Harrisburg Regional News Fall, 2013

HARRISBURG REGIONAL NEWS FALL 2013 EDITION

/ EDUCATION

INSIDE

UPCOMING

CHAMBER & CREDC

2 FEATURE 4 COVER Education and Workforce Development WELCOME From the Desk of David Black

From a Family Perspective - The Milton Hershey School

8 CORNER! 11 CEO We Asked Local Leaders What Qualities TODAY’S TALENT What They Want & What You Need

They Are Looking For in Emerging Talent.

Check It Out. SPOTLIGHT 12 COMMITTEE The Work of the Education

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OCTOBER..

30 NEW MEMBER RECEPTION PinnacleHealth Fredericksen Outpatient Center NOVEMBER..

6 MID-DAY LUNCH BREAK MIXER AACA Museum, Inc. 7 MAKING IT HAPPEN! POWER UP YOUR SALES STRATEGY

Lower Allen Township Building 14 2013 BUSINESS EXPO @ND TECHNOLOGY SHOW

Pennsylvania Farm Show Complex & Expo Center 21 BUSINESS AFTER HOURS MIXER Mountz Jewelers

& Business Partnership Committee UPDATE 14 ADVOCACY Immigration & the Future

DECEMBER..

4 2013 CATALYST AWARDS Whitaker Center for Science & the Arts JANUARY .

of Our Workforce

16 DEVELOPMENT NEWS 18 ECONOMIC Closing the Skills Gap in CULTURAL SPOTLIGHT Choices in Education

14 LEGISLATORS’ FORUM I - HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Hilton Harrisburg APRIL .

16 2014 ANNUAL DINNER Hershey Lodge

Pennsylvania’s Manufacturing Sector SPOTLIGHT 20 REGIONAL Experience the Foliage AWARDS 22 CATALYST December 4, 2013 STRIDES 24 MAKING Members in The News

Save-the-Date!

NEW MEMBER RECEPTION OCTOBER 30, 2013 5:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.

Pinnacle Health, Fredericksen Outpatient Center

BECOME A CHAMBER & CREDC MEMBER TODAY! 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.

FOLLOW US ON

Building Your Business...and Our Region www.facebook.com/harrisburgregionalchamber @hrccredc www.linkedin.com/company/harrisburg-regional-chamber-&-credc

Chamber & CREDC members, check your emails regularly for changes or additions to the above. For more information or to register for these and other events, contact us at 717-232-4099 or visit www.HarrisburgRegionalChamber.org.

HARRISBURG REGIONAL NEWS / FALL 2013

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WELCOME

FROM THE DESK OF DAVID BLACK

HARRISBURG REGIONAL NEWS

PRESIDENT & CEO, HARRISBURG REGIONAL CHAMBER & CREDC WORKFORCE IN THE 21ST CENTURY is to business today as natural resources were to business in the industrial revolution, says well-regarded economist and futurist Richard Florida who began his research right here in Pennsylvania at Carnegie Mellon University over 20 years ago.

To explore his point, we only have to look to Pittsburgh. It is the convergent point of two rivers, the Allegheny and Monongahela, that form the Ohio River that allowed coal, timber, iron ore, stone and other materials to be easily transported to Pittsburgh to manufacture steel, build plants, homes and a city. Rail was added in the early days followed by a highway transportation network. The industrial revolution fueled by easy access to natural resources was used to stoke the future of cities like Cleveland, Chicago and Buffalo – the list goes on.

Locally, examine Steelton and the current ArcelorMittal facility that dates back to the early 1900s. River, rail, raw materials – it is no accident that many steel towns throughout Pennsylvania and other states closely resemble Steelton, with a plant built near the river and housing for the workforce across the Main Street up the river bank cut by the glaciers centuries earlier. Hershey is a similar theme with a much different product. We might even have fun with words. Instead of referring to it as Derry Township, we might think of it as Dairy Township. Milton Hershey built his plant close to dairy farms so he had fresh milk for his milk chocolate. Dairy farms are located where it is a good place to grow feed for the cows. Natural resources made the case for site selection during the industrial revolution.

So back to Richard Florida’s theory. Let’s look at hot spots in the early technology age.

Silicon Valley was a hot bed of talent. With colleges and universities nearby, great location and lots of quality of life amenities, young talent started companies, but also supported themselves by taking their talent from company to company as new products were being developed and production was ramped up. The other area that got off to a good technology start was Boston. With great colleges and universi-

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

ties and exceptional quality of life amenities, it experienced a similar talent pool.

Over the course of the last ten years, we have seen a resurgence of interest in urban living by young professionals nationwide.

Major cities and smaller cities, like Harrisburg, are drawing talent. A few years back, smaller regions like Harrisburg were judged on whether we had a Starbucks. In the early days, Starbucks’ site selectors had an eye for emerging areas and planted their flag in select places.

Today we have several Starbucks, as well as other chain and local quality coffee shops catering to the young talent set.

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It is IMPORTANT TO HAVE BUSINESSES, JOBS AND AMENITIES to ATTRACT AND RETAIN YOUNG TALENT.

Just last month, the Chamber & CREDC hosted our annual non-traditional job fair, Experience Harrisburg in which we use venues throughout downtown Harrisburg to introduce as many as 300 local college students (young talent) to our local companies. We figured it out years ago with our Stay Invent the Future initiative that was seeded by the state in the early 2000s and morphed into Experience Harrisburg, the cure for the common job fair.

We’ve bought into Richard Florida’s premise. It is important to have businesses, jobs and amenities to attract and retain young talent. We use our TechCelerator@Carlisle and the Hershey Center for Applied Research as places for young talent with great ideas to test their business plan skills. When the economy was good, the most pressing need of business was skilled workforce – people with basic skill sets that could be trained for tech jobs. Today, as the economy gets better, we know that the skilled talent problem will be back, so it is critically important that we maintain our quality of life in order to be competitive as a region.

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 ______________________________________________________________________________

Produced & Published by

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 / Fall 2013 / Volume 18 / Issue 59

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

A PUBLICATION OF THE HARRISBURG REGIONAL CHAMBER & CREDC

COVER FEATURE

Education and Workforce Development from a Family Perspective - THE MILTON HERSHEY SCHOOL by: Stephan Vegoe, Writer/Photographer, Atlantic Communications Group, Inc.

WHAT MILTON HERSHEY SCHOOL IS DOING NOW

to help prepare its students for the world of work falls directly in line with comments the school's founder, Milton S. Hershey, made at the very beginning of the famed Hershey boarding schools inception in 1909.

Milton Hershey said, “I want to give them a real taste of work. We will teach them a trade if they want to learn one. We won't keep them later than 18 years of age, when they should, if they are trained right, be self supporting.”

“We have been reinventing our curriculum to address the workforce needs of the 21st century,” is how Robert Kemmery, director of career education and transition services at Milton Hershey School, responded to our question on how the famous boarding school for underprivileged children in Hershey, Pennsylvania is linking education and workforce development today.

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A team of career counselors works with Milton Hershey School's 1,800 students (preK through 12) to help them transition from the lives they were living into exciting educational opportunities and their subsequent careers after they graduate. “We want to help

receive in high school to future employment opportunities. The best known and most effective of these programs, like the Harrisburg region's Career and Technology Centers, annually graduate several thousand trained young men and women. These graduates are prepared to continue the educational paths they have started in high school or to go directly into the workforce or the military.

The vast majority of public school juniors and seniors, however, are not meaningfully preparing themselves for the world of work in the 21st century. They are, rather, studying to go on to two and four year colleges and universities, often without a career goal in mind, or they will be looking for work in a tough economy with just a high school degree and little or no meaningful work experience in high school.

At Milton Hershey School, according to Peter Gurt, MHS’ Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, who enrolled as a five year old kindergartener and graduated in 1985 (going on to Temple University and later

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All of us who work here at MILTON HERSHEY SCHOOL are directly involved in HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT, in getting the young people in our total family READY FOR THEIR FUTURE CHALLENGES

lead them to careers in exciting fields they have thoroughly explored (and worked in) prior to moving on to the world of work.”

Pennsylvania's 500 school districts all have well-designed programs for middle school and senior high school students that introduce students to work, to jobs, and to careers; attempting to link the education students

being invited to work for his alma mater), “Our students all come from underprivileged backgrounds ($13,495 is the average family income for MHS students' families). Often they have no positive role models, no family histories of education and work success, and no one to look up to. When they come to us here at Milton Hershey School, at whatever

A PUBLICATION OF THE HARRISBURG REGIONAL CHAMBER & CREDC

age they enroll, we become their family.”Bob Kemmery said, “All of us who work here at Milton Hershey School are directly involved in human resource development, in getting the young people in our total family ready for their future challenges.”

MHS has designed a workforce development/education program that starts by introducing 4th graders to career ideas, asking their nine year old students to select areas of work that appeal to them (after they have been exposed to a wide range of career ideas).

Kemmery's team creatively exposes their 4th graders to the eleven career technical areas that will later be available to them as high school students. Kemmery explained that the high school juniors and seniors enrolled in those eleven career technical areas are recruited to work with the 4th graders; to help these youngsters explore future career ideas.

“We have found that introducing career ideas in 4th grade gets them thinking about what they want to do when they grow up,” said Kemmery.

Before Milton Hershey School's younger students get to high school they have been actively and aggressively sampling career ideas. Each 9th grader is given four choices (out of the eleven career technical areas available in the comprehensive high school curriculum). 9th graders then spend 45 minutes per day for twenty days exploring the jobs that may be available to them within the broad category. During that 9th grade year, students thoroughly sample four career areas of their choice; spending a total of 80 days exploring and learning about career fields and job opportunities.

During their final three years at Milton Hershey School, every high school student focuses on one or more of the eleven career offerings. There are no exceptions; all students are enrolled in the Career Technology Education program.

As Peter Gurt explained, “Our goal, upon their graduation is to have 100% of our kids to be: academically ready, career ready, and socially ready. We have created a Rigor

ON THE COVER In this issue of HRN, we get a birds eye view of the relationship of education to workforce development as experienced at the Milton Hershey School, where students and teachers work together to create a skilled workforce base in and out of the classroom.

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TRANSITIONAL LIVING: THE CLASSROOM OUTSIDE OF THE CLASSROOM AT MILTON HERSHEY SCHOOL

Milton Hershey School has enhanced the way seniors live during their final year of high school.

For more than one hundred years, MHS students have lived in student group homes. Currently, ten to twelve students live together in comfortable homes with houseparents.

“Our graduates were telling us that they had it too structured in the group homes, that they felt they were not ready for dormitory or apartment life when they got to college; that they were not budgeting properly and they were not interacting socially with their new roommates,”

HARRISBURG REGIONAL NEWS / FALL 2013

said MHS Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, Peter Gurt.

With its new Transitional Living (TL) program, MHS has moved all of its seniors into their own apartments and created a curriculum to provide seniors with time and money management skills they will need when they head off to college.

MHS renovated or constructed ten buildings within walking distance of the high school buildings into apartments (four students to each two-bedroom apartment) and requires all seniors to live in these fully-furnished TL apartments. Transitional Living Assistants, much like resident assistants you find in a college setting, live in their own apartments in the buildings to monitor students and make sure they are safe.

Kassandra Ramos, a senior from Lancaster County explained she and her fellow classmates were given a detailed survey based on personality and interest-type questions to arrange apartments of groups with similar interests.

Kassandra said, “I was definitely ready to move to TL and so far it's been just great. I have become 'mom' in our apartment. I'm the one that does most of the meal planning and food buying, and I cook the meals and set the table.

In our apartment, we decided right away that we would always sit down together for every meal, breakfast and dinner (lunch is served at

the high school cafeteria). My roommates are responsible for keeping our apartment clean and for laundry.”

Khialah Shockley, a senior from York County, was similarly enthusiastic about living in the TL apartments. “I know after just three weeks in this new living arrangement that when I move to a college dormitory next fall I'll definitely be ready. I don't think that would have been true if we seniors had stayed with our houseparents.”

Kassandra and Khialah started to learn to cook from their houseparents and were taught kitchen skills through required workshops during their junior year that they were going to need when they moved to their TL apartments, including, Khialah said, “on how to be safe in the kitchen.”

MHS TL curriculum is outlined with necessary life skills courses for seniors including learning how to cook, learning how to plan nutritious meals, how to budget and shop (with the apartment's debit card), and how to prepare meals.

One car per apartment building is available for students who have a driver's license. Students may sign out the car to go shopping or to run errands. Otherwise, TL seniors walk to school and use MHS's transportation system to get to extracurricular activities or work.

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COVER FEATURE Continued from page 5

Matrix as part of our Continuing Education Scholarship (CES) Program that makes sure our kids are engaged to establish goals and we help them meet those goals. The better they do in terms of meeting and exceeding those goals, the more they will earn toward future educational scholarships.”

In addition to their classroom training, all high school students are encouraged to complete at least one meaningful work experience.

Bob Kemmery explained, “Thanks to the outstanding support we receive from businesses, large and small, here in the Hershey area, all of our students get the opportunity to work.”

“It doesn't matter which of the eleven career areas they are studying, we'll help them find a job that is meaningful to their future careers. Our cooperative education program and our diversified occupations program provide them employment in a local business or

organization – for half of every school day or during the summer. Our Spartan Internship program helps find the rest of our juniors find jobs in the Hershey area and our part-time work program helps seniors find jobs after school and on weekends. All students grades 10-12 participate in job shadow days.”

“It doesn't matter that a student is on the basketball, football or track team, or in the concert band, we urge them to establish priorities that will give them meaningful and interesting work experiences – that will expose them to what the world of work will offer them as future members of our society.”

Milton Hershey School's Career Technology Education program also offers students the opportunity to attain career certifications in thirty-five unique trade and professional skills in the school's eleven areas of career technical training. Probably unique among

Save-the-Date!

PENNSYLVANIA CAREER DEVELOPMENT DAY NOVEMBER 13, 2013 12:00 p.m.

Capitol Rotunda Preparing today's students for tomorrow's workforce is key to the success of our region.

For more information, visit www.crpcd.org

DIXON UNIVERSITY CENTER (DUC)

SHIPPENSBURG UNIVERSITY

Escape your typical work environment for the meeting facilities at Dixon University Center (DUC). DUC's state-of-the-art technology makes it the ideal setting for meetings and other gatherings for up to 200 professionals. DUC offers 21 flexible meeting rooms with features such as computer labs, presentation technology, and videoconferencing to ensure your meeting is a success.

Shippensburg University offers programs and courses in adult-friendly formats such as in the evenings, on the weekends, in a condensed schedule and/or through distance and online education. Some of our off-campus programs are designed as "cohorts," which encourage camaraderie and peer support by following a specific course schedule throughout the degree program. Shippensburg University offers programs in convenient locations in Harrisburg and in York and Adams counties. New undergraduate programs in International Studies, Software Engineering, and Disability Studies provide graduates with skills vital for today's global economy, pervasive computing environment, and multicultural society.

DUC also offers 30 degree programs geared towards adult learners. Courses offer learners flexibility and convenience through a variety of delivery methods like blending in-classroom and online learning. Opportunities for corporate and nonprofit customized training are available.

For more information, please call 717-720-4080 or visit www.DixonUniversityCenter.org

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high schools in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, 100% of the graduates from both the 2012 and 2013 school years earned at least one state or national career certification/ license. For example, students choosing a Health Science career pathway earned CPR/Health Care Provider certification from the American Heart Association, Emergency Response and Oxygen Therapy from the American Red Cross, First Responder certification from the PA Department of Health, and other valuable training and testing to enhance their studies. Some postsecondary schools and colleges award students college credit for their certifications in Microsoft Office Specialist-Word and Excel, AutoCAD, AutoCAD Inventor, AutoCAD Revit, and ServSafe Manager.

Peter Gurt and Bob Kemmery are convinced these career certifications help make Milton Hershey School students marketable to potential employers and provide a substantial base to their post secondary training, which sets MHS students apart, and adds hard-earned certificates to their resumes.

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For more information, please call 717.477.1502 or visit www.ship.edu/pcde/hrn

A PUBLICATION OF THE HARRISBURG REGIONAL CHAMBER & CREDC

AN INTERVIEW WITH ACTING EDUCATION SECRETARY

CAROLYN DUMARESQ What programs linking education and workforce development seem to be working best now?

There are successful programs throughout the commonwealth, such as the Students Occupationally and Academically Ready (SOAR) initiative, which aligns secondary education courses with postsecondary education programs.

In addition, through the Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency (PHEAA), the Pennsylvania Targeted Industry Program (PA-TIP) provides financial support to students who enroll in certificate programs that are less than two years in length and needed to fulfill the commonwealth's workforce needs. The targeted industries include energy, agriculture, and building and construction.

What programs linking education and workforce development are being developed for launch in the next couple of years that appear to have the most potential?

Governor Corbett is committed to continuing to provide increased job opportunities for all Pennsylvanians. The department is currently working with its partner agencies to develop budget proposals to ensure that every Pennsylvania citizen has the opportunity to enter the workforce.

What programs seem to have the best success in linking the middle and high schools in the Commonwealth's 500 school districts with employers in their school districts?

What steps are you and the Pennsylvania Department of Education taking to ensure a future workforce capable of meeting the needs of the 21st century and maintaining a prosperous economy and high quality of life in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania?

It is not only the Department of Education, but the entire Corbett administration along with schools, career and technology centers, and higher education institutions are working to ensure that Pennsylvania's employers have access to the workers they need to fill their jobs.

Specifically, the Department of Education is providing the resources and technical assistance to make certain that students are college and career ready upon graduating high school.

Additionally, under the Governor's leadership, the Department of Education and the State Board of Education have revised the state's academic standards and graduation requirements to ensure that students are graduating from Pennsylvania's public schools prepared to enter the workforce, postsecondary education and the military.

These new standards will provide the framework for students to think critically and demonstrate their ability to analyze concepts and communicate clearly and effectively.

HARRISBURG REGIONAL NEWS / FALL 2013

There are examples of successful programs throughout the Commonwealth. Partnerships between secondary schools, career and technology centers, local community colleges and other postsecondary institutions that are aligned to workforce needs provide extraordinary opportunities for students.

The programs that have the best success are those that are developed at the local level between schools, business and industry, and postsecondary institutions.

In some areas these partnerships are facilitated by local workforce investment boards or other public-private partnerships.

One program that is successful in linking middle and high school students to business and industry is the “Dream It. Do It. Pennsylvania� contest where 8th grade students visit manufacturing companies to interview the people who work there. The goal is to expose students to manufacturing careers.

How are you getting the word out to labor and industry of the middle and high school workforce development programs your department is developing?

Local schools connect with businesses in their local communities to connect students with job opportunities.

What role do you see for Chambers of Commerce, like our Harrisburg Regional Chamber and CREDC, in linking education and workforce development?

Chambers and other community organizations play a critical role in supporting our schools to link education and workforce opportunities for students. I applaud the many chamber members and others who volunteer and partner with local schools to provide job shadowing, internships and other opportunities for students to help prepare them for life after high school graduation. I encourage them to continue participating in these activities to ensure that today's students become tomorrow's leaders.

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TODAY’S TALENT

TODAY’S TALENT: What They Want & What You Need by: Amma Johnson, Vice President of Chamber Operations, Harrisburg Regional Chamber & CREDC

So, the wikipedia definition for workforce development is: “an American economic development approach that attempts to enhance a region's economic stability and prosperity by focusing on people rather than businesses. It is essentially a human resources strategy.”

Per the definition, let's make it simple – FOCUS ON YOUR PEOPLE.

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ny good employer wants to find talent and keep that talent. For most employers, finding the right employee is like finding a needle in a haystack! Once you find a superstar, as a leader, it’s YOUR responsibility to grow and nurture the individual for a mutual benefit: you offer an outstanding environment for growth, and in turn, the employee advances the mission of the organization.

So, what do employees want and what do you need? This article offers perspectives and examples to hopefully spark and inspire your own thoughts and ideas. Emerging talent has their wants. Meron Yemane, president of Harrisburg Young Professionals (HYP- hyp.org), explained, “We see our leaders' excitement for the opportunity to identify a need, and create and execute a plan accordingly. Our emerging leaders are driven and talented, and seek an environment that allows them to display their creativity and skills while encouraging 21st century professionalism and development.” Today’s employers have their needs. What steps can you take as an employer to find the happy medium between advancing your mission while keeping your team engaged? Clearly, both are essential.

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WHAT EMPLOYERS NEED A recent study conducted by UNIVERSUM, a global leader in employer branding indicated four macro trends for the savvy employer of the future. One macro trend is ‘the need for AGILITY.’ The study stresses the importance for today’s HR personnel to adapt to the fast moving business cycle and antici-

“

ONCE YOU FIND A SUPERSTAR, as a leader, it's YOUR RESPONSIBILITY to GROW AND NURTURE THE INDIVIDUAL for a MUTUAL BENEFIT

pate how to develop internal talent to meet the changing needs of the organization.

Another key trend is what UNIVERSUM calls the ‘Information Avalanche’ which basically points to the fact that employers need to stand out, find a niche and be unique: DIFFERENTIATION is a key factor. Use the information highway to tell your story and

communicate your culture and your brand.

Let’s face it. People have more accessible information than ever before. Emerging talent is interviewing you more than you’re interviewing them.

UNIVERSUM has surveyed millions of young diverse professionals showing that many young employees are leaving employers in less than two years because expectations of social consciousness, ethical business practices and investment in human capital are not met; in summary: a lack of trust. What employers seem to need the most is the TRUST of their employees. Edelman is a global PR firm well known for its highly anticipated annual Trust Barometer, a report that delves into attitudes about the state of trust in business, government, NGOs, and media across the globe. Recent Edelman Trust Barometer reports show that since the economic downswing in 2008, trust is at an all time low. UNIVERSUM studies suggest this is especially true for Gen X – our future. With some of the largest, most successful big business players plummeting, the environment has changed. For many young people, it was the titanic of the business world TANKING.

A PUBLICATION OF THE HARRISBURG REGIONAL CHAMBER & CREDC

WHAT EMPLOYEES WANT So, what do your employees want? Unhappy employees are not an asset to your company. The key word for employers is ENGAGEMENT. A Dale Carnegie study on over 1,500 employees, reported shocking statistics that 45% of employees are not engaged, and 26% are actively disengaged!

Let's take an INSIDE look into what are considered to be the world's top employers and identify trends and initiatives that attract the best talent and keep them engaged.

Fortune magazine publishes an annual 100 Best Companies to Work for list. The list is compiled as a collaborative project with the Great Place to Work® Institute, a global human resources consulting, research and training firm. The Institute has surveyed millions of employees worldwide to provide employer insight on how to build a successful and innovative work environment. This top 100 list is produced as a result of an intensive employee survey involving collecting

HARRISBURG REGIONAL NEWS / FALL 2013

data related to corporate communications, diversity efforts, wages, benefits, perspectives on management’s credibility, job satisfaction, camaraderie, training and recognition programs.

Let’s take a look at a few global companies who made the top 100 list. We chose to spotlight companies on the top 100 list who have local presence in our own Central PA backyard! #5 ON FORTUNE’S BEST COMPANIES TO WORK FOR LIST – WEGMAN’S FOOD MARKET. Wegman’s

runs a rich employee rewards and recognition program and additionally has a major focus on employee health initiatives. Wellness programs are on the rise, obviously with the changes in healthcare coming down the pipeline, healthy employees are a plus in terms of cost. Either way, the saying goes, ‘healthy employees are happy employees.’

How are you inspiring your employees to be in better health? How do you recognize your employees?

#47 ON FORTUNE’S BEST COMPANIES TO WORK FOR LIST – DELOITTE. This mega consulting

firm promotes a sabbatical training program allowing employees to spend 3 to 6 months at a non-profit while keeping their full benefit package and 40% of their pay.

Additionally, Deloitte has an array of community service programs and puts a large emphasis on encouraging member firms to give back. Do you encourage employees to give back? Are you aware to what an extreme degree this impacts and attracts the finest talent? #81 ON FORTUNE’S BEST COMPANIES TO WORK FOR LIST – PRICEWATERHOUSECOOPERS (PWC).

Annually, PwC sends a group of employees to Belize to teach young people financial literacy and provide teachers with school supplies and other resources. The PwC team also participates nationally with high schools through hosting an annual business challenge.

The winning high school receives grant monies to improve financial education. Take page 10 >

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a moment to visit PwC’s website and see how their giving programs are creatively and clearly communicated. With a rich online hub of videos, info-graphics and descriptive text, they’ve done a nice job defining their social efforts. If you’re making a difference, are you communicating it clearly for emerging talent to see and to perceive? #8 ON THE BEST COMPANIES TO WORK FOR LIST – TEKSYSTEMS. The TekSystem’s culture places

an interesting emphasis on ‘openness’ in the workplace, where employees are encouraged to share about their personal lives as well as their professional lives. Do you have a sense of family and sense of belonging in your company? #85 ON THE BEST COMPANIES TO WORK FOR LIST – EDWARD JONES. According to Fortune mag-

azine, over 44% of Edward Jones new hires come from employee referrals. Additionally, the company has an inspiring brand for cultivating a friendly and cohesive workplace

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culture. How much do you involve employees in your hiring process? How are you building a close-knit workplace culture?

WHAT DOES THE FUTURE HOLD FOR YOU AND FOR OUR REGION? It’s obvious that it’s not ALL about the business anymore. There is an increasing sense of obligation to humanity that is trending with our emerging leaders. There’s a need to see and experience true investment into the greatest resource: human resources.

I would suggest that the speed at which things are changing is demanding today’s employer to dig deep and work hard to retain and retrain talent. Invest in your employees’ future because we all know that with every bit of turnover is lost momentum, not to mention, more training costs. When you find superstars – keep them. If you have a chance, visit www.universum.com and download their white paper entitled ‘Capturing

the Game Changers,’ an insightful report on how to retain the talent that outshines average performers and inspires your team to reach the top.

We would love to hear your thoughts on this topic, as well as things you’re doing in your organization that we could highlight in future HRN editions – both in print and online! Email me at ajohnson@hbgrc.org.

A PUBLICATION OF THE HARRISBURG REGIONAL CHAMBER & CREDC

CEO CORNER!

WHAT QUALITIES ARE EMPLOYERS LOOKING FOR IN EMERGING TALENT? We decided to ask a few local community leaders what they're looking for. There's a lot of good stuff here. Enjoy!

“Increasingly, I hire for the right ‘attitude.’

With basic skills as a given, I look for collegiality, openness, and a willingness to pitch in. A new employee who can bring fresh ideas AND be welcomed to an existing team is twice a winner.”

KATHLEEN A. PAVELKO, PRESIDENT & CEO WITF, Inc. www.witf.org

“We look for business savvy communicators who can develop and present insight-driven, creative ideas in writing, with visuals and verbally.”

LUKE KEMPSKI, PRESIDENT JPL www.jplcreative.com

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“I only ask three things out of new hires: Be a self starter. Ask why. Add value.”

JIM MOONEY, PRESIDENT AND CEO Enginuity LLC & Enginuity Energy LLC www.enginuity-llc.com

“We look for teammates who feel personally responsible for making good things happen in their lives. We provide the opportunities and they capitalize on them.”

SHARON R. RYAN, PRESIDENT Dasher Inc. www.dasherinc.com

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“Emerging talent is the lifeblood of any business...

Recruiting, managing and developing talent is one of the primary roles of the CEO. What qualities do they want in a new leader? Someone who will roll up their sleeves, work hard every day and get stuff done with a minimum amount of pain.”

JOHN DAME, MANAGING PARTNER Dame Management Strategies www.damemanagementstrategies.com

“We look for honest, energetic, and smart people who play well with others. We want people who will be fun to work with every day, do what they say they are going to do, and are very compassionate about our clients and their coworkers.”

G. GREG GUNN, MANAGING PARTNER Gunn Mowery www.gunnmowery.com

––––

HARRISBURG REGIONAL NEWS / FALL 2013

“We need young people who are energetic, willing to learn and who have the desire and capability to perform in a leadership capacity long term.”

BARRY DUFFY, PRESIDENT Pennsy Supply Inc. www.pennsysupply.com

–––– “We strive to build teams with members with a passion for success; people that see where they fit into the big picture and constantly strive for improvement in the product, process or outcome of the system and engage the system to that end.”

MICHAEL YOUNG, CEO PinnacleHealth System www.pinnaclehealth.org

–––– “Be accountable for your actions, accept responsibility, learn and move forward.”

TINA NIXON, CEO YWCA of Greater Harrisburg www.ywcahbg.org

–––– “I look for individuals who are passionate about their profession and genuinely care that the services they provide are beneficial to our community.”

TOM WILSON, PRINCIPAL K&W Engineers and Consultants www.kandwengineers.com

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COMMITTEE SPOTLIGHT

THE WORK OF THE EDUCATION & BUSINESS PARTNERSHIP COMMITTEE by: Larissa Bailey, Government Relations Manager, Harrisburg Regional Chamber & CREDC

PRODUCING AND MAINTAINING A TOP-NOTCH WORKFORCE plays a key

role in the overall economic wellbeing and success of a region. This is made possible, in part when representatives of two very different communities come together to ensure the bridge between education and business is one that's well-connected.

One way the Harrisburg Regional Chamber & CREDC promotes workforce development is through its Education & Business Partnership (EBP) committee, which includes a number of education and business folk alike who have a passion for connecting these two communities to promote lifelong learning from infancy to adulthood. The EBP is charged with (1) supporting and advancing collaborative initiatives between stakeholders; (2) providing leadership in developing and offering quality programs to Chamber members, as well as the greater Harrisburg region; (3) monitoring local, state, and federal edu-

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cation and workforce issues; and (4) making recommendations to the Chamber on positions regarding the implications and impact of education and workforce-related issues.

Over the years, the EBP has been able to offer numerous events and programs to both Chamber members and members of our regional community. Most recently, the EBP has hosted the year-long Education & Business Partnership > Making it HAPPEN! Series, administered the Chamber High School Business Challenge, and formed the Successful Workforce Reentry Subcommittee.

From February 2012 to May 2013, the EBP hosted the Education & Business Partnership > Making it HAPPEN! Series. The events provided a forum to share, evaluate, and promote implementation of workforce development strategies among the business and education communities in our region. Emphasis was placed on the Pennsylvania Career Education & Work Standards, part of the State Board of Education's regulations of required education for all students in Pennsylvania.

The series attracted over 100 participants who really worked to make it happen!

Another popular EBP initiative is the Chamber High School Business Challenge. Its purpose is to encourage our region's young people to create written business plans for new local companies. Students who make it past the preliminary (written plan) round advance as finalists to the second round where they

present their plans in the form of professional business pitches to a group of local business leaders. The program allows students to exercise creative thinking and critical analysis, as well as communication and presentation skills throughout the completion of their projects. Significant scholarship dollars are awarded to winning teams. This year's finalists will present their projects in April 2014.

To help reach members of our region's adult population, the EBP formed the Successful Workforce Reentry Subcommittee. This group works to help various groups find ways to gain employment. This past year, the Subcommittee has worked to educate employers on the benefits of hiring non-violent exoffenders once they have been released back into the community. The Subcommittee has now begun to focus its efforts on veterans.

If you would like to learn how you can get involved with the Education & Business Partnership committee or would simply like additional information on the group, please contact Larissa Bailey (lbailey@hbgrc.org) today!

Save-the-Date!

2013 BUSINESS EXPO @ND TECHNOLOGY SHOW NOVEMBER 14, 2013 9:30 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.

Pennsylvania Farm Show Complex & Expo Center

A PUBLICATION OF THE HARRISBURG REGIONAL CHAMBER & CREDC

ADVOCACY UPDATE

IMMIGRATION & THE FUTURE OF OUR WORKFORCE by: Amma Johnson, Vice President of Chamber Operations, Harrisburg Regional Chamber & CREDC THE HARRISBURG REGIONAL CHAMBER BOARD OF DIRECTORS recently took a position in support of immigration reform upon recommendation of the Chamber & CREDC’s Government Relations Committee.

In simple terms, it is a competitive workforce issue for our region and our country. In recent months, this has been a hot-topic issue at the federal level. The statement reads, “The Harrisburg Regional Chamber & CREDC is supportive of immigration reform to help fill key intellectual needs in our workforce, to improve national and border security, and to provide for a path to citizenship for immigrants looking to improve their lives and the lives of their families through a legal path and hard work.”

The position does not support a specific piece of legislation, but instead supports reform in general that would allow young international students to stay in the United States and contribute to our economy’s innovation, identify and remove illegal immigrants committing criminal acts and create a long term, legal path to citizenship for others simply seeking to work and better lives for their families while continuing to strengthen our borders.

“

THE HARRISBURG REGIONAL CHAMBER & CREDC IS SUPPORTIVE of immigration reform to HELP FILL KEY INTELLECTUAL NEEDS IN OUR WORKFORCE, to IMPROVE NATIONAL AND BORDER SECURITY, and to PROVIDE FOR A PATH TO CITIZENSHIP FOR IMMIGRANTS looking to improve their lives and the lives of their families THROUGH A LEGAL PATH AND HARD WORK.

Immigration reform has a direct correlation to workforce. On a national level, many industry leaders see reform as the right thing to do in order for the U.S. to be globally competitive in the development of new products and innovations. The National Association of Manufacturer’s VP of Human Resources Policy, Joe Trauger, stated in a recent video that, “Comprehensive immigration reform is good for our economy, our security and it’s the right thing to do”, (the video is available for viewing at www.nma.org).

The technology industry continues to push for immigration reform as well. In a very recent Bloomberg TV interview (available on YouTube) Silicon Valley Leadership Group President and CEO Carl Guardino discusses how his members, who include companies like Facebook, are in favor of immigration reform. Visit www.fwd.us and check out a recent immigration reform initiative spearheaded by Facebook’s, Mark Zuckerberg.

Here in Pennsylvania, according to a recent study by the Regional Economic Model, more than 33,500 jobs are projected to be created with more than $1.3 billion added to our state’s Gross State Product by 2020 in the event that comprehensive immigration reform becomes law.

The Chamber & CREDC sees this as a logical solution to a complicated problem. The idea of deporting millions of “illegal aliens” might be a good sound bite, but it is not a practical solution. The Chamber & CREDC’s position, which is in line with the position of the US Chamber, charts a course to identify illegal immigrants, deport those who commit criminal acts, while encouraging opportunities for those S D ! who want to work and fill gaps in our workforce from entry level to 2013 CATALYST AWARDS high tech jobs.

DECEMBER 4, 2013 5:00 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.

For more information on the Chamber & CREDC’s position Whitaker Center for Science & the Arts statement, visit www.Harrisburg RegionalChamber.org.

ave-the- ate

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A PUBLICATION OF THE HARRISBURG REGIONAL CHAMBER & CREDC

CULTURAL SPOTLIGHT

PENNSYLVANIA CYBER/ CHARTER SCHOOLS

CHOICES

21st Century Cyber Charter School Agora Cyber Charter School Central PA Digital Learning Foundation Charter School Commonwealth Connections Academy Charter School Infinity Charter School PA Cyber Charter School PA Distance Learning Charter School PA Leadership Charter School PA Learners Online Regional Cyber School PA Virtual Charter School SUSQ-Cyber Charter School Sylvan Heights Science Charter School

IN EDUCATION

by: Nicole Keiner, Writer, Harrisburg Regional Chamber & CREDC

ONE UNIQUE EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTION THAT CALLS THE REGION HOME IS THE MILTON HERSHEY SCHOOL

For a complete listing of PA Cyber/Charter Schools, visit the PDE website at http://www.education.state.pa.us

CAPITAL AREA INTERMEDIATE UNIT NON-PUBLIC SCHOOLS

T

oday, parents of school age children are presented options when it comes to their child's education.

No longer are the days of public school districts or parochial schools the only choices. While public school district education is currently the most popular option, educating nearly 1.8 million students in the Commonwealth each year, other public, private and nonpublic schools, including charter and cyber schools, offer parents of schoolage children various alternatives.

One unique educational institution that calls the region home is the Milton Hershey School (MHS). According to the Milton Hershey School, there is no other school like it in the region. In the state, the Girard School is similar; in the country, Kamehameha Schools is also similar. MHS is a cost-free, private, coeducational home and school for children from families of low income, limited resources, and social need. The School is funded by a trust established by Milton S. Hershey and his wife Catherine. Milton Hershey School offers a positive, structured home life year-round and an excellent pre-kindergarten through 12th grade education. In the class of 2013 there were 186 graduates. Kathy Smith, Milton Hershey School Admissions Marketing & Recruiting Coordinator stated, “All students at Milton Hershey School participate in a rigorous academic program with small class sizes in beautiful facilities. High-

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ly qualified teachers and staff are dedicated to helping each student achieve. Many high school students earn significant scholarship money to pay for college or other post-secondary programs.”

Commonwealth Connections Academy (CCA) is a K-12 public charter school that was founded in 2002 and began serving families in 2003. CCA serves the entire Commonwealth with regional offices located near population pockets. “We are chartered as an online public school,” stated Tom Longenecker, Assistant CEO with Commonwealth Connections Academy. “This means that most of our students perform their schoolwork from home. With that said, families have come up with many types of arrangements to also support each other in neighborhood clusters to always provide for student supervision.” In Philadelphia and Harrisburg, CCA has opened voluntary “drop-in” centers for students to come and do schoolwork or receive additional remediation. CCA currently has over 8,000 students enrolled.

“We have grown on average at about 20% per year,” Longenecker added. “Ten-years ago, CCA opened with about 350 students.” In 2012, over 105,000 students attended a public cyber charter school in Pennsylvania.

For a complete listing of all of the educational entities in the state, please visit the Pennsylvania Department of Education's website at http://www.education.state.pa.us.

Bible Baptist School Bishop McDevitt High School Carlisle Christian Academy Carson Long Military Academy Children's Family Center Children's Garden - St John's Lutheran Children's School of New Cumberland Christian School of Grace Baptist Church Covenant Christian Academy Dickinson College Children's Center Diocese of Harrisburg Emmanuel Baptist Christian Academy Good Shepherd School Harrisburg Academy Harrisburg Adventist School Harrisburg Catholic Elementary Harrisburg Christian School Heritage Christian School Hershey Christian School Hillside Seventh Day Adventist School Holy Name of Jesus School Keystone Math and Science Academy Londonderry School Mechanicsburg Learning Center Milton Hershey School Nativity School of Harrisburg Northern Dauphin Christian School Oakwood Baptist Day School "Pride of the Neighborhood Academies, Inc." Saint Catherine Laboure School Saint Joan of Arc School Saint Joseph School Saint Margaret Mary School Saint Patrick School Saint Stephen's Episcopal School Saint Theresa School Seven Sorrows of the B.V.M. School Sonshine Academy The Samuel School The Silver Academy Trinity High School Only schools participating in Act 89 are included in listing.

For a complete listing of Private/Non-Public Schools, visit the PDE website at http://www.education.state.pa.us

A PUBLICATION OF THE HARRISBURG REGIONAL CHAMBER & CREDC

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT NEWS

CLOSING THE SKILLS GAP IN PENNSYLVANIA’S MANUFACTURING SECTOR

by: Linda Goldstein, Vice President/COO, Harrisburg Regional Chamber & CREDC

IN 2012, THE TEAM PENNSYLVANIA FOUNDATION formed the Governor's Manufacturing Advisory Council to explore the present condition of manufacturing in the Commonwealth and the challenges facing the growth potential. The published report states that post-recession, the manufacturing sector is experiencing a renaissance. The statistical evidence that was quoted in the report is impressive:

Manufacturers in PA account for 12% of the total output in the Commonwealth Pennsylvania is now producing more products than at any time in its history Manufacturing employment has increased significantly and in 2011 12,000 new manufacturing jobs were created in the State. 10% of the total workforce in the State is in the manufacturing sector Manufacturing productivity outpaces all other sectors with a staggering 259% increase over the last 40 years One of the biggest challenges facing the new manufacturing growth spurt is “a growing skills gap as … manufacturers attempt to build their internal staff capacity for increased customer orders and new product demand.” The report states that finding people with the

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education and technological skills to fill the growing demand for highly qualified manufacturing workers is a growing problem and can become an impediment for continued growth.

can work closely with local employers to gain shop floor experience while they are getting their formal education. This will help eliminate a gap that exists where a student gains a degree and does not want to start in an

“

The HARRISBURG REGIONAL CHAMBER & CREDC has been PROACTIVE IN THEIR APPROACH TO PROBLEM SOLVING as it relates to the SKILLS GAP...

The Harrisburg Regional Chamber & CREDC has been proactive in their approach to problem solving as it relates to the skills gap in our tri-county region. Starting earlier this year we met with members of our manufacturing committee regarding challenges each of them were facing. Though these companies represented a variety of different industries and business sizes, many of them validated the findings of the Governor's report and further added that finding the right candidates to fill open positions was a large challenge.

As a result of the conversations, we began to talk about ways that various groups can get involved to promote manufacturing careers and how to develop a pool of more skilled candidates. One approach was to work more closely with school districts to educate students about the modern manufacturing workforce and how with technology changes, these positions may be different than their perception of a manufacturing job. The second approach was to work with postsecondary education to develop a system in which students who are interested in manufacturing

entry level position, but does not have the required experience to directly move into an operational role with the company.

Over the course of the next year we will begin to develop collaboration between employers, educators, parents, and students. The Chamber & CREDC's Education & Business Partnership and Manufacturing Committees are in the beginning phases of planning an event centered on the exploration of careers in manufacturing, which is tentatively scheduled for March 2014. The event, which will target middle and high school students, will provide insight on the various types of manufacturing jobs in our region, as well as encourage students to consider pursuing a career in the industry. If you are interested in getting involved, please let us know.

Save-the-Date!

LEGISLATORS’ FORUM I - HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES JANUARY 14, 2014 Hilton Harrisburg

A PUBLICATION OF THE HARRISBURG REGIONAL CHAMBER & CREDC

REGIONAL SPOTLIGHT

EXPERIENCE THE FOLIAGE by: Nicole Keiner, Writer, Harrisburg Regional Chamber & CREDC

Ned Smith Nature Center

HERE IN THE HARRISBURG REGION we are fortunate to have four seasons.

Winter, spring, summer and fall each have their own distinct characteristics, along with outdoor recreational activities to enjoy. Summer has concluded and we are slowly progressing into fall. As the fresh, cool, crisp autumn air is making its way in and we are getting acquainted with the new season, the scenic fall foliage is ready to reveal itself and the echoes of nature are inviting us to experience the great outdoors before the winter season gets underway.

In addition to spring and summer being ideal times to enjoy the many parks and nature centers located in the Harrisburg region, fall offers residents and visitors a unique, visually appealing outdoor experience. Scenic driving and bike routes are also plentiful as are hiking opportunities. Within the tri-county region, there are numerous state parks, nature centers, residential parks, and trails open and awaiting to be visited and enjoyed during fall.

The Ned Smith Nature Center, located in Millersburg and visited by about 20,000 people each year, offers more than 500 acres of rustic beauty. The Wiconisco Creek runs behind the Center and is a special regulation trout stream – a favorite spot for anglers. “Hikers enjoy the trails, which really have something for every level,” stated Alexis Dow Campbell, Director of Creative Programming. “Some trails are ADAaccessible and also great for strollers, others are super intense, but most are somewhere in-between.” The Center also has an observational beehive, which is open year-round and maintained by a local father-and-son beekeeper team.

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Ned Smith Nature Center

Wildwood Park (Dauphin County) conveniently sits on the edge of suburbia and urban culture. Unique in its location on the outskirts of Harrisburg, the sanctuary is a haven for countless species of flora and fauna natural to our area, some endangered.

For a complete listing of the region's nature centers and parks, please visit the Hershey/Harrisburg Visitors Bureau website at www.visithersheyharrisburg.org or Cumberland County Visitors Bureau website at www.visitcumberlandvalley.com.

PARKS AND NATURE CENTERS Benjamin Olewine, III Nature Center Boyd Big Tree Preserve Conservation Area Dauphin County Parks and Recreation Fort Halifax Park Fort Hunter Mansion and Park Fowlers Hollow State Park Hershey Gardens Little Buffalo State Park Millersburg Borough Ned Smith Center for Nature and Art Wildwood Park Wolf Santuary of PA *list obtained from www.visithersheyharrisburg.org

A PUBLICATION OF THE HARRISBURG REGIONAL CHAMBER & CREDC

“A Continuing Care Retirement Community.”

“A Community Outreach of Homeland Center.”

Provider and leader of quality healthcare in Central PA for more than 145 years.

Respectful, considerate, heart-felt care or those with a life-limiting illness.

50 renovated Personal Care Suites.

Providing care for hospice patients in the setting they consider their home.

Applications being accepted for a limited number.

Skilled Nursing Care Unit accommodates 92, including a 21-bed Alzheimer’s Unit.

717-221-7902 1901 North Fifth Street, Harrisburg, PA 17102 www.homelandcenter.org

HARRISBURG REGIONAL NEWS / FALL 2013

Clinical and bereavement staff provide support for the patient and family before and after the death of your loved one.

Providing service in Cumberland, Dauphin, Lebanon, Perry, and York counties.

717-221-7890 2300 Vartan Way, Suite 115, Harrisburg, PA 17110 www.homelandhospice.org

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CATALYST AWARDS

2013 CATALYST AWARDS DECEMBER 4, 2013 2

0

1

3

Thank You to Our

EXCLUSIVE SPONSORS

5:00 P.M.-8:30 P.M.

EACH YEAR THE HARRISBURG REGIONAL CHAMBER & CREDC honors member businesses and individuals

for their outstanding contributions to our organization and the community during our annual awards event.

This year’s event, the 2013 Chamber & CREDC Catalyst Awards, will feature the following awards: Athena Award Business Diversity Champion Award Catalyst Award Corporate Citizen of the Year Award – NEW FOR 2013!

Entrepreneur of the Year Award Small Business of the Year Award Workforce Development Leader of the Year Award – NEW FOR 2013! … AND MORE!

WHITAKER CENTER FOR SCIENCE AND THE ARTS 225 Market Street, Harrisburg, PA 17101 For more information, visit www.HarrisburgRegionalChamber.org.

2014 CHAMBER & CREDC

DUBAI TRIP 8 DAYS / 5 NIGHTS (5 nights due to the time difference)

MARCH 22 – 29, 2014

Zelenkofske Axelrod LLC ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

Certified Public Accountants and Management Consultants

Serving the Accounting, Auditing, and Consulting Needs of the Public Sector Financial and Compliance Audits

$2,749 PER PERSON Includes air and land services Sunshine, shopping, seaside, sports and safety – five of the key ingredients that have earned Dubai a growing reputation as one of the world’s most attractive and rapidly developing leisure destinations. Dubai is an intriguing land that combines old-world souks and modern shopping malls, rolling sand dunes and championship grass golf courses, remote Bedouin villages and an array of fivestar hotels. Embark on this journey to the discovery of Dubai, and live your Arabian adventure...

Visit www.HarrisburgRegionalChamber.org for more information or to register!

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Performance Audits & Consulting Health Care and Pension Cost Containment Bond Verifications Management & MIS Consulting GASB Implementation Services (Including GASB 34) Cost Allocation Plans

Richard S. Carlin Partner

Jamison Office 2370 York Road, Suite A-5 Jamison, PA 18929 Phone 215.918.2277 Fax 215.918.2302

–––––––

Cory W. Johnson

Partner

Pittsburgh Office 3800 McKnight East Drive Suite 3805 Pittsburgh, PA 15237 Phone 412.367.7102 Fax 412.367.7103

–––––––

Patrick A. Kirk Managing Partner

Corey Troutman Partner

Harrisburg Office 830 Sir Thomas Court, Suite 100 Harrisburg, PA 17109 Phone 717.561.9200 Fax 717.561.9202

––––––– Allentown Office 1101 West Hamilton Street Allentown, PA 18101 Phone 610.871.5077

A PUBLICATION OF THE HARRISBURG REGIONAL CHAMBER & CREDC

GREAT QUALITY FOUR-COLOR PRINTING AND MAILING SERVICES.

Call me to discuss your next project.

Claudia Decima 717-460-6659 FAX 717-474-8010 claudiad@spectrumprintpartner.com

TEL

HARRISBURG REGIONAL NEWS / FALL 2013

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MAKING STRIDES

MEMBERS IN THE NEWS ALEXANDER BUILDING CONSTRUCTION CO. has begun construction of a new campus café, titled the Crimson Café, for Indiana University of Pennsylvania.

According to Indiana University of Pennsylvania, the project is the result of their desire to improve quality, service and satisfaction of its dining facility customers.

BEN FRANKLIN TECHNOLOGY PARTNERS OF CENTRAL AND NORTHERN PA, announced that eight companies, located in the 32-county footprint served by the Center, were recently approved by the Board of Directors to receive funding. The Ben Franklin Program, which this year celebrates its 30th year of service to the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, makes its investments in entrepreneurs, technology startups and small manufacturers who are developing new technologies, hiring additional staff, and increasing their sales/marketing efforts in order to compete in their respective markets.

The companies that received Ben Franklin funding are: Chromatan Inc.; Maculogix, Inc.; Hatchback, LLC; Hot Mix Mobile, LLC; CrimeWatch; Dataforma, Inc.; Lewis Designs, LLC; and Direct Allergy, LLC The When Work Works National Partners, Families and Work Institute (FWI) and The Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM), announced that BROWN SCHULTZ SHERIDAN & FRITZ (BSSF) is a winner of the 2013 Alfred P. Sloan Awards for Excellence in Workplace Effectiveness and Flexibility in the At-Large category! BSSF is the only Central Pennsylvania company to be recognized and the only Pennsylvania regional accounting firm.

CONTE WEALTH ADVISORS announced its recent hire of MaryAnne (Nguyen) DiSante, who will join the CWA team as Director of Business Development (a newly created position).

Within this role, DiSante will focus on developing the company's relationships with key accounts and seeking new business opportunities while enhancing CWA's community involvement.

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F&M TRUST recently pledged $30,000 to the Army Heritage

Food Bank with a special $9,000 donation to provide hunger relief throughout the community.

During a deed transfer ceremony, METRO BANK celebrated its

Metro Bank - Joshua Group Event Mike Perry (center), Executive Director of the Army Heritage Center Foundation, accepts a check for $30,000 from F&M Trust's Bill Snell and Bob Weed, representing the bank's pledge to the “Build on Success” Capital Campaign.

Center Build on Success Capital Campaign. The campaign goal is to raise $10 million to construct the Visitor and Education Center (Phase 2). A “heritage center” will provide additional galleries to tell the Army story through a variety of media.

A new partnership is born at FACILITIES, PLANNERS + ARCHITECTS (FP+A), as the Harrisburg firm announced a deal with the Dauphin County Industrial Development Authority (IDA) to help design a new magisterial district judge office.

The prototype design is scheduled to be implemented at a new construction site in West Hanover Township near the intersection of routes 22 and 39 to replace the current office of Magisterial District Judge Lowell Witmer.

GEISINGER HEALTH SYSTEM (GHS), Danville, Pa., and Holy Spirit Health System, Camp Hill, Pa., announced the signing of a letter of intent to explore ways the healthcare organizations can work together to benefit healthcare in south central Pennsylvania.The signing of the letter of intent enables each organization to investigate in greater detail the opportunities to affiliate. The due diligence and approval process is expected to take six to nine months.

GIANT FOOD STORES is celebrating its 90th anniversary by expanding

the company's “Living Here, Giving Here” community support program with 90 Days of Giving to local food bank partners and throughout the communities they serve. GIANT recognized the Central Pennsylvania

donation of the property at 1459 Market Street in Harrisburg to the Joshua Group, an at-risk youth mentoring organization located and working with youth living primarily in the Allison Hill neighborhood.

Metro Bank Chief Lending Officer Adam Metz and Joshua Group Founder and Director Kirk Hallett announced that the building on the property will be the future home of the Joshua Learning Center, an allinclusive education center.

MID PENN BANK announced it has named Tobin R. Rote branch manager of its Camp Hill office located at 2101 Market Street. A resident of Harrisburg, Rote previously was an assistant branch manager at M&T Bank. He has more than 12 years of experience in the financial services industry.

Rote holds a bachelor's degree in human resource management from Shippensburg University.

Two partners of NAUMAN SMITH SHISSLER & HALL, LLP received notable awards within their respective fields of law. Managing Partner Craig J. Staudenmaier has been selected, for a second consecutive year, by his peers for inclusion in the 20th Edition of The Best Lawyers in America in the practice area of Commercial Litigation. Partner Benjamin C. Dunlap, Jr has received an AV Preeminent® MartindaleHubbell® Peer Review Rating in his primary practice areas of administrative and employment/labor law and litigation, making him part of a select group of lawyers ranked by their peers at the highest level of professional excellence.

PNC WEALTH MANAGEMENT, a member of the PNC Financial Services Group, promoted Lancaster native Greg Lefever to Wealth Management managing director in South Central

Pennsylvania. He leads teams of wealth management professionals in Harrisburg, Lancaster and York in delivering PNC's comprehensive solutions which help clients grow their wealth through strategic planning, investing and management.

John Gaydos rejoined PRUDENTIAL HOMESALE SERVICES GROUP as a full-time sales associate.

Gaydos has been licensed since 2005 and specializes in residential and new home sales throughout central Pennsylvania. He is eCertified. A lifelong resident of Lebanon, Gaydos is an active volunteer in community events and church. He graduated from Shippensburg State College with a B.S. in Education. Gaydos works at Prudential Homesale's Hershey office at 1129 West Governor Road.

QUANDEL announced it has launched a new logo and website to strengthen its brand positioning and establish a unified online presence in the industry. Created

by JPL, the initiative produced a cohesive visual identity of the organization's multiple divisions under one brand mark. JPL then established a formalized approach and messaging strategy to drive the website redesign effort.

York County-based WAGMAN CONSTRUCTION, INC. announced the hiring of Jeffery Lynch to the position of Director of Business Development. He will lead the firm's strategic and operational business development initiatives, including market expansion, client development, strategic account management, and project evaluation.

Save-the-Date!

2014 ANNUAL DINNER APRIL 16, 2014 5:30 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.

Hershey Lodge

A PUBLICATION OF THE HARRISBURG REGIONAL CHAMBER & CREDC