Max Felty has been named the eighth recipient of Destination Gettysburg’s “Jim Getty Spirit of Gettysburg Award,” exemplifying leadership and dedication as a champion of the Adams County tourism industry.
As president of Gettysburg Tours Inc., Felty oversees Gettysburg Battlefield Bus Tours, Gettysburg Group Reservations, the Gettysburg Tour Center, Ghostly Images of Gettysburg, and the Jennie Wade House Museum. The early days in his tourism career focused on learning the group reservations side of the business and driving buses after graduating from Elizabethtown College in 2008.
“Winning the Jim Getty Award this year is absolutely amazing to me,” Felty said. “It’s incredibly humbling and unexpected.”
The award was established in 2016 in recognition of Jim Getty, an Abraham Lincoln presenter and well-known ambassador of Gettysburg community who passed away in 2015. The “Jim Getty Spirit of Gettysburg Award” is presented to an individual who has exemplified many of the same qualities of Getty – leadership, dedication, contribution to the community and a true champion of the local tourism industry.
Friends and colleagues described Felty as a person who puts Gettysburg first, advocating for the town at trade shows, serving on the Destination Gettysburg Board of Directors, and collaborating with other local businesses on a regular basis.
“Max has really gone above and beyond in the tourism industry,” Destination Gettysburg President and CEO Karl Pietrzak said. “He doesn’t just focus on his success. He wants to help make everybody successful because he knows that’s what really makes Gettysburg the type of place that people want to visit.”
A committee of past winners selected Felty as the 2024 winner from a pool of nominees.
Previous award recipients were:
§ Randy Phiel, Adams County Commissioner and organizer of the annual Civil War re-enactment
§ Rick Beamer, general manager of the Dobbin House Tavern and Gettystown Inn
§ Andy Larson, late owner of Larson’s Quality Inn and a founding member of the Gettysburg Travel Council
§ Paul Witt, owner of the Quality Inn Battlefield and the Best Western Gettysburg
§ Nancie Gudmestad, owner of the Shriver House Museum
§ Terry Fox, licensed battlefield guide and leadership developer
§ Jacqueline White, owner of the Dobbin House Tavern
Learn more about Felty and his impact on the Gettysburg tourism industry by watching the 2024 “Jim Getty Spirit of Gettysburg Award” video on Destination Gettysburg’s YouTube channel at YouTube.com/Gettysburgcvb.
Destination Gettysburg, the official destination marketing organization of Adams County, Pa., promotes Gettysburg and Adams County as a premier travel destination to benefit and enhance our community by sharing history and creating new experiences.
Featured image caption: Max-award: Max Felty, center, accepts the 2024 Jim Getty Spirit of Gettysburg Award at Destination Gettysburg’s Annual Meeting March 19 at Liberty Mountain Resort. At left is Destination Gettysburg President and CEO Karl Pietrzak and at right is Destination Gettysburg Board Chair Nathan Mares.