Corridors December 2022

Every month, we honor a member who has made major contributions to the Chamber, its members, and the community. At this time, as the year is ending, I would like to recognize our 2022 honorees one more time. These are people, who, through their unselfishness, have made a difference.

• January Curtis Armstrong, Total Card Processing

• February- Tony Drescher, Direct Payment Consultants

• March Bradley Wilkins, Key Bank Wexford

• April Tom Baker, North Hills Community Outreach

• May Jada Lehman, Expense Reduction Analysts

• June- Amy Schafer, Dollar Bank

• July Nancy Iglesias, Oasis Senior Advisors

• August Amanda Mitchell, Mr. Electric of Cranberry Twp.

• September Dawn Petrosky, Rex Glass & Mirror

• October- Amy Knight, Flour Power Kids Cooking Studios

• November Art Ianuzzi

• December Retiring Board members

Tracy Armstrong, North Pittsburgh Greeting Co.

-Gary Basilone, Basilone Executive Search

Andrew Chiapusio, First National Bank

Lorry Perkins, Travel Blogger

Calvin Sales, New York Life

Sincerely,

Jim Boltz President, PNRC

Jim Boltz President

Retiring Board Members

While every year, we recognize retiring board members in December, their efforts and generosity are continuous. The hard work of individuals that serve on the Board benefits all Chamber members.

Calvin Sales, New York Life

Calvin has served on the board for three years. In the past year, he has served as the secretary on the Executive Committee. Calvin has also served as chair on the membership committee. Calvin was selected member of the month in September of 2018 and the chamber’s Young Professional of the Year in 2018.

Tracy Armstrong, North Pittsburgh Greeting Company

Tracy has served for seven years on the Board. In that time, she has served on the Executive Committee for four years, including serving as Board Chair. She also served on numerous committees: steering, strategic planning, personnel, and nominating. She has chaired the steering and personnel committees. In 2016, Tracy was awarded the chamber’s Women’s Entrepreneurial Award and, in 2021, she received the chamber’s Board Champion Award.

Lorry Perkins, Travel Blogger

Lorry served on the Board in 2022. She has also served on the outreach and events committee. In 2020, Lorry was chosen as member of the month in January.

Gary Basilone, Basilone Executive Search

Gary has served on the Board for two separate six year stints. He has served in numerous capacities including Board Chair and Educational Foundation Board Chair . He has also served on several committees including the executive, steering, strategic planning, personnel, and nominating, chairing the nominating committee. Twice, Gary has been chosen as the chamber’s annual Prestigious Business Leader and, in 2020, Gary was awarded the chamber’s Board Champion Award.

Andrew Chiapusio, First National Bank

Andrew has served for six years on the Board. In that time, he has served on the Executive Committee for four years, including the office of Board Chair. He also served on numerous committees including steering, strategic planning, personnel, legislative, finance, facilities, and nominating. He has chaired the steering, legislative and facilities committees.

Pittsburgh North Regional Chamber

How Companies Can Give Back During the Holidays in 2022

Authored by: Anna Webber, Team Contributor | TeamBonding

The holiday season is fast approaching, and with it comes the opportunity to help those in need and give back to the community. This is also a great opportunity for you to show your gratitude to those who have dedicated so much of their time and effort to furthering the success of your organization in the past year.

According to America’s Charities Snapshot Employee Donor Research, 71% of surveyed employees say that it’s important for them to work for a company that is supportive of giving back and volunteering. This leads us to a conclusion that giving back during the holidays is first and foremost a meaningful way to show your appreciation and honor the spirit of giving, but it can also provide plenty of great business benefits.

But what exactly are those great business benefits, and what are some of the best ways to give back during the 2022 holidays? Read on to find out what you can do right now to make this holiday season a more joyous time for your employees, as well as your local community.

The Benefits of Giving Back

As a leader in your organization, you’re always looking for those win win situations in which good deeds and acts of charity can also prove beneficial to the company. That kind of synergy can go a long way toward furthering your organization’s goals, improving employee engagement, and strengthening your community all at once. So, why not seek it out wherever you can?

Here are some of the many benefits your organization can enjoy when you decide to give back this holiday season.

Stronger Relationships

When your organization lends a helping hand, be it to charities, to employees, or to your community as a whole, it lays the foundation for a strong relationship that can prove beneficial to all involved. The recipients of your organization’s charity will reap the rewards of those contributions, while your organization can garner a good reputation and the goodwill that charity evokes.

Increased Employee Engagement

You know by now how important employee engagement is to the success of any organization. According to a recent report from Gallup, companies with highly engaged employees are 21% more profitable and outperform competitors by 147%. In other words, companies that are committed to improving the overall employee experience can directly impact the customer experience, which ultimately leads to higher profits.

One of the best ways to improve employee engagement is to give back to the community during the holiday season. Whether by allowing employees to volunteer at a charity of their choice, by volunteering your own time, or by donating to causes that speak to them, you can inspire and motivate your people to connect with their place of work and become more engaged and productive.

An Improved Community

Making your community better by investing in projects and initiatives that people care about not only helps the community grow but can also directly impact the prosperity of your organization. Whether you’re beautifying public spaces, putting forth an effort to combat issues afflicting the community, or making donations to improve schools in your area, your company gains just as much from your giving as everyone else.

4 Simple Ways to Give Back for the Holidays

Now that you know just how beneficial to your organization giving back can be, you’re probably wondering how best to make it happen. Let’s look at a few of the best ways to show your gratitude to your workforce and your community during the holiday season this year.

1. Donate to a Meaningful Cause

Donating to a charity is one of the simplest ways to extend a helping hand during the holidays. Not only does it provide funding for a noble cause and offer help to those that need it most, but it can also help to build a strong reputation for your company within your community and among your employees.

Choosing a charity that reflects the values that your organization strives to uphold is a great way to strengthen company culture. If you want to go a step further, you can even ask your employees which charities they wish to support and then make donations in their names. This way, you are essentially taking the spotlight off your corporation or business and placing it on your deserving employees.

2. Organize a Charity Event

Simple donations to a meaningful cause can go a long way, but holding a charity event can go even further than that. Seek out a foundation that reflects your company’s values, and then organize an event to raise funds.

Provided your event is a successful one, you should be able to raise far more than what your organization would have been able to donate all on its own. In doing so, you’ll also be providing a great time for all of those involved. A fun holiday event that provides money to a great cause is one of those win wins that you just can’t pass up.

Consider virtual team building events like Impact Online that have a charitable aspect. Engage your employees with fun challenges, quizzes, and trivia while also enabling them to make meaningful contributions to the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals.

If you’re looking for more localized charitable initiatives, Paws For a Cause is a unique team building workshop that also uses games and trivia to get people involved in making the community a happier place for everyone. What better way to achieve that than by having your employees work together to make and donate essential supplies to local animal shelters.

3. Corporate Volunteering

You can give back to your community and your employees at the same time this holiday season by creating a workplace initiative to encourage corporate volunteering. Providing your employees an opportunity to volunteer for a charity that’s meaningful to them can help to improve employee engagement, satisfaction, and retention, while also providing a great cause with a helping hand when they most need it.

This method of giving back should prove to be especially useful with the younger members of today’s workforce, as they’re more motivated to do work that they find meaningful. In fact, the 2014 Millennial Impact Study found that 53% of Millennials said that having their passions recognized by employers is one of their main reasons for not leaving the company. In a separate study, 77% of surveyed companies believe that they can attract more job applications from Millenials if they offer employee engagement opportunities.

4. Improve Your Local Community

You are almost certain to feel the impact of your organization’s giving much more if you focus on local causes. Perhaps the goods or services that your company provides can be offered for free to members of your community who need them most during the holiday season, or maybe you can give donations to areas of your community that require repair, reform, or renewal.

Whatever you choose to do this holiday season to better your community is just as much a gift to your company and its employees as it is a gift to your neighbors. To read the full article, click HERE

COMMUNITY BUILDERS

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

Ace Handyman Services Pittsburgh North

Advantage Energy Partners, LLC

Alliance for Nonprofit Resources

Ameriglide

Another Level Ministries

Armstrong Comfort Solutions

Arvos Schmidtsche Schack, LLC

Atria’s Restaurant & Taverm Fox Chapel Axis Business Consultants

Banc Card of America Big Spring Spirits Bill Few Associates, Inc. Bosland Electric, LLC Butler County Symphony Butler Eagle

CCK Consulting | tHRive People Practices

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

Colbert Law

Coldwell Banker Jan Stevens

Cole Management, Inc.

Common Sense Cleaning, LLC

Commonwealth Charter Academy Community Bank

Compass Self Storage Gibsonia

Cranberry Highlands Golf Course

Cranberry Supply Co.

Cranberry Township

Cranberry Village Estates

Crea Excavating, Inc.

Creative Real Estate Development Co.

Creese, Smith, Hune & Co. LLC

Curio412, LLC

C.W. Howard Insurance Agency, Inc.

Daniel Novakovich Insurance Agency

Dented Keg Brewing Company

Direct Payment Consultants

Dollar Bank

Dukovich & Associates

Ed Cline Appraisals

Edward Jones Investments Andrew Dobies 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

Franklin Inn Mexican Restaurant Fun Fore All Family Fun Park Goddard School Hampton Goldfish Swim School Wexford Guardian Storage Cranberry Guardian Storage Hampton Guardian Storage Ross

Guardian Storage Seven Fields H2R CPA Handel's of McCandless HEARTH

Heritage Hospice

Highlander Waterproofing & Foundation Repair Hill, Barth & King LLC

Holsinger

Home Depot Cranberry House of 1000 Beers I Clean, Inc.

IMA | ESS

InVision Human Services Innovate E Commerce, Inc.

Jason's Deli Cranberry Twp Jeff Brooks Landscaping Jewelry by Alicia and Scott Jireh Mobile

Joe Palmieri Construction, Inc. Junior Achievement of Western PA

Just In Thyme Catering and Events, Inc. Kress Restoration Landmark Properties Group Laurel Business Institute

Laurelwood/West Realty Land & Development Co. Leathem Creation Co. Legal Shield & Identity Theft Protection

COMMUNITY BUILDERS

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

Liberty Insurance Agency

Link to Visibility, LLC

Lisowski Tree Service & Landscaping, LLC

Masonic Village at Sewickley

MEDIA The Creative Agency

MHY Family Services

Mainstream Boutique

Maria Valdez In Memory of Bruce Conley

Mars Bank

Mascari Auto Body, Inc.

Masonic Fund Society

McCall Scanlon & Tice, LLC CPA

McGuire Memorial Foundation

Mcintyre Square Associates

Morella & Associates

MSA The Safety Company

Muhlenkamp & Company, Inc.

Mullin Landscape & Winter Management

Myers, Patsy, & Associates, LLC

Newt & Ruby Interiors

NexTier Bank

Nick Scotti Concrete Contractor Inc.

Nicole Zirnsak State Farm Insurance

North Hills Family Dental

North Pittsburgh Greeting Company

North Star Buick GMC

Northland Public Library 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.

Pawlowicz Dentistry

Phelps Nursery PGH, North Inc.

Piatt Sotheby’s International Realty Pittsburgh Skin

Polesky Agency Erie Insurance Priority2Work

R.M. Stoof & Associates Inc.

Realty ONE Group Gold Standard Restart, Inc.

Right Electric, Inc.

RiteRug Flooring

Riverview Carpet & Flooring, Inc. Rj Community Management SERVPRO of Southern Butler County

SPARK SIGNS & GRAPHICS

Scolieri Law Group P. C. Sechler Law Firm, LLC

Sheeley Agency Allstate Insurance Special T Electronics

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 Joint...the Chiropractic Place

The Lynch Law Group

The Pavilion at Star Lake Live Nation

The Payroll Shop, LLC

The Wilson Group, LLC

Thought Process Enterprises

Three Rivers Paintball, Inc.

Tierra Realty Management

TownePlace Suites Township of Hampton Treasure House Fashions

Treesdale Golf & Country Club

Treesdale Life BeLocal Cranberry

Trib Total Media

Ultimate Granite Surfaces, Inc.

Vincentian

Vitalant (Central Blood Bank) Wain Landscaping, LLC

Walnut Grill

Weber Insurance Agency

WesBanco Bank

West Penn Multi List, Inc.

White Deer Run Treatment Network

Win Son Inc.

Wine Concrete Products Inc.

Young Adult Survivors United

7 Ways Your Company Can Volunteer This Holiday Season

Authored by: Kyrsten Ledger

The weather’s getting chilly, leaves have fallen off the trees, and snow is on its way! That means the holidays are right around the corner and so is the time of giving! While receiving presents is nice, being generous to others is even better, especially as a business. Taking the initiative to give to others as a company is rewarding, engages employees to work as a team, and promotes your business.

Things we take for granted, like books, warm clothes, toiletries, food, and shelter, are often luxuries that millions of people don’t have. Even if your business isn’t able to donate or purchase items to give away, you can still devote time by volunteering to help those in need.

Check out ways your business can make the holidays special for everyone

1. Host a Drive

A lot of drives require a minimum of participants to either donate items or help volunteer with set up and registration. That’s why companies are the perfect candidates for hosting any type of drive. No matter what you choose, remember that most organizations will help you coordinate the drive; however, you must sign up or apply in advance. Not every area is going to have programs that help companies host drives and that’s okay! Some will still offer their assistance to make sure you’re successful and allow you to mail in any donations you receive.

There are many different drives you can look into, including books, clothes, blood, and food. Hosting a drive takes a lot of preparation, therefore it’s best to figure out which kind will be the most suitable and make sure your company meets all of the requirements. To find out what drive best suits your employees, send out a survey and have them vote on a date they’re available to volunteer/donate and what type of drive they would be willing to participate in. For example, some of your staff might be squeamish about blood and most likely wouldn’t want to be a part of a blood drive.

2. Adopt-a-Family

If you want to take donating a step further, try adopting a family for the holidays. Once your company has signed up and “adopted” a family, you will receive their Christmas lists. Place the lists in your break room and have staff members sign up for certain items. This way you prevent any duplicates and ensure that everyone gets an equal number of gifts. Set a deadline for everyone to bring in the gifts they purchased and throw a wrapping party with holiday music and festive drinks, like apple cider or hot chocolate. I used to work for a company who adopted a family through their church community, but there are other organizations like Toys for Tots and the Salvation Army that offer sign up services. Remember when you adopt a family, you aren’t just getting gifts for the kids, but everyone in the household. This includes parents, grandparents, and any other relatives that might live in the home, like cousins or aunts and uncles.

3. Make Care Packages

Not being able to afford or receive presents during the holidays can be disheartening, but being surrounded by loved ones is truly what matters most. That’s why making care packages for soldiers overseas or animals left in shelters can give someone a little piece of home. Do some research and provide a list of items needed for the care packages. Then set a deadline for each staff member to bring in their own individually made care kit. This ensures that each one is unique and includes personal touches.

Organizations like Support Our Troops, Just Our Soldiers Helpers, and Operation Gratitude all offer care package opportunities for active military members. From sunscreen and movies to candy bars and beef jerky, there’s no shortage of items you can send. There are also non profit animal rescues or local animal control centers that accept donations such as food, toys, litter, blankets, or dog beds. Some even have Amazon wish lists to make it easier on you, your employees, and the shelter staff. Overall, you can always call to find out what they need.

4.Send Handwritten Holiday Cards

Some places, like hospitals or nursing homes, don’t allow care packages but will allow you to send cards. Conduct a short staff meeting and have everyone brainstorm holiday card ideas and agree on a destination to send them when they’re completed. Once you have a general idea of what the cards will look like, get them printed and hand out one for each member of your staff. Every employee will have the ability to write their own holiday inspired message. Of course, there’s going to be some generalness to each card because you won’t know these people personally, but I can promise you the thought alone is what matters. After years of experience with nursing home residents at my mom’s facility, I can vouch that the smallest gesture can make all the difference in the world. That’s why letting others know you’re thinking about them this holiday season will keep them from saying, “Bah Humbug!” The thought of receiving a piece of mail that isn’t a bill or junk is enough to make anyone feel warm and fuzzy inside.

5. Help the Homeless

If you want to be more involved with who you’re helping and put a face to the cause, try finding a homeless shelter near your company. Pick a date, usually on the evenings or weekends, and put signup sheets in your lunch room or send out a mass email asking for volunteers. Once you have enough volunteers, agree to either meet at work and carpool or all meet at the homeless shelter. Here at Quality Logo Products®, we like to donate our unused promos to our local homeless shelter, Hesed House, including jackets, blankets, and reusable water bottles. Winter is by far one of the worst seasons to not have proper clothing, a good meal, or an adequate heat source. Food pantries and soup kitchens are ways your company can make sure that people have enough food to eat. Since shelters fill up fast, hot foods will help warm up those that have to spend a lot of time outdoors. Aside from food, the homeless are in desperate need for hats, mittens, winter coats, socks, and boots to help keep warm. You can donate extra or outgrown winter gear, including kids clothing items. Most people don’t realize there are over 1 million homeless kids in the United States between the ages 5 18. It’s vital for their overall health and well being that they also stay warm. Try calling your local homeless shelters, including women’s domestic shelters, to sign up and help!

6. Be Unique

With so many opportunities to spread happiness, some of the simplest ways to make someone’s holiday can get overlooked, like leaving a generous tip at your local coffee shop, donating poinsettia bouquets to district teachers, or buying donuts for your county law enforcement. You can choose something different each year or have your company come up with unique ways to give back and say thanks and take a vote! Once something is decided on, set up a donation box that everyone has access to and let your staff know how long they have to contribute. You can set a minimum of $5 for each staff member or leave the amount entirely up to them!

After the donations are all collected, it’s time to execute your company’s idea! If your employees chose donuts, use the money to buy a wide variety at your neighborhood donut shop and drop off the donuts at the police department closest to you. Keeping these opportunities local not only spreads holiday cheer, but also gives back to your community and promotes internal economic growth.

7. Volunteer

If none of these options work for your company due to a shortage of staff or you would rather donate time, you can always volunteer. There are tons of different organizations to choose from, such as Feed My Starving Children or Meals on Wheels, that can help spread some holiday cheer. All you have to do is gather a list of how many of your employees would like to volunteer, sign up, and pick a date and time!

There are places all over the United States where you and your company can volunteer. Need somewhere to start? Ask your employees for some ideas or you can try finding your perfect volunteer match here. Over 100,000 non profits rely on Volunteer Match to find volunteers for their programs.

No matter what you decide to do, whether it’s a personal or team decision, you’re sure to brighten someone’s day by donating your time this holiday season. Who knows, maybe you’ll make their whole year! There is always going to be people and animals out there that need help, especially when the weather gets colder. In the end, spreading happiness, warmth, and kindness is never a bad thing.

Does your company volunteer or give back at the end of the year? Share your stories below. We’d love to hear what you do to make the world a little more joyful!

To read the entire article, click HERE

Keeping Employee Benefits Simple

It’s possible to overcomplicate employee benefits.

Depending on the size, demographics and level of benefit knowledge among the people who comprise your workforce, there may be value to keeping your benefit program simple and understandable. Most employees already juggle a variety of responsibilities between home life and work life and piling on additional complications from a poorly planned or communicated benefit program without sufficient supporting resources doesn’t help.

Companies can start by showing their employees they care by developing a well thought out, consistent benefit strategy that evolves over time rather than undergoing drastic shifts from year to year. By communicating the cohesive strategy and its associated details on a regular basis through an organized, user friendly multi media campaign, employees can better understand their benefit options and make more confident, informed decisions. And by providing employees with ample and targeted resources to facilitate a smooth decision making and enrollment selection process, employers also win, since their benefit dollar expenditures will yield maximum returns and help improve employee morale and productivity.

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 allow you to save time and money. Save on everything from payroll to energy and you do not even have to waste time researching your Chamber has done it all for you.

NONPROFIT

Each Holiday Season, Chamber member businesses and the community join together to help individuals in need through our local nonprofits. This year, the 17 nonprofits who have submitted lists of individuals include:

Bethany Christian Services

Crisis Center North Glade Run Lutheran Services In Vision Human Services The Lighthouse Foundation Lutheran Services Society

MHY Family Services

North Hills Affordable Housing (HEARTH) North Hills Community Outreach (NHCO) Pittsburgh Job Corps Pittsburgh Mercy

Pick up your tag at any of the locations (listed below) or visit the Giving Tree Square booths at the Holiday Village Market on Saturday, December 3rd from 5 8pm to fulfill the wish of a child or adult in need this holiday season.

Giving Tree tags are available for pick up at the following locations:

AHN Wexford Hospital AJ Technology Group

Amy’s Embroidery & More

Beyond Parallel Fitness Bradford Woods Community Church Camp Bow Wow Carpenter, McCadden, Lane, LLP CFS Bank

Clear Choice Enterprises

Coldwell Banker Realty Cranberry Ferguson Financial Consulting, Inc.

Flour Power Kid’s Cooking School Flourish Group Franklin Inn G & G Fitness

Goldfish Swim School Fox Chapel Goldfish Swim School Wexford Hand and Stone Spa Cranberry

Innovative Family Wellness Jodie Erickson Joseph Lane & Co. Employees of Keybank Wexford Knichel Logistics Lifeline Therapy

Loan Depot Skippy Cottrell Lynch Law Group

Melanie Marsh, Realtor Meyers, Patsy, & Associates Minuteman Press Morella & Associates

MyDog’s Care Center

My Salon Suite North Hills Dental Nothing Bundt Cakes OMEGA Federal Credit Union Outback Steakhouse

PINNACLE Financial Strategies, LLC

Pittsburgh Optical Ridge Insurance Agency, Inc. Rowdy Roots Salon Salon Reflections Wexford Sharkey’s Cuts for Kids

Splash a Division of Nicklas Supply Tierra Realty Management Toto Community Resource Turo Family Chiropractic Unishippers of Pittsburgh/Greensburg Valley Pool and Spa

The community can drop off gifts through December 12th, 2022. Collection of gifts will be coordinated with each nonprofit at the Chamber offices following the last collection day.

Pressley Ridge Treasure House Fashions Verland Vincentian Collaborative Services Wesley Family Services Young Adult Survivors Nonprofit Spotlight Sponsored by

Midterm Election Results

Authored by: Jon O’Data | Funeral Director, Cremation Society of Pennsylvania

The busiest midterm election is history is over, at least in Pennsylvania. The projected Red Wave did not materialize as election winners for the most part followed registration and voting patterns, as generally Republicans won in Republican areas and Democrats won in Democrat areas. Democrat Attorney General Josh Shapiro won the governor’s race and Democrat Lt. Governor John Fetterman won the Senate seat vacated by retiring Senator Pat Toomey. Although the majority of Pennsylvania counties trend Republican, Democrats have a 550,000 advantage statewide in registered voters due to large numbers in the cities. This bears out locally for example, as Republican U.S. House candidate Jeremy Shaffer, running in a district containing all of Beaver County and part of Allegheny County, won Beaver County by 12,000 votes but lost in Allegheny County by 35,000. Curiously for the Republicans, Senate candidate Dr. Mehmet Oz won Beaver County by 6200 votes but gubernatorial candidate Doug Mastriano lost Beaver by 2000 votes, indicating a lot of ticket splitting. Josh Shapiro, John Fetterman, and U.S. House candidate Chris DeLuzio won Allegheny County by large margins, again following voter registration patterns.

Jon O’Data is a funeral director at the Cremation Society of Pennsylvania in Wexford and a member of the chamber’s Legislative Affairs Committee. He is a graduate of Geneva College, Robert Morris University, Pittsburgh Institute of Mortuary Science, and is an elected member of the Republican Committee of Beaver County.

Pittsburgh North Regional Chamber

2022 Board of Directors Election Results

Every year the Pittsburgh North Regional Chamber has an election for its Board of Directors. It is our members’ opportunity to be involved in the process of selecting the leadership of the Chamber. The voting results will be paramount in setting the direction of our organization for the next few years. Each member company had one vote, while companies with multiple locations got a vote for each location listed as a member.

The Pittsburgh North Regional Chamber elected six Directors to its Board. Five new Business Leaders and One Board incumbent will represent the business community in the region on the Chamber's Board of Directors for a 3-year term (2023-2025).

Incumbents include:

• Lisa Hunt, U$X Federal Credit Union New leaders include:

• Steve Diffenderfer, Dollar Bank

• Sherrie Dunlap Gallagher, United Way of Southwestern Pennsylvania

• Ryan Kociela, Butler County Community College

• Chuck Reese, Sharkey’s Cuts for Kids in the North Hills

• Felipe Valdez, Nothing Bundt Cakes.

The Corporate Net Income Tax Rate is Finally Reduced!

Today let’s luxuriate in the start of a phase down for Pennsylvania’s Corporate Net Income Tax (CNIT) rate. Our 9.99 percent CNIT which has been the highest flat rate in the country has always been a Stop Sign for businesses considering locating to Pennsylvania.

Beginning January 1, 2023, the tax rate will decrease one percentage point to 8.99 percent. Each year thereafter, the rate is scheduled to decrease 0.5 percentage points until it reaches 4.99 percent at the beginning of 2031. The full reduction takes PA from the highest flat CNIT rate in the country to the sixth lowest and marks the first change in the rate since 1995.

It is so easy to say, “Well that’s good but now we need the Net Operating Loss percentage limitation to be phased out,” and “Yes but now we need permitting reform,” True, but stop for one moment and enjoy a victory lap.

Take a deep breath, count to ten and visualize all of the invisible work of many advocacy organizations who have worked tirelessly, putting in hours and hours of strategy meetings and meetings with lawmakers to achieve the rate reduction.

If you have ever wondered, “Does advocacy really work? Is there a Return on Investment (ROI) or is it just like throwing money down a rabbit hole?” now you know the answer. Yes, advocacy does work.

Personally, it was a challenge to make the switch from running a small business to advocating for a pro business environment. Advocacy is not like running a business where there is a Profit and Loss statement to review, inventory to count and a ROI. Those are concrete metrics. Working on legislation is much different. The results are not immediate or tangible. Advocacy requires patience, the ability to take the long view, working for what can be done politically known as “playing small ball,” the ability to compromise, and above all, persistence. Our organization has worked for years with the Compete PA Coalition where reduction of the state’s corporate net income tax rate has been at the top of their policy agenda.

According to Carl Marrara, Executive Director, Pennsylvania Manufacturers Association, “This is the first major business tax reform package in decades,” …In 1995, then Governor Tom Ridge signed a tax code that lowered PA’s tax rate from 11.5% to the current 9.99%. As more overseas operations are being reshored, states are competing for business talent, capital, and investment.”

You may wonder why the CNIT rate reduction took so long and how was it finally accomplished. State lawmakers worked in a bipartisan manner and Governor Tom Wolf did not insist on attaching provisions that would erase the benefits of the CNIT reduction. Here’s how the vote played out for this year’s tax code, House Bill 1234, part of the budget, that included rate reduction: The House voted 184 16 and Senate 38 12.

To increase your understanding of how MBA Government Affairs works know that we join with several coalitions to accomplish legislative goals. The Power PA Jobs coalition opposes Pennsylvania’s entrance into the Regional Greenhous Gas Initiative (RGGI), The PA Coalition for Civil Justice Reform, as its name implies, and Stop New Energy Taxes think severance tax. MBA partners on occasion with Pittsburgh Works Together, the Greater Pittsburgh Chamber, PA Chamber, NFIB, the Commonwealth Foundation and others.

Our goal is always to do what is in the best interest of businesses.

Authored by: Eileen Anderson | Director, Government Relations, Manufacturer & Business Association

About Acton Academy

Pittsburgh

Acton Academy Pittsburgh is a school based in the North Hills where kids are free to be kids while learning how to be kind, compassionate, and confident individuals empowered to thrive in a world that needs independent, motivated thinkers and learners. Supported by the latest in technology and cognitive science, our school is a self paced learning environment that is designed to foster responsibility, goal setting, and teamwork. Our students (ages 5 14) are independent learners who find great joy in learning in a tight knit community that upholds the highest standards of excellence.

The Acton Academies are an affiliate network of schools operated by entrepreneurial families whose own children participate in the program. The schools provide each other with feedback and resources, but each school remains independent and unique to its own community. At its core, the Acton Academy model focuses on:

• Learning to learn by adopting methods, routines and mental models as habits;

• Learning to do in a way that delivers real world skills; and

• Learning to be by espousing moral habits and life lessons deep in the heart. Coupled together, all three of these ways lead to a next great adventure in life, that eventually blooms into a calling that changes the world.

We move beyond the traditional tools of lectures, homework, high stakes tests, and grades. Our learners work at their own pace to achieve mastery in the core skills of reading, writing, and math. In mastery learning, children take the time they need to master a topic before moving on to the next, more advanced level. We replace external motivators like high stakes test scores and grades with an intrinsic growth mindset. Students work with a guide to differentiate their core curriculum and progress at their own pace utilizing a blend of hands on and online learning tools. They showcase their mastery by meeting their goals, earning badges, assembling portfolios and taking part in public exhibitions of their work.

Our students learn in collaborative classrooms of multi age learners. Multi age studios mean learning can be shared peer to peer and within squads through critiques and joint projects in a way that shares and accelerates learning in an exponential way and includes high levels of fun and engagement. Our flexible approach challenges each student with their differentiated learning plan, coupled with real world projects and experiences. We believe students learn by doing. Whether it’s launching a startup business, creating a football helmet to prevent concussions, playing a musical instrument, painting a mosaic, or designing a trinket with our 3 D printer, Acton students are building real life skills in the classroom every day.

We believe the learning experience is much richer when the teacher (“Guide”) offers insightful questions and facilitates hands on learning. Asking the right questions is equally as important as knowing the answers. Each day is launched with a Socratic discussion to highlight the focus of the day and build energy, bring up a community need, or just inspire and encourage students. Launches often begin with a story or video that sets the framework for the discussion. Or a guide might simply read a quote, such as this one by Maya Angelou: “I've learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” The students might then grapple with whether they believe what you do, what you say, or how you make someone feel has a more lasting impact. Socratic discussions develop listening skills, logic, perspective, and judgment that lead to powerful critical thinking.

Acton Academy is “student led.” Inspired by Montessori principles and Socratic teaching methods, our school fosters a holistic environment that aims to stimulate children’s minds, spirits, and bodies as they figure out the world around them and their place in it. This means young people take ownership of their education and peer relationships. Acton students learn to think independently, take responsibility, and embrace challenges. The hallmark of our school is aimed at developing personal virtues in every child: responsibility, kindness, empathy, hard work, excellence, and integrity. Whether it’s setting up rules for the studio, holding a friend accountable during group work, leading a studio maintenance team, or highlighting something a peer did that was honorable during our daily character callouts at the close of each day, students are constantly exercising and honing life skills. Armed with purpose and good character, we believe our students will launch into adulthood prepared to find their calling and change the world.

Asking questions is far more powerful than delivering answers not just at Acton Academy, but also at home! It’s challenging to come up with good questions when you’re under the stress of all that comes with children and “school.” So, here’s a list for those days to spark meaningful conversation with your young heroes:

When did you feel most challenged today? Do you want me to just listen, to give advice or to help? What is one step you could take toward your goal? What strategies could you use to move forward? What story are you telling yourself about this situation? Has something like this ever happened to you before? If so, how did you handle it? What can you learn from this? How did you participate in this? What might be the other side of the story? What tools or resources do you have to deal with this? What are the consequences of your actions? Can you see an opportunity in this crisis? Can you give me an example? What would you advise someone in your situation?

If you’d like to learn more about our story, visit actonacademypittsburgh.com and request a copy of the book Courage to Grow by Laura Sandefer

Alicia Photography

American Cancer Society

Diversified Plan Services Inc

Fun Fore All Family Fun Park

North Hills Monthly Magazine Restore It

Three Rivers Paintball, Inc.

Realty Management

Ace Handyman Services Pittsburgh

North Allstate Reuss Agency

Another Level Ministries

Banccard

BJ's Wholesale Club, Inc.

Bosland Electric, LLC

Camp Bow Wow Cranberry

Colbert Law

Coldwell Banker Jan Stevens

Common Sense Cleaning, LLC

Concordia of Cranberry

Drayer Physical Therapy

Edward Jones Investments Andrew Dobies

Encompass Health Rehabilitation Hospital of Harmarville

f5 Construction Services, LLC

Find Your Destination Focus CFO

G.T.E.V. D'Lustigen Isartaler Inc. Green Apple Barter

GT Entrepreneurs

Heasley's Nurseries Inc. Herbein + Company, Inc.

Heritage Hospice

I Clean, Inc.

Janitors Supply Company, Inc Jeff Brooks Landscaping Jireh Mobile

Just In Thyme Catering and Events, Inc. Leathem Creation Co.

Legal Shield & Identity Theft Protection Lender Laurie at Heroes First Home Loans

Lithia Motors, Inc. dba Baierl Auto Group

Media The Creative Agency MMC Land Management Mortgage Planning Group

Muhlenkamp & Company, Inc New Directions Counseling Services, Newt & Ruby Interiors NFP

Nicole Zirnsak State Farm Insurance

North Hills Health & Rehabilitation Northland Heights, LLC

Northwest Bank

Nutritional Specialties, Inc Oil & Vinegar

PGHBatteries.com Priority2Work

RiteRug Flooring

Salem Media Group

Securing Memories

Sheeley Agency Allstate Insurance Sheetz Communications

Spark Signs & Graphics

Tait Engineering, Inc. The Haven at North Hills Town Square Publications

Treesdale Life BeLocal Cranberry Tusick & Associates Architects, Inc Verland

Vivial

Walnut Grill Wexford Weber Insurance Agency

Jim Boltz

Gregg Hill

Kelvin Mack Mark Prentice

Carrie Nolan-Robson Brian Stevens

McCandless Corporate Center Minuteman Press Cranberry

Small businesses are what keep our communities vibrant - that's why a growing group of companies have come together to provide support to them during this time. Visit StandForSmall.com to learn more.

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What a great time of year to market your business and be charitable! Create a basket to donate for the holiday social’s raffle! It’s a great way to be a part of the giving season. All donations can be dropped off at the Wexford office until December 20th.

2022 BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Board of Directors

Pittsburgh North Regional Chamber

Mark Prentice Chairman of the Board Valpak of Western PA

Lisa Hunt Chair Elect U$X Federal Credit Union Rakesh Unnithan Vice Chair WesBanco Bank

Tracy Armstrong Past Chair North Pittsburgh Greeting Company

Kathleen Kuznicki Foundation Chair The Lynch Law Group

Rich Coyner Treasurer Minuteman Press Cranberry Twp. Calvin Sales Secretary New York Life

Jim Boltz President Pittsburgh North Regional Chamber

Tom Baker North Hills Community Outreach

Gary Basilone Basilone Executive Search

Elizabeth Blakely Link to Visibility

Niki Campbell The Flourish Group

Andrew Chiapusio First National Bank

Carolyn Keller Curio412, LLC

Perry Latimer Butler County Tourism

Jada Lehman Expense Reduction Analysts

Sally Power Treasure House Fashions Craig Pritts My Benefit Advisor Sheila Talarico Glade Run Foundation