Business Magazine - April 2021

Apr i l 2021

In the business world, artificial intelligence is enabling companies to work smarter and faster, doing more with significantly less. As technology and society continue to advance, more organizations are looking for powerful, sophisticated solutions that will improve and streamline operations, and allow them to understand customers in ways never thought possible.

Researchers project the global artificial intelligence market size to reach $733.7 billion by 2027, expanding at a compound annual growth rate of 42.2 percent.

In this briefing, our speaker will discuss the link between artificial intelligence and data, and the increasing need for cybersecurity in advancing manufacturing and other industries, including health care, finance, education and more.

Timothy Kurzweg, Ph.D., is the director of the School of Engineering at Penn State Behrend and a professor of electrical and computer engineering.

Kurzweg holds a doctorate and a master’s degree in electrical engineering from the University of Pittsburgh. He has a bachelor’s degree from Penn State. He has served as principal or co-principal investigator for approximately $9.5 million in funded research and has published more than 80 journal and conference papers. He also holds multiple patents.

Before joining Penn State Behrend in July 2018, he previously served as vice provost for undergraduate education and professor of electrical and computer engineering at Drexel University in Philadelphia.

At Penn State Behrend, Kurzweg leads an engineering school with 1,600 students and a top-50 national ranking, according to U.S. News & World Report.

PRESENTED BY:

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: ip ue sh ss er l I ad ia Le ec in Sp en om W

BUSINESS VOL. XXXIV NO. 4 | APRIL 2021

MAGAZINE

Adrienne Dixon, Ph.D. President and CEO

Gale Magyar, NHA, CASP CEO

CELEBRATING 150 YEARS OF SARAH A. REED CHILDREN’S CENTER AND SENIOR LIVING FACILITY CARRY ON LEGACY OF CARING

SPOTLIGHT Q&A:

ONEX PRESIDENT SHARES INSIGHTS ON LEADERSHIP

SPECIAL SECTION:

MBA CONGRATULATES TRAINING GRADUATES

Ahhhh … that moment of clarity when you realize you can take a big bite out of your company’s health care spend in one year.

Nice job, you.

Introducing Well360 Clarity from Highmark.

This powerful solution combines real-time data, predictive analytics, and personalized outreach to engage your members earlier, when they need health guidance the most. And that adds up to cost savings you’ll see within one year.

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That’s Well360 Clarity.

Got your attention?

Watch the video at highmarkclarity.com/bcbs to learn more.

FEATURES WORTH NOTING | UPDATE

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Message from the President Together, we can! MBA President and CEO John Krahe explains why association health plans could soon become a reality.

COVER STORY | LOCAL PROFILE

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Celebrating 150 Years of Sarah A. Reed Sarah A. Reed Children’s Center and Sarah Reed Senior Living recognize the contributions of their namesake and her fellow co-founders, and how both organizations are carrying on their legacy of caring today.

SPOTLIGHT Q&A | LEADERSHIP

9 DEPARTMENTS 12

BUSINESS BUZZ

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PEOPLE BUZZ

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HR CONNECTION

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HR Q&A

WHAT’S NEW

EVENTS 21 TRAINING GRADUATES

EDITORIAL

Congratulations to the graduates of the MBA’s computer and professional training courses.

LEGAL BRIEF | GOVERNMENT

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AWARDS AND PROMOTIONS READ ON THE GO! For the most current Business Magazine updates, visit mbabizmag.com

WORKPLACE TRENDS

Contributing Writers Lisa Smith Presta Jamie Schumacher Senator Kim Ward Rachel Tserkovniak Melissa Damico

Feature Photography MKleck Photography Addtional Photography iStockphoto.com Design, Production & Printing Printing Concepts Inc. printcon@erie.net

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Advertising Sales Frank Mehler 814/833-3200 fmehler@mbausa.org

Association is dedicated to providing information and services to its members that will assist them in the pursuit of their business and community interests. – Board of Governors

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Erie County Redevelopment Authority: Rebuilding Erie County’s economic development system.

WHAT’S INSIDE

Manufacturer & Business Association Headquarters: 2171 West 38th Street Erie, PA. 16508 Pittsburgh: 600 Cranberry Woods Drive, Suite 190 Cranberry Township, PA 16066 814/833-3200 |800/815-2660 | www.mbausa.org

© Copyright 2021 by the Manufacturer & Business Association. All rights reserved. Reproduction or use of editorial, pictorial or advertisements created for use in the Business Magazine, in any manner, without written permission from the publisher, is prohibited. Unsolicited manuscripts cannot be returned unless accompanied by a properly addressed envelope bearing sufficient postage. The magazine accepts no responsibility for unsolicited manuscripts or artwork. The Business Magazine and Manufacturer & Business Association do not specifically endorse any of the products or practices described in the magazine. The Business Magazine is published monthly by the Manufacturer & Business Association, 2171 West 38th Street, Erie, Pa. 16508. Phone: 814/833-3200 or 800/815-2660.

Pennsylvania businesses and the pandemic: Why the General Assembly must ensure there are coronavirus policies and procedures in place to protect both business owners and employees.

PA Senate Majority Leader Kim Ward

PROFILE

David Thornburg 814/833-3200 dthornburg@mbausa.org

On the Cover: One hundred and fifty years since founding the “Home for the Friendless,” the legacy of Sarah Reed and her 30 co-founders lives on in two separate nonprofit centers — Sarah A. Reed Children’s Center, the region’s longest-standing behavioral health facility, and the former “Old Ladies Home” — the multi-faceted, continuing care senior living facility, Sarah Reed Senior Living.

For full story, see page 4.

Mission Statement: The Manufacturer & Business

Madam vice president: Why Kamala Harris could be an unapologetic tie-breaker on key issues.

Lisa Smith Presta and Jamie Schumacher

ON THE HILL | REGULATIONS

GET ANSWERS

Executive Editor Karen Torres ktorres@mbausa.org

Ashleigh Walters, president of Erie-based manufacturing firm Onex, talks about the lessons she has learned during her leadership journey.

Editor’s Note: This month, we’re celebrating women in leadership! Inside, you’ll learn about some of the area’s most influential leaders, as well as their insights and impact on their organizations and the community.

Check it out!

mbabizmag.com • APRIL 2021

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Get Involved!

If providing affordable health insurance to your employees is important and you believe AHPs may help your organization, we need you! Please visit www.mbausa.org, click on “Join the MBA’s Coalition for Association Health Plans” banner and sign up.

You will receive timely updates and have an opportunity to share your experiences – which is crucial to educate lawmakers on this issue. Most importantly…

Be the first to receive vital calls to action to advocate your legislators with just a click of a button!

Thanks to Senator Michele Brooks and Representative Valerie Gaydos, bills have been introduced in the PA Senate (SB 235) and House (HB 550), which would allow AHPs in Pennsylvania.

Together, we can do this. Sign up today!

For more information, contact Jezree Friend at jfriend@mbausa.org.

WORTH NOTING | UPDATE

Message From The President

ASSOCIATION HEALTH PLANS: TOGETHER, WE CAN MAKE THEM A REALITY We’ve experienced it in our businesses, our families and every facet of our lives ... We can accomplish more together than on our own.

It’s been at the heart of so many of the things you’ve come to rely on from the Manufacturer & Business Association (MBA) for so many years and rings as true today as it did more than 100 years ago when the Association was first founded.

Health insurance has remained one of the highest costs of doing business for employers. Companies with fewer than 50 employees are finding increases are becoming unsustainable. Employers have increased their contributions, and employees are now sharing a portion of the cost as ways to cover these increases.

Some employers have already made the difficult decision to eliminate health insurance as a benefit altogether. Providing health insurance as an employee benefit is critical for each employer to reward and retain their employees and to recruit and retain top talent.

The MBA is committed to you, your employees and their families to add to our current discounted employee benefits offerings and once again provide access to quality group health insurance.

Since fall 2018, when we met with Pennsylvania’s insurance commissioner and her staff, we have been working to bring association health plans (AHPs)

back to the Commonwealth. At the heart of an AHP, we are looking to pull together employers, their employees and their families to “right-size” the health insurance options available to small employers in a similar way larger employers are able to do to manage their employee benefit costs.

Thanks to the efforts of our Government Affairs team, partner employer groups across the state, legislators on both sides of the aisle and, specifically, Senator Michele Brooks and Representative Valerie Gaydos, bills have been introduced in the PA Senate (SB 235) and House (HB 550), which would allow AHPs in Pennsylvania.

We are at a point where we need your involvement to make this happen! We are not asking for a dime, but strictly your willingness to stay informed. Please see

our Join the Coalition ad on the opposite page or visit www.mbausa.org to learn how you can help champion our efforts.

Together, we can make AHPs a reality!

John Krahe is the president and chief executive officer of the Manufacturer & Business Association (MBA). The Association, founded in 1905, represents more than 3,000 member companies with approximately 120,000 employees in 54 counties across the Commonwealth. The MBA is dedicated to helping employers face challenges by delivering services that lower the cost of doing business, ease the burden of compliance and increase productivity for its members.

TAKE ACTION!

mbabizmag.com • APRIL 2021

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COVER STORY | LOCAL PROFILE

Celebrating 150 Years of Sarah A. Reed

In 1871, Sarah A. Reed and a group of 30 women joined together to help orphaned and homeless children in Erie. They formed “The Association for Improving the Conditions of the Poor, and A Home for the Friendless.” The Home would eventually become two separate, nonprofit centers – one to care for children with behavioral needs and the other for seniors in the community.

Children’s Center and Senior Living Facility Carry On Legacy of Caring “It is easy to estimate the value of the property and tell of the thoroughly organized institution that has grown out of a venture of faith. But who can estimate the good it has done or follow its far-reaching influence? Volumes would not tell of the story of the lives it has helped.”

— Sarah A. Reed

Throughout history, there are women who have stepped up to make a difference in their communities. Many of these women didn’t see themselves as leaders, but they had a vision and blazed a new path, leaving a mark that transcends time.

Sarah A. Reed was one such woman. A prominent greatgranddaughter of Erie’s first family, Reed was a true influencer of her time. She had connections, business savvy — passed down from her father who was Secretary-Treasurer of the Erie Canal — and made it her mission to dedicate her life to community service. In 1871, when she and a group of 30 women joined forces to form “The Association for Improving the Conditions of the Poor, and A Home for the Friendless,” it was a decision that would impact thousands of lives for generations to come.

At first, the “Home for the Friendless” operated out of the family homestead of Reed’s great-uncle Rufus Reed on Seventh and State Streets, and eventually moved to the site of the future Soldiers and Sailors Home. In 1875, the home found a more permanent location at 22nd and Sassafras Streets — gifted by a Board member and her husband, the Honorable M.B. Lowry, an Erie native and Pennsylvania state senator. By 1890, as the needs of the community grew, the home expanded to separate buildings for children and adults.

Reed devoted her life to what would be known as Erie’s oldest human services agency, serving as president for 45 years, while also dedicating her time and service to 25 other organizations and various charities in the Erie area. In fact, “Erie’s Grand Old Lady” had such a profound impact on the community, that the mayor of Erie named March 16, 1927 “Sarah Reed Day” in honor of her 89th birthday.

In 1934, Reed passed away at the age of 96. Two years later, the organization was renamed in her honor — something the humble Reed never allowed during her lifetime.

One hundred and fifty years since founding the “Home for the Friendless,” the legacy of Sarah Reed and her 30 co-founders lives on in two separate nonprofit centers incorporated in 1986 — Sarah A. Reed Children’s Center, the region’s longest-standing behavioral health facility, and the former “Old Ladies Home” — the multi-faceted, continuing care senior living facility, Sarah Reed Senior Living.

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APRIL 2021 • mbabizmag.com

Erie’s Longest-Standing Behavioral Health Facility Adrienne Dixon, Ph.D., president and CEO of Sarah A. Reed Children’s Center, is proud to carry on the legacy begun

by Sarah Reed and the Center’s founding group of women 150 years ago. A psychologist, Dixon has dedicated 34 years of her professional career to the Children’s Center, most recently as associate vice president of residential and community services. Much like Reed, Dixon has been a trailblazer as a woman in leadership. In fall 2020, Dixon not only became the first female president since Reed, she is also the first person of color to lead the Agency.

“It’s humbling and honestly it means a lot to me, especially Adrienne Dixon, Ph.D., is during these times of adversity. I’ve dedicated 34 years of president and CEO of Sarah my career to making a difference at Sarah Reed and in the A. Reed Children’s Center. community, and as I reflect back on everything that has occurred over the past year, I’m very honored and excited to be the first woman of color,” she says.

Dixon says the decision to work with children wasn’t her initial career plan. However, when she answered an ad for a community-based program moved by the enthusiasm of colleagues Rick Scantlebury and Dan Alessi about the Center, she knew it was the right place for her. From there, Dixon, who is fluent in Spanish, became instrumental in a collaboration with the Migrant Head Start Program. She went on to contribute her clinical expertise to the Center in developing additional services at Sarah Reed’s Partial Hospitalization Program, and implementing mental health and drug and alcohol clinics before becoming more involved in the residential and community support programs.

During her tenure at the Center, Dixon says she has always felt that she was operating in a leadership capacity. “I didn’t have to sit at the top to feel like I was contributing and helping to guide the vision,” she says.

Appointed as the Center’s leader in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, Dixon has had a lot to navigate. She has worked with her team to adapt to mitigation efforts and safety protocols, as well as the shift to remote learning and telehealth. The goal: To not only be responsive but forward thinking.

Dixon believes Reed took a similar approach as she helped guide the organization through its early challenges. “In addition to her humbleness, Sarah was shrewd and very resourceful for a woman of her time. Her intellect and vision allowed her to foresee a need and be responsive to the community,” Dixon states.

Finding new ways to service the community — specifically children, adults and families in times of crisis — is an area where the Center truly excels. It has been

The Sarah A. Reed Children’s Center became a separate nonprofit entity in 1986.

The Honorable M.B. Lowry was instrumental in donating the property that would become a more permanent site for the Home for the Friendless.

The property was located at West 22nd and Sassafras Streets in Erie.

The Sarah A. Reed Children’s Center operates five community-based centers in the Erie area, including its residential treatment facility and administrative offices on West 34th Street in Millcreek Township.

Also shown are staff members at the Hamilton campus on Harvard Road and West 29th Street, which provides partial hospitalization and acute partial hospitalization.

headquartered at 2445 West 34th Street in Millcreek Township since 1961 and has remained committed to its service mission as the community’s needs have evolved.

Today, the Center employs more than 300 staff members, operates five campuses in Erie and is recognized as a leader in the successful care and treatment of children with mental health, behavioral health and severe emotional challenges, many of whom are victims of trauma and abuse. In fact, the Center serves more than 1,700 children (ages 3 to 18), adults and their families annually, from Erie and 50 counties throughout Pennsylvania.

Sarah A. Reed’s Children’s Center programs and services help children, adolescents and adults who are working to overcome emotional, mental and behavioral health challenges, many of whom have suffered varying levels of trauma.

Accredited by the Joint Commission for Accreditation on Healthcare Organizations, the Children’s Center offers a wide variety of outpatient and inpatient behavioral health services, including 24-hour residential treatment, partial and acute partial hospitalization, psychiatric medication management, a psychological assessment clinic, intensive behavioral health services, community and school-based behavioral health services, and alternative education programs for partnering school districts.

“One of the first things that was impressed upon me at Sarah Reed was the variety of collaborations across the community,” Dixon adds. “Our partnerships with other human service organizations, physicians, schools and higher education institutions reinforces our investment in and our commitment to the community.”

According to Dixon, the Center is a unique resource in its partnerships, but also is the first Sanctuary®-certified treatment center in the Erie region. Sanctuary® is a cuttingedge organizational trauma model developed by Dr. Sandra Bloom and guides an organization in its culture and treatment environment (focused on the seven pillars of non-violence, emotional intelligence, social learning, shared governance, open communication, social responsibility, and growth and change).

“The Sanctuary® Model allows us to engage in activities and services that reflect best practices so we can continually improve, enhance and solidify our position as one of the region’s top behavioral health service providers. We are invested in this evidencebased Model and want the Erie community to feel confident in our ability to deliver the highest standard of care,” she says.

In many cases, the Center is not only a source of support, but also hope. It’s not unusual for Dixon and her team to receive phone calls, letters or even graduation announcements from individuals and families they’ve helped. “People ask me all the time, ‘How could you have been there so long? How can you deal with the traumatic histories of the clients?’ But when you see the transformation and healing that occurs, how could you not want to be part of that powerful process?”

The Children’s Center’s impact as an employer and training institution is also considerable. In addition to being one of Erie County’s top 50 employers, the Center operates an innovative, 2,000-hour doctoral internship program that is accredited by the American Psychological Association (APA) to train upcoming leaders in the field of behavioral health services. Since its inception in the early 1980s, the program has trained students from more than 30 colleges and universities in the United States.

Dixon notes, “We are very proud of our training institute and our APA doctoral internship program because it expands our access to new cutting-edge research, which we utilize to further develop our therapies and treatments for the betterment of the Erie community and beyond.”

In her new role, Dixon plans to build upon this reputation and on the Center’s traumafocused, client-centered vision. She anticipates working with community partnerships that continue to deliver innovative, quality behavioral health care that promotes a culture of wellness. She also launched the 150th Anniversary Technological Initiative

to raise $300,000 during the pandemic and plans to kick off a capital campaign to enhance the Center’s facilities.

“Sarah Reed has a rich history of being very innovative,” she says. “We were one of the first to provide school-based mental health and wraparound services in this community. We actively engaged in advocacy efforts and participated at the state level in developing polices for statewide implementation.”

“We want to be responsive to the needs of the community and enhance quality of life experiences,” Dixon explains. “This pandemic has taught us to be flexible and in a position to pivot quickly so we can responsibly and safely meet the diverse needs of those we serve. I believe Sarah herself would be proud of this perspective, which uniquely parallels the early years. The Children’s Center has been no stranger to challenges.

Our agency’s history is rooted in resiliency, and we remain steadfast in our mission of responding with compassion to our community and Sarah A. Reed Children’s Center is Sanctuary®-certified in its organizational culture and approach to traumathose in need.” > informed care.

Sarah A. Reed Children’s Center

Sarah A. Reed Children’s Center is a leader in care and treatment of children, adults and families dealing with mental health, behavioral health and severe emotional challenges.

Main Administrative Offices & Residential Treatment Program 2445 West 34th Street, Erie, PA 16506 Main Office Phone: 814/838-1954 Website: www.SarahReed.org

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In 2016, Sarah Reed Senior Living underwent an extensive expansion, adding more than 47,000 square feet. The $18 million project gave residents private rooms along with new therapy, recreation, dining and outdoor areas.

Sarah Reed Senior Living offers seniors a wide array of housing options. The retirement center is also recognized for its therapy and short-term rehabilitation services.

Sarah Reed “possessed a unique combination of talents: gentle without weakness; strong and courageous in convictions; serious in purpose; liberal in gifts; royal in hospitality; regal in leadership – with a deep, essential spirituality… To be with her was to sit in the sun. Hers was a type of noblest American womanhood.”

— Etta B. Schutte, fellow Board Member “Home for the Friendless” Sarah Reed left a lasting impact on the community. Here is a bust of the late founder along with memorabilia including a photo, gavel, bell and meeting notes.

A Community Focused on Compassion, Care and Continuity Gale Magyar, NHA, CASP, has a unique perspective on Sarah Reed’s lasting impact on the community. As CEO of Sarah Reed Senior Living, Magyar not only oversees the operations of the senior care community at West 22nd, Sassafras and Myrtle Streets, but also carries on the legacy of Sarah Reed and her fellow founders — providing an unparalleled level of housing and health-care services for generations of seniors and their families.

For Sarah Reed Senior Living, marking 150 years of continuous operation in the face of challenges, such as COVID-19, is a major accomplishment worth recognizing.

Today, Sarah Reed Senior Living is one of the most sought-after and leading providers of senior care and housing in the region. The centrally located Erie community, which underwent a major expansion and renovation in 2016, is home to approximately 200 residents in three connected buildings that include an underground parking garage.

Reed Manor and Reed Terrace feature residential apartments in which personal care services are available. Reed Terrace, also houses the memory support unit Zurn Pavilion, added in 1990, as well as private rooms, its own lounge, dining area and outdoor patio. The third building, Reed House, includes the private skilled and rehabilitation rooms and is staffed with nursing professionals 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

“We believe a continuum of care is paramount when it comes to senior living,” explains Magyar. “By offering everything from residential apartment living, add-on personal care services, memory support units, short-term rehab and nursing home care, we can respond to residents’ changing needs. This sets us apart from many other facilities.”

Gale Magyar, NHA, CASP, is CEO of Sarah Reed Senior Living.

“As an organization with such a longstanding history, we survived the Depression, wars, recessions and economic changes in our city, regulatory, government and leadership,” states Magyar. “We have overcome these challenges and have grown and thrived despite them. COVID continues to present obstacles to our residents, staff and board, but we have adapted and continue to do so.”

For Sarah Reed Senior Living, the 150th anniversary is also a reminder of the Center’s strength and determination, which are highly regarded qualities of its founders. “Our residents, staff and board members have certainly displayed these same attributes over time, and especially the past year,” states Magyar. “So I look at this anniversary as a celebration of the fortitude of everyone involved with our organization and its proud past, present and promising future.”

Magyar, an Erie native who grew up blocks away, also on 22nd Street, has dedicated 43 years of her professional career to working at Sarah Reed Senior Living. She started as an intern and was hired as a full-time social worker after earning her degree in social work from Edinboro University. Additionally, she earned a Certified Aging Service Professional designation. Over her tenure, she assumed new leadership roles, first as assistant administrator, administrator and, most recently, her current position as CEO. “I studied social work knowing that I wanted to help people, so getting my first job at Sarah Reed and assuming increased leadership roles over the decades to advance the organization and continue Sarah’s legacy has been quite an honor,” states Magyar.

“The fact that the community continually regards Sarah Reed Senior Living as a trusted provider of senior housing and health care has driven me to move our organization forward over the years and continue the legacy of caring.”

In fact, one of the areas in which Sarah Reed excels is its therapy and short-term rehab services. Individuals discharged from the hospital can be admitted to the nursing home for these services. “The goal is to help people rehabilitate and restore them to their highest level of function, and promote their independence to either return home or back to their apartment at Sarah Reed. Therapy is also available to residential and personal care residents as needed.”

Sarah Reed Senior Living gives seniors and their families the lifestyle choices they want and deserve. Residents have a wide array of housing options, including single bedroom suites, two bedroom suites and studio suites. The retirement center also offers numerous amenities, such as wireless Internet, special dietary meals, religious and spiritual activities, daily exercise programs and other social activities that have transitioned to virtual offerings during the pandemic.

Magyar is proud of the services and support that her staff has been able to provide throughout the COVID crisis, and many families have recognized this too. It’s not uncommon for the employees to receive thank-you notes for going above and beyond, and making a difference in the lives of Sarah Reed residents and their families every day. The nursing facility receives high ratings from Medicare, as well.

“The consistent feedback I always hear — and feel — is our culture of friendliness and the compassion of our staff,” Magyar says. “Everyone here is very kind and truly cares about the residents and their families.”

Sarah Reed Senior Living also continues to invest in renovations and improvements to deliver the best service possible. “There is no doubt that Sarah Reed will continue to evolve and position itself for future generations,” she says.

Sarah Reed Senior Living

Sarah Reed Senior Living is a continuing care senior living community, which offers a wide variety of living options including residential apartments, personal care and memory care services, skilled nursing and short-term rehabilitation.

Address: 227 West 22nd Street, Erie, PA 16502 Phone: 814/878-2600

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APRIL 2021 • mbabizmag.com

Website: www.sarahareed.org

WOMEN IN IN BUSINESS BUSINESS WOMEN

Julie Wilson

Kelly Montefiori

Lisa Lopez

Stella LaPaglia

Chief Financial Officer

Chief Operating Officer

Senior Vice President of Deposit Operations

Senior Vice President of Human Resources

“My advice for women in business today would be to define success on your own terms, achieve it by your own rules and build a life you’re proud to live. If there is something you really want to do, believe in yourself and keep moving forward because success will come. And lastly, pay it forward and help others to achieve success.”

“Banking is an industry that has traditionally recognized women. I feel extremely fortunate to have built a career at Marquette, where my contributions are both recognized and valued.

The fact that my career has provided an opportunity to help make our community a better place has been very rewarding.”

“It never occurred to me that I had what it takes to have such an exciting and successful career in banking. I have always felt like I have a voice here. Hard work pays off.

Management recognized my potential and believed in me. And, throughout the years I have had a steady upward career path.”

“Marquette has given me the opportunity to not only reach my own potential as a leader, but more important, an opportunity to help others reach their full potential.

It’s important to me that Marquette recognizes the contributions women make and values employees as their greatest asset.”

SPOTLIGHT Q&A| LEADERSHIP

Onex President Shares Insights on Leadership In 2019, the proportion of women in senior management roles globally grew to 29 percent, the highest number ever recorded. In 2020, 87 percent of global mid-market companies had at least one woman in a senior management role. Here, Ashleigh Walters, president of Erie-based manufacturing firm Onex, talks about the lessons she has learned during her leadership journey and her book, Leading With Grit and Grace: A Journey of Organizational Culture Change, which was published during the pandemic in December 2020.

Please tell us about your career journey and your leadership role at Onex.

In 2013, my father-in-law called to let me know the CFO of his company had left. He asked me to lead Onex. The company was in a disarray with employees not working as a team and actually pitted against one another, while others had a “not my job” attitude. We were no longer the friendly “family” company we once were where people loved to come to work.

My road to business success was truly the road less traveled. You see, my education was in engineering, not in business management. Even though I had no idea what strategies the business books would have suggested for solving my dilemma of trying to turn around a distressed business, my background came through in spades, because engineering taught me to solve a problem by knowing how to find a solution.

The first thing I did was to shift the leadership style from command and control to a more democratic approach where everyone’s ideas were requested and heard.

This changed the organization culture and made all the difference in the world.

Onex has a long history in Erie manufacturing. Tell us about the products/services you provide today.

Onex was established as an Erie business in 1966. In the beginning, Onex distributed J.H. France’s refractory materials to the local foundries such as Erie Malleable Iron and General Electric. Today, Onex services and builds industrial furnaces. Foundries are no longer our main market. The forge and

heat treat industry serving defense and aerospace end users are our primary clients.

Onex has been a 100-percent employeeowned company since July 2020. Tell us what this dynamic means for you and your team when it comes to leadership and buy in.

Andrew, my husband, and I purchased Onex from his father in 2018 making us second generation owners. Statistically, third generation owned family businesses only have a 13-percent success rate. Therefore, Andrew and I knew we needed to consider our own succession planning. Turning Onex into a 100-percent employee-owned company means that we maintain the same leadership roles while ensuring that Onex remains an Erie company for generations to come.

Onex’s Senior Designer James Betza stated employee buy in the best when he said, “I am excited to be a part of the ESOP. My goal is to proactively assist the company’s growth. Knowing that every positive action I make can provide great rewards in the future will help me sharpen my skills and maintain focus on the long-term goals ahead!”

The pandemic has created challenges for nearly every company, but you’ve created a playbook of what you’ve learned in your new book. Tell us why you decided to write it.

Prior to the pandemic, I was able to network with other business leaders in the local area.

We would discuss what was going well or ask if anyone had faced a similar issue. Since

the pandemic, these conversations are not occurring as frequently if at all. Therefore, I decided to write a playbook for how I turned Onex around in hopes that others would be inspired to make the necessary changes as well.

What are some highlights of Leading with Grit and Grace that can apply to all business leaders?

When we truly want our people to be engaged, we the leaders must take deliberate steps to remove the negatives that cause them to disengage, and instead find ways to empower them. So, the highlight that all leaders can learn from is giving their people the freedom to fail.

Create a learning organization because you truly do learn more from your failures than your successes.

Based on what you’ve learned, what is the best advice you can give to women in business today?

When I began my career, my father was quick to tell me that just because I had a degree in engineering that did not mean that I knew more than the personnel on the plant floor. He stressed that in order to put my degree to work and make the textbook learning practical, I had to ask the people on the frontlines doing the actual work their perspectives. These individuals very likely knew the solution to the problem I was working on but had never before been asked by management for their input.

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Women Making A Difference

MacDonald Illig is proud to be one of the largest law firm employers of women attorneys in Northwest Pennsylvania. As active members of the Erie community, our women partners and associates serve on and lead the Boards of numerous non-profit and civic organizations.

MacDonald Illig values commitment to our community and joins the Manufacturer & Business Association in commending the women leaders throughout our region who make a difference.

MacDonald Illig's women attorneys practice in 17 different areas of law: Business Transactions Banking & Finance Bankruptcy & Creditors' Rights Cannabis Charitable & Nonprofit Organizations Construction Family Law Government Services Education Health Care Intellectual Property & Technology Labor & Employment Litigation Real Estate Tax Planning & Representation Trusts & Estates Workers' Compensation

100 State Street, Suite 700 Erie, PA 16507 (814) 870-7600

www.MacDonaldIllig.com

LEGAL BRIEF | GOVERNMENT

Madam Vice President:

Harris Could Be Unapologetic Tie-Breaker on Key Issues rape kit backlog. Also on her agenda is an “Equal Pay Certified” designation for large companies to address the gender pay gap.

Harris has proposed expanding paid family leave and has detailed a plan for legislation under which families earning under 150 percent of a state’s median income would not spend more than 7 percent of their income on child care.

Criminal Justice Reform and Gun Policy. Harris is largely aligned with her party regarding law enforcement reform but has stopped short of advocating police defunding. She supports the national legalization of marijuana, increased regulation of gun manufacturers, and mandatory background checks. Harris favors a ban on assault weapons and highcapacity magazines.

Income and Wealth Distribution. Harris supports a $15 per hour minimum wage, investment in STEM education, particularly for minorities, and tax credits for the middle-class.

Lisa Smith Presta is a senior partner and chair of the Litigation Department at MacDonald Illig. Her experience includes the handling of complex, multiparty litigation involving commercial disputes, breach of contract claims, employment matters, and professional services.

Jamie Schumacher is an associate at MacDonald Illig. She concentrates her practice in the areas of commercial litigation, employment litigation, insurance defense, and municipal/ordinance enforcement.

Fan or foe, this is undebatable: Kamala Harris is breaking new ground.

checks, a one-year ban on evictions and foreclosures, and a prohibition on raising rents. Top concerns now include small business relief and restructuring the federal government’s handling of personal protection equipment (PPE) and vaccination, including vaccine skepticism.

On January 20, 2021, Harris became the 46th vice president of the United States, the first woman to ever hold the title. She is also the first Black vice president, the first South Asian descent vice president, and the first vice president-elect to do a victory lap to “Work That” by Mary J. Blige. What else can we expect over the next four years?

During her short tenure, Vice President Harris has attended nearly all key administration meetings to-date and has been identified as the “final voice” on a multitude of matters. Given the prediction that her tie-breaker vote in the Senate will define her vice presidency, here is an overview of Harris’ anticipated position on various issues.

Pandemic Relief. As a senator, Harris supported $2,000 monthly stimulus

Health Care. Harris’ support of the Affordable Care Act and universal coverage is well known. She also advocates for expanded mental health care. As California’s attorney general, Harris was extensively involved in antitrust matters and scrutinizing pay-for-delay practices in which companies allegedly paid competitors to delay the introduction of generic pharmaceuticals.

Women and Family. Harris is prochoice, has supported taxpayer-funded reproductive health care, and has announced a plan to close the nationwide

Climate Change. This is a key concern for the Biden administration. Harris was a co-sponsor of the Green New Deal, a policy paper aimed at tackling climate change, and she introduced a climate equity bill seeking to address how environmental laws affect lower-income economies. Harris opposes fracking and has outlined a plan to achieve net-zero emissions. She supported rejoining the Paris Climate Agreement.

Immigration. Harris, a child of immigrants, has pledged to offer a path to citizenship to millions of undocumented immigrants. In the past, she has supported decriminalizing border crossing and providing taxpayerfunded health care. In addition, the Biden administration has signed an Executive Order to once again count non-citizens in the U.S. census.

Foreign Affairs. Harris has spoken extensively about U.S. relations with China, Iran, Syria and North Korea, criticizing the prior administration for its relationship with North Korea and the withdrawal of troops from Syria. Her first weeks as vice president included numerous conversations with the prime minister of Canada.

Putting party politics aside, just as Kamala Harris has acknowledged the women who came before her, she paves the way for the victories of strong women to come.

As Madam Vice President Harris herself said, “while I may be the first woman in this office, I won’t be the last.”

For information about MacDonald Illig, call 814/870-7600 or visit www.macdonaldillig.com. mbabizmag.com • APRIL 2021

11

BUSINESS BUZZ | WHAT’S NEW MATRIC LIMITED RECEIVES NADCAP ACCREDITATION FOR ELECTRONICS

Matric Limited recently announced it has received Nadcap accreditation for Electronics after successfully passing a Nadcap audit for Printed Circuit Board Assembly (PBA). This accreditation was awarded for demonstrating Matric’s ongoing commitment to quality by satisfying customer requirements and industry specifications.

According to Matric Group CEO Rick Turner, “It was imperative we receive this accreditation to accommodate the everchanging needs of our current and future customers. I congratulate Liisa Maenpaa, our director of Quality, and the entire Matric team for their relentless efforts in making this happen.”

Created in 1990 by SAE International, Nadcap is administered by the not-for-profit Performance.

Review Institute (PRI). PRI is a global provider of customer-focused solutions designed to improve process and product quality by adding value, reducing total cost and promoting collaboration among stakeholders in industries where safety and quality are shared goals. PRI works closely with industry to understand their emerging needs and offers customized solutions in response.

Matric Group recently earned its Nadcap accreditation. Shown here is a file photo of its Seneca, Pennsylvania headquarters.

Matric Group, headquartered in Seneca, Pennsylvania, is a contract manufacturer of electronic assemblies, offering world-class Electronic Manufacturing Services (EMS) with personalized customer support, working closely with customers to meet unique assembly and testing requirements.

Matric offers both turnkey and board-level assembly, specializing in high mix/low to midvolume contract assembly with its ISO 9001, ISO 13485 and AS 9100 certified quality management system.

For more information, visit www.matric.com.

WHERE DOES RETIREMENT PLANNING START? WITH A SIMPLE CONVERSATION. Celebrating Women in Business!

Toni Paup, CFP®, CDFA™, ChFC® SVP, Regional Manager

950 E Main Street, Bradford (814) 362-4000 ext 24911 toni.paup@northwest.com

A successful retirement in the future can often depend on having a solid plan now. If your money isn’t working as hard as you are, it may be time to act—there are no do-overs in retirement planning. We specialize in providing comprehensive, objective financial guidance with the goal of maximizing every remaining moment of the retirement countdown. Schedule a free consultation with us today!

Kristy Snippert, CRC®, RICP® LPL Financial Advisor

850 Pittsburgh Avenue, Erie (814) 920-1036 kristy.snippert@northwest.com

northwest.bank/personal/invest/investment-services

Securities and advisory services are offered through LPL Financial, (LPL), a registered investment advisor and broker-dealer (member FINRA/ SIPC). Insurance products are offered through LPL or its licensed affiliates. Northwest Bank and Northwest Investment Services are not registered as a broker-dealer or investment advisor. Registered representatives of LPL offer products and services using Northwest Investment Services, and may also be employees of Northwest Bank. These products and services are being offered through LPL or its affiliates, which are separate entities from, and not affiliates of, Northwest Bank and Northwest Investment Services. Securities and insurance offered through LPL or its affiliates are:

Not Insured by FDIC or Any Other Government Agency

12

APRIL 2021 • mbabizmag.com

Not Bank Guaranteed

Not Bank Deposits or Obligations

May Lose Value

MOORE RESEARCH PROFESSIONAL NAMED PRESIDENT-ELECT OF INSIGHTS ASSOCIATION GREAT LAKES CHAPTER BOARD

Lindsay Bach-Moore, director of Research & Insights at Moore Research Services, Inc., has been elected as president-elect to the Insights Association (IA) Great Lakes Chapter (GLC) Board of Directors for the 2021 term. She previously served as the director of Programming and has been a member of the GLC’s Diversity and Education committee since 2019.

The Insights Association strives to effectively represent, advance, and grow the research profession and industry. Specifically, the organization provides government advocacy, cares for and improves the industry’s image, markets the business case for industry products and services to buyers and users, and sets and enforces professional standards and best practices. The Great Lakes Chapter is one of the largest and most active chapters in the Insights Association. The GLC has more than 1,000 members covering 11 states.

When asked about her preparedness and ambitions for this role, Bach-Moore said, “I believe my 12 years of experience in the research

PEOPLE BUZZ | AWARDS AND PROMOTIONS industry coupled with my active involvement as a GLC board and committee member will lend greatly to my role as president-elect. I hope to collaborate with other industry-professionals and IA chapters across the country to elevate the voice of the Insights community, promote innovative ways of conducting research, and continue to educate GLC members in effective, adaptable ways so they can grow themselves and their business.”

Moore Research Services, Inc. is an awardwinning market and opinion research company founded in 1969.

CARSON WILLIAMS NAMED DEPUTY CHAIR OF CLEVELAND FEDERAL RESERVE BANK BOARD

Doris Carson Williams, founder and chief executive officer of the African American Chamber of Commerce of Western Pennsylvania and past president judge of the Court of Judicial Discipline, has been named deputy chair of the Cleveland Federal Reserve Bank Board and was reappointed a director.

Williams served as the chair of the board of directors of the Federal Reserve Bank of

Cleveland, Pittsburgh Branch, in 2016 and 2017.

Williams also served as a director of the Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland, Pittsburgh Branch, from 2014 to 2017.

The Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland is one of 12 regional Reserve Banks that along with the Board of Governors in Washington, D.C., comprise the Federal Reserve System. Part of the U.S. central bank, the Cleveland Fed participates in the formulation of our nation’s monetary policy, supervises banking organizations, provides payment and other services to financial institutions and to the U.S. Treasury, and performs many activities that support Federal Reserve operations systemwide. In addition, the Bank supports the well-being of communities across the Fourth Federal Reserve District through a wide array of research, outreach and educational activities.

Williams is also a member of the Allegheny Health Network (AHN) board of directors. She is also the vice-chair of the Highmark Foundation board of directors, and sits on the Highmark Inc. board.

Highmark Health is AHN’s parent company.

Additionally, Williams is a certified member of the National Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives. She also was one of the co-chairs of the Pittsburgh G-20 Partnership, which planned for the 2009 G-20 summit.

For those who break ceilings.

Edinboro University was built for students who strive for more. Those who look at things and see a brighter tomorrow—for us all. It’s why we are so proud our community educates, inspires and empowers the women who will change the world.

While we celebrate the women who are essential to the spirit of Edinboro during Women’s History Month, we commit to their ideals and benefit from their vision every day.

Edinboro.edu

mbabizmag.com • APRIL 2021

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McGill, Power, Bell & Associates, LLP Certified Public Accountants • Business & Financial Advisors

www.mpbcpa.com

navigating the role of women in business and industry

WOMEN

in the

WORKPLACE

McGill, Power, Bell & Associates, LLP Sets The Standard

The female leadership of McGill, Power, Bell and Associates, LLP provides an unparalleled role for the firm and community. Their perspective, contributions and personal investment of time and attention deliver immediate and long-term results for the firm and our clients.

Under their guidance, MPB continues to deliver quality, timely and technical accounting and tax support to individuals and businesses. We will be your partner who understands the challenges and pressures you face on a daily basis and you can count on us for the most up-to-date, forward thinking financial guidance and direction.

Client service is one of our guiding pillars, the relationships we build and the solutions we can provide give us the competitive advantage in Northwest Pennsylvania. Our approach delivers the quality that is vital to your continued growth. McGill, Power, Bell and Associates, LLP provides exceptional tax, accounting, assurance, and consulting services across an expansive list of industries. Let us work hard for you and your business!

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ON THE HILL | REGULATIONS

Pennsylvania Businesses and the Pandemic Senator Kim Ward, R-39th District, currently serves as the Senate majority leader in Pennsylvania. She is the first woman in the history of the Pennsylvania Legislature to serve as majority leader in either the Pennsylvania House or Senate.

For more information or to contact her office, visit www.senatorward.com.

This past year, the coronavirus pandemic has been devastating businesses of all sizes and industries throughout the Commonwealth.

Most have been forced to close their doors for months against their will, and many closed their doors permanently. They continue to struggle to keep their workers paid, resulting in applying for loans or executing layoffs.

The ongoing emergency disaster declaration has severely weakened Pennsylvania’s economy. Currently, a governor can call a state of emergency where s/he has the unilateral power to override regulations, spend money and put mandates in place without any legislative approval. Legislators need

to be able to represent Pennsylvania citizens by having real input during extended state of emergencies.

The citizens of Pennsylvania also should have a say in reining in this extended, unilateral power on display during this emergency.

Businesses and employers suffer the consequences when checks and balances don’t exist, and especially the countless unemployed workers who continue to struggle to obtain unemployment benefits. Thus, I presented Senate Bill 2 to limit the length of future emergency disaster declarations unless an extension is approved by the General Assembly. Senate Bill 2 also provides for a constitutional amendment prohibiting the denial of equal rights based on race or ethnicity, bringing the Pennsylvania Constitution in line with the U.S. Constitution. This constitutional amendment will be on the May 18 ballot.

Now that Pennsylvania businesses can begin to reopen with limitations, they are encountering coronavirusrelated liability exposure from employees and customers. The economic burden to an employer to defend or settle claims involving coronavirus-related cases can be

detrimental to their finances. These businesses are already struggling under prolonged shutdowns and limitations; the fear of lawsuits once they do open under good faith is yet another major stressor.

In November, Governor Tom Wolf vetoed House Bill 1737, a proposed civil liability immunity for businesses during the pandemic. In his veto, Governor Wolf said, “Shielding entities from liability in such a broad fashion as provided under this bill invites the potential for carelessness and a disregard for public safety.”

Louisiana, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Utah and Wyoming have already passed laws for business immunity for the coronavirus. It is vital that Pennsylvania is added to this list.

Pennsylvanians have been facing their biggest challenges during this past year. Business owners have been told when and how to reopen and operate with rules changing daily. Employers want to get back to operating without the threat of legal battles. It’s incumbent upon the General Assembly to ensure there are coronavirus policies and procedures in place to protect both business owners and employees.

mbabizmag.com • APRIL 2021

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CELEBRATING WOMEN IN BUSINESS! Recognizing Northwest women making a difference in the greater Erie area and the accomplishments of women everywhere.

Anita Kuchcinski Vice President Commercial Lender anita.kuchcinski@northwest.com

Michele Cavalier, SVP Corporate Senior Vice President Senior Trust Executive michele.cavalier@northwest.com

Katie Ruffa Vice President Commercial Lender kathryn.ruffa@northwest.com

Deborah Hayes Vice President Trust Officer debra.hayes@northwest.com

Nancy Gardner Regional Vice President Portfolio Management Team Leader nancy.gardner@northwest.com

Leah Manino Vice President Business Banker leah.manino@northwest.com

Brandy Brine Portfolio Manager brandy.brine@northwest.com

Jackie Ksenich Business Banker jacqueline.ksenich@northwest.com

Amanda Schodt Portfolio Management Specialist amanda.schodt@northwest.com

Jennifer Rodenbaugh Office Manager Small Business Lender jennifer.rodenbaugh@northwest.com

Jen Stewart Assistant Vice President Treasury Management Advisor jennifer.stewart@northwest.com

Samantha Kennedy Office Manager Small Business Lender samantha.kennedy@northwest.com

Caren Totleben Administrative Support caren.totleben@northwest.com

Jessica Garrity Erie Region Vice President Office Manager/Small Business Lender jessica.garrity@northwest.com

www.northwest.com

Bank | Borrow | Invest | Insure | Plan

Only deposit products offered by Northwest Bank are Member FDIC.

HR CONNECTION | WORKPLACE TRENDS RESEARCHERS: ASSERTIVE LANGUAGE MAY HELP REDUCE WORKPLACE GENDER GAP What underpins the workplace gender gap? It may be just words. This is the finding of a new study in Management Science out of Washington State University, in which researchers successfully made a workplace gender gap disappear via language choices.

The statements and advice of women are commonly less believed than those of men.

Researchers aimed to pinpoint why in a study that asked 1,000 people to play a challenging online game while listening to the game advice of men and women — some of whom used more assertive language and some of whom used less assertive language.

MBA Can Assist Employers Facing New Challenges With Medicare-Eligible Employees

The study found that when women employed assertive language, their advice was just as likely to be followed as the men’s advice, and the gender gap disappeared.

Businesses with less than 20 employees who have employees that are 65 or older (Medicare eligible) and who offer a group health plan will be facing new challenges in our region. The Medicare Secondary Payer (MSP) rules state that an employee who is Medicare eligible and works for a company with less than 20 employees must enroll in Medicare because Medicare is the primary payer of medical claims and the group health plan (GHP) is secondary.

Up until now, the major payers, Highmark and UPMC, have paid as primary for Medicare-eligible individuals in small groups, negating the need for the Medicare eligibles to enroll in Medicare. Recently, UPMC announced that it was going to follow the MSP rules and begin paying as secondary for any employee who is Medicare eligible.

With this change, small businesses will need to have their Medicare-eligible employees enroll in Medicare and then evaluate if it makes sense to enroll in a Medicare plan and leave the GHP. There is good news, however. Through the Manufacturer & Business Association’s partnership with MediPlanConnect, our expert professionals can help you and your Medicare eligible employees through the process. The MBA’s program is turn-key and will assist your Medicare eligible employee in enrolling in Medicare, evaluating their personal health insurance needs and, if appropriate, enrolling them in a Medicare plan.

It’s worth noting that these services are no cost to you or your employees as members of the MBA. We will remove the burden from you and your team!

If you would like me to put you in touch with our MediPlanConnect experts, please contact me at 814/833-3200, 800/815-2660 or mdamico@mbausa.org.

STUDY: ONE IN FOUR WOMEN CONSIDERED LEAVING WORKFORCE OR DOWNSHIFTING DUE TO PANDEMIC

McKinsey & Company and LeanIn.Org recently released the annual Women in the Workplace report, the largest study of its kind. After six years of slow but measurable progress in the representation of women in corporate America, one in four women have reported considering leaving the workforce or downshifting their careers due to COVID-19.

The report is based on data and insights from 317 companies employing more than 12 million people, along with survey responses from more than 40,000 individual employees.

COVID-19 has been hugely disruptive for all employees. The new report also highlights the effects of the pandemic on women, including the distinct challenges for mothers, women in senior leadership and Black women.

Working mothers are deeply concerned about how COVID-19 will impact their careers. They are more than three times as likely as fathers to be managing most of their family’s housework and caregiving during the pandemic — and twice as likely to worry that their performance will be judged negatively due to their caregiving responsibilities. They are also far more likely to feel uncomfortable sharing work-life challenges with colleagues — or that they’ve got children at home.

Melissa Damico is the manager of Client Services at the Manufacturer & Business Association. Contact her at 814/833-3200, 800/815-2660 or mdamico@mbausa.org.

mbabizmag.com • APRIL 2021

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HR Q&A | GET ANSWERS WHAT ARE SOME OTHER TIPS ON PREVENTING HARASSMENT IN THE WORKPLACE? • Provide employees with at least two separate resources for reporting sexual harassment complaints. This protects the employer in case the alleged harasser is the employee’s direct supervisor.

• Designate a female and male staff member from HR to receive sexual harassment claims, preferably individuals with experience in dealing with discrimination and harassment.

WHAT IF WE FIND NO SEXUAL HARASSMENT HAS TAKEN PLACE DURING AN INVESTIGATION? Emphasize that victims will receive no backlash or repercussions if they report sexual harassment.

Do not punish the victim for the harassment by removing him or her from their job, department or role within the company. Even if the investigation has concluded no harassment has been found, any adverse action could be deemed retaliation.

ARE WE REQUIRED TO PROVIDE HARASSMENT TRAINING? Employers will need to verify with their specific county and state laws; however, employers are encouraged to hold annual harassment training and incorporate harassment training during onboarding to ensure the employer is following Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) guidelines on preventing harassment in the workplace.

The Importance of Preventing Sexual Harassment in the Workplace Workplace discrimination and harassment has become a vital topic for small and large employers to avoid violation of federal laws. An employer’s role in harassment prevention is important not only financially, but also has the ability to foster a positive business culture and increase employee engagement and workplace reputation. The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) has provided employers with five core principles for preventing harassment: • Committed and engaged leadership • Consistent and demonstrated accountability • Strong and comprehensive harassment policies • Trusted and accessible complaint procedures • Regular, interactive training tailored to the audience and the workplace Following best practices and EEOC guidelines employers should create harassment policies should contain the following items: • Make clear what behaviors, both verbal and physical, constitute sexual harassment, and stress that the company has a strict no-tolerance policy.

• Encourage employees to bring forth claims of harassment so that the company can investigate, take appropriate action and take necessary steps to prevent future harassment.

• Clear guidelines for how to report sexual harassment • A complaint procedure and a response to the complaints procedure for management personnel • Incorporate a no relation policy and outline the investigation process.

Employers interested in setting up harassment training or for more information on harassment prevention for their organization are encouraged to reach out to the MBA’s HR/Legal team by emailing hr@mbausa.org or calling 814/833-3200 or 800/815-2660.

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APRIL 2021 • mbabizmag.com

Rachel Tserkovniak, SPHR, is an HR consultant and trainer at the Manufacturer & Business Association.

Contact her at 814/833-3200, 800/815-2660 or rtserkovniak@mbausa.org.

Erie County Redevelopment Authority 1314 Griswold Plaza Suite 100 Erie, PA 16501 814/480-0337 www.ecrda.net

Rebuilding Erie County’s Economic Development Ecosystem A strong economic development agency can make all the difference when an economy is evolving — and the evolution of Erie County is underway.

Economic development is the intentional practice of improving a community’s economic well-being and quality of life. It includes a broad range of strategies to attract, create, and retain jobs, and to foster a resilient, and an inclusive economy. For an economic development agency to be successful it must include a collaborative effort involving industry, government and community stakeholders.

The Erie County Redevelopment Authority (ECRDA) was reorganized to do just that. And, after an extensive search in 2019, the ECRDA Board of Directors tapped the leadership of a proven Erie executive, CEO Tina Mengine, to lead the way to a new, results-driven agency designed to retain, grow and attract business to Erie.

Even as COVID-19 blanketed the globe, Mengine organized a fresh leadership team at the ECRDA to tackle the monumental challenge of assisting hundreds of businesses through the pandemic. In 2020, the ECRDA seamlessly administered $9 million in small business grants and zero interest loans for Erie businesses. To achieve this, Mengine created new consumerfriendly systems, recruited talented economic development professional, Vice President of

Tina Mengine is the chief executive officer of the Erie County Redevelopment Authority.

CO M PAN Y PR O FIL E

Project Development Sherri Geary, and drew one of Erie’s well-known bank executives, Betsy Bort, out of retirement to help take on the challenge.

She also built a new partnership with the City of Erie, which teamed ECRDA with seasoned finance executive Chris Groner. These talented individuals added to an already experienced team of economic development professionals to help move Erie forward.

Under the restructured team, ECRDA enhanced existing and created new programs to assist businesses: • Site selection services for new and existing businesses • Site investment including remediation and infrastructure improvements • Low-interest gap and long-term financing • Financing and technical support for entrepreneurs • Grant opportunities to assist entrepreneurs and businesses • Develop business parks and prep sites for future development • Market businesses locally, regionally, nationally and internationally Armed with an enhanced menu of services, the Authority unleashed its capital lending and real estate development expertise to support

growth of existing businesses and attract new companies to the region. Boundless optimism and deep expertise is quickly moving the needle toward a modern economic development agency with the tools to support economic growth in the region.

The vision for the next generation of Erie’s economy is coming into focus and it requires support of Erie’s manufacturing base, while expanded lending to small businesses. A $32 million loan fund managed under the Office of Capital Finance & Lending is working hand-inhand with businesses small and large to ensure access to capital isn’t an impediment to growth.

COVID-19 has exposed the gross disparity in access to capital for women and minorities. To address this hole in our business ecosystem, ECRDA established the Diversity Fund, which will provide access to capital to women- and minority-owned businesses to assist these valuable business leaders achieve their dreams, while growing the regional economy.

While tackling the challenges of capital and growth for new and existing companies, ECRDA also is beginning to reimagine Erie’s infrastructure and landscape. The recent purchase of two brownfield sites, the former Quin-T at 12th and French Streets and former Erie Malleable Iron at 12th and Greengarden, is part of a long-imagined 12th Street renaissance — one of Erie County’s most valuable economic corridors. Tackling these blighted properties is core to our mission: transform old manufacturing sites into new opportunities for growth.

A strong economic development agency can lead the way in transforming a region, and real progress happens when we all move forward in tandem. Erie’s renaissance is underway, and there are tools for businesses that can help us grow. “ECRDA’s job is to create and sustain jobs through investments that require patience and a focus on the entire County economy, not just the bottom line,” says Mengine. “We are proud to do this work with respect for our roots, and an eye on the horizon.”

mbabizmag.com • APRIL 2021

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WORKING TOGETHER

FOR A WORLD WHERE ALL BELONG Celebrating those who continue to lift up others and inspire a better world.

Thank you Erie

For Making Women Making History 2021 the best yet!

1039 East 27th Street (814) 455-4577 mcwerie.org Erie, PA 16504

SPECIAL SECTION | RECOGNITION

2021 Training Graduates The Manufacturer & Business Association (MBA) recently presented plaques to its 2021 professional development and computer training graduates. For a complete list of upcoming in-person and LIVEOnline courses, visit www.mbausa.org.

Excel Applicatio Specialist - Erie n

Brenda Bisbee, Erie Vete rans Affairs Medical Center.

ls Series - Erie Certified Supervisory Skil rdson, GeorgeKo Industries; Kathleen

Front row, from left: Kenneth Richa and, Lindsey Kegley, C&J Industries.

Robbinson, Catholic Diocese of Erie; er, Berman Bedding; Scott Wann m Willia left: from Second row, Keith Milton, Machining Concepts. and, tries; Indus geKo Geor , Broussard r Hannifin Corp.; Timothy Young, Parke on, Hops Doug left: from Back row, an Bedding.

Berm Sus, lav Iaros and, epts; Conc Machining

Excel Application Specialist - Erie From left: Marcus Bishop and Sabrina Seeley, C&J Industries .

Excel Application Sp ecialist - Erie

Excel Application Specialist - Erie

From left: George Hop kins and Amy Linhart, Erie Insurance Group.

Joseph Burt, Erie Veterans Affairs Medical Center

People.

Activated.

At Workpartners, we call our unique approach to human capital management People Activation, and we believe it’s the key to ensuring that your company and your employees flourish.

Including LifeSolutions EAP, a confidential employee assistance program essential for employees and members of their household.

It’s also why LifeSolutions EAP is endorsed by the Manufacturer & Business Association. And why members of MBA receive a 10% savings for working with our EAP services. For more than 20 years, Workpartners has helped employers of all sizes make the most of their workforce, including with integration of population analytics, advocacy programs, and HR technology.

To find out more about our EAP services or any of our services visit work.partners/mba

analytics | advocacy | absence | technology

mbabizmag.com • APRIL 2021

21

PRSRT STD US POSTAGE PAID ERIE, PA PERMIT #199

Stick with what works.

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You’ve given a lot of thought to your employees’ health coverage. And you’ve come to a familiar conclusion — nothing’s better than UPMC Health Plan. Choose us for affordable plan options.

Full in-network access to UPMC along with other doctors and hospitals in the community.

Urgent care when you travel. Service from a designated Health Care Concierge. And health tools that keep up with busy lives and schedules. All this is worth sticking with, don’t you agree?

To learn more, visit UPMCHealthPlan.com/employers. #stickwiththeplan