Brandon Valentine ’06 combined the business knowledge gained at Lebanon Valley College with his experience as a musician to establish the Central Pennsylvania Music Hall of Fame. A nonprofit organization, the hall of fame recognizes, supports, and grows the overall local music scene.

Valentine is a drummer, vocalist, and songwriter for country-rock bands Mountain Road and Cold Spring Union that has opened for many national acts including Alabama, The Marshall Tucker Band, Montgomery Gentry, and more. Valentine received many questions from new singers and songwriters on how to build their musical brands, and that’s when he realized he wanted to help.

“As an experienced musician in the area, I’ve always strived to assist and acknowledge other musicians on their quest to achieve their own success,” he said. “My bandmates and I have always extended a helping hand when we can, because we remember that we were once there.”

Valentine launched the Hall of Fame earlier this year and, as president, collaborates with two additional LVC alumni [Derek Euston ’02 and Holly Serio ’08, M’15] who sit on the 12-member board. The organization is partnering with The Whitaker Center to host the inaugural Central Pennsylvania Music Awards, which will serve as both an awards event and induction ceremony for recipients into the Hall of Fame. The organization also uses community donations to provide both educational programs for children and scholarships to deserving high-school students.

Valentine, a business administration graduate, credits lessons learned at LVC for preparing him to achieve this success.

“The business professors were always motivating and presented concepts from a real-world perspective,” he said. “They instilled an entrepreneurial spirit and drive in me to create and build something to call my own. In creating the Central Pennsylvania Music Hall of Fame, as a nonprofit, I’m able to accomplish this and simultaneously help others, so it’s the best of both worlds.”

Valentine’s career interests also took root as a student at LVC. He is currently a diagnostic representative for Bracco Diagnostics, which provides hospitals with medical equipment, supplies, and pharmaceuticals to help improve patient care.

“I remember a pharmaceutical representative came in to speak to our Business Communications class about building a résumé and how to interview properly,” he said. “Concurrently, I completed a ride-a-long with a different pharmaceutical representative. Ultimately, making the right connections and performing well in the interview process prepared me for corporate success.

“I believe that with a positive mental attitude and a daily drive to achieve your absolute personal best in everything that you do, there is no cap to the level of success that you can attain.”

– Huntre Keip, LVC Marketing & Communications Intern