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BUSINESS M A G A Z I N E Manufacturer & Business Association

VOLUME XXIV, NUMBER 1

JANUARY 2011

/ Page 12


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January 2011

Blue Ocean Strategy Center

EDITORIAL >

FEATURES >

Why coordination of care is essential in navigating today’s complex healthcare system.

Rodney Betts, president of Betts Industries in Warren, Pennsylvania, talks about how this manufacturer of valves, manlids, safety lamps and lighting systems has been able to achieve continuous operation for 110 years.

7 / Health Matters

S. RAMALINGAM, MD, MBA

9 / Legal Brief

Best practices for nonprofit organizations. THOMAS A. PENDLETON

11 / Financial Adviser

The importance of incorporating an operating reserve policy into your nonprofit’s long-term plans. SHAWN EMERSON, CPA

18 / Blue Ocean Strategy

How looking across alternative industries can help you reconstruct market bound-aries and uncover new markets of untapped demand. ANGIE ANGUS

3 / Spotlight

12 / Safe Harbor Behavioral Health Safe Harbor Behavioral Health administrators discuss how this mental health agency has grown significantly since its founding in 1993, with the addition of a new anti-bullying crisis hotline and new crisis residential center in Millcreek Township that will be available this year.

19 / On the Hill Association State Government Relations Representative Anna McCauslin explains the aggressive agenda that business owners should expect from the Republicancontrolled legislature during the 2011-2012 legislative session.

< 22 / SPECIAL SECTION Longevity. Growth. Success. Our special anniversary section recognizes the more than 400 Association member companies celebrating milestone anniversaries in 2011.

DEPARTMENTS > 5 / Business Buzz 16 / HR Connection

20 / Legal Q&A 24 / Anniversary Showcase 28 / People Buzz

3 5 TAKE OUR ONLINE POLL!

A federal judge in Virginia recently threw out the individual mandate of President Obama's health-care law that requires Americans to buy coverage — dealing the first legal blow to the new measure on an issue likely to be decided by the Supreme Court. Do you believe that the repeal of Obamacare is imminent? t Yes t No t Unsure

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Respond now on the Business Magazine homepage at www.mbausa.org. Results to be featured in the April 2011 health-care issue. January 2011 > www.mbausa.org > 1


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SPOTLIGHT > by Karen Torres Established in 1901, Warren, Pennsylvania-based Betts Industries designs and manufactures valves, manlids and pressure/vacuum relief valves for highway cargo tanks and various other industrial applications, as well as safety lamps, lighting systems and other accessories for the trucking industry. The Business Magazine recently met with President Rodney Betts to learn more about this northwest Pennsylvania-based business and how it has been able to achieve continuous operation for 110 years.

Briefly explain the history of Betts Industries and how it evolved to where it is today. You can imagine that with 110 years of history we could write a book. Here is the short version of our very long story… In 1901, and for a number of years following, we forged and machined products, including gas engines for the oil industry in and around Warren County. Early in our history, we also manufactured pot-bellied stoves, street signs and street manhole covers. In the mid- to late 1940s, our primary focus turned to manufacturing valves for the tank truck industry and, not too long after that, we started manufacturing manhole covers for the same industry. Then, in the mid-1950s, we added “Snap Seal” safety lamps to our list of offerings. While our valves, manhole covers and lamps have evolved a great deal over the years, and we became an ISO 9001-certified manufacturer, we still rely on this same line of quality products, and they are our bread and butter. Please describe the size of your two divisions — Valves and Manholes, and Lamps. Our Valve and Manhole division team located in Warren, Pennsylvania is currently 199 employees strong, and our Lamp division located right outside of Warren in Starbrick, Pennsylvania is 28 employees strong. Who are your customers and where are they located? Our customers are largely tank truck manufacturers and suppliers. Approximately 75 percent of our current business is domestic and the remaining 25 percent is international with customers in Canada, Mexico, Central America, South America, Australia, Europe, Asia and Africa. It’s interesting to note that our international sales have provided for much of our growth over the past few years. As one of the oldest Association member manufacturing companies celebrating a milestone anniversary in 2011, how would you describe your company’s secret to business longevity? While there isn’t anyone here at Betts Industries who would claim to be perfect, I can tell you that our decision makers try very hard to do the right thing. We are committed to our relationship with our employees and have various programs in place that reinforce their stakeholdership in our business. We listen to our customers and are responsive to their needs. Along with all of that, we are on guard to not become complacent and we look for opportunities to be innovative in our product development and manufacturing processes. Even though we have been around a very long time, we look at ourselves as being 110 years young, not old. What is the outlook for Betts Industries in 2011? We experienced record-breaking sales growth for four years in a row, ending with our March 2008 business year. Then, like most everyone else, we were impacted by the global economic crisis. We didn’t like the hand we were dealt at all but realized that the only thing we could do was to play that hand the best we could and endure. With all that said, we are busy again and it feels darn good. As we look to our future, we wish our crystal ball was just a little clearer but all indications suggest that we will remain busy for the foreseeable future. What opportunities and challenges do you see for your industry in the year ahead? We see opportunities for further development and expansion of our markets, especially in the international arena. By continually improving our products and processes, it enables us to provide products possessing uncompromised quality, design and performance, thereby ensuring that we consistently meet or exceed our customers’ expectations. When it comes to challenges we are currently facing, the first thing that comes to mind is providing our employees with the kind of health-care benefits to which we at Betts Industries have become accustomed. This has been a challenge for some time now and it has gotten a lot tougher recently. Is there anything you would like to add? We are committed to not forgetting our roots. We remain mindful of and pay tribute to the generations of Betts employees who have served and gone before us. We will not take them for granted. They set an inspiring example as they brought our company through the Great Depression, two world wars, several floods and countless other challenges. They are the ones who have built the solid foundation we stand on today. From this, we also understand that we have a responsibility to maintain that tradition and to build a legacy for our future generation of Betts customers and especially our employees. For more information, visit www.bettsind.com or call 814/723-1250.

VOL. X XIV, NO. 1 JANUARY 2011 Manufacturer & Business Association Board of Governors

Editor in Chief

Executive Editor

Managing Editor & Senior Writer Contributing Writers

Photography & Illustration

Yvonne Atkinson-Mishrell John Cline Dale Deist Timothy Hunter Dan Ignasiak Mark C. Kulyk John B. Pellegrino Sr., P.E. Dennis Prischak Robert S. Pursell Lorenzo Simonelli Sue Sutto Phil Tredway Ralph Pontillo rpontillo@mbausa.org John Krahe jkrahe@mbausa.org Karen Torres ktorres@mbausa.org Angie Angus Jessica Crocker Shawn Emerson, CPA Thomas A. Pendleton S. Ramalingam, MD, MBA Ron Stephens La Mirage Studio 814/835-1041 E.E. Austin & Son, Inc. iStockphoto.com

Advertising Sales

Design, Production & Printing

Lori Maus Joint 814/833-3200 or 800/815-2660 ljoint@mbausa.org Printing Concepts Inc. printcon@erie.net Jessica Crocker

ON THE COVER: Safe Harbor Behavioral Health President and CEO Jon Evans and Adult Services Medical Director Matthew Behan, D.O., explain how the mental health agency, headquartered at 1330 West 26th Street in Erie, has evolved in terms of staff, services and facilities to meet the growing needs of the community. See story on Page 12.

Mission Statement The Manufacturer & Business Association is dedicated to providing information and services to its members that will assist them in the pursuit of their business and community interests. – Board of Governors Manufacturer & Business Association 2171 West 38th Street Erie, Pa. 16508 814/833-3200 or 800/815-2660 www.mbausa.org © Copyright 2011 by the Manufacturer & Business Association. All rights reserved. Reproduction or use of editorial, pictorial or advertisements created for use in the Business Magazine, in any manner, without written permission from the publisher, is prohibited. Unsolicited manuscripts cannot be returned unless accompanied by a properly addressed envelope bearing sufficient postage. The magazine accepts no responsibility for unsolicited manuscripts or artwork. The Business Magazine and Manufacturer & Business Association do not specifically endorse any of the products or practices described in the magazine. The Business Magazine is published monthly by the Manufacturer & Business Association, 2171 West 38th Street, Erie, Pa. 16508. Phone: 814/833-3200 or 800/815-2660.

January 2011 > www.mbausa.org > 3


Business Buzz PHB NAMED SUPPLIER OF THE YEAR FOR 2010 Fairview, Pennsylvania-based PHB Inc., a leader and full-service supplier of quality products in the die-casting, CNC machining, molding, and tool and die industries, recently received the 2010 Supplier of the Year Award from Harris RF Communications Division in Rochester, New York. Based on their strategic partnership, the award recognizes PHB’s achievement of innovative ideas on cost reductions — including early product design, supply chain efforts and the support of quality product with on-time delivery — for the manufactured parts it supplies to Harris, a worldwide supplier of communication radios for military and first responder use. For more information, visit www.phbcorp.com.

CHANNELLOCK ATTAINS ISO 9001:2008 CERTIFICATION Meadville-based Channellock, Inc., a worldwide leader in the manufacture of quality pliers and assorted hand tools since 1886, recently achieved International Organization for Standardization (ISO) certification by maintaining the highest of standards in business processes. The company meets the ISO 9001:2008

Gorgeous Food. Any Occasion.standard, which is considered a - Events - Business Functions - Boxed Lunches From left: Charanjeet Gill, director, Procurementx232 (Harris); 814-452-6113 Jason Ruffell, senior buyer (Harris); Dan Langer, vice president/ wdillon@stmartincenter.org Materials (PHB); John Hilbert, president (PHB); Brian Eaton, Harris Account Manager (PHB); Paul Nealon, commodity manager (Harris); and Edward Maier, vice president/general manager, Engineering and Operations (Harris).

benchmark for quality business processes. Among their findings, auditors noted the presence of: strong management support for the system; effective document control; well-documented and maintained records for all activities; disciplined processes; knowledgeable and involved associates; strong emphasis on improvements and preventive actions; and experienced and knowledgeable cell operators. For more information, visit www.channellock.com.

Gorgeous Food. Any Occasion. - Events - Business Functions - Boxed Lunches 814-452-6113 x232 wdillon@stmartincenter.org 4 < www.mbausa.org < January 2011


DEPARTMENTS > Contact: Jessica Crocker

RALPH S. ALBERTS CO. FINDS NICHE IN NATURAL GAS INDUSTRY The Ralph S. Alberts Co., Inc. (RS Alberts), a multifaceted custom molder located in Montoursville, is capitalizing on Pennsylvania’s burgeoning natural gas industry by adapting a decades-old process to the market’s current needs.

of experience with spray foams and spray polyureas, specializes in injection molding, foam molding, hand casting, liquid resin casting, roto casting and thermal plastic rubber casting.

and development for both companies, including tool, engineering and materials sampling.

For more information, visit www.rsalberts.com.

Best known for manufacturing products for amusement parks, RS Alberts is now manufacturing durable plastic well-pad liners used to contain spills at drilling sites. The well-pad lining, made from polyurea and polyurethane foam, is more durable, flexible and resistant to chemicals than traditional tarp liners. Because they can be reused and take half of the time to put down, the new liners — which contain no hazardous air pollutants or volatile organic compounds — are considered far superior to traditional tarp liners.

PLASTIKOS, MICRO MOLD EXPAND FACILITIES Plastikos, Inc., an Erie-based custom injection molder, recently completed a cooperative facilities expansion with sister company and precision mold manufacturer, Micro Mold, Co. Inc. The expansion will improve efficiencies and increase production capabilities for both companies, which together are global leaders in the plastics industry.

QUAKER STEAK & LUBE NABS NATIONAL BUFFALO WING TITLE Quaker Steak & Lube’s Buffalo-style chicken wings recently earned the Festival Favorite award at the 2010 National Buffalo Wing Festival in Buffalo, New York. The 71,000 attendees made The Lube their overwhelming favorite, outselling the 38 restaurants in attendance.

RS Alberts, with more than 50 years

Additionally, Micro Mold, which will accommodate production overflow from Plastikos as orders increase, will house the majority of the research

For more information, visit www.plastikoserie.com.

Quaker Steak & Lube, which served its first wing in 1976, owns or franchises 39 locations throughout the United States and Canada, including the Scott Enterprises franchise at 7851 Peach Street in Erie. For more information, visit www.quakersteakandlube.com.

J.H. J.H. BENNETT M BENNETT MOVING & STORAGE INC. J

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Health Matters

EDITORIAL > by S. Ramalingam, MD, MBA

Navigating the Health-Care System What most people want from the health-care system seems simple. They want quality care that is timely, appropriate and affordable. And while the answer to what people want is simple, achieving it is not. The American health-care system can be frustratingly complex. The fact that there is no one “system” of health care is a major reason for much of the complexity. In order for patients to receive timely, appropriate and affordable quality care, they must be able to navigate the health-care system. When the system is too difficult to navigate, patients may respond by delaying care, they may fail to get any care, or get it in an inappropriate setting such as an emergency room. Such results not only drive up the cost of care, but also reduce its effectiveness. Coordination of Care Essential Navigation of health care requires coordination, which is a role that has traditionally been handled by generalists – that is, primary care physicians (PCP). However, today many people get much of their care from specialists. As a result, the patient often receives what could be called fragmented care. There is no coordinating of care with a central party. Patients need one place to call their “medical home.” It can be a PCP or a specialist, but it needs to be one place where all their information is kept and coordinated. One of the most important roles of a health plan is to coordinate and facilitate a patient’s information with the people who deliver the care.

Importance to Employers A complex system that is difficult for consumers to navigate compromises both health-care efficiency and clinical consequences. Both results are unacceptable – one in terms of costs, and the other in terms of the health and well being of employees. Poor navigation compromises both health-care efficiency and clinical consequences. Health-care consumers pay the price for poor coordination of services, and there can also be inappropriate utilization of services. Easing Navigation There are some alternatives being discussed such as group appointments, which could expand the time a patient is with a doctor and possibly improve the discussion of conditions and treatments. Group appointments not only save time, but they also provide patients with peer-to-peer interaction in which they can relate to one another. When you have a group of people who share the same condition, they can talk about their experiences in a way that the physician cannot, and they can be more effective than the physician in transmitting some information about their conditions. An integrated delivery system – which is a network of health-care providers and organizations designed to provide coordinated services to a defined population – is another possible way that navigation of the system can be eased. Integrated delivery systems allow multiple health services to be managed by the same organizing entity and that can improve coordination of care and be easier on the patient.

A health plan can be an important part of this because it has access to all of the claims data of its members, and it has the capacity to share that information with providers. That way a provider gets a clearer picture of a patient’s condition and history, and can make more effective and efficient care decisions. Can Businesses Help? Businesses have the capacity to work with a health plan to set the agenda for employees who are members. By placing a focus on wellness as well as on illness, they can prevent people from developing chronic conditions. Promoting a healthy environment in the workplace requires time and commitment and, in the long run, will benefit both the employee and the employer. For more information about navigating the health-care delivery system, visit the UPMC Health Plan Web site at upmchealthplan.com.

S. Ramalingam, MD, MBA, is senior medical director for UPMC Health Plan. UPMC Health Plan is part of the integrated partner companies of the UPMC Insurance Services Division, which includes UPMC WorkPartners, LifeSolutions, UPMC for You (Medical Assistance), EBenefits and Community Care – and offers a full range of insurance programs and products.

January 2011 > www.mbausa.org > 7


W

e are so grateful to the Members of the Manufacturer and Business Association and Roar on the Shore Committee. Your donations and volunteer service are creating a truly wonderful place. Each year we help over 300 children who have been abused or traumatized by witnessing domestic violence at home. We teach them how to deal with painful emotions, stay safe, be resilient, and build positive self-images. Plus we do all we can to stop the cycle of violence from repeating itself in their lives. O The Children’s Garden you are helping to create will give these hurting kids a place to play outside — a secure place away from harm — a place to heal, be refreshed, laugh and just have fun again. O The activities, sunshine, and fresh air they will enjoy will take away a lot of the stress and anxiety they feel. This wonderful garden will play an enormous and vital role in helping kids from abusive households to see that beautiful possibilities can follow a difficult time — that spring always follows winter. Thank you . With deep appreciation from SafeNet’s Board of Directors, Counselors, Staff, and Children’s Program Volunteers 8 < www.mbausa.org < January 2011


Legal Brief

EDITORIAL > by Thomas A. Pendleton

Best Practices for Nonprofit Organizations Nonprofit organizations come in many sizes and shapes, but their common focus is helping others and making our community a better place. This article summarizes the legal and practical steps each nonprofit organization should take so that the organization is prepared to focus more time and energy on fulfilling its mission. Bylaws and Finances Each organization should have a functional set of bylaws that should be consistent with the organization’s Articles of Incorporation. These by-laws should describe the mission of the organization; explain the rights of board members; explain how directors and officers are selected; identify which committees exist and how they operate; and include provisions that limit personal liability and provide for indemnification when permitted by law. The bylaws should be reviewed approximately every five years to make sure that the bylaws still meet the needs of the organization. The organization also should ensure that its funds are spent appropriately and expenditures are recorded accurately. The organization should approve an annual budget, and the directors should review ongoing expenditures periodically to make sure that funds are spent within the budget. A system of checks and balances should be used to record receipt of funds and approve necessary expenditures. An audit also should be conducted annually to obtain an independent review of revenues and expenditures. Policies Each organization should have a conflict of interest policy. Identifying and avoiding conflicts of interest may be required by governmental entities, which may provide a significant source of funding. Furthermore, charitable donors may expect that conflicts of interest will be avoided in order to ensure that the organization’s funds are spent fairly and wisely. The conflict of interest policy should require board members, employees and volunteers with decision-making authority to disclose any financial interests they have in any business entity that conducts business with the organization.

A nonprofit organization also should have written personnel policies that govern all employees and volunteers of the organization. The personnel policies should cover working conditions, employee benefits, evaluation, supervision, hiring and firing, grievance procedures, and confidentiality of employee, client and organization information. Nonprofit organizations have many of the same legal obligations as for-profit businesses with respect to employees, so preparing and following appropriate policies will help avoid liability. Given the nature of today's electronic world, policies should include provisions regarding computer and smartphone use during working hours. Fundraising The organization should make sure that its fundraising activities are in compliance with Pennsylvania law. The organization should register with the Pennsylvania Attorney General's Office, if required, and all materials used in fundraising should be accurate and truthful. Furthermore, the organization should make sure that all charitable donations are used for charitable purposes. It is a violation of law to divert charitable donations for private purposes. Recordkeeping The organization should prepare policies for appropriate information management and destruction. Because a substantial amount of information is in electronic form, these policies must go beyond paper records and include e-mails, pictures, audio and video recordings, and financial data. Preparing these policies requires organizing the information in the organization’s possession, understanding how long the information should be kept and where it will be kept; outlining document destruction practices (including e-mail); and implementing a “litigation hold” of document destruction when necessary. Each of these policies and practices should be prepared in a way that is appropriate to the size and function of the organization. An organization with hundreds of employees and a budget of several million dollars needs different policies and practices than an organization with

five employees and a budget of several hundred thousand dollars. Guidance on these issues can be obtained through training sessions offered by local and statewide organizations or Internet sites maintained by these organizations. Worth Noting Because there is no “cookie-cutter” approach for the policies and practices outlined above, the organization should obtain competent advice from a lawyer or other qualified professional. An individual who serves as a director may be able to provide advice on certain topics. Other times, the expertise will be found outside of the organization. Complying with the necessary legal requirements will help ensure a stable framework in which your organization can grow. Document Checklist for Nonprofits t "SUJDMFT PG *ODPSQPSBUJPO t #ZMBXT t $POnJDU PG *OUFSFTU 1PMJDZ t 1FSTPOOFM 1PMJDZ t *OGPSNBUJPO .BOBHFNFOU 1PMJDZ For more information about nonprofit best practices, please contact Thomas A. Pendleton at MacDonald, Illig, Jones & Britton LLP at 814/870-7756 or tpendleton@mijb.com

Thomas A. Pendleton is a partner with MacDonald, Illig, Jones & Britton LLP and has been representing businesses, nonprofit corporations and individuals in a wide variety of legal matters for more than 15 years. He is a graduate of the Vanderbilt University School of Law.

January 2011 > www.mbausa.org > 9


20 years of service!

Community Resources for Independence

Williamsport

Beaver Allentown

McConnellsburg

CRI offers Center for Independent Living & Home and Community Based Services CRI offers Home and Community Based Services


EDITORIAL > by Shawn Emerson, CPA

Financial Adviser Operating Reserves Essential for Long-Term Sustainability Each nonprofit organization at one time or another has wished it had saved for a rainy day. Saving for a rainy day sounds logical, but most organizations don’t plan for or anticipate the need. Many organizations neglect to put aside funds that will help them preserve their capacity to deliver on their missions in the event of unforeseen financial shortages. A natural disaster that increases operating expenses, a budget impasse from a governmental organization, or an unexpected decrease in gifts from individual donors can put an organization without adequate operating reserves at risk. Some nonprofits have negative reserves and are already at risk. To assess this locally, I performed a brief analysis of 25 nonprofits in the Erie region by accessing their 2009 Internal Revenue Service Form 990s from GuideStar.org. The annual expenses ranged from $3.4 million to $299 million for services that included health care, education and human services. Nine of the 25 had operating reserve ratios (defined below) over 25 percent, and the other 16 actually had negative reserve ratios. This is by no means an exhaustive analysis; however, it does demonstrate the reality of this issue. What is an Operating Reserve? An operating reserve is the portion of “unrestricted net assets” that nonprofit boards maintain or designate for use in emergencies to sustain financial operations for unanticipated events. Accumulated unrestricted net assets increase or decrease from annual surpluses or deficits. Financial stability is attained by budgeting for, and actually achieving, yearly surpluses, which help meet operating reserve objectives. Unrestricted net assets should be further defined as “available,” or that portion of net assets not attached to fixed assets, net of related debt.

For organizations interested in creating an operating reserve, it is recommended that nonprofit boards establish a minimum operating reserve ratio policy. A minimum operating reserve ratio can be calculated in terms of a percentage (operating reserves divided by the annual expense budget) or number of months (operating reserves divided by the average monthly expense budget). Industry experts conclude that a board should establish, at a minimum, an operating reserve ratio of 25 percent or three months of the annual expense budget. The minimum is just that, a minimum. How much beyond the minimum can vary from organization to organization and is dependent on several other factors. Establish a Reserve Policy Whatever is decided, it is prudent that nonprofits establish an operating reserve policy regardless of the size of their annual budget. Establishing a policy is something that each nonprofit should do by evaluating what is adequate for them. This should be given serious consideration and not approached half-heartedly using a boiler-plate policy found on the Internet. It has to work for you! One final comment would be that operating reserves should be accumulated in advance of other Boarddesignated funds. The key steps for any nonprofit creating a policy are to: 1) establish a minimum level for an operating reserve ratio; 2) define how the operating reserve will be calculated (use the above or something more specific to your organization); 3) define how reserves will be invested; 4) define frequency of measuring (monthly report to executive director and quarterly to the board); and, 5) identify how the operating reserve will be replenished if used.

One key element in the success of building an operating reserve is to overcome the stigma that nonprofits are not permitted to make a profit. Staff and boards of nonprofits, as well as contributors, need to understand and agree that it’s OK to have anticipated annual surpluses to help build an operating reserve, but more importantly, it will help an organization achieve sustainability. There is no “one size fits all” solution but there is a solution that will work for each organization if those who believe in the nonprofit take the time to define what will work best for them. That’s why it’s so critical for nonprofits to incorporate an operating reserve policy into their long-term plans. For more information and questions regarding operating reserves, contact Shawn Emerson at McGill, Power, Bell & Associates, LLP at semerson@mpbcpa. com or 814/453-6594. Shawn Emerson, CPA, is a partner at McGill, Power, Bell & Associates, LLP, a regional certified public accounting firm with offices in Erie and Meadville. He has more than 20 years of accounting experience in both the public and private sectors. His specializations include Nonprofit and Government Auditing, Business/ForProfit Auditing and Management Consulting. Emerson is a member of the firm’s Nonprofit and Government Services Group and the PICPA’s NFP Technical Issues Subcommittee. He also is a member of the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners and serves on the Executive Advisory Committee of Central Tech.

January 2011 > www.mbausa.org > 11


Safe Harbor’s new $1.1-million crisis residential center on West 12th Street in Millcreek Township is designed to be an eight-bed, short-term facility that will provide residents in Erie County with the respite and resources they need to recover from a crisis situation.

Safe Harbor Behavioral Health (SHBH), a human service agency specializing in mental health, has grown significantly since its founding in 1993, when it began with a small budget and three staff in Erie. With the support of the County Department of Human Resources (Erie County MHMR) and a very generous community, the nonprofit organization, headquartered at 1330 West 26th Street, today offers a wide array of mental health services to more than 4,000 residents — children and adults — in the region. “We are focused on providing ambulatory outpatient and crisis care that is responsive to consumer needs and delivered in a timely manner. There are a number of quality providers in the community, and we work with many of them daily, to ensure good coordination of services,” explains President and CEO Jon Evans, who has more than 30 years of experience in the mental health field. “The earlier we can provide care, the better the outcomes.”

This year, the agency is founding SAFELine, the first 24/7, 365-days-a-year crisis hotline for area students. The line will provide a forum for students who are experiencing bullying, or any other difficulty, to talk with a crisis clinician anytime, day or night. In addition, Safe Harbor is opening a new Crisis Residential Center on West 12th Street near the Regional Cancer Center in Millcreek Township, and expects the $1.1-million renovation to be near completion in early 2011. It’s an exciting time for Safe Harbor, according to agency administrators and Board members who say these two projects are a reflection of the growing need for mental health services across the country.

adult population). In fact, the greatest number of prescriptions written in the United States are for mental health-related issues. “When you think about the individuals who need these services, it’s an astonishing figure.” notes Board President Tim Trott, Vice President of Investments and Advisory and Brokerage Services for UBS Financial. “It’s important to have an organization like Safe Harbor here in this community. If you or someone you know is suffering from depression, anxiety, bipolar, or any crisis situation, you don’t have to try to deal with them by yourself.”

According to the National Institute of Mental Health, an estimated 26.2 percent of Americans ages 18 and older — about one in four adults — suffer from a diagnosable mental disorder. Anxiety disorders impact approximately 40 million adults, and major depression affects 14.8 million adults (6.7 percent of the

SAFELine

“My wife and I were very good friends with a successful couple, both of whom worked in large corporations. They had children that could have been models, and were at the top of their classes; the perfect situation from the outside looking in. Then, things started to change. She, the wife, seemed to be disconnecting from us and our other friends, and her relationships began to suffer. Eventually, she took her own life. That’s really why I joined Safe Harbor. A business person needs to understand that their family, friends and business associates can seek help from someone like Safe Harbor and get help to cope with life.” — Robert E. Glowacki, Assessment Evaluation Inc. Safe Harbor Board Member for three years

12 < www.mbausa.org < January 2011

Safe Harbor’s SAFELine, is a new hotline to be launched in March for area youth can call to report bullying problems 24 hours a day.


Mission-Based Agency

Safe Harbor was started in response to a special project initiated by the Erie County Mental Health administrative offices and State of Pennsylvania Office of Mental Health to bring home individuals who were long-term residents of Warren State Hospital. In this capacity, the agency’s mission was to develop an intensive and focused outpatient clinic to be available to those individuals, and also to develop a fully functional, 24-hour crisis intervention program for all residents of Erie County. “We started with three staff — me, our nurse manager and a secretary — a desk, two chairs and a phone,” states Evans. “It was exciting that we got to take an organization from its very founding and build it the way we wanted to.” Over the past 18 years, Safe Harbor has evolved into a mission-based mental health services business — which in 2011 has an operating budget of $8 million and more than 200 employees. The shift to a more businesscentric mental health agency is a credit to Safe Harbor’s administration and Board of Directors, comprised of local business leaders. Together, they have taken a proactive approach to making sure that the agency’s funding is spent wisely. “A significant amount of tax dollars come into our organization, and we take the stewardship of those dollars seriously. The Board and administrative team recognize their fiduciary responsibility and provide thoughtful oversight,” notes Evans. “To that end, we have developed productivity contracts with our clinical staff, which has been very good for the organization.” According to psychiatrist Matthew L. Behan, D.O., who became the Adult Services Medical Director for the agency in July 2008, major factors in making care more efficient are the utilization of outpatient services and early treatment.

“It was about 15 years ago when I went there for help at 3 o’ clock in the morning on a hot, summer night. I probably drove around the building three times before I dared to get out of my car. I was in the parking lot and just walking around in the front of the building when one of the Crisis counselors stuck their head out and asked if I wanted to come in… All those years later, I have never forgotten what they did for me and I got to repay the favor when I went to work for them.” — Miki Hammond, Former Certified Peer Specialist for Safe Harbor In fact, Safe Harbor operates much in the same way as a medical clinic; conducting screenings, checking vital signs, and working with a client’s primary care physician to make sure they are receiving not only therapy and medication, but also a continuum of care. “In other words,” notes Dr. Behan, “we recognize that people can’t really feel well mentally if they are not taking care of their physical health, so we want to participate in the idea of whole body health as much as possible.” Safe Harbor’s multidisciplinary staff works collaboratively with all hospitals, social service agencies, police jurisdictions, and school districts in Erie County, with satellite clinics in over 35 school buildings. The agency also embraces the concept of Recovery from mental illness and employs Certified Peer Specialists, people who are willing to share their own stories of overcoming mental illness, to inspire others. “Clients are looking for reassurance that you can have a mental illness and still be a good mother, for example. They want to know what you do for help,” says Certified Peer Specialist Miki Hammond, who has been involved in the mental health care field for more than 40 years — as the child of a parent with serious mental illness, as a patient, as a parent and then as an advocate. “They want to know things that make them not feel so isolated with their illness.” “At Safe Harbor, we talk about what it takes for a family to come to the point where they need to call and see a psychiatrist. It’s a very difficult decision for people who are not familiar with

our field,” notes Evans, “So our job is to be absolutely responsive when they call.”

New Residential Services Center

For those dealing with a crisis, an agency such as Safe Harbor Behavioral Health can truly be a lifesaver. Safe Harbor’s Crisis Services provides free intervention, 24 hours a day, seven days a week, to anyone experiencing a crisis within Erie County. A crisis is defined by the person experiencing it and can be anything from thoughts of suicide, mental illness or bereavement, to a financial situation or job loss, homelessness, or even family issues. “When a person reaches a crisis point and their normal mechanisms for coping aren’t working, or they are feeling overwhelmed, they can access Crisis Services,” explains Director Dr. Mandy Fauble, “We have a 24-hour, 365-daysa-year response. People can be seen here or we will drive anywhere in Erie County to see them. They will meet with a crisis counselor who will talk with them in a supportive way, and help them determine what makes sense to try to resolve the crisis.” All crisis services are free to those who need them. According to the agency, the > “Safe Harbor is making a significant impact on the community through collaboration with the hospitals, with other social service agencies, with law enforcement, with the school districts, and by really never saying, ‘No’ to anyone – always having open arms…. I’ve seen firsthand the significant positive effects that all the various programs at Safe Harbor have had on individuals, on children, especially on families. Frankly, they have really saved a lot of lives.” — William Hilbert Jr., Reddog Industries, Inc. and Anson Mold and Manufacturing Safe Harbor Board Member for four years

Safe Harbor Behavioral Health’s Board of Directors represents a diverse group of industries. Front row, from left: Carmen Ferranto (retired), Warren State Hospital; and Board Chairman Tim Trott, UBS Financial. Second row, from left: President/CEO Jon Evans, Safe Harbor Behavioral Health; John Jensen (retired), Hamot Medical Center; Bill Flaherty (retired), Schaffner, Knight, Minnaugh & Co.; and Mary Yakish, Westminster Family Practice. Back row, from left: Marne Roche, Family Advocate; Robert E. Glowacki, Assessment Evaluation, Inc.; Joseph Schember, PNC Bank; and William Hilbert Jr., Reddog Industries, Inc. and Anson Mold and Manufacturing. Not pictured: Cindy Hendrickson, GE Transportation, Mary Ann Gold, Consumer Advocate; David Kruszewski, Pinecrest Family Practice; Mark Raimy, Welders Supply Company; and Susan Simon, Family Advocate/Saint Vincent Health System Cardiac Rehab RN. January 2011 > www.mbausa.org > 13


Safe Harbor Behavioral Health’s outpatient services are available to both children and adults. At left, children participate in group therapy in the agency’s Disney Room, named for the legendary Walt Disney, who himself coped with mental illness and went on to lead a successful life as an animator, entrepreneur, director and producer. At right, Safe Harbor’s clinical staff provides nursing assessments and monitoring as part of an individual’s medical and behavioral health needs.

26 professionals on the Crisis Services team manage an estimated 2,500 phone calls per month, and see about 300 individuals for faceto-face crisis evaluations, including emergency behavioral health evaluations provided for Hamot Medical Center. The program has been so successful that it has been recognized as a model program in the development and implementation of Crisis Services to individuals and families. The crisis program works in constant collaboration with local agencies, and is often utilized in training and consultation for those wishing to strengthen their own crisis intervention capabilities. Now, Safe Harbor is expanding its services to include an eight-bed, short-term crisis residential facility near the Regional Cancer Center off West 12th Street in Millcreek Township. The facility, expected to open this spring, fills a significant void in the community. Adds Dr. Fauble, “We look forward to providing a quality environment for people that gives them the respite and tools they need to recover from their crisis situation.”

Anti-Bullying Hotline – SafeLine

For many children in America, bullying is a behavioral health issue that has reached crisis proportions. According to The Journal of the American Medical Association, one-third of U.S. students experience bullying, either as a target or perpetrator, and because of it, nearly 160,000 fearful children miss one or more school days each month. Experts say in the age of Facebook, MySpace and texting, cyber-bullying is more prevalent than physical bullying on the playground. That is why Safe Harbor has spent so much time and effort to establish an anti-bullying hotline, known as SAFELine, which will provide children an outlet to report instances of such abuse. The hotline is expected to go live this March. “We recognize the significant, long-term detrimental effects of bullying, especially on the victims, but also on the perpetrators,” notes Evans. “We are developing a 24-hour 14 < www.mbausa.org < January 2011

phone line that will be answered by a trained counselor, so kids, or people who are concerned about certain kids, can call if they are aware of somebody that is being bullied.” Evans cites recent high profile suicides, such as those on the Rutgers campus and in a Boston high school, that have occurred in conjunction with cyber-bullying. These situations present the rare, but tragic, examples of how far peer problems can go when victims feel there is no place to turn and no sanctuary from the crises they are dealing with. “Other kids know this is happening, often months before adults become aware. We want this hotline to be a safe, third-party service that kids can call and express a concern about a peer or call themselves and say, ‘I need help. I don’t know how to get out of this situation,’” notes Evans. “Our job is to partner with the parents and the schools to provide them with a safe haven.”

Assistance for Employers

Safe Harbor already has been a vital resource for local employers. For the past 10 years, the agency’s subsidiary Northwest Beacon Group, has provided the largest employee assistance program (EAP) in the region, contracting with more than 115 corporations and covers more than 40,000 individuals. The EAP, staffed by more than six clinicians, provides employees with counseling for personal problems that might adversely impact their work performance, health and well-being.

“Research shows that employers who have employee assistance programs for their employees and families, save anywhere from $5 to $11 for every dollar they invest, by reducing absenteeism, increasing productivity and seeing a significant drop in workers’ compensation,” notes Evans. “Early intervention for your employees will actually help you save money, because you have an employee at work who’s focused and there to do their job.” From the business perspective, adds Trott, such a resource is invaluable. “No matter how small of a business you are, there are going to be individuals who are dealing with something — strife, financial pressures, etc. — and it’s going to have an impact on your operation. From a human perspective, it helps demonstrate compassion for your employees and what they are going through. Either way you look at it, it’s a plus to be able to have a service like this, where your employees can go on a confidential basis and get help with whatever they may be dealing with at the time.” It’s always good to know a place like Safe Harbor Behavioral Health is here to help. For more information about Safe Harbor Behavioral Health and its services or to make a donation, visit www.safeharborbh.org or call 814/459-9300. In the event of a crisis, call 814/456-2014.

“The Employee Assistance Program provides my team with a vital resource for themselves and their families in a professional and confidential manner. It is a crucial health and risk management tool that Northwest Beacon can provide that employers cannot directly provide themselves. As a father of young children, bullying is a problem with a modern twist today we have all heard about. SAFELine, a confidential outlet to help that Safe Harbor is placing in schools, is a very important program to manage the dangers to our children that families often need help with…” — Mark H. Raimy, Welders Supply Company Safe Harbor Board Member for three years


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HR Connection MOST EMPLOYERS LIKELY TO KEEP COVERAGE Most employers intend to continue offering health benefits to their workers rather than encouraging them to buy coverage via state health insurance exchanges when they start operating in 2014, according to researchers. The “Health Care Reform Survey 2010,” by New York-based Willis Human Capital Practice and Diamond Management & Technology Consultants Inc., found that 55 percent of employers plan to maintain their health plans in 2014 even if the state exchanges, established in response to the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, offer competitively priced coverage. In fact, just 12 percent of the employers responding to the survey said they would be very or somewhat likely to pay the $2,000 penalty per employee and direct workers to the state exchanges, while 62 percent said they would be very or somewhat likely to invest in the requisite employer-sponsored group health plan to avoid any penalties. WORKPLACE STRESS LINKED TO OBESITY, RESEARCHERS SAY A new study by the University of Rochester Medical Center in Rochester, New York,

Insurance Postings from Patty

Effective January 1, 2011, the Manufac turer & Business Association is excited to announce that there will be HealthAmerica products available to all members domiciled in the following Pennsylvania counties: Bradford, Centre, Clinton, Lycoming, Montour, Northum berland, Snyder, Sullivan, Tioga and Union. These prod ucts, like our HealthAmerica products in northwe st Pennsylvania, will have preferred pricing and be available to all appointed brokers. For more information, please contact your HealthAmerica account executive or account manager. The new 2011 HealthAmerica Bulletin is available under the Insurance button on www.mbausa.org and discusses both NWPA and Central PA options.

claims that stress and low levels of physical activity are very common among the American work force. The dangerous combo is linked to being overweight or obese. Unfortunately, researchers also found that a diet rich in fruits and vegetables did little to offset the effect of chronic job stress on weight gain among the employees, who

Patty Smith is the director of Em ployee Benefit Service s at the Manufactu rer & Business Asso ciation.

were mostly sedentary. Instead, exercise seemed to be the key to managing stress and keeping a healthy weight. Researchers collected baseline data from the nearly 2,800 employees, using body mass index (BMI) as the measurement for weight status. They found that 72 percent to 75 percent of the employees were overweight or obese.

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DEPARTMENTS > Contact: Stacey Bruce

Solid HR Practices Key to Business Longevity In this issue of the Business Magazine, we celebrate employers that are passing significant milestone anniversaries. I would bet if you were to survey these firms many of them would attribute their employees for their success. Indeed, research shows that firms that do well in the long run tend to have solid HR practices. A recent study conducted by the Ross School of Business at the University of Michigan revealed that 20 percent of an organization’s business results are tied to that company’s HR department. In order to provide value to an employer, the skilled HR professionals must be adept in six major competency areas, according to the study. The vital competency areas are: 1. Credible activist. HR professionals must be both credible and active. They need to be trusted, respected, listened to, and, above all, have a point of view and take a position. 2. Culture and change steward. HR professionals recognize, articulate

and help shape a company’s culture. 3. Talent manager/organization designer. HR professionals master theory, research and practice in both talent management and organization design. Good talent without a supporting organization will not be sustained, and a good organization will not fully deliver without good talent. 4. Strategy architect. HR professionals need to have a vision for how the organization can win in the future and play an active part in the establishment of the overall strategy to deliver this vision. 5. Operational executor. HR professionals execute the operational aspects of managing people and organizations and ensure that employees’ basic needs — including pay, relocation, hiring and training — are efficiently delivered through technology, shared services and/or outsourcing.

contribute to the success of the business by knowing the social context or setting in which their companies operate. They know how the business makes money, who their customers are and why they buy the company’s products or services. For information about the HR services available through the Association’s HR Division, please contact me at 814/833-3200, 800/815-2660 or sbruce@mbausa.org.

Stacey Bruce is a PHR-certified HR generalist and Human Resource supervisor at the Manufacturer & Business Association.

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EDITORIAL > by Angie Angus

Looking at Alternative Industries for New Markets Angie Angus is the manager of BOS Programs and Support Services.

Successful Models

This article is the seventh in a series featuring excerpts from the international best-selling book, Blue Ocean Strategy: How to Create Uncontested Market Space and Make the Competition Irrelevant, by authors W. Chan Kim and Renée Mauborgne. Most companies compete within industry created boundaries that encourage and foster the red ocean approach of headto-head competition. A key principle of Blue Ocean Strategy is to break out of these industry boundaries — and away from competitors — in order to create new markets. Authors Kim and Mauborgne found there are six paths that companies can systematically look across in order to break down these market boundaries. They are: alternative industries, strategic groups, buyer groups, complementary products and services, functionalemotional orientation of an industry, and time. Alternatives vs. Substitutes Path 1 encourages us to look across alternative industries, not simply finding substitutes. A substitute offers the same functionality or core utility but in a different form. For example, a substitute for using your existing personal accountant would be going to H&R Block, using TurboTax, or doing it yourself with a pencil and paper. However, alternatives have a different form and function but offer the same general purpose. An easy way to understand this concept is to compare going out to dinner and going out to a movie. They are different in form and function with dinner offering a social environment to eat food, while the movie offers visual entertainment. They both offer a similar purpose, which is to have an enjoyable night out. So a movie is an alternative to going to dinner, not a substitute. In making purchase decisions, buyers consider both the substitutes and alternatives in spending their time and money. According to Blue Ocean Strategy, “For some reason, we often abandon this intuitive thinking when we become sellers. Rarely do sellers think consciously about how their customers make trade-offs across alternative industries. A shift in price, a change in model, even a new ad campaign can elicit a tremendous response from rivals within an industry, but the same actions in an alternative industry usually go unnoticed. Trade journals, trade shows, and consumer rating reports reinforce the vertical walls between one industry and another. Often, however, the space between alternative industries provides opportunities for value innovation.” 18 < www.mbausa.org < January 2011

NetJets, for one, looked across alternative industries to create a company that has grown into a multibillion-dollar business. The service has a fleet of jets that offers companies fractional jet ownership for private air travel. Sixteen companies each become a part owner of one jet allowing each company 50 hours of flight time directly to their destination, with no connections and no layovers. If your jet is not available, another will be supplied so there is a guarantee that when you need the jet, it will be available. It saves companies money in lost productivity by eliminating the hours spent in airports standing in security lines and waiting for connections. It also eliminates connections completely, providing travel directly to the final destination. Companies now have the convenience of a private jet at the price of a commercial airline. Some other well-known companies that looked across alternative industries to achieve value innovation and experience great success are Southwest Airlines, The Home Depot and Quicken software. Southwest Airlines looked at car travel as the alternative to flying and offered low-cost, short flights to attract those people who would normally drive. The Home Depot gave people inexpensive access to the supplies and classes they need to achieve their own home improvement, instead of hiring an expensive contractor or purchasing items at a more expensive hardware store. Quicken offered effective and timesaving software to replace doing personal finances manually. All these companies looked across alternative industries to reconstruct market boundaries to create blue oceans in new markets of untapped demand. Next month: Path 2 – Looking Across Strategic Groups Within Industries If you are interested in learning more about how your company can explore blue oceans of opportunity, please visit mbausa. blueoceanstrategy.com or contact me at aangus@mbausa.org.


OntheHill

DEPARTMENTS > Contact: Sheila Sterrett

Aggressive Agenda Should Be a Part of the New Republican Control Anna McCauslin is the state government relations representative for the Manufacturer & Business Association in Harrisburg. Contact her at 717/525-7213 or amccauslin@mbausa.org.

During the holiday break between legislative sessions, business owners across the state had one important item on their wish-lists: for the new Republican majority to erase the damaging policies promoted by the last governor and House of Representatives and make Pennsylvania more competitive. When the legislature comes to Harrisburg to begin the 2011-2012 legislative session, the newly elected Republican Governor Tom Corbett will work with the new GOP majority in the House and long-held Republican Senate leadership to achieve his No. 1 goal — passing an on-time, fiscally responsible budget. What Were They Thinking? That’s the question many voters asked candidates during the 2010 election cycle. Who in their right mind would want to be in charge of the Commonwealth when we are facing a budget gap between $4 billion and $6 billion? When the $28-billion budget for fiscal year 2010-2011 was passed, everyone involved understood that it would be a miracle for the state to take in that amount of money. However, then-Governor Ed Rendell demanded that programs be funded, not cut, and the legislature acquiesced. No more. Corbett has stated that he will not increase taxes, which means the only other option is to cut. That leaves every responsible legislator asking, “What are the primary core functions of state government?” Here is one: Establishing a competitive business environment, which will entice more employers to locate to Pennsylvania to pay reasonable tax rates and enable them to create jobs. Five Ways to Accomplish This Goal: 1. Reform Labor Relations Start by enacting right-to-work legislation and become the 23rd state that seeks to protect an individual’s freedom of choice in the workplace. To achieve this, prohibit unions from negotiating contracts that would require an employee to join or financially support a union as a condition of employment. Also, protect the worker’s right to a secret ballot and eliminate prevailing wage laws. 2. Bring Pennsylvania’s Liability System Up to Par Lawsuit abuse has a disastrous effect on the cost of doing business and the ability to create jobs. The General Assembly can remedy this without costing the state a dime: establishment of the Fair Share Act; place caps

on non-economic damages; establish an innocent seller provision; and implement a loser-pays system. Each of these will solve the unpredictable and unfair business environment in Pennsylvania that undermines a business’s ability to compete in a growing and global marketplace. 3. Reign in Government Spending and Institute State Government Reform To do this, start by enacting a Taxpayer’s Bill of Rights that caps general-fund spending increases at the rate of inflation, so that we will be able to begin rebuilding the state’s economy and ensure that its residents are not taxed out of their jobs and homes. Then, move on to performance-based budgeting and allocate tax-dollars to programs that are performing effectively and efficiently, and away from those that are failing. Also, reduce the size of the legislature and staff. At a cost of more than $300 million annually, Pennsylvania has one of the most expensive state legislatures in the United States, and the second largest, with 253 legislators. There also are nearly 3,000 staff members. Even a 20-percent reduction in the size of the legislature — both members and staff — would provide substantial savings. 4. Reform Pennsylvania’s Draconian Tax Structure Start by enacting ideals that will not cost the state money, such as the continued phase-out of the Capital Stock and Franchise Tax, which was postponed during the FY 20092010 budget, and eliminating the cap on net operating loss carryforwards (NOLs). Currently, Pennsylvania is one of only two states in the nation that imposes a cap on NOL carryforwards. As a result, startup companies, which often record significant losses in the first few years of operation, face even greater obstacles within the Commonwealth. Also, implement a single sales factor apportionment and prevent mandatory unitary combined reporting. 5. Enact Common Sense Health-Care Reform Legislators must prevent a statewide uniform health insurance system and support Corbett’s lawsuit against the federal government that would deem Obamacare unconstitutional. Also, increase competition within the insurance market to improve upon the state’s current quality of care by developing newer and less expensive treatment options, as well as care delivery systems. Eliminate biases in health-care laws to create an environment that pushes citizens toward employer- or government-provided insurance programs and hinders the market for individually purchased insurance programs. January 2011 > www.mbausa.org > 19


Legal Q&A IF I HAVE AN INDIVIDUAL WHO WANTS TO VOLUNTEER AT MY COMPANY TO RECEIVE QUALITY AND VALUABLE EXPERIENCE, WHY CAN’T I LET THEM? The Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) establishes how the Department of Labor (DOL) and employers must treat those who provide services. The DOL’s goal is to protect individuals from abuse and to protect jobs as well. The FLSA states that if an individual provides a service for which an employee would normally be employed to perform, the activity is employment and the employer must pay the individual. There are exceptions for bona fide internship or training programs. The requirements for the exclusion are discussed in the next question. HOW DO I DETERMINE IF MY INTERNSHIP OR TRAINING PROGRAM MEETS FLSA STANDARDS? The following six criteria must be evaluated when making the determination: 1. The internship, even though it includes actual operation of the facilities of the employer, is similar to training which would be given in an educational environment; 2. The internship experience is for the benefit of the intern; 3. The intern does not displace regular employees, but works under close supervision of existing staff; 4. The employer that provides the training derives no

immediate advantage from the activities of the intern; and on occasion its operations may actually be impeded; 5. The intern is not necessarily entitled to a job at the conclusion of the internship; and 6. The employer and the intern understand that the intern is not entitled to wages for the time spent in the internship. Keep in mind that all of the factors listed above must be met in order for an employment relationship not to exist under FLSA.

Solutions you need with the service you want.

With 16 years experience, Ken Polk has helped businesses succeed across Erie, PA and Jamestown, NY. Ken Polk, District Manager 814-460-4570 | ken_polk@adp.com The ADP logo, ADP, and The business behind business are registered trademarks of ADP, Inc. Š2010 ADP, Inc.

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Electronic  Communication  Services,  Inc.  Erie,  PA Â

814-­455-­4181  800-­837-­5790 Â

ecs@ecsinc.us.com  www.ecsinc.us.com  Est.  1989 Â

Â

Telephone  Systems   Digital  /  VOIP   Wired  /  Wireless  Data  Networks   Wired  /  Wireless  Unified  Communications  Cabling   Telephone  /  Data Â

A  huge  â€œThank  Youâ€?  to  all  our  customer’s  in  northwest  PA.   We  appreci-­ ate  your  support  for  the  last  22  years  and  look  forward  to  serving  you  in  the  future.   We  hope  2011  brings  you  and  your  employees  health,  happi-­ ness,  and  prosperity.     From  all  of  us  at  E.C.S. Â

20 < www.mbausa.org < January 2011


DEPARTMENTS > Contact: Tammy Lamary

Wage & Hour Considerations for Employees Who Want to ‘Volunteer’ An issue that often comes up, and has been addressed by the Wage & Hour Division of the Department of Labor (DOL), is whether employees can “volunteer” to perform work for their employer without compensation. In almost every instance, the answer is no. While the law does recognize that individuals may choose to volunteer their time for civic or charitable organizations, the Wage & Hour Division, as well as the Supreme Court, has expressed concern over permitting an employee to perform work without pay. This concern extends to both nonprofit and for-profit employers. Specifically, the Wage & Hour Division is concerned that an employee might be required to “volunteer” additional time without pay, which would violate the purpose of the Fair Labor Standards Act.

For example, a nonprofit organization can accept volunteer services without compensating for the time. However, if an individual who is already an employee of the organization chooses to volunteer, the organization has to evaluate the situation. Once an employer-employee relationship exists, individuals cannot volunteer additional unpaid time for their employer unless certain conditions are met.

If all of these criteria are met, an individual who is already an employee of an organization may be able to perform unpaid volunteer services for that same employer. For more information about these Wage & Hour considerations, please contact me at 814/833-3200, 800/815-2660 or tlamary@mbausa.org.

Specifically, the DOL has indicated that a volunteer’s activities should be: t PVUTJEF OPSNBM IPVST BOE t PG B EJGGFSFOU DBQBDJUZ UIBO UIF usual job duties. The DOL also will consider the number of hours, whether the volunteer work displaces regular employees, and whether the services are typically associated with volunteer work.

Tammy Lamary is Labor & Employment Counsel for the Manufacturer & Business Association’s Legal Services Division.

The Erie Federal Credit Union is committed to providing quality financial products and the best member service. And for the second year in a row, this dedication to service has been recognized by the Credit Union National Association with the 2010 Excellence in Lending Award. Helping our members to achieve their dreams of owning a home, buying a car, or running a business is what we do every day. We’re proud to be a part of the Erie community and happy to be making a positive difference in the lives of our members. The Erie Federal Credit Union is ready to answer your questions and provide you with the resources you need for financial success. To learn more, call or visit us at www.eriefcu.org

Your savings federally insured to at least $250,000 and backed by the full faith and credit of the United States Government

NCUA

National Credit Union Administration, a U.S. Government Agency

Contact us today! 814-825-2436 1109 East 38th Street % 1005 Greengarden Road 2436 Buffalo Road % 518 State Street % 5500 Zuck Road 1220 West 32nd Street % 1825 Downs Drive (Located in new Walmart Supercenter - Peach & I-90)

January 2011 > www.mbausa.org > 21


LONGEVITY. GROWTH. SUCCESS. Our nearly 400 member companies celebrating milestone anniversaries in 2011 are truly at the head of the class, driving progress and innovation in our region. We wish them continued success in their operations now and in the future. 160 YEARS... Kim Kraft 150 YEARS... Shelly Memorial Studio 140 YEARS... Erie Maennerchor Club, Herrmann’s Water, Inc., Sarah A. Reed Retirement Center

130 YEARS...Farmers Mutual Fire Insurance Company, National Fuel Gas Distribution Corp. 120 YEARS...Bradford Club, Kane Manufacturing Corporation

& Associates, Hagan Business Machines, John D. Clark Trucking, Inc., L. G. Hetager Drilling Inc., Lang Motors, Marshall Stamping Company, McMullen Travel Inc., Monago’s Floor & Wall Coverings, Inc., Monahan & Monahan CPA’s, P.C., O’Neill Coffee Company, Perry Mill Supply Company, Products Finishing Inc., PSB Industries Inc. (General Air Div.), Sharkey Piccirillo, Keen & Hanzely LLP, Simonian Sunoco, Suburban Animal Clinic, Susquehanna Fire Equipment Co., The Al Xander Co. Inc., Thomas E. Cressley, Jr., D.M.D.

110 YEARS...Betts Industries Inc., Oliver T. Korb & Sons Inc., Van Matre Family Funeral

50 YEARS... Al

Home

American Tool & Machine Company, August

100 YEARS...Berman Bedding Inc., Erie City Mission, George Winston Co. Inc., Greenville Savings Bank, Mercer County State Bank, Sundahl & Company, Inc.

90 YEARS...A. J. Kautz & Son, Brelsford Motors & Equip. Co, Community Nursing Services of

Hunter Quality Meats,

Industrial Supply, Inc., B.P. Rhodes & Son Inc., Bert Klapec Inc., Blueberry Hill Golf Development Inc., Boyer’s Rental City, Inc., Burke’s Home Center, Butler Orthopedic Associates, Corry Rubber Corporation, Daniel J. Roberts, DMD, Eastway Lanes, Elderkin,

North East, Fleming Steel Company, Furmano Foods Inc., Griffin Motors Company, Rapid Transit

Martin, Kelly & Messina, Erie County Farms, Fairview

Company, Inc., Steckman’s Memorial Studio, Inc.

Manufacturing

80 YEARS...American Tinning and Galvanizing Co., C. R. Traut Agency, United Air Temp, VFW Post 2006 Home Assc., Inc.

75 YEARS...Abby Signs Inc., Agr International Inc., Allegheny Casualty Company, Auto

Corporation,

Gabriel

Brothers

Inc., Hardco Realty Company Inc., Henney Family Services Inc., Klasen Oil Company, Livingston’s Packing Company, Malin, Bergquist & Company, LLP, Palmer Industrial Coatings Inc., PMF Industries Inc., Rolling Meadow Lanes, S. W. Neilly Corporation,

Parts Service of New Bethlehem Inc, Charles P. Leach Agency, Inc., Erie Federal Credit Union, Erie

Schwab Hotel Corporation, Scully Enterprises Inc.,

GE Federal Credit Union, Franek Consumer Discount Company, Hubbard Bert Karle Weber, Inc.,

Sirco Industrial Supply, Inc., Springs Body Shop

Northwestern Rural Electric Co-Op, Olympic Athletic Club, Seneca Hills Bible Conference, Willard

Supplies, Stairways Behavioral Health, Theodore

Burial Service, Inc.

J. McCaskey, D.D.S., PC, Tonnard Manufacturing

70 YEARS...Brass Alignment Inc. , Citadel Broadcasting Company, Coach USA Erie,

Corporation, Warren Dental Arts Inc.

Commercial Appliance Contracts Inc., Erie-Crawford Cooperative, Frontier Pharmacy Inc.,

40 YEARS...Advanced Integrative Medicine

Lewisburg Builders Supply Co., Lord & Mercer Garage, Morris Coupling Company, W. L. Roenigk

Center, Arnone & Son’s Food Importers, Arro

Inc.

Forge Inc., Baker’s Transporation Service, Inc.,

60 YEARS... Canto Tool Corporation, Dillaman Auto Body, Erie Sport Store Inc., Erie Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Finish Thompson Inc., Gatesman Auto Body, George A. Baldwin

Beute & Bliley Inc., Blair Masonry Inc., Cady’s Card & Gift Shop, Campbell Bus Company Inc., Charles Construction Company, Clarion Electric Supply Co., Control Chief Corporation, Crawford

22 < www.mbausa.org < January 2011


Inc., Gregg M. Garcia, D.M.D., P.C., Haemer Tool

LLC, State Pipe Services, Inc., Sterilizer Refurbishing

& Die Inc., Harmony Castings, LLC, Highlander

Service, Sue Sutto Realtors, Inc., Susquehanna River

Energy Products Inc., Howard S. Manasse, M.D.

Valley Visitors Bureau, T & U Maintenance Inc., TD

P.C., Indian Head Tool & Cutter Grinding Inc., James

Cafes, Ltd., Technicon, The McDonald Group, L.L.P.,

Automotive, Jewell Electric Inc., Jim & Sue’s Lake

Thomas C. Fox, DMD, Thomas J. Brosenitsch, Jr., Tops

City Pizza Inc., K2S P.C., Kajon Materials Inc., Kamal

Markets LLC, Venango Diagnostic Imaging, Vernon

Khalaf, M.D., Kylander Oil, Inc., L. P. Bruno Jewelers,

Township Water Authority, W. Kevin Mahoney,

Lee Snyder Financial, Lillis McKibben Bongiovanni

D.M.D., Wayne Gravel Products, Wennin Pallet,

& Company, Mid Erie Family Practice, LLC, Nelson’s

White Deer Steakhouse Inc., Winner International

Hardware Inc., Northwest Restoration Inc., Passages

Inc., Wintergreen Animal Hospital

Inc., Pine Avenue Dairy Queen, Praful U. Bhatt M.D., Rademacher Industrial System Inc., Robert L. Rabell

20 YEARS...

Surveying & Engineering, Skal Dental Studio, Sue’s

Avalon Hotel & Conference Center, Barrett’s Auto

Notary Service, The Classic Look, The Wilkins Co.

Body Inc., Bonnett & Murphy Dental Associates,

Inc., Thomas Freeman, Architect P.C., Tim Booher

P.C., Bradford Pipe & Supply Inc., Briad LP, Brookside

Construction, Time Machine, Inc., Wagner Heating

Gardens, Cascade Ohio, Corporate Glass Inc., Cusick

& Air Conditioning, Weaver Auto Parts, Whole

Tool Inc., Deerfield Behavioral Health Inc., DKL Inc.,

Foods Cooperative, William W. Weeter Concrete,

East Penn Carrier & Wrecker Sales Inc., Ed Daugherty

Winters’ Plumbing & Heating Supplies Inc.

Auto Body, Eden, Inc., Electralloy, Ellwood Specialty

25 YEARS...AAA Vending Services, Alden

Albion Animal Center Inc.,

Steel, Eric T. Mong, D.D.S., Fitness Unlimited, Frank C. Pregler, D.O., Franklin Pediatric Associates, P.C.,

Central School District, Dunlap Trucking Inc.,

Physical Therapy, P.C., AMTEK Inc., Andy’s Truck

George J. Vukmer Jr., M.D., Glasshopper Studio,

Eriez Construction Inc., Filmtronics, Inc., Findlan

Service Inc., Aristocrat Spring Water Inc., Arthritis

Har-Lo Farms Inc., Heckathorn Personal Care Home,

Dental, Fisher Mining Company, Flexospan Steel

Associates, Barbara J. Culver Bus Garage, Barber

Heeter Enterprises Inc., Hito’s Restaurant, Hodrick

Buildings Inc., Fuellgraf Electric Company, Gas & Oil

Trucking Inc., Bashlin Industries Inc, Bayview

Real Estate Inc., IDA Vending, Industrial Steel & Pipe

Management Associates Inc., Harrington Industrial

Nephrology Inc., Bill’s Atlantic Service, Bowser

Supply Company, Interim Health Care, J. H. Bennett

Laundry, Heights Prescription Pharmacy Inc., II-VI

Corporation, Bowser Milk Inc., Brad Steiner

Records Mgmt., Keep Heating & Cooling, Krise

Incorporated, Imhof Supply Inc., J B Distributor Inc.,

Electric Inc., Brent E. Walker, M.D., P.C., C & D Gas

Transportation Inc., Lakeshore Service, Inc., Lea

JAB Enterprises, Inc., Jack’s Auto Parts Inc., Jim’s

Company, C.F.J. Enterprises, C.H. & G.M. Francis

Ann S. Plessinger CPA, LLC, Lou Negley’s Bottled

Generator Service Inc., John Allen Excavating Inc.,

Inc., Carter Orthopedics, Ltd., Central Erie County

Water Inc., MAJR Products Corporation, Meadville

Kerr’s Tire Korner, Kittanning Veterinary Hospital,

Paramedic Assn., Champion Bolt Corp. Inc., Classi-

Area Water Authority, National Fuel Resources

Lake City Industries Inc., Linmas Drugs Inc., Loc,

Co Foods, Clinical Pathology Institute/ACL, Clover

Inc., New York Lunch, Inc., Nick’s Place Inc.,

Inc., Love Heating & Cooling, Lukjan Supply &

Hill Farms, Conrad Office Products, Country

Northwest Eye Associates, P.C., Northwest Penna

Manufacturing Inc., Materials Handling Enterprises

Manor Management Services, Covelli Real Estate

Court Reporters Inc., OB/GYN Associates of Erie,

Inc., Matric Limited, Meadville Plate Glass Co., Inc.,

Company, Cox & Kanyuck LLC, Curtis Industries Inc.,

Osteopathic Cardiology Associates LLC, Pepicelli,

Mechanical Contractors Assoc. of NW PA, NexTier

Debi’s Dairy Queen, Deist Industries Inc., Dickinson

Youngs and Youngs PC, Phoenix Metals of PA, Inc.,

Armored Services, O’Jacks Inc., Patti’s Pizza, Penn

& Associates Inc. , Doleski-Wolford Orthodontics,

Pie-In-The-Sky Cafe, Inc., Pinebloom Corporation,

United Technologies Inc., Perseus House Inc.,

Dr. Stephen T. Radack III, Erie DriveTrain Inc., Erie

Power Conversion Technologies Inc., Powerwise

Plastek Industries Inc., Playworld Systems Inc.,

General Tire Inc., Faulkner’s Country Market, Fisher

Ink Pumps, Reilly’s Hair Salon, Reitz Agency, RMS

Pymatuning Boat Sales, Inc., Salem Tube Inc.,

Installation, Flexcut Tool Company, Inc., Fox’s

Systems Inc., Rocky Ridge Trading Company Inc.,

Stephen H. Hutzelman, Esq., Valu Home Centers,

Pizza, G - S Hydraulics, Inc., Glass Erectors Inc.,

Rosanne M. Palermo, DMD, Sammartino & Stout,

Inc., Waste Management of Northwest PA. West-Ten

Gordon Brothers Water Inc., Great Lakes Home

Schreck’s Custom Woodwork, Sharpsville Container,

Podiatry Center Inc.

Healthcare Services, Greener Pastures Veterinary

Smith Collision, Inc., Smith, Best & Stoneking

Svs. Inc., Hand, Microsurgery and Reconstructive,

P.C., Sunshine Cleaning & Janitorial Serv Inc., The

9-90 Variety Inc., Achille

Historic Square Agency, Hoffner Excavating,

Closet Shoppe, Thomas Glass, Topics Inc., TriPro

Family Dental Inc., Advanced Business Systems,

J.B. Mill & Fabricating Inc., Jeff Jageman DMD,

Technologies Inc., Trumco Inc., U. S. Bulk Transport

Al’s Melons, B & B Trucking Inc., B-Dry System of

Jonathan K. Cole, D.M.D. , JTM Foods Inc., Kramer

Inc., Valley Can Inc., William G. Bowley Insurance

Erie Inc., Back Porch, Ltd., Beechwood Golf Course,

Automotive Specialties, Krell Inc., Lake Erie Molded

Agency Inc., Wire Weld Inc., Yeagle Excavating Inc.

Bielobocky Dairy Farm, Bradford Motel Association,

Plastics, Lake Shore Industrial Services, Lakeshore

Inc., Butler Physical Therapy Associates Inc, Carini

Community Services, Inc., Lauger’s Good Lawn

Restaurant Inc., Clinical Therapeutics, Inc, Compass

LLC, Meadville DQ, Inc., Mele Plumbing & Heating

Anniversary information is based on member records as of October 2010. We regret any errors or omissions. Please contact the Manufacturer & Business Association with updated information for inclusion in future publications.

Corporation, Congregate Management Services,

Co. Inc., Micro Plating Inc., Mike’s Auto Body, MSG

Inc., Contine Corporation, Conway & O’Malley

Inc., Muscle Products Corp., NAC Carbon Products

Inc., Craig Newell Welding, Inc., David W. McGuire,

Inc., North East Agway FM & HM, NorthCoast

D.M.D., Inc., Dr. Richard A. Steves DMD, PC, Drayer

Brokerage Agency, Inc., Northeastern Executive

Electrical Service LLC, Dwyer Plumbing, Inc., Eagle

Group Inc., Northwestern Physical Therapy Svcs.

Precision Tooling Inc., Electrical & Mechanical

Inc., O’Donnell’s Distributor, Inc., P.S.S. Company,

Systems Inc., Family Planning Services of Mercer

Phillips Vineyards Inc., QRS Music Technologies Inc.,

Cnty., FireDEX of Butler Inc., Floorshow Inc., Gore’s

Quality Gardens, Ronald M. Vrablik, M.D. OB/GYN,

Friendly Service & Auto Sales, Graziani Construction

Showcase Mobile Homes Inc., Stafford Enterprises

30 YEARS...

January 2011 > www.mbausa.org > 23


Hot Dip Galvanizing Pickling & Oil Services (GE Spec. P4D-EP9 & EP8) Electroless Nickel Plating Nickel Plating (QQ-N-290) Copper Plating Zinc Phosphate Black Oxide Finishing

Founded 1931

552 West 12th Street 2 Erie, PA 16501 2 Phone: 814-456-7053 2 Fax: 814-459-3297 2 www.galvanizeit.com

Providing, Quality, Affordable and Timely Metal Finishing Services to Over 440 Customers in 2010 552 West 12th Street Erie, PA 16501-1585 814/456-7053 www.galvanizeit.com

Northwestern Rural Electric Cooperative is owned by those it serves. 22534 St. Hwy. 86 P.O. Box 207 Cambridge Springs, PA 16403 1-800-472-7910

80 Years

www.northwesternrec.coop

75 Years

MERCER COUNTY STATE BANK 3279 South Main Street Sandy Lake, PA 16145 Phone: 800-376-7015 Web site: www.mcsbank.com

7 Erie locations, online and mobile banking & our 75th Anniversary!

2011 Company Anniversaries

Erie Federal Credit Union 1959 East 36th Street Erie, PA 16510 814-825-2436 www.eriefcu.org

A century of dedicated service to our local communities.

75 Years

Proudly part of the Erie Business Community and still growing. 8105 Hawthorne Drive Erie, PA 16509 800/524-9077 toll free 814/864-7855 local 814/866-7312 fax www.flexcut.com

140 Years

REFLECTING

Excellence for 40years

...since 1971 www.controlchief.com 814.362.6811

24 < www.mbausa.org < January 2011

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#! " % ! !$! ""% % ! !$! "!!

50 Years


THE Â McDONALD Â GROUP, Â L.L.P. Â ATTORNEYS Â AT Â LAW Â

~  Celebrating  25  Years  ~

The  McDonald  Group,  L.L.P.

Firm PROFILE The  McDonald  Group,  L.L.P. 456  West  Sixth  Street Erie,  PA  16507 Phone:  814/456-­5318 Web  site: www.tmgattys.com Founded: 1986

The  McDonald  Group,  L.L.P.,   located  in  the  downtown  historic  district  of  Erie,  has  served  Northwestern  Pennsylvania  and  surrounding  communities  since  7KH ¿UP ZDV IRXQGHG LQ by  James  D.  McDonald,  Jr.,  who  brought  with  him  more  than  20  years  experience  as  an  Erie  practitioner.  The  practice  has  grown  to  its  present  complement  of  seven  attorneys  as  Gary  Eiben,  Thomas  J.  Buseck,  Joseph  P.  Conti,  Daniel  J.  Pastore,  John  J.  Estok,  and  Bethany  Anne  Blood MRLQHG WKH ¿UP

Group  representation.  Our  practice encompasses  various  areas  of  law,  concentrating  in  general  and  complex  civil  litigation,  healthcare  including  corporate  planning  and  structure,  business  and  commercial  transactions,  professional,  municipal  and  personal  representation,  criminal  law,  family  law,  real  estate,  taxation,  and  estate  planning  and  administration.  Â

Personal  Service

2XU ¿UP SULGHV LWVHOI RQ WKH SHUVRQDO service  our  staff  provides.  Clients  have  the  security  of  knowing  that  Areas  of  Expertise their  needs  will  be  addressed Providing  legal  services  of  highest  FRQ¿GHQWLDOO\ DQG SURPSWO\ 7KH quality,  and  delivering  those  services  McDonald  Group  has  established  a  in  a  manner  that  promotes  client   legacy  of  trust  since  1986.  During understanding  and  participation,  this  25th  Anniversary  Year,  we  are  the  hallmarks  of  The  McDonald  pledge  to  continue  that  legacy.

Seated,  from  left:  Gary  Eiben,  James  D.  McDonald  Jr.  and  Thomas  J.  Buseck Standing,  from  left:  Bethany  Anne  Blood,  Joseph  P.  Conti,  Daniel  J.  Pastore  and  John  J.  Estok January 2011 > www.mbausa.org > 25


For over 25 years, Lillis, McKibben, Bongiovanni & Co. has been specializing in group employee benefit plans for employers big and small in Northwestern Pennsylvania, Western New York, and Northeastern Ohio. As one of the largest providers in the area, our experienced Plan Managers will partner with you to create a benefit plan strategically aligned with your company’s goals Please contact us today to see why Lillis, McKibben, Bongiovanni & Co. should be a part of your Group Benefits team.

Happy Annivers ary! Providing Solutions For 40 Years.

804 Shenley Drive · Erie, PA 16505

Conveyors · Cranes · Hoists Ridg-U-Rak · Lift Tables

(814) 454-6396 mhe-usa.com Proud Sponsor of Erie’s Buy Local Campaign

26 < www.mbausa.org < January 2011


Company PROFILE GrisÊ  Audio  Visual 2402  Cherry  Street Erie,  PA  16502 Phone: 814/452-­4465 Web  site: www.griseav.com

GrisÊ  Audio  Visual

Founded: Â 1947

Shortly  after  the  end  of  World  War  II,  a  new  educational  tool  became  very  popular.  It  was  the  16mm  sound  projector,  which  was  used  by  the  U.S.  Armed  Forces  for  training  and  educa-­ tion  purposes.  Several  local  schools  got  together  and  purchased  a  pro-­ jector  to  be  used  in  the  classrooms.  Holy  Rosary  School  purchased  one  of  those  projectors.  Francis  V.  GrisĂŠ  YROXQWHHUHG WR ORFDWH HGXFDWLRQDO ÂżOPV for  the  school  to  rent.  He  was  amazed  WR ÂżQG RXW WKDW HGXFDWLRQDO ÂżOPV ZHUH not  available  for  rent  in  Erie.  You  had  WR UHQW ÂżOPV IURP 1HZ <RUN 3KLODGHO-­ phia,  Pittsburgh  and  Chicago.  He  was  HQFRXUDJHG WR RSHQ D ÂżOP UHQWDO OLEUDU\ in  Erie.   On  April  1,  1947  he  opened  up  *ULVp )LOP /LEUDU\ WKH ÂżUVW SODFH LQ (ULH WR UHQW DOO W\SHV RI ÂżOPV Third  Generation,   Family  Owned  Business GrisĂŠ  Audio  Visual  (AV)  has  been  a  family  owned  and  operated  business  since  the  beginning.  Francis  worked  with  his  son  James,  and  his  daughter,  Doris,  and  her  husband,  Dan  DiLuzio,  Today,  the  third  generation  of  the  family  is  represented  by  James’  children,  Don  GrisĂŠ  and  Denise  Hesch.

Leader  in  the  AV  Industry Don’s  entrance  into  the  family  business  in  the  late  1970s  coincided  with  the  major  technological  changes  in  the  AV  industry.  Don  successfully  transitioned  WKH EXVLQHVV IURP ÂżOP EDVHG ZRUN WR the  latest  in  Audio  Visual  technology.  Thanks  to  Don’s  leadership,  GrisĂŠ  GrisĂŠ  Audio  Visual  is  a  leader  in  live  AV  is  recognized  as  the  leader  in  all  event  production,  coordinating  events  aspects  of  audio/visual  production,  across  the  United  States. specializing  in  live  event  production,  system  integration  and  duplication  services.  Don  has  coordinated  produc-­ tions  all  across  the  United  States  and  other  parts  of  North  America,  including  Cancun,  Mexico  and  British  Colum-­ bia.  His  work  also  has  taken  him  to  international  locations  such  as  the  Bahamas  and  Italy.  The  list  of  artists,  GrisĂŠ  AV  specializes  in  audio  and  visual  presenters  and  politicians  that  GrisĂŠ  systems  for  all  types  of  meeting  spaces,  AV  has  provided  technical  support  and  such  as  the  Manufacturer  &  Business  services  for  is  long  and  reads  like  a  Association  Board  of  Governors  Room  â€œwho’s  whoâ€?  of  celebrities.  Don  treats  shown  here.

every  event,  regardless  of  its  size  and  stature,  as  if  it  were  his  own.  Locally,  GrisĂŠ  AV  provides  extensive  AV  sup-­ SRUW IRU KXQGUHGV RI QRQ SURÂżW RUJDQL-­ zations,  churches,  entertainment  and  arts  groups  as  well  businesses. Extensive  Services In  addition  to  event  production,  GrisĂŠ  AV  offers  design  and  installation  servic-­ es.  They  specialize  in  audio  and  visual  systems  for  all  types  of  meeting  spaces  from  small  classrooms  to  elaborate  board  rooms.  GrisĂŠ  AV  understands  that  no  two  customers  are  the  same  and  they  tailor  their  designs  to  suit  their  customers  individual  requirements.  From  basic  AV  installations  to  complex  systems  integration,  GrisĂŠ  will  work  with  the  end  user  to  develop  and  create  audio  visual  solutions  that  work. In  house,  GrisĂŠ  AV  offers  many   transfer  and  duplication  services.  They  can  transfer  VHS  or  any   camcorder  tapes  to  DVD,  record  albums  or  audio  cassettes  to  CD.  They  can  duplicate  those  masters  and  cre-­ ate  custom  labels  that  are  printed  on  the  disc.  GrisĂŠ  AV  can  transfer  slides  or  pictures  to  CD  or  DVD.  Old  8mm,  VXSHU RU PP ÂżOPV FDQ EH SXW RQ DVD  to  preserve  family  memories. New  Era,  New  Headquarters After  many  years  of  expanding,   GrisĂŠ  AV  has  outgrown  its  present   location  at  8th  and  Holland.  They  have  purchased  the  former  location  of  the  Erie  Sight  Center  at  24th  and  Cherry  Streets.  Beginning  Monday,  January  3,  2011,  GrisĂŠ  AV  will  start  the  New  Year  in  their  new  location.  Â

Denise  Hesch,  James  and  Don  GrisÊ January 2011 > www.mbausa.org > 27


People Buzz SAINT VINCENT INTRODUCES NEW TEAM MEMBERS OF HEART AND VASCULAR CENTER Saint Vincent Health Center in Erie recently announced its expanded team of physicians that together will form the new Saint Vincent Heart and Vascular Center. The Center will bring new specialty heart services to patients in Erie and the surrounding communities. Cardiologist Matthew Becker, MD, has joined the Saint Vincent Department of Cardiology and is now affiliated with Consultants in Cardiovascular Diseases, Inc. He specializes in coronary intervention and acute coronary syndromes, peripheral vascular disease diagnosis and treatment (lower extremity stents, angioplasty), carotid stenting, structural heart disease (ASD, PFO closure), and IVC filter placement.

Electrophysiologist Jaydutt Patel, MD, specializes in supraventricular arrhythmias, ventricular arrhythmias, pacemaker and defibrillator implantations/extractions, atrial fibrillation ablations, evaluations for bradyarrhythmias, ventricular tachycardia procedures, and lead removals.

Vascular surgeon Ryan Messiner, DO, also has joined the team at Saint Vincent Cardiovascular Surgery. He specializes in endovascular aortic aneurysm repair for the abdominal and thoracic aorta, peripheral arterial disease — open and endovascular procedures and care for venous diseases through radio frequency ablations.

Cardiovascular surgeon Rony Atoui, MD CM, MSc, FRCSC, has joined the team at Saint Vincent Cardiovascular Surgery. He specializes in coronary artery bypass surgery, aortic aneurysm and aortic root surgery, minimally invasive valve surgery, percutaneous aortic valve replacement, mitral valve repair, tricuspid valve repair and maze procedures.

DELANEY ADMITTED TO AMERICAN COLLEGE OF TRIAL LAWYERS The law firm of MacDonald, Illig, Jones & Britton LLP in Erie has announced that W. Patrick Delaney, a senior partner in the firm and chair of its litigation practice group, has become a Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers, one of the premier legal associations in America.

25 Years.

Great clinicians, great staff, great care, great service. < 1*86-21 ",)5%3; < 20) )(-'%/ 48-30)17 < 57,27-'6 5267,)7-'6 < -%&)7)6 (8'%7-21 %1( !833/-)6 < 5-9%7) 87; 856-1+ 5-) )%', !75))7 )%(9-//) ,)67187 !75))7 5%(*25( ,)67187 !75))7 %0)672:1 $ ! %-1 !75))7 5)(21-% $ # %-1 !75))7

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+5)%7/%.)6,,6 '20 28 < www.mbausa.org < January 2011


EDITORIAL > Contact: Karen Torres

Delaney, whose practice is concentrated in the area of commercial litigation, is an experienced trial lawyer who has spent his entire career litigating disputes in state and federal courts. Delaney is the third attorney currently practicing at MacDonald Illig to be recognized by the American College of Trial Lawyers. He joins T. Warren Jones and Roger H. Taft in receiving this highly regarded distinction. Fellowship in the College is extended by invitation only, and only after careful investigation, to those experienced trial lawyers who have mastered the art of advocacy and whose professional careers have been marked by the highest standards of ethical conduct, professionalism, civility and collegiality. AMERICAN TURNED PRODUCTS PROMOTES HOFFMAN TO VP Andrew D. (Drew) Hoffman has been promoted to vice president

of Client Relations at American Turned Products (ATP). In his new role, Hoffman is responsible for marketing, customer service, materials, production planning, shipping and receiving. Hoffman has been employed at ATP for more than 15 years in a number of positions. He has a degree in finance from Gannon University and a master’s in business administration from the Pennsylvania State University. With facilities in Erie and Fairview, Pennsylvania, ATP specializes in producing high-volume precision machining components used in a vast array of industries, including automotive and off-highway equipment, fluidpower systems, major appliances, oil and gas construction equipment, and medical applications.

PROCESS AND DATA AUTOMATION HIRES NEW CONTROLS, PROJECT ENGINEER Process and Data Automation, an industrial controls and industrial controlsrelated data integration firm headquartered in Erie, recently announced the addition of Dennis Sandberg in the position of Controls and Project Engineer. Sandberg brings more than 23 years of experience in the electrical, electrical maintenance, and engineering fields and has worked in the lumber products, glass, and systems integration industries. His specialties include PLC and HMI programming, systems installation, and commissioning, documentation packages and total project management.

75 Years of Service Now, that’s a reason to cheer! At the Erie General Electric Federal Credit Union, we’re working hard to make sure each and every experience with us is one you’ll rave about. Call, Click or Come in to let us make a fan out of you! 814.456.6231 z www.egefcu.org

January 2011 > www.mbausa.org > 29


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