About Us

Tandem was founded on November 29, 2023 by Chip Cargas, Founder & Retired CEO of Cargas, in partnership with the Lancaster Chamber, the PA Center for Employee Ownership (PaCEO), the National Center for Employee Ownership (NCEO), and Tandem’s Board of Directors.

On a Mission

We offer pathways for business success through profit sharing and direct employee ownership that lead to shared prosperity and stronger communities.

Meet Drew Mousetis, Executive Director

Drew Mousetis serves as the Executive Director of the Tandem Center for Shared Business Success, where he helps business owners and advisors implement direct employee ownership. His passion for this model stems from his experience as a lead consultant and employee-owner at Cargas. Previously, Drew held the position of Director of Finance and Development at The GateHouse. With a Bachelor’s degree in Accounting from Penn State University and an MBA from Elizabethtown College, Drew offers extensive experience and dedication to guiding businesses toward Direct Employee Ownership.

Meet Chip Cargas, Founder, Board Chair, & Volunteer

Chip Cargas is the founder and retired CEO of Cargas, an employee-owned software company he established in 1988, which has grown to nearly 200 employees. As the chief architect of Cargas's Shared Success programs, he implemented employee engagement from the beginning, profit sharing with 10 employees, and direct employee ownership at 15 employees. These innovative practices earned the company the NCEO Innovations in Employee Ownership Award in 2018. Today, Chip volunteers as the Founder and Board Chair at Tandem Center for Shared Business Success, assisting companies in designing and implementing similar impactful programs tailored to their unique needs.

Our Vision

Through partnerships with the National Center for Employee Ownership (NCEO), Pennsylvania Center for Employee Ownership (PaCEO), Ohio Employee Ownership Center (OEOC), and others, we connect with and support businesses across the country. Through partnerships with organizations like Lancaster Chamber, The High Center at Elizabethtown College, and ASSETS, we are building a network of employee-owned companies in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania.

Meet Our Board of Directors

  • Loren Rodgers - Executive Director, National Center for Employee Ownership 

  • Kevin McPhillips - Executive Director/CEO, PA Center for Employee Ownership (Treasurer)

  • Heather Valudes - President & CEO, Lancaster Chamber (Secretary)

  • Vanessa Philbert - CEO, Community Action Partnership of Lancaster County

  • Kedren Crosby - Founder, Work Wisdom (Vice Chair)

  • Deborah Brandt - Founder & CEO, Fig Industries

  • Salena Coachman - VP Talent Sustainability, Diversity & Inclusion, Armstrong World Industries

  • Aaron Cargas - VP of Product & Support, Cargas, Second generation employee owner

  • Chip Cargas - Founder & Retired CEO, Cargas, First generation employee owner (Founder & Board Chair)

Powered in Tandem

Tandem is organized as a nonprofit initiative hosted by the Foundation of the Lancaster Chamber, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization legally serving as the fiscal sponsor of Tandem. To enable us to scale quickly, we’ve partnered with the Lancaster Chamber to provide administrative, finance, human resources, and IT support, as well as payroll, employee benefits, insurance, and office and meeting space at their offices at 115 E King St, Lancaster, PA.

The Chip & Rebecca Cargas Fund has committed to $1 million of seed funding over the first five years to help launch this initiative.