“Getting to Know the Neighbors” is a series where awesome locals share their local favorites.
Elizabeth Hay with her family
Originally from Tampa, Elizabeth Hay made her way to State College for grad school and, along with her husband, decided to stay.
Since then, the pair have started a business, are raising 6 kids, and have become firmly rooted in the community.
We asked Elizabeth, who’s well known around town for her work with the Happy Valley LauchBox, to fill us in one some of her favorite things about living here. We hope you’ll enjoy!
Day to Day
On a typical weekday, you’ll find me… at the Happy Valley LaunchBox, working alongside our coworkers and trying to develop creative ways to start and grow entrepreneurship in Happy Valley.
And the weekends are for… travel sports. With six kids, weekends are full-on crazy. Five of my kids are travel athletes, and between hockey and gymnastics, we are typically on the road. I know most of the Northeast by the hockey rinks in their towns. If I am not on the road, you can guess that I am pretty busy cooking and cleaning with a big family, but I love running on one of my many routes, hanging out by my pool reading, or taking care of my garden and chickens.
If State College had its own TV show, my character would be the one who is always… juggling multiple projects, balancing career, entrepreneurship, and a big family.
Awesome Local Alert!
I’m probably most well-known around town for… being a mom of six active sports kids and a key person involved in the entrepreneurship space, but I can also be found teaching yoga, having previously owned a studio and continuing to teach occasionally at PYP Studio.
The thing I’m most proud to have contributed to our community is… my work during the pandemic, helping hundreds of businesses navigate survival and access relief resources. I continue to take pride in helping new businesses launch and thrive in our community
Favorite Things
To me, a perfect day in State College looks like… spending quality time outdoors, enjoying a coffee at a local café, engaging with the community through events or workshops, and ending the day with a family dinner at a favorite restaurant.
The season I love most in State College is… fall because I grew up in the South with no change of seasons, and I absolutely love the colors of fall and the crisp air.
I consider the Paterno family State College royalty… I have a special connection with Kelley Paterno, she had the same family dynamics with three kids and a set of twins until I outdid her and had my sixth and she always kept me motivated to keep going. The Paterno family continues to leave a legacy in the community and will always be a part of State College.
One downtown restaurant that I just can’t get enough of is… Webster’s Café. It is more than a great bookstore and cafe, Elaine Wilgus also caters, and does all our summer meals with our startups, and the food is always amazing and healthy.
The best day trip destination within a 2-hour drive from State College is… Bald Eagle State Park. I love taking my kids tubing there. It’s the perfect mix of not too crowded, easy to get to, easy to leave, and we always see bald eagles while boating.
My go-to “Spend an Evening Downtown” itinerary looks like… starting off at The Adam’s Apple for an Original Sin, then exploring the nightlife with local music at Zeno’s and great food at Central Reservation.
Elizabeth after receiving her MBA from Penn State in 2023
The Local Experience
A neighboring town that I love to explore is… Pine Grove Mills. My husband and I actually bought our first house there, and now our engineering firm is located right behind The Limestone Inn Bed and Breakfast. What Liz Grove is doing with Pine Grove Hall is changing the town, and it will be one to watch in the next few years.
The 3 things I’d miss most about State College if I had to move are… The lack of traffic; we are incredibly spoiled by how easy it is to get around town. The local food scene; I love the farm-to-table scene in State College. The local farmers changed the way I eat, and not having access to locally raised food would be difficult for me. And the perfect mix of resources to raise a family; from feeling safe to feeling connected, this town is really the best place to have a big family.
Something that has pleasantly surprised me about living in State College is… the university’s influence on the community beyond sports. Penn State is a great school where I work, my kids can go with a great discount on tuition, I did my MBA there, and my husband did his PhD. We continue to collaborate with the university on projects through our engineering firm. My job is to serve not only the students, faculty, and staff, but also the community free of charge. The university’s impact really extends into the community and touches many of our lives.
If I had to sum up life in State College in 3 words? Peaceful, Community, Home
What’s One Questions We Didn’t Ask… But Should Have?
One question you didn’t ask, but should have is: “What do you think the future holds for State College in the next 10 years?”
This is where I raised my family, so I want it to be a great place to raise a family, and as an entrepreneur, I want it to be a great place to start and grow a business. In 10 years, I want to see more businesses, especially technology businesses, started here in State College so our students in tech have places to intern and stay for jobs. I also want to see us marked as having a thriving woman-owned business community where female entrepreneurs come to learn and grow. I’d love us to keep that small-town feel with a thriving culture for innovation and entrepreneurship where people come to start businesses and raise their families.
Happy Valley LaunchBox Content Creator Program Cohort 2023
