J anuary 2015
11
TIPS to make 2015 the Best Year Yet SOCIAL MEDIA The New Trend in Prenups
20
TH
versary Ann9i5-2015 19
WHAT’S
Inside
4
LETTER FROM THE EDITOR
7
BUST PROCRASTINATION IN THE NEW YEAR Real tools for real businesswomen in 2015.
9
BREAK YOUR HURRY HABIT Quick slow-down tips to get your day started.
11 UNDERSTANDING INSURANCE FOR THE BUSINESS Types of commercial insurance and who needs it.
13 2014 ATHENA AWARD WINNER Jeannine Peterson is this year’s worthy recipient.
14 GREAT EXPECTATIONS 11 tips to make 2015 your healthiest, happiest, and best year yet.
717-397-8177
www.maygrant.com
16 THE NEXT SOCIAL MEDIA TREND Prenuptial agreements regarding sharing information.
18 THE THINKING WOMAN’S GUIDE TO EATING The best nutrients for feeding your brain.
20 EMPLOYEE ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS The role they can play in your organization.
22 ACHIEVEMENTS AND APPLAUSE Awards and accomplishments.
23 MEET AND GREET Regional networking events and meetings.
Learn how 21st century masterful leaders use words, tone, pitch, volume, and pace to get better, quicker, consistent results in just 30 days.
5 COVER STORY Tonya McGee, COO of BVFR & Associates, LLC, has always been ready to take on a challenge. As a serial entrepreneur, she loves the interaction of being with and helping people. At BVFR & Associates, McGee assists clients in making their dreams a reality by listening and working closely with them to find the financial plan that best fits their needs and situation.
Schedule your FREE telephone discovery session with Sylvia today.
Sylvia Hepler Owner and President
www.launchinglives.biz • 717-761-5457 BusinessWomanPA.com
|
January 2015
~
3
EDITOR’S
W
Woman
Note
BUSINESS
career
~
lifestyle
~
wellness
~
connections
January 2015 Vol. 12 - No. 1
PRES IDENT AND PU BLISH ER DONNA K. ANDERSON
EDITORIAL
bring information that’s relevant to their lives. elcome and Happy New Year! We recognize that men and women bring different and I have been with On-line Publishers, Inc. almost since its inception, so it is a special positive talents, ideas, and dynamics to the workforce. time for me as we celebrate our 20th However, BusinessWoman presents the opportunity to anniversary. What began as a single, niche highlight accomplishments and successes women have achieved and the diverse industries in senior publication in 1995 has evolved which inroads have been made, not into a multifaceted media organization often found in other business and that generates targeted, award-winning lifestyle publications. BusinessWoman publications and quality events. Reach high, for stars lie addresses issues and topics that are Always with the mission of serving generally more top of mind in women, the mind, heart, and spirit of the hidden in your soul. Dream involving both their careers and community, the major publications deep, for every dream personal lives. that we now produce include: this precedes the goal. regional edition of BusinessWoman BusinessWoman isn’t cutting-edge magazine; six county-specific editions news, but it is information that will help ~ Pamela Vaull Starr of 50plus Senior News; seven countyyou grow in your career and find specific editions of the Resource balance in your life … whatever that Directory for the Caregiver, Aging, and “balance” looks like for you. Disabled; and 50plus Living for the If you haven’t read about something Susquehanna and Delaware valleys. We are proud to offer that’s on your mind and would like us to tackle it, please let all of our publications as digital e-ditions as well. me know. The editorial committee is always ready to Our events comprise: four women’s expos; six consider your ideas. 50plus EXPOs; and just last year we recognized the need to Like us on Facebook so we can stay connected with you! assist our current military, veterans, and their families in Happy New Year! Wishing you a year of success! not only learning about resources, products, services, and benefits they have earned, but also in locating job opportunities—hence, the Veterans’ Expo & Job Fairs were initiated with much success. Each of our publications and events has a specific market in its scope, allowing us and Christianne Rupp many area businesses to reach a particular demographic to Vice President and Managing Editor
“”
Vice President and Managing Editor CHRISTIANNE RUPP Editor MEGAN JOYCE Contributing Writers ERIN DANLY LYNDA HUDZICK KELLY JAMES-ENGER CLAIRE YEZBAK FADDEN SANDRA GORDON CHERYL RAUDENBUSH SYLVESTER E. WILLIAMS IV JENNY C. YIP
ART DEPARTMENT Production Coordinator JANYS CUFFE Production Artist RENEE MCWILLIAMS
PRINT/ONLI NE SALES Account Executives CHRISTINA CARDAMONE ANGIE JACOBY AMY KIEFFER RANEE SHAUB MILLER KRISTY NEIDEIGH
ADMINISTRATI ON Business Manager ELIZABETH DUVALL Events Manager KIMBERLY SHAFFER Project Coordinator LOREN GOCHNAUER Sales & Event Coordinator EILEEN CULP
ADVERTISING OFFICES Corporate Office:
Chester County
3912 ABEL DRIVE COLUMBIA, PA 17512 PHONE 717.285.1350 FAX 717.285.1360 610.675.6240
Cumberland & Dauphin County 717.770.0140 Lancaster, Lebanon & York County 717.285.1350
Exhibito rs
• Health Screenings • S 16th Annual
s Door Prize • t n e m n i a t r e t n E eminars • Demonstrations • 12th Annual 16th Annual
DAUPHIN COUNTY
LANCASTER COUNTY
CHESTER COUNTY
April 2, 2015
May 14, 2015
June 9, 2015
9 a.m. – 2 p.m. Millersville University
9 a.m. – 2 p.m. Church Farm School
Marauder Court 21 South George Street Millersville
1001 East Lincoln Highway Exton
9 a.m. – 2 p.m. Hershey Lodge 325 University Drive Hershey
NEW LOCATIO N!
(717) 285-1350 (717) 770-0140 • (610) 675-6240
Limited Sponsorship Opportunities Available
www.50plusExpoPA.com 4
~ January 2015 | BUSINESSWoman
E-mail:
info@BusinessWomanPA.com
Website:
www.BusinessWomanPA.com
For advertising information:
717‐285‐1350 or info@businesswomanpa.com www.businesswomanpa.com BusinessWoman is published monthly by On-Line Publishers, Inc., 3912 Abel Drive, Columbia, PA 17512, 717.285.1350. Copyright On-Line Publishers, Inc. 2015. All rights reserved. Reproduction or use without permission of editorial or graphic content in any manner is strictly prohibited. Views expressed in opinion stories, contributions, articles and letters are not necessarily the views of the Publisher. The appearance of advertisements for products or services does not constitute an endorsement of the particular product or service. Although every effort is made to ensure factual information, BusinessWoman cannot be held responsible for errors in contributors’ material, nor does the editorial material necessarily reflect the opinions of the publisher. On-Line Publishers, Inc. reserves the right to revise or reject any and all advertising. Subscription information: $14 per year for home delivery of 12 monthly issues. Subscribe online at www.BusinessWomanPA.com or call 717.285.1350. Member Of:
Story
CAREER
COVER
Success by the Numbers By LYNDA HUDZICK
N
umbers have always fascinated me,” Tonya McGee, COO of BVFR & Associates, LLC, said. “But I never imagined I would become an investment banker.” Her career began as a licensed cosmetologist and, as she calls herself, a “serial entrepreneur.” It was during her work as a sales professional with Mary Kay Cosmetics, where she reached the director of sales level and managed a group of more than 30 individuals, that this mother of four was presented with the opportunity to become an investment banker. “The transition was easy from the aspect of working with people to help them achieve their goals,” she said. “I had owned and operated my own business and always had the entrepreneurial spirit, so learning the ins and outs of other industries and what made a business successful fueled my fires.” But that doesn’t mean McGee, who holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration, didn’t have to learn a few things about the business. “Our investment banking firm has such a niche that you could have a Ph.D. in economics and still have to start from the ground floor … to learn what we do,” said McGee. “So in that aspect, I was right in line with all of the other lawyers and MBAs who were learning how to mitigate the risk via government-enhanced loans.” BVFR & Associates, LLC, launched
Tonya McGee, COO of BVFR & Associates, LLC, with her husband, Dr. Jameson Lawrence, Esq.
in 1995, is a privately held, minorityowned investment banking and financial solutions firm that provides creative financing for clients in both the public and private sectors, with an emphasis on credit-enhanced funding such as USDA, FHLB, etc. The company, she explained, is made up of three sectors: investment banking services, cash flow loans, and credit-card processing services. Each of these can be fine-tuned to meet the specific needs of her clients. McGee, who was born in Pittsburgh but grew up in Harrisburg,
said that because her husband, Dr. Jameson Lawrence, Esq., founded and owns the company, she has to look at the overall health of the company, as it is “our family legacy.” But on a day-to-day basis, she works closely with her team “to ensure that we are marketing and reaching out to those who can benefit from our services,” she said. “I work with my husband to ensure that the company has a healthy bottom line.” Every Thursday, McGee hosts weekly team meetings that she refers to as “Empowerment Thursdays,”
where they take the time to review the status of potential clients and ways that they can work together to grow both personally and professionally. “I also get to work directly with business owners,” McGee said. “My goal with every client is to be a resource for them. I need to know the good, the bad, and the ugly to help them avoid pitfalls and overcome hurdles and ultimately get them to the finish line.” A typical day for McGee is speaking to lenders and/or business owners and reviewing financials and
BusinessWomanPA.com
|
January 2015
~
5
CAREER
business plans prepared by her clients. She also prides herself on being a resource for her team and working with them to find solutions for their clients who are trying to secure funding. “We could not do what we do without the cooperation of the lenders we work with across the country,” said McGee. “We help make their job easier by bringing qualified loan applicants to them with professional loan packages. They help us by providing us with timely responses to loan requests.” McGee also said that she and her team must rely on the client’s CPA, their lawyers, and their financial advisors because those are the people who have been with the client and know the intricacies of the company. “We have to be lock step with them to ensure that the client is getting the benefit of collective expertise,” McGee said. These days, meeting face to face with clients typically only happens with local business owners because email and Skype so readily provide the opportunity to meet lenders or business owners just about anywhere without leaving the office. It’s also very important to the health of the company that the team
“”
We welcome any opportunity to speak with young people about their career path and to be a part of helping them think outside of the box of what their degree says they should do.
feels like an integral part of helping the company achieve success. “We operate as a family,” McGee said. “Outside of working hard together, we spend time in social settings and arrange outings that allow us to explore our interests and appreciate each other. Everyone that works for us or comes to us for an internship is part of our extended family.” There was a time when she “could sense the feeling of skepticism that older men had when they were
Visit us at
meeting me as a ‘governmentenhanced financing expert,’” McGee recalled when asked how being a woman in her industry has affected her career. “But now, the world is changing drastically. There are many women in positions of power that are the crux of an organization or a government. There are more women than men in most graduate programs. Our voices … have become more powerful.” In most situations, she likes to take what she refers to as the
“doctor’s office approach.” “I will ask a few leading questions, and I want to listen, listen intently, to see where my breadth of knowledge can add value to a situation.” She wants to be a trusted resource and to be viewed as someone who can provide invaluable services to get the desired results for her client. When McGee has some quiet time to herself, usually as soon as she open her eyes in the morning or very late at night, she first reads her daily devotionals “to keep me grounded and replenish myself.” A strong proponent of education, McGee and her husband support causes that celebrate educational opportunities for young people. “Education is a priority for both of us, and we welcome any opportunity to speak with young people about their career path and to be a part of helping them think outside of the box of what their degree says they should do,” said McGee. But perhaps most important of all, McGee quite simply still loves what she does. “There are days that are challenging and I can’t see a clear way through the forest, but I can always look back at the lives I have impacted … That is what I hold onto when all else fails.”
www.BusinessWomanPA.com
Looking Looking to mak make e
th e best the e ducation n educational c hoice choice ffor or your your child? child ld?
6
~ January 2015 | BUSINESSWoman
CAREER
A
s a businesswoman, trying to tackle all of your responsibilities with limited time available can be a challenge. From networking meetings and conference calls to family obligations and social commitments, attempting to juggle an unbalanced schedule will leave you drained and weary. As days melt into nights, it’s often easy to put off tough tasks until tomorrow. Problem is … one tomorrow frequently turns into another. Before you know it, months have slipped by as your procrastination habits worsen, adding unnecessary stress and anxiety to your livelihood. Rather than missing more deadlines as we roll into the new year, why not implement a few concrete tools to bust procrastination for 2015? The American Psychological Association (APA) discovered in a recent survey that 43 percent of women stated their stress increased in the past five years. One big contributor to stress is procrastination. As drivers of the new economy,
By DR. JENNY C. YIP professional women and business owners take risks, break barriers, and redefine success. Yet often, work/life balance gets in the way, which can lead to procrastination: putting off today what you believe you can do tomorrow. Unfortunately, chronically missing deadlines or delaying task completion can be costly to your financial, emotional, and physical health. Over time, a perfect storm ensues as guilt and self-criticisms wreak havoc on your confidence and motivation, while creating anxiety in your personal and professional life. Does your heart race? Do you have muscle tension or headaches? Sweating or clammy skin? Your undiagnosed stomach problems and even sudden diarrhea may be related to procrastination. Do you say to yourself, “I can finish this next week,” or “There’s plenty of time,” only to find yourself stressing at the last minute—and by then, you are out of the running with literally no time left? The bad news is that procrastination compels you to question yourself and your abilities,
preventing you from outshining competition. Every second you spend avoiding work, someone else is out there putting in the time. The good news is that, as a businesswoman, you are already in achievement mode. You have taken control of most of your time and your life. You already know that to thrive professionally, you must establish long-term, self-imposed goals. As a clinical psychologist and a stress and anxiety expert, I’ve helped many patients with procrastination issues regain control over their lives with these strategies: • Break mountains of work into smaller, reachable molehills • Schedule daily tasks • Visualize success Break Mountains into Molehills Break your mountain of 2015 business objectives into basic, attainable goals. When you view a project as a huge mountain of work, it feels overwhelming, which can zap your motivation to even start. Instead, turn your mountain of work into tiny molehills. You’ll feel
rewarded as you accomplish each hill, driving you to move forward. For example, if you need to write a speech, instead of perceiving it as one daunting, ginormous project, prepare an outline first to help you see the sequence of each section. As you fill in each of these molehills, you’ll be on your way to completing your speech. Each molehill is certainly less intimidating to write than an entire speech. You need a roadmap. If your goal is to expand your knitting store into a chain without first having a plan, then it’s just an empty wish. Plan backward from your end goal of establishing the chain of knitting stores: What is the second-to-last step? How will you get there? Establishing a map helps you see where you’re going so that you won’t get lost along the way. Use a Planner or Scheduler Once you break the mountain into molehills, you must set a specific date and time for when you will climb each hill using a 2015 scheduler or planner. If you do not establish a specific time and date to accomplish your task,
BusinessWomanPA.com
|
January 2015
~
7
CAREER
Dr. Jenny C. Yip, clinical psychologist, speaker, and author of Productive, Successful You! End Procrastination by Making Anxiety Work for You Rather than Against You.
then you won’t hold yourself accountable for completing it. Once you place it in your calendar, schedule alerts to remind you of the upcoming task until it’s completed. Plus, seeing your week fully planned in front of you helps you balance plans and anticipate what’s ahead. Keep in mind that “flexibility” is key! As women, our lives are full of unexpected turns. Your child gets hurt at school, an employee is out sick, and your aging parent is lost again. If you must put off scheduled tasks, even mundane ones, it’s vital to reschedule specific dates and times for each incomplete task immediately! A “to-do” list does not count as planning if you haven’t set a specific time for accomplishing each task. Hold yourself accountable to actually doing it. If not, your list will just get longer and longer. Schedule your tasks in a planner or your mobile device’s calendar so that you won’t lose sight of them. Visualize Your Success One major contributor to procrastination is the inability to see
8
the top of the mountain you are climbing. Visualizing yourself working through and achieving each goal enhances an “I can” attitude that will increase your motivation and drive to actually complete your tasks. Think of it as your mind’s muscle memory that you must exercise daily. Most importantly, really feel the successful completion of your task. When you visualize success, it becomes more attainable simply because your mind believes it’s possible. • When you wake up every morning, set aside 10 to 15 minutes to visualize all of your goals for that day. • Visualize each precise task that you need to complete using your scheduler as your guide. • Envision completing each molehill as well as the whole mountain. • Utilize all of your senses to feel the sensation of achieving each goal. As with any skill worth having, practice makes habit. The tools may
~ January 2015 | BUSINESSWoman
feel foreign initially and require some time getting used to. When they become more familiar through repetition, they’ll develop into natural habits. With time, you’ll minimize the anxiety and torture from procrastination in order to maximize productive efforts. Setbacks and hardships are all parts of the business world. Your belief in yourself to achieve is what will take you to the next level. At the end of the day, you are what you make of your business. Just make sure to set realistic goals. If your goals require extreme effort, it will likely kill motivation, so make sure goals are reasonably attainable. Nothing is perfect, and wasting time striving for it will actually prove less productive. Instead, embrace imperfection and utilize challenges as learning experiences. With these strategies, you can turn negative anxiety into positive energy and overcome chronic procrastination. Your new year will be off to a productive start! For professional assistance gaining
control over procrastination, contact a mental health expert in your area. Don’t be afraid to seek help—it’s healthy for your mind, and therefore, healthy for business! • Dr. Jenny C. Yip is a nationally recognized anxiety expert. She’s a clinical psychologist, speaker, and author of Productive, Successful You! End Procrastination by Making Anxiety Work for You Rather than Against You, guiding readers though the step-by-step process toward avoiding procrastination and achieving increased productivity. She founded the Renewed Freedom Center in Los Angeles. Yip is board certified in cognitive and behavioral psychology by the American Board of Professional Psychology (ABPP) and is a clinical assistant professor of psychiatry at the USC Keck School of Medicine. dryip.com
CAREER
Break Your
Hurry Habit By CLAIRE YEZBAK FADDEN
I
t was just a few weeks ago. I was at home, opening the mail. That’s when I received a check for a freelance writing assignment. That’s always a happy moment for me. As any busy woman and mother of three would do, I continued finishing a variety of chores. It was about a half hour later when I realized that I had misplaced the check. I retraced my steps in the hopes of finding it. Wow, I had done a lot in that 30 minutes: paid some bills, threw in a load of laundry, dropped off magazines at the neighbor’s house, fed the dogs. Still, I couldn’t find the check. I was discouraged about losing money, but what really bugged me was the amount of time I had wasted trying to find that check. In my haste to get more done, I had actually accomplished less, and I was more stressed for my efforts. Yes, I finally found the check. It had been gathered up along with some other materials I had filed for a future writing assignment.
Why We Hurry As a young girl, I remember my mother saying: “The hurrier I go, the behinder I get.” When I was 10, this made no sense to me. Now (a couple decades later), I know exactly what Mom was trying to say. There would always be something else to do, no matter how much you had done. Women are notorious for working on one project while mentally preparing for the next. We try to do two or three things at once because we feel as though there’s not enough time to get
everything done. As Dr. David Kundtz states in his book, Stopping: How to Be Still When You Have to Keep Going, “Most of us in this hurry-up, email world of instant response are feeling a sense of overload. “We all have been feeling, at least on a subliminal level, the choices, demands, and complexities of life increase with every passing year,” says Kundtz. “We have more to be, more to do, more places to go, and more things we want or need to accomplish.” Small Slowdowns Kundtz offers a wonderful strategy for slowing down when there is no time—stillpoints. “A stillpoint is stopping quickly and doing nothing for just a moment. It is
brief and meant to be used anytime, all the time, and many times a day,” writes Kundtz. For many of us who don’t have time to take a day off or enjoy a minivacation, stillpoints can keep you going. “Stillpoints are the little times, brief interludes, quick respites, one-minute breaks, breathers, intermissions, and lulls,” advises Kundtz. He recommends taking them while sitting on a bus or waiting at the copier, online, or in line. It’s simple to take a stillpoint. Kundtz tells how: “You stop doing whatever you’re doing, sit or stand, take a deep breath with your eyes open or closed, focus your attention inward, and remember what you need to remember. Stop, breathe, and remember.”
Enter Your Day Do you start your day with a mental to-do list? Before you’ve even opened your eyes and had a chance to brush your teeth, have you already given yourself six to eight things to get done today? You’ve already put in a full day and you’ve only been awake for five minutes. That’s how I used to be. Now I have a great strategy that helps me slow down before my day gets started. I borrowed it from my longtime friend, Melanie. Years ago, before she was the mother of two young girls, Melanie shared a secret with me: “I don’t just get up in the morning; I enter the day,” she said. Just changing your mindset from getting up to entering the day sounded good to me.
BusinessWomanPA.com
|
January 2015
~
9
CAREER
“You have no control over anyone’s mood but your own,” adds Melanie, “so that’s why I make it a priority for all of my family to have a happy entry into the day … even if I have to plan ahead the night before to get our mornings off to a smooth start.” Because of Melanie’s sage advice, I begin each day with five to six deep breaths. Before my feet even hit the floor, I’ve nourished my body with oxygen and feel more aware. I’m ready to face what my three boys have cooked up for me. Some women enter their day with a prayer or read from a poetry book; others lie still and listen to the sounds of nature just outside the window. In Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff for Women, author Kristine Carlson calls it “getting off to a peaceful start.” “It’s easy to create your own morning ritual to enhance rather than disrupt the rest of your day,” writes Carlson. “And what’s great is that you can set up this special time any way you wish.”
Carlson boasts that starting your day in a peaceful way leads to a more peaceful day. “The problem is, if you get off to a hectic, ‘charge and go’ beginning, this mentality will remain with you throughout your entire day. Once you’re in a frenetic mind frame, it’s very difficult to get out of it.” There’s good news, though, reminds Carlson: “The reverse is also true. If you get off to a more peaceful
start, you’ll tend to carry that sense of peace with you in whatever you do.” Every day I work on breaking my hurry habit. Some days I’m more successful than others—it takes practice, just like any skill you’re trying to improve. Yes, the coffee table may not get dusted this week, and maybe I didn’t reorganize the pantry like I’ve wanted to do. But it’s not a bad tradeoff. My state of mind is crisper and clearer, and my
energy level is high. In my sloweddown mode, I do more, do it better, choose it more carefully, and, most importantly, I enjoy each day more! What a great habit to begin this new year! • Claire Yezbak Fadden, a San Diego-based freelance writer and the mother of three sons, was not in a hurry to finish this article. Follow her on Twitter @claireflaire.
Quick Slow-Downs
Great Books to Help You Slow Down
• Take a deep breath (feel your tummy pooch out). Hold it for a couple of seconds and release it. Make sure your hands are open, not clenched into fists.
• Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff for Women, Kristine Carlson (Hyperion)
• Smile for no apparent reason. • Walk instead of driving somewhere nearby.
• Inner Gardening: Four Seasons of Cultivating the Soil and the Spirit, Diane Dreher (William Morrow) • Stopping: How to Be Still When You Have to Keep Going, David Kundtz (Conari Press)
• Take off your wristwatch for a couple of hours. • Whistle, hum, or sing. • Take time to try a new flavor of tea or enjoy an old favorite.
• Time Shifting: Creating More Time to Enjoy Your Life, Stephan Rechtschaffen (Doubleday)
A BRENNER FAMILY DEALERSHIP
SALES
|
SERVICE
BRENNER NISSAN 6271 CARLISLE PIKE, MECHANICSBURG, PA
|
PARTS
BRENNER CHRYSLER JEEP 6039 CARLISLE PIKE, MECHANICSBURG, PA
BRENNER PRE-OWNED 2222 PAXTON STREET, HARRISBURG, PA
10
~ January 2015 | BUSINESSWoman
TOLL FREE! 1-877-BRENNER www.BRENNERFAMILY.com
Understanding Insurance for the Business
I
By SYLVESTER E. WILLIAMS, IV
LIFESTYLE
nsurance coverage is available for every conceivable risk your business might encounter. The cost and amount of coverage for various policies differs among insurers. Protecting your business investment with insurance is a crucial aspect of any business. The use of insurance helps to minimize the risks associated with unexpected events, liabilities, and losses. Likewise, as with all insurance markets, knowing and finding the best insurance for your needs is not an easy task. The business owner should be prepared to discuss specific details regarding business risks and the types of insurance available with an insurance agent or broker. Ultimately, the agency will advise you on the types of insurance you should consider purchasing. However, having a strong knowledge of the business is critical in order to prepare sufficiently. The business owner should develop a comprehensive plan to protect what they own, minimize what they owe, and preserve the residual equity built up in the business over time. Whether you are starting a new venture, taking on employees for the first time, or changing your business structure, there are many variables that determine the right level of insurance for your business, including your business structure, business activities, location, whether or not you hire employees, and so on. There are two fundamental categories of insurance that can be used by small businesses: commercial business insurance, which is not necessarily required by law, and
employer insurance, which is. Listed below is a summary of the types of insurance you may wish to consider to protect your assets and residual equity, as well as the insurance requirements you must comply with as an employer. Types of Commercial Business Insurance Although not necessarily required by law, you would be wise to purchase enough business insurance to protect your business assets against events such as the death of a partner, a natural disaster, or a lawsuit. It’s a common misconception to think that structuring your business as a corporation or LLC limits the need for business insurance. Yes, these corporate structures limit liability for the business owner, but they do not eliminate the costs that insurance would cover. If the business is sued, the insurance can cover the risk of loss. While these business structures do protect the personal assets of the owner
from business liabilities, relying on business structure alone to protect your personal assets is not a substitute for liability insurance, which covers your business from losses. It’s also important to know that, in certain instances, state law may require that your particular business activity is sufficiently covered by specific forms of insurance. For example, if you use a car or truck for business purposes, your state may require that you purchase commercial auto insurance for its use. General Liability Insurance – Business owners purchase general liability insurance to cover legal hassles due to accident, injuries, and claims of negligence. These policies protect against payments as the result of bodily injury, property damage, medical expenses, libel, slander, the cost of defending lawsuits, and settlement bonds or judgments required during an appeal procedure. Product Liability Companies that
Insurance – manufacture,
wholesale, distribute, and retail a product may be liable for its safety. Product liability insurance protects against financial loss as a result of a defective product that causes injury or bodily harm. The amount of insurance you should purchase depends on the products you sell or manufacture. A clothing store would have far less risk than a small appliance store, for example. Professional Liability Insurance – Business owners providing services should consider having professional liability insurance (also known as errors and omissions insurance). This type of liability coverage protects your business against malpractice, errors, and negligence in provision of services to your customers. Depending on your profession, you may be required by your state government to carry such a policy. For example, physicians are required to purchase malpractice insurance as a condition of practicing in certain states.
BusinessWomanPA.com
|
January 2015
~
11
CAREER
Commercial Property Insurance – Property insurance covers everything related to the loss and damage of company property due to a wide variety of events such as fire, smoke, wind, and hailstorms; civil disobedience; and vandalism. The definition of “property” is broad and includes lost income, business interruption, buildings, computers, company papers, and money. Property insurance policies come in two basic forms: all-risk policies covering a wide range of incidents and perils except those noted in the policy and peril-specific policies that cover losses from only those perils listed in the policy. Examples of peril-specific policies include fire, flood, crime, and business interruption insurance. All-risk policies generally cover risks faced by the average small business, while perilspecific policies are usually purchased when there is high risk of peril in a certain area. Consult your insurance agent or
12
broker about the type of business property insurance best suited for your small business. Home-Based Business Insurance – Contrary to popular belief, homeowner’s insurance policies do not generally cover home-based business losses. Depending on risks to your business, you may add riders to your homeowner’s policy to cover normal business risks such as property damage. However, homeowner’s policies only go so far in covering home-based businesses, and you may need to purchase additional policies to cover other risks, such as general and professional liability. It is always a good idea to have separate coverage for a business operating out of the home, especially if the home-based business has the potential to cause liability to the dwelling. Insurance Employers If your
~ January 2015 | BUSINESSWoman
Requirements small
business
for hires
employees, you are required by state law to pay for certain types of insurance. Here is a breakdown of the three key employee insurance requirements: Worker’s Compensation Insurance – Businesses with employees are required to carry worker’s compensation insurance coverage through a commercial carrier, on a self-insured basis, or through the state worker’s compensation insurance program. Visit your state’s worker’s compensation office for more information on your state’s program. Unemployment Insurance Tax – If you have employees, you are required to pay unemployment insurance taxes as determined by your state. First you’ll need to register your business with your state’s workforce agency. The state taxes page on IRS.gov includes links to connect you with your state’s agency. Disability Insurance – In the U.S., it is mandatory to purchase disability
insurance only if your business is in one of six locations: California, Hawaii, New Jersey, New York, Puerto Rico, and Rhode Island. If your business is located elsewhere, the law does not require you to purchase disability insurance for your employees; however, it can be purchased and provided as part of an “employee benefit” package for your employees through commercial insurance companies. As you can see, the small-business owner has lots to consider when thinking about insurance. The key principle here is understanding that the legal business structure limits liability for the owner, but an obligation is still due to someone. That is the beauty of insurance because it is used to cover the obligation that is created by unwanted liability. Remember, the business owner should protect what is owned, limit what is owed, and preserve the wealth that is built on the business.
T
he Harrisburg Regional Chamber & CREDC recently joined more than 400 of the region’s business and community leaders at the 2014 Catalyst Awards, held at the Whitaker Center for Science & the Arts. The black-tie-optional event featured the theme of “celebrating 100 years of excellence” as the chamber marks its 100th anniversary. Each year, member businesses and individuals are honored for their outstanding contributions to the Harrisburg Regional Chamber & CREDC, along with the regional business community at large. One of the many highlights of the evening was the presentation of the 2014 Athena Award to Jeannine Peterson, president and CEO of Hamilton Health Center. ATHENA Leadership Award® recipients are individuals who: • Have achieved the highest level of professional excellence
H
CAREER
Jeannine Peterson Receives Athena Award • Contribute time and energy to improve the quality of life for others in the community • Actively assist others, particularly women, in realizing their full leadership potential Throughout her 30-plus years in public and community health, Peterson has been a role model and mentor for many women and young girls. In September 2012, under her leadership, Hamilton Health Center opened a new state-of-the-art, 67,000square-foot medical mall in one of Harrisburg’s most densely populated, blighted areas of the city. This $23.5 million project significantly expanded the region’s primary healthcare capacity. The expansion has allowed Hamilton Health Center to increase pediatric and mental health services, along with dental care, to the region. In 2000, Hamilton Health Center served 11,000 individuals; by 2009,
2014 Athena Award recipient Jeannine Peterson, president and CEO of Hamilton Health Center.
more than 17,000 children and adults were being served. In 2014, the Hamilton Health Center will serve in excess of 20,000 patients. Currently, Peterson serves on numerous community boards and committees, including her role as chair of the United Way of the Capital Regions Board of Directors, legislative chair of the Pennsylvania Association of Community Health Centers, and advisor to the Dauphin County Health Improvement Partnership.
She has won numerous awards, including the Pennsylvania Association of Community Health Centers Lifetime Achievement Award. • Founded in 1982 by Martha Mayhood Mertz, ATHENA International is a nonprofit organization that seeks to support, develop, and honor women leaders. The program inspires women to reach their full potential and strives to create balance in leadership worldwide. For more information about the program, please visit www.athenainternational.org.
Veterans’ Expo & Job Fair H April 15, 2015 9 a.m. – 2 p.m. York Expo Center, Memorial Hall – East, 334 Carlisle Ave., York
They served us — now let us serve them! Reserve your space today! Sponsor & Exhibitor Opportunities Available
To become a sponsor or exhibitor, please contact your account representative, call (717) 285-1350, or email info@onlinepub.com
www.veteransexpo.com BusinessWomanPA.com
|
January 2015
~
13
Great Expectations:
T
Make 2015 Your Healthiest, Happiest, and Best Year Yet
LIFESTYLE
By KELLY JAMES-ENGER
here’s nothing like the beginning of a new year. And you probably have great expectations for this year, whether it’s losing weight, eating better, getting more active, or enjoying life more. Guess what? These kinds of changes all add up to a healthier, happier you … and better yet, they may be easier to achieve than you thought. Give these 11 tips a try, and you’ll help ensure 2015 is your best year yet:
Write Down Your Reasons Need help sticking with your resolutions? Write down the reasons you want to change. Say you want to exercise regularly, but you’re always too tired. Then remind yourself of why getting and staying fit is important to you. Is it because you want to improve your health? To get back into your favorite jeans? To simply feel more attractive? Write down your personal motivators and review the list when
you need a motivation boost, whatever your goals are. Plan Ahead If you want to eat better, start at home. Stock your kitchen wisely with a well-planned trip to the grocery store. With a pantry and refrigerator filled with healthful options, you’re more likely to eat better and less likely to cave and order in pizza. You’ll even save money forgoing junk food! Read All about It Reading labels is particularly important when you’re buying precooked dinners or other convenience meals. Check how many grams of protein and fat the meal contains, and watch your sodium intake by looking for entrees that have less than 500 mg of sodium/serving. And don’t forget to stock up on wholesome carb choices—wholewheat breads and pastas with at least two grams of fiber per serving are your best bet. Use Your Nose If you find scented candles relaxing, you may already have discovered that certain smells can improve mood and ease pain. Research has found that some odors ease anxiety and enhance well-being— for example, the smell of peppermint can relieve headache pain, and lavender and vanilla reduce feelings of depression. Burning candles or using scented sprays or air fresheners can make your environment more pleasant and help relax you as well.
14
~ January 2015 | BUSINESSWoman
Forget All-or-Nothing Gyms are notoriously crowded the first few weeks of January … and dead by mid-February. That’s because too many people jump into a workout routine but get derailed too easily. If you miss a workout (or two), don’t give it up entirely—be easier on yourself and simply start up again. If time is your biggest roadblock, sit down with your calendar. What’s the most convenient time for you to exercise? Is it first thing in the morning or over lunch? Or is after work the best time for you? Schedule your workouts the way you would any other responsibility—you’re more likely to stick to them. Use the Gym as a Stress-buster If you’re under a lot of pressure, use that as one more reason to hit the weights, not skip your workout. Exercise is one of the most effective tools you have for coping with stress—studies show it helps reduce anxiety and alleviate depression. Focus on what you can control— the exercises you choose at the gym— and let other things go. In fact, a workout can be the best way to cope with stress because it distracts your mind from your problems and gives you an emotional lift. Multitask with the Best of Them If time is short, consider blending your workout with another activity. Instead of going to lunch with your best friend, make a gym date instead. (Having a workout buddy makes you much more likely to stick with your routine!) Watch your favorite TV show while doing a cardio workout on the treadmill. Even taking a quick walk at lunchtime counts as exercise—and will reduce stress as well.
Use a Positive Spin When you’re running late, do you imagine that the worst will happen? Do you berate yourself because you should have gone through town instead of taking the highway? It’s easy to get into a negative mental loop, where you constantly criticize your own behavior. Break it and you’ll reduce the amount of anxiety you feel. If you’re going to be late, for example, frame your situation in a positive way. Ask yourself what you can learn—maybe now you know to leave 10 minutes earlier for a lunch date because of traffic.
Tune in to Music Dozens of studies have looked at how music therapy aids in stress reduction. What is soothing to one person may put your nerves on edge, however; choose music that you find pleasant. Whether it’s new age, piano music, or CDs designed with relaxation in
personal motivators and review the list when you need a motivation
boost, whatever your goals are.
”
mind, keep a stack of tunes you find particularly pleasing in your car and at home. You can play them as background or simply close your eyes, focus on the music, and let your mind wander. Schedule It In Hey, nobody likes going to the doctor. But regular medical and dental checkups not only keep you healthy, but they’re also part of a comprehensive self-care routine. Don’t look at seeing the doctor as something you “have” to do—look at it as something you’re doing for your overall well-being and that of your family as well. So, there you have it … 11 ways to make 2015 live up to your expectations. Enjoy it! • Kelly James-Enger is an ACE-certified personal trainer, freelancer, and coauthor of books including Small Changes, Big Results: A 12-Week Action Plan to a Better Life (Random House, 2005).
LIFESTYLE
Breathe through Your Belly Feeling overwhelmed? The quickest and easiest way to reduce stress is simply to focus on your breathing. When you’re stressed, you tend to breathe shallow, short breaths. Focus on slowing your breathing and inhaling more deeply—your stomach should expand as you take a breath and fall as you exhale. That will increase the amount of oxygen you take in and slow your heart rate as well. If you practice deep breathing regularly, you’ll soon find that it helps combat stress.
“ Write down your
Your guide to choosing the right living and care options for you or a loved one.
19th Edition Now Available! Call today for your free copy! (717) 285-1350
Online at onlinepub.com and in print.
BusinessWomanPA.com
|
January 2015
~
15
The Next Social Media Trend: Prenuptial Agreements
LIFESTYLE
By ERIN DANLY
I
t’s the latest trend in love: ABC reports that “socialmedia prenups” are on the rise. Social-media-savvy couples are setting expectations early when it comes to sharing information on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and similar platforms, so that neither partner shares unflattering or harmful information about the other. If they do, they pay the price.
16
~ January 2015 | BUSINESSWoman
Violating a Social-Media Prenuptial Agreement Will Cost You Social-media prenuptial agreements are new and are usually included as a clause in a married couple’s so-called “love contract,” or lifestyle clause, which lays out behavioral and physical requirements for things like how much partners can weigh and how often the couple should have sex. Social-media clauses typically do not specify social platforms but
rather set general rules on what aspects of the couple’s private life should not be shared online. Embarrassing swimsuit shots or photos of someone drunk and behaving inappropriately are examples of things rendered offlimits by these agreements. And it is not just talk. A violation of the social-media clause can set someone back as much as $50,000 per infraction. While the consequences of such posts may mostly be
psychological, the monetary penalty can be especially high if the offending material has harmed a partner’s professional reputation.
“”
Social-media-savvy couples are setting expectations early when it Facebook, Twitter, Instagram,
Related Article weblinks: • Dividing Fido and Fifi: Are pets treated like people or property in a divorce?
and similar platforms.
• 7 stunning divorce settlements from female celebrities
comes to sharing information on
clause could not only result in the stipulated financial penalty for the perpetrator, but also in a less favorable divorce settlement. Ideally, having the clause would prevent such a violation from ever occurring. So You Want a Social-Media Prenup If you are interested in a social-
• Ask Avvo: Where can we get a same-sex divorce? •
media clause in your prenuptial agreement, discuss the issue with your partner first. Agree on what is acceptable to share online and try to imagine scenarios that could result in harm or embarrassment. Next, contract a lawyer in your state to handle your prenuptial agreement. If you are already married,
Erin Danly is a writer for Avvo, an online resource that makes legal easier by providing free answers from lawyers, client reviews, and detailed profiles for 97 percent of all licensed attorneys in the U.S., so you can find the lawyer who’s right for you. Avvo advocates write about legal issues in everyday life on Avvo’s NakedLaw blog. www.nakedlaw.avvo.com
($425 value)
Great Deals on every New & Pre-owned vehicle & backed by Award Winning Service!
We have a vehicle for every budget!
Includes travel time and mileage expense, one hour onsite and one hour to prepare a written summary based on an initial overview of the network and office computer system. — MUST PRESENT COUPON AT TIME OF SERVICE — Nittany Link, Inc. • 717-737-8848 • www.nittanylink.com
BW1/15
We specialize in: • PC, Workstation and Server Support • Website and Email Hosting • Off-Site Back-up Services • Web Development Nittany Link works with companies of all sizes (including non-profits) to customize practical solutions to improve their current IT systems reliability, security, and data protection needs.
sales@nittanylink.com • (717) 737-8848 • www.nittanylink.com BusinessWomanPA.com
|
January 2015
~
17
LIFESTYLE
Couples Benefit at the Beginning and the End Couples who choose to add a social-media clause to their prenuptial agreement benefit in two ways. First, contractual discussions get partners talking about where they can and cannot compromise in their relationship, helping them set clear boundaries from the start. Second, it gives them power in the event of a nasty split. During a painful breakup, an angry partner may decide to post unflattering photos, or worse, get back at their former partner through cyber bullying. However, with divorce attorneys scouring clients’ socialmedia profiles to find information to use during divorce proceedings, revenge posting carries heavy consequences. A violation of the social-media
you can discuss the possibility of getting a postnuptial agreement. Your attorney will help you determine the scope and detail of the agreement and word it so it is enforceable by law, as many love contracts do not hold up in court.
W
WELLNESS
By SANDRA GORDON
hether you’re helping with homework, divvying up the dinner tab amongst your friends, or multitasking on several major projects at work, your brain works better when you feed it well. In fact, scientists in the pioneering field of nutritional neuroscience are finding that specific nutrients may be able to charge your brain’s neurotransmitters (messenger cells), thereby enhancing your mental performance and sharpening your memory. These nutrients come in pill form, but “the best brain food is a healthy diet,” says Madelyn Fernstrom, Ph.D., professor of psychiatry, epidemiology, and surgery at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine. To give yourself a mental edge, fortify your diet with foods that contain the following nutrients.
Neuro Nutrient: Iron What it does: This important mineral helps myoglobin in muscle cells and hemoglobin in red blood cells ferry oxygen throughout your
18
body, including to your brain. Ironpoor blood has been linked to a short attention span and mental sluggishness. Super sources: Red meat, poultry, pork, raisins, dried apricots, prunes, dried beans, fortified bread and grain products. Food for thought: Consume these foods with a vitamin C-rich food such as orange juice to up your body’s ability to absorb iron. Women age 50 and under should get 18 mg of iron per day (27 mg/day if you’re pregnant). Women age 51 and over need 8 mg of iron per day.
Neuro Nutrient: Choline What it does: In the body, choline is converted to the neurotransmitter acetylcholine, which appears to regulate memory and mental sharpness. Super sources: Eggs, red meat, nuts. In pill form, choline is found in lecithin. Food for thought: To limit arteryclogging saturated fat, which isn’t good for your brain or your heart, choose lean cuts of red meat and trim all fat before cooking.
Neuro Nutrient: Boron What it does: This little-known trace mineral may foster hand-eye coordination and short-term memory. Super sources: Apples, pears, broccoli, and carrots. Food for thought: In the body, boron mimics the action of the hormone estrogen, which means that, like estrogen, boron helps calcium keep bones strong.
Neuro Nutrient: Folic Acid What it does: This B vitamin (also known as folate in food form) helps maintain your brain’s levels of memoryboosting choline. Super sources: Orange and tomato juice; strawberries; dark-green, leafy vegetables such as spinach, broccoli, and turnip greens; wheat germ; dried beans; peas; and fortified grains and cereals.
~ January 2015 | BUSINESSWoman
Food for thought: Folic acid has been found to reduce a woman’s risk of having a baby with neural-tube birth defects; all women of childbearing age are advised to get at least 400 micrograms daily in foods or supplements to guard against the possibility of birth defects. Most breads and cereals sold in the U.S. are fortified with folic acid. Neuro Nutrient: Antioxidants What they do: Vitamins C, E, and beta carotene and other carotenoids (a class of orange plant pigments) help battle cell damage caused by free radicals (unstable oxygen molecules) that may lead to cloudy thinking and premature brain aging. Free radicals are unstable because they lack a full complement of electrons, so they steal electrons from other molecules, damaging those molecules in the process.
Super sources: Whole grains, nuts, and dark-green, purple, blue, red, yellow, or orange fruits and veggies such as tomatoes, sweet potatoes, strawberries, blueberries, concord grapes, cantaloupe, and kale. A trick to help you meet your quota of five or more servings of fruits and vegetables a day: Pack in the produce before 4 p.m. Studies show that if you don’t get it by then, your chances of eating enough produce for the day are slim. Food for thought: The latest research shows that taking antioxidants in pill form or added to foods doesn’t confer the same health benefits as getting them from food. Getting plenty of free radicals from your diet can also help reduce your risk of heart disease.
Neuro nutrient: Calcium What it does: Although its main job is to build strong bones, calcium has also been shown to increase your ability to concentrate during premenstrual days, when hormonal changes impair mental focus. Super sources: Non-fat and low-fat milk and cheese, yogurt (regular and frozen), calcium-fortified juices, broccoli, and mustard greens. Food for thought: Women age 50 and under should aim for 1,000 mg per day, including if you’re pregnant or nursing, which is roughly equivalent to the amount of calcium in 2 cups of low-fat yogurt plus an 8-ounce glass of milk. Women over age 51 should get 1,200 mg of calcium per day.
November 29 - December 9, 2015
INCLUDED FEATURES: »
Free Parking with Roundtrip Transfers to Port of Baltimore, MD
»
Ten nights aboard the GRANDEUR OF THE SEAS
»
All onboard meals and entertainment (specialty restaurants have nominal fees)
» » »
Welcome reception Baggage Handling AAA Group Leader
STARTING AT
$1,229 pp dbl.* WELLNESS
Neuro nutrient: Linolenic acid What it does: This superunsaturated essential fatty acid helps brain cells forge new connections. With linolenic acid in your diet, you might “get it”—especially complex stuff—more easily. Women should get 1.1 grams of linolenic acid per day. Super sources: Canola, soy, walnut, and flaxseed oils; seaweed (say, in a sushi wrapper). Food for thought: Unsaturated, heart-healthy fats, such as soy and canola oil, are also good sources of vitamin E, an antioxidant that may reduce your risk of heart disease as well as boost your immune system, keep your brain and eyes healthy, and reduce your cancer risk.
WESTERN CARIBBEAN CRUISE
For more information please visit your local AAA Central Penn office or call 800-253-6238.
* Rates are subject to availability at time of booking and include taxes, fees and fuel surcharges which are subject to change. All pricing and included features are based on a minimum of 25 passengers.
BusinessWomanPA.com
|
January 2015
~
19
EAPs:
Keeping the Pace
A
WELLNESS
By CHERYL RAUDENBUSH
s professional businesswomen, most of us will admit there is evidence of an increased level of stress in our lives caused by the pace of our society and the multiple roles we take on. We try to manage our families, excel in our professional careers, contribute to our communities, and, if there is any time left at all, be attentive to our own self-care. Most of us can deal with life’s problems on our own, but sometimes they can be difficult and even be too much for us to handle. Have you ever experienced this? Chances are, you probably have ... and so have your employees. According to the American Psychological Association, over half of working adults are concerned about the amount of stress in their daily lives. In some cases, it’s something your employees don’t want to discuss with family, friends, or coworkers—or maybe they just need an outside opinion. This is where an Employee Assistance Program (EAP) comes into play. How can you determine which EAP model is the best fit for your organization? I was recently the passenger in my daughter’s car and had to ask how to put the window down. My daughter said, “Mom, see the handle? You have to roll it down the ‘old-fashioned’ way!” We both laughed. This is what comes to mind when I reflect on the pace of change in our world. Our workforce needs have changed, technology has improved, and the EAP model must rise to the challenge. The EAP goal should be to provide top-quality, comprehensive services
20
that allow employers to maximize the potential of their greatest asset: their employees. So ... no more rolling down the window by hand! Benefits of an EAP for human resources departments and supervisors: Solving employee performance problems. Offering counseling through the EAP as a part of the discipline process can help to solve the root of the problems that are resulting in performance issues rather than just dealing with the matter on a temporary basis. Since employee absenteeism and tardiness cost U.S. companies as much as $3 billion a year, it is wise to implement an effective and comprehensive EAP in your organization. Providing supervisory training and support. Having the option to refer employees to the EAP for their personal problems allows supervisors and HR to focus on their own jobs rather than having to take on the additional responsibility of being an onsite counselor. EAPs can also work with supervisors/management staff with “problem” employees and determine the appropriate course of action to help these employees. Policy and procedure development is another way the EAP can assist HR, and many EAPs provide a number of training programs to address a broad range of organizational issues. In the event a layoff occurs, the EAP can be called in to assist with the emotional impact. Masi Research Consultants recently
~ January 2015 | BUSINESSWoman
conducted an EAP study that found a $13 return on every $1 invested if a supervisor recommended the EAP to an employee who demonstrated poor work performance. This savings typically goes unnoticed. Improving morale. The EAP is an important benefit for your employees and shows that you care about their mental and emotional health and well-being, the way your health, dental, and/or vision insurance shows that you care about their physical health. The EAP can also act as a costcontainment measure. Research has shown that the return on investment for an EAP ranges from $3 to $12 for
each dollar invested. EAPs offer longterm cost savings by: Improving employee productivity. Recent studies indicate that impaired employees function at 75 percent of productivity when compared to unimpaired employees. Assuming that 10 percent of the workforce has problems serious enough to affect productivity, you can estimate the cost to your company by using a simple formula: (number of employees) x (average salary of all employees) x 10 percent (.10) x 25 percent (.25) = dollars lost annually. Decreasing unplanned absenteeism. Some employees unexpectedly take
off from work to deal with personal/family issues, while others need the time to recuperate from drug or alcohol abuse. The average employer loses $688 per employee per year on unscheduled absences. Increasing employee retention. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services reported that EAPs contributed to 35 percent reduced turnover. The average cost of turnover can be between 50-150 percent of an employee’s annual salary. Limiting liability and promoting workplace safety. The EAP helps to reduce or eliminate employer liability by providing a system for professional problem assessment and treatment for mental health as well as substance abuse issues—thereby decreasing accidents due to those issues. Reducing health insurance claims. Every claim on your health insurance has the potential to increase
“”
4. Is the EAP woven into the fabric of your organization, providing support to each employee, or is it just a website with online resources?
It may be wise
to implement an effective and comprehensive EAP (Employee Assistance Program) in your organization. next year’s premiums. EAP sessions are never reported to your healthcare provider. Also, counseling can be an alternative to taking costly prescription drugs—or a supplementary treatment to increase the effectiveness of medications or decrease the need for these drugs. There are a few important questions that are necessary to ask when choosing an EAP: 1. What services and promotional materials are included in the EAP contract’s costs?
2. Does the EAP have additional services to meet the needs of your company (hiring support, job benchmarking processes, EQ and competency/behavior assessment tools, 360 feedback processes, succession planning, mediation, coaching, trainings, management consultation, retirement workshops, outplacement services, wellness model, and/or live people answering the phone 24/7/365)? 3. Is the EAP willing to tailor the contract and provide the additional services to meet your corporate cultural needs?
A quality employee assistance program will have its finger on the pulse of your organization’s operation and become a partner in improving the overall climate and operation. As the workforce and the demands of our economy change, it is important that employee assistance programs be a vital part of the industry’s efforts to address and meet challenges of the ever-changing work environment. • Cheryl Raudenbush, M.Ed., is the corporate education and development specialist for Mazzitti & Sullivan EAP Services. Mazzitti & Sullivan EAP Services has been providing a comprehensive employee assistance program since 1984 and continues to grow, serving almost 300 employers and covering over 500,000 lives locally, regionally, and nationwide. www.mseap.com
Lancaster’s Information Highway! arts and culture • local sports • education entertainment • ideas & information Sponsor and Underwrite a Program or Sport!
with a common vision of prosperity for York County
local businesses to resources and each other
on behalf of York County businesses
Volunteer Your Time and Talent with Station Productions and Operations! Contact Diane Dayton, executive director: DianeDayton@aol.com
www.LCTV66.org • facebook.com/LCTV66
@YCEAPA
YorkCountyEconomicAlliance
www.ycea-pa.org BusinessWomanPA.com
|
January 2015
~
21
WELLNESS
Many Resou Resources...One rces...One Network Network etw twork
WOMEN TO
Watch
Amanda Brigaman has been named vice president and retail market manager for Metro Bank’s York and Lancaster markets. Brigaman has been with Metro Bank since 2004, most recently as the retail market manager for the Harrisburg West region.
Kristen Mekulsia has been promoted to vice president and senior retail market manager. As senior retail market manager, she will oversee sales production, customer experience, and employee development, as well as growth and profitability in all of the bank’s 33 locations.
Jacqueline M. Rogers recently joined SF&Company, CPAs
Pamela A. White recently joined SF&Company, CPAs and Business Advisors, as an administrative assistant in the Harrisburg location. She has a strong background in administration and accounting and most recently worked as an accounting manager.
and Business Advisors, as office administrative supervisor in the Harrisburg location. She has a strong background in administration and information management and most recently worked as an office manager.
ACHIEVEMENTS &
Karen Myers has joined the York County Community Foundation as administrative assistant. Myers will provide administrative support to the president/CEO as well as general assistance to all staff of the foundation and the Cultural Alliance of York County.
Mary Wilt-Smith has been named vice president and retail market manager for Metro Bank’s Harrisburg East market, where she will oversee retail operations. Wilt-Smith has 18 years of banking experience, the last 13 years with Metro Bank.
Applause
Alexandra Chiaruttini, an environmental attorney at the York law firm of Stock and Leader, recently earned a rating of “Preeminent,” the highest rating available through Martindale-Hubbell, a service that has provided quality information about attorneys for more than 100 years.
Karen S. Seidenstricker, principal agent with KGS Insurance Agency LLC, has attained the designation of CIC— Certified Insurance Counselor. This achievement signifies a commitment to continuing education, required of all those who have earned the CIC designation.
Do you have an announcement? Please email your announcements of career advancements and professional new hires to crupp@onlinepub.com. Electronic photos should be saved as a tiff, jpeg, pdf or eps at 300 dpi. Or mail to: BUSINESSWOMAN, 3912 Abel Drive, Columbia, PA 17512. Photos sent through mail will not be returned. Please – no duplicate releases.
CONNECTIONS
Don’t miss another issue! Get BUSINESSWoman delivered right to your door. Subscribe online at BusinessWomanPA.com/subscribe 22
~ January 2015 | BUSINESSWoman
MEET AND
Greet
American Business Women’s Association (ABWA) Camelot Chapter 6 p.m. 3rd Monday of the month The Radisson Penn Harris Hotel & Convention Center, Camp Hill Debra Yates, President 717.763.7814 dyates7870@aol.com www.abwacamelot.com Lancaster Area Express Network 7:15 – 9 a.m. 3rd Wednesday of the month Lancaster Country Club 1466 New Holland Pike, Lancaster Jennie Weinhold 717.715.2595 info@LAEN-ABWA.com www.LAEN-ABWA.com Lebanon Valley Chapter 6 p.m. 4th Wednesday of the month Hebron Fire Hall 701 E. Walnut St., Lebanon Penny Donmoyer 717.383.6969 www.abwalebanonpa.com Penn Square Chapter 11:45 a.m. – 1 p.m. 2nd Thursday of the month Hamilton Club 106 E. Orange St., Lancaster Donna Anderson 717.392.8285 donnatroptan@yahoo.com Wheatland – Conestoga Chapter 6 p.m. 1st Tuesday of the month Heritage Hotel 500 Centerville Road, Lancaster Kimberly Warner, President kwarner@murrayins.com Women @ Work Express Network 11:30 a.m. – 1:15 p.m. 2nd Thursday of the month Heritage Hotel 500 Centerville Road, Lancaster Beth Lovell blovell@comcast.net www.abwalancaster.com
Central PA Association for Female Executives (CPAFE) 1st Wednesday of each month Refer to the website for the meeting location Cathy Jennings, President 717.713.7255 info@cpafe.org www.cpafe.org
Red Rose Chapter 6:15 p.m. 4th Tuesday of the month Woodcrest Villa 2001 Harrisburg Pike, Lancaster Tamara Coleman tcoleman1123@comcast.net www.iaaplancaster.com
Executive Women International Harrisburg Chapter 5:30 p.m. 3rd Thursday of the month Rotating location Kathy Lacomba klacomba@pa-fsa.org www.ewiharrisburg.org
White Rose Chapter of York 6 p.m. 3rd Wednesday of the month Normandie Ridge 1700 Normandie Ridge Drive, York Dorothy Keasey 717.792.1410 djkeasey@comcast.net
Harrisburg Business Women 11:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. 2nd Tuesday of the month, Sept. – July Best Western Premier Central Hotel & Conference Center 800 E. Park Drive, Harrisburg Lynne Baker, President 717.215.2327 info@harrisburgbusinesswomen.org www.harrisburgbusinesswomen.org Insurance Professionals of Lancaster County (IPLC) 5:45 p.m. 3rd Tuesday of the month, Sept. – May Heritage Hotel 500 Centerville Road, Lancaster Krista Reed, President kreed@gunnmowery.com www.internationalinsuranceprofessionals.org/ group/117 International Association of Administrative Professionals Harrisburg Chapter 5:30 p.m. 3rd Monday of the month Holiday Inn Harrisburg East 4751 Lindle Road, Harrisburg Helen E. Wallace, CAP-OM, President Jodi Mattern, CAP, Webmaster jodi4psu@gmail.com www.iaap-harrisburg-pa.org
Mechanicsburg Business Women 11:30 a.m. 3rd Wednesday of the month Giant Super Foods Community Room 3301 Trindle Rd, Camp Hill Abeer Srouji Allen info@mechanicsburgbusinesswomen.org www.mechanicsburgbusinesswomen.org Pennsylvania Public Relations Society 5:30 p.m. Last Thursday of the month Joan Nissley, President pprshbg@gmail.com www.pprs-hbg.org Shippensburg Women’s Area Networking (SWAN) Noon 1st Wednesday of the month Rotating location Lisa Mack, President shipswan@yahoo.com www.facebook.com/shipswan
Women’s Business Center Organization (WBCO) 11:30 a.m. 2nd Tuesday of the month Sept. through April Mary Meisenhelter Debra Goodling-Kime Yorkview Hall Willman Business Center York College of PA 441 Country Club Road, York jsternerwbco@ycp.edu www.wbcoyork.org Women Inspiring Success Express Network 7:15 - 9 a.m. 2nd Tuesday of the month Knickers Pub at Heritage Hills 2700 Mt. Rose Ave., York Wanda Stiffler 717.891.7808 wls1211@hotmail.com Women’s Independent Networking Group (WING) Noon 1st and 3rd Wednesday of the month Heritage Hills 2700 Mount Rose Ave.,York Lisa Barshinger 717-747-6393 info@wingofyork.com www.wingofyork.com Women’s Network of York 11:30 a.m. 3rd Tuesday of the month Out Door Country Club 1157 Detwiler Drive, York Theresa La Cesa Jennifer Smyser, President happydayus@yahoo.com www.wnyork.com
Hershey Chapter 5:30pm 2nd Tuesday of the Month Hershey Lodge 325 University Drive, Hershey 717.508.1710 mbair@hersheypa.com www.hershey-iaap.org
CONNECTIONS
Yellow Breeches Chapter 6 p.m. 4th Wednesday of the month Comfort Suites 10. S. Hanover St., Carlisle Jofa Kauffman jofa@paonline.com
WOMEN’S NETWORKING GROUPS
BusinessWomanPA.com
|
January 2015
~
23
Help Your Business Bl
m!
EARLY BIRD SPECIAL! Register by January 31, 2015, and get $100 OFF! Sponsor and exhibitor applications now being accepted.
E March 21, 2015
($100 off before 1/31/15.*)
9 a.m. – 2 p.m.
omen’s Expo Lancaster County
Hershey Lodge 325 University Drive Hershey NEW LOCATI O
N!
May 30, 2015 9 a.m. – 2 p.m. Millersville University Marauder Court 21 S. George St., Millersville
These two dynamic expos are your chance to have face time with existing clients and potential customers who could use your product or service. Thousands of women have enjoyed these events, which have included exhibitors, fashion shows, demonstrations, free spa treatments, seminars, plenty of shopping, and fun for women of all ages. Exhibitors will be offering information about:
Health & Wellness • Finance • Home Technology • Beauty • Nutrition and more! *some exclusions apply.
RESERVER YOUR SPACE TODAY!
Woman BUSINESS
career
~
lifestyle
~
wellness
~
connections
3912 Abel Drive Columbia, PA 17512 businesswomanpa.com
717.285.1350
To reserve space or for more information, call 717.285.1350, or visit:
aGreatWayToSpendMyDay.com
~ ~ ~ ~
career lifestyle wellness connections