Our Team
Ryan Sprankle — Operations
Ryan got his start in the Sprankle’s family grocery business in 1998 while in high school. He continued working at his father’s store in Leechburg throughout his time at Shippensburg University until he graduated in 2003 and became Sprankle’s Operations Manager. In 2020, he became the owner of the Kittanning location. Aside from being the owner of the Sprankle’s Kittanning, Ryan is heavily involved in Sprankle’s social media presence, spearheading the Like & Share giveaway campaign, and has been involved in Sprankle’s Octoberfest since its inception in 2019.
Béla Pater — Director of Events
Béla first became involved with Sprankle’s Octoberfest in 2021 when his Bavarian Club, G.T.E.V. D’Lustigen Isartaler, performed traditional German dances under the Main Tent, much like you would see at the Munich Oktoberfest. In 2022, the Isartaler offered a German food booth (a huge hit!) at Octoberfest in addition to their dancing, and added Hofbraeuhaus Imported beers from Munich in 2023 to add even more to the German culture of Octoberfest! In 2024, Béla joined the Sprankle’s team full-time as the new Director of Events, taking over event marketing for the Sprankle’s Saxonburg store and planning Octoberfest and other Sprankle’s events! Béla has been involved in managing various Oktoberfests throughout the greater Pittsburgh region since 2000 and travels to Germany whenever possible!
Carrie Irvine – Vendor Relations Manager
Carrie joined our Sprankle Events team in 2024 and is our Vendor Relations Manager. She has been doing events throughout Western Pennsylvania, including Spooky Streets of Saxonburg Halloween event at Roebling Park.
Molly Nowakowski — Brand Ambassador
Molly has been a brand ambassador for Sprankle’s since the Saxonburg location opened in 2020. One of the original “Queens of Hustle,” she joined the Octoberfest ambassador team in the summer of 2021. Now you can find Molly and her husband Keith at most local Sprankle’s events and the Saxonburg Mingle on Main throughout the summer repping the Sprankle’s Brand.
Helga Leonard — Brand Ambassador
Helga was born in Dresden, Germany. Through the years, she has traveled to all 50 states! Her husband Randy is from Mars and was in the Coast Guard for 26 years. Helga worked for the US Army Corps of Engineers for 25 years in California managing the Emergency Operations Center for Disaster Response until she retired in 2003 and moved to Saxonburg. In May 2005, she began her own travel agency, A Dream Trip 4 U. As our Maifest Hospitality Meister and Brand Ambassador, she will be roaming the grounds to ensure our guests are finding everything they need!
