Corridors february 2018

How to Create Your Leadership Brilliance Learning ‌Thinking ‌ Becoming!

Member Accolades 2017 Tax Provisions for Individuals

February 2018

C O N T E N T S

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4 Chamber Headquarters 5000 Brooktree Road, Suite 100 Wexford, PA Cranberry Twp. Office 2525 Rochester Road Cranberry Township, PA P: 724.934.9700 F: 724.934.9710

Jim Boltz President JBoltz@PghNorthChamber.com For more information on the Chamber’s program of work, please contact: Patty Bittle Marketing and Events Director PBittle@PghNorthChamber.com Al Davidson Membership Accounts Executive ADavidson@PghNorthChamber.com Kristina Hall Program Director KHall@PghNorthChamber.com Heather Schwartzbauer Membership Coordinator HSchwartzbauer@PghNorthChamber.com Amy VanAtta Executive Assistant AVanAtta@PghNorthChamber.com

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From the Our Annual Meeting is on February 8th at Treesdale Country Club. Congressman Keith Rothfus, County Executive Rich Fitzgerald and Bill Flanagan are our keynote speakers. Jim Roddey will be the master of ceremony.

At this meeting, we will announce our annual business award winners. These awards are selected through a vote of our members. The nominees for these awards are as follows: Distinguished Business of the Year Advance Sourcing Concepts Carpenter Group- Northwood Realty Services Dollar Bank St. Barnabas Health System Treasure House Fashions

Jim Boltz, President

Prestigious Business Leader Steve Carpenter, Northwood Realty Services Todd Harris, Liberty Insurance Agency George Payne, Federated Mortgage, Inc. James Roddey, St. Barnabas Health System Jan Stevens, Coldwell Banker Outstanding Volunteer Award Tracy Armstrong, North Pittsburgh Greeting Co. George Payne, Federated Mortgage, Inc. Jan Stevens, Coldwell Banker Albert Weigand, Valadian Consulting Curt Whipple, Associate Member Women Entrepreneur Excellence Award Judith Bernhard, Advance Sourcing Concepts Kandy McCool, Legal Shield & Identity Theft Tiffany Nolan, i.e. Insurance Christina Tarantola, Enlightened Wellness Solutions Sue Wilson, Healthy Life Young Professional Leader Award Valerie Belz, Dollar Bank Marta Greca, Apples and Cinema Nicholas Kennedy, Family Wealth Management Group Tiffany Nolan, i.e. Insurance Christina Tarantola, Enlightened Wellness Solutions All are very deserving candidates. We are fortunate to have such great members in our Chamber.

Our annual meeting is also the time that we recap our accomplishments of the previous year and speak to the exciting things that we have coming up for the new year.

In addition to repeating all the events that you know and love, we have some exciting new things that we are doing in 2018. We are upgrading our Annual Business Expo by adding a Home Show element to it. It will be held on March 16th & 17th at The Block at Northway. We also have a Mega Mixer planned with several other local Chambers on the Gateway Clipper Fleet in July. More details and our full calendar can be found on our website.

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B USINESS A FTER H OURS February 5 Ditika’s

MM Monday 12980 Perry Hwy, Wexford

February 22 Cranberry Sports Grille 1294 Freedom Rd, Cranberry Twp, PA 16066

Business After Hours are from 5-7pm

E VENTS

2018 B OARD OF D IRECTORS E XECUTIVE C OMMITTEE Ann Gatty, Ph.D. – Board Chair Strategic People Solutions Philip J. Scolieri, J.D.– Chair-Elect Scolieri Law Group, P.C. Andrew Chiapusio– Vice-Chair First National Bank

Annual Meeting Thursday, February 8 5:30-8:00pm Treesdale Golf & Country Club 1 Arnold Palmer Drive

Pittsburgh North Regional Home Show/Business Expo Friday, March16—4:00-8:00pm Saturday, March 17-11:00am-4:00pm THE BLOCK Northway Click here to purchase a booth

M ARKETPLACE L UNCH M EETINGS February 7: Monte Cellos at The Hampton Shoppes 11:30am-1:00pm 4655 William Flynn Highway Route 8, Allison Park February 26: Family Bowlaway Fun Center 11:30am- 1:00pm 540 Fairground Hill Road, Butler

CONNECTIONS

John Tubridy - Past Chair Franchise Network of Pittsburgh Gregg Hill – Foundation Chair Dollar Bank Lisa Hunt - Treasurer USX Federal Credit Union Kim Yerace – Secretary Petroleum Technical Services, LLC Jim Boltz - President Pittsburgh North Regional Chamber James Roddey - Advisor to the Board St. Barnabas Health System

B OARD

OF

D IRECTORS

Tracy Armstrong, North Pittsburgh Greeting Company Gary Basilone, Basilone Executive Search & Staffing Ryan Breen J.D., Breen Law Firm, LLC

Daily networking events for business leaders throughout our

Steven W. Diffenderfer, NexTier Bank

Pittsburgh North region

Todd Harris, Liberty Insurance Agency

Wexford: Tuesdays, 7:30 a.m. Chamber Headquarters, 5000 Brooktree Rd., Suite 100. Sponsored by

Dittman EyeCare, Inc.

Warrendale: Tuesdays, 11:30 a.m. DoubleTree By Hilton 910 Sheraton Drive. Sponsored by Dollar Bank Cranberry Twp.: Wednesdays, 7:30 a.m. Council Chambers, 2525 Rochester Road.

Ross Twp.: 1st & 3 Thursdays. 11:30a.m. Treasure House Fashions, 7607 McKnight Road Ross Twp.: 2nd & 4th Thursdays, 7:30 a.m. Treasure House Fashions, 7607 McKnight Road.

Gibsonia: Fridays, 7:30 a.m. Crystal Conservatory 100 Conservatories Court.

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Nicholas D. Kennedy, FamilyWealth Management Group

Jim Logan, Battery Giant of Pittsburgh Al Marschke, ACN Business Essentials Alyssa Marsico, Alzheimer’s Association Tiffany Nolan, i.e. Insurance Robert O’Friel, Luttner Financial Group Tim Sechler, Sechler Law Firm, LLC Jan Stevens, Coldwell Banker Nicky Voynick, Salem Media Group

Pittsburgh North Regional Chamber

PNRC Member Al Marschke Jim Boltz, President of PNRC said, “In addition to his role as a member of our Board of Directors, Al goes above and beyond in his support of the Chamber by videotaping numerous events, hosting our most popular Lunchbox Sessions and sharing his expertise.

He is always willing to lend a hand.”

"Al has always been a person I look up to. He is full of knowledge, has impeccable integrity and truly cares about helping others. He has helped me on numerous occasions, including filming the last day of the 50 Days to Fit Challenge. He is one of the most giving people I know and I am proud to recommend his services any day," said Christina Tarantola, of Enlightened Wellness Solutions.

“Al Marschke is by far one of the best networkers I have met since working at the chamber. He truly makes an effort to get to know other members and connect them to help them grow their business. He has been invaluable to the chamber in regards to our video needs. He is an expert in his industry and proves it with every task that he accomplishes. He volunteers many hours in many different roles to helping the chamber be a resource for the community,” said Heather Schwartzbauer of PNRC.

Member testimonials are the Chamber’s best and most effective way to promote the benefits and services that a Chamber membership provides. Share your success with the Chamber and your story may be featured in an upcoming edition of Corridors. Email all testimonials to Patty Bittle

PghNorthChamber.com

February 2018

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How to Create Your Leadership Brilliance By Dr. Ann Gatty Strategic People Solutions The concept of leadership and the role of leaders has changed significantly in the recent years. The marketplace environment is changing at such a rapid pace that the days of analyzing the market, planning a sales strategy and implementing the execution have given way to a more agile way of delivering services. Today’s leaders experience success by being adept at combining business acumen with creative thinking. Being able to think on one’s feet has become a necessary skill.

If you embrace and practice the five competencies that I describe below, you will find you, as a leader, will experience positive results leading your organization forward. Let this be the time when your leadership illuminates the brilliance that inspires your staff to dig deep, and go above and beyond to accomplish the mission your company provides. Innovation, passion, and a never give up attitude all create a shining example for others to emulate. Become proficient in these five competencies and experience the success that follows.

Broaden your point of view.

Seeing how situations look from your workforce member’s perspective can bring more clarity in your decision making. Engaging with and listening to your employees will provide needed insight into how they view the world and their work. They also probably have some ideas about how to accomplish tasks in ways you may not have considered.

Stepping into the shoes of your co-workers allows you to develop a level of appreciation for their efforts and allows you to show respect for their contributions. The other leadership benefit that you derive from broadening your point of view is that you become more willing to embrace different possibilities. Since change is a constant ingredient in the world of work, being open to different ways of handling situations is a strong leadership competency.

Stay curious.

Keep learning because nothing stays the same. We know that being curious and continuous learning can lead to innovative ideas. Businesses need innovation to stay competitive in this rapidly changing environment. As a leader, you will find that your staff is much more willing to maintain a sense of curiosity and try out new methods to improve productivity and product design if they know you support their efforts. Having an attitude that your success also includes learning from mistakes allows your staff to become problem solving employees having the confidence that they can figure things out. Maintaining a sense of curiosity also creates a more vibrant, energized work environment, where sharing new ideas becomes a daily part of operations.

Understand the talent that surrounds you.

Smart leaders embrace the art of coaching to provide ongoing professional development for their work staff. Being able to coach allows you to share your expertise and assist the continuous improved performance of individuals. One of the main reasons I enjoy my work mentoring business leaders and their employees is that I inevitably discover hidden talents that have gone untapped. Skills are transferable. Taking advantage of past experiences allows the members of your organizational culture to contribute to their current job assignments. For example, if an employee has training in market research from a previous job and is now in a sales position, the research skills will be useful in identifying potential leads. As the business environment shifts and changes, the skills that your employees possess can become useful in different ways.

Get things done.

Smart leaders are adept at setting the pace in which work gets done. Obviously, companies want to produce results that are on time and under budget. That is how profit is made. Yet you as a leader need to always be on the lookout for any obstacles that could slow down progress. Clearing away impediments that block the completion of a job, or finding solutions to obtaining needed answers to move a project forward, often falls on your shoulders. Teaching your staff to find ways to be proactive and complete tasks in a timely manner is the sign of an efficiently run organization.

Make things better for the community you serve.

Service first. A leader who is a servant first will become the recipient of many benefits. As they say, “What goes around comes around.” Embracing the attitude of serving others with whom you work and the community in which you reside, establishes you as a leader people respect and appreciate. Modeling servant leadership will help you establish a positive work environment and a great place to work. Giving back to your community gives your employees a sense of pride and your customers a sense of loyalty.

Your leadership success is more than winning a popularity contest. Showing that you are partnering with your workforce to be innovative, getting things done and making a positive contribution to those around you will create your leadership brilliance. People will notice. My advice: shine on!

About the author Dr. Ann Gatty is a par tner at Str ategic People Solutions, a business consulting fir m, pr oviding business implementation str ategy, leadership mentoring and HR employment solutions. Dr. Ann created The Business Sphere of Excellence®, a strategic business implementation model, which is used to construct business implementation plans to help companies run more efficiently and profitably. Dr. Ann is an expert in understanding and improving the workplace culture, which is foundational for implementing any successful strategic initiatives. To better explain the importance of positive employee engagement, Dr. Ann partners with Beretta, her Great Dane therapy dog to present her key findings. They have recently authored Leadership Unleashed: A Great Dane’s Wisdom for the Business World.

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Pittsburgh North Regional Chamber

PghNorthChamber.com

July 2017

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Learning … Thinking … Becoming!

When it comes to leadership development, these three words stand out to me as a great three point stance to consider and engage in for your own personal growth.

Mastering these three areas will give you invaluable wisdom.

By Mike Howard, GM WORD FM

same time. True Servant Leadership is about other people. Mark teaches you well how to “Think Others First”; a timeless principle for success in any area of life!

Seminars are an exceptional opportunity because it

LIFE LONG LEARNING is something all leaders should provides an option for both group learning and networkboth do and expect from those under their ranks. I know if my local "Leader Friends" like John Stahl-wert, Sam Deep, Bruce Bickel and John Stanko would see this on social media, they would certainly “like” or “comment”; as well as my national level mentors, like Jeffrey Gitomer, Mark Miller, and John Maxwell. I highly recommend all of these professionals as they are not only great teachers and leaders, but all are Life Long Learners! And you should be, too!

Here is a very interesting note about learning from Charles Haddon Spurgeon, known to many as the Prince of Preachers, in London, England in the late 1800's / early 1900's. And while his advice was directed to Christians studying the Bible, this quick quip is applicable to all who aspire to lead, and quite frankly would separate those who practice it into the upper echelons of learning and leading!

Meditation chews the cud and extracts the real nutriment from the mental food gathered elsewhere.

ing! Attending conferences and retreats allows you the chance for a break from the day to day stresses of life, to get yourself focused on a single cause of learning.

Higher education, either in the classroom or online, not only gives you great learning opportunities, but another degree can improve your job marketability as well. For those who can afford both time and the financial commitments, it is a real leadership boost.

One of the best ways I have found to learn … is to teach!

The preparation, engagement and mental exercise (not to mention the pressure!) wrapped around the teaching process is truly one of the best ways to learn. Many times your students, whoever they may be, will challenge you with questions that test both your mental faculties, and, when you don’t have the answer, your diligence to go back to the learning board and find the answer. Create opportunities to teach!

THINKING … now this is a lost art! We live in way too

much of an audio/video soundbite world. We desperately need to stop, rest, and then think on the things we This is a great segue to thinking, now doubt. But if you are learning. That is truly the only way the learning will think about it, it is one thing to learn, read, and take in impact your life, and those around you. But beyond new and engaging information, but quite another thing what we mentioned previously, thinking is quite a pheto meditate, think, and even contemplate on what your nomenal exercise to engage in on many fronts. It almind has garnered. You have put the time into learning lows you to take a step back and approach anything … in the first place, maybe even dollars if you paid for a learning, a conversation, a social media interaction, a book, seminar/webinar, or training class, so you might meeting at work … and digest what was said, how you as well get your money's worth and meditate. reacted to it, as well as asking yourself, “how does this affect the person that I really am, or the values that I Learning comes in various ways. Reading is still a tried hold dear”? and true method for learning. You may still be one of the folks like myself that just has to have what they are Thinking takes a commitment of time as well; a possible going to read in hand. I love the feel, and of course the seclusion of sorts from the rest of the world, away from smell, of a good book! Time is so very sparse for us all soundbites and rapid fire video. Thinking allows you to these days we must commit to a daily time of reading. gather thoughts, organize them, and possibly even exOne of my techniques takes the old adage “an elephant press them in writing, without having to be in “response is best eaten one bite at time” into account. I look at mode” to others who can’t wait to jump on your next the entire page count and divide it into a manageable verbalized thought! When we think long and hard on a number to finish the book over time. You may very subject, issue or closely held belief, we exercise our well achieve something on a more broad scale, like a mind, heart and emotions. goal of one book per month.

Give yourself a much deserved “think break” soon, One book I would strongly recommend is “The Heart of maybe for an hour or two, or a long weekend, and Leadership”, by Mark Miller of Chick Fil A. This book is watch how it refreshes your entire being! part of an excellent series, and while it is not the first volume, it truly is the best one to start with in my opinion. It is set in “novel” style, and brilliantly builds the Continued on page 9 characters while teaching leadership strengths at the

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Member Accolades Local Chairman Honored Jack Toth, chairman of U$X Federal Credit Union in Cranberry, was honored by the National Association of Credit Union Chairmen during the organization’s recent conference in San Diego. Toth, who has been active with the credit union for more than 44 years started as a volunteer in 1973, eventually serving as its chairman for 18 years. The award Toth received was created in 2002 to recognize outstanding leaders in the credit union movement.

Armstrong Honored as Employer of the Year Presented by Veterans Cable Services Armstrong was the recipient of the 2017 Veteran Employer of the Year Award, presented by Veterans Cable Services. Co-founders of Veterans Cable, John Piazza and Tony Accamando, presented the award to Armstrong President, Jeff A. Ross at the annual Armstrong Awards Banquet, in recognition of their commitment to veteran causes.

“Choosing Armstrong as recipient of the 2017 Veteran Employer of The Year Award was an easy choice for Veterans Cable Services,” stated Tony Accamando, Co-founder. “For over four decades I have known the folks at Armstrong. Their personal commitments, as well as that of their company in support of community based organizations, ranks them at the top of the list of communications companies,” continued Accamando. “Supporting veteran’s causes is nothing new to Armstrong as they have always recognized the unselfish sacrifices made by our brave men and women in uniform. This award merely recognizes the obvious.” Armstrong and Veterans Cable Services have a long relationship together.”

Pastor Appreciation Event of the Year Salem Media Group was honored with the Pastor Appreciation Event of the Year Award for 2017. Every year WORD-FM treats local Pastor’s to a luncheon at the Heinz Field East Room. About 500 pastors are blessed with a great meal and a encouraging message from a nationally known pastor.

Judge Andrew P. Napolitano to Receive the 2018 St. Barnabas Hance Award Conviction, compassion and determination. These are qualities of a true leader, and they are just a few of the many criteria that a St. Barnabas Hance Award winner must possess. Judge Andrew P. Napolianto will receive the 2018 St. Barnabas Hance Award at the 118th Founder’s Day Celebration on April 26, 2018 at the Pittsburgh Marriott North in Cranberry Twp. Judge Napolitano is a nationally-recognized champion of personal freedom.

Learning … Thinking … Becoming!

(from page 8)

BECOMING! John Maxwell's book "The 21 Indispensa- In my Solid Servant Leadership seminar, I tell people ble Qualities of a Leader" is subtitled "Becoming the Person Others Will Want to Follow". My question is what are you doing regarding "Becoming", whether Leader, or Parent, or Employee, or even Spouse?

To "Become" you must invest! It could mean time, money, effort or combinations thereof. So the question still stands. Are you blocking time off for learning, (yes, there is always a “circle back” to Life Long Learning!) for thinking, for reading, etc? YOU have to do it. No one else will do it for you … unless you have a "micromanaging" boss or spouse!

that before you can be the best “you” for others, you have to be the best you for yourself. Success minded people want to align themselves with people who want to be their best. “Becoming” is an ever evolving process that you don’t graduate from or grow out of in this life.

Make that investment ... everyday! Find seminars to attend. That also gives you networking opportunities ... with like-minded, self-investing, "Becoming" individuals.

PghNorthChamber.com

February 2018

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Leadership that Counts By Kathleen Himler, Area Manager, Dale Carnegie Training Let’s cut to the chase. Leadership is when others will push themselves because of what you’ve done for them or because of who you are. Put this premise to the test. Consider the people in your life that you worked harder for, or performed better for or who today you try to emulate. For me, I have two great examples.

In 1994 I was pregnant and about to be unemployed. NCR had just been bought by AT&T and we were all frantic. Fortunately, I was transferred into the Data Networking Division of AT&T. Literally, 7 months pregnant, my new manager selected me. Leaders see beneath the surface (in this case my obvious condition). We operated like a SWAT team; small, synchronized and envied. There was something special about our team that elevated our performance. Leaders bring out the best in their team. Unlike the voice side of the house, our data team pooled our sales. Leaders think out of the box. We rooted for each other and knew that when we went into our managers office that we had an ally to work with through any issue. Leaders remove obstacles. When she decided to leave AT&T and start her own business, she told me that she recommended me for her replacement.

To this day I treasure that endorsement. When was the last time you had this effect on someone?

Fast forward to 2009. I saw an ad in the paper for Dale Carnegie Training in Pittsburgh. I met the Sales Manager at Panera and as we like to laugh about still today, we feel in love (just professionally). Once I came on board, I noticed here too that his style and approach was a factor in my success. It helps when leaders are likeable! It goes, beyond personality though. It was the encouragement and support factor. Here’s a great example.

Early in my Dale Carnegie days I followed up on a customer inquiry from my car to be time efficient. This call couldn’t have gone worse. This was painful but I’ll share. I was asked if I was “reading from a script”. Ouch. Time for reflection. When I shared this with my Sales Manager he kinda laughed. I was horrified and he told me to brush it off. Thinking back, the noteworthy aspect of this is that I told him. It’s easy to share good news, but sharing our defeats requires trust. Leaders earn followers by building trust.

In my role today, we get to work with many clients who recognize that leaders can be grown. Yes, some have natural talent to inspire, motivate and coach, yet, the list of skills and attributes goes beyond these.

How about from the other side? When you have responsibility for someone or a team. How would they describe your style? Our leadership style comes from many sources. Our wiring or our temperament is certainly a factor. For those of you familiar with DISC, it is helpful to recognize our dominant temperament (Driver, Influencer, Stabilizer or Conscientious). More helpful is to recognize what the temperament is of those we lead and to be able to adjust accordingly. For instance, if working with someone who is highly analytical, the leader should never expect them to render a decision without having had time to research and analyze. Our style also comes from observation of what works and what doesn’t work. How many times do we chuckle with someone who says I don’t do blank, because I hated that when so and so operated that way. There is no substitute for getting in the trenches and learning first hand. Mentors serve a valuable role here. Yet, there is also a component of our leadership style that comes from intentional effort. It is not enough to have good intentions; good intentions must translate into habit.

The biggest misnomer with leadership always surfaces in the form of question. How do I motivate my team? It is a misnomer because this can never occur. Leaders can’t motivate their team because motivation comes from within. Consider the energy you put forth when the idea is yours, versus when you’re merely assigned something new. It is the leaders job, and indeed the leaders challenge, to know what motivates others and show them how to get it. In my experience, and many studies flush this out, money is not a primary motivator. For those who have given the “raise”, how long do you see increased effort before the performance levels off again?

Therefore leaders who study and practice human relations have the advantage with higher employee engagement scores and better business results.

In the “State of the American Workforce Report” released by Gallup in 2017, only 13% strongly agree that the leadership of their company communicates effectively and that just 15% of employees strongly agree the leadership in their company makes them enthusiastic about the future. Statistics like that leave thoughtful leadership Continued on page 11

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Leadership that Counts Continued teams asking themselves some tough questions. It’s not a lack of resources and effort: corporations in the U.S. alone spend billions on leadership training each year. Could, in fact, the emphasis be on the wrong components of leadership in creating first-rate employee experiences?

Every human has a physical blind spot, a point in our field of vision for each eye that we simply cannot see. A recent study conducted by Dale Carnegie suggests that leaders and leadership teams have blind spots, too.

When it comes to some key behaviors that motivate and inspire employees to give their best efforts, leaders around the world consistently underperform. These findings are based on a 2016 online survey of more than 3,300 full-time employees over the age of 21 from a cross section of industries, company size and positions in the organization – from individual contributors to CEOs – across 14 countries in four regions. The primary objective of this cross-cultural leadership study was to identify key leadership characteristics that motivate and inspire people in the U.S. and around the world.

Here's the summary of what we confirmed. Behaviors of the immediate supervisor have a significant impact on job satisfaction and retention, without exception, across the globe. In particular, these are the behaviors that are statistically significant:

4 Key Findings Sincere appreciation and praise are essential

Employees demand leaders who can admit when they’re wrong

Honesty and integrity in action drive engagement

Effective leaders truly listen to and value their employees’ opinions

To up your game, it’s helpful to get input from others. Self-reflection is good but if you don’t know you do something, then it’s a blind spot. When we conduct executive one on one coaching, one of the most revealing interview questions we ask of team members is, “what do they (the person we’re coaching) do/don’t do that continues to bug you”? 9 out of 10 times this is a total blind spot. You don’t have to be an executive to have a blind spot.

As we all endeavor to have a positive impact in our roles, we are all leaders, with or without the title. If it helps, substitute the word influencer for leader. Influencers move others to action. To be more successful in this regard, what is your blind spot?

To learn more about this critical key to improvement and growth, join us for an executive briefing called “Uncovering Leadership Blindspots” on Thursday, February 22 from 8:30-10:30 in the Wexford Chambers meeting room. This is open to Chamber members and the business community at large. To reserve a seat, visit www.pittsburgh.dalecarnegie.com or call me at 412.352.0510.

We can all make an exhaustive list of leadership qualities that we admire. Working on those qualities that don’t come naturally is the challenge. More importantly, it is recognizing that we have can have a more positive impact on people when we work on the characteristics that matter most.

Abilities wither under criticism and blossom under encouragement. – Dale Carnegie

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Cranberry Township New eastbound lane on Rt. 228 abbreviated Cranberry’s 2016 proposal to the state had been for $5 million to add a new eastbound lane onto Rt. 228 between I-79 and Franklin Road. But Pennsylvania’s Department of Community and Economic Development could only come up with $1.5 million. The Township had a choice: either to cough up the additional money itself, or to scale the project back. Click here to read more.

We're taking reservations!

Picnic shelters in North Boundary Park and Community Park – most of which include electrical outlets, a charcoal grill and a picnic table – are also now available to host your private event anytime between April 1 and October 31. Full day rent – from dawn to 11:00 PM – is just $75 for Cranberry residents, $125 for non-residents. All shelters are close to restrooms, running water, and free designated parking. Alcoholic beverages are allowed with a Township-issued permit. For more information, click here.

McCandless Township Town of McCandless Quality of Life Questionnaire The Town of McCandless is in the process of planning for the future, and seeks your input into ways it could improve. One way we hope to hear from residents is through this questionnaire. It will take about 15 minutes to complete, and your thoughts will be valuable as we develop a strategy for shaping the future of our community. Your responses will be anonymous unless you choose to provide your name and email address at the end.

To take the questionnaire, click here.

Northland Public Library Celebrates 50 Years of Connecting Communities 2018 is an important year for Northland Public Library, it marks the 50th year since our doors opened to the public! We are excited to be turning a half-century old. Throughout this year we will be focusing on our past, our present and our future. We will split this year into three segments. The first four months will be a look to our past to celebrate the growth and accomplishments we have achieved since the beginning; the next four months will focus on where we are presently and highlight many of the resources and services available to you now; and the last four months of the year will be a focus towards our future. To read more, click here.

Pine Township Taste of Pine Fundraising event benefiting the Friends of Pine Community Parks. Enjoy delicious cuisine from Pine Township restaurants! An evening filled with food and wine samples, Chinese and silent auctions, 50/50 raffle and more!

Thursday, March 1, 6:00-8:00pm. Advanced Tickets (1/25-2/21): $35/person or $70/couple Tickets (purchased after 2/22): $40/person or $75/couple

1-800-Got-Junk Dell Computer has a program with Goodwill called Dell Reconnect where used computers (including CRT monitors), of any brand in any condition, can be dropped off at participating Goodwill locations for free. Some systems in working condition are refurbished and resold through Goodwill, creating green jobs to further support Goodwill’s mission of helping people with disabilities and disadvantages by providing education, training and career services. In addition, this program allows Goodwill customers to purchase modern technology at an affordable cost. For more information, click here.

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NexTier Bank Nonprofit Spotlight Once Upon a Hero

Based in Cranberry Township, Pennsylvania, Once Upon a Hero became an official, non-profit organization in January, 2013. The organization was inspired by the heroic and selfless acts of Don Spillane, who lost his life in May, 2010 while trying to rescue a young girl who had fallen over a waterfall at McConnells Mill State Park in Pennsylvania. The organization was founded to help ordinary people do extraordinary things by raising money to support local families in need.

Dawn Spillane Hack, President of Once Upon a Hero, is the older of Don Spillane's two daughters. She was 26 years old when her father died and founded Once Upon a Hero in his honor. "I want to inspire people the way that my Dad inspired me," she says. "I want to be an example for my daughter and the rest of my community as well. Today is a day to start fresh and be who you always wanted to be. Be the change you want to see in the world."

The organization's mission is to hold fundraising events for a good cause. With the commitment of a team of volunteers and the support of donors and sponsors, Once Upon A Hero will bring together the community and, through their generosity, raise money to help a local family or individual in need.

It is the hope of the organization that the light Don left behind lies on our path as we begin this journey of "paying it forward," and that his memory continues to live on and inspire others.

When you donate to Once Upon a Hero, you are contributing to the health and well-being of families in western Pennsylvania who are in need. Due to the generosity of donors, Once Upon a Hero is better able to provide families with financial assistance for medical equipment and supplies, travel expenses for doctor's appointments and therapy, or to make up for lost wages due to an accident or illness. The organization is grateful to the many donors who have given so generously in the past as many families have benefited immensely from your support. Please know that each gift is truly appreciated and helps ordinary people do extraordinary things!

“Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for a friend� John 15:13 For more information, visit http://www.onceuponahero.org/.

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The Pittsburgh North Regional Chamber would like to thank those who have renewed.

We thank you for your continued support!

20 +Years

Welcome to those who have joined!

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Pittsburgh North Regional Chamber

2017 Tax Provisions for Individuals Here is why a recap of 2017 tax provisions for individuals is important. Many of the tax individuals and businesses for 2017 were related to the Protecting Americans from Tax Hikes Act of 2015 (PATH) that modified or made permanent numerous tax breaks (the so-called “tax extenders”). To further complicate matters, some provisions were only extended through 2016 and are set to expire at the end of this year while others were extended through 2019. With that in mind, here’s what individuals and families need to know.

2017 Tax Provisions for Individuals Personal Exemptions The personal and dependent exemption for tax year 2017 is $4,050.

Standard Deductions The standard deduction for married couples filing a joint return in 2017 is $12,700. For singles and married individuals filing separately, it is $6,350, and for heads of household the deduction is $9,350.

The additional standard deduction for blind people and senior citizens in 2017 is $1,250 for married individuals and $1,550 for singles and heads of household.

Income Tax Rates In 2017 the top tax rate of 39.6 percent affects individuals whose income exceeds $418,400 ($470,700 for married taxpayers filing a joint return). Marginal tax rates for 2017–10, 15, 25, 28, 33 and 35 percent–remain the same as in prior years. To read more, click here.

Are you getting all of the tax breaks that you are entitled to? Maybe you are…but maybe you’re not. Why take a chance? Let the tax experts at Holsinger provide the guidance you need. Call Holsinger today and make sure you get all of the tax breaks you deserve.

PghNorthChamber.com

February 2018

page 15

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