Harrisburg Regional News Spring, 2013 by Atlantic Communications Studios

HARRISBURG REGIONAL NEWS SPRING 2013 EDITION

/ TRANSPORTATION

UPCOMING

CHAMBER & CREDC

E V E N T S •

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INSIDE

MAY..

2 CINCO DE MAYO REGIONAL MIXER FIESTA

2 WELCOME From the Desk of David Black REPORT 4 ANNUAL Looking Back on 2012

7 MID-DAY LUNCH BREAK MIXER Homewood Suites by Hilton Harrisburg East 16 BUSINESS AFTER HOURS MIXER Central Pennsylvania Food Bank

FOCUS 6 LEGISLATIVE The Importance of Transportation Infrastructure

to Our Region

23 GOVERNOR’S BREAKFAST Radisson Hotel Harrisburg 31 LADIES WHO LEAD: INSIDE & OUT Crowne Plaza Harrisburg/Hershey

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JUNE..

DEVELOPMENT NEWS 8 ECONOMIC Show Me the Money! FEATURE 10 COVER Our Transportation Infrastructure:

Investment is Overdue

The Conference Center at Shippensburg University

4 MID-DAY LUNCH BREAK MIXER Best Western Premier - The Central Hotel & Conference Center 20 BUSINESS AFTER HOURS MIXER Keystone Technical Institute 26 2013 CELEBRATE DIVERSITY RECEPTION

The National Civil War Museum

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JULY..

CULTURAL SPOTLIGHT Sounds of the Spring and Summer Seasons: Harrisburg’s Outdoor Recreational Activities

11 NEW MEMBER LUNCHEON Chamber & CREDC Office 18 BUSINESS AFTER HOURS MIXER Sheraton Harrisburg - Hershey

SPOTLIGHT 16 REGIONAL Regional Inclusion: Building Awareness.

Bringing Communities Together

Save-the-Date! MAKING STRIDES Members in The News

GOVERNOR’S BREAKFAST MAY 23, 2013 7:30 a.m. - 9:30 a.m. Radisson Hotel Harrisburg

BECOME A CHAMBER & CREDC MEMBER TODAY!

Chamber & CREDC members, check your

If you are interested in membership with the Harrisburg Regional Chamber & CREDC, please call us at 717.232.4099 or visit us at www.HarrisburgRegionalChamber.org.

emails regularly for changes or additions

Building Your Business...and Our Region

to the above. For more information or to

HARRISBURG REGIONAL NEWS / SPRING 2013

www.facebook.com/harrisburgregionalchamber @hrccredc www.linkedin.com/company/harrisburg-regional-chamber-&-credc

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WELCOME

FROM THE DESK OF DAVID BLACK PRESIDENT & CEO IN THE EARLY 1930S, GOVERNOR GIFFORD PINCHOT

pledged to get Pennsylvania farmers out of the mud. To do so, he started construction of some 20,000 miles worth of roads throughout the state. His goal was not only to get farmers out of the mud, but also make it easier for them to get their goods to market. It was the Great Depression, and roads, as well as jobs, were much needed. Eventually, this road program employed about 55,000 workers (York Daily Record, 2006). Obviously, it was a difficult time to raise revenues, a tough decision for the Governor and General Assembly, but something that paid dividends for Pennsylvania’s economy. Another noteworthy Pennsylvania highway improvement project was the Pennsylvania Turnpike that opened in 1940, but has roots dating back to the early days of the automobile. The Turnpike was an aggressive project in its day and an expensive one. It was risky, required a great deal of borrowing and political courage. However, after it opened, initial revenue projections exceeded expectations and over time expanded to be an integral part of Pennsylvania’s highway network and the national interstate system. Transportation improvements and innovations have always been something that has made Pennsylvania a leader among states and helped to secure our legacy as the Keystone State. Once again, it is time for Pennsylvania to act. It’s 2013 and while we are not in the mud (at least not yet); we have many bridges and roads in need of repair. Many of our local bridges are weight restricted to the degree that emergency vehicles and school buses have to make long detours. The unemployment rate is still high in our region, state and nation, and beyond new construction related jobs, transportation funding is key to our success. Governor Corbett has proposed a modest transportation improvement package that will likely translate to rather modest cost increases to drivers. The package includes reduction of the current gas tax at the pump of 2 cents (from 12 cents to 10 cents), uncapping of the Oil Company Franchise Tax over 5 years, increasing vehicle registration to a biennial cycle from the current annual cycle and increasing driver license renewals from a 4 year to a 6 year cycle. 2

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HARRISBURG In exchange for these increases, the anticipated return over 5 years is $1.8 billion, which will be broken down as follows: • $1.2 billion investment in state roads and bridges • $250 million in public transportation • $200 million in local roads and bridges (county and municipal) • $85 million in turnpike expansion projects • $80 million in multi-modal fund (rail, bicycle, etc.) On April 16, Senator John Rafferty of Montgomery County unveiled the Senate’s transportation plan, which builds on Governor Corbett’s proposal. Because we are a huge transportation region, we will get an excellent return on our local investment. Good roads are good government. As we have seen in the past, investment in transportation infrastructure is an investment in our future. Transportation investment is good economic development. The position of the Harrisburg Regional Chamber and CREDC is to support a comprehensive and aggressive proposal to fund transportation. While there is still a possibility of federal support for transportation, the one thing we know we can count on from the federal government is that we can’t count on the federal government. It is up to states to take a leadership role and we thank Governor Corbett, Transportation Secretary Barry Shoch, along with members of the General Assembly for taking the lead on this issue, which is so critical to our regional economy. So you might ask: What can I do to help? That is easy. Contact your State Senator and State Representative and tell them you support Transportation Funding. They are all listed on our website, or if you aren’t sure, give us a call or drop us an email. Too often they do not hear enough on important issues and this is an issue that they need to hear clearly that there is support. Transportation is critical to our economy, our highway safety and our children traveling local roads on school buses every day. Please take a moment and ask for their support for transportation funding. Our economic future depends on it.

REGIONAL NEWS P U B L I S H E D Q U A R T E R LY

Distributed by

Harrisburg Regional Chamber & CREDC 3211 N. Front Street, Suite 201, Harrisburg, PA 17110-1342 717-232-4099 Fax: 717-232-5184 www.HarrisburgRegionalChamber.org Christine Brindle, Editor, Harrisburg Regional News 717-213-5048 / cbrindle@hbgrc.org David E. Black, President & CEO Laura Williams, Chair of the Board, Chamber Aji Abraham, Chair of the Board, CREDC

The mission of the Harrisburg Regional Chamber & CREDC is to be a catalyst for policy change, for job creation and for business growth in Cumberland, Dauphin and Perry Counties that enhances the quality of life in our region. ______________________________________________________________________________

For advertising opportunities in Harrisburg Regional News, contact Frankie Clayton, Sales Manager 717-213-5043 frankie.clayton@atlantic4us.com ______________________________________________________________________________

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Atlantic Communications Group, Inc. 800-832-3747 Fax: 800-599-6420 www.atlantic4us.com / www.KnowThisPlace.com Proud to be a member of the Harrisburg Regional Chamber & CREDC Hayden M. Wilbur, CEO Gretchen Lindberg, Art Director Stephan Vegoe, Writer/Photographer Frankie Clayton, Advertising Sales ©2013 Atlantic Communications Group, Inc. and Harrisburg Regional Chamber & CREDC, all rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any format or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photo copying, recording or otherwise, without written permission from the publisher. The information in this publication has been gathered and carefully compiled to ensure maximum accuracy. However, because completeness cannot be guaranteed, Harrisburg Chamber & CREDC and Atlantic Communications Group, Inc. cannot accept responsibility for omissions and errors. ISSN 1530-4051 / Spring 2013 / Volume 16 / Issue 57

Scan with your tablet or smartphone to visit www.HarrisburgRegionalChamber.org

A PUBLICATION OF THE HARRISBURG REGIONAL CHAMBER & CREDC

Penn National Insurance #004 full page c

HARRISBURG REGIONAL NEWS / SPRING 2013

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ANNUAL REPORT

LOOKING BACK ON 2012 Maryann Chiavetta

Susan Pera

David Black

Dear Members and Investors,

2012 ANNUAL REPORT*

STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL POSITION

Talent is the key to growth and success of any business or organization. The talent we have around our Board tables, the talent we have in our committees and our talented members, assure the growth and success of the Harrisburg Regional Chamber & CREDC. We can’t thank you enough for your support of the organization. Thanks to your financial support in 2012 through membership dues, event attendance and sponsorships, as well as pledges for CREDC, we’ve had our best year both programmatically and financially since the 2007-08 recession. From a fiscal perspective, we significantly surpassed our net revenue targets. The Finance Committee of the Boards have done an outstanding job working with staff over these past few years, and as a result we will emerge from tough economic times in a better position than we were at the beginning of the recession. We saw more interest in Chamber Membership through increased attendance at Business After Hours and other networking events, more participation in business seminars and Government Relations events and a huge jump in registrations for our major events like the Annual Dinner, Business Expo and Awards Night. In numbers that translates to over 70 events with approximately 13,000 attendees. In 2012, CREDC packaged small business loans totaling $9.8 million, which leveraged another $30 million in bank financing and owner equity to help businesses retain and create 129 jobs in our region. We even helped to package the sale of the Forum Place

Building helping to assure that a number of state agencies will remain in the City. We also worked with the Receiver on the financial recovery of the City of Harrisburg. The Murata Business Center in Carlisle, now known as the Ben Franklin TechCelerator in Carlisle, also had a great year. We are nearly at full occupancy and have over 80 people working for nine companies at the facility. The partnership with Ben Franklin Technology Partners to program events and activities is creating a buzz for entrepreneurial development in the region. We plan to work with the Hershey Center for Applied Research this year in starting a TechCelerator program aimed at the Life Sciences industry and Penn State Hershey Medical Center. In basic terms, your efforts have made our region a better place. CREDC’s economic impact since 2001 is now over $335 million, helping local businesses retain or create over 11,600 jobs. Your Five Star Accredited Chamber continues to be a leader for our business community. That means we all have impacted the lives of working men and women in our region, creating family sustaining jobs, helping businesses grow and employ more people, and creating income to be spent in local auto dealerships, restaurants, retail shops, housing and other services. Our mission statement charges us to be a catalyst for job creation, business growth and policy change that enhances the quality of life in our region. Thank you for enabling us to fulfill that mission.

Assets Current Assets ..........................$5,831,996 Property ....................................$2,126,203 Other Assets .............................$7,779,956 Total Assets ............................$15,738,155 Liabilities Current Liabilities.....................$4,504,652 Long-term Liabilities................$4,635,762 Total Liabilities .........................$9,140,414 Net Assets Unrestricted..............................$5,114,986 Temporarily Restricted.............$1,482,755 Total Net Assets .......................$6,597,741 __________ Total Liabilities & Net Assets...........................$15,738,155

STATEMENT OF OPERATING ACTIVITIES Revenues Membership Dues .......................$634,602 Programs & Events ......................$588,644 Pledges & Grants......................$9,893,974 Rental Income & Commitment Fees .......................$219,000 Other Income ..............................$160,265 Total Revenues.......................$11,496,485 Expenses Membership Development ........$220,506 Programs & Events...................$9,417,319 Management & General.............$589,206

Maryann Chiavetta

Susan Pera

David Black

2012 Chamber Chair

2012 CREDC Chair

President & CEO, Harrisburg Regional Chamber & CREDC

Total Expenses .......................$10,227,031 __________ __________ Change in Net Assets ..............$1,269,454 *Audited

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A PUBLICATION OF THE HARRISBURG REGIONAL CHAMBER & CREDC

Capital Blue Cross #012 full page c

HARRISBURG REGIONAL NEWS / SPRING 2013

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LEGISLATIVE FOCUS

THE IMPORTANCE OF TRANSPORTATION INFRASTRUCTURE TO OUR REGION

ver the past decade, Pennsylvania has grossly underinvested in its transportation infrastructure. According to a report issued in 2011 by Governor Corbett’s Transportation Funding Advisory Commission, Pennsylvania is $3.5 billion behind on transportation funding needs, and each day the problem is not addressed, the backlog is growing by $1 million. As part of his 2013-14 Budget proposal, Governor Corbett outlined a comprehensive, multi-modal plan to fund Pennsylvania’s transportation system, which would allocate $1.8 billion each year over the next five years to new transportation infrastructure spending. On April 16, Senator John Rafferty of Montgomery County unveiled the Senate’s transportation funding plan that builds on Governor Corbett’s transportation proposal presented with the state budget. PennDOT Secretary Barry Schoch, bipartisan senators and representatives, along with a large and wide coalition of others – including the Harrisburg Regional Chamber & CREDC – were on hand to offer their support. Senator Rafferty said, “Pennsylvania is at a crossroads and we must take action now. Our roads and bridges continue to crumble, our mass transit systems lack the funds need-

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ed to meet continued demand, and our railways, airports and ports struggle to be economic generators for the 21st Century. We simply cannot continue to ignore these pressing needs, which are directly related to public safety and economic development.” Rafferty said increased funding for vital transportation projects is badly needed, noting that Pennsylvania has more structurally deficient bridges – nearly 4,400 – than any other state in the nation, and 23% of its 44,000 miles of state-owned roads are in poor condition. His plan will allocate $1.9 billion for state and local highways and bridges, $510 million for 36 urban and rural transit agencies

(including CAT locally), $155 million for rail, airports (like HIA), ports, bicycle and pedestrian programs. It is funded by a gradual phase-out of the cap on the Oil Franchise Tax which has not been changed since 1983, while decreasing the gasoline tax by 17%. Additional changes to vehicle registration from one to two years and drivers licenses from four to six years, both with slight increases and future adjustments for inflation, would also go into effect. It also eliminates annual license plate stickers, which are costly to produce and expensive to mail every year. The plan also includes other changes to improve efficiency in traffic signals, bridge programs and transit agencies. The Harrisburg Regional Chamber & CREDC is supportive of this plan, with the realization that there will undoubtedly be slight increases at the pump over time, as well as in license and registration fees; however, transportation systems are primarily public infrastructure and are a fundamental responsibility of government. As a region, state, and nation, we cannot afford for our transportation system to fail from both a public safety and economic perspective. We commend Governor Corbett and Senator Rafferty for proposing comprehensive and workable plans that begin to address Pennsylvania’s dire transportation infrastructure needs, and we thank those Transportation Advocates in the legislature and around the state. We encourage the General Assembly to continue to work cooperatively and act promptly to ensure a transportation package is passed soon. ■

TRANSPORTATION SUBCOMMITTEE The Transportation Subcommittee addresses issues impacting transportation throughout the region, including regional transportation projects and initiatives as well as transportation-related legislation at the local, state, and federal levels. MEETING INFORMATION DATE: First Wednesday of every other month

If you are interested in learning more about the subcommittee, visit www.harrisburgregionalchamber.org or contact Larissa Bailey

at 717-232-4099. (the next meeting will be on May 8, 2013) TIME: 8:30am-9:30am WHERE: Chamber & CREDC Offices CHAIRPERSONS: Dan Andrews (Momentum, Inc.), Glen Hair (Gannett Fleming, Inc.), and Tim Reardon (Tri-County Regional Planning Commission)

A PUBLICATION OF THE HARRISBURG REGIONAL CHAMBER & CREDC

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Fax: 717-896-8945 Cell: 717-979-5413 Email: office@carlsnyderrealty.com

www.carlsnyderrealty.com HARRISBURG REGIONAL NEWS / SPRING 2013

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ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT NEWS

SHOW ME THE MONEY! BUSINESS EDUCATION PROVIDED THROUGH CREDC FINANCING SEMINAR SERIES

THE SERIES OF 3 SEMINARS WILL BE HELD THROUGHOUT THE YEAR AT THE HARRISBURG REGIONAL CHAMBER AND CREDC’S OFFICES AT 3211 NORTH FRONT STREET IN HARRISBURG, PA. PLEASE SEE BELOW FOR DETAILS. WE LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING YOU THERE!

by Melissa McLaughlin, Director of Business Finance Being a respected resource for businesses in our region is a great source of pride for CREDC. Providing our region with business education opportunities each year is part of that role. This year we have expanded our seminar agenda and will address businesses of ALL sizes as together we exclaim, “Show me the money!” Join us as we review the considerations and factors in obtaining capital for businesses in each stage of growth. Each session will feature guest speakers who are experts in their respective business financing fields.

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SESSION #1 will provide attendees access to experts in entrepreneurial development, start up formation, technology transfer, marketability and financing. Guests will include Pam Martin of the TechCelerator at Murata Business Center and Incubator, John Sider of Ben Franklin Technology Partners, Eric Fischer of Centric Bank, and Michael Kane of the U.S. Small Business Administration.

SESSION #2 is intended for companies who have suc-ceeded through their start up years and are focused now on maintaining manageable growth or spurring on another phase of rapid growth. This segment can be supported by wise financing choices including more traditional banking options. We will focus on how to develop a strong relationship with banking partners and how to use that to achieve the lowest cost of financing and other business products.

SESSION #3 is intended for well-heeled businesses that have at least a decade under their belts. Businesses with longer histories and larger revenue bases can leverage those strengths to access more unique financing tools. Attendees will learn about some of those opportunities including bond financing, how to manage multiple banking partner relationships and how to plan a safe and timely exit from business ownership.

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HARRISBURG REGIONAL NEWS / SPRING 2013

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COVER FEATURE

OUR

Transportation Infrastructure

INVESTMENT IS OVERDUE

AN INTERVIEW WITH THE SECRETARY OF TRANSPORTATION, BARRY SCHOCH By Stephan Vegoe – March, 2003

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rior to joining the Corbett administration as secretary of transportation in January 2011, Barry Schoch worked for McCormack, Taylor and Associates, one the Harrisburg region’s larger engineering firms. He was vice president and manager of its Harrisburg transportation department. In that capacity, his team worked on most of the region’s major highway projects, including the U.S 15 and Route 581 interchange rebuilding in Cumberland County. When we sat down with Secretary Schoch in his PennDOT office overlooking the Susquehanna River and the Harvey Taylor Bridge, we started our conversation on the Harrisburg region’s transportation network by discussing the recently completed rebuild of the U.S 15 and Route 581 interchange. Secretary Schoch told us this interchange was clearly the region’s most urgent need, and had been for decades. “The original interchange design dated back to the 1950s and was unable to handle modern levels of traffic. It was an unsafe interchange and was the region’s most glaring bottleneck. Traffic was usually backed up in all directions, all day long. Now,

BARRY SCHOCH LISTENS TO A PENNSYLVANIAN’S CONCERNS

A PUBLICATION OF THE HARRISBURG REGIONAL CHAMBER & CREDC

after a major rework in all directions on both highways involved in this interchange, traffic flows well and traffic accidents, which had been a critical, long-existing issue, have been reduced substantially. It is a much safer interchange.” Asked about what he sees as the Harrisburg region’s next major highway improvement need, Secretary Schoch did not hesitate in naming the Capital Beltway. “Starting at I-81 on the north side and heading south on I-83 all the way to Carlisle Road, this beltway requires an overall upgrade to meet the community’s current and future needs. We need to do bridge replacements, pavement replacement, rebuild the Eisenhower Interchange, rebuild the York split, and redesign and rework many of the acceleration and deceleration lanes.” HARRISBURG REGIONAL NEWS / SPRING 2013

According to Secretary Schoch, the entire length of I-83, as well as through York, needs to be redesigned and rebuilt, and if the transportation funding initiatives the Governor has requested from the General Assembly are approved, design and reconstruction can get started soon with an expected completion date for all parts of the project of between 2025 and 2030. But, Secretary Schoch cautioned, without adequate transportation funding, we’ll be faced with a future transportation budget that only provides enough funding to fix the things that absolutely must be fixed. Capital improvement projects like the Capital Beltway will simply have to wait. Secretary Schoch mentioned PennDOT’s website will feature a special section – Decade of Investment – that will highlight the transportation improvements that can/will occur if additional funding is provided by the General Assembly (www.dot.state.pa.us). PennDOT expects this site to be available this spring. In addition to the key role our highway infrastructure plays in making the Harrisburg region a transportation hub in the Commonwealth, Secretary Schoch also pointed to a major rail freight improvement initiative by Norfolk Southern that, when completed, will be a major economic development driver for our region. Currently, thanks to funding assistance by the U.S. Department of Transportation and the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Norfolk Southern is investing more than $60 million to expand the capacity and the workforce at its Rutherford intermodal facility in Dauphin County. By adding four loading and unloading rail spurs and adding 406 trailer parking spaces in its storage yard, Norfolk Southern will increase the lift capacity of the rail yard by 50 percent, meaning its cranes will load and unload about 350,000 intermodal boxes between trains and trailers each year. When completed in 2014, the expansion at the Rutherford intermodal yard will add up to 400 new and indirect jobs in Dauphin County. It is also estimated this expansion can reduce the number of long-haul trucks on Pennsylvania’s roadways by 600,000 a year, and will alleviate traffic problems on Grayson Road and Mushroom Hill Road. Secretary Schoch then turned his attention to the assistance PennDOT is providing Amtrak on its highly popular Harrisburg to Philadel-

ON THE COVER In this issue of HRN we get a closer look at the challenges facing Pennsylvania’s government as the transportation infrastructure comes front and center in Harrisburg. Read HRN’s exclusive interview with Secretary of Transportation, Barry Schoch as he discusses present and future highway projects.

phia Keystone line. “We continue to work with Amtrak,” he said “to find incremental improvements to make this high-speed corridor even more attractive to passengers. We think our current improvements should soon help drop another ten minutes on the transit time between Harrisburg and Philadelphia.” The next phase of Amtrak improvements starts with the stations along the line, not just at Harrisburg and Lancaster, but at all the stations that need a facelift. “We see real possibilities for public private partnerships with these Amtrak stations,” Secretary Schoch said. “We think we can find ways to attract private partners, first through parking arrangements, that will get the necessary station improvements started without the Commonwealth and Amtrak having to finance page 12 >

Save-the-Date! TRANSPORTATION BRIEFING AUGUST 28, 2013 7:30 a.m. - 9:30 a.m. Hilton Harrisburg

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COVER FEATURE

Continued from page 11

the majority of the improvements.” Secretary Schoch further commented that Amtrak and the regional transit authorities in the Harrisburg region play a key role in the way we live and work today. He said, “There was a time when if you changed jobs, for instance, going from a Lancaster job to a Harrisburg job, you sold your Lancaster home and moved to Harrisburg, primarily because of the commute. Now, thanks to much improved commuter opportunities, that’s not necessarily the case. Now, your family can stay in its Lancaster home and your children can stay in their schools – because the commute to the new job is not the burden it once was. I think that scenario can only improve as we work to improve the way our regional transit agencies work together to make the morning and evening commute, throughout the region, as efficient and cost effective as possible.” Secretary Schoch also commented that he is really pleased with the work Tim Edwards and his staff have done at Harrisburg Interna-

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tional Airport. “Flights are increasing, especially with lower cost carriers, and annual traffic is up,” he said. “Sure, there is always going to be competition from larger international airports, but, all in all, we have access to a conveniently located, affordable and modern airport that serves this region extremely well.” The Secretary stopped short of asking us

for our support for Governor Corbett’s Transportation funding proposal included in the 2013-14 Proposed Budget, maybe because he knew he already has it. However, it is very apparent that improvements to our highways, rail network and airports are not going to happen without a much-needed boost in transportation funding. ■

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HARRISBURG REGIONAL NEWS / SPRING 2013

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CULTURAL SPOTLIGHT

SOUNDS OF THE SPRING AND SUMMER SEASONS: HARRISBURG’S OUTDOOR RECREATIONAL ACTIVITIES

by Nicole Keiner

PHOTO SUBMITTED BY HARRISBURG SENATORS

PHOTO SUBMITTED BY ROUNDTOP MOUNTAIN RESORT

PHOTO SUBMITTED BY HERSHEY GARDENS

he roar of a roller coaster. The crack of a baseball bat. The echoes of nature. The humming of a zip line. These are merely a handful of sounds you will hear during the spring and summer months in the Harrisburg region. The area offers plenty of outdoor recreational activities. Whether you enjoy strolling through the wonders of nature at the Hershey Gardens 23-acre property, cruising during dinner on the Pride of the Susquehanna, buying fresh, local produce at the open air farmer’s market at the PA Farm Show Complex and Expo Center or taking a chance at selecting a winning horse at the Penn National Race Course. Within minutes you can catch a Harrisburg Senators minor league baseball game at Metro Bank Park, then experience an adventure in an OGO ball at Roundtop Mountain Resort and end your day while enjoying a concert at Hersheypark Stadium or Star Pavilion. The opportunities are limitless. Hersheypark, a 110-acre theme park, has over 65 rides including 12 roller coasters. Inside the park, the Boardwalk includes nine waterbased attractions and combines the best of two favorite family vacations – a day at an amusement park and a trip to the beach. The one-price admission also includes entry into ZooAmerica North American Wildlife Park. The Harrisburg Senators 2013 regular season begins in April and runs through September with game times varying from afternoon, evening and weekend starts. Their promotional schedule, the most aggressive in team history, has 42 giveaways and 16 fireworks shows. “On the stadium side, the First Base Plaza has been transformed from

an asphalt pass-through to a comfortable dining and entertainment destination complete with an active stage, 30 beer taps and an open grill for fresh burgers, chicken and sausages,” said Randy Whitaker, Harrisburg Senators General Manager. “The team will have four of the National’s five top prospects including one of the top hitters in all of Minor League baseball.” Roundtop Mountain Resort is well known for its skiing, snowboarding and snow-tubing during the winter months. But did you know during its offseason, they offer paintball for competitive individuals, a ropes course for teambuilding exercises, a zip line not for the faint of heart and assorted summer adventure camps for chil14

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dren and teens ages 8-16? “Facilitated team-building at our ropes course is vital for motivating a staff to understand communication principles, how to operate with limited resources toward project completion, and understanding each person’s role within the larger picture,” stated Lutricia Eberly, Director of Sales and Events for Roundtop Mountain Resort. “The 11 different themed paintball fields offer a chance for friendly competition following a brainstorming session or meeting in our lodge. Mountain Adventures

“

Whether you prefer A STROLL THROUGH THE WONDERS OF NATURE or the EXCITEMENT OF A ROARING ROLLER COASTER, the Harrisburg region has a multitude of outdoor recreational activites to suit everyone’s need for adventure.

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provides a fun atmosphere for company picnics with a unique collection of activities for kids (and the young at heart).” For more information on what the region has to offer, please visit the Hershey/Harrisburg Visitors Bureau website at www.visithersheyharrisburg.org or the Cumberland County Visitors Bureau website at www.visitcumberlandvalley.com. ■

HARRISBURG REGIONAL NEWS / SPRING 2013

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REGIONAL SPOTLIGHT

REGIONAL INCLUSION: BUILDING AWARENESS. BRINGING COMMUNITIES TOGETHER. by Amma Johnson, VP of Chamber Operations

The Harrisburg Regional Chamber & CREDC continues to find ways to promote inclusion in our community. Inclusion is more than diversity. Diversity simply speaks to the fact that we are all different whether it be race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, etc. Inclusion is more intentional… it’s ACTION! It’s going a step beyond to ensure that everyone, regardless of any difference, is included, has access to opportunities, advancement and all that our region has to offer. This year, as part of our ongoing effort to build awareness in our region we launched our Regional Inclusion Roundtables. We welcome you to join in the conversation! The roundtable is a free learning opportunity for businesses to come and find out what various organizations are doing to serve various parts of our community. In February, Gloria Merrick, Executive Director of LHACC (Latino Hispanic American Community Center) discussed their outreach efforts in South Allison Hill. LHACC is an inclusive human services agency. From employment to transportation to translation services and much more, LHACC works to connect individuals and families in need to the right resources. Roundtable members scheduled a follow up meeting with Gloria to discuss more in depth what we could do to help connect LHACC and its clientele with the regional business community at large.

Save-the-Date! LADIES WHO LEAD: INSIDE & OUT MAY 31, 2013 11:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Crowne Plaza Harrisburg/Hershey

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Gloria Merrick, Executive Director of LHACC, presenting at the February 2013 Regional Inclusion Roundtable.

PLEASE CONSIDER ATTENDING AN UPCOMING Regional Inclusion Roundtable APRIL 24TH, 8:30AM PRESENTER: MARY KAY ECKENRODE COMMUNITY FIRST FUND

JUNE 26TH, 8:30 AM PRESENTER: MOZELLE DANIELS PA GAMING CONTROL BOARD

Learn more about how Community First Fund works with small diverse businesses in our community. Ensuring that all businesses have access to opportunity is a key part of Community First Fund’s mission.

Learn more about the gaming board’s diversity and inclusion program. This will be a great opportunity for mid to large size corporations to discuss best practices with internal inclusion efforts.

ALSO, MARK YOUR CALENDARS FOR... JUNE 26TH, 5:30 PM – 7:30 PM: OUR 6TH ANNUAL CELEBRATE DIVERSITY RECEPTION AT THE NATIONAL CIVIL WAR MUSEUM!

This event was launched in partnership with Dauphin County as a simple way to bring cultures together. This reception is a joint effort promoted by a number of diverse organizations in our region. During the reception we will recognize individuals who are working extensively in our community to build bridges between cultures. It’s rare to walk into a business setting and see all cultures and backgrounds represented. We want to see more of that! The Harrisburg Regional Chamber & CREDC is committed to being an inclusive Chamber where everyone is welcome, regardless of any difference. For more information on LHACC, visit www.LHACC.org. For more information or to register for our Regional Inclusion Roundtables, visit our website at www.HarrisburgRegionalChamber.org.

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CenterACCESS for Community Building FLEXIBLE TRANSPORTATION SERVICE Inc.

Center for Community Building (CCB), Inc. is a #006 Harrisburg-based private, nonprofit agency providing 1/4 page c to those in need. community transportation services CCB provides its services efficiently and dependably with the utmost sensitivity towards the human needs of our riders. Currently, we provide workrelated and non-emergency medical transportation as well as a variety of transportation-related services for consumers of other agencies under contractual arrangements.

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Funding support is from Dauphin County, City of Harrisburg, Hamilton Health Center, private donations and fees-for-service.

CENTER FOR COMMUNITY BUILDING, INC. 3525 N. SIXTH ST., HARRISBURG, PA 17110 717-232-9880 â&#x20AC;¢ FAX 717-232-9883

CALL CCB TO DISCUSS YOUR TRANSPORTATION NEEDS

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HARRISBURG REGIONAL NEWS / SPRING 2013

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Visitor’s Bureau or Dauphin County Parks & Recreation.

MEMBERS IN THE NEWS A quickly growing central PA business, 717 STUDIOS LLC, has hired Michael Kress to fill the position of Account Executive. Michael brings 14 years of sales, customer service, and IT experience to the company. He has worked for small businesses for many years and is dedicated to the future growth and success of 717 Studios as a leader in brand strategy, web design, app development, and graphic design. BROWN SCHULTZ SHERIDAN & FRITZ (BSSF), CPAs is pleased to announce the following promotions: Alys B. Snoke, CPA, ALYS B. SNOKE JESSICA L. LACKLIN CGFM; Jessica L. Lacklin, CPA; and Ryan B. Brown, CPA were RYAN B. BROWN BRIAN J. MCALLISTER promoted from Manager to Senior Manager. Brian J. McAllister, CPA, MBA was promoted from Supervisor to Manager. Debra S. Pritsch, CPA and Jeffrey N. Clippinger, CPA were promoted from Senior Staff Accountant to Supervisor. Erin E. Dinsmore, CPA; Joseph C. Kopchick; and Tamara L. Bechtel, CPA were promoted from Staff Accountant to Senior Staff Accountant. Fairview Township-based CENTURY ENGINEERING INC. named Carol Myers, Senior Right of Way Agent in the Transportation Department. Carol Myers recently retired from the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation with 25 years of service; she served as the Chief of Appraisal & Appraisal in Central Office for the last 15 years. Other recent hires: Andrew Barnes, P.E., Mr. Barnes is a Mechanical Engineer with over 13 years of experience for the design of projects which include HVAC, chilled water, heating water, underground utility distribution, and chiller/boiler plants. As part of its ongoing commitment to provide an outstanding customer experience, COMCAST CABLE announced plans to open a new state-of-the-art customer support center this summer in Susquehanna Township, Dauphin County. The company will immediately begin 18

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recruiting from across Central Pennsylvania for 425 new positions for the facility. With the new positions, Comcast will have more than 12,000 employees across the state. COMMUTER SERVICES OF PENNSYLVANIA announced the promotion of Tim Beckwith to Marketing Manager, as well as two new additions to the team. Stacy Newcomer has been hired as Deputy Project Manager and Hollie Hinderer has been hired as an Outreach Coordinator.

TIM BECKWITH

STACY NEWCOMER

HOLLIE HINDERER

On February 28, CONGRESSMAN LOU BARLETTA (R-11) celebrated the opening of his Harrisburg office with a ribbon cutting celebration. The office is located at 4813 Jonestown Road, Suite 101.

RIBBON CUTTING AT CONGRESSMAN LOU BARLETTA’S NEW OFFICE

CONRAD SIEGEL ACTUARIES, celebrating its 50th year delivering comprehensive employee benefits services, proudly announced that its Investment Advisory practice was featured in the Central Penn Business Journal’s Behind the List. Behind the List recognizes select companies from the CPBJ Book of Lists. In the most recent CPBJ rankings, Conrad Siegel Investment Advisors, Inc. (CSIA) ranked fourth among regional registered investment advisor firms and fifth on the Asset Managers list. The DAUPHIN COUNTY COMMISSIONERS and a host of public and private partners announced a series of special events, to be held this summer, in commemoration of the American Civil War 150th anniversary. These events, billed as the Freedom Jubilee, highlight our rich history and culture during this defining period of American history. For more information on these events, visit the Hershey Harrisburg

DAWOOD ENGINEERING, INC. (Dawood) welcomed Todd Suplita as the Director of Midstream Services. Todd will be responsible for client management, project management, and business development aspects within the TODD SUPLITA Midstream sector of Dawood Energy Services. As the company embarks on its 90th anniversary, officials from GIANT FOOD STORES and MARTIN’S FOOD MARKETS announced that charitable donations made in 2012 as part of the companies’ “Living Here, Giving Here” program totaled $25,330,000 in combined cash and product contributions, the largest ever to date. Giant/Martin’s is a proud supporter of approximately 100 local hunger relief organizations, eight Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals, more than 2,500 schools, 40 United Way agencies, several local USO Chapters, the Wounded Warrior Project, and hundreds of local non-profit groups. HOLLENBACH CONSTRUCTION, INC. has named Glenn Ebersole, Strategic Vice President, Business Development/ Marketing. Ebersole’s previous title was Director of Strategic Business Development. Ebersole also serves on the GLENN EBERSOLE Strategic Leadership Team and is responsible for leadership of the strategic business development, marketing and public relations efforts for the construction management and general contracting organization. Comprehensive Pharmacy Services (CPS) presented top honors to employees recently during the company’s Annual Meeting held in conjunction with the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP) mid-year professional conference in Las Vegas, Nevada. The 2012 Best Practices Award for the Northeast and Southeast was given to the HOLY SPIRIT HOSPITAL DEPARTMENT OF PHARMACY. The award was presented to the Director of Pharmacy of the site with a score of 95% or better on CPS’ annual Operational Audit. Chuck Arrison, a CPS employee and director of Holy Spirit’s Pharmacy, accepted the award on behalf of the department. The Operations Audit examines

more than 300 elements that include operational, clinical, regulatory, financial, customer service and purchasing measures. INTERMIXIT, LLC announced that Mike Fister has joined the company as a business account executive. As an Account Executive, Mike Fister, of Mechanicsburg, comes to IntermixIT to serve as the main point of contact for clients and the primary liaison between the client and all internal firm departments. M3T CORPORATION announced it has achieved Select Certification from Cisco. The Select Certification recognizes Cisco® resale channel partners that focus on meeting the technology and services needs of small businesses. MCCONKEY INSURANCE & BENEFITS is pleased to announce four new Vice Presidents. John V. Dormuth, Jeffrey A. Glass, and Frank E. Ebner have all been named Vice JOHN V. DORMUTH JEFFREY A. GLASS President/ Principal. Donna J. Roper has been named Vice President FRANK E. EBNER DONNA J. ROPER of Operations/Principal. MCMAHON ASSOCIATES, INC., a fullservice transportation engineering and planning firm, announced the grand opening of its newest MidAtlantic office in the Lehigh Valley region in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. With the Lehigh Valley being one of the fastest growing regions in the state, and Lehigh County ranking in the Top 10 in economic growth in the U.S., McMahon is reinforcing its mission to provide responsive client solutions in the region. Connections, the much-anticipated program for older adults who choose to live in their own homes, officially began offering service to its members on January 1, 2013. Connections is a grassroots “community” of people 55 and better in the Greater Harrisburg region that provides access to a broad range of services, creates social and volunteer opportunities that enhance quality of life, and strengthens a shared spirit of community. The membership-driven, community-based program is based on a model that has been successful in other parts of the page 20 > U.S. Connections is made

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HARRISBURG REGIONAL NEWS / SPRING 2013

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Members in The News, continued Continued from page 18

possible through the work of volunteers, vetted service providers, the professional team from MESSIAH LIFEWAYS, and committed community partners, including the program’s two founding sponsors, Holy Spirit Health System and PinnacleHealth System. MURRAY ASSOCIATES ARCHITECTS celebrated the “topping-off”

ceremony held for PinnacleHealth System’s Harrisburg Hospital’s expansion project. The final steel member for the expansion was placed on January 14, 2013. The project consists of the 2-story vertical addition with renovations to the existing second floor Cath. Lab, Pre-Op and Recovery Unit, and the third floor Cardiac Thoracic ICU. Murray Associates is the design architect for this project and is

GREAT QUALITY FOUR-COLOR PRINTING AND MAILING SERVICES.

Spectrum Printing #202 1/8 page c Call me to discuss your next project. Claudia Decima 717-460-6659 FAX 717-474-8010 claudiad@spectrumprintpartner.com

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include 16,000 square feet of indoor wedding space and 22 acres of beautifully landscaped gardens, making it one of the largest wedding venues in the capital city.

Murray Associates achitects Principal, Mike Frye, signed the final beam before installation.

proud to continue their 30 plus year history with PinnacleHealth. NAI CIR has been recognized as a Top Leasing Firm and a Top Sales Firm for the 2012 CoStar Power Broker Awards for the Philadelphia Region. In addition, Joe Bedard of NAI CIR was recognized as a Top Office Leasing Broker and Jack Shepley of NAI CIR was recognized as a Top Industrial Leasing Broker. Since the 2002 inception of the CoStar Power Broker Awards, NAI CIR is the only brokerage firm in the entire Philadelphia Region that has been recognized every single year as a Power Broker. The Waterford Ballrooms and Gardens, located at the PARK INN BY RADISSON HARRISBURG-WEST, have been chosen as one of the 2013 picks for Best of The Knot in the venue category. The award is given to those venues scoring a superior rating from past brides. The Waterford Ballrooms and Gardens

Weddings in the Grand Ballroom, part of Park Inn’s Waterford Ballrooms and Gardens.

RETTEW ASSOCIATES, INC. is pleased to announce inclusion in Pennsylvania Business Central’s Top 100 Organizations list of 2012. The publication selects the companies and groups included on the annual list from its 20-county coverage area, based on the entities’ impacts on their local economy and communities. Hundreds of nominations were submitted by chambers of commerce, economic development partnerships, business professionals and the publication’s readership. ROOF ADVISORY GROUP welcomed Lindsay R. Owens to the firm. She brings her prior experience in administration, customer service and marketing to Roof Advisory Group’s professional servicing of its clientele. Roof LINDSAY R. OWENS Advisory Group also welcomed Bryson J. Roof to the firm. His main responsibilities include servicing active portfolio management clientele and meeting the needs of investment advisory clients of the firm. In addition, Mr. Roof will continue to expand the firm’s professional outreach and business development efforts. UNITED WAY OF THE CAPITAL REGION (UWCR) exceeded its 2012 campaign goal by raising $11,800,003, topping the amount raised last year by 4.6 percent, or $519,476, and this year’s goal by $500,003. This marks the 16th consecutive year the organization has exceeded its campaign goal.

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A PUBLICATION OF THE HARRISBURG REGIONAL CHAMBER & CREDC

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