Jennifer Gallia worked at the Hotel Hershey while she was in law school, witnessing firsthand the depths of the relationship between the Hershey Entertainment & Resorts Co. and the Milton Hershey School, the largest residential school for children in need in the United States.
It didn’t take long for Gallia to realize she was in the right place.
“I immediately knew I needed to be a part of this company because of their legacy and the Milton Hershey School and what that represents,” said Gallia, associate general counsel and assistant secretary at Hershey Entertainment, where she has worked since graduating from law school 11 years ago.
Gallia is one of three attorneys in the five-member legal department at Hershey Entertainment, a group that faces unusual legal challenges each day and maintains the proper reserves to form a strong link in the bond between the company and the school. Whether they are teaching students about the law and helping open doors to future legal careers or pairing with student homes on campus to provide stability and trust for children growing up in difficult circumstances, the attorneys, paralegal and executive assistant in the department are devoted to their relationship with the school and the students.
Once the nearly 1,900 students at the school-ranging from pre-kindergarten through 12th grade-reach senior high, they select a career pathway to help develop skills to enter a meaningful field upon finishing their academic studies. The school found that many students were interested in criminal justice and the law, so the legal department at Hershey Entertainment in recent years assisted the school in building a pathway with a focus on law, public safety and security, opening students up to the possibilities of the legal profession.
Frank Miles, who is vice president, secretary and general counsel at Hershey Entertainment, has been the lawyer-adviser for the school’s mock trial program since its inception in 2004, and has served as a visiting instructor. He also helped to write the curriculum for a course on advocacy, public speaking and trial practice.
The department coordinated a mock trial competition with visiting schools in January, complete with six-person juries, an event that Miles said will be an annual tradition going forward.
Hershey Entertainment’s legal department also hosts students for internships and cooperative education opportunities, serving as a guidepost to ensure any child interested in the law is given ample tools to pursue a career.
Outside of their legal guidance for students, the five members of the department are heavily involved with a program called Project Fellowship, which pairs company employees with on-campus student homes to foster a sense of community and family among children who are frequently in need of both.
“These kids don’t have someone to come and watch them when they’re in the school play,” Miles said. “The idea is to try to give some sense of connection and stability.”
The legal department is paired with elementary school boys, stepping in to fill in some of the gaps in their lives. Sometimes that means watching the kids walk at graduation or attending their art shows; other times it simply means baking them cupcakes for their birthdays. Small gestures can make all the difference.
“Being involved at that level with the school is so rewarding,” Gallia said. “That’s why I come here every day.”
“Doing anything to be a part of these kids’ lives is the biggest thing when it comes to what impact we have as a company,” Gallia added.
It’s all part of Hershey Entertainment’s dedication to upholding the core values of the school and its founders, Milton and Catherine Hershey, which are reflected in the legal department. The small group, four of whose members are women, leads the company’s diversity efforts. Members of the department co-chair the company’s resource group for women in leadership and co-founded the Diversity & Inclusion Professionals of Central PA.
The community-focused efforts and drive to make a difference in the lives of Milton Hershey School students are central principles of the legal department, but it doesn’t stop there. Unique legal issues are also a constant in the day-to-day operations of a company with annual revenue near $300 million and 1,650 year-round employees.
Intellectual property matters are a persistent presence, and not many legal departments can say they get to work on issues involving roller coasters, Broadway shows and importing wild animals for a zoo all at the same time.
“Two weeks ago, I was negotiating a contract with an international ride manufacturer for a ride in the park at the same time as a customs issue where they weren’t releasing parts we needed-and dealing with a personnel matter,” Gallia said. “It’s very diverse.” •
Ben Seal can be contacted at 215-557-2368 or [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter @BSealTLI.
