2014 JAN/FEB
Chatter the Chamber
The Member News & Information Resource
Providing Leadership and Opportunity for business
Dear Members,
Providing Leadership and Opportunity for business
On December 6, 2013 the Greater West Chester Chamber hosted the 34th Annual Mars Drinks Old-Fashioned Christmas Presented by QVC. The parade had so much promise as we prepared for it to be aired nationally on QVC for the first time. Mother Nature decided that she wasn’t going to cooperate with us as we had a cold raining drizzle through the entire evening. To everyone’s surprise, the community still came out as we had over 10,000 spectators lining the streets of West Chester to see the arrival of Santa Claus. I want to start by thanking all of our sponsors for their support of this event. Without their support this event would not be what it is today. I want to especially thank Mars Drinks for being our Title sponsor for the fourth year and QVC for their first year as Presenting Sponsor. On December 24th and 25th the Mars Drinks Old-Fashioned Christmas Presented by QVC was aired on QVC to over 100 million households. The sky is the limit for the Old-Fashioned Christmas parade and for your Chamber; none of that would be possible without the support of our sponsors, our volunteers and the community. I would also like to thank all of the performers that participated in the parade in spite of the weather; their dedication to their schools, organizations and businesses is what makes greater West Chester such a wonderful community.
CHAMBER STAFF Mark Yoder President Dave Fairman Director of Membership Maggie O’Neill Office Operations Director
I would be remiss if I didn’t thank Todd Marcocci and Amy Walp of Under the Sun Productions whose hard work behind the scenes is what really drives this parade. Finally, I want to thank the Chamber staff; Dave Fairman, Bethany Henry and Maggie O’Neill for their tireless work in managing the details and Judy Ivins for her years of dedicated support to this event. It is amazing that we have already started planning for the 2014 Mars Drinks Old-Fashioned Christmas Presented by QVC, but the next big event is always right around the corner. Mark Yoder
Bethany Kopp Member Service Coordinator Greater West Chester Chamber of Commerce 119 North High Street West Chester, PA 19380 tel 610.696.4046 fax 610.696.9110 www.greaterwestchester.com
President Greater West Chester Chamber of Commerce
Chamber Chatter | Bi-Monthly Advertising Rates Eighth Page/Business Card 3.625” (w) x 2.25” (h)
. . . . . . . . . . . . . $85
Quarter Page . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $150 3.625” (w) x 4.75” (h)
The Greater West Chester Chamber of Commerce took every precaution to ensure that all information is correct at the time of publishing. The opinions expressed are those of the author(s) only and should not be considered as representative of the Greater West Chester Chamber of Commerce.
Design6˚ | connections count www.design6degrees.com
Half Page . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $260 7.5” (w) x 4.75” (h) - horizontal 3.625” (w) x 9.7” (h) - vertical Full Page . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $415 7.5” (w) x 9.75” (h)
Online ad is free with any print ad. Please provide web site address to link your ad.
FREE ONLINE AD
10% discount on full annual run of any size ad. Space reservation is due by the 1st of the month prior to publication (i.e. March/April editionreservation due by Feb. 1, and the ad itself is due Feb. 8).
The Chamber Chatter is a bi-monthly publication with a circulation of 1100. It is free to members of the Chamber. Editorial Content and advertising is limited to Chamber members. Editorial coverage does not imply or indicate Chamber endorsement of members business, product or services.
The Chamber Welcomes New Members Billy Burger and Bakery
Krombolz-Sheets Insurance
Renewal By Andersen
Mr. Bill McConnell 2 N. Five Points Road West Chester, PA 19380 610-431-3100 billnonsibi@verizon.net www.billyburgerandbakery.com Restaurant/Cafe
Mrs. Lauren Blake 930 E. Boot Road West Chester, PA 19380 610-738-1255 x26; Fax 610-738-9664 lauren@krombolzins.com www.krombolzins.com Insurance
Birchall Appraisal LLC
Marvelous Mo and Me LLC
Mr. Chris Powers 761 5th Avenue, Suite 3 King of Prussia, PA 19406 866-933-0253 cpowers@renewalphilly.com www.renewalbyandersen.com Home Improvements & Repair
Mr. Gary Birchall P.O. Box 563 Southeastern, PA 19399 610-233-5928 gbirchall@getwiser.com Appraisal/Auction
Mrs. Carrissa Griffing 208 Carter Road, #13B West Chester, PA 19382 215-200-2928 m3@marvmoandme.com www.marvmoandme.com Manufacturing
Dragon Gym Martial Arts and Fitness
Preservation Tree
Ms. Diana Volante 267 S. Whitford Road Exton, PA 19341 610-363-7575 Changeyourlife@dragongym.com www.dragongym.com Fitness
Mr. Mike Dunn 893 E. Lincoln Highway Exton, PA 19341 610-235-6691 mike@prestree.com www.prestree.com Tree Services
Friends Association for Care & Protection of Children
The Rate Kings Mortgage
Ms. Catherine Friedman 113 W. Chestnut Street West Chester, PA 19380 610-431-3598; Fax 610-431-9768 c.friedman@friendsassoc.org www.friendsassoc.org Not-For-Profit Organization
Kisses Sweet Spa Ms. Sandra Gotlib 363 E. Lincoln Highway, Suite 210 Exton, PA 19341 484-985-9699 sjgotlib@gmail.com www.kissessweetspaexton.com Health Services & Products
Ms. Angela Cooper 1101 Carroll Hill Drive West Chester, PA 19382 800-946-8194; Fax 800-892-1798 angela@theratekings.com www.theratekings.com Mortgage Companies
Regus Mr. Patrick Mogollon 1055 Westlakes Drive, Suite 300 Berwyn, PA 19312 610-727-4006 Patrick.Mogollon@regus.com www.regus.com Business Services
Results Oriented Individuals Mr. Joel McFadden 1831 Delaware Avenue Wilmington, DE 19806 302-652-8000; Fax 302-652-8018 jmcfadden@whcompany.com www.roi-results.com Consultant
The Solana Willistown Mr. Ian Monteith 1713 West Chester Pike Willistown, PA 19382 610-725-1713; Fax 610-725-1719 ian.monteith@solanawillistown.com www.solanawillistown.com Adult/Senior Care Services
SosteNica, Inc. Mr. Alan Wright 1019 Ashley Road West Chester, PA 19382 610-399-5228 alan.wright@sostenica.org www.sostenica.org Not-For-Profit Organization
STP Investment Services Mr. Dennis Cristofoletti 486 Thomas Jones Way, Suite 250 Exton, PA 19341 610-363-5684 dcristofoletti@stpis.com www.stpis.com Financial Services
continued on next page
Chamber Chatter NEWS
|
2
Introducing Our New GWCC Greater Return on Investment with the Greater West Chester Chamber of Commerce
January 14
11:45am to 1:00pm West Chester University Lawrence Building Cost: $25 per person
Executive Round Tables 5:30pm | Pietro’s Prime 125 West Market Street West Chester Cost: $55 per person
2nd Tuesday of the Month (excluding Aug, Nov and Dec)
Education SERIES The Greater West Chester Chamber of Commerce proudly offers the best in ongoing educational programming for businesses of any size and has an impressive portfolio of offerings to accommodate our member’s needs, interests and availability. Our goal is to be a first-class resource for like-minded professionals to learn, teach and connect while providing tools to do better business in the greater West Chester area.
What is coming up? Panel Discussions feature presentations by topic experts followed by a Q & A session. The event is designed to provide attendees with better business principles to apply to their work and includes either breakfast or lunch to accommodate busy schedules. Creating an Excellent Corporate Culture Award-winning businesses will share essential steps on how to craft successful company cultures. Hear from small, medium and large companies with cultures that encourage employees to do their best work. Peggy H. Eddens | Executive Vice President and Chief Human Capital Officer WSFS Bank | “Top Workplace” for Eighth Year in a Row Justin Dougherty, Proprietor, Side Bar and Restaurant | 2013 GWCC Business of the Year Laura Aloisio | Dave’s Automotive Repair Enterprises | 2012 GWCC Business of the Year
What I Am Learning About Leadership Series Executive Round Tables feature an expert and are limited to 12 guests. The format gives every attendee access to the expert and focused discussion on the topic during a gourmet food and wine pairing. Attendees must have executive responsibilities at their place of business. January 14 February 11 March 11
Michael Duncan | President & CEO, Penn Medicine Chester County Hospital Edward Breiner | President & CEO, Schramm, Inc. Paul Redman | Director, Longwood Gardens
Women Executives’ Business Round Table schedule available online.
To register or see a full curriculum, visit www.greaterwestchester.com/events-programs
New Chamber Members continued Strickler Insurance
T & T Pancoast
Mr. David Jones 127 E. Chestnut Street, Suite C West Chester, PA 19380 610-701-8257; Fax 610-646-2065 dj@stricklerinsurance.com www.stricklerinsurance.com Insurance
Mrs. Susan Pancoast 20 Davidson Road West Chester, PA 19382 610-793-9207; Fax 610-793-2598 Pancoast_construction@ yahoo.com www.pancoastconstruction.net General Contractor/ Custom Builder
3
|
Chamber Chatter NEWS
Trinity Wealth Management, LLC Ms. Marjorie Wentz 1000 Westlakes Drive, Suite 275 Berwyn, PA 19312 610-296-2020; Fax 610-296-2188 info@trinity-wealth.com www.trinity-wealth.com Financial Services
TrueNet, Inc Mr. Paul Rice 24 Hagerty Blvd., Unit 10 West Chester, PA 19382 610-429-8300 paul@truenet.com www.truenet.com Computers/Internet Services
Five Tips to Starting Strong in 2014 There are lots of lists about how business owners can prepare for a new year. What they skip, more often than not, are the fundamentals of building a solid foundation and achieving the bottom line results critical to the ongoing life of a business. That’s not to say that other aspects aren’t equally important—should you consider social media marketing (possibly), is an HR audit appropriate (maybe), are staffing and compensation plans adequate (potentially), but to me the key question is this: how much are you going to sell next year and where will that business come from? More often than not, I see what I call victim-selling: companies cast a wide net and scramble to do all kinds of things hoping it will generate sales, and they take what falls their way. But that doesn’t provide a consistent way of generating sales and revenue. That requires a solid sales plan with sales projections —what are you going to sell, when, and where will that business come from. (That’s the short version.) These elements are critical to your company’s growth, and yet they are the most frequently overlooked because they are hard to build and even harder to maintain, especially if you haven’t done it before. But if you build them and manage the execution, you’re sure to hit your numbers in 2013 and beyond. Here are a few other things I consider fundamental to a healthy bottom line:
1. Build a good sales team. The best teams have high quality people who are developed consistently and driven to produce the numbers. But your reps need a playable hand including these seven cards-- the right marketplace, a competitive offering, adequate territory, a good compensation plan, good management, realistic goals and enough time to hit them. If you don’t hold all seven cards, get them. 2. Sales drives marketing, not the other way around. In my experience, you can build all the fancy marketing programs you wish, but in the end, somebody has to sell your product or service. Build your sales projections then develop the marketing plan to support it. For example, if the majority of your sales come at year end, then enhance the months prior with a kick ass marketing program that will prime the market and generate more sales coming into your busy time. If you don’t sell anything at year end, then don’t spend your marketing dollars there. And don’t waste
By: Donna Saul
your money on low hanging fruit, or shiny new objects in the form of a good story told by an experienced marketing sales rep. There are no slam dunk, one size fits all marketing plans, no matter what you hear or read. There are only well thought out, custom plans that are built and managed week in and week out to ensure they hit the mark. So be critical, be judicious and be stingy until you can be reasonably sure that the money you spend will generate the results you want.
3. Target, target, target. Unless you have money to burn in the form of wasted sales and marketing dollars, build your sales plan with a specific market in mind. Is the bulk of your business this year going to come primarily from new business, from existing customers or some combination of both? Think in terms of shooting through crosshairs with a rifle vs. a shotgun. Think about what you want to accomplish, be realistic, and build your sales and marketing plans accordingly. 4. Streamline processes. Be fanatical about evaluating how you do things and making improvements on the spot whenever possible. “Because that’s how we’ve always done it,” and “If it’s not broke, don’t fix it” just don’t cut it in these competitive times. There’s always room for improvement, and you’ll never survive if you aren’t flexible enough to change with the market and constantly develop as a company. The key to success is to make it about developing a company culture around the idea that you’re always looking for the best, most efficient, most productive approach regardless of how long you’ve been doing it. 5. Invest in one new customer touch-point. New methodologies are popping up all the time. Find out how your current customers came to know or prefer to connect with you and be where they are. And don’t overlook your website. It should be attractive, easy to navigate, SEO optimized, with quality content that moves customers along a conversion path. Your social media efforts have to drive traffic somewhere, and that most logical place is your website, so evaluate it with a critical eye – if it lacks visibility in search or doesn’t capture and convert leads, it’s time for an update. Have a healthy, productive and lucrative New Year!
Donna Saul is a business strategist and consultant with a proven track record of helping companies to grow fast, increase sales and revenues, improve productivity, and build a better bottom line. T he Bott om Line o n B u i ldi n g a B E T T E R Bo tto m Lin e
donna@donnasaul.com | 610.889.0626 | www.donnasaul.com
Chamber Chatter NEWS
|
4
Thank you to our
Renewing Members in October & November 2013 Members for 30 years or more Wells Fargo Bank
Our members are the foundation of our organization. To honor them we would like to congratulate and thank those who renewed their membership in October and November 2013. Thank you for your ongoing support of the Greater West Chester Chamber of Commerce. Dave Fairman Director of Membership
20 - 29 years Elmark Signs & Graphics Halladay Florist Black Berry Technologies Inc. ACAC Fitness & Wellness Center William S. Malany & Sons, Inc. Stalnaker Control Systems Robert S. Supplee Westtown Dental Associates Green Mount Cemetery Assoc. KMRD Partners, Inc. La Difference Salon & Day Spa Custom Printing & Promotions Model Specialties Co. TnT Handling USA, Inc. West Chester Dental Arts StanAb, LP 10 - 19 years Holiday Inn Express Hotel & Suites West Chester Communication Graphics Peter R. Johnson & Company Stirling Property Management, Inc. Hicks Property Management, LLC Buckley, Brion, McGuire, Morris & Sommer LLP Mitch’s Market Street Gym Vivace Productions, Inc. Morgan Stanley / West Chester Edward Jones Investments / J. Kitchen
5
|
Chamber Chatter NEWS
Chester County Council, Boy Scouts of America
Land Services USA, Inc.
Patricia Schultz Enterprises, Inc.
Moonflower
Krapf’s Coaches Inc. Bellingham Retirement Living The Klip Joint Tom Mohr Law Office, P.C. Benny’s Pizzeria West Chester Off-Campus Housing Cypress Capital Management Inc. PECO Energy/ Exelon Corporation Avilion, Inc. William H. Bunch Auctioneer & Appraiser BLINK WCHE Siepser Laser Eyecare Comcast Spotlight
3 - 9 years JDC Heating & Air Conditioning Biffen Wealth Management Meridian Bank Nask Door, Inc. Matlack Florist, Inc. ABC Hearing Net John M. Hannafin Thoughts Embellished Inc. 1-800-905 Geek / Geeks On Call Penn Oaks Golf Club Kathryn J. Smith / Massage Therapist The Water Guy Employer Services Online LLC
I.M. Contracting Ltd. A Taste of Olive AFJ Company Underground Services, Inc. Cobblestone Realty Edward Jones Investments / E. Smith Jason Fallon / Mortgage Network, Inc. Tree Top Builders, Inc. Mainline Men’s Custom Clothiers & Tuxedo Rental Parisian Cleaners Charles A. Melton Arts & Education Center Beneficial Bank
1 - 2 years The Honorable Ryan Costello Lisa Wolfe Music, LLC Susanin, Widman & Brennan, P.C. Cruisin’ Style LLC Massage Envy Spa, West Chester Stratus Interactive First Resource Bank Sun East Federal Credit Union Broad Run Golfer’s Club Baxter Properties / Highgate Apartments Gecko Group Rams Head Bar & Grill
GOLF MEMBERSHIP WINNERS The Greater West Chester Chamber of Commerce has teamed up with Applecross Country Club to offer renewing members an opportunity to win a Casual Golf Membership at Talamore and Applecross Country Clubs. All current members are eligible to win during the month they renew their membership. The drawings will continue each month through December 2014.
Congratulations to these businesses who were picked in a lottery drawing of Chamber businesses that renewed their memberships in October and November 2013:
Mr. David R. Dietrich Communication Graphics
Mr. Gregory M. Cary PECO Energy/Exelon Corporation
Ms. Susan Casso Rogers Custom Printing & Promotions
Mr. James Cappello Rams Head Bar & Grill
Ms. Kelly Wellborn Cypress Capital Management Inc.
Mr. Anthony L. Stancato, Jr. StanAb, LP
Mr. Eric Smith Edward Jones Investments / E.Smith
Mr. Jack Bramley Thoughts Embellished Inc.
Mr. Tim Long Elmark Signs & Graphics
Mr. Tim Carney TnT Handling USA, Inc.
Mr. Jason Fallon Jason Fallon / Mortgage Network, Inc.
Mr. Dan Wright Tree Top Builders, Inc.
Mr. Nicholas Halladay Halladay Florist
Mr. Hal Zuber Underground Services, Inc.
Mrs. Christy Cosgrove La Difference Salon & Day Spa
Dr. John Villella Vivace Productions, Inc.
Mr. Martin C. Zeller Model Specialties Co.
Dr. Eric Fort West Chester Dental Arts
Mr. Joe Nask Nask Door, Inc.
Drs. Diorio, Swintek, Guenthner Westtown Dental Associates
2014 GWCC Board Members officers Tim Jefferis, Chairman Penn Liberty Bank Chris Tolsdorf, Chairman-Elect Tolsdorf Oil Lube Express Donna L. Urian, , Vice Chairman Fischer Cunnane & Associates, Ltd. Rob Partridge, Treasurer West Chester Area School District Marc Ernest, Secretary Franklin Mint Federal Credit Union Scott Mayes, Immediate Past Chairman Comcast Spotlight
Board of Directors Mary Bigham WC Dish, LLC Bryan Brockson EDiS Construction & Development
Guy T. Dunn 1-800-905 Geek / Geeks On Call
Patrick M. McKenna Gawthrop Greenwood, PC Andrew McMenamin DNB First
Debi Wright Friedmann Blue Dog Printing & Design Thomas Gavin The Chester County Hospital
Thomas Ciccarone Parkway Dry Cleaners, Inc.
Liz Golding Susquehanna Bank
John J. Cunningham Lamb McErlane PC
Nicole Grebloskie Arthur Hall Insurance
Ronald K. DellaVecchia DellaVecchia, Reilly, Smith & Boyd Funeral Home, Inc.
Mell Josephs Student Services, Inc. Jeannie McGinn Fulton Bank
Brian Miller Mars Drinks North America, LLC Marisa Powell Pietro’s Prime Nonna’s Restaurants Donna Saul Business Coaching & Consulting Marjorie Wentz Elmark Signs & Graphics
Chamber Chatter NEWS
|
6
Citizen of t h e Y ea r For Outstanding Citizen, It’s a West Chester Love Affair After a lifetime of living, working and serving in the West Chester community, former Mayor Dick Yoder is still going strong. True, he’s added grandchildren to the mix – nine in all – but he continues to find time to serve on boards and committees, speak to school students and help a variety of groups in any way he can. For his long term, ongoing, incomparable commitment to this community, the Greater West Chester Chamber of Commerce (GWCC) is delighted to name Richard B. Yoder its 2013 Outstanding Citizen of the Year. The award, given annually since 1948 to an individual providing exemplary service to the West Chester community, will be presented during the Chamber’s annual banquet on Febuary 4, 2014 at the Desmond Hotel, Malvern.
In addition, Dick is ever-willing to lend his considerable energy and enthusiasm to various community, educational and athletic organizations. He serves on the Board of the Chester County Sports Hall of Fame and on various WCU, West Chester Area School District and St. Agnes Church & School committees. He continues to enjoy participating in the West Chester Rotary Club and attending gatherings with classmates and teammates from West Chester High School and West Chester University. As ever he is looking forward to the next step in the journey.
When he learned of the honor, the always humble West Chester native said he felt “blessed time and time again to be able to engage myself and serve in myriad activities.”
“ This Chamber award is surely a highlight of my love-affair with the West Chester community,” he said. “I am grateful for being honored in this way and anticipate what my next adventure will be.”
“ For me, the community of greater West Chester has been literally a life time of involvement, participation and commitment – how can it get any better than that,” he said.
“To say Dick Yoder is ‘Mr. West Chester’ would be an understatement,” said Mark Yoder, GWCC president. “He clearly feels lucky to be able to participate, but all of us who live and work in greater West Chester and enjoy everything it has to offer, are really the lucky ones who benefit from his ongoing contributions. The Chamber is honored and grateful to be able to recognize him as its Outstanding Citizen of the Year.”
“As one of a large family and lifelong resident of the borough of West Chester, it never ceases to amaze me that every time one gives to this community, it turns around and immediately awards back. The honor of being named Outstanding Citizen is no different.” After nearly four decades teaching, coaching and serving as an administrator at West Chester University (WCU), Dick retired in 2000 as a full professor in the Department of Kinesiology. Running for and being elected the town’s mayor was a “natural, honorable and enjoyable” way to continue his hometown involvement. Since completing two terms as mayor some five years ago, Dick has continued to stay active. He and his wife, Jean, enjoy keeping up with their four children and their nine grandchildren who range in age from 6 years to 18 years.
A West Chester native, Dick and his wife, Jean, are currently looking for their next adventure, while keeping up with their children and grandchildren.
7
|
Chamber Chatter NEWS
Unclaimed Property Reporting Most of us have seen the late night television commercials encouraging individuals to search for their property which has been turned over to the state. The property and money in these funds is given to the state by entities that are required to report and submit dormant unclaimed property. What most us don’t realize is that this law applies to more than just banks and insurance companies. Any business which holds property that belongs to an individual or other entity that has been unclaimed must be reported and sent to the state by April 15th of the year after it reaches the state prescribed dormancy period. Pennsylvania requires organizations to file unclaimed property reports on an annual basis.
Below is a list of common items and the time after which it must be reported to the state. Accounts payable
5 years
Accounts receivable – credit balances
5 years
Gift certificates
varies
Lay-a-way deposits
5 years
Refunds and rebates
5 years
Vendor payments
5 years
Wages and Commissions
2 years
All other property
5 years
By: Kathy Wileczek
Most items are five years with the exception of wages and commissions which must be reported after two years. When you fail to pay for an item or service you have received, that amount is subject to unclaimed property reporting. That means uncashed employee paychecks, which are very common in restaurants and places that employ students, are owed to the state. The state holds these funds or items until they are claimed by the rightful owner giving them the use of free money until disbursed. In earlier years the states concentrated audit and collection efforts on financial institutions, insurance companies and escrow holding companies. Changes in technology and the need to collect additional funds without raising taxes have created a profitable audit environment. Not only does the state assess fines and penalties but they obtain use of the assets identified. For first time filers the state does have a program for voluntary compliance program. The Pennsylvania Treasury maintains a website with detailed information and required forms at http://www.patreasury.gov/unclaimedPropertyAuditReports.html If you want to know if the state is holding money for you, just head for the internet. While there are companies that charge to search for unclaimed property for a fee, there is no need to pay for the search. Almost all states maintain databases that are available on the internet and are easy to use. Using these sites is free. Don’t forget to look at other states where you or your family members may have lived or worked. A recent search of some of my family names has turned up some unexpected finds. A few were in excess of $100. Completed forms might make good holiday presents this year.
Kathy Wileczek, CPA is a principal in the West Chester office of Maille LLP (formerly Maillie Falconiero & Company, LLP). Maille LLP offers broad accounting capabilities
to track, analyze and manage every financial aspect of your business, agency or organization.
kwileczek@mallie.com | 610-696-4353 | www.maillie.com
Chamber Chatter NEWS
|
8
Ever-Evolving Friends Association
Earns Service Award
Founded in Philadelphia as an orphanage in 1822, Friends Association has evolved during its 190 year history to meet the ever-changing needs of the community. Today, the West Chesterbased organization, officially Friends Association for Care and Protection of Children, offers a range of programs designed to prevent and end family homelessness.
“In the non-profit sector, as in the for-profit sector, we talk a lot about an agency’s ‘life cycle’, she explained. “Too often agencies see the “life-cycle” as a forward moving journey, a sine wave. At Friends Association we really view it as a circle and in our 190 years we have kept our mission alive and vibrant to meet the current needs of the community.”
“We started out needing to solve a problem by providing shelter to homeless children,” explained Catherine Friedman, executive director. “As that issue was solved, we explored other ways we could address issues facing children, from being a home and school for girls to providing foster care and adoption services. Paying attention to the needs of the time as well as the best practice solutions of the age are imperative skills for non-profits. If we are really seeking to end a need then we either have to be willing to close the organization when that need is met or use the skills and resources garnered to meet a new need.”
Three years ago Friends Association merged its foster care and adoption services into a larger agency and focused its mission on preventing and ending homelessness for families in the county. To that end, it currently runs one of three family shelters in Chester County and one of the few homeless prevention programs in the region.
For its ongoing commitment to the community and its outstanding ability to expand and adapt its programs and services for families, the Greater West Chester Chamber of Commerce (GWCC) is proud to honor Friends Association as the Mosteller Community Service Award winner for 2013. The award, given annually since 1968 to an outstanding organization providing exemplary service and having a positive impact in the West Chester community, will be presented at the Chamber’s annual banquet on Feb. 4, 2014 at the Desmond Hotel, Malvern. “It is truly an honor for us to recognize Friends Association with this award,” said Mark Yoder, GWCC president. “By listening and responding to the needs of the families they serve, this small organization has had a tremendous impact on the West Chester and Chester County community. We can all learn something from their ability to adapt and thrive.” Friedman brought a decade of experience working in homeless services when she came to Friends Association in January 2012. She had initially learned of the agency while working for the county and overseeing some of the government funding the organization received. She admired the foresight that has “always permeated the work of Friends Association.”
Operating as it does on a “shoestring” budget, according to Friedman, the organization is always grateful for monetary donations as well as for volunteers. They also appreciates gift cards to area grocery stores, K-Mart and Walmart, and household items such as new pillows, used twin sheets and towels, household goods, diapers, toiletries and cleaning supplies. “Having our good works recognized by the Greater West Chester Chamber of Commerce is wonderful validation,” said Friedman. “We are hopeful it will also allow us to tell our story to a broader audience.” “We often refer to Friends as one of the best kept secrets in Chester County. We need to have our mission and need known in Chester County so we can continue our work toward preventing and ending family homelessness. As we have worked toward that goal and in our current planning we are already asking, ‘What should we be for children in Chester County when we have ended family homelessness?’ We know it will happen, but we know that it won’t be the end of children having needs. We will be watching and will be prepared for that next need.”
The West Chester-based Friends Association helps homeless or near homeless families stabilize their lives and find or maintain permanent housing, with a focus on families with children, who are often the unintended victims of homelessness.
610-431-3598 | www.friendsassoc.org
9
|
Chamber Chatter NEWS
Chamber Chatter NEWS
| 10
Adopt-A-Lamppost Program – 2013 The Greater West Chester Chamber of Commerce would like to thank the following companies and individuals for their generous support of adopting one or more of the Christmas wreaths that decorate downtown West Chester for the holiday season:
Platinum Sponsor
We would like to give a special thank you to our Platinum Sponsor of the Adopt-ALamppost program
Gold Bow Sponsor (Adopting 6 or more wreaths) ACAC Fitness & Wellness Center Barnaby’s West Chester Brickhouse Environmental The Chester County Hospital First Resource Bank Fred Beans Ford Lincoln Mercury of West Chester Integrative Health & Chiropractic Center Jacquette Consulting, Inc. John Serock Catering Lamb McErlane PC M&T Bank & Wilmington Trust, N.A. MacElree Harvey Main Line Today National Mail Graphics Otto’s BMW Otto’s MINI Penn Liberty Bank Radley Run Country Club Side Bar & Restaurant Speedpro Imaging Tolsdorf Oil Lube Express Unruh, Turner, Burke & Frees, P.C. Weed Man Lawn Care William M. Dunleavy and Company Inc.
11 | Chamber Chatter NEWS
Red Bow Sponsor (Adopting 3-5 wreaths) Arthur Hall Insurance Bill & Linda Scott Brandywine Valley Heating & A/C Brandywine Valley Insurance Group Buckley, Brion, McGuire, Morris & Sommer LLP Cmedia / R2C Group Coins of Chester County Comcast Spotlight Dave’s Automotive Repair Enterprises, LLC David G. Rogers, CPA DellaVecchia, Reilly, Smith & Boyd Funeral Home, Inc. Ed & Julie Breiner Fulton Bank Genuine Healthcare Resources, LLC Henry Nace / State Farm Insurance Hotel Warner JDC Heating & Air Conditioning Kreutz Creek Winery Manito Abstract Company, Inc. Mercner Wood Partnership Moonflower Moore Events, Inc. National Penn Bank Polito Law Office Rams Head Bar & Grill Rob and the Partridge Family Saints Peter and Paul School SP&O Sun East Federal Credit Union Susquehanna Bank Swope Lees Commercial Real Estate, LLC The Goddard School / West Chester
The metropolitan east goshen The metropolitan west chester The Painted Plate Thomas Comitta Associates, Inc. Tom Walsh - Century 21 Alliance Toucan Enterprises TQ Consultants, LLC Univest Bank and Trust Co. William S. Malany & Sons, Inc. YMCA of the Brandywine Valley
Green Bow Sponsor (Adopting 1-2 wreaths) A. Roy Smith ABC Hearing Net The Arc of Chester County Basic Batters (Gluten & Dairy Free) Bakery BLINK Ches. Co. Lodge 11 - Fraternal Order Police Chester County Community Foundation Clarke, Nicolini & Associates, Ltd. Cobblestone Realty, LTD Craig L. Tucker Delightful Desserts & Culinary Creations Inc. Doc Magrogan’s Oyster House Dorset Connects Dusty Rose Cleaning Edward Jones Investments Faunbrook Bed & Breakfast Fig West Chester / Moxie House Franklin Mint Federal Credit Union James E. Yiaski, CPA Jane Chalfant / Kiki Boutique Jeannie McGinn Judi and Jon Ivins Kelly’s Sports, Ltd
Keystone Federal Credit Union Kildare’s Irish Pub Krapf’s Coaches Inc. Krombolz-Sheets Insurance Landmark Americana Let Freedom Ring Lewis, Hopkins & Williamson, Inc. Market Street Print Nancy Ellis State Farm Insurance Optimal Massage Patricia Schultz Enterprises, Inc. Penn Oaks Golf Club Penn Office Products, Inc. Rhoads Creative Richard C. Nelson, D.D.S. Ryan’s Pub Safe Harbor of Chester County, Inc. Saint Agnes Catholic School StanAb, LP Taylor’s Music Store & Studios The 5 Senses The Hickman The Law Offices of David M. Melchiorre, LLC The Rate Kings Mortgage, LLC United Way of Chester Co., Inc. W.C. Connections Program, Davidson School/Elwyn West Chester Area Day Care Center West Chester Bus. Improvement District West Chester Capital Advisors West Chester Friends School West Chester Off-Campus Housing William Wood Company, LLC Wusinich, Brogan & Stanzione Zukin Realty Inc.
ARE YOU MANAGING LIKE A GPS? Don’t you wonder what we did before GPS? Traveling to a new destination no longer requires mapping out a course. All we need are the coordinates, and then “Greta” guides us literally out of our driveways to our final destination. Are you managing your employees like a GPS? “Where to?” What are your company goals? This is your endpoint for your company’s journey. This is your target for employees to aim for every day within their daily activities. Are your employees clear on where the final destination should be? Are your goals clearly defined so there is no question where the last stop is on your company’s road trip? Each year organizations’ top management spend time creating a business plan that outlines the company’s purpose and goals that is communicated to middle managers who then pass it on to their frontline staff. In this corporate version of ‘whisper down the line’ information gets left out or misinterpreted along the way. If you asked all your employees to punch in the coordinates of your company goals, would they all type in the same address on their GPS?
“Drive to Highlighted Route.” Starting your journey. Look at the helpful features of the GPS that assist managers in establishing performance expectations for their staff: The GPS indicates the speed of the journey, and the time the destination will be reached at that pace. As the speed decreases, the time to reach the goal gets pushed back. Events beyond our control cause slow-downs in productivity such as equipment failure, employee turnover, or changes in resources. Discussing these things in the beginning of a term will give employees’ confidence in dealing with such events without the element of surprise.
By: Denise Romanelli
“Recalculating” How do you get staff back on course? There will be times employees misinterpret the road and take a wrong turn. Or perhaps they have found another path to the destination that was not charted by the leaders of the organization. Be aware of these moments and find out if the goal can be reached by taking another road or do you have to make a “U-ie” to get back to the main highway. Establishing a good working relationship with employees will give you the opportunity stay on top of progress and see what their dashboards are reading. A quick intervention will prevent extensive time lapse in your journey. However the repetitive “recalculating, recalculating…” can get annoying just as it can be for managers who repeatedly remind staff of what they are doing wrong. Choose a positive more constructive approach when giving feedback. Provide direction on how to get back on course: “Drive to highlighted route.”
“Destination ahead, on left.” You have arrived! Employees want to know when you’re getting close to reaching the goal. The excitement builds when approaching the target and you too can create a sense of achievement by accentuating the successful work of your employees! After a year of hard work, it is rewarding to see the goal is within reach. Find ways to celebrate and recognize team accomplishments. Although the methodical commands of Greta can be helpful in creating a step-by-step approach to employee performance, don’t let the robotic approach become your management style. Building a relationship with your employees is vital to the successful flow of information between you. Sincerity and empathy will go a long way in creating a good working relationship. But be sure your compassion is genuine. Employees can easily spot a fake.
Denise Romanelli is a Director of Employee Development & Community Relations at Sun East Federal Credit Union.
610-485-2960 | www.www.suneast.org
Chamber Chatter NEWS
| 12
January Events Calendar
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31
Thursday, January 9
Tuesday, January 14
Coffee Connection Massage Envy
Executive Roundtable What I’m Learning About Leadership Guest Speaker: Michael Duncan, President & CEO, Penn Medicine Chester County Hospital
Thursday, January 9
Tuesday, January 14
1107 West Chester Pike, West Chester 7:45am – 9:00am
Pietro’s Prime 125 W. Market Street, West Chester 5:30pm
Free for members | $10 for non-members RSVP is appreciated
$55 for members | Limited spots available To register visit www.greaterwestchester.com/events-programs
Wednesday, January 15
Tuesday, January 28
Membership Luncheon New Year/New Beginnings
Open Board Meeting
Creating a Culture of Excellence to Attract & Retain High Performers – Education Panel Discussion Sponsored by
Our Annual Board Meeting is open to the entire Membership. This is your opportunity to ask questions or meet the Chamber staff and the Chamber’s Board of Directors.
Wednesday, January 15
Tuesday, January 28
West Chester University Lawrence Center – Roman Kitchen 11:45am – 1:00pm
Spellman Building - West Chester School District Administration Building 829 Paoli Pike | West Chester, PA 19380 8:00am
$25 for members | $35 for non-members RSVP is required
13 | Chamber Chatter NEWS
Open to all members
February Events Calendar Tuesday, February 4
Annual Banquet Honoring 2013 Citizen of the Year Dick Yoder & the J. Dewees Mosteller Community Service Award Recipient Friends Association for Care and Protection of Children
Tuesday, February 4 The Desmond Hotel One Liberty Blvd., Malvern Cocktails - 5:30pm | Dinner - 6:45pm
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28
Tuesday, February 11
Executive Roundtable What I’m Learning About Leadership Guest Speaker: Edward Breiner, President & CEO, Schramm Inc.
Tuesday, February 11 Pietro’s Prime 125 W. Market Street, West Chester 5:30pm
See page 16 for details
$55 for members | Limited spots available To register visit www.greaterwestchester.com/events-programs
Wednesday, February 19
SAVE THE DATE
Business Card Exchange John Serock Catering
10 Grand Club Grand Prize of $10,000 Join us for an evening of fun food and chances. Over 50 other great prizes will be awarded.
Wednesday, February 19 835 Lincoln Ave, West Chester 5:30pm – 7:30pm Free for members | $10 for non-members RSVP is appreciated
Friday, April 25 Penn Oaks Golf Club 7:00pm – 10:00pm RSVP is required | Call to make a reservation See page 17 for details
Chamber Chatter NEWS
| 14
15 | Chamber Chatter NEWS
ANNUAL BANQUET honoring
2013 Citizen of the Year Dick Yoder Tuesday, February 4, 2014 Cocktails - 5:30pm Dinner - 6:45pm N e w L o cat i o n The Desmond Hotel One Liberty Blvd., Malvern Ev e n t S p o ns o r
and the J. Dewees Mosteller Community Service Award Recipient
Friend Association for Care and Protection of Children Corporate Sponsorship - $1600
Full page ad in program | Premium seating for 10 Banner placement | Name recognition
Executive Sponsorship - $1200
Half page ad in program | Seating for 10 | Name recognition
Director Sponsorship - $550
Business Card ad in program | Seating for 4
Individual Seat - $90
Chamber Chatter NEWS
| 16
10 GRAND CLUB S AV E T H E D AT E Tickets on Sale NOw
Friday, April 25, 2014 7:00pm - 10:00 pm Penn Oaks Golf Club
G ran d Pr i z e of $10,000 Join us for an evening of food, fun, and chances! Over 50 other great prizes will be awarded throughout the night!
17 | Chamber Chatter NEWS
$200 per ticket (only 200 available) DO NOT HAVE TO BE PRESENT TO WIN $50 guest ticket (limit - 1 per $200 ticket)
Call us today to reserve a ticket
Chamber Chatter NEWS
| 18
PRSRT STD U.S. Postage
Greater West Chester Chamber of Commerce 119 North High Street West Chester, PA 19380
PAID
West Chester, PA Permit #177
If the groundhog sees his shadow we’ll know, there will be 6 more weeks of winter and snow. Has your marketing effort gone into hibernation? Make it your resolution to refresh your brand with Design6˚. We are group of creative professionals who offer a combination of strategy, design and web development services. If you’re looking to execute your projects with a fresh approach, on time and on budget–look no further.
New thinking for a brand new year | design6degrees.com | 610.844.9868