Southern Chester County Connections Spring/Summer 2023 Edition
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Southern Chester County Chamber of Commerce Magazine
Spring/Summer 2023
ISSUE 10
2023 Southern Chester County Chamber Board of Directors
Top Left to Right: John Himics, First Ascent Design, Yolande Raath, Data ConnectX, Andy Gordon, Chester County HospitalPenn Medicine, Sean Walker, Kuzo Funeral Home, Inc., Nic Legere, Kennett Area YMCA, Eric Kuhn, Pillar Real Estate Advisors LLC, Pat Taylor, Taylor Oil & Propane, Inc., Chris Cessna, The Tri-M Group LLC, Christine Gordon, Merrill Lynch Wealth Management, Ron Wilson, Chester County Technical College High School-Pennock’s Bridge, Meghan Klotzbach, C.P. Yeatman & Sons, Inc. | Mother Earth LLC, Jody Dodds, Allstate Insurance Company-The Roselli Agency, Douglas S. Kook, CPA, CVA, CEPA, Bumpers & Company, Certified Public Accountants, Jason Feller, Crystal Clean Canz, Cheryl B. Kuhn, IOM Southern Chester County Chamber of Commerce, James E. Turner, Chester Water Authority, Melissa Dietrich, Longwood Gardens, Doug Doerfler, WSFS Bank. Not pictured: Jennifer Abracht, Perna & Abracht, LLC, Tim Moore, Constellation Energy, Alixandra Obenski, S&T Bank
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Chairman’s Welcome
Dear SCCCC Members and Friends,
It is both a privilege and an honor to serve as Chairman of the Southern Chester County Chamber of Commerce once again. I feel fortunate to work with a group of leaders who represent so many industries, professions, associations, and organizations that make up our business community, and, I am humbled by the opportunity to lead this team so committed to the success of Southern Chester County.
Doug Doerfler, SPHR SCCCC Chairman of the Board of Directors (WSFS Bank)
Despite some of the most challenging years in recent memory, Southern Chester County continues to grow and thrive and remains a place where people want to live, work, and play. Our region continues to offer a distinctly favorable business climate that stimulates economic development and business growth. Our Chamber is committed to supporting that development and growth so everyone in our communities can succeed.
Our objectives for 2023 remain relatively simple and focused.
First, we are going to grow our Chamber membership by both retaining current and welcoming new members. We will be fully implementing a Member Roadmap, which will provide a more targeted path for Members in their first three years of membership. With this more individualized approach, we look to provide an ROI to Members earlier by more effectively matching Member needs with Chamber programming and resources.
And second, we want to best utilize the strengths, interests, passions, and values of our Board members! The Board is dedicated to follow-through on the Chamber’s mission as we deliver on our commitment to Lead, Educate, Connect and Advocate. With these two areas of focus, I am confident that 2023 will see the Southern Chester County Chamber of Commerce reach the 500-member level, something that has never been done in its history.
So, as the push for 500 begins, I want to thank you, our members, who provide us the reason to do what we do best—listen and support you to the highest degree possible. As always, we welcome your participation in one of our many standing committees as we strive to reach this goal. I again want to thank our leadership on the Board of Directors and the Chamber Staff in advance for their hard work and dedication as we move into another exciting year. I look forward to all that lies ahead!
My Best, Doug Doerfler, SPHR SCCCC Chairman of the Board (WSFS Bank)
Tuesday, April 18th – visit www.scccc.com for details
~ Network at Noon! Luncheon
Thursday, April 27th 11:30 am – 1:30 pm
Member Venue: The Gables at Chadds ford
MAY 2023
~ Signature Event!
Inspirational Breakfast –visit www.scccc.com for details
~ Drive Your Membership [Virtual] Friday, May 12th 8:30 am
~ SCCCC @ Tough Mudder
Saturday, May 20th & Sunday, May 21st
~ Network at Noon! Luncheon
Thursday, May 25th 11:30 am – 1:30 pm
Event Sponsorship: Oxford Mainstreet, Inc.
Member Venue: Kennett Square Golf & Country Club
JUNE 2023
~ Business After Hours
Tuesday, June 20th 5:00 pm – 7:00 pm
Member Venue: Harvest Ridge Winery
~ Network at Noon! Luncheon
Thursday, June 29th 11:30 am – 1:30 pm
Event Sponsor: Hero’s Quest Consulting
Member Venue: Kennett Square Golf & Country Club
JULY 2023
~ Multi Chamber Speed Networking
Thursday, July 20th – visit www.scccc.com for details
~ Network at Noon! Luncheon
Thursday, July 27th 11:30 am – 1:30 pm
Event Sponsorship: United Way of Southern Chester County
Member Venue: Kennett Square Golf & Country Club
AUGUST 2023
~ Signature Event! Monday, August 7th
28th Annual Scholarship Golf Tournament
White Clay Creek Country Club | visit www.scccc.com for details
SEPTEMBER 2023
~ Drive Your Membership [VIRTUAL] Friday, September 15th 8:30 am
~ Business After Hours
Thursday, September 21st 5:00 pm – 7:00 pm
Member Venue: Braeloch Brewing
~ Network at Noon! Luncheon
Thursday, September 28th 11:30 am – 1:30 pm
Event Sponsorship: Health Kids Running Series
Member Venue: Kennett Square Golf & Country Club
EducatingFreedomforSince
University’s 1900 musical ensemble.
On May 3, 1946, Albert Einstein visited Lincoln University, where he received an Honorary Degree and gave a lecture on relativity.
The class of 2022 School of Adult and Continuing Education celebrates at Commencement.
Lincoln University, the nation’s first degree-granting Historically Black College and University (HBCU), educates and empowers students to lead their communities and change the world. Lincoln offers a rigorous liberal arts education to a diverse student body of approximately 2,200 men and women in more than 35 undergraduate and graduate programs.
Admissions: lincoln.edu/admissions
SACE: lincoln.edu/admissions/sace-admissions
Athletics: lulions.com
Giving: lincoln.edu/ways-give/annual-giving
Lincoln
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A Message from the President
Dear Members and Friends,
I like to begin my “CONNECTIONS” message with a favorite quote, such as this one:
“Do the best you can in every task, no matter how unimportant it may seem at the time. No one learns more about a problem than the person at the bottom.”
– Sandra Day O’Connor, the first woman appointed to the US Supreme Court
As an example, a myriad of tasks, small and large, must be completed on a regular basis in order for the Chamber’s five standing committees to be successful. Committees are chaired by Board members and made up of members looking to meet and connect with other members, and, to provide their insight and expertise to the organization.
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Our standing committees include Ambassadors, Communications, Community & Government Relations, Membership, and SCC Young Business Leaders. Should you have interest in growing your organization through the Chamber, consider participating on a committee. Reach out to me and I’d be happy to tell you more about them – ckuhn@scccc.com.
Another way to be active is by getting involved in community initiatives where our organization participates as a Partner. These include the Chester County Digital Equity Alliance, Chester County Workforce Development-a partnership with the nine Chambers of Commerce, Kennett High School’s Degree Program, and others.
As our organization continues to be a driving force for those in need, it brings me back full circle to Sandra Day O’Connor’s quote. There are an overwhelming number of tasks to be completed for a committee’s goals or an initiative’s mission to be successful – and – our organization will do what it takes, for when they are successful, so are our Members and our communities.
Hope to see you soon. Please reach out if you would like to be more involved.
Best regards,
Cheryl B. Kuhn, IOM President & CEO
Your Success Is Our Business
Cheryl B. Kuhn
Making connections and making a difference
The Southern Chester County Chamber of Commerce not only helps to bring business and community leaders together, it also seeks out and actively supports initiatives aimed at promoting a healthy business climate.
It’s all about making making connections and making a difference in the community.
Luis Tovar is one person who is making a difference in the community. Tovar is this year’s recipient of the Southern Chester County Chamber of Commerce Outstanding Citizen of the Year Award. Tovar’s life journey from Mexico, through California and then to Kennett Square has been paved with industriousness, advocacy and concern for his community. He works locally as a realtor for Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Fox & Roach in Kennett Square. He is also the co-founder and executive director of Kacie’s Cause, an advocate group for recovery from drug addiction, and is the recently retired president of ACOLA, which is the Kennett Square arm of borough government which addresses Latino concerns.
munity since opening in November of 2019. Offering a comprehensive brewpub experience with craft beer brewed on site, a pub-style restaurant and other family-oriented features like a dog friendly beer garden, the business has bloomed despite the added challenges posed by the pandemic.
Southern Chester County is fortunate to have a number of terrific breweries. Braeloch Brewing in Kennett Square recently celebrated its fourth anniversary. With support from beer-loving customers and the community, the brewery not only survived the COVID19 pandemic, it has been going strong coming out of the pandemic. Located at 225 Birch St. in Kennett Square, the 10-barrel brewhouse can produce up to 310 gallons of beer per batch on site. The historic building was constructed in 1903 as a trolley barn.
The Chamber established its Outstanding Citizen of the Year Award:in 1968 as a way to recognize individuals who use their time, talents, leadership skills and vision to make the community around them a better place.
In this issue of Connections, we are pleased to shine a spotlight on businesses like Fenstermacher & Co, a Kennett Square accounting firm that is celebrating 50 years of serving area businesses and individuals. Fenstermacher & Company, PC was founded a half-century ago when William C. “Bill” Fenstermacher Jr. acquired an existing accounting practice in the borough after having worked at a national accounting firm and as controller at a local mushroom company. Ellen, Bill’s wife, was also a partner in the firm at the time. His son Chad, a graduate of the University of Delaware, entered the firm in 2000 after gaining eight years of experience with a Wilmington CPA firm. Chad said working with his father, who retired in 2016, gave him a chance to learn from and alongside his dad. The story looks at what it takes for a business to have success over a period of five decades.
This issue also features a story about the Be Here Brewing Company at 122 Pennsylvania Avenue in Avondale. The company has quickly become a cornerstone of the com-
This issue also highlights the contributions of Oxford Mainstreet, Inc., which has served as the catalyst to unify and partner with supporting organizations to promote and foster economic growth and stability in the Oxford Business Improvement District (BID) for over 20 years.
Brian Dix, the executive director of OMI, recently unveiled plans for upcoming First Fridays, and this year’s events will include lots of fun for the entire family.
This issue also features a story about the welcome comeback for Victory Brewing in Kennett Square. On the evening of Jan. 25, 2021, the Victory Brewing taproom in Kennett Square suffered the kind of catastrophic fire and smoke damage that might have ended most businesses. But regional beer lovers just wouldn’t let the beloved location slip away. The popular Kennett Square taproom reopened on Nov. 1, 2022. The Southern Chester County Chamber of Commerce was right there to celebrate the occasion, partnering with Victory for the eagerly anticipated ribbon cutting.
This issue also features a story about the Southern Chester County Digital Equity Coalition, which is working to bridge the great divide of internet access, education and affordability in the community. This is just one of the many initiatives that the Southern Chester County Chamber of Commerce has helped to promote as part of a broader effort to strengthen the community that it serves.
A Profile in Leadership: Embracing Change
We have all undoubtedly experienced plenty of change within our own lives — both personal and professional; and that’s why this topic is so important.
Organizations are accustomed to dealing with change, but how do they EMBRACE change and explore new ways of doing business while meeting customer needs?
After the last several years of unprecedented uncertainty, and our unpredictable future, by taking a proactive approach to
Doug Doerfler, SPHR
SCCCC Chairman of the Board
WSFS Bank
We experience change every single day and must always proactively prepare for change and at the same time be ready for unexpected changes. Over the last few years, WSFS has experienced both the expected change through our acquisitions of Beneficial and BMT, and the unexpected change, of course with the impact that COVID had on all of us. At the heart of embracing change is communication. Targeted and purposeful communication with both your Associates and internal partners, and your customers and external partners, is crucial. Active listening provides leaders, at all levels, with the information they need to better understand challenges and concerns. Clear communication to all stakeholders helps get ahead of the angst and uncertainty that comes with so many changes. I am glad to work for an organization that listens to its Associates and communicates in a way that reflects a strategic agility and commitment to success.
thinking outside the box on staffing, marketing, sales, and operations, your organization can better navigate through a dramatically changing business environment.
SCCCC President & CEO, Cheryl Kuhn, invited the Chamber’s Board leadership to describe how they anticipate, recognize, and celebrate change in their organization’s culture, and share how Chamber Members can EMBRACE change in 2023, and beyond.
James E. Turner
SCCCC Chairman Elect
Chester Water Authority
It’s up to service leaders to adapt to the shifting landscape—and embrace the opportunities this shift provides. Hitting strategic goals during times of uncertainty can be a daunting task, but it can be accomplished if you follow a few slightly obvious but impactful steps to help you effectively manage those new opportunities and give you the best chance for success:
1) Lead with change. Be transparent about business priorities and connect your changes to the desired outcome. To lead with change, you’ll have to make hard decisions that might be uncomfortable. You’ll most likely have to implement process improvements, so bring the right team to support you.
2) Gather feedback from multiple points of view: Check in with yourself, your team, and your stakeholders early and often. Collaboration is a must in customer experience and service. Thinking, interpreting, or developing in a silo
never ends well. Are you communicating, demonstrating progress early and often, and actively listening to what’s really being said? Successful transformation depends on regular reflection and recalibration.
3) Get Support. This is twofold. Ask yourself who can help bring your goal to fruition and what specific tools you need. On the technical side, I recommend looking at what researchers, industry analysts, and other industry experts are saying. What solutions do they recommend for your particular business needs? If your goal is to be a market leader, these two pieces are crucial.
When you’re successful in your bite-sized goals, look for more ways to continue to grow and thrive. Having a plan or a long-term roadmap of goals and room for continuous change fosters a culture of growth opportunity and market leadership.
Jason Feller SCCCC Vice Chairman
Crystal
Clean Canz
We all want change…but sometimes for the other person! Throughout my career in private club management, I viewed change management as something I guided others to act on. This was always easiest when I took a holistic standpoint, and especially when I could look at others and not myself! In 2022, when I made it a priority to make changes for me, I found that I had to take it in steps. First, identify the “what” questions. What do I want? What was blocking me? What is the first step needed to be taken? The first step is the hardest, many times because you can’t truly identify what will or should come next…except that change is needed
and an outline for the multiple actions that must also be in place. Then, TAKE ACTION! As we embrace change, we must recognize not only the tactical changes, but also the emotional changes (often the most challenging!) Effective change management comes with growth and trimming. In order to trim, we all must do that at some point, you must grow. Growth doesn’t happen without change.
Tim Moore
SCCCC Immediate Past Chairman
Constellation Energy Corporation
Change is the only constant thing in business. Leadership must welcome change, anticipate change, inspire change, and embrace change. As our customers’ needs evolve, we must take time with our business associates and partners to reflect on our current business state, and then create and align around a vision that will cause the company to rise and meet the new challenges and needs of the customers and the people we serve. The best companies inspire the change themselves, by reinventing aspects of their business ahead of customer needs. With this line of thinking, innovation from business can actually create shifts in what customers want and value. The most successful companies and leaders inspire innovation and drive the change needed for competitive advantage. We can all think of those leading-edge tech companies who have done just that. In the energy arena, Constellation has reinvented itself to be the largest producer and marketer of green energy in the United States, to meet the societal trends where carbon production and the associated global warming are no longer tolerated.
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Douglas S. Kook, CPA, CVA
SCCCC Treasurer
Bumpers & Company, Certified Public Accountants
In my business, change is a constant and cannot be ignored. It must be faced head on. But within change, presents opportunity and relevance. That opportunity to learn and grow is one of the most rewarding experiences in life, but it takes going above and beyond to master change and lead change. Leading change can be difficult and sometimes it is necessary to hire other experts or consultants to assist with making change a reality. Throughout change, comes communication. Open communication is one of the key components of making a successful change and certainly helps others embrace the change. A successful business learns how to adapt and change to remain relevant, and a business unwilling to adapt and change will tend to go out of business. Lastly, there is only one constant in life and that is change-so embrace it.
Melissa Dietrich SCCCC Secretary
Longwood Gardens
A garden is a living example of the word “change”. From season to season, year to year, decade to decade, gardens continually evolve and offer a different experience with each visit.
Beginning with Founder Pierre S. du Pont’s purchase of a small farm in 1906 to the 2021 launch of our most recent project Longwood Reimagined: A New Garden Experience—Longwood Gardens has been adapting, growing, and evolving for more than 100 years. Embracing and sharing that evolution with our guests and staff is integral to our mission as a great garden of the world. Sharing details of Longwood Reimagined--our largest project in recent history--with our staff,
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volunteers, members, and community builds engagement and excitement. We share important milestones in several ways: through in-person talks, online webinars, and print and online communications. This allows us to create an informed, vested, and interested community, who then become ambassadors for Longwood and share their excitement as we all look forward to celebrating the completion of Longwood Reimagined in fall 2024.
Jennifer Abracht SCCCC Board Member
Perna & Abracht, LLC
Being open to change starts with recognizing the tremendous opportunities for growth that change presents. Human beings can only grow by pushing themselves beyond what they know and beyond what is comfortable to and for them. Whether that means trying a new process or procedure for handling
something at work, learning and participating in a new hobby, forcing oneself to look at a concept or issue from a different vantage point, or putting oneself in a new social situation, change – albeit scary at times – is the catalyst for learning new things about yourself, your family and friends, your profession, your business, your customers/clients, your strengths, your weaknesses, and your preconceptions (and misperceptions) about people and things. Change not merely enables but forces you to recognize that most of the time there is not just one way of thinking about, viewing or doing things, and that sometimes there is a better way to do something. Change makes you open rather than closed, dynamic rather than static, receptive rather than resistant, and flexible rather than inflexible.
Chris Cessna
SCCCC Board Member
The Tri-M Group, LLC
From our beginning in 1964, Tri-M has always embraced change. We started out as an electrical contractor, but changes in technology, the environment,
and the economy helped us get out of our comfort zone to diversify and grow. For example, during the energy crisis of the 1970s, we added our building automation systems team to help customers with energy efficiency. With advances in information technology and security, we diversified and grew and added our network infrastructure, security, and instrumentation teams.
As new technologies arise, we continue to look for opportunities to help our customers. We are a solutions provider that collaborates with our customers to come up with the best solutions, as we build long-term relationships. Change and diversification have helped us expand and grow and have contributed to our success. Part of change and growth includes training our team members so they can become experts in their field and offer the best solutions and customer service.
One of our biggest changes in 2022 was that we became an employee-owned company. Our team embraced this change and they were eager to think and act like employeeowners, taking on new responsibilities and contributing to Tri-M in new ways. Change isn’t always easy, but one of Tri-M’s fundamentals is to embrace change and growth and to look for the opportunities that they bring.
Jody Dodds SCCCC Board Member
Allstate
Insurance
Company-The Roselli Agency
How do I embrace change? Wow, what an appropriate question for the times in which we are living. After the past few years, every single one of us has a master’s degree in how to respond to change. For me, I think back to a message my high school defensive football coach gave me. “You can only control what is in your control. You can control the intensity of how hard you practice. You can control your attitude when facing adversity. You can control your diet, exercise, and preparation to put yourself in the best possible position pre-snap. But at the end of the day, if or when a ball is fumbled you can’t control which way it’s going to bounce.” Business at times can throw everything at you including the kitchen sink. In these moments, you need to respond to the sudden change positively, rely on your preparation, and react appropriately for the situation at hand.
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At the Roselli Allstate Agency, we do this for our clients by taking an educational approach to insurance. We break down our policies line by line, so our clients fully understanding all of their options, and know what their policies have to offer. We do a deep dive into our client’s portfolio of assets to ensure they are fully protected. And we offer annual policy reviews, so our coverages emulate our clients’ growing assets. So, if that fumble ever happens, our clients are in the best possible position they can be.
Andy Gordon SCCCC Board Member
Chester County Hospital-Penn Medicine
Being in a hospital setting, the pandemic absolutely forced us to completely rethink how we made decisions and utilized resources. The seriousness of the situation and the dire circumstances put
us into the mode of trying new things, failing fast, learning faster, and celebrating when we were able to achieve the once thought impossible. As we have exited the day-by-day urgency of the situation, we have been intentional about taking stock of how we thought during the height of the worst conditions and the greatest need. i.e. What barriers did the crisis remove to allow great ideas and fresh thoughts to flow? If we can recreate the conditions that led to the imaginative and out-of-box thinking and do it without the real circumstances of the crisis, then we are getting the best of both worlds.
Christine Gordon, CEPA, CRPC SCCCC Board Member
Merrill Lynch Wealth Management
One of the ways we have adjusted to change is through technology. Technology enables me to be available to clients 24-7 providing them with guidance, when needed most.
• Bank of America Merrill Lynch—Mobile Advisor Experience (MAX) MAX provides financial advisors with a secure mobile app on their company-issued iPhones that consolidates all the necessary information and tools needed to successfully service their clients when away from their workstations. By offering a new channel in which an advisor can seamlessly manage their respective books of business, urgent matters can be addressed from anywhere where there is internet connectivity.
John Himics
SCCCC Board Member
First Ascent Design
Change is not inherently negative or scary; what people fear isn’t really change, but loss. Humans are wired to fear losing what they have, more than they feel excited to gain what they could have. Change doesn’t always mean you’re going to have to fight to keep from losing ground–it can also be a catalyst for growth and new opportunity. The same way a player can’t defend their goal and move into position to score at the same time, you can’t adapt and grow your business from a place of anxiety. You can choose instead to meet change with excitement.
By 2023, we’ve already overcome a lot. Working in marketing, we saw entire channels shut down. Marketing plans had to be completely redone to cope with a world in lockdown. Now we’re facing inflation and forecasts of a recession. One thing that I promise won’t change is the fact that your people are what make the business work. You don’t need to be able to predict or control the business landscape; you just need to surround yourself with good people and take care of them. As a leader, your reaction to change is contagious. If you fear or worry, that will be your team’s perspective. If you’re optimistic and excited, your team will pick up and build on that energy. To thrive through change, you need a team that is willing to work with you, feels safe to propose new solutions, and believes that the results they want are possible.
If you treat success as just as inevitable as change is, you’ll find that change is not that scary.
Meghan Klotzbach SCCCC Board Member
C.P. Yeatman and Sons, Inc./Mother Earth Organic Mushrooms
Many people look at change as scary- the unknown; we are happy with our existing routines and a change can tilt us off balance and
lead us to feeling out of control. Throughout the pandemic, we all learned that change can be completely out of our control, and we have begun to find ways to adapt and accept change, whether we like it or not. Change may often be looked at as negative, having to do things we do not want to do. But what about the good changes, the changes that allow our businesses to grow and thrive? These changes excite us and give us something to look forward to. Change should not be scary, as it is a part of our everyday lives. I am part owner of my family’s mushroom business and being a multi-generation family business, our operations have gone through many changes over the years. We face obstacles every day in agriculture. We must constantly striving for change, so that we can overcome our obstacles, grow, and find better ways to do things. I find it best to always have a plan in place but also know that it most likely will not go as planned. Having an open mind to change will make it that much easier to accept change. And if something is not working well, you will find another solution. Always look for the changes that make things better, and don’t settle for changes that impact you and your business poorly.
Eric Kuhn SCCCC Board Member Pillar Real Estate Advisors, LLC
In the Commercial Real Estate Brokerage industry, you quickly learn that “change” brings an opportunity to meet new needs of your clients. We, at Pillar Real Estate Advisors, have been able to address a wide scope of client needs that came from both “change” and the uncertainty it brings – from: Landlords with unexpected vacancies needing to strategize on reconfiguring their buildings to be more marketable to the changing workforce; Business owners looking to accommodate flex and remote workers, while maintaining a presence in their respective industries; Investors who wanted to diversify from the stock market, into revenue generating commercial real estate, to Property owners wanting to realize the current value of their assets, brought on by short supply in the industrial and flex space property sector. Change is opportunity, for you and for your clients.
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Nic Legere SCCCC Board Member
Kennett Area YMCA
COVID has had an everlasting effect on our organization that forced us to reimagine and embrace change to meet our community needs. Our customers’ habit and expectations have without a doubt changed, and therefore gave us an opportunity to think differently and creatively. Many things we are currently doing would not have even been dreamed upon pre-COVID…but it was a necessity for us to pivot to maintain our competitive edge in such a highly competitive market:
Anticipate-Change is inevitable and whenever possible LISTEN to your customers and stakeholders. On every occasion use DATA to drive your decision making.
Recognize- For us to stay relevant in today’s times, change is a must.
Celebrate- Change can be scary for many but is a necessity in today’s world. The best outcome is when those involved frame the change in a positive mind set. Look at the outcome and impact those changes are making! Change is happening whether we want to or not. We can be resistant, or we can embrace it. It really is up to us.
Yolande Raath SCCCC Board Member
DataConnectX
It is important to have the mindset that change, whether we are given a choice or not, is always an opportunity to grow. Change may not always result in direct measures of growth, such as revenue or an increased number of clients, yet when we embrace change in our lives, it always provides opportunities to develop both personally and in relationships.
As leaders, it is important to first identify growth opportunities related to an upcoming change and adapt one’s
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objectives to the new circumstance. Then, communicate with your team to ensure consensus regarding the goals, and clarity over the new expectations. Always put people before projects. Value every individual on your team by considering their perspectives and concerns. With everyone on board, proceed to set up practical steps and strategies that make the new path clear and achievable.
One practical way to help a team adapt to changing conditions is to be open to new technologies and software solutions. This has the potential to not only improve business processes and customer service, but also to boost morale and make the journey fun. Similar to how a child reacts to a new toy, people become enthusiastic when new technology and modern software come into play. When these things work well, they reduce frustration, improve productivity, and help the team better navigate new developments. Your story of change will become your success story!
Pat Taylor SCCCC Board Member
Taylor Oil & Propane, Inc.
Change is inevitable in all businesses and some changes are more difficult than others. The largest change we have seen in our business over the years has been change in the technology available to us. Back in 1951 when our business started, my grandfather used a handwritten ledger book to keep the records of transactions with customers. We went from the ledger book to an addressograph machine stamping 3-part carbon tickets. From that we moved to an Olivetti computer system then to Linux based software on an IBM computer printing tickets on a dot matrix printer. All these steps were to document our deliveries and record payments. Then came a major jump forward in the early 2000’s when we went to a Windows-based platform.
With this platform we were able to gain an online presence and automate our invoicing, saving time in the office. Now almost every step of our process is automated from the time the ticket is scheduled, to delivery routing based on historic traffic patterns using GPS tracking, to automatically posting and charging a customer’s card for delivery. We also have online account access. At each step in the process there were growing pains and that is normal. For you as a new business owner, my advice is that even though we have changed a lot about our processes, we will never forget that our great customer service is something to never change.
Sean Walker SCCCC Board Member
Kuzo Funeral Home, Inc.
Consumer desires, wants, and social practices are always driving societal change. Over the past three years the standard consumer model has been tossed out the door.
FAMILY FRIENDLY!
Things that drove a consumer and/or an employee in the pre-2020 climate, no longer do. The rules changed in a very short period of time, and businesses as a whole struggled to keep up. As a result of COVID, the basic standards of doing business and retaining employees have been tossed out the door. All the rules have changed for business which includes everything from real estate needs to maintaining a consistent employment base. This coupled with very different consumer demands, have stretched businesses beyond their limits. In 2023 and beyond, businesses will now more than ever, need to dive into the new world of consumer demand. It is now more important for businesses to utilize focus groups, educational seminars, and embrace significant marketing changes as their customer base dictates. The first businesses to grasp the short-term trends of the consumer, will be the first to create consumer satisfaction in a rapidly changing environment.
Be Here Brewing
By Marcella Peyre-Ferry Contributing Writer
Be Here Brewing Company at 122 Pennsylvania Avenue in Avondale has quickly become a cornerstone of the community since opening in November of 2019. Offering a comprehensive brewpub experience with craft beer brewed on site, a pub-style restaurant and other family-oriented features like a dog friendly beer garden, the business has bloomed despite the added challenges posed by the pandemic.
“The fact that we’re still here means we’ve done something right,” owner Bob Knabb said. “First and foremost the business aims to be an important part of the community, and the support of the community has been essential since day one. This value helped inspire the name ‘Be Here’. Not only do we want our neighbors in the community to have their own local place to eat and drink, we want to be a place where everyone can feel welcome and be present in the moment.”
Bob and his family have a deep connection to Avondale, having lived in the area for over 30 years. The brewpub is a true family business as well. Bob founded Be Here Brewing with his son Dan and Dan’s partner Maura Langley, and recently another son, Rob, has joined the team.
The brews range from light to dark, hoppy to mellow. There are typically at least two IPAs on tap, lagers, as well as specialty beers which are often brewed in smaller batches.
You can also see the connection to the community in the building itself which was originally the National Bank of Avondale. Built in 1895 it housed a number of banks and then a natural food store before being renovated into the brewpub. Located in the historic center of Avondale, it’s next door to the post office with plenty of parking in the back of the building.
“We have, from the very beginning, been very conscious
of how we can help the community,” Knabb said. The brewery frequently hosts fundraising nights, donating product or gift certificates for local organization events. It has also partnered with The Garage Community and Youth Center now located across Pennsylvania Avenue in Avondale’s former fire house. Another organization that has benefitted from multiple events including a special one in the beer garden each February is Avondale’s Lucky Dawg Animal Rescue.
Patrons can enjoy a selection of craft beer made on site, local wines and ciders, non-alcoholic beverages, and a menu of simple snack foods and Mexican entrees. Variety in the food offerings is also enhanced by hosting the food truck of Mezzaluna Wood Fired Pizza on Wednesdays. The atmosphere is family friendly, with a small stage for live music and comedy performances.
While patrons often come for the full brew pub experience, it is the beer that is at the heart of the business. Knabb was a home brewer for over 20 years before venturing into the business of brewing and has a scientific background that further supports the “art” of craft brewing. The brewery itself is capable of producing up to five batches of 155 gallons of beer at a time. The brews range from light to dark, hoppy to mellow. There are typically at least two IPAs on tap, lagers, as well as specialty beers which are often brewed in smaller batches.
“We typically have twelve different beers on tap. Our philosophy is we have a beer for everyone,” Knabb said. Although most of the beer produced is enjoyed on site, it is also available to go in growlers and cans. With the recent purchase of canning equipment, they may soon be available in other locations.
Be Here Brewing Company at 122 Pennsylvania Avenue in Avondale has quickly become a cornerstone of the community since opening in November of 2019.
Be Here for the best of what Avondale has to offer. Live music and comedy performances, hand-crafted brews and foods, good times and good atmosphere. Be Here Brewing Company opens at 4 p.m. every Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday and at noon on Saturdays and Sundays. For more information visit their website at www.beherebrewing.com. You can also follow them on facebook and instagram @ beherebrewing.
non-alcoholic
Be Here Brewing Company is located in an historic building in Avondale.
Patrons can enjoy a selection of craft beer made on site, local wines and ciders,
beverages, and a menu of simple snack foods and Mexican entrees.
Courtesy photos
Be Here Brewing Company opens at 4 p.m. every Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday and at noon on Saturdays and Sundays.
Being part of community is for Kennett Square accounting
Fenstermacher & Co. celebrating 50 years serving area businesses, individuals
Photos provided by Fenstermacher & Co. Fenstermacher & Company on South Broad Street in Kennett Square offers quality tax, accounting and business advisory services. The firm was founded a half-century ago.
By Natalie Smith Contributing Writer
What does it take for a business to be successful for decades? Chad Fenstermacher could tell you, as the CPA firm started by his father is marking 50 years of outstanding service to the Kennett Square community and beyond.
Fenstermacher & Company, PC was founded a half-century ago when William C. “Bill” Fenstermacher Jr. acquired an existing accounting practice in the borough after having worked at a national accounting firm and as controller at a local mushroom company. Ellen, Bill’s wife, was also a partner in the firm. His son Chad, a graduate of the University of Delaware, entered the firm in 2000 after gaining eight years of experience with a Wilmington CPA firm.
When Chad joined his father’s firm, Fenstermacher & Company was well-established. “The firm had been in existence for 27 years, had a great name in the community and many long-term staff,” Chad Fenstermacher said. “[His father] achieved that by having a high level of integrity and providing quality services. He said it’s very important when you’re in a small town to treat your client’s information confidentially; that’s just the nature of our work. Our clients trust us with very personal and private information, it’s very important to honor that trust.
Chad said working with his father, who retired in 2016, gave him a chance to learn from and alongside his dad. “He also gave me the opportunity to make changes and move the firm in the direction I wanted to see it go.”
The CPA noted that relationships among family members working in a business together change the work dynamic. “To a certain extent, there’s a higher level of comfort with family members, and some of those work barriers aren’t there. The business and personal relationships cross over. We work with a lot of family and multi-generational businesses. We understand what they’re going through and can relate to our clients and the challenges that family-owned businesses face.”
Fenstermacher & Company, which also has offices in Wilmington and Ocean City, Md., provides accounting and tax services to clients with complex business, individual and estate tax planning needs. The firm also offers financial planning and investment management services.
Kennett Square CPA fi
rm Fenstermacher & Company PC is marking its 50th anniversary this year. Founder William C. “Bill” Fenstermacher is pictured with son Chad.
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Fenstermacher & Co.
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Keeping up with the tax code may seem overwhelming to non-CPAs. How do accountants do it?
It’s a common question, Fenstermacher said, smiling. “We as CPAs are required to have 80 hours of continuing education every two years.” But it goes beyond an obligation.
“It’s a profession and with a profession comes lifelong learning. The trades do the same; certainly, being an auto mechanic today isn’t the same as 30 years ago. You’ve got to be a computer expert to some degree to work on a car. Tax changes are the same way.
“The core principles in taxation are still there. They may change some limits or make some changes to tax laws but for the most part the principles stay the same. We stay on top of the changes to provide the best service to our clients.”
One situation that presented new challenges was responding to the COVID-19 crisis. Prior to long-term business shutdowns, Fenstermacher & Company had serendipitously purchased enough additional equipment to allow their team members to work remotely. “Wi-Fi cards for computers, additional licenses for our firewall, just everything,” he said. “I got the box from Amazon and I thought, ‘this will be shipped back in two months when the whole thing blows over.’ Of course, that didn’t happen and it was good to have because [computer equipment] became in high demand.”
Fenstermacher said that while working remotely during the crisis was a change, it certainly wasn’t the only one.
“A significant challenge was the implementation of stimulus programs for businesses during the height of the pandemic, including the Paycheck Protection Program, the Employee Retention Credit and other Federal and State programs.”
The Payment Protection Program was a Small Business Administration-backed loan that helped small businesses with payroll costs.
“Our clients looked to us for advice and to help them through it. We became dedicated to assisting clients obtain the aid they needed during an extremely challenging time. When the PPP came out the guidelines changed on an almost daily basis. Every day we were looking for new clarifications and then applying the changes to our clients. We initially thought the impact from the pandemic would be short-lived, but as we all know that wasn’t the case. It really impacted our profession, I guess, in some ways differently than others.”
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Fenstermacher & Co.
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The Fenstermacher family has deep connections in Southern Chester County. Fenstermacher, wife Dawn and daughter Lauren live in the Unionville house his grandparents bought in 1939, the same house where father Bill Fenstermacher grew up. The firm had a couple of different Kennett Square offices before settling in its current South Broad Street location in 1978.
Another link is as long-time members of the Southern Chester County Chamber of Commerce. His father joined in the early 1970s and Chad became active in the early 2000s.
“When I first joined my dad’s firm, the Chamber was one of the organizations that I became very involved with. The Chamber is a great way to meet business people in town and become a part of the business community.” He was promoted to treasurer very quickly. “Because that’s what happens [when you are a CPA],” he said with a laugh. He ultimately moved to the chairman’s position for a year.
“I have advice to new people joining the Chamber: It’s great to join, but you’ve got to get involved. If you’re not involved in it, all you do is pay dues and go to a couple of
business card exchanges. When you get involved on a committee or the board, you’re interacting with more people on a deeper level, that’s the way to make friends and business contacts that you will have for years.”
Hoping to add more staff to help his growing firm, Fenstermacher said there seem to be fewer students studying accounting.
“I think it’s a misconception that accounting is just debits and credits and your head down at a computer all day. There’s a certain amount of that, but really taking the knowledge that we learn in school and then from our experience and being able to relate that to individuals and business owners, helping them plan and make good decisions; it’s rewarding. That’s the fun part of it. My day is spent more face-to-face or on the phone with people than it is heads down and doing accounting-type work.”
Integrity, knowledge, family experience, dedication and local connections have all contributed toward Fenstermacher & Company’s success.
Natalie Smith may be reached at natalie@DoubleSMedia. com.
Braeloch Brewing
By Marcella Peyre-Ferry Contributing Writer
Braeloch Brewing in Kennett Square recently celebrated its fourth anniversary. With support from beer-loving customers and the community, the brewery not only survived the COVID-19 pandemic, it has been going strong coming out of the pandemic. Opened March 1, 2019, the company’s first anniversary was at the beginning of COVID-19. The second and third anniversaries were also impacted by the pandemic, but now it is time to celebrate.
constructed in 1903 as a trolley barn. It was later home to the Mushroom Growers Association and a business that cared for firefighter clothing. As the fourth residents of the building, Braeloch Brewing retains the wonderful brick surfaces that set the atmosphere.
Visitors to Braeloch Brewing will find a 4,000-squarefoot tap room with a 78-foot-long bar and 16 taps. The site offers room for parties, meetings, and any kind of gathering. The family-friendly environment welcomes children under parental supervision, plus there is live music on Saturdays and some Sundays.
“We are very blessed and excited,” said owner/ brewer Kent Steeves, crediting their loyal customers “It was because of them we were able to survive.” When Amy and Kent Steeves became empty nesters they decided it was time to take a new direction. Kent had been home brewing since 2008 and they both love beer, so opening a craft brewery was a natural idea to pursue. A location was not immediately available in the Newark, Del. area, close to their home, but when an opportunity became available in Kennett Square it was a perfect fit.
Located at 225 Birch St., Kennett Square, the 10-barrel brewhouse can produce up to 310 gallons of beer per batch on site. The historic building was
The 5,500-square-foot outdoor beer garden is dog friendly, and there are several dog-themed events scheduled through the warmer months.
All beer styles are produced for a wide range of tastes. For those unfamiliar with craft beers, Kent suggests starting with the 33rdMarc Cream Ale or the Brick House Helles Lager. These two, along with Blue Hen Gold Hazy IPA and the easy drinking Brickyard Pale Ale are the four flagship brews you can find regularly at Braeloch Brewing.
In addition, the 16 taps are filled with a wide variety of seasonal selections from light to dark, smooth to sour. They have recently added a nitro tap as an additional offering for the dark beers
Every beer made on site is available on tap or in 16 oz. cans or freshly sealed in a 32 oz. crowler. You can also purchase 32 oz. or 64 oz. growlers or beer by the keg.
Courtesy photos Braeloch Brewing is open Wednesdays and Thursdays from 4 to 9 p.m., Fridays and Saturdays from noon to 11 p.m., and Sundays noon to 8 p.m.
Located at 225 Birch St., Kennett Square, the 10-barrel brewhouse can produce up to 310 gallons of beer per batch on site.
Braeloch also offers many other alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages. Other alcoholic beverages include a seasonal wine slushy and seasonal beer slushy (a Belgian Tripel right now) as well as Pennsylvania wine from Penn’s Woods and Britain Hill wineries; hard cider from Wyndridge Farm; and hard Seltzer from Two Robbers. You can find craft sodas, regular sodas and other non-alcoholic beverages. For beer lovers interested in non-alcoholic choice there are four different selections from Atlantic Brewing Company that have all the taste of a good craft beer without the alcohol.
“We felt it was important to have options for our customers as well as options for families that come to enjoy time together at Braeloch,” Kent said.
Braeloch Brewing in Kennett Square recently celebrated its fourth anniversary.
A visit to Braeloch Brewing is not a trip just for beer. “Amy and I love food but we are not really experts at how to run a kitchen,” Kent explained. “So we partnered with Tonic Bar and Grill at Braeloch to operate a full kitchen offering upscale pub food. Putting the beer, the space and the food together with all of our fantastic customers makes this everyone’s Happy Place.”
Braeloch Brewing is open Wednesdays and Thursdays from 4 to 9 p.m., Fridays and Saturdays from noon to 11 p.m., and Sundays noon to 8 p.m.
SamNova - Resume Services
The historic building was constructed in 1903 as a trolley barn.
The Southern Chester County Digital Equity Coalition is working to bridge the great divide of internet access, education and affordability
Networks of connection and inclusivity
By Richard L. Gaw Staff Writer
The formation of the Southern Chester County Digital Equity Coalition initially came as a response to a tidal wave.
Deep in the midst of the most catastrophic health event in the last century, a perfect storm was emerging in southern Chester County, and it was sweeping entire communities out to sea with unrelenting force.
It was first felt in homes, then businesses, and by the summer of 2020, it had reached the schools, when technical directors began to scramble to construct platforms for virtual learning in time for the 2021-22 academic year.
Originally conceived as a long-term plan for modern education, schools had as little as two months to make a miracle happen, and when classes began that September, it became apparent that not every student was able to participate.
“From the start, schools were facing a tremendous amount of hurdles,” said Coalition co-founder Jim Mercante. “They told us that they had kids who were in parking lots with their smart phones trying to get connection to their teachers. It was made even worse when COVID-19 restrictions prevented them from going to their schools or visit a local library. Learning centers were set up around the community, but not every student could get to them.
“As we started to dig deeper into the problem, we found that even if homes did have internet connectivity, if they had two kids trying to do virtual learning at the same time, it was impossible because the home didn’t have enough bandwith. We began to say, ‘This is the issue here.’”
While COVID-19 continued to interrupt normalcy in schools, its effects on business and commerce had already unleashed a digital tsunami. Without immediate internet connections, major cross-sections of the mushroom industry workforce were not able to communicate with their employers about work scheduling and were missing medical appointments because they had no link to the telehealth industry.
In private homes and senior centers, navigating through the virtual world became an impossible task for those who did not know how to connect to their loved ones through Zoom, and had little to no computer skills.
Internet service providers were not providing homes in the more rural areas of the county with broadband access, leaving families devoid of valuable tools that were desperately needed during the pandemic.
“The blinders were taken off of our vision, and we began to see the ripple effect of how people were
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Digital Equity
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disenfranchised, and how it became magnified through the duration of COVID-19,” said Coalition co-founder community organizer Joan Holliday. “Early on in the process, we realized that this was much greater than schools and virtual learning. It was that a significant constituency in southern Chester County was underserved or unserved with regard to broadband access.
“It quickly became apparent that the internet is not just about education, but a fundamental tool essential for daily living, and that affordable access to robust broadband connectivity and digital skills are key elements for building a thriving and diverse community.”
In March of 2021, a group of 50 concerned and connected citizens from all sectors of the region got together in an attempt to calm the raging tide of digital inequity. Now, two years later – and as the pandemic continues to slowly dissipate and normalcy shows signs of a return -- the mission of the Southern Chester County Digital Equity Coalition is reaching full stride: to join all sectors of the community to address and advocate for the right to digital equity, with focus on the most vulnerable members of the community in areas of access and literacy, so that everyone can pursue educational, social and economic opportunities.
Three key initiatives
For any agency, company or even group of volunteers like the southern Chester County Digital Equity Coalition, creating a life-changing paradigm for an entire area can seem overwhelming, but Holliday said that the Coalition has begun its journey by focusing on three key initiatives: assessment to measure connectivity, digital literacy and affordability.
Thanks to a $200,000 grant from the Pennsylvania Department of Labor, the Coalition began to lay down the tracks for an assessment of digital equity in southern Chester County. Through extensive interviews and a bootson-the-ground culmination of studies, surveys and focus groups, Magellan Advisors delivered ideas – as well as potential grant sources -- that were contained in a 148-page connectivity plan last June that paves the way for building a robust broadband network.
In the summer of 2021, the Coalition launched its Digital
Literacy Pilot Project, aimed at providing digital literacy training to a wide cross-section of residents throughout southern Chester County. Through its partnership with digital literacy provider RSVP and representation from 14 local non-profit organizations, the Coalition has begun trainthe-trainers programs for 51 individuals who are providing education in cyber security, web browsing, email, applications and Zoom, in both English and Spanish.
Founded in 1973, RSVP utilizes a growing corps of dedicated volunteers to meet the evolving needs of vulnerable community members throughout the Greater Delaware Valley.
The Coalition is collaborating with several agencies in southern Chester County on the project, including the Maternal and Child Health Consortium of Chester County, The Garage Community and Youth Center, Good Samaritan Services, the Kennett Area Senior Center, the Kennett Consolidated School District, Kennett Head Start, the Kennett Library, LCH Health and Community Services, Mighty Writers, the Oxford Library, Oxford Neighborhood Services, PathStone Corporation, South Mill Champs Mushrooms, the Tick Tock Early Learning Center, the Unionville/Chaddsford School District and YoungMoms. Financial support for the Digital Literacy Pilot Program has come in the form of a $15,000 donation from Square Roots Collective, and $5,000 each from the American Mushroom Institute, United Way of Southern Chester County and the Kennett Longwood Rotary/Gundaker – as well as an $11,700 contribution from a private donor and a $200,000 grant that will support the program for the next three years. Continued on Page 40
Digital Equity
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Essential facilities
As the Coalition builds both its argument for increased digital equity on the backs of its vision and its partnerships, the problem of inaccessibility to the internet and poor – or non -- bandwith continues to shut out large pockets of communities in the more remote areas of southern Chester County. Who is at fault?
Internet service providers.
“The problem is that several pockets of eight and ten homes in our more rural parts aren’t receiving access from their internet service providers,” said Whitney Hoffman, a former Kennett Township supervisor who in her capacity as a member of the Coalition, has repeatedly called for the installation of public WiFi in the county. “One service provider showed me a map of service connections, and he knew they have huge holes in various parts of the county. Whatever we need to do to fix this, we have to make sure that there is code that every municipality can enact to make
sure that internet service providers follow these codes to ensure that access is provided.”
“This lack of access is, in effect, telling some people that they are not able to access the internet, just because of where they decide to live,” Mercante added. “It has nothing to do with your income. If you decide to live remotely, and an internet service provider tells you that it’s not profitable for them to hook up the internet out there, you don’t get service.”
Mercante called the internet “an essential facility,” as it falls under the definition of “an asset or infrastructure which a third party needs access to offer its own product or service on a market.”
“The internet is the backbone of how life is conducted today, and if you don’t have access to the internet, you are disadvantaged, hampered on what you can do, whether you’re talking about health, access to government services, education, reading books online and workforce development and working remotely from home.
“Without that valuable internet access, you can do none of this.”
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From smart phones to smart houses to smart communities
At the same time the Coalition’s digital equity literacy programs are in full drive, there are other positive signs that their other key objectives are also being served. At a Zoom meeting on Feb. 2 organized by the Southern Chester County Chamber of Commerce and attended by several dozen stakeholders that included Sens. John Kane and Carolyn Comitta and Rep. Christina Sappey, Comcast representative Caitlin Gainley said that the provider has been working to expand network capability to various areas in Chester County. It recently finished network expansion in Elverson, Honey Brook Borough and Honey Brook Township, and is currently looking to make similar expansions in Oxford Borough and Lower Oxford and East Nottingham townships.
Gainley said that residents are eligible for Comcast’s Internet Essentials and also have the ability to purchase a computer for a one-time fee of $149.99.
At the meeting, Holliday called on county government to create a digital equity inclusion plan and employ at least one full-time staff member dedicated to digital inclusion initiatives. Holliday said that she, Mercante and Sahl recently met with Chester County Commissioner Josh Maxwell; Dr. George F. Fiore, executive director of the Chester County Intermediate Unit; and MaryFrances McGarrity, senior vice president of the Chester County Development Economic Council.
The agreement, she said, will be to merge the two agencies together to form a county unit to manage the implementation of a digital equity plan for the entire county.
As technology constantly evolves, the Coalition continues to chip away at the digital equity divide, and the extent of its partnerships to make that possible do not end at the Chester County border. Members regularly collaborate with various digital equity projects happening in nearby Philadelphia. Through its partnership with the National Digital Inclusion Alliance, the City of Philadelphia Digital Equity program, the Technology Learning Collaborative and the Greater Pittsburgh Digital Equity Coalition, the agencies
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have formed the PA Statewide Coalition, where they share experiences and collaborate on advancing digital equity across the state.
Hoffman said that one of the largest beneficiaries of widespread digital equity in southern Chester County will be the local business culture.
“For a lot of small businesses, they were not able to take digital payments which had an effect on their business, but the way restaurants that had been forced to move their entire operation to a take-out environment and do so via the internet was incredible,” she said. “In a post-COVID world, there are a lot of different ways we’re doing business now, so it matters to every business that there is really good connectivity here, because without it, productivity can go straight and rapidly down.
“We also need to make a distinction between wired and wireless – cellular connectivity. We need both to be successful in delivery government services, provide access to
education and provide economic and social opportunity.”
It is time for both the small business and corporate sectors of southern Chester County to become a part of the Coalition, Holliday said.
“They need to recognize that they need to be a partner in what we’re doing,” she said.
“This is a grass roots effort that will take a village. It will take local businesses, and local, state and federal government to really deal with this, because it affects everyone, everywhere.”
“We want to move from smart phones to smart houses to smart communities,” Mercante said. “If you’re not a smart community, then you are behind all of the other communities throughout Pennsylvania and the United States who are effectively using technology.
“Technology changes, it never stays still, so we need to determine who is managing the digital infrastructure and how everyone can take advantage of that infrastructure.”
To learn more about the Chester County Digital Equity Coalition, visit www.scccc.com/chester-county-digitalequity-coalition
At Reins of Life we believe that
Reins of Life is a therapeutic horseback riding program located in Landenberg, PA, in Southern Chester County, operating as a non-profit 501(c) 3 organization. Reins of Life was founded October 8, 1993 by Judy Freedman Hendrickson, for the purpose of providing therapeutic horseback riding for children, young adults, and adults with special needs and life challenges. The organization will be celebrating its 30th anniversary in 2023, with their annual gala, The Mane Event, being held at the most elegant and magical, Winterthur, in Wilmington, DE, on November 18.
A welcome comeback for Victory Brewing in Kennett Square
By John Chambless Correspondent
On the evening of Jan. 25, 2021, the Victory Brewing taproom in Kennett Square suffered the kind of catastrophic fire and smoke damage that might have ended most businesses. But regional beer lovers just wouldn’t let the beloved location slip away.
The facility on West Cypress Street, which has apartments on its upper floors, was left a smoldering ruin after a fire started in the electrical room behind the taproom, leaving extensive smoke and water damage. While there were no injuries resulting from the fire, and no one was in the taproom at the time, the double blow of Covid restrictions and a prolonged reconstruction eventually amounted to a trying 22 months for Victory.
Lauren McCloskey, the general manager of the Kennett Square location, was managing Victory’s Parkesburg taproom at the time of the fire. “Our company compensated our employees during this time and also offered them roles at our other taprooms,” she said. “A lot of employees fell in love with Parkesburg and Downingtown and have stayed with those locations.”
On the night of the fire, a statement issued by Victory stated, in part, “We will continue to work with authorities and with the Red Cross to learn more about what occurred this evening and how we can help our neighbors in the building who have been displaced. For now, we are praying for the safety of those involved and want to thank the first responders who quickly arrived on site, safely aided in the evacuation of the building and are working to control the fire.”
The Kennett Square taproom finally reopened on Nov. 1, 2022. The Southern Chester County Chamber of Commerce partnered with Victory for the eagerly anticipated ribbon cutting. “We are proud to welcome Victory Brewing Company back to Southern Chester County,” said Cheryl Kuhn, the Chamber’s president and CEO, at the reopening. “The brewery was truly missed, and, now that they’re back, we look forward to working together for their success.”
The reopening was much anticipated by regional beer lovers. “The biggest delay was waiting for the base building work to begin so that we could access our taproom to start renovations,” McCloskey explained. “During this time, we were able to plan supply deliveries and develop a construction timeline so that any pandemic delays and shortages didn’t impact our opening.”
The new facility has the same high ceilings and open floor plan of the original location. “The taproom looks very similar to what visitors saw pre-fire damage,” McCLoskey said. “We did make visual enhancements inside the taproom, including new graphic packages that were implemented at our Philadelphia location, and vibrant murals. We recreated our front space to relocate our host stand to the parking lot entrance and build a relaxing lounge. Our wall murals, plants and hop foliage help add to the warmth and coziness I wanted to achieve.”
The online community pleading for the return of Victory to Kennett Square was gratifying,
Victory Brewing is at 650 W. Cypress St., Kennett Square.
she said. “The community response has been overwhelmingly loving. I’ve been with Victory since 2018 and started in the Kennett Square taproom. It is amazing to see the return of a lot of regulars. Even those who have moved out of the Kennett area have come back with new additions to their families.”
The outpouring of love in online customer reviews reflects how much the Kennett Square facility was missed: “Love the changes! So much more color and warmth!”; “Renovations are beautiful. I love the wall art!”; “So wonderful to be back in this space!”; “Love this brewery! Victory has great beers and other beverages to satisfy your thirst!”; “One of our best destinations.”
“It’s very heartwarming and my gratitude to our community, our loyal guests and new guests is limitless,” McCloskey added. “I look forward to building relationships with other community leaders and business owners to create fun events that our guests can look forward to and enjoy.”
Victory Brewing is at 650 W. Cypress St., Kennett Square. It is open daily. Call 484-730-1870.
The return of the Victory Brewing taproom in Kennett Square was welcome news for beer lovers in the area.
Courtesy photos
The Kennett Square taproom finally reopened on Nov. 1, 2022.
Outstanding Citizen of the Year Award
Luis Tovar honored for taking on drug abuse and Latino exploitation
By Chris Barber Contributing Writer
Luis Tovar’s life journey from Mexico, through California and then to Kennett Square has been paved with industriousness, advocacy and concern for his community. On March 18, he was honored by the Southern Chester County Chamber of Commerce as its 2023 Outstanding Citizen of the Year at a banquet at Longwood Gardens. Tovar, 69, of East Marlborough, works locally as a realtor for Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Fox & Roach in Kennett Square. He is also is the co- founder and executive director of Kacie’s Cause, an advocate group for recovery from drug addiction, and is the recently retired president of ACOLA. ACOLA is the Kennett Square arm of borough government which addresses Latino concerns.
KACIE’S CAUSE
There is passion in Tovar’s voice when he speaks of his involvement with Kacie’s Cause. He founded this movement with Andrew Rumford in 2013, after Rumford’s daughter, Kacie, died at 23 from a heroin overdose.
Tovar was likewise facing a drug addiction challenge in his own family, although there was not the same fatal outcome. He did, however meet with Rumford around that time in support of and sympathy for each other. They formed Kacie’s Cause out of their mutual anguish and despair.
A decade later, this organization continues to spread and expand its functions. It supports families and demonstrates how local residents, schools and law enforcement can become involved to help and protect one another.
Kacie’s Cause facilitates a bi-weekly men’s breakfast for fathers of children struggling with substance abuse and pushes for the availability of Naloxone, the lifesaving medication that can reverse an overdose from opioids including heroin, fentanyl and prescription opioid medications.
Kacie’s Cause has grown to several chapters, including Parkesburg and Oxford, and has two active parent support groups as well.
Recently, Tovar shared the depth of his concern for drug abuse not only for his own family but for society in general.
“I said to myself, ‘What do we do? How does this happen? It’s never solved,’” he said.
Through the years, Tovar said he has he has found it is often the parents who need to clarify their knowledge and to recover as well as their children.
His frustration grows as he observes the high incidence of death from drugs overdoses. The latest provisional mortality data from the Centers for Disease Control indicate that more than 107,000 Americans died from a drug overdose in the 12 months ending in January 2022.
Tovar is distressed as well by the toll the COVID-19 pandemic has taken on the population’s psychological well-being, which seems to be driving many to increased drug use. COVID-19 prevented much human interaction as well as the cancellation of support groups and treatments. At the same time, the proliferation of opioids and other lethal drugs has been significant both from illegal sales and abuse of prescriptions.
Sitting at a table, Tovar pointed to a speck of dust in front of him. “See that speck? Just two fentanyl that small can kill you,” he said.
ACOLA
Tovar’s other passion is ACOLA. The name is an acronym for the Advisory Commission on Latino Affairs, and it is rooted firmly and deeply in Luis’s Mexican heritage, while being an arm of the Kennett Square Borough Council.
ACOLA’s mission is sixfold:
• Advise Borough Council on official actions that affect the Latino community.
• Develop, review and recommend policies on issues that affect Latinos.
• Support the Borough’s anti-discriminatory policies.
• Serve as a resource for community groups.
• Identify resources for the benefit and advancement of Latinos.
• Promote Latino cultural arts.
When Tovar moved to East Marlborough, he said he did not gravitate to or even take an immediate interest in the
Latino culture which defined half the demographics of the borough just a mile of so down Route 82.
“I saw it as a place full of gangs,” he said.
But as time went by and he ventured into the borough, he became aware of the rich Latino heritage held by half of the residents. He also saw their suffering.
While working with nonprofits in the borough and region he saw problems of discrimination and outright abuse sustained by these people who were supporting the borough but lacking its codes protections.
He observed housing with mold and failing appliances. There were mattresses lying on dirt cellar floors, missing smoke alarms and landlords who withheld leases.
The attitude of some of those landlords he said was, “If you don’t like it, leave. There are others lined up to take your place.”
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Photo by Chris Barber
Luis Tovar sits among the streets and stores of Kennett Square, where he dedicates his energy to the Latino community and fighting drug abuse.
Outstanding Citizen of the Year Award
Continued from Page 49
He said that the task of ACOLA is not to make the changes themselves, but to make recommendations to Council that can help the borough make the changes. Within its governmental structure of codes, the borough alone has the legal capability to effect change and enforcement. He and his commission make the abuses known.
It’s a delicate tightrope.
One of the goals of ACOLA especially appeals to him. It’s the promotion of Latino arts. This past year, Tovar worked countless hours with the Memorial Day Parade Committee with the goal of including the Hispanic community. The effort was successful.
He said in the future he would like to see more significant showcases of Latino arts in the community.
Continued on Page 52
THE ENTRANCE TO YOUR SUCCESS
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Courtesy photo
The Tovar family gathers outside in a photo taken in the early 1990s.
Outstanding Citizen of the Year Award
Continued from Page 50
WHO HE IS
Luis Tovar was born in Guadalajara, Mexico in 1954. At the age of 3 he migrated to California with his parents and two sisters. He remained in California and through naturalization became an American citizen in 1975.
In 1977 we married and started a family through adoption. The oldest child is Jon Carlos, age 37; Michael is 34 and Bianca is 31. He is also the proud “papas” of Anaya who is nearly 4 years old. He and his wife recently celebrated their 45th wedding anniversary.
He started his career with American Hospital Supply as a night shift warehouse worker. His leadership skills were quickly recognized by management and Luis started his journey up the corporate ladder. All the while, Tovar was a night student at the University of San Francisco and earned his bachelor’s degree in organizational develop-
ment in 1992. His career path eventually relocated the family to Puerto Rico where they lived for four-and-a-half years as he served as general manager of VWR’s Puerto Rico facility.
A job upgrade brought him to the West Chester area and the family settled in East Marlborough 17 years ago.
He credits his mother’s belief in education for her children and her hard work in keeping the family together after his father’s death at age 40.
THE CHAMBER
The Southern Chester County Chamber of Commerce serves the region’s business community. It promotes trade, commerce, industry, and sustainable economic development, and supports a diverse and growing business markets for more than 90 years.
In 1968 the Chamber began the tradition of naming an outstanding citizen who has contributed greatly to the community. Tovar follows many who have been nominated and selected as vital citizens in the region.
Oxford Mainstreet, Inc. Creating Excitement in Oxford
By Betsy Brewer Brantner Contributing Writer
Oxford Mainstreet, Inc. has served as the catalyst to unify and partner with supporting organizations to promote and foster economic growth and stability within the Oxford Business Improvement District (BID) for over 20 years. Businesses just approved five more years of the BID.
Businesses continue to come to this area because of the historic charm, sense of community, and well-defined main street. Over $5 million has been spent to improve the Streetscape. Grants, like the Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program (RACP) in the amount of $2.1 million for The Oxford Theatre continue to add to the BID. Watch for exciting updates on the theater project.
Oxford has developed into an attractive location for investors, property owners, business owners, and residents, and has become a destination point for visitors.
Brian Dix, the executive director of OMI, recently unveiled plans for upcoming First Fridays.
“We have scheduled exciting events for this year and are including more music, entertainment and family fun than previous years,” he said.
First Fridays begin in May and include:
• May – Cinco de Mayo
• June- Summer Block Party
• July – Red White and Blue
• August – Sounds of Summer
• September – Car Show
• October – Hometown Harvest
• November – The Great Give
• December – country Christmas
Dix explained that the pandemic did cause people to turn inward. “However, many people did realize, during the pandemic, how important it was to support local businesses. Businesses supported each other like never before as well. It’s a prime example of the close knit and caring community of businesses and loyal business supporters,” he said.
The Oxford Arts Alliance is a great asset to the BID as well. The Outdoor Gallery Project spearheaded by board member Dave Eldreth, has created its own excitement in town, bringing people in to see the outdoor artwork.
This town beautification project is centered around the display of local artists’ work on participating buildings and
services in the town of Oxford. It is a unique opportunity for artists and a not seen before Town Gallery which will focus on the display of oversized high-resolution images of original art on the buildings of Oxford. Monthly art exhibits and musical venues also add to excitement of the Borough.
New businesses, such as Neff Physical Therapy, have located to Oxford and have increased foot traffic in town. A new barbecue and soul food establishment will be coming soon to join the downtown businesses.
the grant funding that is improving the community in general,” Dix said.
The addition of the multi-level parking garage also provides parking for the numerous events and for new and expanding businesses.
And just recently, State Sen. Carolyn Comitta presented Oxford Borough officials with the Community Pride Award from Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful.
Meanwhile Toot Sweet’s expanded and reopened in their new location, and Sonny Bea’s opened a second location in Toot Sweet’s former location, both within the BID.
“Businesses have seen how this unique and culturally diverse location has grown, and they are also seeing
Comitta nominated the borough for creating a native plant garden adjacent to its new parking garage and its overall community beautification and greening efforts. Oxford is quickly becoming the gateway to Chester County through the efforts of OMI, the Borough, the Oxford Chamber of Commerce, and the many businesses that welcome everyone to this beautiful and thriving community.
Advertisers’ Index
A/V Design & Installation
Houser Audio, LLC
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Accomodation/Lodging Banquet Ser vice
Hilton Garden Inn
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Accomodation/Lodging Campground
Camp Saginaw 888-477-CAMP www.campsaginaw.com
Philadelphia/West Chester KOA 610-486-0447
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Accomodation/Lodging Hotel/Motel
Fair
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Hampton Inn & Suites Chadds Ford 610-358-9540
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Sinton Air Conditioning & Heating Inc. 610-444-6002
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Taylor Oil & Propane Inc. 610-444-3810
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Heating and Air Conditioning - HVAC R efrigeration
Goodwin’s Refrigeration LLC 610-255-5100
Heating, Air Conditioning and Plumbing
Comfort Zone Heating Cooling & Plumbing 610-235-6262
www.comfortzonehvac.org
Heating, Air Conditioning, Plumbing & Electric
Chadds Ford Complete Services, LLC 484-770-8261
www.cfcomplete.com
See ad pg. 3
Home Improvement
Design By Daphne, LLC 484-897-0030
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Home Improvement - Garage Doors
Door & Gate USA 302-867-4412 www.doorandgateusa.com/ See ad pg. 50
Precision Door Service 610-344-0730 www.precisiondoorsoutheastpa.com
Home Inspection
HouseMaster Home Inspections 484-639-4838 www.westchester.housemaster.com Home Services - Maintenance A Hand For All Seasons, LLC 484-467-4836 Home Services - Security Chesco Security, Inc. 610-268-3922 www.chescosecurity.com
Ice - Shaved ice
Kona Ice of Southern Chester County 484-748-0085
www.kona-ice.com
Insurance
Allstate Insurance CompanyThe R oselli Agency 610-444-0300
www.allstateagencies.com/broselli/ Welcome/
Brian Hartle State Farm Agency 610-444-5454
www.brianhartle.com
F. Frederick Breuninger & Son Insurance, Inc. 610-384-1980
www.Binsured.com
See ad pg. 20 KVIS & Coe Insurance Services 610-932-9350
www.kviscoe.com
See ad pg. 5 L&W Insurance 302-674-3500
https://lwinsurance.com/ See ad pg. 44
Mallon Insurance Group 610-457-7787
https://agents.allstate.com/thomasmallon-springfield-pa.html?utm_ source=GMB&utm_medium=Website Patricia ScottKathy Barry Agency LLC 484-319-8923
https://kathybarryagency.com/team/ patricia-scott/patricia-scott-2/ Yerkes Insurance Inc. 610-869-4065
www.yerkesinsurance.com
See ad pg. 42
Insurance - Group and Individual Medical, Dental, Life and Disability
