2011 12 Newsletter

December 2011

"We Mean Business"

1

INSIDEPresident’s Message

Page 2

Member News Page 3 & 8

Year in Review Photos Page 4 & 7

Calendar Pages 5-6

New Members Page 9

T H E E D G Ev o l u m e 2 1 • i s s u e 1 2 • D e c e m b e r 2 0 1 1

a guide to Butler County business information

T h e o f f i c i a l n e w s l e t t e r o f t h e B u t l e r C o u n t y C h a m b e r o f C o m m e r c e

Printing provided by: Minuteman Press in the Pullman Commerce Center (724) 283-7403

ButlerCountyChamber.com724.283.2222

"Serving the Butler County

business communitysince 1896"

A rea businesses are invited to participate in the 10th Annual ‘Health, Wealth, Wellness & More’ Business Expo to be held Friday, February 3, and Saturday, February 4, 2012, at Clearview Mall, Center Court. This event, brought to you by the Butler County Chamber of Commerce in cooperation with the Clearview Mall, is open to all interested businesses and organizations.

The event will take place on Friday from Noon to 6:00 p.m. and on Saturday from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Vendors will receive one 8-foot covered table and two chairs and electricity is available upon request. This year’s event is generously sponsored by Butler Armco Employees Credit Union, Butler County Family YMCA, Butler Eagle and Butler Health System.

Scheduled to take place before Valentine’s Day, this expo is very popular with the local business community. Vendors experience great business-to-business networking opportunities as well as the opportunity to take advantage of the Clearview Mall’s already built-in ‘shopper traffic’. Plus, as an added bonus, all vendors are permitted to sell merchandise during the event!

To register, simply complete and send back the registration flyer included in this month’s issue of The Leading Edge, or contact the Chamber office directly at 724.283.2222.

Register Now For Expo At Clearview Mall10th Annual ‘Health, Wealth, Wellness & More’ Business Expo

Is February 3rd & 4th

T he Chop Shop on Main Street Butler was “buzzing” with activity on November 3, when over 50 Butler County Young Professionals mixed it up at their first

annual membership recruitment event. Music and games were provided courtesy of Wedding Solutions, Inc. and a wide variety of gift baskets were donated courtesy of ARMSTRONG, Farmers National Bank, ESB Bank and Butler Downtown. Those who joined that night were given a free one-year membership.

The Butler County Young Professionals is a networking group for professionals employed at Butler County businesses who are embarking on their careers. Together they have the opportunity to participate in professional development and social activities with others from the area. As an affiliate of the Butler County Chamber of Commerce we understand that networking and development often begin with social interaction. They are offered numerous ways to become involved, to share, to interact, and to learn, to question, to network and to make a positive impact on our community. For more information on joining, please visit ButlerCountyChamber.com or email [email protected].

50 joined in 60 seconds

December 2011Butler County Chamber of Commerce2

Board of Directors

professional staff

EXECUTIVE BOARD

Dr. Nicholas Neupauer Board Chair Butler County Community College

Joe Taylor 1st Vice Chair Armstrong

Tammy Schuey 2nd Vice Chair Butler Eagle

Sherry Kyne Treasurer Eisler Nurseries, Inc.

Brenda Lemmon Past Chair Minuteman Press of Butler

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Dr. Edward Bucha Slippery Rock University

Dino Capestrani Concordia Visiting Nurses

Cecelia Buechele Foster Community Health Clinic of Butler County

Aubery Hulings Farmers National Bank

Brian McCafferty Kenmac Rentals & Sales

Glenn Miller

Thompson-Miller Funeral Home

Elisabeth Howard Sommers

C.W. Howard Insurance Agency

Brett Ligo Ligo Architects

Stephanie Roskovski

Butler Health System

Janice Pakozdi-Luffy Bear Metallurgical Co.

Ken Raybuck CDC of Butler County

Daniel Swartz ESB Bank

Dean Weiland Friedman’s Freshmarkets

Affilate Organizations:Butler County Young Professionals Kristen McKivigan-Kane Mike LysakowskiButler DowntownButler Human Resources AssociationFriday Morning Coffee ClubLeadership Butler CountyNew Visions for ButlerSlippery Rock Business Association

Stan Kosciuszko ..............................Ext. 23President Jennifer Monaco ..............................Ext. 21 Administrative Assistant

3


Member NewsA Letter From the president

“We Mean Business”any of you do business outside Butler County, and I am positive that you contact the Chamber of Commerce in that area when looking for opportunities or services. Imagine that process in reverse. Statistics show that our website has a phenomenal number of hits daily, and

the number one section viewed is the membership directory, with number two being our calendar of programs and events.

Chamber members are listed free of charge alphabetically, by type of business and by contact name with a direct link to your website. ButlerCountyChamber.com lists our programs and services and each event sponsor is additionally listed with logo. Boards and affiliates are listed. Many of you may not realize it, but someone contacted you because they found you on our website.

Remember the contact at that important business you wanted to meet? Odds are they will be at one of our seminars or mixers; maybe at our networking luncheon or business training seminar; maybe involved in Leadership Butler County or one of our other affiliates. We provide every avenue possible to assist your business to grow, and we encourage you to become involved.

We all like to do business with those in our comfort zone if possible, and we all appreciate the opportunity to meet prospective clients through social and business settings. The Butler County Chamber of Commerce has provided this service since 1896, and we do it better than anyone does.

When we say, “We Mean Business” we guarantee that our membership is given every opportunity to grow their business. What other organizations promise - exposure, regional partnerships, area wide networking and professional staffing and programming - we deliver without forgetting our home and our roots.

Chamber members will be receiving their investment statements for 2012, and many of you will be examining expenditures. You will notice a slight increase in our base investment (last adjustment was 2003) from $250 to $315 annually. No single investment offers you receive free access to over 600 area businesses locally; free exposure via the web internationally; unlimited opportunity to avail yourself of a wide variety of networking through committee and event involvement; the opportunity to “business socialize” with regional contacts and access to the resources of our entire membership who offer a wealth of expertise in areas from public relations and marketing to investments and training. Whether you are a small family-owned business or a multi-national corporation, we have a service or activity that suits you.

Through our connection to numerous local, regional, state and federal agencies, our Chamber can open many doors to you if you just “knock.” So, when someone asks you why you belong to our Chamber Family, you can honestly answer “too many reasons to mention.” I can assure you that one of your best business expenses is your investment in the Butler County Chamber of Commerce.

MSB Bank, a subsidiary of ESB Financial Corporation, held a ribbon cutting ceremony on Tuesday, November 1, 2011 to celebrate the grand opening of its new Cranberry

Township office located at 2630 Rochester Road, Cranberry Township, PA. In conjunction with the ribbon cutting, a donation was made to the Cranberry Township Volunteer Fire Department.

Charlotte A. Zuschlag, President and Chief Executive Officer stated, “We are truly excited about opening another office in Butler County to serve residents in southern Butler County as well as those in parts of northern Allegheny County and Beaver County. We firmly believe that this is a tremendous opportunity for ESB Bank to be actively involved in a dynamic and growing part of western Pennsylvania.”

The new office opened for business on Wednesday, October 26, 2011, and is a 2,794 square-foot facility and marks ESB Bank’s 25th branch office in western Pennsylvania. Kristy Gales, Assistant Vice President and Financial Services Manager will manage the new office with Ashley Bruce serving as the Customer Service Supervisor.

J unior Achievement of Western PA is helping to change the financial future of students in Butler County, and you can be a part of this great change!

Kim Weitzel, AVP Market Manager for NexTier Bank, is currently teaching JA Personal Finance at Butler High School. “So far, the class has learned budgeting, investing and how to use credit. The activities are so real to life and hands on. It’s amazing to see soon-to-be graduates learning something so important, especially in the current economic conditions.”

Spring semester is approaching quickly, and JA is looking for community volunteers to teach at Butler High School! Volunteering is a fun, time-friendly commitment. Volunteers visit one class period for several weeks, to facilitate games and activities that allow students to explore topics that will help them become ready to tackle the real world challenges that come with being an adult.

To find out more about volunteering for Junior Achievement in Butler County, please contact Megan Julius, District Operations Manager by calling 412.208.4747 ex. 124 or by emailing [email protected].

FAMILY CAREGIVERS

T o honor family caregivers, Concordia Visiting Nurses announces the launch of its caregiver support website to help adult daughters and sons provide care for their aging parents.

“Caring for an aging relative can be very stressful,” says Dino Capestrani, Director of Marketing for Concordia Visiting Nurses “You want to help, but you also have your own busy life and commitments. We created this website to provide insight and practical information that can make the family’s job much easier.”

Caring for an aging relative is not without its personal cost. “As a society, we are deeply indebted to the family caregiver,” notes Capestrani. “Families need help to do what they do. They need information and they need support services. The irony is, support programs are available, but caregivers don’t know where to turn to find out about them. That’s where we decided we could make a difference.”

Drawing upon the 24/7 accessibility of the Internet, Concordia Visiting Nurses created the Elder Pages Pittsburgh website as an “e-library.” It has articles on helping aging parents stay independent, such as preventing falls, driving safely, and avoiding hospitalizations. There is a section with tips and tools that are useful for family caregivers and also includes a directory listing both local and national services. The website even offers a free e-newsletter with monthly articles filled with information and resources to make family caregiving easier.

Although Concordia Visiting Nurses specifically designed its educational website to be helpful to family caregivers, the e-library will help local physician offices, senior centers, elder law attorneys, etc. “It takes a village to provide good quality elder care,” notes Dino Capestrani. “But the aging network is so fragmented. This website is our way of helping the greater Pittsburgh and surrounding counties to be come more networked in support of seniors and their family caregivers.”

To view the new family support website, go to www.elderpages.com/pittsburgh. For more information about the website, or if you have concerns about a family member, email Concordia Visiting Nurses at [email protected], or call 724-352-6200 or 1-877-352-6200 toll free.

Friday, December 2, 2011, for our Annual ‘Celebration of the Season’ Holiday Gathering. The event will take place from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at the Atrium, 1031 New Castle Road, Prospect, PA 16052.

The evening is only $10 per person. ‘Celebrate the Season’ with your friends and the Butler County Business Community on December 2nd! Reservations are requested by contacting the Chamber at 724.283.2222 or via e-mail at [email protected].

Annual Holiday Celebration

ESB BANK CELEBRATES CRANBERRY TWP. OFFICE

GRAND OPENING

E

r. Amanda J. Adams has joined Butler Medical Associates as a Family Practice physician at the Cranberry location at 2001 Ehrman Road, Cranberry, PA.

Dr. Adams formerly served as a primary care physician, Medical Director of Immunizations and Medical Director of Women’s Health for the United States Air Force. Dr. Adam was also an Emergency Department physician at Salina Regional Medical Center in Salina, Kansas. She received her medical degree from Drexel University College of Medicine in Philadelphia, PA. And completed an internship and residency in family medicine at Saint Louis University in Belleville, IL.

Licensed to practice in Pennsylvania, she is certified by the American Board of Family Medicine. She is a member of the Alpha Omega Alpha Medical Honor Society and received the Outstanding Performance Award from Drexel University. Dr. Adams has held several teaching positions. For more information or to make an appointment with Dr. Adams, please call: 724-631-0510.

Family Medicine Physician Joins Butler Health System

D

December 2011Butler County Chamber of Commerce 74

2011 The Year In Review Thank you to everyone that made 2011 a success!

December 2011Butler County Chamber of Commerce

Who is in a better position to encourage businesses to shop local,

but our Chamber of Commerce?

8 9


Welcome New Members

We welcome the following new

members to the Butler County

Chamber of Commerce.

Washington Financial BankContact: Jeffrey A. Francona

6200 Brooktree Road, Suite 115Wexford, PA 15090

P: 724.940.4450F: 724.940.4472

[email protected]

Washington Financial Bank is a community bank meeting the deposit and loan needs of consumers and businesses throughout Southwestern Pennsylvania.

Wedding Solutions Inc.Contact: Andrew Walsh

PO Box 369Gibsonia, PA 15044

P: 866.931.1605F: 724.698.5301

[email protected] www.elegant-wedding.com

Disc jockeys, photobook, UP lighting.

The Board of Directors and staff of theButler County

Chamber of Commercewish you and yourfamily a very safe and happy holiday season!

ver 600 Pennsylvania citizens from all walks of life were able to pick up information about Marcellus Shale drilling and its impact on the future of our local economy at The Butler Media Group’s Marcellus Shale Summit & Expo held November 9,

2011 in cooperation with the Butler County Chamber of Commerce, at the Days Inn Conference Center in Butler. The daylong event, which was free to the public, featured exhibitor booths from all facets of the industry, focusing on both the opportunities and challenges associated with Marcellus Shale drilling.

The summit culminated with a keynote address by Dr. Terry Engelder, a current Professor of Geosciences at Penn State and a leading authority on the Marcellus Shale Gas play. Engelder was previously on the staff of the U.S. Geological Survey, Texaco and Columbia University. In addition to Engelder’s presentation and question/answer session, Pennsylvania Author Seamus McGraw was at the summit to sign copies of his book, “The End of the Country,” which delves into the promises and perils facing not just Pennsylvania…but our entire nation.

“The objective of the Butler Media Group was to educate and inform the public about the progression of the Marcellus Shale industry in our area. We wanted to provide a forum for business to business networking, community education and career opportunities. From the positive feedback we have received, we apparently accomplished our goal and look forward to a series of forums to keep abreast and aware of this amazing natural resource,” Kathy Gregory-Steiner, Sales Manager, Butler Media Group, said. As the industry continues to grow in our area, stay tuned to the Butler Media Group & our websites for more Marcellus Shale seminars and Expos in April 2012.

MARCELLUS SHALE SUMMIT & EXPO A SUCCESS

O

Member News

arbis Walker LLP, Certified Public Accountants & Consultants, is one of the Best Places to Work in Western PA for the 5th consecutive year, according to the Pittsburgh Business Times. Carbis Walker was one of the top three winners in the medium-

sized companies’ categories.

Winners were determined by a process in which employees at businesses across the region were invited to go online and rate their workplace on characteristics such as family-friendly policies, flex hours, ease of commute, pay, benefits, and others. Some of the programs and perks offered by Carbis Walker, which contributed to its recognition, include a “family first” approach with annual family picnics, flexible work arrangements and an annual Employee Appreciation Party.

Carbis Walker LLP was founded over sixty years ago and is a member of the Carbis Walker Group with five offices throughout western Pennsylvania and eastern Ohio. They specialize in Construction & Real Estate, Health Care, Manufacturing & Distribution, and Auto Dealerships. The Carbis Walker Group which also includes Total Practice Management, LLC, a physician billing and practice consulting company; and Walker Benefits, Inc., a retirement plan consulting company.

Carbis Walker Earns Distinction as One of the Best Places to Work In Western PA

for 5th Consecutive Year

C

he 33rd Annual Young Artist Competition is scheduled for Sunday, January 22, 2012, Swope Hall on the campus of Slippery Rock University. The competition is open to any

high school age musician within a 25-mile radius of Butler, or any high school age musician in a PMEA District 5 school. One student will be chosen to perform as a soloist with the Butler County Symphony Orchestra on Saturday, March 10, 2012.

For information and an application, please contact the Butler County Symphony Association at 724-283-1402 or email [email protected].

T

he Rotary Club of Butler hosted the 52nd Annual Rotary Pancake Festival to benefit Lifesteps on Election Day, Tuesday, November 8th. The event saw 1,335 guests and will net

nearly $10,000in revenue to benefit the Lifesteps Family Caring Fund. Each year on Election Day the Rotary Club of Butler hosts the all-day Pancake Festival, serving up pancakes and sausages to the community while Lifesteps’ volunteers serve orange juice, coffee and help to keep the tables clean and ready for the next wave of pancake guests. They also hold a bake sale and ticket auction to help raise funds.

52nd Anniversary Rotary Pancake Festival

T

BUTLER HUMAN RESOURCE ASSOCIATION

December Holiday MeetingPlease join us for our annual holiday party.

Tuesday, December 13, 2011

Butler’s Grand Ballroom at Cornerstone Commons

201 South Main Street; Butler, Pa 16001 1

1:30am—1:00pm

$12.00/members and $20.00/guest or non-member

Reservations will be accepted by Regina Zajac until 3 pm, Tuesday, December 6, 2011. For reservations E-mail: Regina Zajac at [email protected] with your name and the name of your organization. This information will confirm your reservation for the meeting. If you must cancel your reservation, notify Regina no later than 3:00 p.m. on Tuesday, December 6, 2011. Please note: If you cancel your reservation after the deadline, an invoice will be sent to you for the price of the luncheon since we have to pay for the total reservation number.

ver 125 members of the Butler County, Grove City Area Chambers of Commerce joined

the Slippery Rock Business Association and the Butler County and Grove City Young Professionals for an evening of great food and beverages as they toured the newly opened Fairfield Inn and Suites by Marriott in Slippery Rock on October 25, 2011. After a long waited premier, all in attendance agreed that the facility is state of the art, beautiful and comfortable and as one would expect “hospitable”. Owner Jeff Schmitz welcomed the region’s business community and encouraged them to utilize this newest asset to the Slippery Rock business compliment. General Manager, Tammy Schaum, offered tours of the beautiful rooms and pool and patio area. The participating partners thank those who assisted to coordinate this event for this wonderful evening of “meeting and networking”.

Grand Opening

O

he Butler County and Zelienople-Harmony Area Chambers of Commerce along with THE Chamber, Inc. “Mixed” it up at a fall Meet-N-Move Networking luncheon on November 14, 2011, at the Pittsburgh Marriott North. 160 area businesses attended

and exchanged business cards, leads and contacts. Consolidated Communications, Inc. was the sponsor for the Butler County Chamber and we thank them for their support. ESB Bank and NexTier Bank were the banner sponsors for the other area chambers of commerce.

Regional Chambers Fall Meet-N-Move Luncheon

T

SRBA President Jen Whitmoyer, Owner Jeff Schmitz and General Manager Tammy Schaum

Oftentimes we buy something on line or out of town, only to discover that there was a supplier in our own backyard who provides equal

or better products. In addition, these local businesses are the ones we approach to support not only our organization, but countless other

non-profit agencies in Butler County. We are therefore asking all of our members, and anyone who reads this newsletter, to patronize

Butler County Businesses. To go one step further, we are asking that Chamber Members email us at

[email protected] some of their gift alternatives for family, friends and business partners that they offer this holiday season.

We will post these offerings on our website during the month of December.

Together we might just make a difference for businesses this Christmas.

Butler County Chamber of Commerce

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Holidays fromAround the WorldFriday, December 9, 2011

8:00 PM

Our Annual Holiday Concert Featuring

P R E S E N T S

Call 724-284-8505 For Tickets Today!or Order Online 24/7 at

bc3.edu/theater

GIFT CERTIFICATES

AVAILABLE

Single Ticket Pricing$18 Advance • $22 Door • $10 Students

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2011 12 Newsletter