Women2Women Magazine Fall 2020 by Hoffmann Publishing Group

Powerful leadership

We appreciate the power of working together to build a brighter future for all. A special thank you to our own Marybeth Smialek for her contributions.

CONNECT GROW LEAD

Rachael Romig, Editor

606 Court Street • Reading, PA 19601 berkswomen2women.com • 610.376.6766

Women2Women Council: Alison Snyder, Chairwoman Rose Arroyo, Kelly Beaver, Amanda Hand, Maria Mitchell, Mary Ann Moffitt, Mary Jean Noon, Tracy Parmer, Regina Rinehimer, Rachael Romig, Brenda Rosado, Trish Shermot

Women2Women is Greater Reading Chamber Alliance’s catalyst for developing women leaders and connecting women from diverse backgrounds to learn, share ideas, and mentor each other. W2W offers a forum for women to create connections, gain knowledge, and build strategic alliances to foster their personal potential and career advancement. Joining the network is open to all who support women and Women2Women Magazine is a publication of the Greater Reading Chamber Alliance.

To join: W2W@greaterreading.org

Stay connected: BerksWomen2Women.com Facebook.com/BerksWomen2Women

Instagram www.instagram.com/berks_w2w

LinkedIn: Berks Women2Women Twitter: @berksW2W

Reflections

There are so many reasons why I love this edition of the magazine but by far it has to be our celebration of Women2Women’s 10-year anniversary. What started from 11 women in our community to grow into a widespread audience of 7000+ with even further social media reach makes me prouder than ever to be the Director of this program. When I was offered this job, what seems like just yesterday but has been over a year now, I was told, “I know Women2Women is safe in your hands. I know you will continue what we started.” Now that’s pressure, right? But I welcomed it with open arms. I am the lucky one here.

Hear from the founders of Women2Women as they share with us how the group started, what they’ve been up to for the past ten years, and what they hope for the future. Love our Woman2Know section? Meet Crystal Gilmore Harris, also our 2020 ATHENA recipient, on page 11, and then head to page 9 for an interview with the first ever women featured as the Women2Know in our magazine.

Over the past ten years a lot has changed. And in the past few months a lot has changed. Many organizations had to adapt quickly to the changing landscape around them due to COVID-19 and remote working and we have given a look at how some have done this successfully. And to help you further, we’ve outlined technology that will help you stay connected as well as ways to make your online events and meetings interactive and impactful.

On a human level, we have been trying to take care of each other – checking in, quick texts, phone calls. And while companies have been adapting to our new lifestyle, it is truly the families who have made the most transition. Hear from local women at different stages of their lives and how they have been adapting with their babies, teens, and college students. It’s been a wild ride for everyone.

While we continue to navigate our new ways of living and working, don’t forget to keep connecting! This issue will definitely give you a feel of how those around you have continued to connect with others and hopefully it helps you.

Rachael Romig Executive Director of Events & Special Programs

Women2Women | Family Business Alliance

It’s not my job to convince people of my wholeness. Their inability to see me in my fullness is their problem – not mine.

I no longer question my worthiness. My completeness, my beliefs, my joy, my healing, my choices. I am worthy of love – even when people can’t love me. I am worthy of joy – even when I have no one to celebrate it with. I find my voice in silence. I find fullness in my emptiness.

I now call all the power back to myself.

Shared from @about.the.good.life @berks_w2w

In the fall of 2011, the Greater Reading Chamber Alliance officially launched the organization known as Women2Women, a project that had been in the works for over a year, and a group whose mission was long overdue for this community. All year long (2021) we will officially celebrate 10 years of Women2Women, paying homage to where we came from and the exciting future we are striving toward. For those of us lucky enough to be in the audience at the auspicious launch event at the Crowne Plaza that fall, we knew we were all part of Berks County history. Listening to the keynote address of New York Times bestselling author Emily Giffin, in a fullto-capacity ballroom of Berks County’s professional female leaders and other guests, the event signaled a new era for the women of Berks County.

So what are the founders up to now?

Quick snapshot: Today, the founders of Women2Women continue to serve and lead in the community in areas of hospitality, media, banking, business, and healthcare, just to name a few!

Karen Marsdale retired from her position at the Chamber in June 2019, and has now assumed the role of Board Chairman, Acting Director for Hannah's Hope Ministries in Reading.

Robyn L. Jones, Publisher of Berks County Living Magazine reports: “We are in the process of planning our 2021 editorial calendar… which is something I look forward to every year. We ask for lots of suggestions from our readers and clients and love to go through the ideas and figure out how to make them work for us. During COVID-19, we worked on additional articles for our website hoping to be a resource for our readers. Our biggest hit was our Outdoor Restaurant Guide – so many great outdoor dining ideas to share! Finally, we’ll wrap up voting for our annual Best of Berks Awards – celebrating its 20th anniversary in 2020 – soon. It’s always wonderful to call the winners and share that they’re appreciated and loved by the community and their customers.”

Continued on page 8

Penn State Health’s Donna Lamp says: “Our Cancer Risk Evaluation Program at Penn State St. Joseph Medical Center has recently incorporated an innovative software system to assist in gathering personal and family history from individuals interested in pursuing Genetic Cancer Risk Assessment.”

Business owner Robin CostenbaderJacobson says: “Every day I am excited to work with my coaching, MasterMind, and corporate clients. Empowering and encouraging people to take responsibility and improve their individual performance in accomplishing their personal best is the culmination of my life’s goals in working with others. In the pandemic, as a leadership member of the Reading School District Board of Directors, it has been and remains a bright-challenge to be part of the evolution in providing virtual education in the face of a global pandemic. Bridging and watching the technology gap/divide lessen for 18,000 urban students in Reading remains remarkable.” She also notes: “In the next 18 months I am dedicated to completing and publishing a book I began putting to paper two years ago.”

Michele Richards, Director of Treasury Sales at Fulton Bank, shares that this is a new role for her and is busy getting up to speed on all things cash management and merchant card. This area is another important component to our clients in commercial banking. She has been with Fulton Bank since the founding of Women2Women.

Connie Skipper, Educational Consultant and Owner of Systematic Strategies for Success, LLC and former Assistant Director of Professional Development and Curriculum Berks County Intermediate Unit has continued her passion for helping children. “Anyone who knows me will tell you my passion has been and always will be supporting youth by providing them with the skills and experiences that will help them be successful after high school graduation. Serving as the Business Liaison for the Career Ready Berks Alliance allows me to continue to pursue this passion. To me, there is nothing as rewarding as seeing a student become excited after working with a career professional and then developing a plan to make a professional dream a reality.”

In these challenging times, it’s certainly inspiring to see the founders continue to evolve and thrive and succeed in Berks County.

Partner at RKL LLP, Paula Barrett, has also been hard at work for women in her organization. “I have been actively involved at RKL LLP with a group of women who are developing a women’s initiative. This has been an exciting and worthwhile activity. I believe our profession has challenges in the workplace that we are actively trying to address. I am passionate about helping younger female professionals grow in their careers!” Paula is also the Chairperson for the GRCA’s Berks Family Business Alliance with a mission to assist and grow Berks’ family businesses.

And even from out of state (then back to PA), Marybeth Smialek, Director of Regional Affairs at Met Ed FirstEnergy, stays in touch with Women2Women and is focused on helping women in her area. “I left Reading and moved to Akron [Ohio], and then three years ago I moved back to Erie [PA] to take the Director Of External Affairs position , representing Penelec (still part of FirstEnergy). I have been very involved with a couple Employee Business Resource Groups (EBRG’s) with FirstEnergy that are focused on development of leaders, especially female leaders, within FirstEnergy. Helping Women Grow is a mentorship EBRG in which I work with a mentee from one of our Contact Centers to help them develop their skills to increase opportunities for promotion within the Company. I am also involved in Women In Leadership EBRG, again helping women expand or grow into leadership positions. One of my biggest passions is my involvement in Athena Erie. Erie has an Athena Power Link program where we have a panel (6-8) of business experts (lawyers, accountant. Marketing, banking, HR etc) that assist a female business owner in moving her business to the next level. What a great program! This is my second year, my first business actually had an increase in sales (yes, during Covid) and is now opening a second shop! My current business panel is just starting up, but it looks like this will be a success too!”

We also asked the original founders about the mission of Women2Women, how it has served the women of Berks County in the last decade, and how it can move forward in the next.

Three messages rose to the top: Mission. Inclusion. Mentorship.

MISSION

Retired Senior VP of the Greater Reading Chamber Alliance

Karen Marsdale gave us a little peek behind the curtain of the original idea and launch of Women2Women:

“Having worked for the Chamber for more than a dozen years, I saw the reality … that there were very few top tier women business and industry leaders in our midst ….We needed to create support for the cause, which usually means financial commitment and buyin from leadership ….Thankfully, our CEO, Ellen Horan, was willing to trust my judgment based on my successes in the past. She let me pursue this dream ….We had our research, why women leaders are so necessary in communities, both for profit and nonprofit entities … and why it is important to create change. I researched, gathered women together, did my homework and somehow knew this was groundbreaking …. We worked tirelessly at working sponsorships, getting buy-in from the community, all while planning great programming for an entire year. I honestly believe if we had not focused on both the broader community of women at large (not just Chamber members), embraced a very strong mission, if our programming from the beginning had not been relevant to the times, and we weren’t pushing the envelope a bit with the model, we would not have made the immediate impact that indeed we did.”

Continued on page 10

REAL RESULTS FOR

Focused on what really matters: real results that drive you and your business. You may know us for the services we provide — accounting, tax, wealth management, information technology, consulting and more — but a list of services doesn’t embody what we truly provide. Tangible outcomes. Trusted advice. Solutions that prepare your organization for real, sustained growth. Are you ready for real results? Contact us today to learn more. RKLcpa.com

Paula Barrett Consulting Services Group

Indeed, that mission has stood the test of time. As Paula Barron (Senior VP Retail Banking for Tompkins Vist Bank) says: “I am happy to see that since its launch 10 years ago, W2W has stood true to its mission to create more women leaders in Berks County … Rachael Romig and the advisory team continues to provide relevant topics and opportunities for women to grow in their careers and their personal lives.”

Consultant Robin Costenbader-Jacobson notes that as a result of Women2Women, Berks County has seen “[m]ore authentically-strong female role models. Mentors and sponsors are emerging for young women and men to emulate and learn from.” And while there remains work to do, she says: “More and more women are ‘bringing each other along.’ The glass ceiling has not yet shattered but it has splintered and cracked.”

INCLUSION

Paula Barron notes: “Diversity, inclusion and belonging have certainly taken on new meaning over the past few months and I do believe W2W has been on the forefront of welcoming ALL women to participate in education, events and mentoring opportunities.”

Robin Costenbader-Jacobson recalls that “[t]here were women 10 years ago in Greater Reading who said, ‘Women2Women was not necessary. The workplace has changed’.” And yet in 2020, there is still disparity in pay, and racial and gender bias is still a challenge in the workplace. Non-inclusive workplaces are still a reality, and Costenbader-Jacobson notes: “our ability to lead is too often undermined by gender stereotypes.”

It seems Women2Women has proven it was not only necessary 10 years ago; it’s relevance and importance has only grown.

Wells Fargo’s Associate VP – Investment Officer Regina Rinehimer points out that in this new age all initiatives of Women2Women are still seeing broad reach in the community. “The current state of event planning due to the Covid-19 virus has changed the way W2W delivers to the community but it has not halted the message shared by programs and virtual events one single time.”

Rinehimer notes: “One of the most evident changes that W2W has promoted from the beginning is bringing women from very different backgrounds together. Working on diversity and social bias issues well before a daily news report. We have learned to understand, promote and be proud of others. We are the backbone for spirit of growth and professional skillsets that have made a great impression in the local community. Many stories have been shared as women have shared their success with W2W. The next decade of W2W will be lifted to higher levels [as we] [s] tay true to the Mission which is the development of women leaders while promoting inclusivity at every level.”

Donna Lamp agrees. “Women2 Women’s mission and vision has pioneered the connection of so many women in our community! As Women2Women evolved, it became apparent that there was an enormous amount of untapped talent, expertise, and resources among women right here in our own community! Every one of us has a story to share and it was our goal to establish more women leaders who promote and support each other both personally and professionally. The W2W’s program growth and increasing community awareness now provides an ongoing opportunity for education, networking, and professional growth.”

EDITORIAL COMMITTEE

Jessica Bezler

Reading Hospital – Tower Health

Jennifer Cerra

Herbein + Company, Inc.

Sara Frassinelli

Spherion Staffing Services

Kelly Hancock

Community Volunteer

Tracy Hoffmann

Hoffmann Publishing Group

Amy B. Klatt

Herbein + Company, Inc.

Karen Klein Fulcrum Information Resources

Yoheli Ortiz Pa Career Link

Rosa Parra Palo Magazine

Rachael Romig

Greater Reading Chamber Alliance

Monica Rush

Penn State Health – St. Joseph berkswomen2women.com

MENTORSHIP

Women2Women creator Karen Marsdale was cited by many co-founders as a true mentor to them and others in the Berks County community. Carolyn Spano, Director of Development at Bethany Children’s Home, says of Karen: “I am so grateful that she took me under her wing when I worked at the Chamber of Commerce. Her leadership and example have helped me grow into who I am today.”

Donna Lamp credits “Robin Costenbader Jacobson for advocating for the inclusion of Healthcare representation as a contribution to W2W.”

Robin Costenbader-Jacobson credits mentors including: Courtney McKay Stevens – “All Behavior Has Meaning” and Judge Linda Ludgate – “Never Give Up Your Power.”

Additionally, paying it forward with mentorship is important to all our founders. Costenbader-Jacobson says: “I hope I have assisted in making a difference for young women and men through my life’s work teaching students and coaching women. Most of all I am hopeful I mentored my daughter well in education and in career success and I have big dreams for my granddaughter, as well!”

Karen Marsdale says: “Much more will happen as W2W evolves in this next decade!”

We couldn’t agree more. Here’s to the next decade of Women2Women! 2

our Customers for our Community

“Because of their understanding of our company and industry, they’ve helped simplify our process of growth,” Frank says.

BARWIS CONSTRUCTION LLC Frank Barwis, Owner

Women2Know: 10 Years Later

In the first Women2Know article 10 years ago we were introduced to Donna Lamp and Cathy Sloan Women2Women caught up with them to learn where they are now, how their careers have changed, and offer their professional advice to women in our community.

How has your position changed over the last decade?

Donna A. Lamp

RN, BSN, CCM

is the RN Coordinator of the Cancer Risk Evaluation Program at Penn State Health St. Joseph Medical Center. The program offers Genetic Cancer Risk assessment to any individual seeking information regarding his/her cancer predisposition based upon personal risk factors and/or their family history of cancers.

Cathy Sloan, CGR, CGP, CAPS

is the Office Manager of AA Remodeling and the Executive Officer of the Home Builders Association (HBA) of Berks County. At AA Remodeling she runs the office, takes care of the books, marketing, scheduling estimates, placing orders for jobs, and sometimes even goes out on job sites to help with installation. At HBA of Berks County she is responsible to run the office, oversee membership, schedule meetings and events, bookkeeping, and taking meeting minutes.

DL: Today more than ever individuals are pursuing lifesaving options to reduce their risk of cancer. The field of cancer genetics and access to this care plays a vital role in understanding an individual’s predisposition to cancer and can assist in offering additional treatment options to those individuals diagnosed with cancer.

CS: My career position has not changed over the decade, but my involvement in AA Remodeling and HBA has grown and become much stronger. In 2013 with HBA of Berks County I became the first woman president of the local association since the formation of the organization. I also since have sat on our Pennsylvania Builders Association (PBA) Board and currently serve on the PBA Executive Board as Secretary. I was asked to come back on the board as vice president for 2016 and in 2017 started out the year as president of the association once again.

What challenges have you faced in your position?

DL: Because the field of cancer genetics is rapidly evolving, it is important to maintain my own personal on-going education and competency in this specialty area of healthcare. There is a challenge ensuring that the community is also educated about any of the fears or misconceptions that may be associated with the evaluation of cancer risk and genetic testing.

CS: The biggest challenge I have can be to convince salespeople that I share equal responsibility of AA Remodeling with my husband.

What advice do you have for women interested in your field?

DL: I would offer strong words of support and encouragement to pursue any opportunity in the specialty of genetics. It is a proactive approach in health and wellness which is constantly evolving. I have the distinct opportunity to resource a Medical geneticist, genetic counselors, and other professional experts in this field. You will always make a difference in the care you provide, and you will never stop learning!

CS: There is nothing you cannot do if you put your mind to it and stay focused and organized.

What has led you to your current career path?

DL: As a previous nurse case manager in Oncology, patients interested in genetic cancer risk evaluation had to be referred outside of our community for this specialty care. I was offered educational opportunities and a new role as the coordinator of the first community pilot Cancer Risk Evaluation Program. I was mentored by Cathy Belt, an incredible Genetics nurse, and a team of experts in genetics. Today, our community has local access to Cancer Genetics and continued cancer risk surveillance.

CS: The career path is really associated with meeting my husband. I started coming to the office to manage the books. Once working in the office, I wanted to learn more about the industry and how I could help to make a difference.

Would you wish to offer any words of wisdom for other women to follow?

DL: I have been fortunate to meet such inspiring individuals and families through the Cancer Risk Program. It is important to remember that behind every face there is a story to be shared that deserves a listening ear. There is great success in listening and learning from each other.

CS: Whatever you choose as your career path do not ever give up if someone tells you that you may not belong there. I believe in fighting for what you want to do and enjoy doing.

Donna Lamp reminisces about the past 10 years with Women2Women...

What advice would you give to yourself today that you didn't know 10 years ago?

Never be fearful to step out of your professional comfort zone. You do and will have your own personal and professional experiences to offer that can be of influence to others. My participation in Women2Women has taught me this life lesson.

Are you still involved with W2W?

I am so grateful that I have been involved in W2W since its inception serving on the original council and then programming committee. While I am not participating on a committee, I continue to attend program topics of interest and of course really enjoy reading the magazine from cover to cover.

Would you encourage others to attend W2W?

Absolutely! I encourage all women to experience at least one topic of interest and I know that you will find yourself wanting to become more involved through the networking that occurs with every event.

Do you have a favorite event/memory that you want to share with readers?

One of my favorite memories was taking my daughter, Nicole, who was in high school at the time, to her first W2W event held at Alvernia University. She was truly inspired by the presentations provided by our local women entrepreneurs and business owners. Of course, one of my favorite events has always been W2W’s Spring Renewal (now called the Conference + Expo)!

What are your thoughts on the growth of W2W over the past 10 years?

I cherish the relationships and knowledge that I have gained personally through my involvement with W2W over the years. I remember our initial council meeting brainstorming sessions and feeling such excitement about the mission and vision of W2W. The program’s growth and its community recognition has promoted lifelong connections among women and has uncovered the enormous amount of talent and resources in existence right here in Berks County. I feel confident that W2W will continue its legacy in providing our community of women the education, mentoring, and networking opportunities necessary for personal and professional success! 2

SIGNATURE EVENT

WEDNESDAY, OCT. 14, 2020

featuring Michelle Poler Virtual Evening of Empowerment

Michelle Poler is a creative and passionate social entrepreneur, keynote speaker, fear facer, and branding strategist.

Born and raised in Caracas, Venezuela to a family of holocaust survivors, Michelle was accustomed to living with fear. But when she moved to New York to pursue a Masters in Branding at the School of Visual Arts, Michelle quickly realized that NYC was not for the fearful.

She is the Founder of Hello Fears, a social movement empowering millions to step outside of their comfort zone and tap into their full potential. She has spoken at Google, Facebook, LinkedIn, ESPN, Netflix, P&G, Microsoft, Toyota, Million Dollar Round Table, Wells Fargo, DoTERRA, World Domination Summit, INBOUND, Festival of Media Global, and many more.

WOMAN2KNOW

Meet 2020 ATHENA RECIPIENT

CRYSTAL GILMORE HARRIS:

Administrative Assistant of Social Services at the Reading School District for the past 13 years, the RHS Cheerleading Coach, a Girl Scout Troup leader, founder of mentoring programs, Program Director of the Lonnie Walker IV Foundation, and leader across many nonprofit organizations. Her awards and accolades continue to bring light to all that she is doing. She brings people together. She helps people. And she does it all with a big, bright and beautiful smile.

We had a chance to sit down with Crystal and chat about what is important to her, her commitments to the community, and what drives her. She is an AMAZING woman.

Q: Would you wish to acknowledge a mentor or friend who helped you aspire to this point in your life’s journey, and why?

A: Trick question and it requires multiple answers. First my Father Danny Gilmore Sr., whom I watched coach at the early age of five. The love and respect his players had for him was heartfelt. I watched him make sure they had the tools they needed to be successful not only on the field, but for life. Period. I still to this day have people ask “how is coach doing” or refer to him as someone who helped make them who they are today. He raised us with tough love, which taught me you have to work for everything you want in life. When I would get frustrated, or felt like this wasn’t my mission in life based on other people’s opinion, my father would remind me that I had a special gift, so I needed to get used to people trying to create a negative space around or about me. I can still hear him saying “if they are talking about you, it’s because you are doing something right. They talked about Jesus too.” It took me a while to understand, but seeing him as a pillar of our community, I wanted to be just like him. I only hope I can be half the woMAN he was in his good days. Through his coaching he introduced me to my mentor and first cheer coach Joyce Duguay. I could do no wrong in her eyes, and she made me feel like a Superhero at a very young age. She would always tell me “your smile and spirit can change anyone’s way of thinking.” She was by my side from age five until today. When I got the Reading Head Cheer Coach position, the moment was just as emotional to her as it

was to me. She didn’t miss anything I did, from baby showers to award ceremonies, and standing beside me at my first camp.

Both suffer from dementia, but their words of encouragement whenever I get knocked down will never leave my spirit. I can hope I turned out to be the woman they expected me to be.

Q: What words of wisdom would you offer to other women?

A: Never live life trying to measure up to anyone else. Life works out best when you wake up and be the best you that you can be. When women lift each other up we all win.

Q: What is the most valuable way women can support each other?

A: Inspiring each other verses judging. We are all unique in our own way, and each one of us bring something to the table to make the puzzle complete. As women we all suffer with the challenge of having our voices heard, so we are stronger in numbers.

Q: Is there an “aha” moment or experience that defines who you are?

A: 2009 – I had brain and spine surgery. 2014 – I had a stroke.

2019 – I lost my soulmate Zane Major Sr. EACH TIME I CAME BACK STRONGER…making me unafraid to always fight through all obstacles no matter what they are.

Q: What is your favorite mantra, favorite saying or words that keep you grounded?

A: Always be the best you that you can be.

Q: What’s your mission?

A: My life mission is to build a bridge amongst all walks of life, creating a space that everyone is comfortable living in. I will continue to find a way to use my voice until enough people hear me and join my mission… to change the world!

Q: What do you consider women’s main asset?

A: Their ability to get things no matter the circumstances. Our strength and resilience are remarkable.

Q: What do you consider women’s main threat?

A: Each other. We do not realize when we refuse to lift one another up, we all lose out. As women the fear of being left behind causes us to hold each other back, with negative intentions.

Q: What three things do you recommend that contribute to your success?

A: God, perseverance and my village.

Q: How do you want to be perceived/ remembered?

A: A woman who was loving, giving and whose passion was to build bridges amongst different walks of life; Someone who would sacrifice it all if it would change the outcome for others; Someone who truly walked the walk and never quit.

Q: What is the best advice you have received?

A: Never allow anyone to tell you that you cannot. Always believe in yourself and God will do the rest.

COMMUNITY IMPACT QUESTIONS:

Q: What initiatives are you involved in with helping empower women to realize their full potential?

A: Coaching Cheerleading with Girls Scouts Of Eastern Pa as part of our program

Q: Why are you proud to work at Reading High School?

A: I am a 1987 Graduate of RHS, and I believe we have some of the most amazing students in Berks County. They are resilient which makes them great leaders, for they know the challenges and meet them with the ‘I CAN’ MENTALITY.

Q: You help women AND men realize their full potential, no matter who they are, what they look like, or where they are from. Why are you passionate about helping others?

A: I believe that everyone needs someone to believe in them; someone who will help them see their full potential and the leader they are meant to be. The greatest accomplishment is building someone up and seeing them succeed. It only fuels you to continue your journey.

You have been involved with many of the peaceful protests for the Black Lives Matter movement here in Reading. Tell us about your experiences…

I’ve been blessed by the teachings of my parents to love and not to hate, making me the best me that I can be. The BLM movement has given me the platform to speak at Zoom townhall meetings about community change, healing and unity, as well as police relations. I’ve been the moderator for a book club meeting discussing racism, where I could discuss my opinion. I’ve had the great opportunity to work with VoiceUp and TLC Fore of Reading mentoring our youth on race relations.

I believe if we can’t ask each other those hard questions we will never move forward. My belief is racism is a taught behavior, and we know that given the right information from the right person you can change your way of thinking. BLM doesn’t mean we don’t care about anyone else, we just want the same privileges and respect as everyone else. 2

ADAPTING TO A VIRTUAL WORLD

The Virtual Event World: It’s Not As Scary as You Think

Okay, let’s be clear. At first – I WAS TERRIFIED. I had no idea what I was doing, had never heard of “virtual events” and all of a sudden had to make it happen immediately. Thank you brain for not giving up on me. In April I started a deep dive into virtual event platforms. How to use them; which was better than the other; why was it better than the other; and how I could make my events interactive even when the attendees couldn’t be together.

Online Portals + Apps

For those who have been at the “online event” game longer than me, this list will look small. But to me, someone who had never known about virtual platforms, this is an easily digestible list that can take you from zero to hero at work! I have personally used each platform almost daily.

Remo

This platform is by far my favorite. You can host one speaker, a panel of up to six, one-on-one networking, group networking, and even play games with your attendees at each table.

• Customizable floor plan branded to your company/colors

• Venue floor with tables and chairs. Each attendee “sits” at a table with others!

• Private conversations with your table only

• Very clean result for a virtual event!

Attendify App + Virtual Suite

We as Women2Women have been using the Attendify App on our phones during the transition to our Digital Leadership Summit (from the all-day Conference + Expo). We decided to use this because it kept our attendees connected during a time when we couldn’t meet.

• Private and public chat in App

• Post photos, comments and ‘like’ others like a social media stream!

• Virtual Exhibit Hall (for our amazing sponsors and vendor companies)

• Virtual Suite is always getting upgraded and now streams your Zoom live from the platform as well as offers one-on-one chats with vendors in the Exhibit Hall

Other Portals + Apps

Whova – Very similar to Attendify

PheedLoop – Also very similar to Attendify

Run the World – Super fun “cocktail hour” speed networking sessions that take over your phone and introduce you to someone every 5 minutes

Qtego – Online Live Auction Software

Remember – You are doing this for the User!

The most difficult part about hosting an online event is the script writing. In the past you call someone to the stage, you watch them walk, they get to the microphone and smile. This was something to watch – something to keep the audience engaged. Now, you introduce, and their face appears. Booooorrrrring Here are a few tips to keep your virtual audience engaged and at their seats to watch your entire program.

together and no matter your age there are people who are nervous using this new technology. Invite them to your conversation, share with them what you like about the virtual event, and ask them their thoughts. Just like at in-person events, sometimes you need to give a little extra attention to make a remarkable and memorable experience. 2

By Rachael Romig, Executive Director of Events & Special Programs, Greater Reading Chamber Alliance

Living in the Virtual World: Taking Events Online ADAPTING TO A VIRTUAL WORLD

As summer approached and COVID-19 restrictions kept social gatherings to 250 people or less, many organizations were forced to re-think big events. See how two Berks County nonprofits figured out how to adjust and adapt to deliver major events in the virtual world.

Girls on the Run of Berks County (GOTR)

Nicole Fryer, Board Chair & 5K Committee Member

Girls on the Run of Berks County is a 10-week after-school program for girls in 3rd-8th grades that uses running to teach girls empowerment and well-being. The season-ending 5K is a celebration of the accomplishments of GOTR participants and usually open to the community as well.

Opportunity House (OppHouse)

Kate Alley, Chief Development Officer

Opportunitiy House serves the homeless community of Berks County with emergency shelter, meals, and other services. “Wine, Women and Shoes” is their largest fundraising event, raising approximately $150,000-$200,000/year.

What was the deciding factor in changing your event from in-person to virtual?

GOTR: When schools went virtual in March, our Spring season went virtual too. We typically have over 400 GOTR girls participate in the 5K plus an additional 600 runners, spectators, vendors, and volunteers. With the restrictions on large gatherings, it was not happening.

OppHouse: We planned to move the event to September but as we watched what was going on, we realized in-person was not feasible especially considering the safety of guests, staff, volunteers, and vendors. Plus, we really wanted to get the event in our fiscal year.

What challenges did you encounter with taking the event virtual?

GOTR: The 5K is about celebrating the girls’ accomplishments. They’ve made new friends and see their coaches as mentors. The 5K is one small example of what they can do.

OppHouse: No one on our staff had done a virtual event nor attended one. We did a lot of homework, starting attending virtual events and taking notes!

What technologies did you utilize?

GOTR: We used social media, mainly Facebook and Instagram. The 5K is not about time, it’s about teaching girls to reach goals. We marketed it as a physical activity event, “5K Your Way,” whether running, walking, whatever. We themed each day to promote activity and to go at your happy pace!

OppHouse: We relied on a platform call GiveSmart. It allowed us to broadcast our auctions in real time. Bidders got texts with status, we could see the bids increasing as well as close out bidding in the moment. Our “shoe guys” videoed themselves doing their “shoe dance” and we put them together to create a group video.

What impact did the changes have on the event objectives?

GOTR: We may not have reached as many of the GOTR girls as we liked but it was the first time we banded together with other GOTR councils to do a statewide event. We had much bigger reach and were pleasantly surprised with participant support on social media. Hopefully it encouraged people to step away from the screen and do it for fun and the spirit of Girls on the Run.

OppHouse: Financially, we accomplished 60-70% of our revenue projection. Guest feedback was very positive and we saw a lot of previous event attendees show up which tells us they want to support Opportunity House, regardless of how the event is carried out.

Long-term, are you rethinking the event?

GOTR: We realized cost-savings by going virtual and we got a lot of marketing support from GOTR headquarters. We want to continue to make an impression, make a better connection with GOTR girls so we are considering future 5Ks as hybrid events (in-person site 5K, virtual community 5K) and livestream events as well.

OppHouse: We know people had watch parties for this year’s event. If we have to go virtual next year, we’ll encourage small group interactions. Our next big event is Souper Bowl so we’re brainstorming “what if’s” and assessing lessons learned from earlier this summer. 2

By Kirsten P. Haas, Executive Director of Girls on the Run of Berks County

TIPS FOR MOVING A MAJOR EVENT TO THE VIRTUAL WORLD:

• What are your goals, expectations, and objectives? Determine what kind of virtual fundraiser you want to host. Livestream, social platform-based video premier, or online fundraiser; choose a specific direction that meets pre-defined goals and objectives. Stick to it! Changing direction after you’ve put the wheels in motion can result in added stress trying to meet goals, expectations, and deadlines.

• How are you going to make it successful? Breaking the mold on how to execute something in a virtual format can be a daunting task. Technology is key in making virtual events happen but different platforms, event ideas, timelines, and even staffing will require a unique approach.

• What opportunities do you have to execute the perfect virtual event? Look for opportunities to create content that encourages participant interaction and plan ahead. Virtual interaction requires concise presentation strictly focused on your core values and your overall mission. Virtual attention spans are shorter and so should your event be.

• Platform suggestions? Live feeds on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and Twitter are great options if inline with your overall objective and primary follower base (a combination of them are a great idea as well if you have the ability to do so). Zoom and Livestream are also good options but present challenges with maximum users or required subscriptions.

By Kevin Bezler, President & CEO of MADJ Marketing

HALLOWEEN & Fall Gifts

ADAPTING TO A VIRTUAL WORLD

ADAPTING EVENTS CREATIVELY: Hawk Mountain Council, Boy Scouts of America

The nation’s nonprofit organizations have been acutely affected by the COVID-19 pandemic and its enormous public health and lifestyle upheaval.

Across the country, and locally, fundraising from in-person events and galas is essential to and special in-person events is an essential part of their budgets. One well-known organization – the Hawk Mountain Council, Boy Scouts of America – has successfully pivoted some of this year’s events.

Headquartered in Reading, the council serves more than 6,500 young people in Berks, Schuylkill and Carbon counties – and with more than 2,900 volunteers, it is among the largest youthserving organizations in the three-county area. Hundreds of community organizations, representing educational, religious, non-profit, civic, and business organizations, partner with the council by chartering over 180 Scouting units.

Like many nonprofit organizations, the council was forced to examine how it could safely and effectively execute events. The organization’s development team, responsible for fundraising, shared how it has creatively retooled this year’s events.

“We have several events that required changes due to social distancing guidelines and limits on in-person gatherings. One of our events is a breakfast that we have always held at our camp, Hawk Mountain Scout Reservation. This year we plan to seat people outside in three different pavilion areas. We will modify the event timing at each location so that the event honorees are

able to be celebrated at all of them. Another one of our events is scheduled for November and we are working on a virtual format for that one,” said Ann Brugger, the council’s development director.

Ann and colleague Duane Crouse, director of development, are dealing with the dynamic nature of the pandemic. “The ongoing challenge is that things change more rapidly than usual. We have an A, B, and C plan for everything we are doing and sometimes that is not sufficient,” Ann said.

The technological advancements necessitated by the coronavirus are vast. Every business and nonprofit organization has had to embrace how technology can facilitate all aspects of what they do.

The council is doing likewise.

“Duane and I are Zoom proficient! I used Bidding Owl for an online auction and will be using that for three additional events this year. We are still researching the best platform for entirely virtual events,” Ann noted.

And while Ann said the pandemic has not upended event goals – “Our event objectives are always to celebrate Scouting! That is unchanged,” she doesn’t dispute that it’s still too early to predict the future. “All of this is too fluid for us to determine what will happen long term. I will say that we have learned that several of our recurring meetings and trainings are more efficiently handled via Zoom conference.” 2

Technology to Stay Connected: At Any Age!

GrandPad

GrandPad® is designed with seniors in mind – the innovative device comes with features for connecting with loved ones, without the complicated features of other tablets. The large buttons and intuitive interface make the GrandPad a simple tablet for seniors who are ready to start video chatting and sharing memories with family and friends around the world. Through the free GrandPad companion app and web portal, loved ones can connect to GrandPad’s private family network via iPhone, Android phone, iPad, or desktop computer. Family members can even upload photos and adjust settings for the GrandPad user. There is a monthly fee associated with the use of the tablet.

https://www.grandpad.net/

Messenger Kids

Messenger Kids is a messaging app and platform released by Facebook. The platform is designed for a young audience as a safer alternative to the Facebook Messenger platform. Users can register with their first and last names instead of phone numbers. Made for kids, controlled by parents. If a parent is going to allow a kid to use social media at a young age, then Messenger Kids is a safer option with many of the “fun” features of social media, without the risks. This is a free app.

https://messengerkids.com/

Instacart

Instacart was just beginning to enter more markets at the start of this year, but availability and usage have skyrocketed in the past few months. Place your order for groceries or the few things you need from Target and have someone shop for them and deliver them right to your door, without contact. Most of the local area now has Instacart services and additional stores are always being added from which to shop. Depending on the store you select, the prices for your items may be the same as in-store prices or may have a premium added to them. Additional costs include a tip and service fees.

https://www.instacart.com/

Upwork

Alicia M. Lee Regional Media Sales Executive

A go-to site to hire remotely that was previously mainly focused on marketing, editing, designing, etc. Since most of the country has now gone remote, Upwork is more robust than ever and bill themselves as ‘the leading online talent solution transforming professional staffing’. The community of independent professionals working via this site spans many categories including software development, creative & design, finance & accounting, consulting, operations and customer support. Upwork takes a portion of your earnings for any jobs you complete.

https://www.upwork.com/

By Sara Frassinelli, Director of Marketing Spherion Staffing

Virtual

LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT

Check out two new online leadership development programs from

Imagine a sports team that doesn’t train together, the results would be less than optimum. Now imagine a sports team that trains together, the players understand their roles, they develop trust and work in a synchronized fashion to deliver results.

The Greater Reading Chamber Alliance (GRCA) now offers two new virtual leadership development programs to help you jumpstart your team as they return to work. The COVID-19 pandemic has employers focused on the importance of having a welltuned leadership team and

More information

Each leadership program provides 9 hours of coaching. Completers will receive a Certificate of Completion from the Greater Reading Chamber Alliance. The investment is $5,750 for up to 16 participants. Contact Mark Dolinski at mdolinski@greaterreading. org to learn more or sign up.

an engaged workforce that work in concert to capture new opportunities in the marketplace.

The COVID-19 crisis poses enormous challenges for organizations. These uncertain times pose leadership dilemmas that do not have simple answers. The complexity of COVID-19 demands the entire organization is in alignment and capturing all perspectives in order to optimize decision making and drive results.

GRCA has developed two unique Leadership Development Programs that can be delivered to fit your schedule and your needs. Both programs provide nine hours of professional development you can’t afford to miss!

LEADERSHIP IN THE NEW POST COVID-19 WORKPLACE

Session 1: 3 hours

Momentum: Getting into it, sustaining it and achieving your next level of results Momentum is even more important in the new normal. One of your first associations with the word “momentum” is probably in the context of sports, in which an athlete or team seems to be suddenly unstoppable. Professionally, we can experience momentum individually, as a team or organization as a whole. The Momentum program examines the phenomenon of momentum, how it fits into organizational dynamics, how it is created and how it is an integral aspect of growing organizations succeeding in today’s environment.

Session 2: 3 hours

Professionalism: What it takes to be your potential and stand for the potential of others The COVID-19 pandemic has caused professionals to reflect on the meaning of professionalism. There is no shortage of opinion on the meaning of professionalism that people subscribe to. Your beliefs regarding professionalism form the basis for your thinking, behaviors, relationships, practices and patterns of thinking that yield your current results. They are also the key to unlocking yet untapped potential. This program provides both a high-level perspective on professionalism as well as the practical habits, practices, disciplines and way of being that unlocks human potential.

INSTRUCTOR TOM RHOADS

LEADERSHIP IN THE NEW POST COVID-19 WORKPLACE (CONT.)

Session 3: 3 hours

The Truth About Extraordinary Results: debunking myths and illusions to unlock your potential and those you lead One of the aspects of extraordinary businesses, extraordinary leaders, and people who are committed to personal, professional and organizational growth is that they seek the Truth. The Extraordinary Results program takes on the myriad myths, misperceptions, and illusions that are commonly held throughout organizations and are even more widespread due to the pandemic.

LEADING CHANGE AND DRIVING ORGANIZATIONAL RESULTS POST COVID-19

Session 1: 3 hours

Thriving During Change: Change Management

The COVID-19 pandemic has demonstrated thriving during change is more important than ever before, but how do you manage change to excel and to help your team and organization to excel in the new normal.

Learning objectives include:

 Understanding the story of change

 Learning how you feel about change

 Learn the 4 C’s of being a change manager

 Comprehending perceptions about change

 Learn the importance of the change cycle

Session 2: 3 hours

Making the Connection:

Employee Engagement

Employee engagement is the secret sauce of high-performing teams in the COVID-19 environment. It is more critical with the addition of remote workers, social distancing policies and the stress of far reaching change to all of our lives. In this highly interactive session, you will learn how to create a more engaged and effective workforce.

Learning objectives include:

 Define employee engagement

 Learn the many benefits of employee engagement

 Why some leaders don’t engage employees and how you can be the exception

 Understand your role in employee engagement

Session 3: 3 hours

Own It! Owning the Problem and The Solution In this session the attentive participant learns about the power of ownership in their thinking and understanding of problems and solutions. Today ownership is critical to the success of businesses and creating a culture of ownership is a competitive advantage to businesses looking to grow in the post-COVID-19 world.

Learning objectives include:

 Definition of ownership

 Ownership Process: Critical thinking, problem solving and accountability

 Seven step critical thinking process

 Problems Solving: How to ID the problem

 Accountability: Using the accountability wheel

 Benefits of ownership to you and to the business

INSTRUCTOR SHAWN DOYLE

Lean In + Grow Your Circle

From October to July each year Women2Women hosts three Lean In Circles. Each Circle is comprised of a professional facilitator and 12-14 women from our community, at various levels of their careers. At the end of the 10 months, these women become a true unified Circle through shared experiences, openness, and a passion for developing professional and personally.

This year was unlike any other. Normally our Circles meet in-person each month for 2 hours. In April we quickly transitioned to Zoom so that the Circle meetings didn’t stop. The Circle members shared that transitioning quickly was what they needed – they didn’t want to miss their Circle meetings. And while they preferred to meet in person, they understood why we had to go virtual.

What does a Circle do?

Curriculum is provided by the Lean In Foundation founded by Sheryl Sandberg, Facebook COO, and Rachel Thomas, technology entrepreneur. Updated yearly, the curriculum is a growing library of lectures offering participants practical skills applicable to professional and personal lives. Circles meet monthly, alternating between education meetings and exploration meetings. Video lectures are shown at education meetings followed by topic discussions. Exploration meetings allow members to discuss current-day situations they are challenged with within the context of work, life balance and more.

Why Join a Circle?

Because Circles are a place where women can be unapologetically ambitious, give voice to our dreams and get the push we need to start chasing them. They are a place to share ideas, learn skills, and seek advice. Most of all, they are a place to help each other become our best selves.

Whatever your goal—whether you are working toward a promotion or building your confidence, reentering the workforce or starting a business—your Circle will help you get there.

CIRCLE MEMBER TESTIMONIALS FROM 2019/2020 –How has the Circle impacted you?

“Overall it has helped my perspective and ability to deal with my management team in a better way.”

“Confidence to quit my job and pursue a career I never dreamed of pursuing.”

“It helped me understand that I’m not alone in the female corporate world. Yes, there are struggles but talking them over with other women professionals helped me gain a different perspective on old problems.”

Learn more about Lean In Circles at berkswomen2women.com.

The 2020/2021 Circle year will begin virtually to follow CDC guidelines. When we are able to meet in person, you bet we will! Meetings take place at the Greater Reading Chamber Alliance’s Center for Business Excellence in Wyomissing.

ADAPTING TO A NEW LIFESTYLE

Welcome to

your

new life

. . . said no one ever. Unplanned changes in 2020 hit everyone hard and these changes affected everyone differently. We had the chance to talk with women in different stages of their life about how they have adapted to their new lifestyle with small children, college aged kids ready to leave the homestead, and everything in between. These women opened up to us about the hardest parts about making changes, and the hope they give their children for the future. As mothers, daughters, sisters and caregivers, no matter how you fit into the fabric of 2020, hear from someone who is going through many of the same things.

What has the hardest part been about making these lifestyle changes?

The hardest part about making these lifestyle changes is the level of judgement that my decisions now require. It is still so hard to measure the level of risk my family and I take when we venture out of the home. Going for a walk, visiting family, going to the grocery store… all these activities have some level of risk involved, and it’s still not clear how great of a risk we are taking when we partake in these activities. All my personal decisions affect the people I love.

Pregnant

Alexandra Papoutsis Advanced Staff Accountant – Herbein + Company, Inc.

FIRST CHILD DUE AUGUST 2020

You are a parent-to-be! We know that some parents went from working in the office to working remotely to now working remotely with kids at home, and some even have turned into teachers for their kids. How have you adapted your lifestyle to all these changes?

Luckily, I haven’t had to make too many changes. I already have an office space at home, which includes an office desk and chair. I’ve scaled back my outside excursions to the grocery store or gas station. I wake up earlier to start working and go to bed earlier, as well. Although I am still trying to find a balance between work and home. The line between when work starts and stops gets blurry when you’re on the clock all the time at both places. There is not as much differentiation for my day when I eat breakfast and dinner at a table that is only one room away.

You’ve called yourself a mom, a parent, a caregiver, the rock of the family, etc. How would you describe yourself now with the changes you’ve made?

I would hope I am still all those things. I am proud of the resilience, love, happiness, and authenticity I’ve been able to maintain and share with my family.

If you have a child that is of the age to understand what is happening, or not, how have you talked to them about it? Any advice for other parents on how to keep their hopes up that we will all come through this?

My child is not of age yet to understand what is happening in the world. By the time my child becomes of age, the world will be a different place than the one I see today, just as the world was a different place during 9/11, or World War II. History is being made as we speak.

The best advice I have for other parents is that life can be stunning and beautiful when we learn to view our hardships as advantages. The global pandemic certainly became a hardship when we all had to change our way of living and interacting with each other. However, this global pandemic has also highlighted the value of family and what it means to take care of those you love. Each day my levels of gratitude and appreciation grow. Every night before bed, my significant other and I make a small list of some of the things that we are grateful for. Is it too simple to be grateful for a roof over my head and food to fill my stomach? No, it is quite extraordinary. When I ground myself and look at what I have, I realize I am wealthier than I ever thought possible. We are powerless over the virus, but we are not powerless over ourselves.

Anything else?

I’ve learned that we can’t wait for tomorrow to be better. When the pandemic first started, I found myself saying “Oh, in a month things will clear up.” Then a month would pass, and I’d say, “Oh, next month things will be better.” And after doing that for so long, I began to realize that I was pushing my happiness off. I wasn’t giving myself permission to enjoy the current moment. There is no guarantee on tomorrow. So, let’s live today.

Continued

Newborn

Emily Hackett Senior Human Resources Generalist –Herbein + Company, Inc. FIRST CHILD BORN APRIL 2020

You’ve called yourself a mom, a parent, a caregiver, the rock of the family, etc. How would you describe yourself now with the changes you’ve made?

Mom is still a new one for me, but I had always identified as a “planner” in the past. These days I’ve had to become much more flexible and had to learn how to care for a baby in a very uncertain world where planning is just not feasible a lot of the time.

What has the hardest part been about making these lifestyle changes?

I became a mother during the height of the pandemic so while it was all new to me, the hardest part was not being able to introduce my daughter to family and friends and not having much help during that newborn phase.

Our daughter is too young to understand what is happening, so we’ve just focused on making the best choices to keep her safe, and someday we’ll have to explain why a lot of her baby photos have people wearing masks in them.

Anything else?

While it was hard not being able to see anyone after she was born, there was a silver lining in that we had a lot of uninterrupted time at home together and didn’t have to worry about visitors or going anywhere after she was just born.

Toddler

Ashley R. Schaeffer Vice President of Project Management, Good Life Companies TWO TODDLER AGE BOYS

You are a parent with a toddler… We know that some parents went from working in the office to working remotely to now all of a sudden working remotely with kids at home, and some even have turned into teachers for their kids. How have you adapted your lifestyle to all of these changes?

I have four- and two-year-old adorable, ACTIVE boys. One thing is for sure – I have become routine. I have a routine for everything now. Kids (and anyone, really) handle change best if it is expected and occurs in the context of a familiar routine. The boys were in daycare full time and went with me everywhere – which all came to a halt in March. At that point I had to improvise our new normal – so their old routine changed, and we created a new routine that they could count on.

You’ve called yourself a mom, a parent, a caregiver, the rock of the family, etc. How would you describe yourself now with the changes you’ve made? Grateful.

We could always have had it worse. During quarantine we were lucky to have everything we needed. I struggled with the division of work/life balance at first working full time and having the boys with me. It was a double edged sword. In the end and even now – I remain grateful that I am able to work for a company that is family first and grateful to have resources available to us throughout.

What has the hardest part been about making these lifestyle changes?

Explaining to a two and four year old why we can’t do something. While not their fault – I’ve been met with resistance about going to the park (early pandemic days), seeing family/ friends, taking trips, and even going to Target (their favorite!). We do everything together, and always enjoy making things fun, or trying new things. It was hard for them to understand why we couldn’t (still now) just do things the way we used to.

What have you been doing this summer?

I bought a house! One benefit of the pandemic is low interest rates! If you can buy or refinance anything, do it now. My original plan was to buy in Spring but the pandemic had other plans. I am glad it didn’t work out then because I ended up buying my dream house – and now we get to embark on an entirely new journey together!

Any advice for other parents on how to get through the year while possibly working at home, or at the very least having a crazy schedule?

We are no longer just working from home, we are working while parenting from home – there is a difference. Cut yourself a break, and allow yourself time “off.”

What lessons have you learned?

Patience is a virtue I do not have which is why I could never be a teacher. Early childhood educators are saints, and the patience they have is remarkable. I will stick to managing adults.

Continued on page 30

Teenager

Jennifer Goldsmith Cerra Communications Manager – Herbein + Company, Inc.

SON,

LUKE – AGE 15 ½

You’ve called yourself a mom, a parent, a caregiver, the rock of the family, etc. How would you describe yourself now with the changes you’ve made?

All those roles are still true – but let’s add life strategist to the list. How do we access key supplies and staples? What’s the school year going to look like? Is a vacation even possible? Has everyone had their necessary health appointments – and how do we do it? Luke needed to get his wisdom teeth removed this summer – so we had to feel confident in the precautions the practice had in place. It adds a whole other layer on top of the anxiety we’re all feeling.

What has the hardest part been about making these lifestyle changes?

Never knowing if what I was doing enough – or even right. The constant second guessing myself is hard to handle at times.

If you have a child that is of the age to understand what is happening, or not, how have you talked to them about it?

Any advice for other parents on how to keep their hopes up that we will all come through this?

We talk about it all the time. We want to give him hope that this life isn’t forever, but we worry about his adolescence ticking away under this cloud. How do we balance pragmatism with optimism? Are there more of these pandemics ahead? And how does a 15-year-old come to grips with this when he should be having fun with friends and planning for his future?

Anything else?

I always thought parents were supposed to have all the answers. We’re still asking a lot of questions. We can only hope we’re steering our son the right way.

Jennifer asked her son Luke about how he’s adapted to the pandemic.

Talk about what it’s been like for you this year. It’s been as difficult for me as it has been for any other kid. Being isolated from most people for five months, being bored, and not having much to do – it’s been tough. For the first few months, my time was filled with just doing online school, but then the summer came. At first, it still felt different, but when this started opening it felt like any other year. Now as the school year approaches, I’ll be starting back online for the first three months – or even longer. That’s going to be different again because I think the program will be stricter.

What have you been doing this summer?

I’ve been trying to stay active and being outside when possible. I have a few jobs in the neighborhood cutting grass. One thing that I’m working on changing is sleep – all summer, I’ve been staying up too late and now I’ve got to change that as school gets closer. My parents are really helping – they’re trying to make sure I am doing everything right to stay safe. If it wasn’t for them, I’d be trying to hang out with kids again.

What lessons have you learned?

To lose something for so long – like sports, which I really love – has been hard. For example, in March, when this started, the NBA was still going. When you lose stuff like that for four months, it makes you take things less for granted and appreciate things more. And people too – when I am around people, I definitely appreciate that more.

College Student

DAUGHTER, COLLEGE FRESHMAN, TWO SONS, COLLEGE GRADUATES

Mimi Kominick and her husband have had some experience in sending kids off to college. Their eldest son attended school in Philadelphia several years ago, and their second son attended school in Boston; both have since graduated. Their third child, Caroline, is now preparing to attend St. Joseph’s University in the Fall of 2020. Even under normal circumstances, it is daunting to send a child off to school, but this year, in addition to the typical concerns, parents like Mimi and her husband are also grappling with the uncertainties of sending their child to a college campus in the midst of a pandemic.

At St. Joseph’s, students are required to read a COVID-19 statement and make a pledge to abide by the rules that the university hopes will keep students safe. That will no doubt be a comfort to parents and students, yet this is still new territory. “Since she’s closer, I feel better, but I’m at odds with things as well. I want her to go to school. I want her to experience new things. It’s what she’s been looking forward to. They’ve already been deprived of so much. They’re just itching to get out. They all want to move on with their lives because they know what it was like before COVID and how everything used to be, and now it is all so different,” Mimi said, when asked about how Caroline and her friends are coping. “I just hope she stays

vigilant with her mask, with washing hands and so forth. I just pray that she stays healthy.”

For Caroline, staying healthy is also a major concern. She worries about getting sick and then possibly getting her family or her roommate sick, as well.

In addition, Caroline said this isn't what she was expecting her first year in college to look like. At St. Joseph’s, the plan is that students will be on campus until the middle of November. Then they will be sent home to finish their classwork online until the middle of January. She hopes the school doesn’t need to send them home any earlier, saying, “If they send all of us home, it’s going to be harder for us to make friends and to fully transition into being true ‘college students’.”

She is also concerned about the quality of her schoolwork, especially if much of it will have to be completed online. “I do really well sitting in a classroom and having a separate environment for my work, as opposed to staying in my room for eight hours a day. I want to meet my professors and make a good impression, and I want to do well in my classes and succeed.”

For Caroline and her parents, and families all across the country, the one thing that will be more important than a productive school year…will be a healthy one. 2

Mimi Kominick

ASKED&ANSWERED

The ‘Asked & Answered’ can be found on our Facebook and Instagram social media pages. Follow us to share your answers for the next magazine!

Are you grocery shopping online?

Did you prior to the crisis? Will you continue as we shift back to normal?

Regina Rinehimer

I have used Instacart, Sam’s Club home delivery & contactless pickup, Amazon Pantry, & going to the supermarket “flying solo” at early hours once every 2-3 weeks. None are perfect but we have managed quite well. The amazing discovery is that the stores still seem to have limited cleaning supplies. #covidlife2020

Kirsten Polentz Haas

I used Instacart with Aldi from mid-March through beginning-June. It was a great experience. I am back to doing my own shopping but it is nice to know online grocery shopping is an option and know how it works.

Wendy Kerschner

I have avoided it all by delegating the grocery shopping to my husband!

Ruthann Gundersen Woll

I use Shipt. My husband will go to the local store for the items I forget but I love the online grocery shopping option!

Annmarie Sullivan Dallao

We have been going to the store and doing our own shopping. Al or I try to go before or after peak hours to avoid lines. We also use self-checkout whenever possible.

Barbara Heckman Olaewe

Like Wendy, my husband has done all the shopping. But it has been this way for years!

Alison Snyder

Pea pod and in person as needed. I'm a big advocate for pea pod. Lisa Meredith Unrath Grocery Shopping, but monthly.

FAMILY-OWNED,

Family-involved

These four words characterize the Leader family’s role in the senior living profession for more than 55 years. Last year, the third generation of our family in the person of Meredith Janeczek Mills, granddaughter of Country Meadows founders George M. and Mary Jane Leader, took on a senior leadership position in the company—chief operating officer. Meredith is one of nine members of the Leader and Janeczek families employed by Country Meadows. Five of the nine are in the third generation. Collectively the nine of us have more than 150 years of experience in healthcare. I like to say the profession is imbedded in our family genes.

So, you might say, “What’s the big deal? ” The deal is about quality and experience. My father used to say, “You pay a lot more attention to what’s happening and work harder when your name is attached to the business.” And, I might add, because we love what we do.

We understand the critical success factors in senior living and know when something is missing. Unlike providers whose corporate leadership is headquartered in another state or even on the West Coast, our family lives and works in central Pennsylvania. We can drive to every campus easily. Family members either work full-time

on a campus or visit one or more of our communities every week. With so many years of experience, along with regular exposure to what’s happening through personal visits, we are better able to assess problems when they exist and start the process to fix them.

On behalf of the Leader-Janeczek family, we hope we have the opportunity to serve your family

An editorial submission from G. Michael Leader, President & CEO of Country Meadows Retirement Communities

The Leader-Janeczek family

At Risk for COVID-19: The Greatest Generation Pushes Through

In mid-March, as Pennsylvania shut down in an effort to flatten the curve of COVID-19, senior living facilities closed their doors as part of a mandated quarantine. Eight of ten COVID-19 related deaths reported in the United States have been adults aged 65 and older.1 Manor at Market Square on Penn Street in downtown Reading, was ahead of the game. Prior to Governor Wolf’s order and with the support of parent company Heritage Senior Living, Manor at Market Square established and implemented extra sanitizing processes, physical distancing standards, and supplied staff with ample PPE.

Staff and residents were educated on the importance of infection containment; mandated mask wearing for the staff and residents; and stopped all non-medical visitations. They constantly reworked operations such as activities and the meal programs with the safety of staff and residents always number one in their mind.

Yet, the challenge remained: how to deliver quality of life?

“In normal times, seniors are at risk of social isolation, the effects of being sedentary, poor nutrition, and access to social services,” explained Jill Reinheimer, Marketing Director. “Pandemic heightened these risks.” Manor at Market Square is an independent-living personal-care home, meaning residents don’t require round-the-clock nursing supervision, merely assistance with the tasks of daily living. That daily living was disrupted by restrictions on visitations; not being able to congregate in common areas; and not being able to share meals in the dining room.

Although residents were not confined to their apartments, isolation was a concern for Reinheimer. Staff members helped residents with phone calls and ZOOM calls, but technology use

proved difficult for individuals with hearing loss or vision impairment. Residents with cognitive issues struggled with the change in routine.

However, it hasn’t been all gloom. Reinheimer pointed out, “Generationally, these residents are conditioned to deal with it, endure the conditions. Particularly women, many of whom raised kids and managed households on their own while men went to war.” Overall, residents have embraced the changes. It galvanized the community in a different way as staff got creative with activities, streaming Facebook live events and

creating TikTok videos with the residents. Residents wear their homemade masks proudly feeling that in a small way, they are helping and being part of the solution.

It hasn’t hurt that families have also lent support to the community. “They recognize the benefits for the entire community, not just their relative,” Reinheimer says. “Through good work and good luck, Manor at Market Square has had no positive cases of COVID-19!”

The pandemic will have a lasting impact on the residents though, Reinheimer points out: “They have lost time that cannot be made up. As seniors, Mother's Day, birthdays and other milestones have more significance. The staff have been impacted by the grace and dignity with which our residents have handled the situation. The Greatest Generation will push through.” 2

By Kirsten P. Haas Executive Director of Girls on the Run of Berks County

1Source: cdc.gov August 16, 2020

COMMUNITY CALL OUT

Community And Philanthropy Focused Virtual Season For Berks Youth Chorus

Chorus For Causes brings voices together to inspire and empower philanthropy and leadership in young singers. In this unique choir, singers in grades 5 through 12 will learn skills to confidently perform in a virtual choir setting, all while raising awareness and funds for local, national, and global causes.

In addition to improving their musicianship and vocal skills, singers will: learn about philanthropy, create fundraising goals for various charities and causes, learn to market and promote their performance fundraisers, track funds earned for charity, make new friends, and celebrate their vocal and philanthropic achievements together!

“Our goal is to invest energy into creating something truly special for kids this year and the idea of empowering them to use their voices to help others has us all very excited," says Amanda Svetlak, Executive Director.

Throughout the year, virtual performances will be shared on Facebook and Instagram in the form of fundraisers, concerts, and watch parties with 50% of all virtual ticket proceeds going towards the charities and causes chosen by the singers. Berks Youth Chorus will host post-concert celebrations, inviting leaders of causes to attend and share with BYC singers how their voices have positively impacted change in their organizations, giving singers a true sense of the difference they can make in the world today.

Registration for Chorus For Causes is now open to all singers in Berks County and beyond, and this year’s season is broken into three 10-week seasons: fall, winter, and spring. Enrollment for the fall season closes on September 7th but enrollment for subsequent seasons will remain open to better accommodate the uncertain schedules of families as they navigate the school year during COVID-19. Dail Richie, BYC Board President, says, “We want our students, and their

Since 1992, Berks Youth Chorus has been dedicated to making its life-changing musical opportunities accessible to all children. With headquarters in Reading’s geographically accessible GoggleWorks Center for the Arts, and through community engagement projects, BYC Singers represent school districts, private schools and home schools throughout Berks County. The concert season is supported by Pennsylvania Council on the Arts, a state agency, and Reading Musical Foundation.

families, to feel safe and to know that we are closely monitoring health guidelines from the state and from medical and science leaders.” Singing is still considered a high-risk activity for spreading the COVID-19 virus. For the safety of the singers, their families, and the audience, Chorus For Causes will remain virtual for the entirety of the school year.

BYC encourages all families in need or those who have felt the financial burden of COVID-19 to apply for financial aid upon registration. Questions about Chorus For Causes or other Berks Youth Chorus programs can be sent to info@berksyouthchorus.org. 2

Amanda Svetlak (as shared on BCTV.com)

ON THE CALENDAR

Anne Corley Baum, Vice President Distribution Channels and Labor Relations - Capital BlueCross + Author

Dealing with Different Personalities – And Enhancing Yours

We all face challenges with different – sometimes difficult–personalities.

This presentation will illuminate the most challenging personality types, explain how to work with and manage them, and teach you how to avoid making these mistakes yourself. This knowledge will help you to navigate the speedbumps on the road to the corner office.

DATE: THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2020

Time: 11:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.

Venue: Virtual - Zoom

The Women of Wells Fargo Advisors Financial Habits of Successful Women

Join Regina Rinehimer, Associate VP – Investment Officer, and Radene Gordon-Beck, First Vice President –Investments, as they walk us through what financial success looks like at all life stages. All ages and stages of life will be discussed at this workshop and audience-participation/ activities will be offered to give clear understanding of where you stand in life, and where you could be!

DATE:

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 1, 2020

Time: 11:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.

Venue: Virtual - Zoom

Regina Rinehimer, Associate VP –Investment Officer

Radene Gordon-Beck,

First Vice President –Investments

Gladine Frasso, Regional Environmental Health & Safety ManagerI Am Mentally Tough Advocating for Yourself - Salary

Negotiation & Leaning In

Having confidence and knowing your worth will help you to negotiate your job’s salary. Gladine will be sharing her own personal story of discovering she was being underpaid, how she built the confidence to ask her boss for a raise, and the steps she took to prepare for the crucial conversation. Leave this session with advice on advocating for your worth!

DATE: THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 2020

Time: 10:00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.

Venue: Virtual - Zoom

Aida Lone, AdministratorPrecision Health Care

Anything is Possible

Aida is a testament to “living the American Dream”. Coming from poverty in Communist Albania to owning and running her own business here in Pennsylvania, she will share that anyone can reach their goals and realize their dreams. Join Aida as she shares her “American Dream” story and offers advice how you can too reach your goals.

DATE: THURSDAY, DECEMBER 10, 2020

Time: 10:00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.

Venue: Virtual - Zoom

Happy 10th Anniversary Palo Magazine!

This year we celebrated our 10-year anniversary! Well, actually, due to COVID there was no true celebration, but we took the time to sit and reflect on how far we have come and how many lives we have impacted during these years. I would love to continue another 10 years by demonstrating to our readers and advertisers that we have become more of a diverse publication versus just a Latino publication.

I can’t believe that the same year we began the magazine, Women2Women was also founded. And now, years later, I am contributing articles to this wonderful women’s magazine. For me it’s an honor to be part of something that encourages women to be the best they can be combined with what I do for Palo Magazine. It makes me feel whole.

Palo Magazine helped me to grow as a person, not to mention a business professional as well. I started this publication when the economy was crashing and here we are a decade later and still growing. When I started the publication I was in the middle of losing my job at a bank where I worked a little over 20 years. Our entire department shut down. And to top it off I was also going through a divorce from a 20+ year marriage and had two little children. Some people wouldn’t even dare to start a business in the middle of all that craziness, but something kept pushing me to do so; I just couldn’t explain it. I felt I could be creative and I didn’t feel trapped or confined. I felt like the magazine was helping me express myself and it helped me grow through the pains. I also felt this urge to educate the community on the Latino culture & roots but at the same time, I was learning and growing when I did the research. Today it’s not just about Latinos…it’s about all the people in our growing and diverse community.

Back when I started Palo there were no Spanish publications in the County of Berks so it made sense to start one. It was a brave move, especially because I grew up here in Berks County and spoke mainly English. The Spanish that I did know was selftaught because my mom was illiterate. Half of the time I had to look up the spelling of many Spanish words but that didn’t stop me because I was more concerned about creating awareness of our needs and providing affordable advertisements especially for our ever-growing Latino businesses.

Now Palo, a fully bilingual monthly publication, has become a learning tool. I love it when I get calls or a request from colleges for a subscription because they want to have my publication in the school library. It’s not just a publication, it’s a tool that has inspirational true stories. My magazine is not about famous people. There are hundreds of those magazines out there for that. Mine is about you, your friends and your neighbors – real people. People are craving to learn about their roots, their people, and their neighbors. That is perfect because our slogan reads “Every Palo has a Story” and that’s why I share in every monthly publication a different story of someone because no two people have the same story. At Palo, we are super focused on maintaining diversity and fairness to all our readers. Palo Magazine is not a LATINO magazine, it’s the people’s magazine! Therefore no matter what language you speak or what walks of life you came from we welcome you to tell Palo your story. 2

By Rosa Julia Parra, CEO, Palo Magazine

Let’s Celebrate Diversity!

Hispanic Heritage is one of my favorite times of the year (it actually runs from Sept 15th through October 15th). It’s my favorite because as a Latina who was born in Puerto Rico but only lived there 15 days then raised in Berks County, I was taught to be proud and to always celebrate my heritage, my roots, and my culture no matter where I was currently standing.

I guess looking back now I was a lucky little girl, as I was always taught that no matter where I lived, we needed to be proud of where we came from and we were not to abandon or forget it. As a Puerto Rican, I learned to proudly raise my flag at events, to speak my language, eat our great flavorful foods, and listen to and dance to our music.

I know many years ago I would hear plenty of “You are in America, speak English.” Forget where we came from? Forget our ancestors and our customs? Never! Many Latinos fought and continue to fight hard on this topic. I am one of them. I remember learning as an adult, from someone who came from a different country, that right here in Berks many years ago it was well known for people to Americanize their name. They went from being born a ‘Rafaelo’ to becoming a ‘Tom’. For us Latinos, we were taught that just because you live in the United States doesn’t mean you lose your identity and your authenticity. If anything, we came with two last names as we were taught to have

pride for both our mom’s and dad’s sides. While we appreciate living in the land of the free, for us that also means you don’t need to forget your Italian, Greek, Irish, German, or Latino roots. I think this is where we Latinos & Asians stand out. We are taught that you can live in this country and respect the American culture, but that we are also all immigrants of some kind and it’s ok to adapt to where you live. But never forget where you came from.

I think the world would be a kinder place if people put importance on understanding their own ethnicity and then learning about their neighbors. I invite you to learn about other cultures; learning enriches the mind and soul and it doesn’t make you less of where you came from. In fact it enriches your life and makes you a more diverse, complete, and whole human being. Want to learn more? I suggest starting small by trying diverse foods. Just in Berks County, we have lots of restaurants that serve Dominican, Puerto Rican, Colombian, Mexican, Jamaican, Chinese, Thai, Vietnamese, and Indian foods. And if you go a bit outside of Berks such as Lancaster, Harrisburg, Allentown, Philadelphia and New Jersey you will find Portuguese, Venezuelan, and Peruvian foods. The list goes on and on. Be a better human being – be diverse! 2

By Rosa Julia Parra, CEO, Palo Magazine

Business Unusual: How Resilience is Reshaping Business in the COVID-19 Era

COVID-19 began as a public health emergency and quickly became an unprecedented socioeconomic crisis, affecting our way of life and businesses across all industries and all sectors.

Unquestionably, the pandemic is testing our resilience now – and for years to come. But what exactly is resilience – and how can it help you reshape your business?

The Merriam-Webster definition:

“An ability to recover from or adjust easily to misfortune or change.”

COVID-19 will require that from all of us.

Greater Reading businesses are already proving their resilience. Nearly 400 companies are headquartered in the region, which is also home to 189 international companies, employing over 9,000 people. In addition to taking advantage of the Greater Reading Chamber Alliance’s virtual programming centered on COVID-19, regional business owners looking for advice on resilience are tapping into the information resources and tools offered by professional services firms.

Earlier this spring, Herbein + Company, Inc. polled webinar attendees about their business optimism and found an impressive 74% of respondents were very or somewhat confident about their businesses in the next six months. Managing Partner David Stonesifer said at the time, “it’s clear that business owners are resilient—and confident in their ability to respond quickly to the opportunities in the post-pandemic timeframe.” Herbein has hosted a webinar featuring a worldrenowned resilience expert, along with several webinars on key operational

concerns, such as a well-attended presentation by firm professionals on cash flow.

DEVELOPING A CULTURE OF RESILIENCE

COVID-19 has had a dramatic impact on the financial, operational and overall health of every business – and your organization must be able to do more than just recover business processes and technology in its aftermath. Experts say true resilience is achieved by integrating effective programs and linking them to your organization’s overall risk-based strategic planning process.

While it is natural to think about retrenching right now, they recommend embracing growth and innovation projects where possible. In this highly competitive, global business environment, consider not only existing risk but the degree of uncertainty your business is prepared to accept to maximize opportunities and create stakeholder value.

Finally, businesses must align structured planning and flexibility to develop a culture of resilience that promotes growth.

There are three considerations in developing a culture of resilience: strategic planning, operational planning and tactical planning. These considerations enable your business to create solutions focused on your customers and strategic solutions that are focused on your organization’s medium- and long-term objectives and values. Even in a severe economic downturn, customers must remain your number one priority. Identifying your business’ competitive advantage, developing strategies for protecting your assets (financial and otherwise), and undergoing a comprehensive risk assessment and business impact analysis are all vital elements of resilience.

BENEFITS OF RESILIENCE

Building and maintaining resilience will provide your business with the foundation to survive the COVID-19 crisis and can:

• Reduce costs

• Improve performance

• Improve customer service

• Maintain competitive advantage

• Protect brand reputation

• Achieve tactical, operational, and strategic objectives

As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to evolve, there are new opportunities to embrace resilience to serve your customers and position your company for postpandemic success. 2

By Jennifer Goldsmith Cerra Communications Manager Herbein + Company, Inc.

Hope and Help for Children and Parents while dealing with the COVID-19

Pandemic

has changed everyone’s lives in ways no one could have imagined. Now more than ever we all need to continue on a path toward a new and better future. Parents are dealing with their own anxieties and need to continue to support their children during this time. It is important for adults to remain calm and reassuring for children since children readily pick up on parental fears. To be a better parent, adults need to first take care of themselves. For everyone, it is important to take time out of the day for relaxation including exercise, meditation, or working on a hobby.

Parents should listen for and speak with their children about their interpretations of life during COVID-19. You can start by asking, “What have you heard about what’s happening now?’ and let your child respond. It’s important to reassure children that adults are working together to keep

around them from circulating COVID-19 and other respiratory viruses. Discuss how classrooms will look different with more space between student work areas. Talk about the importance of social distancing and reinforce proper handwashing for 20 seconds (sing the Happy Birthday song 2 times) or use hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol. Cough and sneeze in your elbow and avoid touching your face.

everyone safe. Try to avoid “information overload.” We are all bombarded by a lot of information from multiple sources on TV, radio, social media, and print. Sometimes the information is contradictory. Reliable resources include the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Pennsylvania Department of Health, and the American Academy of Pediatrics. Be honest with children and provide information in a developmentally appropriate way.

When talking about returning to school, ask your child how they are feeling about the new school year. Depending on school districts, there may be different options— in-person, hybrid, or virtual learning. Since we have already been practicing recommended routines to help stop spread of the virus, reinforce safety measures with children to prepare them for eventual in-person school. Continue to practice wearing masks when in public. Explain how masks protect the wearer and people

Remind your child that the most important thing about school is interacting with teachers and peers, and to develop academically, socially/emotionally, and physically—even if school looks different. If your child will attend school virtually, have a designated area at home dedicated for school time. This area should be away from typical home distractions, like the television or pets. Try to keep work times consistent and provide breaks to getting up to move around, stay hydrated, and have healthy meals and snacks available.

Even though our daily routines preCOVID may have changed, it is important to be able to shift to “new normal routines.” We still need to have regular sleep and wake times. Daily exercise benefits everyone physically and mentally. Get some outdoor time to enjoy sunshine and help our Vitamin D levels. Continue to eat regular healthy meals and stay hydrated. Keep social connections with friends and family virtually or with safe social distancing. Try to learn new things together as families and make new positive memories. 2

By Cindy Schadder, MD Pediatrics - Tower Health Medical Group

HEALTH2WELLNESS

WOMEN’S DOCTOR APPOINTMENTS: GET IN NOW !

During the COVID-19 pandemic, physicians across the United States have reported seeing fewer patients, primarily with fear of presenting to the office due to COVID. We have women missing important screenings that prevent ovarian and breast cancer because of COVID. It’s not just OB-GYN care, men and women are staying home with strokes, heart attacks, and fractures because of the fear of COVID. Your medical care is important and we are prepared to see you in a safe environment. Please know you can make that appointment and here’s what you should expect.

When you are scheduled, whether it is for a test, procedure or office visit, you will be asked questions about your health and any symptoms you may be experiencing. We’ll collect additional information over the phone to reduce the amount of paperwork when you come in for your visit. And we’ll remind you to wear a face covering or mask to your appointment. If you don’t have a face covering, we will supply one before you enter the building, but you are strongly encouraged to bring your own to help us conserve our supply. We are limiting visitors in our offices and we will inform you if you are allowed a visitor. All patients, family/ support persons and staff are required to wear a face covering in all of our locations.

When you arrive at any of our locations, you’ll be greeted by a staff member who will take your temperature, screen you for COVID-19 symptoms, provide sanitizer for hand hygiene and, if you don’t already have a face covering, provide you a mask. The staff will also answer any questions you may have about our safety protocols.

For your safety, we have implemented contactless check-in and check-out procedures to receive your insurance and payment information. Ink pens, clipboards and other materials are thoroughly disinfected after each individual use. We have also designated physical distancing zones at our check-in and checkout windows and throughout our facilities to allow for adequate space between patients.

Our lobbies and common areas, including high-touch items such as door handles, elevator buttons, tables and chairs, are cleaned and disinfected frequently throughout the day for your safety.

All reading material and brochures have been removed from our lobbies, and seating capacity has been limited to align with physical distancing guidelines.

Good hand hygiene is essential for all team members, patients and visitors. When you come to any location, you will be provided hand sanitizer at the door as you enter the building, before you enter the exam or procedure area and as you exit the exam or procedure area.

We follow stringent cleaning protocols. For added safety, we have further enhanced those protocols for our patients’ safety and peace of mind. Our exam rooms and procedure areas are thoroughly cleaned and disinfected between each patient visit. In addition, we’re scheduling patient visits at reduced capacity at all of our care locations to allow extra time for enhanced cleaning between

each patient encounter. Your exam or procedure room will be thoroughly cleaned before you enter. However, we understand you may prefer added protection for your clothes and other belongings. A single-use bag will be available to hold your belongings during your visit if you’d like.

We want to be able to get our women back in the office if they’re in need of a pap smear, mammogram or a colonoscopy for regular health maintenance and screening. We’re taking extra precautions to keep you safe whenever you need us. Together, we can get back to the health we need to live the way we want. If you have any questions or concerns about your appointment, do not hesitate to reach out to the staff and talk to us, we may be able to accommodate your requests and ease your concerns. We have options if you aren’t ready to be seen in the office; we can provide a telehealth visit or a phone call if needed. Some appointments we have to see you in person.

We want to take care of you! Please don’t put off making that appointment, we are ready to see you, safely, right now. 2

By Monica Rush, MSHA, MSN, RN, CHWC Director Rehabilitation Services, Penn State Health St. Joseph Certified Health and Wellness Coach

The Salt Lounge is the place to relax and breathe in Berks County – based in Wyomissing owner Rachel Eskin introduced salt therapy to the community in 2018 after realizing the health benefits for her own seasonal allergies. In addition to the revitalizing and healing power of saltinfused air, The Salt Lounge offers guided meditation, massage, and reiki to clients, making The Salt Lounge an oasis for total mind and body wellness – a place where people can unplug, unwind and practice the often neglected art of self-care.

READING DERMATOLOGY ASSOCIATES

Caring for Your Skin While Keeping You Safe

Have you been putting off making that skin care appointment due to the dangers of COVID-19? As pandemic restrictions are lifted and Berks businesses are allowed to get “back to business,” Reading Dermatology Associates (RDA) is re-opening its medical practice with a well-thought-out plan that ensures safety for its patients as well as its staff. While RDA, located on Penn Avenue in West Lawn, never officially closed its doors during the pandemic as an “essential” provider of skin care, their staff was treating only patients with skin care emergencies to keep patients out of urgent care and the ER and relying heavily on telemedicine.

“Now that we’re allowed to open to elective procedures, it’s not like we could just go back to business the way things were before the crisis,” said Amy Hendrix, CRNP at RDA. “We worked as a team to put effective systems in place that would allow us to open safely, such as detecting patients that may be infected with COVID-19 prior to treatment, minimizing physical contact between patients and staff, and allowing for constant cleaning

and disinfecting of the office and exam rooms. RDA continues to maintain an immaculate office implementing many additional cleaning procedures to ensure health and safety.”

Devising this plan was no easy feat considering the number of patients Reading Dermatology’s providers typically see on a daily basis. Reading Dermatology Medical, Cosmetic and Skin Cancer Center provides a complete array of procedures treating skin ailments for the entire family, from infants to seniors. Now that restrictions have been lifted, RDA will return to providing all

skin care services including cutting-edge anti-aging cosmetic treatments which their clients are really excited about.

So what can you expect when you schedule an appointment at RDA? First, before you arrive, you’ll complete a telephone COVID questionnaire and Pre-Check-In prior to your appointment. When you arrive for your appointment, prior to entering the office you’ll have your temperature checked and confirmation of your COVID questionnaire. Social distancing will be strictly maintained. Window barriers have been placed at check-in and check-out stations to protect patients as well as staff. All exam rooms are thoroughly cleaned and disinfected after each patient visit and hand sanitizer is readily available. The office, including door fixtures, floor and flat surfaces, are disinfected throughout the day. What is most noticeable is the removal of most of the chairs in the waiting room, typically a very busy area, to ensure social distancing.

“We’re so excited to once again be able to provide the advanced treatments our patients have come to depend on,” says Amy. One of these sought out treatments is Superficial Radiation Therapy (SRT), a true game changer in the treatment of skin cancer. SRT is a low energy radiotherapy delivered in a precise, calibrated dose that penetrates only a short distance into the thickness of the skin, providing a highly effective cosmetic alternative to surgery

especially for areas of the face-nose, eyelids, lips and ears.

For those that suffer from hyperhidrosis, RDA offers miraDry, which eliminates underarm sweat, odor, and hair in as little as one treatment. Another cutting-edge treatment offered by Reading Dermatology is PRP for hair restoration. It’s an effective solution to those suffering from hair loss that incorporates the use of growth factors and platelets. A patient’s blood is spun in a centrifuge to separate out the protein growth factors before being applied to the scalp.

Reading Dermatology is OPEN… and SAFE so give them a call at 610-750-7891 to schedule an appointment or go online to www.ReadingDerm.com. 2

By Mark Kramer, Core1Marketing

Reading Dermatology Associates is OPENING:

• Temperature Check and Confirmation of COVID Questionnaire Upon Arrival

• Protective Window Barriers at Check-in and Check-out

• Credit Card Payments to Avoid Contact and Cash Handling

• Exam Rooms Cleaned and Disinfected After Each Patient Visit

• Restaurant Pagers Issued to Patients

Jason Hendrix, DO

Amy Hendrix, CRNP

Walk-in screening mammograms now available

No referral, no appointment needed

1 in 8 U.S. women will have a breastdiagnosiscancer

You do so much for everyone you love. We’re making it easier than ever to make time for you.

Walk in today at our Exeter Ridge or Bern campus locations, get your screening mammogram and get back to living the way you want.

• Latest 3D imaging technology

• Only walk-in mammography service in Berks County

• Sets a baseline of breast health for future screenings

If you’re a woman over 40 or you have a family history of breast cancer, getting a screening mammogram is one of the most important things you can do to take care of yourself. Early detection gives you the best chance of beating breast cancer.

Make time for you—so you can be there for them for a long time to come.

EXETER RIDGE

MONDAY-FRIDAY 8 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.

SATURDAY 8 a.m. - 12 p.m.

BERN CAMPUS

MONDAY-FRIDAY 8 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.

SATURDAY 8 a.m. - 12 p.m.

Still prefer to schedule in advance? We offer mammograms services at nine different locations across the region. Call us at 610-378-2100.