Hello, Hershey! My name is Eliz Nestorov, and my family is truly my anchor and greatest source of purpose. I’m married to my husband, Martin, who is my partner in every sense of the word. Together, we’re raising our two sons, Alec and Taylan, who are still young and at ages where curiosity, honesty, and big questions shape our everyday lives. They keep us humble, engaged, and constantly learning right alongside them. Everything I do—both professionally and personally—is grounded in the values we’re intentionally building together as a family: empathy, resilience, and the importance of showing up for one another and for our community.

I’ve lived in the Hershey area for more than 20 years. Originally, I’m from Bulgaria, and I first came to Central Pennsylvania as a student intern in marketing research for a local IT company. What began as a professional opportunity quickly became something more—there was an immediate sense of connection to the community, the people, and the pace of life here. I knew early on that this was where I wanted to put down roots and build both my career and my family.

My academic background began in economics and finance, which provided a strong foundation in systems thinking and strategic analysis. In recent years, I’ve continued my education with an additional master’s degree in political science, deepening my understanding of governance, policy, and public service. Currently, alongside my executive leadership work, I am pursuing a Ph.D. in psychology. My doctoral focus includes emotional intelligence, behavioral profiling, decision-making under stress, risk dynamics, cybersecurity awareness, and insider threat prevention. At the heart of my academic work is a desire to better understand how human behavior, cognition, vulnerability, and trust influence organizational effectiveness, safety, and ethical decision-making.

Our love story truly feels like something out of a movie. My husband is my first love from high school in Bulgaria, and we met in the summer of 2000 at a local farmers’ market. I was selling watermelons during my summer break as I prepared to transition to college, and he was selling fresh green peppers while already a year into his studies. It was an instant connection—one of those moments you just know. Life eventually took us in different directions. I came to the United States for an internship, and he moved to Spain to be closer to his family, and we went our separate ways. But seven years later, we reconnected—this time over Skype—and that same love and familiarity was still there. From that moment on, everything fell into place. We knew we wanted to build a life together, and today we’re doing just that—proof that some love stories are simply meant to come full circle.

I currently serve as Director of Development at Ronald McDonald House Charities of Central Pennsylvania in Hershey, where I lead strategic fundraising, major gifts, grants, and partnerships that help remove barriers, strengthen families, and support resilience during medical crises. My role allows me to work closely with community partners and supporters to ensure families can focus on what matters most—their children. I was also appointed Social Justice Ambassador with the Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission and remain actively involved in leadership and advisory roles with the International Club of Central Pennsylvania, the World Affairs Council, and the U.S. Global Leadership Coalition.

We are a pet-loving household. We have two adorable Yorkies, Milo and Gigi, who are very much part of our family and bring constant joy, comfort, and personality into our home. We also have two freshwater fish tanks and a pair of hermit crabs, which our children love caring for and learning from. As a family, we place a strong emphasis on kindness toward animals, and our children are deeply emotionally connected to all our pets. Caring for them has become a wonderful way to teach empathy, responsibility, and compassion.

Creativity is a common thread in our family, and each of us contributes something unique to the mix. Our oldest, Alec, has a deep passion for music and plays the saxophone, which has become a meaningful outlet for self-expression and creativity. My husband channels his artistic side through photography and DJing in his spare time, blending visual storytelling with technical skill and sound. I personally love visual storytelling and enjoy staging and designing moments—whether for birthdays, photoshoots, or special celebrations—transforming meaningful occasions into lasting memories. Our youngest is our resident STEM enthusiast, naturally drawn to building, problem-solving, and exploring how things work.

Holidays in our home are centered on togetherness and tradition. We honor our Bulgarian cultural roots through food, music, and family rituals, while also creating new traditions that fit our life today. We make it a point to be fully present—phones down, hearts open—and to teach our children that celebrating isn’t about extravagance, but about appreciation, connection, and the people around the table. We love sharing our culture with our neighbors and friends as we all a part of a limitless global society. 

We take great pride in living in the Hershey area because it uniquely blends the excitement and charm of a world-famous destination with the warmth and close-knit feel of a true community. It’s rare to find a place that offers both, and that balance is what makes Hershey feel like home. Whenever friends or family visit us from overseas, Hershey is always at the top of the must-see list. Our usual tour starts at Chocolate World, followed by stops at The Hotel Hershey, Hershey Gardens, and a walk-through downtown Hershey—with a visit to The Hershey Pantry being non-negotiable. Chocolate World is always a crowd pleaser! I honestly can’t remember a single visitor who didn’t leave with at least three pounds of Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups. In fact, I don’t recall a trip back to Bulgaria where at least half of my suitcase wasn’t filled with Reese’s—every variety possible. The peanut butter flavor is truly unique, and there’s nothing quite like it in Europe.