The 2011 Erie Regional Chamber & Growth Partnership Annual Report

2011 Annual Report

Erie Regional Chamber & Growth Partnership

As we look back on 2011, I wish to thank Russ Warner who provided stellar leadership as Chairman of the Erie Regional Chamber and Growth Partnership board of directors through August 2011 and Jim Dible who served as the President and CEO of the ERCGP through early April 2011. Russ and Jim also led us through the national search for our new President and CEO, Barbara Chaffee and provided a smooth transition of leadership.

We have had an exciting year at the ERCGP:

• We launched the Business Action Team replacing the Business Retention & Expansion Program. Through on-site or on-line meetings with business owners, we identify programs that address companies’ needs, providing possible solutions utilizing regional economic development partners.

• We are surveying the business community with our Project Jobs initiative. Using the Erie Business Action Team’s web-based platform; all employers in Erie County are asked to complete an electronic survey capturing business and industry’s immediate, mid-term, and long-term employment needs. Working in partnership with the Regional Center for Workforce Excellence, NWPA Workforce Investment Board and PA CareerLink – Erie County, data will be shared, identifying the skills sets, formal education needed, and wage rates for the top 25 identified occupations.

• Erie County, the City of Erie, the ERCGP, Jefferson Educational Society, and the Regional Center for Workforce Excellence / Workforce Investment Board were awarded a HUD Regional Planning Sustainable Communities grant of $1.8 million for Destination Erie.

• We have made significant progress in the area of intergovernmental Cooperation. Accomplishments include: development of a county-wide equipment sharing program; planning for joint emergency response preparedness; and improving local government communication and operations through technology.

• We have been a key driver in efforts to better align local education to careers. Working with Erie Together, our local school districts, the School to Career Partnership, the WIB, and numerous other stakeholders, our goal is to better connect the private sector to K-12 education.

• Member businesses saved more than $1.9 million and residents saved an average of 9% on their electric bills through our savings program.

We are enthusiastic about the opportunities before us in 2012, everything we do must focus on providing a healthy and nurturing environment for business and industry to grow and prosper in Erie and the region.

There is great strength in numbers, we have grown to 900 members this past year and I offer a challenge to our members to each engage one new member for the Erie Regional Chamber and Growth Partnership in 2012.

The intelligence, creativity, and commitment of our members; our human capital, can and does make a difference in the region.

James E. Martin

Chairman of the Board

“I like things to happen; and if they don’t happen, I like to make them happen.” – Winston Churchill

2011 Annual Report

4

10

3

3

2

2

16

28

Membership by Industry 22

10

Retail/Commercial Services

Finance/Banking

Professional Services

Real Estate

Hospitality

Non-Profits/Other

Healthcare

Education

Manufacturing

Municipalities/Authorities

Numbers represent percentages.

57 17 15 8 6

Membership Events Grants Advertising us Miscellaneo

Erie Regional Chamber & Growth Partnership

NEW MEMBERS IN 2011

In partnership with Erie County local governments and with funding support from the Erie Community Foundation

Intergovernmental Collaboration:

&

Developed a

Launched a

municipal equipment

joint disaster

county-wide sharing program.

county-wide planning effor t.

2011 Annual Report

Aligning K-12 Education to Careers 1 2 3

Developed strategic partnerships with local school districts, community-based career exploration programs, Erie Together and other relevant stakeholders to move initiative forward.

Secured funding from Erie Community Foundation to envision and create the programmatic structure.

Helped develop a standard definition of a “career plan� approved by county-wide superintendents.

PROJECT

JOBS 1,509 open positions identified through130 preliminary

Project Jobs survey respondents.

(As of January 31, 2012)

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$1,900,000 OnDemand/Chamber Choice Commercial Electricity Savings

Erie Regional Chamber & Growth Partnership

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2011 Annual Report

Thank You

2011 Board of Directors Peter Balmert First Niagara John Barber Barber National Institute Dr. Donald L. Birx Penn State Erie, The Behrend College John C. Bloomstine Insurance Management Company Carl M. Carlotti, Esq. National Fuel Gas Dist. Corp.

Terrence W. Cavanaugh Erie Insurance Group Rosanne Cheeseman Times Publishing Company Gary L. Clark Snap-tite, Inc. Joel Deuterman Velocity Network Mary Eckert Millcreek Community Hospital Thomas C. Hoffman II, Esq. Knox McLaughlin Gornall & Sennett Thomas Kennedy Professional Development Associates, Inc.

Charles G. Knight Schaffner, Knight, Minnaugh & Company John Leemhuis Quinn Law Firm

Nick Scott, Jr. Scott Enterprises John Skory Penelec - A FirstEnergy Company

John T. Malone Hamot Medical Center

Ronald Steele Greater Erie Community Action Committee

James E. Martin Northwest Savings Bank

Noreen Stegkamper Citizens Bank

James W. Martin Highmark

David M. Tullio Custom Engineering Company

Michael P. Martin Printing Concepts, Inc.

Russell S. Warner, Esq. MacDonald, Illig, Jones & Britton, LLP

Marlene D. Mosco PNC Bank Jack Munch Baldwin Brothers, Inc. David Poor AAA East Central James Rutkowski, Jr. Industrial Sales & Manufacturing Company Matthew Schultz John V. Schultz, Co.

Michael Weber Smith Provision Company Thomas J. Wedzik First National Bank of Pennsylvania Scott Whalen Saint Vincent Health System R. Jason Wieczorek Young Erie Professionals

DATES 2012 2012 DATES

SAVE THE

SAVE THE

Thursday, April 12 Celebration of Excellence Thursday, April 12 Bayfront Convention Center Celebration of Excellence Bayfront Convention Center

Wednesday, May2323 Wednesday, May Annual Golf Outing Annual Golf Outing Peek’n Resortand andSpa Spa Peek’nPeak Peak Resort

Saturday, July Saturday, July2121

Beeron on the the Bay Beer Bay Burger King Amphitheater – Bayfront Burger King Amphitheater – Bayfront

Wednesday, September 26 Wednesday, Fall Member Fest September 26 Fall Member FestPavilion Shades Beach Park Shades Beach Park Pavilion

Thursday, November 8

Annual Meeting Thursday, November 8 Ambassador Conference Center

Annual Meeting Ambassador Conference Center