Corridors August 2023

From the President

Weekly Networking Meetings

Member of the Month

Ribbon Cuttings/BAH

Why

You Should Never Stop Learning

Community Builders

PNRC Educational Foundation Scholarships

My Benefit Advisor

Nonprofit Spotlight

Workforce Development

Legislative Corner

Penn National Insurance

Educational Corner Butler County Community College

Lunchbox Session

Membership Matters

Chamber Partners

In August, the Pittsburgh North Regional Chamber would like to salute all those who are dedicated to education. Our hats are off to the teachers, human resource professionals, medical professionals, trainers, coaches, and everyone else who uses their expertise for the further development of others.

The PNRC has had a long-held belief that we have a responsibility to the community to provide options and leverage our relationships to advance educational opportunities. We are honored to have been asked to serve on several educational advisory boards– BC3– Cranberry, North Allegheny School District Business Round Table, and the North Allegheny Guidance Counselor Advisory Board. Our seat on these boards help the PNRC to keep our finger on the pulse of the education community.

Through various workshops, conferences, discussion forums, speaker panels, and more, the PNRC provides a variety of educational programming. Here are just a few of the opportunities that the PNRC makes available to our members:

• Every year, we award college and trade scholarships to our future leaders. To give a head start in the business community, we have partnered with local colleges and universities to provide student memberships to the chamber.

• Our Young Professional group, HYPE, (Helping Young Professionals Excel) is working on programs to engage, guide, and mentor students and young professionals to enhance their likelihood of success.

• We view our role in the political world to be to educate more than advocate. We connect our political leaders with our members to share their ideas and listen to the ideas of their constituents. On August 17th, our Legislative and Economic Development Committee will be hosting a legislative breakfast at the Chadwick Event Center. Six state legislators have been invited to discuss workforce development.

• Each year, we organize a Social Media, Marketing, and Non-profit Conference and bring in presenters from all over the country to share their expertise. This year’s event is on August 8th at LaRoche University.

• On November 1st, we will put on our annual Health and Wellness Fair at Pine Township Community Center. Over 30 healthcare professionals will be there to share their insights on healthy living.

• Monthly, we host one hour educational workshops that we call Lunchbox Sessions, where we arrange for experts to present on topics that are of most interest to our membership.

• Many of our networking events even have educational elements built in. Connections, Women’s Leadership and Non–Profits North meetings all devote time for informative presentations at every meeting.

Details and registration information for all our events, programs, and educational offerings can be found on our website.

The PNRC is dedicated to education– we greatly appreciate all those who have devoted their careers to provide it.

Sincerely,

Jim Boltz President, PNRC

Jim Boltz, President

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 2ND 11:30AM-1PM

TEQUILA JALISCO GIBSONIA

5517 William Flynn Highway Gibsonia, PA 15044

Register HERE

Tuesdays, 11:30AM-1PM @ Discovery Christian Church in Mars

Fridays, 7:30AM-9AM @ Panera Bread in Wexford

Want to present at a Connections Meeting?

Email Kelvin Mack

THURSDAY, AUGUST 24TH

8AM-9AM

VIRTUAL VIA ZOOM

Come Celebrate Women in Business! Sign up HERE for the Zoom link

Presenting Sponsor:

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 16TH 5PM-7PM

HOUSE OF 1000 BEERS

100 Fowler Rd Suite 10 Warrendale, PA 15086

Register HERE

Zoom link for all virtual meetings will be provided after you register on the event page. Thanks to the generosity of WesBanco's Cranberry Township Branch, we are able to provide virtual networking events.

Niki Campbell

“Niki is a big contributor to the success of the Pittsburgh North Regional Chamber. As a board member, her input is valuable in setting the direction of the chamber.As the Chair of the Marketing Committee, she has used her extensive expertise to guide our efforts.As a member, she has built a network of support for others. Thanks Niki, for all you do. You make all of us better.”

-Jim Boltz, President, PNRC

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Upcoming Chamber Signature Events:

Social Media, Marketing, and Nonprofit Conference

August 8, 2023

La Roche University

Zappala Campus Center Register here!

Legislative Breakfast

August 17. 2023

The Chadwick Register here!

Cranberry Township Farmers Market

Fridays through September 29th

Cranberry Township Municipal Building

Why You Should Never Stop Learning

Authored by: Sofia Hadjiosif

After individuals finish school or university, they usually stop actively learning new things. This means they stop going out of their way to gain additional knowledge. They become focused only on working to make money. The biggest reason individuals stop learning is because people hate being beginners. Everyone hates being at the bottom, but it is impossible to reach the top without starting at the bottom.Actively learning new things is one of the best ways to improve your life and yourself. You will continue to grow and adapt in an ever-changing world!

Here are 11 reasons why you should never stop learning!

1. Good For Your Brain

Actively learning beyond your school- age years keeps the mind young and sharp. Not exercising your brain can have a big impact on your health, so make it a habit to keep your brain active by learning something new every day!

2. Learn Valuable Skills

Knowledge is one thing no one can take away from you. Keep improving yourself by picking up new hobbies or interests. Learning new skills could open new career opportunities or could put some new excitement into life! If you limit yourself to what you learned in university, you will only have specific career paths you can pursue. Do not limit yourself!

3. Become More Interesting

If you continue to learn and know various different things, you will be able to talk to a bigger range of people from different backgrounds and increase your social network. People will want to talk and learn from you since you have knowledge in so many different areas.

4. Gain New Perspectives

As you continue to learn new things, you will start appreciating and understanding the world on a different level. Once you learn something new, the world becomes slightly different. Learning new things helps you connect with other people since you will appreciate and understand other’s opinions and perspectives.

5. More Creative

The more you learn and see, the more likely you will come up with new creative ideas! The more experiences you have and the more you expose yourself to different areas, the more ideas you will come up with. If you want to be creative, keep your mind sharp by learning and engaging your brain every single day.

6. More Confidence, More Happiness

Gaining confidence is not something that you may think will happen by gaining more knowledge, but it is certainly something that happens! By gaining more confidence, you also can gain intrinsic happiness. Most people look for external validation to feel good about themselves, but gaining knowledge helps you find happiness through personal self- growth and self- improvement.

7. It’s Fun

Most people think learning is boring because they associate it with school. Learning new skills on your own is a very different experience. You enjoy learning on your own more because you choose what to learn. You are not forced to learn anything you do not want to. Choosing what you want to learn makes it much more interesting. If you find something you are genuinely interested in, you will fall in love with learning.

8. Learn to be Humble

Those who refuse to learn believe they know everything and that is why they do not expand their mind. When you really start to dig deeper into a subject, you will realize how little you actually know about the subject.Although this is a humbling moment, as you continue to expand your knowledge, your confidence will begin to grow.

9. Good for Your Career

Having various valuable skills is crucial because it makes you stand out. You could become an irreplaceable member of the workforce since you have a wide range of knowledge. This is true for individuals who work in a company or individuals who are entrepreneurs.

10. Gain Respect

If you work hard to continue to learn and expand your knowledge, you will gain the respect of others. You will have to be self- disciplined enough to learn and stick with learning new skills. This is an admirable, and quite rare, quality in our society today. You will earn the respect and inspire others around you who wish they could have the same quality.

11. BecomeAdaptable

In our ever- changing world, many people are not adaptable because they are too comfortable and too used to their usual habits. Expanding your knowledge helps you to adapt to new situations. You will be able to solve problems quicker and will become better at overcoming being uncomfortable.

Learning throughout your life has countless benefits. No matter where you are in your personal or professional life, there is always an opportunity to learn something new. We are in a technological age, which makes learning new skills even easier through YouTube videos, online courses, and ebooks. Never stop learning.

To read the article, click HERE

COMMUNITY BUILDERS

Thank you to our Members who have generously contributed to furthering the mission and vision of the Pittsburgh North Regional Chamber!

Ace Handyman Services Pittsburgh North

AJ Technology Group

Alliance for Nonprofit Resources

Ameriglide

Another Level Ministries

Arvos Schmidtsche Schack, LLC

Atria McCandless

Atria’s Restaurant & Tavern- O’Hara Township

Axis Business Consultants

Big Spring Spirits - Seven Fields

Bill Few Associates, Inc.

Bosland Electric, LLC

Borough of Seven Fields

Bruster’s of Ingomar

Butler County Symphony Orchestra

CHROME Federal Credit Union

Clean Express Auto Wash

Clearview Federal Credit Union

CTR Payroll Services

Charles P. Leach Agency, Inc.

Charter Homes & Neighborhoods

Choice Restorative Medicine

Coldwell Banker - Jan Stevens

Cole Management, Inc.

College Hunks Hauling Junk & Moving

Community Bank

Compass Self Storage- Gibsonia

Concordia

Cranberry Highlands Golf Course

Cranberry Supply Co.

Cranberry Township

Cranberry Township Public Library

Cranberry Township Volunteer Fire Co.

Cranberry Men’s Choir

Cranberry Village Estates

Crea Excavating, Inc.

Creese, Smith, Hune and Co.

Creative Real Estate Development Co.

CTR Payroll Services

Curio412, LLC

C.W. Howard Insurance Agency, Inc.

Direct Payment Consultants, LLC

Dairy Queen- Cranberry

Dollar Bank

Drayer Physical Therapy - Cranberry

Dukovich & Associates

ECCA Payroll +

Encompass Health and Rehabilitation

Express Employment Professionals

EZ Storage

Fairfield by Marriott Pittsburgh North/ McCandless Crossing

Federated Mortgage Corp.

Find Your Destination, Travel Agency

First City Company- McIntyre Square

First Commonwealth Bank– Adams Township

First Commonwealth Bank– Cranberry

First Commonwealth Bank– Gibsonia

First Commonwealth Bank– McCandless

First Commonwealth Bank– Wexford

Flowers by Gerard

Fun Fore All Family Fun Park

Goddard School- Hampton

Goddard School– Wexford

Goldfish Swim School Wexford

Greater Pittsburgh Masonic Center

Guardian Storage- Hampton

Guardian Storage- Ross

H2R CPA

Handel's Ice Cream McCandless

HEARTH

Heritage Hospice

Highmark Caring Place

Holsinger

Home Depot - Cranberry

House of 1000 Beers

I-Clean, Inc.

IMA | ESS

Innovate E-Commerce, Inc.

InVision Human Services

Jason's Deli- Cranberry Twp

Jeff Brooks Landscaping

Jireh Mobile

Joe Palmieri Construction, Inc.

Junior Achievement of Western PA

Juniper Grill

Just In Thyme Catering and Events, Inc.

Kress Restoration

Keystone Clippers– Sports Clips

Laurel Business Institute

Laurelwood/West Realty Land and Development Co.

Leathem Creation Co.

Legal Shield & Identity Theft Protection

Liberty Insurance Agency

Limbach Company

Link to Visibility, LLC

Lisowski Tree Service and Landscaping LLC

Lou Negley’s Bottled Water Inc.

Lutheran Senior Life

Masonic Village at Sewickley

MEDIA - The Creative Agency

Maria Valdez - In Memory of Bruce Conley

Mars Bank

Mascari Auto Body, Inc.

Masonic Villages of the Grand Lodge of PA

McCall Scanlon & Tice, LLC - CPA

McCandless Corporate Center

McGuire Memorial Foundation

MHY Family Services

COMMUNITY BUILDERS

MSA - The Safety Company

Muhlenkamp & Company, Inc.

Mullin Landscape & Winter Management

Myers, Patsy & Associates, LLC

Newt & Ruby Interiors

NexTier Bank

Nexus Financial Network

NFP

Nick Scotti Concrete Contractor Inc.

Nicole Zirnsak State Farm Insurance

North Hills Family Dental

North Pittsburgh Greeting Company

North Star Buick GMC

Olive Garden - Cranberry

Oliver Outdoor

OMEGA Federal Credit Union- North Hills

OMEGA Federal Credit Union- Wexford

Once Upon A Hero

Organic Remedies, Inc.

Owl Cleaners, Inc.

Passavant Hospital Foundation

Pawlowicz Dentistry

Pearl Insurance Agency, LLC

Penn National Insurance

Piatt Sotheby’s International Realty

Phelps Nursery PGH, North Inc.

Pittsburgh Business Times

Pittsburgh Jet Center

Pittsburgh Skin

Pittsburgh Mercy

Pittsburgh Post Gazette

Pittsburgh Job Corps

Polesky Agency - Erie Insurance

Pressley Ridge

Priority2Work

R.M. Stoof & Associates Inc.

Restart, Inc.

Richard Goettle Inc.

Richland Mall

Right Electric, Inc.

RiteRug Flooring

Riverview Carpet & Flooring, Inc.

Rj Community Management

Salem Media Group

SAM’s Club

Sarver Landscape Maintenance Co.

Scolieri- Beam Law Group PC

Sechler Law Firm, LLC

Seneca Valley School District

SERVPRO of Southern Butler County

Sheeley Agency - Allstate Insurance

Sheetz Communications

Sherwin Williams - Cranberry

Signature Settlement Services

SPARK SIGNS & GRAPHICS

Special T Electronics LLC

Specialized Staffing and Industry Recruiters, Inc.

Staples- Cranberry Twp.

Terry’s Plumbing, Inc.

The Arc of Butler County

The Block Northway

The Chadwick

The Exercise Coach - Cranberry Twp.

The Haven at North Hills

The Lynch Law Group

The Pavilion at Star Lake - Live Nation

The Payroll Shoppe

The Pennsylvania Cyber Charter School

The Waters of Wexford

The Wilson Group, LLC

Thought Process Enterprises

Three Rivers Paintball, Inc.

Tierra Realty Management

TownePlace Suites by Marriott

Township of Hampton

Township of Ross

Treasure House Fashions

Treesdale Golf & Country Club

Trib Total Media

TWO MEN AND A TRUCK

Ultimate Granite Surfaces, Inc.

Urish Popeck & Co. LLC

Vincentian

Vitalant (Central Blood Bank)

Vrabel Plumbing Company, LLC

Wain Landscaping, LLC

Walnut Grill Wexford

Weber Insurance Agency

WesBanco Bank -Cranberry

WesBanco Bank -Perry Highway

West Penn Multi-List, Inc.

White Deer Run Treatment Network

Wichman Landscape Construction, LLC

Wiest Asphalt Products & Paving Inc.

Win-Son Inc.

Wine Concrete Products Inc.

Young Adult Survivors United

Your CBD Store - North Hills

Thank you to our Members who have generously contributed to furthering the mission and vision of Pittsburgh North Regional Chamber!

The Pittsburgh North Regional Chamber Educational Foundation Scholarships

Article by: Cara Talarico, Special Event & Digital Media Coordinator, Pittsburgh North

Regional Chamber of Commerce

The Pittsburgh North Regional Chamber of Commerce (PNRC) introduced an Educational Foundation on June 1st, 1991. Formerly THE CHAMBER Educational Foundation, The Pittsburgh North Regional Chamber Educational Foundation (PNRCEF) is a 501(c)3 organization. The Foundation raises money for student, adult, and entrepreneur scholarship programs.

Each year, the Pittsburgh North Regional Chamber Educational Foundation awards scholarships for high school students continuing their education in a four- year university setting, and students and adults looking to continue their education in the trades. The Educational Foundation scholarships focus on recognizing outstanding efforts in community service, volunteerism, and involvement in civic & community organizations, in addition to academic excellence. The PNRC Community Outreach Committee, made up of volunteer PNRC members, helps the PNRC staff administer the scholarship programs, from connecting with schools and potential scholarship applicants to increase awareness of the scholarship programs, to reviewing applications and reading essays, to assisting in the selection of the scholarship winners.

This year, five scholarships were awarded to high school students furthering their education through a four- year university and one scholarship was awarded to a graduate who will be continuing their education in the trades. The Pittsburgh North Regional Chamber of Commerce’s staff, Board Member’s, and the Community Outreach Committee joined the staff from Baierl Automotive Group in honoring the scholarship recipients and their families with a presentation and awards ceremony on June 7th at the Baierl Acura dealership in Wexford.

Congratulations to our 2023 scholarship recipients!

PNRC Educational Foundation College Scholarship Awardees:

Daniel Bartels – Quaker Valley High School

Kendal Chilcoat- Pine- Richland High School

Benjamin Christian– North Allegheny High School

Gabrielle Lachimia – Pine- Richland High School

Andrew McLaughlin- North Allegheny High School

Baierl Trade School Scholarship Awardee: Christian Packard- Northgate High School

Photo Credit to Al J. Marschke with BluMars Media

PNRC Committee Spotlight: Ambassador Committee

TheAmbassador Committee is the “welcome wagon” for the Pittsburgh North Regional Chamber. The Committee promotes the PNRC’s services as part of its recruitment & retention efforts in the Pittsburgh North region. TheAmbassadors are focused on three core functions for the PNRC: recruitment, retention, and services.

“

TheAmbassador Committee is a group of Chamber Members that work together with both new members and current members to help them get the most of their membership. While we recognize that most companies join for one specific reason, we know that the Chamber provides benefits in many ways. We serve to help the members better understand all that the chamber can do for them. We meet virtually on the second Wednesday of each month.” - Craig Pritts

Meet the Ambassador Committee Chair - Craig Pritts, Account Executive for My Benefit Advisor

Questions? Are you interested in being a part of the Ambassador Committee or learning more information? Contact Craig Pritts at craig.pritts@mybenefitadvisor.com or Kelvin Mack at kmack@pghnorthchamber.com for all the details!

Stay tuned for more information about PNRC committee highlights…

Community Outreach, Events and Programming, Golf, Marketing and Communications

Five Steps to a Well-Designed Benefit Strategy

A well-designed employee benefit strategy can help build a significant advantage for any company seeking to grow through the acquisition and retention of key talent. The inability to hire and retain a strong workforce will affect an organization’s performance and inhibit its ability to achieve corporate goals and objectives. The ability to understand employee needs and craft a customized strategy is one of the more critical components of successful human resource management.

The following five steps will aid in the development of a successful benefit design strategy.

1. Be Sure to Develop a Benefit Strategy that Aligns with the Company Mission Statement: A company’s benefit strategy should not be thought of as distinct and unrelated to the long term business goals of the company, but should instead complement the ideological philosophies the business was built on.

2. Set Benefit Plan Goals and Budget: Establishing objectives for the company benefit program will enable decision makers to select the right plans, plan designs, and services to round out their overall portfolio. As a general guideline, an employee’s benefits cost is approximately 30% of their overall compensation.

3. Analyze Employee Demographics and Benefit Needs: Benefit portfolios should be relevant and match the specific demographics and needs of each company’s diverse workforce

4. Choose Plans and Providers that Match the Above Criteria: With the help of a benefits broker or consultant, create a benefit portfolio based on the established strategy, budget, and needs of the company.

5. Develop an Effective Communication Strategy: An effective communication strategy, involving a variety of media formats, allows employees to take full advantage of the benefits provided. Communication should extend beyond open enrollment periods and provide updates, reminders, and education throughout the plan year.

Once the strategy has been developed, plans have been chosen and employees enrolled, company leaders should analyze and review the program on a regular basis and be prepared to modify the strategy and its components as needed. Employee feedback can be a valuable resource for this process. A sound benefit strategy should not be carved in stone but should be fluid, adapting to evolving needs, company development, and any changes to the business environment and socio-economic conditions.

The Pittsburgh North Regional Chamber offers its members access to My Benefit Advisor as a solution for employee benefits, including voluntary offerings. For more information about My Benefit Advisor, visit our website at pnrc.mybenefitadvisor.com or contact Craig Pritts at (800) 377-3539.

Your Chamber membership is a valuable business tool that is complemented by our Affinity Program partners who help you to save time and money. Save on everything from payroll to energy and you don’t have to spend your valuable time researching - your Chamber has done it all for you!

Nonprofit Name: The Blessing Board

Mission: The Blessing Board exists to collect donated household goods and furniture and give it to those in need at no cost to them in response to what God has done for us.

What impact does your organization wish to make in the world?

To share the love of God to all those in need and to help comfort those in need of much needed furniture and household items. Also to help keep the good and usable furniture out of landfills.

What needs would help your organization to put your mission into action?

We are in need of volunteers, household and furniture donations as well as financial donations.

Workforce Development

Authored by: Kathleen Kuznicki, Patent Attorney, The Lynch Law Group

In its role of being a thought leader and a community advocate, the PNRC has commissioned its Legislative and Economic Development Committee to record a series of videos having committee members interviewing persons from various organizations/industries to get their perspectives on Workforce Development.

We hope to educate our members about the challenges businesses are facing in various industry sectors and what best practices are being implemented to resolve these challenges. I would like to highlight two more of the organizations that have participated in the project:

F5 Facility Services-offers all trades within one company having licensed electricians, plumbers, HVAC techs, carpenters, painters, concrete crews, and masons. F5 specializes in commercial and industrial facility services serving business in the Greater Pittsburgh area as well as in Ohio and West Virginia. F5 is committed to working closely with all their customers to meet all their needs and expectations, to ensure their facility is always running efficiently, to quickly respond to specific issues, and to maintain healthy long-term relationships. Ryan Hankey, the Human Resources Director & Safety/Fleet Manager for F5, discusses how they place a high priority on their employees by enhancing their skill sets, giving them opportunities for growth, and offering exemplary benefits/perks. F5 also focuses on enhancing their relationship with their employees by doing such things as providing many family company events. You can find our interview here.

Focal Point Business Coach Geoff Zak-Geoff has almost 25 years of experience in the bar and restaurant industry overlapping with 10 years in leadership roles in the nonprofit sector. Geoff works with businesses needing targeted leadership and directs the growth of workforce development initiatives. Geoff can navigate the unique challenges of start-up endeavors, as well as the challenges of established companies experiencing complex staffing, leadership, and operational issues. Watch our interview with Geoff here where he discusses how employers should value employees and why they should focus on retention-based practices. For finding new employees, he describes how businesses should have a “unique hiring proposition” to standout from other employers and to create a culture that caters to their employees.

Connecting Over Coffee

You asked for more networking events, and we have heard you!

Starting in January, we are holding 'Connecting Over Coffee' from 8:30am to 10:00am on the third Wednesday every month.

This rotates around our various PNRC members, so stay tuned for the event locations. This is a free networking event so mark your calendars to join us and connect over coffee!

Join us at: Ashton Commons

551 Cooper Street

Wexford, PA 15090

Wednesday, August 16th

8:30 - 10:00 AM

Coffee and food items will be provided by Ashton Commons. We hope to see you there!

Future of Education for Pennsylvania

The 2023-2024 legislative term has been full of bipartisan efforts to improve education across the board in Pennsylvania. Taking a student-first and familyfocused approach to innovate and close gaps in our education system is my approach. To this end, and as part of last year’s state budget, the 2022 School Code established the Education and Economic Competitiveness Commission to innovate the future of education in Pennsylvania by 2030.

I am honored to have been selected to be a part of this important effort on behalf of the people of Pennsylvania and for our children’s future. As the Governor and the legislature continue to work through this year’s budget impasse, the concept of modernizing our education system continues to be an area of negotiation, and I hope to be a pathway to lead us forward.

The commission’s goal is to create a shared, statewide, bipartisan vision for 21st century education that will prepare all students to be lifelong learners and compete in a globalized economy reshaped by technology. We aim to establish the policies and regulations necessary to give all students the support and flexibility they need to succeed in the world. I am eager to embark on this important work for our children’s generation and beyond.

Creating a greater outcome in education is also dependent upon where and how our children are being taught. Recently the state budget negotiations broke down over an agreement the Governor originally reached with the state Senate to fund scholarships for students in our lowest-performing schools. The scholarship program would level the playing field for all students, allowing thousands of children to escape failing schools and chase the opportunity to obtain a high-quality education wherever they decide is best for them – a true lifeline to a better education.

This is a concept that Gov. Josh Shapiro has repeatedly supported and was a central element of his campaign message to the people of Pennsylvania. Unfortunately, his high-profile reversal on this important educational program leaves the previously reached budget compromise in jeopardy.

It is my hope that Gov. Shapiro will find a political path to support this pivotal program so we can finish the 2023-24 budget. We have an obligation to ensure this budget works for all Pennsylvanians, especially for those left behind in failing schools.

As we continue the 2023-24 session, I am excited to have launched a new district council focused on innovating the future of education policy in Pennsylvania for our young people, locally. One of my major priorities in office is putting the students first. A ZIP code should not determine the quality of education each individual student receives, as it unfortunately does for many students in underperforming parts of our state. The issues in the failing education system aren’t ones that can be solved overnight, but ones that take meaningful steps toward repair.

My hope is that by calling upon local educators, parents and innovators, our local Educating the Future Council will plant the seed of repair and grow the change we wish to foster. We must be committed to considering the needs of every student every day and give them the absolute best chance for success.

Here’s to all that’s ahead for our students, families and communities and all the exciting things they will accomplish as a result of their high-quality education!

Authored by: Representative Rob Mercuri, Pennsylvania State Representative

PNRC Days of Caring

By: Carolyn Keller (Curio412) , Sheila Talarico (Glade Run Foundation) and Cat Miceli (Gateway Rehab Services)

Last year, the Pittsburgh North Regional Chamber launched our Days of Caring, a program designed to celebrate the spirit of volunteerism and demonstrate commitment to strengthening our communities and region. Coordinated by the Community Outreach Committee, the Pittsburgh North Regional Chamber organizes multiple Days of Caring each year that connect volunteers in the beautification of our Chamber's footprint and support of our nonprofit partners.

When we think about volunteerism, we understand that creating purposeful opportunities to connect with the community can be a powerful asset for local businesses of all sizes. Since both consumers and employees often identify with a company’s commitment to the community, volunteering has the ability to boost employee engagement and retention as well as enhance company reputation. Not to mention, the impact that individual and organizational generosity has on making our communities a better place.

Each week, through Connections Meetings, Nonprofits North, Ribbon Cuttings, and so much more, the Pittsburgh North Regional Chamber encounters wonderful businesses and nonprofits doing great work. We are committed to providing unique ways to bring these organizations together so that our region can build resilience and support one another. Through Days of Caring, Chamber members are able to give back, engage in employee team building, and network with other businesses.

The Community Outreach Committee organizes several events each year, providing members of the Chamber and the community with a satisfying volunteer opportunity. In 2022, the Chamber committed to the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation's Adopt a Highway program as the core element of Days of Caring. Chamber members and volunteers clean and beautify a two mile stretch of roadway located along Route 910 in Wexford/ Pine Township from North Chapel Road to Pearce Mill Road.

This year's remaining Adopt a Highway event is scheduled for October 6, from 10 a.m. until 1 p.m. Volunteers meet at New Community Church and all supplies and safety equipment are provided. This year's Adopt a Highway Days of Caring are sponsored by Curio412. An additional Day of Caring event was held on July 28, 2023 in collaboration with PNRC member and nonprofit organization Gateway Rehab. Due to intense weather conditions, volunteer efforts were moved to indoor projects, with the anticipated outdoor volunteer efforts to promote campus beautification for patient experience enhancement being postponed for a future event. Please watch your email for the opportunity to sign up to participate in any of this year's Days of Caring!

Presenting Sponsor:

Upcoming Days of Caring: October 6

All Days of Caring are scheduled 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Interested in participating in Days of Caring this year? Be on the lookout for signups on the Chamber website and social media!

Which Educational and Career Paths Make the Most Sense forYou?

Authored by : Dr. Ryan Kociela, Director, Cranberry Center, Butler County Community College

Are you thinking of your next college or career move? Did you recently graduate from high school? Are you unhappy with your current job and career track? Are you looking to transfer or move on from your current college/university? Do you know someone who is struggling in their job or with their educational pathway? So where do you begin? What do you ultimately want to do? What makes the most sense given your situation? HELP!!! Unfortunately, the answers to these questions are not quick and easy. Post-COVID-19 implications in the workplace and in higher education have further complicated the ability to determine the “right” educational pathways to meeting your career goals.

Think practically! First, consider the options. Are you best suited for the workforce, military, technical school, community college, four-year college/university, advanced degrees? Which of these options best positions you for your destination career, provides opportunities for advancement, and makes the most financial sense? Consider the cost, anticipated career earnings, career goals, your comfort levels, and the potential challenges associated with achieving a degree, certificate, or credential.

In today’s job market, the need for employees has adjusted the required educational levels for many job postings. The New York Times notes that “in the last few years, major American companies in every industry have pledged to change their hiring habits by opening the door to higher-wage jobs with career paths to people without four-year college degrees.” In Pennsylvania, according to a press release, Governor Josh Shapiro “eliminated the requirement of a four-year college degree for the vast majority of jobs in the state government, a change similar to one that Maryland and Utah made last year.” Current job qualifications should be a guiding consideration in determining what level of education is needed to meet your career goals.

Choosing the right educational pathway may be one of the most critical financial decisions you ever make! Post-secondary education can be extremely expensive, but now may be a good time to “shop” for the right college for you. Many colleges are currently in need of enrollment and merit-based scholarships and financial assistance have become more prominently awarded than in previous years. Forbes encourages that “having multiple schools vying for your enrollment gives you the edge when negotiating your scholarship award.” Need-based financial aid, based on your family’s financial situation, may also help to offset costs for college. When financing education through student loans, be very cautious of the type and amount of loans projected to be accrued throughout your time in college. US News and World Report cautions that “of the nearly 18 million high school students enrolling in college this year, their college education will likely be the most consequential investment they make.”

The average federal student loan debt is $37,338 per borrower. Private student loan debt averages $54,921 per borrower. 20 years after entering school, half of the student borrowers still owe $20,000 or more (US News and World Report)

So, here’s one viable option (admittedly bias on my part) Butler County Community College:

• #1 ranked community college in the state of Pennsylvania 8 times in the last 8 years by various publications

• 70% of students leave BC3 debt free

• Many jobs now require an Associate’s degree instead of a four-year degree or higher

• Students can keep their local jobs while attending BC3

• Living at home significantly alleviates costs and helps to alleviate the challenges of independent living while in school

• Provides a stable and manageable transition to college

• Provides huge savings in tuition!!!

If you now have more questions and confusion than you did before you read this article, you are always welcome to meet with an adviser at Butler County Community College to discuss how best to achieve your professional goals. Whether your educational pathway ultimately runs through BC3 or not, we would welcome the opportunity to meet with you.

… “How Merit-Based Scholarships Work”, Forbes.com, December 20, 2022

… “Average Student Loan Debt”, EducationData.org, May 22, 2023

… “A 4-Year Degree Isn’t Quite the Job Requirement It Used to Be”, The New York Times, April 8, 2022

… “ICYMI: The New York Times’ Editorial Board Praises Governor Josh Shapiro’s Executive Order Eliminating College Degree Requirements for State Government Jobs”, Governor.pa.gov, January 30, 2023

Presenting Sponsor:

Alicia Photography

American Cancer Society

Armstrong

A.W. Beattie Career Center

Basilone Executive Search and Staffing

Baierl Auto Group

Borough of Seven Fields

Butler County Community College

Coldwell Banker - Jan Stevens

Cole Management Inc.

Concordia of Cranberry

CORE Environmental Services

Costco Wholesale

Cranberry Public Library

Cranberry Supply Co.

Cranberry Township

Creative Real Estate Development Co.

Alliance for Nonprofit Resources

AJ Technology Group

Best Buy– Cranberry

Chrome Federal Credit Union

Compass Self Storage– Allison Park

Cranberry Highlands Golf Course

Creese, Smith, Hune, & Co. LLC

Crisis Center North, Inc

Dillon McCandless King Coulter & Graham L.L.P.

Dollar Bank - Pine Twp.

Dollar Bank Loan Center - Cranberry

Dukovich & Associates

EZ Storage

First City Company - McIntyre Square

Fun Fore All Family Fun Park

Glade Run Foundation

Hill, Barth & King LLC

Holsinger

Huntington Bank - Wexford

CTR Payroll Services

Goddard School– Wexford Handel’s of McCandless

Heartland Payroll

Hope Lutheran Church

Masonic Villages of the Grand Lodge of PA

IMA |

Kawneer Cranberry - An Arconic Company Lifesteps

McCandless Corporate Center

Medicine Shoppe of Ingomar

Minuteman Press - Cranberry

MSA- The Safety Company

North Allegheny School District

North Hills Community Outreach

North Hills Monthly Magazine

Seneca Valley School District

The Chadwick

Three Rivers Paintball, Inc.

Tierra Realty Management

WesBanco Bank - Cranberry

WesBanco Bank - Perry Highway

Win-Son Inc.

North Star Buick GMC

Once Upon a Hero

Rogers School of Driving

Scolieri– Beam Law Group, PC

Signature Settlement Services

Wiest Asphalt Products & Paving Inc.

BMS Cat

Bobcat of Pittsburgh– Cranberry Twp

Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Pittsburgh

Desmone

Fajita Pete’s– Pittsburgh

Fleming Insurance Associates

Last Mile Delivery Service

Levi Keller, LLC

MediLink Insurance, LLC

Northern Area Multi– Service Center of Allegheny County

TSS Photography

Velum Fermentation

Kelvin Mack

Carrie Nolan– Robson

Bradley Wilkins Rakesh Unnithan

Kelsey Mercuri Anthony Lombard

ESS

2023 BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Lisa Hunt—Board Chair U$X Federal Credit Union

Mark Prentice Past Chair Valpak of Western Pennsylvania

Sheila Talarico Vice Chair Glade Run Foundation

Rakesh Unnithan Chair Elect WesBanco Bank

Carolyn Keller Foundation Chair Curio412, LLC

Kathleen Kuznicki Secretary The Lynch Law Group

Jada Lehman Treasurer JIL Solutions

Jim Boltz President Pittsburgh North Regional Chamber

Board of Directors

Tom Baker North Hills Community Outreach

Niki Campbell The Flourish Group

Rich Coyner

Minuteman Press– Cranberry

Steve Diffenderfer Dollar Bank

Sherrie Dunlap Gallagher United Way of Southwestern PA

Ryan Kociela Butler County Community College

Perry Latimer Butler County Tourism & Convention Bureau

Sally Power Treasure House Fashions

Craig Pritts My Benefit Advisor

Felipe Valdez Nothing Bundt Cakes

Bradley Wilkins Key Bank