching young entrepreneurs as an assistant teaching professor for Penn State’s School of Engineering Design and Innovation.
Favorite Things
To me, a perfect day in State College looks like: I have two perfect days. On a workday, the perfect day is waking up and getting a workout in at State College Strength and Conditioning, helping my daughter get ready for school, doing some deep work on a project, then biking downtown to teach on campus and take a couple meetings with community members on plans for some cool new idea. Then biking home and cooking a meal for the family.
On the perfect weekend day, I love to get outside with the family—a park, the pool, a hike. Then head downtown for lunch and a quick trip to the Schlow, Growing Tree Toys, and to check out the newest businesses that opened. Then getting home to sit on the front patio and hang out.
The season I love most in State College is… summer, because I just love all the community events and the slower pace.
I consider local small business owners State College royalty. I just think what they contribute to life here is so valuable. From Growing Tree, Webster’s, Appalachian Outdoors—I love that I can walk into these places and see the owners buzzing around and say hi. But not just retail, I love seeing the creatives in town that are designing the logos, websites and events, as well as the nonprofit and corporate people that elevate and make our town such an amazing place to live.
One downtown restaurant that I just can’t get enough of is: The Portuguese egg tarts at Chew Chew Bun.
The best day trip destination within a 2 hour drive from State College is: The growing favorite at our house right now is Hershey Park.
Favorite local park? Is it fair to say, the soon-to-be-built High Point Skate Park?!
Something I didn’t think I’d like about living here that has really grown on me is… birding! Does everyone have this phase? I’m currently really into learning about the local birds.
The Local Experience
The thing out-of-town visitors don’t really get to see about the experience of being a State College local is… how amazing life is in a “15-minute city.” Everything is close and you can get so much done!
The 3 things I’d miss most about State College if I had to move are: the down-to-earth, optimistic and nice people here, living in a neighborhood where my daughter can walk to school, and the bike commutes.
The coolest, under-the-radar thing in State College is: Happy Valley LaunchBox, Penn State’s free-to-the-community business incubator. Come start a business!
If I had to sum up life in State College in 3 words? Idyllic, Community & Opportunity
If you see Brad manning the Rediscover State College booth at an upcoming event, he wants you to say hi!
