92194 Scranton Chamber MOMENTUM AUGUST 2014.indd
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92194 Scranton Chamber MOMENTUM AUGUST 2014.indd
AUGUST 2014 W O R G , T C N I A A R T T S T A & SU S B O J www.scrantonchamber.com Women’s NETWORK Sponsored by: Your Chamber Membership Has It’s Benefits! · Unique networking opportunities available through the Chamber. Business Card Exchanges, Chamber Nights Out, and Women’s Network – just to name a few. · Increased credibility for your business when it becomes a part of something greater – a vast network of businesses 222 Mulberry Street P.O. Box 431 Scranton, PA 18501 • 255,964 SF • Attached Parking Garage • Availble for Lease or Sale • KIZ Approved • Downtown Scranton · Incredible Member2Member discounts are available through the Chamber website that are aimed at not only the business at large, but also individual company employees. · Value added benefits such as ChamberChoice and OnDemand energy discounts. 119 Wyoming Avenue MetroTech Center, Scranton, PA • 36,400 SF office space available • On-site parking • Downtown Scranton • Business Incubator Suites available • KIZ approved 201 Lackawanna Avenue Scranton Enterprise Center, Scranton, PA • 45,249 SF • Parking for 220+ • Incubator suites • 30,000 SF Anchor Tenant space • Tax free through 12/31/2020 The Greater Scranton Chamber of Commerce The Greater Scranton Chamber of Commerce works to improve the area’s economic environment and quality of life by providing programs and services which stimulate economic growth, promote business prosperity, nurture educational opportunities and serve the best interests of the people. Established in 1867, The Greater Scranton Chamber of Commerce is the largest business network in northeastern Pennsylvania, with over 2,000 member companies representing all varieties of businesses. In addition to traditional Chamber services, such as networking, referrals and cost saving programs, the Greater Scranton Chamber of Commerce is also the parent organization to a number of affiliates. From an award-winning economic development team, to small business lending, leadership programs and workforce development initiatives, The Chamber and its family of affiliates are supporting our members’ success, creating opportunities for the region and helping business owners and executives address the issues they face each day. • KIZ approved 50 Alberigi Drive TekRidge Center, Jessup, Pa 570-342-7711 *All Photos courtesy of those featured unless otherwise noted. scrantonplan.com 1 • The Greater Scranton Chamber of Commerce August Calendar of Events REDESIGNING DOWNTOWN THE CITY LIVING TOUR August 1-3 DOWNTOWN WALKING TOURS PNC’S 3-ON-3 BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT 5:00 PM - 8:30 PM Sign in at Ale Mary’s Wyoming Avenue, Scranton 11:00 AM Meet at Lackawanna College August 4-8 ECO EXPLORERS DAY CAMP 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM Lackawanna College Environmental Education Center TEDXSCRANTON August 8-10 SCRANTON JAZZ FESTIVAL 5:00 PM - 8:30 PM Radisson Lackawanna Station Hotel 6:00 PM DOWNTOWN WALKING TOURS The Moskovitz Theater 11:00 AM Meet at St. Peter’s Cathedral University of Scranton 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 Rushefski Accounting & Consulting Hosts INTRODUCTION TO CALCULATING HOURLY COSTS FOR MANUFACTURING EQUIPMENT SEMINAR BAD MOVIE THURSDAYS WITH MST3K 10:00 - 12:00 PM Scranton Chamber 7:00 PM Scranton Cultural Center August 16-22 PAINT THE TOWN 5:00 PM Various locations in Hill Section of Scranton August 30September 1 EXECUTIVE BUSINESS CARD EXCHANGE DOWNTOWN WALKING TOURS 11:00 AM Meet at the corner of Linden Street & N. Washington Ave. 5:00 -7:00 PM Geisinger Mount Pleasant, Scranton August 30 & 31 RAILFEST 2014 LA FESTA ITALIANA 11:00 AM - 10:00 PM Courthouse Square, Downtown Scranton Steamtown National Historic Site 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 AUG. 2 AUG. 26 Executive Business Card Exchange MT. PLEASANT Join III Ponds Winery for Rockin’ The Ponds on August 2nd from 4-10 p.m. Admission is $10 and there will be music and food available for purchase. Bring your own lawn chair and some friends and enjoy a music-filled night at the winery! La Festa Italiana Great food, live entertainment and fun for everyone are on the menu for the 39th annual La Festa Italiana from August 30-31, to September 1 on Courthouse Square in downtown Scranton. The three-day festival is an end-of-summer tradition. Hours are Saturday and Sunday 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., and Monday 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Admission is free. Tuesday, August 26, 2014 5:00 PM - 7:00 PM www.scrantonchamber.com • 2 The Small Business Spotlight Is On... HARTH & SONS GENERAL CONTRACTING LLC 418 Moosic Heights, Avoca, PA 18641 (570) 815-8294 | www.harthandsons.com Chamber Member since 2014 Charles Harth founded his business in 2008 with a small pickup truck and a heart full of passion for the construction industry. Since then, Charles and his wife have been running their very own business, Harth and Sons General Contracting LLC out of Avoca, Pennsylvania. We were able to speak with Charles to find out more about his business. Scranton Chamber: How did you get into the construction industry? Charles Harth: My father had experience doing maintenance work in New Jersey and that’s how I initially got into the business. After high school, I worked for Universal Construction in Scranton and have loved construction ever since. I love what I do and seeing people happy when the job is done is the biggest reward. SC: How did your business get its name? CH: My father wanted my brother and me to do what he had done for many years. However, I am the only one in the construction business but the name still fits because I have two sons of my own. I hope that they will one day continue the tradition of working in the industry. Our bee logo comes from the fact that my sons love carpenter bees. SC: What types of services do you provide? CH: We provide a variety of services, specializing in both fire and water damage 3 • The Greater Scranton Chamber of Commerce “I DON’T SEE A BIG CHALLENGE RIGHT NOW BECAUSE EVERYONE I WORK WITH LOVES WHAT THEY DO, INCLUDING ME.” restoration. Additionally, we provide services such as roofing, additions, kitchen remodels, and bathroom remodels. SC: Is there any specific area that your business specializes in? CH: We specialize in and are certified for mold removal. We are also certified for lead removal in homes built before 1978. SC: What’s the importance of hiring a local business like yours? CH: I think that it is so important to hire a local business. By buying from vendors in the area, we are supporting the local economy and when customers hire us they are supporting local as well. Customers frequently ask where we get our products and we are proud to tell them that they are from lumber yards in the area. SC: What’s the biggest challenge associated with running your own contracting company? CH: I don’t see a big challenge right now because everyone I work with loves what they do, including me. There hasn’t been a challenge I haven’t taken on and conquered yet. I would say that if anything, keeping my employees busy year-round could be seen as a potential obstacle. SC: How has The Chamber been able to help your business thus far? CH: The Scranton Chamber is doing an excellent job. Since I am a member, I display my Chamber plaque at the home shows I attend. Being a member is great for any business’s reputation and ever since I’ve joined there have been a lot of different benefits – from advertising to recognition and more. Becoming a member has been the best thing I’ve done for my business thus far. Each month, The Chamber highlights a member business that is making its mark in our community. To apply for the Small Business Spotlight award visit scrantonchamber.com. The Small Business Spotlight award is sponsored by: Ask the Expert HOW TO GET THE BEST INSURANCE DEAL NINA WASKEVICH, Director of Marketing/Public Relations AAA North Penn Auto Insurance Questions What are the discounts you offer? There may be an array of ways you can save money, ranging from safe driving and senior discounts to those for good students. What will I get paid if my car is totaled? This is important to know because, if you have an older car with a low market value, collision insurance may not be the best fit for you. AAA Suggests Questions to Always Ask Your Agent If I have an accident can my rates go up, even if it’s not my fault? Each Being a smart shopper isn’t just for buying vegetables and ground beef. When purchasing insurance, AAA North Penn suggests you do some homework in advance. That way, you can get the best value for your money. “Insurance can be complicated, and many people don’t want to deal with the details,” said AAA North Penn spokesperson Nina Waskevich. “However, taking the time to look over your policy and asking the right questions may help save you money on your insurance bill.” person’s policy is different, so it’s good to ask under what circumstances your premium would be impacted. Homeowners Insurance Questions If my home is destroyed in a disaster, what will my insurance policy cover? Standard homeowners insurance will pay replacement value to help policy holders rebuild their home. In some areas, policyholders can purchase increased coverage through an optional endorsement. Will my homeowners insurance cover all disasters likely to happen in my area? Standard homeowners insurance covers disasters such as fire, lightning, theft, vandalism, or damage from smoke, water or wind. It does NOT cover damage caused by a flood or an earthquake. Flood and earthquake insurance coverage can be purchased separately. What are the coverage limits on items like jewelry, art, or other expensive items, if they’re stolen or lost? There are limits on certain types of personal items that normally occur in insurance policies. Ask your agent to walk through the Special Limits of Liability for Personal Property for the policy they recommend and consider purchasing additional coverage through endorsements, if needed. Will my possessions be covered if they’re lost or stolen outside of my home? Most policies will cover things like jewelry or other expensive items (up to a certain monetary limit) that are stolen from your car or stolen or lost while traveling. Your policy may also cover your children’s belongings if they live in a dormitory during their college years. Your New Website Starts Here. Creativity Driven by Technology 600 Lackawanna, Scranton | 570.343.5530 | DesignDoneRight.com www.scrantonchamber.com • 4 2 g n i w o r G , g n i t c a Attr s b o J g n i n i a t s and Su ylvania nns e P n r te s a e th r o N in Economic Development Through our economic development programs, The Chamber aggressively markets this area to large businesses, leads industrial development construction projects, and fosters the creation and expansion of small businesses. We work with a variety of partners throughout the region also striving to continuously improve our area. One example of this is the Northeastern Pennsylvania Regional Bioscience Initiative or RBI, which brought together healthcare, education, government, private sector, and economic development leaders in eight counties to help grow bioscience employment within our region by capitalizing on the growth of this industry. Government Affairs MetroAction, our small business and community development division, provides financing, training and counseling services to small businesses. Since 1982, we have invested nearly $420 million into business development projects in our region. We recognize the importance of working closely with local officials to offer support and to make sure that the voices of our members are heard. The Chamber works to ensure a positive governmental climate for business growth and development. • In 2014, The Chamber facilitated separate forums with Scranton Mayoral Candidates Bob Courtright and Jim Mulligan. We have created and retained thousands of jobs in Lackawanna County. We have loaned more than $6 million to small businesses. Our incubator program has created 26 jobs from our current incubator companies and our 20 graduated companies have created more than 5 • The Greater Scranton Chamber of Commerce The Greater Scranton Chamber of Commerce is the largest business network in Northeastern Pennsylvania with more than 1,500 member companies representing all types and sizes of businesses. We are a multifaceted organization that touches nearly every aspect of the community. Our focus on attracting, growing and sustaining business in our region directs all of our initiatives. As a member of The Chamber, you become an integral part of an organization that aims to ensure a high quality of life for all those living and working in the Greater Scranton area. 175 local jobs • Formed a Financial Review Partnership and met with Mayor-elect Courtright on the idea of engaging Henry Amoroso, an expert in municipal finance to provide the City with a fresh fiscal and operational assessment. Through the support of our members, we were able to raise the funds needed to work with Mr. Amoroso. • Conducted a forum with Commission Chair Chuck Volpe and County Commissioners Jim Wansacz and Corey O’Brien regarding the Lackawanna County Government Study Commission and the key elements in the Yes/No vote. Membership 30 events THROUGHOUT THE YEAR. LAST YEAR, ATTENDANCE FOR OUR EVENTS TOTALED NEARLY 7,000 guests. ON AVERAGE, THE CHAMBER HOSTS Each year, The Chamber Gala salutes outstanding businesses with the presentation of the SAGE Awards (Scranton Awards for Growth and Excellence). Members are the single most important part of our organization. Through our programs, services and activities, we strive to maintain the well-being of our membership and support their growth. The Annual Dinner is our area’s premiere networking event with more than 500 guests in attendance each year. Events are an important part of Chamber membership. From our Women’s Network Luncheons to the Annual Dinner – each Chamber event presents an opportunity for our members to learn and network. Our Employment Expos introduce more than 100 area companies to thousands of potential employees from our region. Leadership and Workforce Development Our Leadership Lackawanna programs foster the professional development of those determined to take active roles in our area. Two of our programs have a unique curriculum that incorporates several service projects each year designed to benefit the community while teaching its participants leadership, interpersonal and managerial skills. Since 1982, Leadership Lackawanna has graduated more than 1,400 individuals. In 2014, Tomorrow’s Leaders Today program graduated 34 aspiring teenagers from 14 different schools and collaborated with 14 local non-profits for their class project. 7 Executives Seven executives graduated from The Executive Program in November. Community Development Twenty-seven individuals graduated from the Core Program in June at the Celebration of Leadership event. The class helped three local non-profits, Dress for Success Lackawanna, Griffin Pond Animal Shelter and Shalom Scranton, as part of their community service efforts. The Chamber also plays a unique role in the workforce development of our region. We bring together the businesses in our area with our partners in education to make sure that local students are prepared to meet the employment and training needs of our region’s largest industries. Recently, Skills in Scranton received a $75,000 grant The Chamber takes a lead role in the management and implementation of community improvement projects. Our own staff members are active in more than 50 volunteer groups $75,000 to develop curriculum with Scranton School District high schools and the city’s four hospitals that will help lead students to employment in this sector. In partnership with major employers in the natural gas industry, the Chamber hosted area high school science teachers on a tour of Lackawanna College’s Petroleum and Natural Gas campus in New Milford and participated in Johnson College’s Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) exhibit and information fair. in our region. $425, 000 Jobs 1st grant was awarded to our region for increased activity in economic development and workforce training. The Chamber will play a role in accessing a portion of these funds. www.scrantonchamber.com • 6 Member News Announcements Northeast Title & Tag celebrated their new Stroudsburg location grand opening with a ribbon-cutting ceremony on June 27th. Charley Winn has joined Woodloch Springs Golf Course as their new director of instruction. As a 20-year member of the PGA of America, Mr. Winn aims to offer a wide array of instructional teaching for all levels of golfers. His private instructions, clinics, and lessons will offer a chance for players to share in his excitement for the game. The Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders (Triple-A/New York Yankees) and their parent club jointly announced a fouryear extension of their player development contract. The formality extended their relationship for four more years, or through the 2018 season. That is the longest extension allowed per baseball rules. M3 Internet Marketing is proud to announce the release of their new Pocono Mountains’ Web site www.VisitPoconos. com. The site is a tourist and local’s handbook on activities, attractions, lodging and events in the Pocono region. This new website encompasses the essence of the Pocono Mountains and all it has to offer to everyone who lives in or visits the Poconos from around the world. Ron Prislupski, Chairman of the Lackawanna County Convention & Visitors Bureau Board, announced that Susan Estler has been named Executive Director of the organization. Ms. Estler is a career tourism professional who comes to Northeast PA from Florida with over a decade’s worth of industry experience in both Panama City Beach and Bradenton, Fl. Geisinger Health System celebrated the grand opening of its $18.1 million facility, Geisinger-Mt. Pleasant with a ribbon cutting ceremony in late June. Several Rotary Club of Scranton members took time on their Saturday to help make NEPA a cleaner place by participating in a highway cleanup. From left to right, Lucy Sassi, Rick Williams, Connor Malone, Alycia Schwartz, Vincent O’Bell and John Begley. The Northeastern Pennsylvania Regional Bioscience Initiative (NEPA RBI) honored Med-Dev Corporation with a $3,877.51 grant for their development, sales and distribution of medical devices. This grant will also aid in Med-Dev Corp.’s patient clinical trials for which they have teamed up with The Commonwealth Medical College. The NEPA RBI grant will assist in the costs of time and material to conduct a trial of approximately 30 patients in NEPA. Fidelity Bank has earned a five-star “Superior” rating from Bauer Financial, an independent rating company analyzing and reporting on the performance of U.S. banks and credit unions since 1983. Financial institutions that earn a five-star rating from Bauer Financial are placed on the Bauer Financial Recommended Report. DxDempsey Architecture celebrated their 10 year anniversary in June. Congratulations Congratulations to NAWBO and the NEPA Business Journal’s Top 25 Women in Business! Congrats to our own Nikki Morristell! PennDOT Secretary Barry J. Schoch recognized 27 PennDOT employees for their outstanding performance with the Star of Excellence Award, PennDOT’ s highest recognition. Gerald Babinski, District Bridge Engineer and Chris Tomaszewski, Assistant Liaison Engineer, from PennDOT’ s District 4 Office, which represents Lackawanna, Luzerne, Pike, Susquehanna, Wayne and Wyoming Counties were among the honorees. Momentum Magazine is 2 years old this month! Dr. Steven J Scheinman, President and Dean of The Commonwealth Medical College presented three TCMC employees with “STAR” Awards, which stands for “Service, Teamwork, Accountability, and Resourcefulness.” John Szarek, Ph. D, Karen Stine, and Bill Reuther were distinguished for their outstanding contributions to the life and mission of the College. Giannai Iona of Wallenpaupack Area High School was honored recently for being named the 2014-15 PA SADD (Students Against Destructive Decisions) Student of the Year. He will serve as spokesperson for PA SADD Students throughout the State of PA. Members of First National Community Bank (FNCB) dressed down for a cause, raising $464 for the Women’s Resource Center. Employees of FNCB were asked to make a small donation for the opportunity to dress in jeans to work one Friday every month. The Bank titled their benefit ‘Jeans for a Cause’. These funds aided the Women’s Resource Center’s comprehensive services to victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, dating violence and stalking in Lackawanna and Susquehanna Counties. They also donated $950 to the Wilkes-Barre Area Education Improvement Foundation which strives for the maintenance of the highest level of education in the Wilkes-Barre Area schools. This donation served as part of the Bank’s $181,000 Education Improvement Tax Credit (EITC) commitment. The Commonwealth Medical College (TCMC) was notified on July 7, 2014 that it has been awarded full accreditation by the Liaison Committee for Medical Education (LCME). At the same time, TCMC has learned from the Middle States Commission on Higher Education that the commission has granted the College full accreditation as well. Happenings Magazine celebrated their 45th anniversary in June! The Northeast Regional Cancer Institute recognized One Point, Inc. for its successful efforts in the cause for colon cancer awareness. One Point participated in C.A.S.U.A.L. Day (Colon Cancer Awareness Saves Unlimited Adult Lives) to raise awareness regarding the disease in which they dressed “casual” while wearing a specially designed pin and/or t-shirt. More than 5,000 t-shirts and pins were ordered and delivered to businesses across northeast Pennsylvania. Chamber Happenings 1 The 2014 Chamber Gala featuring the SAGE Awards This year’s Chamber Gala will be held on Tuesday, November 11, 2014. Sponsorship opportunities for this event are available. For more information please contact Mari Potis, director of events at (570) 342-7711 or mpotis@scrantonchamber.com Applications for SAGE Awards will be available August 11 at scrantonchamber.com. Are you interested in applying for a SAGE Award? Do you have questions about the application process? 2 4 Join us for a “SAGE Open Session” on September 9, 2014 from 8:30am-4:00pm at the Greater Scranton Chamber of Commerce, 222 Mulberry Street, Scranton. Appointments are not necessary. Simply stop by the Chamber and our staff will be happy to meet with you and address any questions or concerns. New Members 3 Dougherty Leventhal Price LLP Live Mercury Synergis Engineering Design Solutions Wyoming Valley CXO Solutions 1. Grand Opening Celebrates Significant Growth for Net Driven 2. Local Professionals Graduate From Leadership Program 3.Area Non-Profits Receive More than $46,000 from Leadership Lackawanna Members of the Shalom Scranton: The Greenhouse Project group 4. MetroAction’s Annual Report Is Now Available For more Chamber Happenings, visit ScrantonChamber.com To Our Sponsor! PNC Bank for sponsoring this publication. www.scrantonchamber.com • 8 { Getting Technical with OTREVA } <Mike Averto, Founder of Otreva> At a very young age, Mike Averto was creating his own web sites based on some of his favorite things such as video games. After receiving his degree in management and marketing from Bloomsburg University, Mike turned his web development passion into a profitable business creating Otreva in 2009. all employees to work through issues and projects as a team unit. Aside from regular meetings, Mike believes in keeping up on trends and new ideas within his field of business by taking self-taught courses and reading industry blogs daily. “IT’S REWARDING TO COMPLETE A PROJECT AND REFLECT ON THE ENTIRE PROCESS.” Otreva helps their clients solve difficult problems so their customers can use your applications with ease. Otreva offers services for web application development, mobile application development, user interface design and application programming interface (API) development. Each area of developments focuses on performance and manageability for users, access to view their application on any device and quality infrastructure to ensure an overall seamless experience. All of their website front-ends and applications use the responsive web design approach coined by Ethan Marcotte in 2010 which emphasizes the need to be flexibility with your web design. Since inception, Mike’s team has grown to five strong! His team thrives on the challenges each new project offers to think creatively to develop applications that work best for their clients. Mike encourages other business owners to be flexible with their teams and to allow employees to be creative without micromanaging projects. A key to his business model is collaboration and open communication with his employees and clients. To put his model into practice, each day Mike and his team have a meeting, with everyone standing, to discuss the progress and challenges with each project and the agenda for the current work day. These meetings help to engage 9 • The Greater Scranton Chamber of Commerce When asked about common misconceptions, Mike clarified that building a customized site with functionality and a clear message for a business can be a lengthy process and can take several months. Although to –Mike Averto some a customized application might be costly, the long-term functionality and efficiency of the site is more cost effective in the long run for any business. In January 2014, Otreva moved to the TekRidge Center in the Jessup Small Business Center. Mike loves the aesthetics of the TekRidge Center as well as the tax incentive benefits. Another bonus to the Center is the ability to engage with other businesses who are also headquartered in the building – creating a collaborative community. Recently, because they are in the TekRidge Center, Otreva was able to become part of the Lackawanna County Wireless network initiative which helps utilize fast low latency bandwith and public IP addresses for internal servers. As Otreva has helped more than 100 businesses with web development, the online presence of one client, The Paper Shop, truly illustrates Otreva’s attention to quality work and meeting their clients’ needs. Otreva worked with The Paper Shop in Moosic to make a digital version of its weekly publication (https://www. thepapershop.com/) and make its products and services available to a larger number of prospective clients. The Paper Shop currently has the most comprehensive market exposure of any other classified product and distributes its printed publication to 26 counties in more than 1,100 locations. The Paper Shop is merely one example of the local businesses Otreva has worked with to build web sites with customized functionality and design. As Otreva continues to grow and focus on being a detail-oriented and results-driven web development company, they look to the future in the hopes of creating their own products as well as continuing to be a service company. For more information about Otreva’s services and to discover how they can help your business, visit http://www.otreva.com/. Advertorial www.scrantonchamber.com • 10 P.O. Box 431 222 Mulberry St. Scranton, PA 18501 Return Service Requested www.scrantonchamber.com Our impressions will sharpen your image. Your full-service printer with a commitment to customer service Full-Service Printing • Fast Turnarounds Wide Format Posters • Digital Color B&W Copying • Direct Mail Variable Data • Fulfillment • Bindery Scan with your smart phone to visit our website! 570.654.4040 242 WEST EIGHTH STREET • WEST WYOMING, PA 18644 www.IndependentGraphics.com