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 Our Executive Director

Drew Mousetis is a results-driven professional with a robust background in business management and a passion for direct employee ownership. Holding a Bachelor’s degree in Accounting from Penn State University and an MBA from Elizabethtown College, Drew brings a wealth of knowledge to his role as Executive Director.

Before joining Tandem, Drew excelled as a lead consultant at Cargas, where he embraced the ethos of employee ownership within a dynamic culture of engagement and profit sharing at the employee owned company. Prior to Cargas, Drew honed his skills as the Director of Finance & Development at The GateHouse. With his acute attention to detail, strong relational abilities, and demonstrated success in team leadership, Drew is ready to harness the power of Shared Business Success at Tandem.

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.