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The Voice of Vibrancy

August 2026 Vol. 2 Issue 8 The Butler County Heritage Bell stands at the Butler County Courthouse as a visual tribute to our region’s legacy for the America250 celebration. Featuring icons like Moraine State Park and the Bantam Jeep, the bell can be viewed through 2026; visit America250PAButler.org to see sculptures from across the Commonwealth.

In This Issue

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Letter from the President

Featured Nonprofit: BC3 Foundation

Featured Organization: Nonprofit Development Corporation

Featured Small Business: Print King

Cool People Doing Cool Things: Hannah Shannon

Member News PA Chamber Wins State Chamber of the Year US Rep honors BC3 BC3 expands dual enrollment Student Athletes earn national academic honors Green Cabbage CEO on SRU SRU receives gift for Finney Finance Lab PA State Triatholon Jason Kush invited to GRAMMY Awards SRU Repeats PSAC leaders Saxonburg Water Tank’s second life PA American Water Canvassing Independence Health System Hospitals Win recognition Excellence in Heart and Stroke care New Specialists in Butler

Member Spotlights Butler Tech, Inc. Cranberry Highlands Golf Course Butler County Police Department Butler Center for Performing Arts Butler County Emergency Services Ford Office Tech Center for Community Resources Texas Roadhouse, Butler Middlesex Towship Fenelton Firearms Weddings by Jeff Double Adecco Staffing Maher Duessel Salon 356

Letter From the President

There’s Just Something About Fall in Butler County There are plenty of reasons to love Butler County year-round, but I think we can all agree—there’s just something special about fall. As the temperatures begin to cool and the leaves transform our hillsides into shades of red, orange, and gold, Butler County becomes one of the most beautiful places anywhere in Western Pennsylvania. Whether you’re taking a drive through the countryside, exploring one of our parks, walking a local trail, or simply enjoying the view on your morning commute, sometimes it’s worth slowing down and appreciating just how fortunate we are to call this place home. And the scenery is only the beginning. Fall in Butler County means Friday night football, pumpkin patches, corn mazes, hayrides, haunted attractions, festivals, bonfires, farmers markets, and weekends spent outside. It means grabbing a locally brewed beer, finding the perfect fall meal at one of our restaurants, visiting a farm with the family, or spending an afternoon exploring one of our unique communities. It’s also a tremendous season to Look Local First. As you make your fall plans, I encourage you to support the businesses and organizations that make those experiences possible. Grab your morning coffee from a local shop. Meet friends at a locally owned restaurant or brewery. Visit one of our farms. Explore our main streets and business districts. Attend a community event. Buy that fall decoration or early holiday gift from a local retailer. Those seemingly small decisions add up. They support local jobs, families, entrepreneurs, nonprofits, and communities—and they help preserve the character that makes Butler County, Butler County. At the Chamber, we have the privilege of seeing every day just how much is happening throughout our county. Businesses are investing. Entrepreneurs are taking chances. Communities are creating new experiences. Organizations are finding new ways to serve. And people continue choosing Butler County as a place to live, work, build a business, raise a family, and create a future. So this fall, get out and enjoy it. Take the scenic route. Admire the foliage. Visit somewhere in Butler County you’ve never been before. Support a local business. Attend a festival. Make some memories with the people you care about. There is a lot to be proud of here—and there may be no better backdrop for experiencing it than fall in Butler County. As always, it remains an incredible honor to serve you and this community.

Jordan Grady President of the Butler County Chamber of Commerce

A Business Podcast from the Butler County Chamber of Commerce Butler County is one of Pennsylvania's fastest-growing counties and the number one county in the state for incoming private investment. The Ballad of Butler County brings you the stories behind that growth. Host Jordan Grady sits down with the entrepreneurs, executives, and community leaders who are shaping Butler County's future, one conversation at a time.

BC3 Education Foundation

Featured Nonprofit Butler County Community College Education Foundation: Community support impacts students seeking better future For more than 60 years, Butler County Community College (BC3) has been a place that attracts students of all ages to learn, grow, build careers and create a better future for themselves and for their families. Championing that place is a community of supporters that believe in the power of education and the impact it can have, not only on an individual student but on an entire community. The BC3 Education Foundation exists to help make that impact possible. Through scholarships, private philanthropy, corporate partnerships, community backing and programs that connect students with a variety of opportunities, the Foundation works to ensure that a BC3 education remains accessible —and impactful—and that BC3’s students have the resources they need to succeed.

Contributions from businesses and individuals through Pennsylvania’s Educational Improvement Tax Credit program are also impactful in helping to provide resources and experiences that prepare students for success inside and outside the classroom. When our community invests in BC3 students, it invests in the future -- in future business owners, in future health care professionals, in future educators and in the future leaders of our communities.

Foundation’s Work Centers on Students

At the heart of the BC3 Education Foundation’s work is BC3’s students. Each year, the Foundation helps to remove financial barriers that can stand between a student and a college education. Financial awards provide critical assistance to students pursuing degrees, certificates, workforce credentials and other opportunities at BC3. In the 2025-2026 academic year alone, the BC3 Education Foundation awarded to students more than $290,000 through a record 164 scholarships. But the Foundation’s impact begins before scholarships are awarded, before students arrive at the college. Through partnerships with school districts, BC3 is expanding access to dual-enrollment programming, allowing students as young as sophomores to earn college credit while still in high school. BC3’s programming gives them a head start on their education, helps to make college more affordable and provides an important connection between secondary education, higher education and the workforce.

BC3 Education Foundation at the Dr. Robert L. Paserba Teaching & Learning Lab Celebration

BC3, The Community’s College

The word “community” is at the heart of what BC3 represents. BC3’s main campus and additional locations serve as a community resource, providing spaces for events, educational programming, partners, meetings, cultural opportunities and networking. Our faculty and staff volunteer their expertise and time to organizations throughout the region, while our students bring their talents and energy into the communities where they live and work. The Foundation helps to strengthen those resources and those connections. A strong community college helps to create a strong community. When a student can access affordable education, local employers have access to a better-prepared workforce.

BC3 Education Foundation

When a student has opportunities to learn and engage, our communities become stronger. When businesses, nonprofits, alumni and community members invest in BC3, that support —that impact—comes full circle.

We’re Celebrating 60 Years of Pioneers

BC3 was established in 1965 as the first community college in western Pennsylvania. For more than six decades, BC3 has helped generations of students find their path forward. Some came to earn a degree and enter the workforce and some, to take the first step toward a four-year education. Others came to learn a new skill or to change careers. Whatever their path, they became part of BC3’s history. To celebrate that history and BC3’s impact, the BC3 Education Foundation has launched the BC3 Future Fund. With a fundraising goal of $6 million, the BC3 Future Fund is designed to support the next generation of Pioneers while strengthening BC3’s impact in its communities for years to come. The campaign prioritizes three critical areas: Student Experience, Community Experience and Workforce Innovation. We are preparing for the future so that BC3 continues to be a place where students want to learn, where our community wants to gather and where businesses want to partner. At the same time, our programs and resources must continue to evolve to meet the changing needs of employers and of the workforce. The BC3 Future Fund is about honoring our legacy while also preparing to impact generations to come.

To our greater community: thank you for continuing to believe in BC3. Whether you are a local business, nonprofit organization, community leader, alum, volunteer or simply someone who believes in the value of education, your partnership matters. Every time you choose to support BC3, welcome a student into your workplace, participate in a college event or open a door for a Pioneer, you are helping strengthen our community. And to our donors: thank you. Your generosity changes lives. A gift to the BC3 can be the difference between a student enrolling or waiting another year. A business partnership can provide a student with an opportunity to explore a career. A gift to the BC3 Future Fund can help provide investment for the future so that BC3 remains a vibrant, innovative, and accessible resource for generations to come. You are not simply giving to a college. You are investing in people, in opportunity, and in the future of our community. As we celebrate 60 years of Pioneers, we are incredibly grateful to everyone who has helped BC3 become what it is today, and to everyone who is helping us imagine what it can become tomorrow. Visit give.bc3.edu site to learn more about BC3’s plans for the next 60 years. Mikayla Moretti is executive director of the BC3 Education Foundation and external relations.

A Message of Gratitude from Mikayla Moretti, executive director of the BC3 Foundation As I prepare to enter my 10th year at BC3 and reflect on the journey, I am continually reminded that the story of this college is really the story of a community coming together. Thanks to the work and dedication of so many, BC3 continues to be a place where everyone is welcome. To our campus community: thank you for the passion, dedication and care you bring to BC3’s students every day. Our faculty and staff make BC3 more than a place to attend college. You make it a place where students feel supported, encouraged and capable of achieving more than they may have thought possible.

BC3 Student Ambassadors provide campus tours

Nonprofit Development Corporation

Featured Organization Building More Than Homes: Nonprofit Development Corporation Helps Veterans Build Their Next Chapter At Nonprofit Development Corporation (NDC), a small home can become a classroom, a workplace, and a starting point for something new. NDC’s microhome project is part of its Veterans Workforce Program, a partnership with the Butler VA’s Compensated Work Therapy program that gives veterans paid, hands-on experience in the construction trades. Some veterans arrive with construction experience, while others have never worked in the field. NDC meets them where they are, teaching the basics and helping them explore where those skills might lead. The partnership began around 2018, when Tim Morrison, who heads up the Compensated Work Therapy program at the VA, reached out to NDC after noticing the organization regularly had jobs posted. The VA saw veterans come through the program who had backgrounds as mechanics, welders, or other experience working with their hands, which led them to consider NDC. NDC and the VA decided to try placing a couple of the participants in construction, and the partnership grew from there.

Veterans Workforce Program participants work together as they make cuts to the flooring foundation panels.

“They come to work with us,” Christopher Lunn, CEO of NDC explained. “Some of them have a construction background, some of them don't. And we kind of work with them. We're going to teach you the basics of the construction trades.” The program has become more structured over the years. Veterans are paid for their work while learning on the job, and NDC works with them to develop construction skills and identify areas they may want to pursue further. That might mean taking classes through Butler County Community College (BC3), working toward a certificate, or exploring a specific trade such as HVAC or electrical. The goal is not simply to fill a position at NDC. The larger goal is to help veterans gain enough experience and confidence to move into their next opportunity, whether that means staying with NDC, going back to school, starting a business or taking a job somewhere else.

Members of the Veterans Workforce Program at NDC begin framing out the latest microhome project.

“Our major goal is that we can teach them and when they leave employment with us, it's for a better opportunity,” Chris said.

participant around 2018, an estimated 20 to 25 veterans have come through the program. The success rate is currently around 75 percent, meaning three-quarters of participants continue with their paid work assignment alongside their supportive services through the VA to build realworld job skills. When Chris first heard that number from Morrison, he did not immediately understand how significant it was.

By that measure, the program has been successful. Since NDC onboarded the first

“When Tim told me that I was like, ‘that's a C, that's not good,’” Chris said. Morrison explained

Nonprofit Development Corporation

practical way to put that support and training into action. NDC builds the homes from the ground up at its shop before they are delivered and installed. The homes come in different layouts, including one-story designs and models with lofts, and can be customized to some degree. For the veterans working on them, the homes provide an opportunity to see many parts of the construction process in one project. They can work on everything from the foundation and framing to electrical, plumbing, and other aspects of general contracting. Instead of learning an individual skill in isolation, they can follow a project through to completion and see what their work has produced. that the typical success rate of other programs is closer to 20 to 30 percent. For Chris, that put the number in a different perspective. The percentage rate suggests that veterans are finding enough support at NDC to stay engaged, learn new skills, and eventually move on to opportunities that may not have been available to them before. “Our Veterans Workforce Program is designed to be a transition,” Chris said. “If they stay, that's great.” But leaving for a better opportunity is also a success. “Most of them say, ‘I love it here at NDC, but I got this certificate and now I can go over here and maybe start a career in HVAC.’ And that's great.” That approach is closely tied to NDC’s idea of supportive employment. The first several months may come with challenges, and veterans may have appointments, court dates, or other responsibilities that could interfere with work. Rather than expecting those issues to disappear, NDC tries to help employees navigate them. The veterans also have a dedicated case manager through the VA, giving NDC another person to work with who has the veteran’s best interests in mind. “I think supportive employment is embracing the fact that you need to kind of circle the wagons around someone and help them succeed,” Chris said. “We want to get something out of you. We want to help grow you. But we also know you're dealing with stuff.” The microhome work that NDC makes available to individuals, local government entities, or other organizations give veterans a particularly

“They can see the finished product at the end of the process and have something concrete to really say, ‘I did that. I helped build that,’” Chris said. “And I think that helps build their confidence.” That commitment to veterans has also earned NDC recognition from the U.S. Department of Labor, which presented the organization with the Higher Vets Medallion Award in both 2024 and 2025. For Chris, the awards are meaningful because they recognize the organization's ongoing effort to support people who have served. “I think it highlights our commitments to the veterans who served us and fought for us,” he said. “And we want to make sure that we're making their lives as easy as we can.” NDC is still thinking about what the program could become. For years, Chris has had the idea of creating a small community of microhomes. The concept could eventually provide a housing option for people with disabilities who want to live independently, older adults who are downsizing, or others who would benefit from a smaller living space. The project is one NDC has talked about since building its first microhomes, and one that remains in the back of Chris’s mind as the workforce program continues to develop. For now, the microhomes are serving a more immediate purpose. They give veterans a place to learn, work and develop skills while producing something they can see taking shape in front of them. The home at the end of the project is one accomplishment. The confidence and experience a veteran takes with them when they leave may be another.

Print King, Inc.

Featured Small Business Print King, Inc.: Nearly 50 Years of Experience, Innovation, and Community For nearly five decades, Print King, Inc. has grown alongside the printing industry, adapting to changing technology, evolving customer needs, and more than a few unexpected challenges along the way. Founded in 1979 by Don Williams, Instant Print King began as an instant print shop in Harmony, PA. What started as a small print operation eventually grew into a commercial printing business, expanded to a second location in Cranberry Township, and ultimately became the full-service printing, finishing, large-format graphics, and mailing operation it is today as Print King, Inc. The company’s history is one of steady evolution, but it is also a story of resilience. Through major changes in technology, relocations, unexpected setbacks, a changing workforce, and an increasingly automated industry, Print King has remained grounded in the same fundamentals: quality work, knowledgeable people, dependable service, and lasting relationships with the customers and businesses it serves.

From Press Operator to Owner

Rick Morgan joined Print King in 1993 with the goal of improving and helping run the business for Don Williams. His experience in the printing industry, however, began much earlier. As a teenager, Rick worked as a press operator, gaining firsthand experience with the craftsmanship, precision, and production skills that defined commercial printing for decades. He eventually moved into sales and management positions, developing an understanding of the industry from both the production and customer sides. That combination of hands-on production knowledge and business experience became an important part of Print King’s growth. In 2000, Rick purchased Print King and began the next chapter of its story. Under Rick’s ownership, Print King continued expanding beyond its origins as an instant print shop. Traditional offset printing was joined by digital production, automated finishing, mailing, large-format graphics, and technology designed to make the entire process more efficient for customers.

A Lightning Strike, a Move and a Christmas Eve Flood

One of the most challenging periods in Print King’s history came in 2012.Before the company had even purchased its future Evans City property, lightning struck the Print King building in Cranberry Township. The strike destroyed the company’s large offset press and damaged other production equipment. It was a significant setback for the company, but Print King continued moving forward. Print King purchased property in Evans City from long-standing customer NexTier Bank, creating an opportunity to relocate its production operation and build a new chapter for the business. Production was moved to the Evans City location just before Christmas 2012. Customer service, however, remained in Cranberry. Then, on Christmas Eve, the Cranberry building experienced a flood. While the timing was certainly not ideal, circumstances created an unexpected solution. Because production had already moved to Evans City, the former production area in Cranberry Township was available. Print King was able to move customer service into that space while the water-damaged portion of the building was repaired. Eventually, the company completed its transition to Evans City, where Print King is located today. The combination of a lightning strike, the loss of major equipment, a relocation, and a flood could have brought a small business to a standstill. Instead, Print King adapted to each challenge and kept moving forward.

Rick Morgan, owner of Print King.

Print King, Inc.

Growing With a Changing Industry

The printing industry of 1979 looked very different from the industry Print King operates in today. For many years, commercial printing was dominated by offset presses and a highly hands-on production process. Preparing, running, and finishing a printed piece required extensive knowledge, skill, and craftsmanship. Over time, digital technology transformed the way print is produced. Print King’s employees have experienced that transformation firsthand. Many began their careers operating traditional printing presses and later adapted their skills to new technologies, while others joined the company during different stages of its evolution. Randy Kaelin joined Print King as a press operator in 1986. As the industry moved increasingly toward digital production, Randy embraced the change and continued developing his skills. His willingness to learn and adapt eventually led him into his current role in digital production. Brian Marriner joined Print King in 1987, also beginning his career as a press operator. As the company’s needs evolved, so did Brian’s role. He eventually transitioned into customer service and embraced the mailing side of the business, helping Print King expand and develop its mailing services into an important part of the company’s operation. Tim Graff joined Print King in 1998 as a digital production employee. Over the years, Tim expanded his knowledge beyond production and developed extensive experience in the finishing department. His familiarity with the entire production process has also made him a go-to resource for sales, helping customers find practical solutions for their projects. Sarah Morgan’s path into the business was different. She started at Print King while still in high school, initially working strictly as an estimator. Over the years, her responsibilities

expanded as she gained experience throughout the company. Her role eventually grew to include estimating, customer service, graphics, production, and many of the day-to-day functions involved in serving customers and supporting the company’s operations. Together, the team represents several generations of experience and multiple stages of the printing industry’s evolution. Their individual paths also reflect something that has become an important part of Print King’s culture: employees are encouraged to grow with the business, learn new skills, and adapt as the needs of the company change.

Experience and Technology Working Together

That adaptability has allowed Print King to continue growing while operating with a much smaller team. At one point, the company had more than 15 employees. Today, a tight-knit team of six handles the company’s operations. Modern equipment, automation, and improved workflows have made it possible for a smaller group of experienced employees to work more efficiently while maintaining the quality and attention to detail customers expect from Print King. For Print King, automation has never been about replacing the personnel side of the business. It is about giving experienced people better tools. Automated finishing equipment provides precision when cutting, folding, scoring, perforating printed materials. Digital production and modern workflow systems help projects move more efficiently from file to finished product. The result is a combination of technology and experience: equipment that can perform increasingly sophisticated tasks, operated by people who understand not only how to run it, but why the finished product needs to be right. That philosophy became particularly important during the COVID-19 pandemic. In December 2019, just a few months before the world shut down, Print King invested in new equipment with greater automation. When the pandemic arrived in March 2020, businesses everywhere were forced to reconsider how they operated. Print King eventually went from a team of nine employees to six. The company’s investment in technology helped make it possible for a smaller team to continue handling the work efficiently while navigating an unprecedented period of time. Today, technology allows Print King’s experienced employees to spend less time on repetitive processes and more time communicating with customers, managing projects, and making sure

Print King’s employees: Randy Kaelin, Rick Morgan, Brian Marriner, Tim Graff, and Sarah Morgan.

Print King, Inc.

each job is completed to the highest standard.

More Than a Print Shop

As Print King evolved, so have the needs of our customers. The company has grown from its beginnings as an instant print shop into a full commercial printing operation capable of handling projects ranging from business cards, brochures, flyers, postcards, and business forms to signs, banners, displays, vehicle graphics, window graphics, and other large-format work. The mailing operation has also become an increasingly important part of the business. Print King operates a fully equipped mail house, allowing customers to manage printing and mailing through one local partner. Services can include variable data printing, addressing, inserting, sorting, postage optimization, and delivery to the Postal Service. For businesses and organizations sending direct-mail campaigns, fundraising appeals, statements, invoices, membership communications, or other largevolume mailings, having one company manage the process from printing through mailing can simplify the project and reduce the number of vendors involved. Print King has also embraced technology that makes working with a print provider easier. The online ordering system allows customers to upload files, place orders, review proofs, and track projects from virtually anywhere. Custom online portals can also be created for organizations with recurring projects, helping simplify reordering and maintain consistency. These capabilities reflect the way Print King has evolved over the past several decades: continually adding new tools and services as technology and customer expectations change, while maintaining the personal service that comes from working with a local company.

Growing Alongside the Community

Although Print King’s capabilities have expanded well beyond its beginnings, the company has remained rooted in the local business community. Today, Print King works with businesses and organizations throughout Butler County and the surrounding area. Some customer relationships have developed over many years, reflecting the long-term nature of doing business as a locally owned company. The company has also supported local organizations through both its services and community sponsorships. Print King has maintained a longstanding relationship with The Lighthouse

Foundation and regularly serves as a print sponsor for events including its gala and golf outing. Each year, the company also holds an annual toy drive benefiting The Lighthouse Foundation Toy Shoppe, helping local families provide Christmas gifts for their children. Print King also supported the Butler County Chamber of Commerce as a tee sign sponsor for its golf outing. For Print King, being part of the local community has often meant using the resources and skills the company already has to support organizations doing important work.

Nearly 50 Years — and Still Evolving

Looking back at Print King’s history, the company’s evolution is easy to see. A business that began in 1979 as an instant print shop has grown into a commercial printing operation, mail house, and provider of digital and large-format graphics. It has expanded from Harmony to Cranberry Township and ultimately Evans City. It has survived the loss of major equipment to a lightning strike, a flood on Christmas Eve, the transformation from offset printing to digital technology, and the unprecedented challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic. It has gone from a company with more than 15 employees to a sixperson team capable of accomplishing more through experience, technology, and automation. And throughout those changes, the people behind Print King have continued to evolve along with the business. Press operators learned digital production. Production employees expanded their knowledge into finishing and sales. Employees moved from the pressroom into customer service and mailing. A new generation of the family became involved in the company. The equipment has changed. The processes have changed. The locations have changed. Even the size of the team has changed. But the fundamental idea behind the business has remained the same: Serve customers well. Produce quality work. Adapt to what comes next. Nearly 50 years after Print King first opened its doors, the company continues to invest in its people, equipment, technology, and relationships. The printing industry will undoubtedly continue to change. So will the needs of the businesses and organizations Print King serves. If the company’s history is any indication, Print King will continue to evolve — carrying nearly five decades of experience into whatever comes next, while remaining the kind of local business its customers can count on.

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Hannah Shannon at NexTier Bank

Cool People Doing Cool Things Meet Hannah Shannon, Human Resources Officer at NexTier Bank and Vice President of Butler Downtown I have always had a heart for volunteering and giving back to my community. My volunteer experience began while I was in high school and volunteered at the Butler VA. While attending Butler County Community College, I worked for a local farm market and attended farmers markets. At the time, I did not realize how valuable that experience would become, but it gave me an early introduction to working with vendors and community events. After graduating from BC3, I began my career at NexTier Bank as a Bank Teller and eventually became a Branch Supervisor at the Saxonburg office. While working in Saxonburg, I found myself wanting to become involved in volunteering again. My grandfather-in-law was a previous member of the Saxonburg Historical and Restoration Commission and helped plan the Saxonburg Festival of the Arts for many years. When the organization was looking for new volunteers, it seemed like a perfect opportunity. I served on the organization’s Board of Directors from 2014 through 2018, spending three years as Vendor Coordinator for the Saxonburg Festival of the Arts. In 2019, my career brought me to Butler, and I once again began looking for ways to get involved. While participating in Leadership Butler County’s Class of 2020/2021, my classmate approached me about joining Butler Downtown. I joined the Board of Directors in 2020 and have been involved ever since. Butler Downtown is a nonprofit organization made up of volunteers who work to restore and revitalize the Main Street corridor of the City of Butler. During my time on the Board, I have had the opportunity to serve as Secretary for the past three years, as Vice President this year, and I will serve as President next year. One of my main focuses has been finding ways to increase foot traffic along Main Street by creating and growing events that bring people downtown. In 2023, we created Sips in the City, a winery, brewery and distillery walk held along Main Street each May that brings 300 ticket holders into participating businesses to sample and purchase their products. In 2025, we also introduced the Butler Downtown Holiday Market

Hannah Shannon, HR officer, NexTier Bank

featuring craft vendors, food trucks and holiday activities in Diamond Park. The event will return in December 2026. I am also proud of the many community projects I have been able to be part of through Butler Downtown. These include updating and hanging the snowflake lights along Main Street, raising funds with the Butler AM Rotary for the Bantam Jeep sculpture on North Main Street, providing meals to Butler Memorial Hospital during COVID, and bringing flower pots back to Main Street this year. One event has become especially important to me, Foodie Fridays. Butler Downtown has hosted Foodie Fridays on the third Friday of each month from May through August since at least 2019. When I became the Vendor Coordinator in 2021, our busiest month had 13 vendors. This year we expanded the event to include 25 food trucks, 15 craft vendors and live music each month, selling out our available vendor spaces and maintaining a waiting list. My work as Vendor Coordinator begins long before event day. I send and receive applications, track vendors, fill gaps in our lineup, plan the layout, book live music, advertise Foodie Fridays and communicate with the participating vendors. On event day, I help coordinate setup, fit everyone into our assigned spaces, troubleshoot problems and work throughout the evening to make sure everything runs as smoothly as possible.

Hannah Shannon at NexTier Bank

But I certainly do not do it alone. Foodie Fridays would not be possible without the volunteers on Butler Downtown’s Board of Directors and our Organization and Promotions Committees. They are there alongside me every month, no matter the weather, making sure our vendors and visitors have a successful evening. What makes me most proud is not simply how large Foodie Fridays has become. It is seeing Main Street filled with people. We encourage attendees to walk downtown, shop in our unique stores, visit our restaurants and discover everything our city has to offer. Every penny Butler Downtown receives from the minimal vendor fees goes back into the event and our continued efforts to revitalize Main Street. For me, volunteering has always been about giving my time to something I believe in. There is something incredibly rewarding about standing downtown during a busy Foodie Friday, seeing Main Street full of people, and knowing that a group of dedicated volunteers made it happen.

Hannah Shannon with collegues outside of NexTier Bank

I am proud to be part of Butler Downtown and proud of what we have accomplished together. For anyone who shares a passion for volunteering or an appreciation for downtown Butler, reach out to Butler Downtown, we would love to tell you more about our organization. We are always looking for helping hands and new faces to get involved!

Hannah Shannon with collegues on Butler Main Street

Member News

Member News PA Chamber wins 2026 'State Chamber of the Year' recognition By Ian Thompson, originally published on Harrisburg FOX 43, August 11, 2026

Pennsylvania's business community is being recognized on the national stage. The National Association of State Chambers (NASC) named the Pennsylvania Chamber of Business and Industry as the 2026 State Chamber of the Year, according to the association. The award recognizes state chambers of commerce which distinguish themselves through "exceptional member services, innovative leadership, public policy advocacy, and outstanding results," NASC officials said in a release. "This is a tremendous honor for our team and the more than 13,000 member businesses across the Commonwealth who power our mission," PA Chamber President & CEO Luke Bernstein said in a statement Tuesday. "We are incredibly proud to be recognized on the national stage, and grateful to our dedicated members, partners, and leaders across the Commonwealth who have helped make this work possible." The Chamber's nomination was supported by Pennsylvania lawmakers, including Gov. Josh Shapiro, Sen. Dave McCormick and Sen. John Feterman, who celebrated the nomination last month in a series of video endorsements.

PA Chamber of Business and Industry

PA Chamber officials said the organization has produced results for employers and the Commonwealth's economy, by advancing tax reforms, permitting improvements, expanding workforce opportunities and building a stronger climate for businesses. “The State Chamber of the Year award reflects what we can accomplish when Pennsylvania’s business community comes together with a shared vision for a stronger, more competitive state. I am so proud of our entire team for their tireless efforts and dedication in making this happen," Bernstein added.

Member News

U.S. rep honors Butler County Community College (BC3) for 6 decades of impact U.S. Rep. Mike Kelly stepped onto Butler County Community College’s main campus July 30 with a framed certificate recognizing six decades of education, service and workforce development. The certificate, presented to BC3 President Megan M. Coval, marked the college’s 60th anniversary. Founded in 1965 as the first community college in western Pennsylvania, BC3 now serves students at its main campus and additional locations in Butler and Lawrence counties. But Kelly’s visit was more than a ceremony. After presenting the recognition, he toured facilities that illustrate how BC3 serves the community, from a radiologic technology lab under construction to a simulated elementary school classroom and a three-story burn building used to train firefighters. “Every time we come here we see the value that’s been added to our community,” Kelly said. “This has been done the right way. I think it’s the model.”

U.S. Rep. Mike Kelly, R-16, center, talks with BC3 President Megan M. Coval, right, on Thursday, July 30, 2026, during Kelly’s tour of main campus in Butler Township.

The tour also gave Kelly a look at projects planned through the BC3 Future Fund, the college’s first major fundraising campaign in more than a decade. The campaign aims to raise $6 million for student experiences, community spaces and workforce innovation. Nearly 350 donors have pledged or contributed $3 million during the campaign’s first year, according to Mikayla Moretti, executive director of the BC3 Education Foundation and external relations. Among the planned improvements are a pavilion at the Student Success Center and the proposed Glenn T. Miller Welcome Center, named for the longtime BC3 trustee who died in January. For Coval, the tour offered a chance to show Kelly the breadth of BC3’s work. “He was able to see in that tour the variety of ways and the endless ways that we serve our community,” Coval said. Kelly said BC3’s success coms down to leadership and the people working together toward a common goal. “It’s leadership,” he said. “We’ve had tremendous leadership here.” Read the full press release at BC3.edu.

U.S. Rep. Mike Kelly, R-16 acknowledged the college’s recent 60th anniversary and its impact by presenting a certificate of special congressional recognition. From left, BC3 employees Kierra Archibald, event management and community programs administrative assistant; Amanda Fleming, executive assistant and coordinator of board services; Kelly; Megan M. Coval, president; Dr. Belinda Richardson, provost and vice president for academic affairs; and Dr. Josh Novak, vice president for student affairs and enrollment management.

Member News

Butler County Community College dual-enrollment program expands For some Butler County high school students, college can begin before they ever graduate. This fall, sophomores through seniors at Freeport, Knoch and Moniteau high schools can earn three college credits through Butler County Community College’s College Within the High School program for $225 per course.

BC3 also will offer its sixth Early College Pioneers program this fall, allowing eligible Butler Senior High seniors to earn 14 BC3 credits for free. A new health care pathways program also will give eligible Butler County seniors the opportunity to earn free credits toward health care careers. Find out more and read the press release at BC3.edu.

The program, which has been offered for 29 years, is expanding to the three schools after adding Slippery Rock High last fall. It also is available at Butler, Karns City, Mars, Portersville Christian and Seneca Valley. Knoch High Principal Kurt Reiser said the cost gives students an affordable way to get a head start. “For our kids to be able to get college-level credits at that tuition rate is just outstanding,” Reiser said. Knoch students can choose from college algebra, college writing, introduction to digital photography and principles of economics-macro approach. Freeport students can take general psychology or principles of sociology, while Moniteau students can choose general psychology or speech. The program is open to sophomores through seniors with a minimum 2.75 GPA. Courses are taught during the regular school day, and BC3 credits can transfer to public, private and online four-year colleges and universities. The numbers show how many students are already taking advantage of the opportunity. An average of 576 students earned 5,361 BC3 credits through the program during the fall 2025 and spring 2026 semesters.

From left, Jackson Froilan, Alaina Daily and Amelia Turner are shown Monday, Aug. 25, 2025, in a speech class on Butler County Community College’s main campus in Butler Township. The Butler Senior High School seniors were enrolled in BC3’s yearlong Early College Pioneers program. Froilan, Daily and Turner earned BC3 president’s list honors for having attained a grade-point average of at least 3.75 following the spring semester.

“It is imperative nationally … that students who aspire to go to college leave high school with some real tangible experiences,” said Dr. Josh Novak, BC3’s vice president for student affairs and enrollment management. Students interested in the program should contact their guidance counselor or principal. Registration deadlines vary by school district.

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Bulter County Community College (BC3) student-athletes earn national academic honors Taylor Voloch knows what it takes to excel on the golf course. Over the past two years, she has shown she can do the same in the classroom. The BC3 All-American and May graduate has been named to the National Junior College Athletic Association’s 2025-2026 all-academic team, marking her second consecutive selection. Voloch, who earned an associate degree in psychology, is among 11 BC3 student-athletes in the past five years to earn the national honor in consecutive years. Voloch is joined on this year’s team by fellow BC3 student-athletes Leah McClellan, a women’s golfer, and Maeggie Wysocki, a volleyball player. Each earned at least a 3.6 grade-point average. The honors add another chapter to Voloch’s BC3 career. She was named an All-American in 2025 after graduating from Moniteau High School. BC3’s volleyball team also received a 2025-2026 NJCAA academic award for maintaining a cumulative team GPA of at least 3.0. Voloch’s back-to-back academic selections place her among a growing group of BC3 studentathletes who have combined athletic achievement with academic success. The group includes former All-Americans Zoey Hillwig, Morgan Jack, Liam Kosior, Brooke Manuel, Amber Maurer, Aslyn Pry, Austin Rodgers, Lexie Ruckdeschel, Taylor Schultz and Jozee Weaver.

Leah McClellan, a player on the Butler County Community College women’s golf team, has been named to the 2025-2026 National Junior College Athletic Association all-academic team, whose selections must have earned a grade-point average of at least 3.6. McClellan is shown Friday, Sept. 19, 2025, at Lake Arthur Golf Club near Butler.

For Voloch, the latest honor is a fitting finish to a BC3 career defined by achievement both on and off the course.

Taylor Voloch, a player on the Butler County Community College women’s golf team for two years and a National Junior College Athletic Association Division III All-American in 2025, has been named for a second consecutive year to the NJCAA all-academic team, whose selections must have earned a gradepoint average of at least 3.6. Voloch is shown Tuesday, April 21, 2026, at Lake Arthur Golf Club near Butler.

Member News

CEO Eric Cunningham ’97 building Green Cabbage on Rock Solid foundation By Justin Zackal, originally published on news.SRU.edu on July 24 Procurement intelligence is the type of service that Eric Cunningham’s company provides, but to him it is a proving ground for resilient competitors and collaborative achievers. “There’s a lot of synergies between sport and business,” said Cunningham, ’97, a Slippery Rock University graduate who earned his degree in sport management before entering the field of technology sales. “We don’t call it going to work every day. This is our sport. I treat this like I’m the general manager or the head coach and we all know what we have to do to prepare every day, to get better every day, to win every day. That’s the kind of culture that we have here.” Eric Cunningham stands in a dark blue blazer and white dress shirt in front of a green "GREEN CABBAGE" sign. As the CEO and founder of the Green Cabbage, an international procurement intelligence company, Eric Cunningham was positioned for success thanks to the knowledge and network he gained at SRU. Cunningham is the CEO and founder of Green Cabbage, which serves more than 2,600 organizations all over the world using agentic AI to accelerate and facilitate better deal outcomes, strengthen supplier negotiations and help clients make smarter procurement decisions. Headquartered in Cranberry Township near Pittsburgh, Green Cabbage has offices in India, Singapore, London and will soon expand to Mexico City. Dozens of the 200 employees at Green Cabbage are former college athletes, including Cunningham who played football at The Rock. But that’s not the only recipe to Green Cabbage’s success with ingredients sourced from SRU. Cunningham credits the knowledge, network and social skills that he gained at The Rock to prepare him to lead an emerging international company. “Some of my first phone calls every day are from people that I went to Slippery Rock with, and my last phone calls are people I went to Slippery Rock with,” Cunningham said. “I walked away with a lot of lifelong friendships, but a network, too. That helped me grow my business.”

As the CEO and founder of the Green Cabbage, an international procurement intelligence company, Eric Cunningham was positioned for success thanks to the knowledge and network he gained at SRU.

Cunningham gives back to SRU as part of what he calls a “circle of life,” one where today’s alumni recognize they were once supported by others and feel a responsibility to pay that forward. His story highlights how the University’s growth (its facilities, programs and opportunities) exists because generations of supporters chose to invest in students they would never meet. Now, he sees giving back not just as generosity, but as a shared obligation to ensure future students have the same opportunities he did. “Slippery Rock gave me a lot, so I feel responsible to give it back,” Cunningham said. “Somebody was there to donate to help build these buildings, or (provide resources to start a) new track within the curriculum. I just think that if people are in that position, they should give back. Even a little bit helps a lot and it’s not always about money. There are other ways to give back.” Making those daily phone calls and strengthening the SRU network while helping others win at the game of life is also part of giving back. “At our company, we’ve people who went to Stanford, Wharton School of Business, Harvard and all these Ivy League schools,” Cunningham said. “I’m proud to say that I went to Slippery Rock University.”

Member News

Slippery Rock University receives $500,000 gift to launch Finney Finance Lab By Justin Zackal, originally published on news.SRU.edu on August 4 Slippery Rock University students in the Haverlack College of Business will soon gain hands-on experience with the same financial systems used on Wall Street, thanks to a $500,000 gift from alumni Joe and Pam Finney to establish the Finney Finance Lab.

continues to earn recognition from U.S. News & World Report for academic quality and student outcomes.

The lab will feature Bloomberg Terminal workstations, the industry standard for realtime financial data, analytics and trading. The addition will give SRU students direct access to the tools used by investment banks, asset managers and corporate finance teams worldwide. “Slippery Rock gave me everything, my career, my direction and my wife of 39 years,” said Joe Finney ’86, whose wife, Pam ’86, is also an SRU alumnus. “This lab is our way of giving back and making sure the next generation of students walks into their first job interview ready to compete with anyone, from anywhere.” Access to Bloomberg Terminals is typically limited to top-tier business programs, positioning SRU among a select group of regional universities offering this level of professional exposure. The lab will support coursework across finance, economics, accounting and business analytics, while also enabling students to earn Bloomberg Market Concepts certification and participate in global trading competitions. The investment further strengthens the Haverlack College of Business as a destination for students seeking career-ready, experiential learning.

“We are deeply grateful to Joe and Pam Finney for this extraordinary investment in our students and in the future of the Haverlack College of Business,” said Prasad Vemala, dean of SRU’s Haverlack College of Business. “The Finney Finance Lab will provide hands-on access to industry-standard tools, strengthen our commitment to career-ready education and help our students build the confidence, skills and experience needed to succeed in an increasingly competitive financial world.” “This gift is a powerful investment in our students and a clear signal of where SRU is headed,” said SRU President Karen Riley. “The Finneys’ generosity will create new opportunities for handson learning, strengthen our ability to recruit top students and further connect our graduates to careers in the global economy.” Beyond classroom use, the Finney Finance Lab is expected to serve as a hub for student-led investment activities, faculty research , and career development programming. The space will reinforce SRU’s focus on experiential, career-ready education. The Finney Finance Lab, which will be located in the Eisenberg Classroom Room Building, is expected to open in fall 2026. It will provide students with a direct pathway from classroom learning to careers in finance. A native of Crawford County, Pennsylvania, and a Tampa, Florida, resident, Joe Finney is the CEO of T3 Services Group. He has led companies in services, retail, and distribution across a 40-year career as a business executive.

The gift comes at a time of strong institutional momentum for SRU. The University recently recorded its highest first-to-second-year retention rate in a decade at 86.4%, the best in Pennsylvania’s State System of Higher Education in the last decade. SRU also reported its highest four-year graduation rate (58.3%) in 20 years. The Haverlack College of Business holds AACSB accreditation, placing it among fewer than 6% of business schools worldwide, and SRU

1986 SRU alumni Joe and Pam Finney support their alma mater by funding scholarships, attending campus alumni engagements and their latest contributing, a $500,000 gift to establish the Finney Finance Lab.

Member News

Moraine State Park puts Butler County in the spotlight for Pennsylvania State Triathlon Championships For two days in August, athletes from across Pennsylvania traded the roads and trails of Butler County for a swim, bike, and run through Moraine State Park. The Pennsylvania State Triathlon Championships took place Aug. 15 and 16 at Moraine State Park in Portersville, bringing athletes of all ages and skill levels to the region for the Fall Mighty Moraine. Hosted by EBC partner Get Fit Families, the event gave competitors a chance to race for a state championship and a pathway toward the USA Triathlon National Championships. But the weekend was about more than competition. It also gave Butler County a chance to show off the scenery, communities and hospitality that make the area a destination for visitors. "This event is the perfect opportunity to introduce Butler County to new people,” said EBC President Amy Pack. “We hope it inspires them to return and vacation in our beautiful county beyond race weekend.” The Fall Mighty Moraine is part of Get Fit Families’ annual Mighty Moraine Multi-Sport series, which includes events in the spring and fall. Race Director Joella Baker said athletes leave with an appreciation for the area, from Moraine’s waters and countryside to its communities and local hospitality. Hosting the state championships also brought visitors to Butler County businesses while strengthening the region’s reputation as a destination for endurance sports, Baker said.

Photo credit: Mainline Photography.

Member News

Jason Kush invited to join GRAMMY Awards Recording Academy By Justin Zackal, originally published on News.SRU.edu on July 22 A Slippery Rock University professor accepted an invitation to join one of the music industry’s most prestigious professional organizations. Jason Kush, an SRU professor of music, is among more than 4,000 music creators, performers, producers, engineers and industry professionals worldwide invited to become Class of 2026 members of the Recording Academy, the organization behind the GRAMMY Awards. The annual invitation recognizes established professionals who have made significant contributions to the music industry and offers them the opportunity to participate in the academy’s mission of supporting music creators, advancing the profession and shaping the future of recorded music.

SRU music professor Jason Kush, who is the director of the University's jazz ensemble, is the newest member of the Recording Academy, the organization behind the Grammy Awards.

“It’s an honor to be part of the GRAMMY institution,” said Kush, who accepted the invitation. “I’m grateful for the opportunity to make connections in the music industry while using my unique voice to uplift a diverse array of music in various ways.” Membership in the Recording Academy provides access to professional development, mentorship and networking opportunities while giving eligible voting members the ability to help determine GRAMMY Award nominees and winners. Members also contribute to advocacy efforts that support music creators’ rights, participate in professional communities for songwriters, composers, producers and engineers, and help guide the academy’s leadership and initiatives. Kush teaches saxophone and improvisation at SRU and directs the University’s Jazz Ensemble, among other music groups as the Music Department’s performance program coordinator. In addition to teaching, he maintains an active professional career as a saxophonist with experience that brings current industry practices into the classroom. The Recording Academy represents approximately 30,000 music professionals and serves the global music community by promoting creators’ rights, providing professional resources and celebrating artistic achievement through the annual GRAMMY Awards.

Member News

Slippery Rock University Repeats as PSAC leader in academic success

By Jon Holtz, Athletic Communication, originally published on RockAthletics.com on July 3 Slippery Rock University led all institutions in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference with seven Team GPA Awards and SRU studentathletes recorded the highest overall cumulative GPA in the conference in 2025-26 according to an announcement from the league office Friday. Slippery Rock student-athletes posted the highest average GPA among all 17 institutions in the PSAC for the second straight year with an average GPA of 3.528, which was a slight increase from 3.489 following the 2024-25 academic year.

SRU had a school record 323 student-athletes, 64 percent of its total number of athletes, recognized earlier this week as PSAC ScholarAthletes for owning a cumulative GPA of 3.25 or higher. Slippery Rock finished the year with 14 of its 15 teams owning a cumulative GPA above the league average for their respective sport.

The seven Slippery Rock teams that recorded the highest GPA in their respective sports were football (3.126), men's soccer (3.563), women's lacrosse (3.664), women's tennis (3.832), men's track & field (3.369), women's track & field (3.621) and volleyball (3.711). East Stroudsburg and Gannon each had four Team GPA Award winners to rank second behind SRU in the total number of Team GPA Awards. The women's lacrosse team and men's track & field team have now won five consecutive PSAC Team GPA Awards after also leading the league in 2021-22, 2022-23, 2023-24 and 2024-25. Slippery Rock saw all 15 of its teams (indoor and outdoor track & field are combined for these purposes) record a GPA above 3.00 for the second straight academic year. The Rock were one of only five institutions in the PSAC to have all their athletic teams above a 3.00 in 2025-26, joining East Stroudsburg, Edinboro, Kutztown and Mansfield. The SRU women's tennis team posted the highest GPA of all Rock teams in 2025-26 and had the highest overall team GPA of any team in any sport in the PSAC with a 3.832 GPA. A total of 10 Slippery Rock teams recorded a GPA of 3.50 or above and three teams recorded a GPA of 3.70 or above. In addition to women's tennis (3.832), both women's soccer (3.758) and women's volleyball (3.711) had GPAs above 3.70. 13 of The Rock's 15 teams ranked in the top five in their respective sport and 12 of the 15 teams increased their GPA from a year ago.

Slippery Rock University student-athletes recorded the highest average GPA among all athletes in the PSAC for the second year in a row and The Rock led all schools in the conference with a total of seven PSAC Team GPA Awards in 2025-26.

Member News

A New Chapter for Saxonburg’s Water Storage Tank High above Saxonburg, a familiar landmark is about to get a much-needed refresh. The 250,000-gallon elevated water storage tank on the Saxonburg Borough municipal building property has been serving the community for decades. Now, Pennsylvania American Water is beginning a rehabilitation project designed to help this important piece of infrastructure continue doing its job for years to come.

to start the week of August 3. Work is expected to take place Monday through Saturday, from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., with completion anticipated by the end of October. For customers, there is some especially good news: Pennsylvania American Water expects the rehabilitation work to take place without disrupting water service.

The $416,300 project is part of Pennsylvania American Water’s $17.8 million statewide investment in water storage tank improvements. Crews will thoroughly rehabilitate the tank by abrasive blasting and recoating both its interior and exterior. They will also evaluate and rehabilitate the tank’s structural supports. The tank was last rehabilitated approximately 25 years ago. As part of the work, it will receive a fresh visual identity too. Along with the Pennsylvania American Water logo, the word “Saxonburg” will be added to the side of the elevated tank, giving the community a new way to recognize this essential piece of its water system.

Investing in reliability

Water storage tanks may not be something most people think about during their daily routines, but they play an important role every time a faucet is turned on, a shower starts or a fire hydrant is needed. “Maintaining and rehabilitating water storage tanks, like this one in Saxonburg, is an efficient and cost-effective method to extend the life of critical infrastructure,” said Jake Gentile, senior director of operations for Pennsylvania American Water. The improvements will help Pennsylvania American Water maintain consistent water pressure, support fire protection and protect water quality while ensuring the system can continue meeting customer demand.

Workers from Clearcreek Coatings work on rehabilitating Saxonburg's water storage tower on behalf of Pennsylvania American Water on Wednesday, Aug. 12. William Pitts/Butler Eagle

Part of a bigger investment in Butler County The Saxonburg project is one piece of a larger effort to strengthen the region’s water infrastructure. This spring, Pennsylvania American Water completed rehabilitation work on its 250,000gallon West End storage tank in Butler Township. That project represented an $830,000 investment in maintaining safe and reliable water service for customers throughout central Butler County. “Water storage tanks play a key role in delivering the service our customers depend on every day,” said Tony Nokovich, vice president of engineering at Pennsylvania American Water. “These improvements help maintain consistent pressure, support fire protection and ensure we can meet customer demand, both today and into the future.”

Equipment staging for the project has already begun, with construction scheduled

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Building more than infrastructure

Projects like the Saxonburg tank rehabilitation do more than maintain pipes, tanks and other physical infrastructure. They also represent an investment in the communities those systems serve. Water infrastructure projects support public health and safety while creating jobs and contributing to local and regional economic activity. Research shows that every $1 million invested in water infrastructure can generate upwards of 10 jobs throughout the economy. In 2025 alone, Pennsylvania American Water invested approximately $722 million in water and wastewater treatment and pipeline systems across the state, supporting more than 7,220 jobs. The company’s 2026 tank rehabilitation and construction projects are expected to support more than 178 jobs. For Saxonburg, the work underway this summer is about preparing a familiar landmark for the future. Behind the fresh coating and new lettering will be a stronger, more reliable storage tank, quietly helping make sure the community has dependable water service for years to come.

Member News

A Knock at your Door Could Help Protect Your Drinking Water A knock at the door in Butler County could be part of an important effort to protect local drinking water. Pennsylvania American Water is going door to door throughout its Butler service area to identify the material used in customers’ water service lines. The outreach, which began in May, is currently underway in the City of Butler and Butler and Penn townships. It will eventually reach nearly 5,500 customers across 17 municipalities. The goal is simple but important: find out what each service line is made of. A service line is the pipe connecting a home or business to the water main in the street. Pennsylvania American Water typically owns the portion from the main to the curb stop, while the property owner owns the section from the curb stop into the building. That makes customer participation an important part of the process. If a line is identified as lead or galvanized steel, Pennsylvania American Water will work with the customer to replace it at no direct cost. “Our goal is to catalog the material type of customers’ service lines to help safeguard the quality of water for our customers,” said Jim Runzer, vice president of operations for Pennsylvania American Water.

Why does this matter?

In Butler County, about 5,500 customer water service lines have not yet been identified. Knowing what those lines are made of helps Pennsylvania American Water determine where replacements may be needed and supports efforts to reduce potential exposure to lead in drinking water. The work is part of Pennsylvania American Water’s lead service line replacement program and supports the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Lead and Copper Rule Improvements, which require water utilities to identify and make public the materials used in both utility-owned and customer-owned service lines. The effort is already making progress statewide. More than 50,000 service lines have been identified, and more than 3,400 customer-owned lead lines have been replaced. So if someone with official identification and a high-visibility vest comes knocking, that visit is more than a routine check. It is one small step toward understanding and strengthening the water system serving Butler County.

Who can expect a visit?

Door-to-door outreach will continue throughout the Butler County communities served by Pennsylvania American Water, including Saxonburg, Connoquenessing, East Butler, Center, Clinton, Connoquenessing, Donegal, Forward, Franklin, Jackson, Jefferson, Lancaster, Oakland and Summit townships and boroughs. The canvassing is being conducted by CDM Smith, Pennsylvania American Water’s service line inventory contractor. Representatives will carry official company photo identification and wear high-visibility vests with company logos. The outreach is expected to continue into next year.

Member News

Three Independence Health System Hospitals Earn National Recognition When patients need surgery, treatment for a serious condition or maternity care, having trusted options close to home can make a big difference. Three Independence Health System hospitals are earning national recognition for the care they provide. Butler Memorial, Latrobe and Westmoreland hospitals received a combined 17 “High Performing” ratings in the 2026-2027 Best Hospitals rankings from U.S. News & World Report. The recognition spans a wide range of care, including cancer treatment, heart and vascular care, orthopedics, pulmonology and maternity services. A “High Performing” rating is the highest distinction U.S. News awards in its Procedures & Conditions ratings. Fewer than half of the hospitals evaluated earned the designation in the types of care assessed.

Recognition across the region

“Whether patients need advanced heart care, cancer treatment, orthopedic surgery or maternity services, they can feel confident knowing they have access to nationally recognized expert care close to home.”

What the ratings mean

U.S. News evaluated nearly 4,500 hospitals nationwide using measures such as risk-adjusted mortality, preventable complications and patient experience. Only 16% of evaluated hospitals earned a Best Hospitals designation. The organization says its ratings are designed to give patients and their doctors reliable information when considering where to receive care for complex conditions and elective procedures. For Independence Health System, the recognition highlights the expertise available across its hospitals and the range of specialized care patients can access without traveling far from home.

Westmoreland Hospital received the strongest overall recognition, earning 10 High Performing ratings and being named a Best Regional Hospital. It ranked No. 25, tied, in Pennsylvania and No. 5 in the Pittsburgh region. Its 10 High Performing categories include aortic valve surgery, COPD, heart arrhythmia, heart attack, heart bypass surgery, hip fracture, knee replacement, lung cancer surgery, maternity care for uncomplicated pregnancies and pacemaker implantation. Latrobe Hospital earned four High Performing ratings for back surgery, colon cancer surgery, heart arrhythmia and lung cancer surgery. Butler Memorial Hospital received three ratings for abdominal aortic aneurysm repair, hip replacement and pacemaker implantation. “Being recognized as high performing in multiple specialties reflects the expertise, compassion and commitment of our physicians, nurses and care teams across Independence Health System,” said Ken DeFurio, president and CEO.

Westmoreland Hospital named a Best Regional Hospital, ranking No.25 in Pennsylvania and No.5 in the region

Member News

Independence Health System Recognized for Excellence in Heart and Stroke Care When a heart attack or stroke happens, every decision matters. The right treatment, delivered quickly and guided by the latest medical research, can make a lasting difference. That commitment to evidence-based care is earning Independence Health System national recognition. Butler Memorial, Frick, Latrobe and Westmoreland hospitals have received multiple American Heart Association Get With The Guidelines® achievement awards for their work in cardiovascular and stroke care. The awards recognize hospitals that consistently follow research-backed treatment guidelines designed to improve outcomes, support recovery and reduce hospital readmissions.

Recognition across four hospitals

The awards span several areas of heart and stroke care. Butler Memorial Hospital received Gold Plus recognition for stroke care, including Target: Stroke and Target: Type 2 Diabetes honors, as well as a Rural Stroke Gold award. Frick Hospital earned Stroke Gold Plus recognition with a Target: Type 2 Diabetes honor and a Rural Stroke Silver award. Latrobe Hospital received Stroke Gold Plus recognition with a Target: Type 2 Diabetes honor. Westmoreland Hospital received the most extensive recognition, earning awards for stroke, aortic stenosis, coronary artery disease and heart failure care, along with a Commitment to Quality Award. “These recognitions reflect our unwavering commitment to quality, safety and clinical excellence across Independence Health System,” said Mindy Dunkerley, chief quality officer of Independence Health System. “By aligning our care with the latest evidence-based guidelines, our teams are improving outcomes for patients experiencing heart attacks and strokes while advancing a culture of continuous improvement throughout our hospitals.”

For patients and families, that can mean greater confidence that their care teams are using proven approaches when time and treatment decisions matter most. “These awards reflect Independence Health System’s hospitals’ commitment to caring for people in their community who need cardiovascular care,” said Karen E. Joynt Maddox, M.D., MPH, chair of the American Heart Association Quality Oversight Committee. “By following the American Heart Association’s quality improvement protocols, Independence Health System can help advance our shared vision of better patient outcomes, fewer readmissions and lower mortality rates, a win for patients, families and health care systems.” The recognition underscores a simple goal across Independence Health System: continue learning, continue improving and provide patients with high-quality heart and stroke care close to home.

American Heart Association honors health system with Get With The Guidelines® awards for dedication to exceptional evidence-based, life-saving care

Turning research into better care

Heart disease and stroke remain among the leading causes of death in the United States. The American Heart Association’s Get With The Guidelines programs help hospitals put the latest scientific recommendations into everyday practice.

Member News

New Specialists Expand Access to Neurological and Pulmonary Care in Butler Patients in Butler and the surrounding region have two more reasons to look close to home when they need specialized care. Independence Health System has welcomed two new physicians to its medical staff, expanding access to neurological, pulmonary and sleep medicine services in the community.

Expanding pulmonary and sleep care

Independence Health System has also welcomed Jacob DeBerry, MD, a pulmonologist specializing in pulmonary, critical care and sleep medicine. He has joined the medical staffs at Butler Memorial and Clarion hospitals.

Caring for patients with neurological conditions David Klodowski, MD, MPH, has joined the medical staff at Butler Memorial Hospital as a boardcertified neurologist specializing in epilepsy and seizure disorders.

Dr. Jacob DeBerry

Dr. DeBerry earned his medical degree from the University of Washington School of Medicine and completed his internal medicine residency and fellowship in pulmonary and critical care medicine at UPMC, where he also served as chief medical resident.

Dr. David Klodowski

Dr. Klodowski completed his medical education at Sidney Kimmel Medical College at Thomas Jefferson University, followed by training in internal medicine and neurology at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center at Harvard Medical School. He later completed a fellowship in epilepsy at UPMC.

He will see patients at the Butler Pulmonology office at 389 New Castle Road and Butler Memorial Hospital. His practice includes the diagnosis and treatment of conditions such as asthma, COPD, sleep apnea, lung cancer and other pulmonary and sleep disorders.

His clinical interests include epilepsy, cerebrovascular disorders and headaches. He also holds a Master of Public Health degree with a concentration in analytics.

“I am committed to working closely with patients to help them manage pulmonary and sleep related conditions while improving their quality of life and overall health,” Dr. DeBerry said.

“My goal is to help patients receive the specialized care they need close to home,” Dr. Klodowski said. “I’m excited to join the team and help expand services for individuals living with neurological conditions.”

Together, the additions of Dr. Klodowski and Dr. DeBerry give patients in the Butler area greater access to specialized care for conditions that can significantly affect daily life. For people managing seizures, breathing problems, sleep disorders or other neurological and pulmonary conditions, that access can mean getting expert care closer to home.

Dr. Klodowski sees patients at 116 Woody Drive in Butler. Neurology services previously offered at the Jefferson Street location and Butler Memorial Hospital were relocated to the Woody Drive site in July.

Member Spotlight

One of the greatest strengths of the Butler County Chamber of Commerce is the success of our members. Every day, businesses and organizations across the county reach new milestones, celebrate achievements, give back to their communities, and make Butler County an exceptional place to live, work, and do business. In this section, we are proud to highlight our members' accomplishments, recognitions, and positive impact. Join us in celebrating their successes and the many ways they continue to strengthen our local business community.

Butler Technologies, Inc. American Manufacturing BTI raised an American-made flag this July as part of the America 250 celebration. Made with 100% U.S. materials and labor, the flag reflects the values that define both the country and their company.

Cranberry Highlands Golf Course Congratulations on winning the Best Municipal Golf Course in Pennsylvania! Their irrigation plans are particularly effective by using treated effluent from Brush Creek, saving over $100K a year!

Butler County Police Department Butler County Sheriff Mike Slupe was recognized with a Law Enforcement Officer of the Year award for the state of Pennsylvania on Saturday, July 18, by the American Legion.

Member Spotlight

Butler Center for the Performing Arts Samantha Capriotti, 17, of Butler Township, recently became a Top 10 finalist in the Ms. Dance of America 2026 competition. Samantha is a student of Jenna Molczan Higby, owner of the Butler Center for the Performing Arts, based in Butler Township.

Butler County Emergency Services During this year’s National Emergency Number Association (NENA) conference, RapidSOS presented Butler County Emergency Services with the “AI For Good” award for the successful integration of artificial intelligence technology into 911 dispatch and emergency response.

Ford Office Technologies Ford Office Technologies announced the finalization of the acquisition of Komax. The transition marks another major milestone in Ford’s targeted regional growth and solidifies its capacity to deliver secure, enterprise-grade business solutions across the MidAtlantic.

Center for Community Resources Center for Community Resources received a Spark Good local grant from the local Sam's Club, which will help support the Bundle Up Butler program, a community initiative that provides free winter gear to children and individuals in need.

Member Spotlight

Texas Roadhouse Texas Road House at Clearview Mall opened on April 30, 2001 and they’ve been thriving ever since! They recently celebrated 25 years with managers Jamie and Kelly, who have been with the franchise location since day 1.

Middlesex Township After months of searching, the board of supervisors chose its successor to Jeffrey Winkle as township manager, former New Castle mayor and city administrator Chris Frye. The decision was announced and approved at a supervisors work session held Wednesday, Aug. 5.

Fenelton Firearms Fenelton Firearms celebrated their 12 year anniversary! Each year they are growing more and more. They attribute their success to their loyal customers and hardworking team, and are thankful for the memories made along the way.

Weddings by Jeff Double This year, Weddings by Jeff Double celebrated their lucky 13th anniversary. With all the support, kindness, and regular customer purchases, they are looking forward to new and greater things in the upcoming year and years to come.

Member Spotlight

Adecco Staffing Adecco in Cranberry has once again won the Cranberry Eagle Readers’ Choice Award for Best Staffing Agency. The Readers’ Choice Award is just one of the awards and accolades Adecco Cranberry has achieved in 2026.

Maher Duessel Maher Duessel has been named one of PA’s Greatest Places to Intern by the PA Chamber of Business and Industry. This honor recognizes our commitment to providing meaningful, hands-on experience, strong mentorship, and real opportunities for interns to contribute and make an impact from day one.

Salon 356 Salon 356 celebrates its 10-year anniversary in 2026. Owner Rachel Shaw commemorated this milestone by thanking friends, family, clients, and the community for their ongoing dedication and support.

Volunteer Portal A Central Place for Volunteer Opportunities in Butler County, PA The Volunteer Portal provides a simple way to share and find volunteer opportunities across Butler County. It is designed for individuals looking to get involved and nonprofit organizations looking to reach volunteers. For Nonprofit Organizations

For Volunteers

Submit one-time or ongoing

Browse volunteer opportunities

volunteer opportunities to share

from local nonprofits in one place.

with individuals who are

Each listing includes details about

actively looking to get involved

the role, time commitment,

in the community.

and how to get started. CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFORMATION

Learn more and submit opportunities at anrinfo.org/volunteer The Volunteer Portal is a partnership between Alliance for Nonprofit Resources and the Butler County Chamber of Commerce.

Your Monthly Butler County Fun Fact

Did you know?

On August 27, 1859, William A. “Uncle Billy” Smith was the driller of the world’s first producing oil well. He was hired by Colonel Edwin Drake to drill an oil well in Titusville. This well was the beginning of the oil boom in Butler County which led to the founding of the earliest oil companies.

Learn More!

Business Resources University of Pittsburgh

We provide free and confidential one-on-one business counseling by phone, email, and in-person in Southwestern Pittsburgh. We also conduct workshops for both start-up entrepreneurs and seasoned small business owners.

Bloom Butler County is here for you! Get started on your business today. Find everything you need by scanning the QR code!

The mission of the Small Business Development Center at the University of Pittsburgh is to grow Western Pennsylvania’s economy by providing entrepreneurs with the education, information, and tools needed to build successful businesses.

Contact Score

Contact Bloom

Contact SBDC

Grow Your Business with a Butler County Chamber of Commerce Membership Since 1896, the Butler County Chamber of Commerce has been a trusted partner for businesses throughout our community. We connect business owners with opportunities, relationships, and resources that help them grow and succeed. When the Chamber promotes your business, it carries the credibility of an organization that has earned the trust of Butler County for more than a century. Why Join? Increase Your Visibility: Get your business noticed through Chamber marketing, events, and promotions. Build Valuable Connections: Cultivate relationships with business leaders, elected officials, nonprofits, educators, and community partners. Trusted Community Reputation: Gain credibility by aligning your business with one of the region's most respected organizations. Expand Your Network: Meet potential customers, partners, and referral sources. Business Growth Support : Access resources, guidance, and opportunities designed to help your business succeed. Be Part of Something Bigger: Join an organization dedicated to strengthening Butler County's business community and economic future.

Scan the QR code to find out more or visit ButlerCountyChamber.com/Business-Growth/Chamber-Advantage

130 S Main St, Ste 1, Butler, PA 16001 | (724) 283-2222 butlercountychamber.com