Corridors - May 2024

FROM PRESIDENT

In April, I officially announced my retirement as president of the Pittsburgh North Regional Chamber. It will be effective later this summer. It was a bittersweet moment for me. It’s exciting because I am looking forward to spending more time with my family and on the things that I love Bittersweet because this organization has been a huge part of my professional life for many years – even before I took on this role. I have developed so many wonderful friendships and connections over the years for which I am truly grateful.

Since stepping into this position in 2014, we have made great strides together. Working closely with the boards, committees, and membership, we have increased our size, geographic footprint, and most importantly, our impact.

I am immensely grateful for all the help and support that I have received over the years. For my past and present “small but mighty” staffs - You are or have been the engine that powers the chamber. We would not be the organization we are today without your contributions Your passion, dedication and drive took us to heights that few other staffs could dream of achieving.

To our Board of Directors, present and past, I want to thank you for your commitment to serve and lead the chamber in addition to being leaders in your careers and businesses. I appreciate the hours you give to be the voice of our membership, lead committees and be our best brand ambassadors in the community.

Finally, I want to thank all of you – our members - for your trust in me and my team, your support through countless hours of volunteering, generous sponsorships, and commitment of your expertise and talent. We are nothing without a strong and dedicated membership You all are the best of the best

Thank you again for all the support and friendship over the years. I may be retiring but I’m not going anywhere. I’ll still be in Cranberry Township and plan to attend events as a community member and proud supporter of the Pittsburgh North Regional Chamber.

Sincerely,

Jim Boltz

President, PNRC

2024 ClickheretoregisterontheChamberEventsCalendar

Wednesday, May 1st

11:30a - 1p

Tequila Jalisco - Gibsonia 5517 William Flynn Highway Gibsonia, PA 15044

Thanks for attending!

Every Tuesday, 11:30a - 1p @ Discovery Christian Church in Mars

Every Friday, 7:30a - 9a @ Panera Bread in Wexford

Want to present at a Connections Meeting?

Email Kelvin Mack

Thursday, May 23rd

8a - 9a Virtual via Zoom

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

Presenting Sponsor:

Wednesday,May15th 5p-7p DentedKeg

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

Robin Golembiesky PNC Bank

“When I first met Robin, I remember thinking how genuinely friendly she was. She immediately engages whomever she is speaking with, giving her full attention, asking open-ended questions because she really wants to know more about you and your business. Robin has been instrumental in working with new small businesses in the area, guiding them through the banking process and connecting them with services, members, and tools they need to be successful. She thoughtfully introduces these business owners to the Chamber, so that we too can help connect them to the community and build their brand. Robin’s warmth, professionalism, knowledge of business banking, and leadership skills set her apart as a rising star in our Women’s Leadership Roundtable Program. She is truly a blessing to anyone she meets.”

-Denise Martin, PNRC Director of Partnerships and Development

COMMUNITY BUILDERS

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

2 Krew Security & Surveillance

A Comfort Service

Advantage Energy Partners, LLC

AdVenture Development dba McCandless Crossing

AJ Technology Group

Alliance for Nonprofit Resources

Anchor Wave Internet Solutions

Anchorpoint Counseling Ministry

Arvos Schmidtsche Schack, LLC

Ashton Commons

Assisted Living Locators North Pittsburgh

Atria at Cranberry Woods

Atria McCandless

Axis Business Consultants

Baierl Auto Group

BDS Supply Chain

Bethany Christian Services of Western PA

Bill Few Associates, Inc.

Borough of Seven Fields

Boy Scouts of America - Laurel Highlands Council

Bridge Home Realty

Bruster's of Ingomar

Butler County Symphony Orchestra

C. W. Howard Insurance Agency, Inc.

CHROME Federal Credit Union

Clean Express Auto Wash

Clearview Federal Credit Union - Wexford

Cole Management, Inc

College Hunks Hauling Junk & Moving

Community Park Storage

Concordia of Cranberry

Courtyard by Marriott Pittsburgh North

Cranberry Highlands Golf Course

Cranberry Messenger Service

Cranberry Public Library

Cranberry Supply Co

Cranberry Township

Cranberry Twp Volunteer Fire Company

Cranberry Village Estates

Cremation Society of Pennsylvania - Pittsburgh

Crisis Center North, Inc

CTR Payroll Services

Dairy Queen - Cranberry

Dented Keg Brewing Company

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

Diversified Plan Services Inc

Drayer Physical Therapy - Cranberry

Early Years Community Learning Centers

ECCA Payroll+

Encompass Health Rehabilitation Hospital of Harmarville

Express Employment Professionals

Fairfield by Marriott Pittsburgh North / McCandless Crossin

Fairground Market, Inc

Farmers National Bank of Canfield

First City Company-McIntyre Square

First Commonwealth Bank - Wexford

Flowers by Gerard

Franklin Inn Mexican Restaurant

Fun Fore All Family Fun Park

General Rental Center

George A. Reed Agency, Inc.

Glade Run Foundation

Goddard School - Wexford

Greater Pittsburgh Masonic Center

Green Apple Barter

Guardian Storage- Hampton

Guardian Storage- Marshall

Guardian Storage- Ross Twp

Guardian Storage- Seven Fields

Hand & Shoulder Center

Handel's of McCandless

HEARTH

Herbein + Company, Inc

Highmark Caring Place

Hill, Barth & King LLC

Holsinger

Home2 Suites by Hilton Pittsburgh/McCandless

House of 1000 Beers

ie Insurance

IMA | ESS

Instant Imprints

Izzazu Salon, Spa & Blowout Bar

Jason's Deli- Cranberry Twp

Joe Palmieri Construction, Inc.

Juniper Grill

Kontos Mengine Law Group

Kress Restoration

Limbach Company

Lisowski Tree Service and Landscaping,LLC

Living in Liberty

COMMUNITY BUILDERS

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

Lou Negley's Bottled Water Inc

Lutheran SeniorLife

Mark Mashuda Excavating Inc

Masonic Village at Sewickley

McCandless Corporate Center

McCandless Floral

McGuire Memorial Foundation

Medicine Shoppe of Ingomar

MHY Family Services

MOD Wash - Wexford

Mr. Electric of Cranberry Township

Myers, Patsy & Associates, LLC

NexTier Bank

Nexus Financial Network, LLC

North Hills Family Dental

North Pittsburgh Greeting Company

Northland Public Library

Nothing Bundt Cakes - Cranberry

Oliver Outdoor

OMEGA Federal Credit Union- North Hills

OMEGA Federal Credit Union- Wexford

Organic Remedies, Inc

Owl Cleaners Inc

Penn National Insurance

Pennsylvania House of Representatives

Perform Physio, LLC

PetSuites Cranberry Township

Phelps Nursery PGH, North Inc

Piatt Sotheby's International Realty

Pittsburgh Business Times

Pittsburgh Jet Center

Pittsburgh Job Corps

Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

PNC Investor Center - Wexford

Polesky Agency, Scott Berney - Erie Insurance

Pressley Ridge

Print Tech of Western PA

Priority2Work

Pursuit

R.M. Stoof & Associates Inc.

Realty ONE Group Gold Standard

Restart, Inc

Restore It

Rex Glass & Mirror

Richard Goettle, Inc

Richland Mall

Ridge Insurance Agency, Inc

Riverview Carpet & Flooring, Inc

Rose E Schneider Family YMCA

Ross Township

Rossman Hensley, Inc

Rt 228 Auto Mall

S & T Bank- Cranberry Township

Salem Media Group

Sam's Club

Scolieri-Beam Law Group, PC

Seneca Valley School District

SERVPRO of Southern Butler County

Sherwin-Williams Cranberry

Signature Settlements Services Agency

Skander Tire Service, Inc.

Special T Electronics

Specialized Staffing and Industry Recruiters, Inc.

SportClips

SSB Bank

St. Barnabas Health System

Staples-Cranberry Twp

Star Limousine Service Inc

Strutz International

Terry's Plumbing, Inc

The Arc of Butler County

The Blessing Board

The Block Northway

The Haven at North Hills

The Haven at North Hills

The Lighthouse Foundation

The Payroll Shoppe

The Pennsylvania Cyber Charter School

The Thrasher Group, Inc

The Waters of Wexford

The Woodlands Foundation

Three Rivers Paintball, Inc.

Tierra Realty Management

Toplak & Associates

TownePlace Suites by Marriott

Township of Hampton

Treasure House Fashions

COMMUNITY BUILDERS

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

Trib Total Media

Two Men and A Truck

Ultimate Granite Surfaces, Inc.

UPMC Passavant

Urish Popeck & Co LLC

USX Federal Credit Union

Vector Security

Vincentian

Vitalant (Central Blood Bank)

Vogel Disposal Service, Inc

Vrabel Plumbing Company, LLC

Wain Landscaping, LLC

Walnut Grill Wexford

WesBanco Bank - Perry Highway

West Penn Multi-List, Inc

Wichman Landscape Construction, LLC

Wiest Asphalt Products & Paving Inc

Williams Industrial Sales

Wine Concrete Products Inc.

Win-Son Inc.

Your CBD Store - Shaler

Your CBD Store- Gibsonia

Your CBD Store- North Hills T h a n k Y o u

The Business Case for Going Global

By: Ryan Russell, Director of the U.S. Commercial Service Pittsburgh Office

If your trusted business advisor told you to disregard 95% of your potential customers possessing roughly 3/4 of your customer base’s potential buying power, how would you react? Understandably, most executives would question the wisdom of that advice. Yet, if your company is not thinking about exporting to international markets, you are overlooking significant growth potential and opportunities to strengthen your firm’s competitiveness.

Why Grow Global?

With many of your potential customers and revenue streams located outside of the U.S., international markets offer a wealth of potential. Here are four reasons to grow a global company:

1. Mitigate Risk. The same principles that apply to your investment portfolio hold true with international sales – diversify to mitigate risks. In fact, companies that sell internationally grow faster and are 8.5% less likely to go out of business than those that focus solely on domestic sales.

2. Exporting drives innovation. Exposure to international customers’ needs and challenges and global competitors helps companies to drive innovation and maintain their competitive edge.

3. Increase the value of your company. Selling globally can also increase the value of your company to potential investors. Demonstrating that your solution has global demand and that you have a path to capitalize on those opportunities can increase the attractiveness of your firm as an investment-worthy enterprise

4. “Made in U.S.A.” brand recognition. International customers recognize and seek U.S. products and services for their quality, innovation, and value. Our region’s unique strengths (workforce, research, and technology) are among the many reasons why Pennsylvania exporters strengthen that brand. This U.S. competitive advantage isn’t only for the “big guys” either – 98% of U.S. exporters are small and medium-sized companies and 60% of those have fewer than 20 employees.

Where to Start?

Pennsylvania companies have a wealth of resources and expertise available to grow globally. At the federal level, our U.S. Commercial Service Pittsburgh Office, part of the U.S. Department of Commerce’s International Trade Administration and the export promotion arm of the federal government, can assist with counseling, market intelligence, matchmaking, and commercial diplomacy via our network of global trade professionals located in more than 180 offices around the world In Western Pennsylvania, there are also Small Business Development Centers that offer counseling and training, the State of Pennsylvania’s Office of International Business Development works through its 10 statewide Regional Export Networks to support PA companies. We stand ready to help you navigate the global marketplace. Please visit our website (https://www.trade.gov/pennsylvania-pittsburgh) and reach out to our team to start the conversation today.

Ryan Russell is the Director of the US Commercial Service Pittsburgh Office and can be reached at Ryan.Russell@trade.gov or (412) 644-2817.

PNRC Affinity Partners Program

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: Hope Haven Farm Sanctuary

Mission: To rescue, rehabilitate, and provide lifelong care to abused, neglected, and abandoned farm animals while promoting compassionate living through education and outreach Additionally, we advocate to promote environmental protection by fostering sustainable practices and raising awareness of the interconnectedness of human actions with the well-being of animals and the planet.

Information/Donation Contact:

Karen Phillips

Karen@hopehavenfarm.org

Hopehavenfarmorg

Upcoming events:

We offer public farm tours weekly May through November. We also offer private farm tours. Special events include::

Garden Tea Party: An elegant fundraising event held in the sanctuary's garden, featuring tea, refreshments, and entertainment

Kids Camp: A summer camp program for children, focused on animal care, environmental education, and fun activities.

Nonprofit Spotlight

Vet Camp: A specialized camp experience designed for young kids interested in the veterinary career industry. The camp offers hands-on activities, educational sessions, and opportunities to learn about animal care, veterinary medicine, and related fields

ThanksLiving Event: A special celebration where turkeys are honored with their own celebratory meal, in contrast to traditional Thanksgiving practices. This event promotes compassion towards animals and highlights alternative ways of celebrating the holiday season.

Trick-or-Treat Event: A Halloween-themed event inviting families to visit the sanctuary for trick-or-treating and animal encounters.

Food Truck Tour: An event featuring a variety of vegan food trucks at the sanctuary, offering delicious plant-based cuisine and supporting local vendors

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

Hope Haven Farm Sanctuary aims to make a profound impact by not only providing a safe haven for abused farm animals but also by fostering empathy and compassion in individuals towards all living beings. By promoting the understanding of the interconnectedness of humans, animals, and the environment, we aspire to create a more compassionate and sustainable world for all.

Nonprofit Spotlight

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

Our organization relies heavily on the support of volunteers, donors, sponsors, and community partnerships to carry out our mission effectively. In addition to financial contributions, we greatly appreciate donations of supplies such as animal feed, farm supplies, and infrastructure materials. We have a wish list on our website, amazon.com, walmart.com, and chewy.com.

Furthermore, increased awareness and outreach efforts within the community would enable us to expand our impact and reach more individuals in need. Let’s collaborate to help the animals!

Presented By:

Thank you to our event sponsors:

Thank you to our Chamber Partners:

The 2023 Annual Award Winners

The 2024 PNRC Board of Directors

Jim Boltz, President of the Pittsburgh North Regional Chamber was recognized for his leadership from local elected officials. The PNRC Board of Directors honored Jim Boltz with the Leadership Impact Award, in recognition of his years of service to the Pittsburgh North Regional Chamber.

What Is Self-Care, and Why Is It So Important for Your Health?

By: Shannon Albers, Marketing Manager, Counseling and Wellness Center of Pittsburgh

What is Self-Care?

Self-care, a widely discussed topic across mainstream television, publications, and social media platforms, is often centered on activities like indulging in bubble baths, spa treatments, or planning a getaway. However, self-care extends beyond these portrayals.

We often miss that self-care is an umbrella term for simply taking care of ourselves. This misconception can lead us to believe that we are not “doing self-care right” if we are disinterested in the commonly portrayed self-care practices, are uncertain about what to do for self-care, or believe self-care is unattainable due to financial limitations.

Simply put, self-care is the foundation of wellness and is the key to staying healthy and balanced. It involves doing things to take care of ourselves and avoid feeling overwhelmed by stress.

Meeting Your Basic Needs Is Self-Care

Prioritizing the everyday basics of daily life is the foundation of self-care. These basics are vital for maintaining balance within our systems and fortifying ourselves against stress Since each of us have unique needs and face distinct stressors, the daily activities constituting self-care will vary from person to person. However, irrespective of these differences, nurturing our physical, emotional, and mental well-being remains pivotal for self-care, especially during challenging periods when disruptions to our routine result in heightened stress levels.

Everyday self-care can be achieved by building a general routine of daily activities that support our personal needs. This may include practices such as cultivating healthy sleep habits, maintaining a nutritious diet, taking medication as prescribed, staying hydrated, trying our best to adhere to a schedule for fulfilling responsibilities, doing something that feels enriching, and devising contingency plans for unforeseen challenges.

Counseling and Wellness Center of Pittsburgh can help with medication management, nutrition counseling, yoga for insomnia, and many more counseling, psychiatric, and wellness services. Additionally, if you're struggling to establish a selfcare routine, it could signify that there may be something deeper blocking you from taking care of yourself. No worries, we've got your back and here to support you every step of the way.

Physical Activity Is Self-Care

Physical activity is essential for our bodies to function optimally, as it helps maintain balance in our emotional chemical processes. Any activity that gets our bodies moving, even for just 15 minutes, is self-care. Whether it's chair aerobics, tai chi, swimming, tennis, hiking, dancing solo, or spending quality time with our kids and pets, any physical endeavor done for our well-being counts. If yoga and outdoor experiences resonate with you, Counseling and Wellness Center of Pittsburgh offers a range of yoga classes and workshops at our Monroeville location, Yoga in the Park in the North Shore, as well as nature therapy offered in any Pittsburgh area park.

Hobbies are Self-Care

The important thing about hobbies is that you’re doing something that is enriching for you, that alleviates stress, or helps prevent burnout. It is important to accept that you can do plenty of self-care activities by yourself, and it’s okay if your self-care is something other people are not interested in! Play that video game, crochet outfits for your cat, do a jigsaw puzzle, work in your garden, read a WWII book, watch a Netflix documentary anything you do for yourself out of enjoyment. Socializing can also be a great form of self-care, even for those of us who are more “introverted.” Getting coffee with a neighbor, connecting with people in a Facebook group, going to the park or library, FaceTiming with a friend it’s self care if it is helpful for you.

Rest is Self-Care

One of the most overlooked aspects of self-care is ensuring you get enough quality sleep. Just like other self-care practices, sleep needs vary from person to person. While adequate and restful sleep is crucial for effective self-care, it may not always be achievable for everyone.

It's essential to listen to your body if you feel the need for a nap, it's likely not a waste of time! Establishing good sleep hygiene, or a consistent sleep routine that supports your well-being, can be challenging for many individuals. If you have difficulty sleeping or sleep too much and there's no apparent physical cause, it could be linked to emotional factors. In such cases, the team at Counseling and Wellness Center of Pittsburgh is here to provide support.

Therapy is Self-Care

At times, life events or internal struggles can make even the simplest self-care tasks seem insurmountable. You deserve to prioritize your health and well-being, even if it requires some assistance If you find yourself unsure about how to engage in selfcare or feel like you're not effectively caring for yourself without understanding why, we encourage you to reach out to us for support at 412-856-WELL or CounselingWellnessPGH.com

Work-Life Balance impacts your Wellness, Mental Health,

and Performance

By: Traci Sanderson, Ph.D., LPC, NCC, BCC, Ellie Mental Health Pittsburgh

The problem that small businesses and employees face in the modern workplace is that it is more competitive. The reality is technology connects employees to the organization 24 hours a day and 7 days a week The resultant increased work demands have led to burnout, turnover, disengagement, and increased stress with a need for more work-life balance and focus on overall well-being. Mental health issues have been increasing since COVID and will continue to increase in the year 2024. Small businesses are struggling with retention as well as keeping a culture of satisfied, healthy, and engaged employees. It is within this space that mental health professionals can help. It is within this space that a behavioral health specialist can bring awareness to how mental health issues impact performance and overall wellness.

What is work-life balance?

Work-life balance is used to include a broad range of non-work demands and activities which employees could experience. Such employee activities may include personal relationships and health, family responsibilities, volunteer work, sporting performances, religion, and travel. Each person has their own subjective individual perceptions (as opposed to objective measures) of what balance looks like for them. These subjective perceptions may change over time in response to changing life priorities.

Employees with work-life balance feel their lives are fulfilled both inside and outside of work, and they experience minimal conflict between work and non-work roles Those who achieve this balance tend to have higher levels of satisfaction with their jobs and life in general, as well as lower levels of stress, depression, and anxiety.

What is wellness?

Just like work-life balance, wellness is a broad concept. Think of wellness as being healthy in many dimensions of our lives. That includes the occupational, physical, intellectual, financial, social, environmental, spiritual, and emotional parts These dimensions are interconnected, one dimension building on another.

Let’s take a deeper look at the 8 dimensions of wellness and how they relate to our lives.

Occupational wellness is personal satisfaction and enrichment derived from one’s work.

Physical wellness is recognizing the need for physical activity, diet, sleep, and nutrition.

Financial wellness is satisfaction with current and future financial situations. Social wellness is developing a sense of connection, belonging, and a welldeveloped support system.

Environmental wellness is good health by occupying pleasant, stimulating environments that support well-being.

Spiritual wellness is expanding our sense of purpose and meaning in life. Emotional wellness is coping effectively with life and creating satisfying relationships.

It is fair to say that when one or two dimensions of our lives become too demanding, such as the occupational and emotional parts, balance may be more difficult to achieve, and we run into work-life conflict It is within these demands and continued conflict where mental health symptoms and issues may arise that could impact our functioning in each domain.

What is mental health?

Mental health includes our emotional, psychological, and social well-being. It affects how we think, feel, and act. It also helps determine how we handle stress, relate to others, and make healthy choices Work is consistently rated among the top two or three sources of stress among individuals. This stress contributes to emotional (e.g., sadness, trust, anger), psychological (e.g., depression, anxiety), and behavioral (e.g., increased alcohol use) problems. In turn, mental health symptoms and issues impact our well-being and work-life balance. When there is no balance and stressors build, mental health symptoms can arise and change healthy behaviors. Effective coping strategies become more difficult to implement and unhealthy coping strategies become more prominent.

How do mental health symptoms impact workplace performance?

Stress, psychological factors (e.g., depression, anxiety), and demands of everyday life influence how employees perform in the workplace. Absenteeism and disengagement in the workplace have been on the rise in part due to the increase of employees’ mental health issues. Let’s look at the cause and effect of absenteeism. A depressed employee who finds it difficult to get out of bed in the morning and calls off work. As a result, the depressed employee misses the deadline of an important work project. This impacts the workload of coworkers causing them increased stress, and the potential loss of business. Let’s see the cause and effect of disengagement. The depressed employee who lacks motivation and purpose in their life does not perform the duties of his/her role and starts to disengage from important work projects and demands of the job. As a result, the quality of work and performance of the depressed employee is significantly noticed by managers/coworkers which impacts relationships, productivity, and potentially the company culture. Other mental health symptoms of depression and anxiety impact employee performance, however, it can ultimately impact the bottom-line of the business.

Implications for Practice in your small business.

Employers can promote a positive work-life culture, provide wellness programs, and mental health awareness by taking action at several different levels. First, considering implementing one or more work-life benefits such telecommuting or flexible work hour options for employees, if and when possible. Second, remember that when owners and managers buy into the policies created to help balance work and life, employees are more likely to take advantage of them Third, make employees aware of the efforts they can undertake to optimize their own work-life balance. For example, encourage employees to utilize vacation time (without work related technology) for purposes of recovery. By doing so, employees physically and psychologically detach from their work, and they report greater well-being in general. Fourth, consider having a wellness program on-site allowing employees to discover their individual plan to overall wellness and what that looks like in relationship to the business. In addition, make mental health awareness a priority and remove the stigma of getting help from a mental health professional. Building a culture of trust and psychological safety allows employees to access mental health services such as Ellie Mental Health to get the help they need to perform and be successful in their life. It is through a mental health professional that employees can find meaning, purpose, and value in work and in life. Essentially what we strive for is to live happy, productive, and rewarding lives. When we achieve our purpose and are aware of our core beliefs and how we apply them we feel more balanced in our overall well-being.

Burnout and Business Owners: A Health Hazard

No One Talks About

By: Niki Campbell, Founder & CEO of The Flourish Group and Health and Wellness Expert

Burnout is running rampant in the business world Nearly every industry is grappling with the costs of high turnover, declining employee health and reduced workplace productivity.

Job-related stress contributes to 550 million workdays lost annually, and the World Health Organization estimates that $1 trillion is lost in productivity each year as a result.

Often, we don’t talk about burnout as it relates to small business owners According to a 2023 study by Small Biz Silver Lining, 75 percent of small business owners are concerned about their mental health, and 56 percent have been diagnosed with anxiety, depression, or stress-related health concerns.

This is a big problem in the world of small business because entrepreneurial burnout can have a direct financial impact on the owner’s health and the health of their family, employees, and the communities in which they exist. And with more than 33 million small businesses driving the U.S. economy, this can have a major economic impact nationally.

In the relentless pursuit of success, business owners often find themselves walking a tightrope between ambition and exhaustion. Professional burnout poses a significant threat to the well-being of business owners and adopting preventive measures is paramount for protecting personal health and building business vitality.

For business owners, the repercussions of burnout extend far beyond personal suffering. It infiltrates every aspect of their entrepreneurial endeavors, wreaking havoc on productivity, creativity, and decision-making abilities. Burnout impairs judgment, leading to costly mistakes and missed opportunities. Unchecked burnout can sabotage the very foundation of a business, putting its long-term sustainability at risk Business owners, driven by their passion and commitment, often push themselves to the limit, unwittingly paving the path to burnout.

Recognizing the signs of burnout is the first step toward prevention. They include physical, mental, and emotional exhaustion resulting from prolonged work-related stressors. Burnout can manifest in various forms, including feelings of cynicism, detachment from work, and a sense of ineffectiveness.

While burnout is on the rise, there are simple strategies business owners can employ now to safeguard their well-being and avoid burnout all together:

Set Boundaries: Establish clear boundaries between work and personal life. Allocate dedicated time for relaxation, hobbies, and social activities to recharge. Delegate Responsibility: Trust your team members with tasks and responsibilities, empowering them to take ownership and contribute to the success of the business.

Prioritize Self-Care: Make self-care a non-negotiable priority Engage in regular exercise, prioritize nutritious meals, and ensure an adequate amount of sleep each night.

Seek Support: Don't hesitate to seek support from mentors, peers, or professional counselors. Surround yourself with a strong support network that can offer guidance, encouragement, and perspective during challenging times. Celebrate Achievements: Acknowledge and celebrate your hard work and accomplishments and take pride in the progress you've made. Cultivating a positive mindset can fuel motivation and resilience in the face of adversity

While professional burnout poses a formidable threat to the well-being and success of business owners, it can be prevented by implementing a few healthy behaviors that will safeguard your health, preserve your passion, and sustain the vitality of your businesses.

Additionally, there are several organizations that provide resources and support for those experiencing burnout.

American Psychological Association (APA): The APA offers a range of resources and tools to help professionals manage and prevent burnout including articles, research papers, and webinars on topics related to workplace stress, resilience, and self-care.

National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI): NAMI is the largest grassroots mental health organization in the United States. While NAMI's primary focus is on mental health conditions, they also recognize the importance of addressing burnout among professionals. NAMI offers support groups, educational programs, and online resources.

American Institute of Stress (AIS): AIS is a nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing the understanding of stress and its impact on health, performance, and productivity. They offer a variety of resources, including articles, webinars, and selfassessment tools, to help individuals recognize and manage stress and burnout in the workplace.

These organizations are just a few examples of the many resources available to professionals experiencing burnout. However, the first step is to recognize you need help and put yourself first.

Remember… prioritizing self-care is not a luxury; asking for help is a sign of strength, not weakness; and most importantly, you are worthy of a healthy, happy life!

Workforce Development Intrviews

By Kathleen Kuznicki, 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 interviewing persons from various organizations/industries to get their perspectives on Workforce Development. We hope to inform our members about the challenges businesses are facing in various industry sectors and what best practices are being implemented to resolve these challenges either by business themselves or regional organizations. The following five organizations recently participated in the project to share their insights:

Butler

County Community College Personal

Empowerment Training

- Personal Empowerment Training is rooted in emotional intelligence training and offers participants the tools and techniques to build self-confidence and become the best version of themselves. This training explores over 40 emotional concepts such as beliefs, self-esteem, empathy, active listening, and managing conflict Participants increased knowledge, practice and application encourages new perspectives and habits. Tricia Pritchard, Director of Community Employment Development, explains why training in these “soft skills” is so important for developing a health workforce.: PNRC Workforce Development Interview with Butler County Community College (youtube.com)

Tri-County Workforce Investment Board, Inc.- The mission of the Tri-County Workforce Investment Board, Inc. is to provide responsive and innovative leadership that meets the current and future needs of employers and job seekers. The vision of the Tri-County Workforce Investment Board, Inc. is that the local area will be a destination of choice for employers and job seekers, where existing businesses experience growth and where new businesses are eager to locate because of the excellent job opportunities, economic vitality, quality of life, and the presence of a skilled workforce. Mary Salony, The Executive Director at the Tri-County WIB shares about the various WIB programs that benefit the workforce and our communities. PNRC Workforce Development Interview with Tri-County Workforce Investment Board, Inc. (youtube.com)

Yarger Professional Search

-Yarger knows that people are the most critical element in any company’s success. Their strategy involves the latest technology and a multi-channel approach to ensure their clients draw from the strongest candidate pools available. They have a passion for research and effective networking that enables them to find talent that others may overlook. Hear from

Micah Yarger about why some workers want to transition to a different job and about the competition employers are facing for the talent pool. Workers want, and frankly need, more than just a paycheck from employers. PNRC Workforce Development Interview with Yarger Professional Search (youtube.com)

Butler County Board of Commissioners Chair Leslie Osche- in this role, Leslie serves as Chairman of the Board of the Southwest PA Commission, and on the Boards of RIDC, Tri-County Workforce Investment, and Community Development Corporation and represents the Commissioners on the Children & Youth, Parks & Recreation, and the Aging Advisory Committee and the 9-1-1 Communications Council. As Commissioner, she and her fellow Board members successfully secured two major federal transportation grants to advance the Gateway 228 corridor, developed a County Infrastructure Bank, and launched the Butler County Growth Collaborative for Economic Development. Learn how the Board of Commissioners for Butler County is working with the Growth Collaborative, Butler County Community College, and Health Systems to attract workers and businesses to the region, and hear about the Micro-Transportation pilot program and other innovative ideas. PNRC Workforce Development Interview with Board of Commissioners County of Butler (youtube.com)

Beaver County Corporation for Economic Development- BCCED is a non-profit certified economic development organization located in SWPA. BCCED’s mission is to enhance the economic well-being and quality of life for the Beaver County Community. BCCED fulfills its mission by supporting, undertaking, and funding programs or projects in the economic development practice areas of entrepreneurship and business retention, expansion, and attraction. BCCED also supports economic development projects and initiatives designed to retain and attract residents for the purpose of growing a highly trained Beaver County Workforce. Lew Villotti, President of the BCCED, discusses the role of the BCCED in workforce development and the opportunities for business in the region. PNRC Workforce Development Interview with the Beaver County Corporation for Economic Development (youtube.com)

A.W. Beattie Career Center

By Shawn Annarelli, A.W. Beattie Career Center

A.W. Beattie Career Center offers 19 programs to provide an immersive educational experience to students so that they are college and career-ready after high school graduation.

Graduate follow-up studies, most recently conducted by the Career Center in 2023, indicate that 97 percent of students are hired full-time or are enrolled full-time for post-secondary education within a year of high school graduation. More than 99 percent of students are employed part-time, enrolled part-time in post-secondary education, or are serving in the military within a year of graduating.

The 19 Career Center programs fulfill elective credit requirements for 10th, 11th, and 12th grade students. Seniors who attend A.W. Beattie Career Center participate in the NOCTI exam, which awards industry certifications and college credits based on test results. This incentivizes and empowers students to build their resume and portfolio while they are in high school.

The Career Center has expanded its learning opportunities in recent years with new programs like Veterinary Sciences, Sports Medicine-Rehab Therapy, and Surgical Sciences. These programs were created to meet the educational needs of students and the needs of local, continuously growing industries.

To go along with an expansion in programs, the Career Center’s enrollment also has increased every year for six years. There were about 700 students enrolled in programs in the 2018-2019 school year, and there will be about 1,000 students enrolled to begin the 2024-25 school year.

Students who elect to attend A.W. Beattie receive hands-on, real-world experiences in their selected program so that they can actively explore a multitude of career pathways in the field of education they are interested in.

Students in the Culinary Arts and Pastry Arts program prepare food and manage a restaurant that is open to the public Thursday and Friday for breakfast and lunch. Third-year cosmetology students work in a salon open to the public. Students in the Automotive Technology and Automotive Collision Technology programs work daily on vehicles to be used on roadways.

The examples of real-world, authentic experiences in every program are endless. Qualified students throughout the Career Center also have cooperative education and clinical opportunities to work in local businesses and non-profits. These experiences add a paid or unpaid career-based learning component to a student's experience Seniors in Cooperative Education and Clinicals attend AW Beattie one to three days a week, and they report to their job sites for the remainder of the week.

Students who achieve the necessary standards of career education excellence through A.W. Beattie Career Center and their high school programs are able to be inducted into the National Technical Honor Society each year. It is a true privilege to be a part of this outstanding leadership group.

Seniors are able to apply for a variety of local, regional, and statewide scholarships to assist them with costs related to tools for employment and post-secondary tuition. A.W. Beattie Career Center is proud of each student's efforts to pursue their passion.

May 2024

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Alicia Photography

American Cancer Society

Armstrong

AW 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

Creese, Smith, Hune, & Co LLC

Crisis Center North, Inc

Dillon McCandless King Coulter & Graham

LLP

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

Amspirit of Western PA

Atria Senior Living at Cranberry Woods

Best Western Plus Cranberry

Brandy Farrow State Farm Insurance

Butler County Tourism & Convention Bureau

cfsbank

Counseling and Wellness Center of Pittsburgh

Delta Telecom of PA

Diversified Plan Services Inc

Dollar Bank

Ellie Mental Health Pittsburgh

EnVision Independence Rehab Services LLC

Allegheny Mountain Hardwood Flooring

Any Lab Test Now - Wexford, PA

Citadel Construction Group, LLC

Fischgrund Consulting

Hunt Insurance Services Inc

Kim Marie Angiulli - Coldwell Banker

First National Bank

Help Pittsburgh Hire

Joe Palmieri Construction, Inc

JP Diroll Photography

Just Life, Inc

kat's coffeehouse

Little Moon Marketing

Millie's Homemade Ice Cream

Minuteman Press - Cranberry

MSA - The Safety Company

No H20 Auto Detailing

North Allegheny School District

North Hills Monthly Magazine

Pearl Insurance Agency, LLC

Light of Life Rescue Mission

ModWash

Pittsburgh Design Diva LLC

Powerwash Mobile Cleaning

Robert Morris University

IMA | ESS

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 Twp.

WesBanco Bank - Perry Highway

Win-Son Inc.

Renewal By Andersen

Restart, Inc

Sain Law, LLC

Sunrise Assisted Living of McCandless

Team Fishguy Transplant Foundation

Tequila Jalisco

The Wilson Group, LLC

Thee Hemp Co

Thomas V Giel Garage Doors, Inc

Three Rivers Paintball, Inc.

Triple H Solutions

Univest Financial

Weber Insurance Agency

Ronald A Sofranko

Tropical Smoothie Cafe

Victorian Finance

West-Aircomm FCU

Zerorez Inc

Tom Boivin

Donna Kline

Buzzelli

Annie Cairns Lisa Hunt