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:
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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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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