Newsletter CEL launches new online workplace development certification program By Sarah Matarella There is an increasing need for professional development due to how technology and business adapt and advance in this everchanging environment. The O'Pake Institute's Center for Entrepreneurial Leadership (CEL) is partnering with some of our current partners, mentors, clients, community stakeholders, and industry experts to meet this demand. "After researching workforce development needs in the area, the top two areas that professionals indicated a need for certificates were project management and cybersecurity," said Donald Schalk, Director of Business and Corporate Development and CEL. In response, CEL launched its new workplace development certificate program in January 2021 to allow professionals in Berks County and beyond to remain competitive. The first certification program, Learn the Driving Forces of Project Management, which has already sold-out and is underway, is being taught by Peter Christian.
SEE WORKPLACE DEVELOPMENT p. 5
Students & staff form intellectual property By Victor de Avila committee It's our mission at the O'Pake Institute to help small businesses execute their epiphanies into full-fledged business plans. But with that epiphany, what comes next? Branding or filing for a patent or trademark? Filing to own intellectual property can be a long and strenuous task. This is where the technology transfer office and intellectual property (IP) committee come into play.
SEE IP COMMITTEE p. 4
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OVERVIEW: Page 2 Client New Spectrum Labs sets a new standard for CBD manufacturing Page 3 Berks County professionals engage in the opportunity to share their experiences via newly launched mentor program Page 6 Visions Federal Credit Union joins Reading CollegeTowne Initiative
Client New Spectrum Labs sets a new standard for By Erin Irey & Michelle Lehman CBD manufacturing The CBD industry is one of the fastest-growing markets in the United States. New Spectrum Labs, a cuttingedge manufacturer and formulator of specialized natural materials located in Reading, Pa., is changing the game for CBD manufacturing. CBD, also known as cannabidiol, is one of the main compounds found in hemp plants. CBD is non-intoxicating and non-psychoactive. It is mostly used for epilepsy. It is also used for pain relief, insomnia, anxiety, and depression. The most common form of product distribution includes oil, capsules, and topical products. CBD oil is considered the industry’s standard and is used by a large population. CBD oils are primarily used in pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, and food and beverage industries. According to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), there is an ongoing concern surrounding a lack of appropriate processing controls and practices that can put consumers at additional risks. For example, the agency has tested the chemical content of cannabinoid compounds in some of the products, and many were found to not contain the levels of CBD they claimed. Furthermore, they are also investigating reports of CBD potentially containing unsafe levels of contaminants, e.g., pesticides, heavy metals, and tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). In an unregulated and ever-changing industry, safety matters. With that, New Spectrum Labs uses an advanced, safe, carbon dioxide (CO₂) extraction to produce 100% full spectrum hemp oil, free of any toxins or harmful compounds. The company was founded by Ted Lavender, Gregory Shemanski, and Jeff Klinger, all of whom agree that some of the
most beneficial substances can be found in nature. They took their commitment to social responsibility up a notch by integrating an environmentally friendly manufacturing process and ethical packaging.
Photo submitted by Dustin Brown
New Spectrum Labs manufacturing is on the forefront of the CBD/hemp industry. "While maintaining the highest manufacturing standards available, we have brought leading technology from around the world to ensure we deliver the best possible products the industry has to offer for our customers,” said Jack Lavender, account executive at New Spectrum Labs. A team of O’Pake Fellows worked diligently over the fall semester to develop content for marketing and communications efforts. The team developed social media marketing plans, filmed testimonial videos, created traditional and digital marketing materials, and they were even invited to tour the lab where all the magic happens. Ashley Abbey, MBA student and graduate assistant of student and client services, lead on the project reflected"working with New Spectrum has been a great experience. I have had the opportunity to learn a lot about the hemp and CBD industry. We also had
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the opportunity to work with HB&M Marketing and Communications and learn about social media and digital advertising from an industry professional.” During the spring semester, the Fellow team will continue working with New Spectrum Labs to create engaging and organic social media content. Dustin Brown, a senior at Alvernia majoring in biology with a minor in pre-law, will also further his relationship with New Spectrum through an internship. “New Spectrum Labs has afforded me many chances to apply my prior knowledge in the biotechnology and wellness space. The company tasked me with overseeing safety testing as well as research and development. These are opportunities a science major only wishes they could have prior to graduation. I couldn’t be more thankful for the connections the O’Pake Institute and New Spectrum Labs provided me and cannot wait to see where this experience takes me,” said Brown.
Berks County professionals engage in the opportunity to share their experiences via newly launched mentor program By Leah Kemper Each of the Fellows gain a professional mentor upon joining the O'Pake Fellows Program. The goal of this mentor network is to enhance the student and client experiences via the promotion of personal and professional development. Clients in the portfolio are able to receive discounted or pro bono services from those professional service providers and industry experts who become mentors. Don Schalk, the director of business and corporate development,who is spearheading the mentor network, explained that there has been positive feedback from our students who have had the opportunity to connect with their mentor. Max Horn, sports management and marketing Fellow, was paired with Chuck Holder, strategic business consultant at Chuck Holder Consulting LLC, as his mentor. Horn explained that Holder introduced him to his network and connected him with different people in sports management and marketing. “Speaking with Chuck has helped me gather my thoughts and with his encouragement and ideas, I have been able to share my thoughts of pursuing my MBA. We have communicated pretty much every week on different updates on either goal setting for
myself, what next steps are for myself, and every week trying to connect with new people within the sports marketing industry,” said Horn. Holder has over 40 years of business experience working with business consultants, entrepreneurs, business owners, corporate leaders, business professionals, and more, and is also the president of Entrepreneur’s Connection. He explained that the program allows students to see issues they not otherwise be able to see every day. According to Holder, becoming a mentor in the program was “an easy decision and a win-win situation. I enjoy helping students grow and showing them the actuality of what real business life is like.” Holder added that his experience mentoring Horn has been worthwhile and that he foresees that this relationship is not going to just be short-term and that he and Horn will continue to develop a lifelong relationship. The mentor-mentee relationship ultimately depends on the preference of the mentor and mentee. Some mentors can be more active than others and the level of commitment for a mentor varies based upon services offered. In addition, the O'Pake staff works with mentors to formalize the details of
each relationship agreement including the level of involvement of each mentor. The program encompasses mostly personal mentors; however, the goal is to expand the program in the future and incorporate more levels of involvement such as executive, active, and mentors in reserve. “We want to develop different levels of mentors to help create a good ecosystem in our community for businesses as well as startups [which should] create economic growth,” said Schalk. The goal is to make the program as robust as possible, and actively recruit for each district discipline offered by the university. We are currently accepting professional mentors with experience in higher education, economic development, marketing, engineering, finance, technology transfer, business law, leadership, etc., into the program. With that, O’Pake has also extended the opportunity to Alvernia students to be paired with personal mentors through the Alvernia Women's Council. “We are excited to grow our mentor network and create meaningful relationships,” said Michelle Lehman, O’Pake’s director of student and client services. If you are interested in sharing your passion and becoming a mentor today, sign up at https://opake.alvernia.edu/professiona l-mentor-program/ or contact Donald.schalk@alvernia.edu and michelle.lehman@alvernia.edu.
Photo submitted by McKenzy Lilliock Mentor (left) Lanette Miller, director of human resources, TRIOSE, meeting with McKenzy Lillock, human resources Fellow via Zoom 3
IP COMMITTEE, contd. from p. 1 Through the technology transfer office, we assist in bringing clients’ discoveries to fruition through IP training and management, feasibility analyses, valuation, and the commercialization of IP. At the forefront of these activities is our dedicated IP committee, consisting of both staff and students. Dr. Rodney Ridley, vice president, associate provost, and COO, has an extensive background in technology transfer as he is a registered technology transfer professional (RTTP) under the Alliance of Technology Transfer Professionals (ATTP). He has been an advisory board member of the Ben Franklin Technology Partners of Northeastern Pa. since 2014 and co-chair of the small technology transfer office program committee for the Association of University Technology Managers (AUTM) since 2016. He is also the founder of the Wilkes University Technology Transfer office and has 10 of his own patents to date. According to AUTM, IP professionals are “responsible for innovation management, corporate engagement, protecting and licensing inventions, etc." Our technology transfer office conducts the necessary research
in areas like those aforementioned to determine clients' patent feasibility. “We take their idea and run a search through InnovationQ Software to see if it’s feasible. We then create a portfolio with similar patents and discuss with the client whether or not it’s still a good idea to move forward,” said Dustin Brown, biology and prelaw Fellow. If there is a specific niche identified for the invention, idea, or operation, the O’Pake team passes it on to IP attorneys and licensing experts, who partner with O’Pake. The attorneys and experts then connect with the client to secure the patent, which is the last step. Brown’s primary role is to provide suggestions to clients according to patent law. “I love working with the IP team and learning from Dr. Ridley. He's so knowledgeable and I have learned so much from him. It's such a cool experience to work with entrepreneurs and hear their ideas for products/services,” said, Andrea Potylycki, math Fellow. In addition to helping clients, the ultimate goal of the technology transfer office and IP committee is to provide the fellows and graduate assistants with insight into how to secure patents, the opportunity to
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work with real clients and a unique experience to put on their resumes. "Before working with Dr. Ridley, I had no prior knowledge about intellectual property, but in the last few years, I have really committed myself to learning as much as I can about the technology transfer office,” said Ashley Abbey, graduate assistant of student and client services. Abbey is the overall project manager of the IP committee with a focus on commercializing and marketing IP. She is responsible for organizing all the incoming clients who are eligible for IP and assigning them to the respective members of the committee that can cater to their specific need. Abbey has three years of experience in technology transfer as she has received extensive training from Ridley, as well as worked with over a dozen clients on their IP. “As a marketer, having in-depth knowledge about intellectual property gives me a unique perspective. My favorite part about working with the technology transfer office is being able to explore different industries. I have gotten the opportunity to work with clients in industries from sports equipment manufacturing to the digital entertainment industry," Abbey said.
project management and industry needs in Berks County and amply WORKPLACE DEVELOPMENT, contd. from p. 1 filled a gap in certification opportunities for people already in the workforce. For that, I am and remove roadblocks,” said Katie Christian is the former head of thankful," said Lisa Meredith-Unrath, Hestor, graduate assistant of project engineering at Crayola community development coordinator strategy. Corporation and is certified in project at The King's Academy, Mohrsville. In accordance with the research management and senior project These collaborations aim to provide Schalk referenced, CEL has also management by the American business owners and key personnel launched the cybersecurity Management Association. The course with timely and valuable information certification program to follow the is designed to foster effective through a series of educational project management course. It will be leadership and other essential programs on relevant business topics. held every Wednesday from April management skills, including setting While there is a fee for premier In 21 to May 26 from 6:00 p.m. to definite project goals and ensuring events such as the certification 7:30 p.m. and will be taught by Eric collaboration among team members. programs, most other events are free Robuck, owner and founder of the "Throughout the project of charge. RKL, LLP., Kozloff Stoudt Valander Group. management certificate program, I Attorneys at Law, and Mosteller & Robuck has multiple industry quickly learned there are many Associates are proud CEL sponsors. certifications, including CEH components to a project that enhance "This program has been very (Certified Ethical Hacker) and results if you allot proper time for beneficial. It's always great to hear Security+, among others. Robuck also planning. An example of one of these different aspects and ideas from has over 20 years of experience as a components is the steering team, a other professionals in similar roles to programmer, IT data expert, and group who act as advisors to a generate different ideas and security professional. This program specific project. My future projects at perspectives...We can then also tailor will provide participants with working O’Pake will include a steering team our work to provide relevant knowledge of ultramodern because they bring a varity of insights scenarios to our current role and how Parent-Teacher Conference technology and strategy while also and perspectives to the table, which we can improve on it. For our class agreements concentrating on identity and access makes it easier for me to assess risks project, being able to not have to use management, cloud security, attacks, Family Day soon! a generic project and actually utilize and vulnerabilities. Model students of that the quarter Register HERE something is going to benefit While the Institute has launched what I do every day and have a to gain the in-demand, these two programs already, they will positive impact on our company and be exploring other certification working knowledge on clients is fantastic," said Matt Reeser, programs as part of their mission in inventory and logistics manager at ultramodern technology assisting economic development in Fraser Advanced Information the region to enhance O'Pake's and strategy. Systems. programming by connecting with To hear about our upcoming events, more business leaders like Christian subscribe to our email list by and Robuck. CEL also has six other contacting Sarah Matarella, graduate one-time events per year that involve assistant of communications industry experts and, thus, are always at sarah.matarella@alvernia.edu, or looking for partners to execute these visit our website at events. opake.alvernia.edu, and follow the "Alvernia University and the O'Pake Institute's social media accounts. Institute is attuned to the needs of
OVERVIEW:
the growing and expanding field of
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“Securing funding is a critical component of the entrepreneurial process,” said Vice President, Associate Provost, and Chief Operating Officer of the O’Pake Institute, Dr. Rodney Ridley. “By guiding the student fellows and local entrepreneurs in the business incubator, Visions will have a major impact on the economic development activity in downtown Reading.”
Read more of the official By Katie Johnson press release HERE Visions Federal Credit Union joins Reading CollegeTowne Initiative
Photo by Angelina Davis, The O'Pake Institute From left: Visions Federal Credit Union Director of Impact & Engagement Lizette Epps; Alvernia University Vice President, Associate Provost and Chief Operating Officer of the O’Pake Institute, Dr. Rodney Ridley; O'Pake Institute Communications Consultant Adonis Fleming; Alvernia University President John R. Loyack; Alvernia University Vice President for Institutional Advancement Tom Minick '98 M'90; and O'Pake Institute Graduate Assistant of Communications Sarah Matarella
Contact Us Dr. Rodney S. Ridley Sr., Alvernia University vice president, associate provost and chief operating officer of the O’Pake Institute E: rodney.ridley@alvernia.edu O: (610) 790-2961 Don Schalk, director of business and corporate development and the director of the CEL. E: donald.schalk@alvernia.edu Michelle Lehman, director of student & client services E: michelle.lehman@alvernia.edu O: (610) 790-2960 Carolyn Gibson, coordinator E: carolyn.gibson@alvernia.edu 6
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