Corridors July 2018

July 2018

CORRIDORS

Serving Business Corridors in Western Pennsylvania 3 Tips for Creating Irresistible Content on Social Media Picture this, Image Success with Social Media

Member Accolades Photo Gallery

C O N T E N T S

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

Jim Boltz President JBoltz@PghNorthChamber.com For more information on the Chamber’s program of work, please contact: 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 President

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Business After Hours, Signature Events and Connections Schedules

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Member of the Month Picture this, Image Success with Social Media

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3 Tips for Creating Irresistible Content on Social Media

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Picture this, Image Success with Social Media (Continued from Page 6)

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Filing Amended Tax Return

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Community Connections

From the Every year, the Pittsburgh North Regional Chamber publishes a Community Resource Guide. In this magazine, you will find valuable information regarding our area.

The 411 section of the publication includes a listing the local government offices that you need to know. Contacts for fire departments, police departments, local government offices and driver’s license centers of most of the communities that we serve are included.

Ever wonder about the demographics of the North Pittsburgh area. There’s a section for that. You’ll also find interesting statistics regarding the workforce, housing and transportation.

Jim Boltz, President

In the Chamber Connection section, you can read about how the Chamber is working with local colleges and universities in preparing our future leaders for careers in business.

Learn about Uber’s Advanced Technology Center and how the region is leading the way in self-driving cars in an article titled Taking the Wheel.

The Education section details what is happening in the academic world. Our area is well known for its achievements in this area. High school, vocational tech, college and independent study are all highlighted in this section.

An article titled Generating Growth gives an overview of Shell’s plans in the area for their new cracker plant in the Business section.

We are also very proud of the advancements in healthcare that have come out of this region. The Healthcare section explains how North Pittsburgh region has become a pinnacle of patient care with its combination of patient-centered medical treatment and world class facilities.

Want to know about recreation in the area? The Lifestyle section details the numerous activities throughout our region. There is also an article regarding Pittsburgh Bike Share and how you can pedal through Pittsburgh without having to own a bike.

Last, but not least, the Community Guide has a directory of all the current members of the Pittsburgh North Regional Chamber. A special thanks goes out to all the advertisers who make this magazine a possibility.

The 2018 Community Resource Guide is here! You can pick a copy up for free in both Chamber offices and numerous local businesses. It is an excellent hand out for real estate agents, apartment managers, hotels, banks and moving companies. If you would like to have copies to give to your clients, just stop by our offices.

Member Testimonial “During the past eight years as a Chamber member, my Chamber membership has resulted in strengthening relationships with my customers by providing great referral sources. In addition, the Chamber has provided business opportunities to help their customers by allowing me to be a go to resource for them to help solve their problems with trusted referrals. I have served in a variety of roles within the Chamber as a committee member and most recently a member of the Board of Directors. The cost associated with the Chamberis what you put into it like anything we do. The more you can give the more you will get in new business opportunities, business relationships and a sense of community unlike no other community in SWPA.” -Bruce Goodman, Vice President, Small Business Banking for CHROME

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B USINESS A FTER H OURS July 12 Fresco’s 1 Wexford Square, Wexford

August 2 The Sports Grille Cranberry 1294 Freedom Road, Cranberry

Business After Hours are from 5:00-7:00 p.m.

E VENTS Mega Mixer Monday, July 23 5:00-8:00 p.m.

Gateway Clipper Fleet 350 W. Station Square Dr. Pittsburgh, PA 15219 Social Media and Marketing Conference Tuesday, August 7 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

La Roche College 9000 Babcock Blvd.

Pittsburgh, PA 15219

M ARKETPLACE L UNCH M EETINGS August 1 Monte Cello’s at The Hampton Shoppes 11:30 a.m. - 1:00 p.m., 4655 William Flynn Highway Route 8, Allison Park July 23 Family Bowlaway Fun Center 11:30 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.

540 Fairground Hill Road, Butler

CONNECTIONS Daily networking events for business leaders throughout our Pittsburgh North region.

Wexford: Tuesdays, 7:30 a.m.

Chamber Headquarters, 5000 Brooktree Rd., Suite 100 Sponsored by North Hills Psychological Associates, Inc

2018 B OARD

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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 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

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D IRECTORS

Tracy Armstrong, North Pittsburgh Greeting Company Gary Basilone, Basilone Executive Search & Staffing Ryan Breen J.D., Breen Law Firm, LLC Steven W. Diffenderfer, Community Bank Todd Harris, Liberty Insurance Agency Jim Logan, Battery Giant of Pittsburgh Al Marschke, ACN Business Essentials

Warrendale: Tuesdays, 11:30 a.m.

DoubleTree By Hilton, 910 Sheraton Drive Sponsored by Direct Payment Consultants

Alyssa Marsico, Alzheimer’s Association

Cranberry Twp.: Wednesdays, 7:30 a.m.

Council Chambers, 2525 Rochester Road

Robert O’Friel, Luttner Financial Group

Ross Twp.: Thursdays, 7:30 a.m.

Treasure House Fashions, 7607 McKnight Road Sponsored by Sally Power of Treasure House Fashions Breakfast provided by Bountiful Baskets

Tiffany Nolan, i.e. Insurance

Tim Sechler, Sechler Law Firm, LLC Jan Stevens, Coldwell Banker Nicky Voynick, Salem Media Group

Valencia: Fridays, 7:30 a.m.

The Crystal Conservatories, 100 Conservatories Court

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Pittsburgh North Regional Chamber

PNRC Member Rakesh Unnithan WesBanco Jim Boltz, President PNRC said, “Since joining WesBanco, he has increased their presence in the Chamber through networking, volunteering, supporting our social media and sponsoring events. If you attend Chamber events, you know Rakesh. There are few that he misses. His sense of humor and wit are enjoyed by all.”

“Rakesh is always smiling and cheerful. He is the first one to volunteer to help out

with the Chamber and is a genuine, fun-spirited person to be around. He volunteered at my book signing event and got everyone involved in taking selfies at the selfie station. Rakesh is a huge asset to any group he belongs to and I am grateful to know him!" said Christina Tarantola, Enlightened Wellness Solutions.

Curtis Brown, Jireh Mobile said, “Rakesh has been extremely helpful by always attending to our personal and business banking needs. He is a true professional and goes the extra mile for his clients.”

"Rakesh always knows how to make someone smile! His contagious energy and positivity is extremely vibrant, wherever he goes. He is always willing to lend a helping hand or volunteer his time, no matter what the task may be. Whether it be on social media or at networking events, Rakesh has a strong passion to help his clients and he's dedicated to their success," said Kristina Hall, Program Director PNRC.

PghNorthChamber.com

July 2018

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Picture this, Image Success with Social Media By: Elizabeth Blakely, Link to Visibility Countless studies have shown that images are central to success on social media. Yes, video is increasingly popular, but non-moving pictures are still more commonplace and easier to obtain. How important are images? Search Engine Journal reported the following statistics in November 2017  94% more views for articles with images  150% more retweets if the tweet has an image  3-4x higher level of engagement on Facebook for posts with images In addition, other studies have shown that there is better recall for visual content, up to 65% recall even 3 days after the content is originally viewed. Think of the different ways that you have seen companies use images on social media  illustrated quotes that motivate, educate, inspire or simply make people laugh  pictures of products or places of business  pictures of staff members and teams  snapshots highlighting business achievements, anniversaries or special events  Infographics to make content quickly scannable and easily understood  Customer pictures  Behind the scenes pictures  Candids and action shots

Keeping It Real vs Stock Images and Photos Realistically most business use a mixture of stock images and locally sourced pictures.

Stock images seem easier since you can do a quick search and find an image that relates to your next post or tweet. Here is a short list of stock image sites.  Paid sources: Getty, ShutterStock, Big Stock, IStock, 123rf  Free sites like PixelBay, Pexel, Canva, UnSplash, PicJumbo The question to ask is does that stock image truly reflect your company? Authenticity and uniqueness, are frequent casualties in our rush for beautiful, easy stock pictures. Moreover, customers know it because they may have already seen that stock image. A Shutterstock image of a woman enjoying the sunshine has been used over 20,000 times! There is actually a service called TinEye (https://www.tineye.com/) that can show you many of the places that an image has been used. We once had to use stock photos for a dental office and were somewhat amused when one showed up as an illustration on CNN in addition to at least 508 other places.

What are the alternatives? For most business/organizations locally-sourced images will come from a variety of sources including staff, customers, social media specialists and professional photographers. It is important to note that the last two group’s skills do not necessarily overlap. Ask for samples of a social media specialist’s pictures or a photographer’s social media posts.

Professional Pictures Even though mobile devices have cameras, so everyone can take pictures any time; there are times when a professional photographer is the best option. For example:  Products. Pictures of products often require special lighting and backdrops.  Staff. Taking good pictures of people is hard. Professionals know how to select/create a good backdrop, pose people, and capture their best side. Even though it is expensive, Headshots can be reused in so many ways that they are a great investment.  Events. You need to be a good host, not preoccupied with taking photos. Having a roving photographer can also lend a certain cachet to your event.

If you need images for social media (or your website) and can’t take them, there are firms that come in and do photoshoots at your business to capture your business/organization’s work. Make sure you know what you are getting and what additional charges may occur. Most photographers offer packages based on time, the number of pictures, and/or the types of images delivered. Additional professional services like retouching, sizing of photographs, lighting, etc, will incur extra charges.

Taking Your Own Pictures With a little work and planning business people can get pictures, even if they are just using their mobile phone or a regular camera. Listed below are some guidelines for taking pictures for use on social media.

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Pittsburgh North Regional Chamber

PghNorthChamber.com

July 2017

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3 Tips for Creating Irresistible Content on Social Media By: Heather Cherry, Communications Specialist, Alliance for Nonprofit Resources The content you post on your social media accounts symbolizes your brand. Every like, love, post, and share offers your audience a peak into who you are as an organization. Creating and maintaining engaging content that aligns with your brand can be intimidating, but it doesn’t have to be. Here are three tips to implement now: Understand your platform.

Know the platform you want to use and why it will be effective. Doing so will allow you to decide what type of content to create.

For example, you wouldn’t use Snapchat to create a campaign requiring comments or engagement since its appeal is more ‘living in the moment’, and posts disappear quickly; staying no more than 24 hours when saved on a story.

Consider how Instagram is also a niche platform. This platform only allows links to be included in your bio.

This makes it an inefficient tool to share articles. LinkedIn is reserved for professional articles or connecting with professionals, whereas Facebook and Twitter are more generalized.

Take time to research what other organizations post on their platforms. How is it different than what you post? Are they more effective? If so, how can you change your content to mimic theirs?

Determine your purpose.

Social media as a tool allows you to share your story, and in most cases control the narrative. A story can be written about any topic, but it is often the variance in perspective that makes it interesting.

You can create this variance by using different hashtags, images, and text. Accessorizing your content is as important as including relevant topics. What you include in addition to your topics should directly be related to your ultimate purpose.

For example, if your goal is to reach an organization with a similar audience, then you should tag them and/ or include hashtags that classify you in the same manner. In this instance, you would also want to make sure your content appeals to their audience.

Good content might get lost if you neglect to include a proper hashtag, use an appropriate image, or include a way to follow up.

Focus on images and design.

Focus on images and design when developing posts for any social media platform. People don’t read every word on a webpage, let alone on their social media accounts. They want short and snappy posts that catch their eye as they scroll through on their lunch breaks.

Embrace the scanning culture by investing time to post images and create graphics that tell your story and define you as an organization. Your content should deliver an experience, offering your audience insight.

Do this by showing your business concepts, instead of telling them about your products. Post pictures of staff working, office renovations, and events being set up. If your organization is product oriented, post a video showing how it works. Create graphics featuring awards received, new accomplishments, or simple thank you posts.

It is important to remember people are more likely to share content that provides value, entertains them, promotes a cause they like, nourishes relationships, offers a sense of self-fulfillment, or defines their identity. Bottom line, people share content that makes them feel something.

About the Author: Heather Cherry is the Communications Specialist at the Alliance for Nonprofit Resources (ANR). She oversees marketing and communications for its affiliates, Center for Community Resources (CCR), and Nonprofit Development Corporation (NDC). She holds a Master’s degree in Professional Writing from Chatham University. Heather specializes in content marketing strategy, brand management, editing, and content creation.

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Member Accolades J. Victor Conrad wins 2018 Five Star Wealth Manager J. Victor Conrad, CFP, ChFC, AIF, PINNACLE Financial Strategies, LLC is the 2018 Five Star Wealth Manager for the 7th year in a row! He has won Five Star Wealth Manager from 2012-2018. Congratulations Vic!

Northwood Realty Acquires Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices, The Preferred Realty; Merger Creates the Region’s New Top Real Estate Broker

Everest Holding Company, parent company of Northwood Realty Services, will acquire Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices The Preferred Realty, and all the company’s related entities. Northwood and The Preferred Realty will merge to create a new family of companies that will operate as Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices The Preferred Realty, effective mid-August 2018. The merger will create the number one residential real estate broker in the region in volume, sales, and active listings, based on West-Penn Multi-List year-to-date data for 2018. It will include more than 1,800 agents, employ more than 200 and have more than 50 offices across 22 counties in Western Pennsylvania and Eastern Ohio.

Combined, the brokerages generated $85 million in Gross Commissioned Income (GCI) in 2017, which would place the new company in the top 10 ten among all Berkshire HomeServices brokerages.

Dollar Bank to Deliver New Digital Banking Experience with Fiserv

Fiserv, Inc., a leading global provider of financial services technology solutions, announced that Dollar Bank will update its digital banking and payment capabilities with a focus on the customer experience. One of the first financial institutions in the United States to offer online banking, Dollar Bank will build on its history of digital innovation with the implementation of Architect™ from Fiserv. The bank will also add integrated bill payment, person-to-person (P2P) payment, and money transfer capabilities.

PghNorthChamber.com

July 2018

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Picture this, Image Success for Social Media (Continued from Page 6) By: Elizabeth Blakely, Link to Visibility

Images Guidelines 1. Keep backgrounds as simple as possible. Whenever you can, remove extraneous items from the picture.

2. Rely on natural lighting as much as possible.

3. Make a list of pictures that you want so you don’t miss anything when you get busy.

4. When you plan to take pictures, have staff wear simple clothes so the focus in on your business and/or products.

If you don’t have them, consider getting logo-ed apparel, because it reinforces your brand and professionalism.

5. For a long time, professionals believed that images with people, particularly faces, had higher rates of engagement. There is some research (1) that suggests that isn’t entirely correct.

-If you want to get “shares” you don’t need to have a person in your image, pictures with out any human element were shared more often.

-If you want to get “likes” include a partial shot of a person, i.e. just a hand or ankle. Pictures with partial body images were “liked” more often than a picture with a person or no human element.

6. Resist the urge to clean up, e.g. edit every image. Pictures that look too perfect look less authentic.

7. Take images a little bigger than you think is needed. It is much easier to crop or shrink an image! Many photo requirements for social media are not the same proportion as a standard photo.

Photos in all Shapes and Sizes Perhaps one of the biggest challenges is figuring out what size and shape image you need for the various social media platforms, they vary widely. For example, this list shows the sizes need for Faceabook’s various cover photos and posts: Pixel Size Facebook Cover Photo Location 360 x 360 Profile Photo 851 x 310 Cover photo Profile 820 x 312 Cover photo fan page 820 x 428 Cover photo group 500 x 262 Event 1200 x 630 Share image and share link 487 x 255 timeline image 1200 x1800 Highlighted post Find out what size/shape image you need before you takes pictures, it will save you time and frustration.

Pictures of Customers and Kids Remember that taking pictures for personal use is different than pictures for business use. Pictures displayed on the internet tend to have a life of their own and are very difficult to control once they uploaded on the internet. Be careful and learn about the concepts of “fair use” and reasonable expectation of privacy”. Keep in mind:  Some kids and adults don’t like having their pictures taken. In particular, some parents do not permit pictures of their children for any reason.  If permission and privacy are a concern, make sure that you have permission to take and use photos. You can use an online form or written form to get permission Having an event? Include a photo release as part of the signup form.  Remember that kids, in particular, can be unpredictable, go with it and enjoy the energy and don’t try to force perfection.  Encourage adults to have relax and have fun. Most of the time, stuffy, tense looking photos won’t engage users much less represent your brand in a positive light.

Since photos of real customers are known to be successful, there are great ways to get photos of your business and customers in action. Here are two easy ways to engage users and obtain some images for social media:  Consider having a photo contest where customers upload images about your business and its products/services on to social media platforms.  Create an item that customers can have their picture taken with and tag the location.

It is worth noting that as the importance of video continues to grow, many get started with still photography and then expand into video. This transition makes complete sense since you can take your knowledge lighting and composition and expand your efforts to include key videography elements such as sound, movement (camera and subject), and pacing. When you are ready to expand your imaging repertoire, look on the net for guidance.

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Why belong to the Pittsburgh North Regional Chamber—or, why not?

By: Jerry Walkins, SendOut Cards Background: Several years ago (2008) I joined the Northern Allegheny County Chamber of Commerce thinking it would be an opportunity to network and increase my fledging business. After a couple of years, the Allegheny County Chapter merged with the Cranberry Chamber, forming the Pittsburgh North Regional Chamber (2010).

Why am I still around at 2018? During the membership period I made it a priority to become involved.

Morning Networking Meetings, Business After Hours, Ribbon Cuttings, plus many other informational and or educational meetings as well as serving as Committee Chair, and Board member.

But, really why am I still around? Well, not only has the Chamber interaction leveraged my business, I also am a Client/Customer of many fellow members. As often said, “you do business with those you know, like, and trust. With being a Chamber Member, you also can do business with reliable, professional, and ethical businesses.

Looking back, I have a few business situations: Repair, Services, etc. to point at: 1] Member: Legal Shield 2] Account at USX Federal Credit Union 3] Computer problem: The Computer Coach 4] New Furnace – Home Depot 5] Water Heater – Ben Franklin Plumbing 6] Neck & Back – Dr. Dan Turo 7] Automobile repair & inspection – Glenshaw Auto 8] Air Condition Unit tune up – A Comfort Service 9] New Garage Door & Opener -Sears Garage Solutions Nine opportunities – 9 very satisfied solutions. My membership has been a very rewarding experience.

Are you a Member? Are you an Active Member? If not, Why Not?

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Summer Business Bash

The Chamber hosted a North Pittsburgh Summer Business Bash with the Pittsburgh Business Exchange and Butler County Chamber on Wednesday, June 20 at Jergel’s Rhythm Grille in Warrendale.

[Not Just] Food & Wine Classic

The Chamber’s annual [Not Just] Food & Wine Classic was hosted at The Greater Pittsburgh Masonic Center on Thursday, June 28. Attendees enjoyed a wide variety of food, desserts, wine, beer and mixed drinks, in addition to 3 live bands, raffle prizes and even a fun “Heads or Tails” game to win a 4 night cruise to the Bahamas! Ten Four Social planned an incredible evening of fun!

Filing Amended Tax Return What should you do if you already filed your federal tax return and then discover a mistake? First of all, don’t worry. In most cases, all you have to do is file an amended tax return. But before you do that, here is what you should be aware of when filing an amended return.

ADVERTORIAL

The Correct Form for an Amended Tax Return Taxpayers should use Form 1040X, Amended U.S. Individual Income Tax Return, to file an amended (corrected) tax return.

An amended return cannot be e-filed. You must file the corrected tax return on paper. If you need to file another schedule or form, don’t forget to attach it to the amended return.

An amended tax return should only be filed to correct errors or make changes to your original tax return. For example, you should amend your return if you need to change your filing status or correct your income, deductions or credits.

You normally do not need to file an amended return to correct math errors because the IRS automatically makes those changes for you. Also, do not file an amended return because you forgot to attach tax forms, such as W-2s or schedules. The IRS normally will mail you a request asking for those.

If you are amending more than one tax return, prepare a separate 1040X for each return and mail them to the IRS in separate envelopes. Note the tax year of the return you are amending at the top of Form 1040X. You will find the appropriate IRS address to mail your return to in the Form 1040X instructions.

If you are filing an amended return to claim an additional refund, wait until you have received your original tax refund before filing Form 1040X. Amended returns take up to 16 weeks to process. You may cash your original refund check while waiting for the additional refund.

If you owe additional taxes file Form 1040X and pay the tax as soon as possible to minimize interest and penalties. You can use IRS Direct Pay to pay your tax directly from your checking or savings account.

Generally, you must file Form 1040X within three years from the date you filed your original tax return or within two years of the date you paid the tax, whichever is later. For example, the last day for most people to file a 2014 claim for a refund is April 17, 2018. Special rules may apply to certain claims. Please call the office if you would like more information about this topic.

You can track the status of your amended tax return for the current year three weeks after you file. You can also check the status of amended returns for up to three prior years. To use the “Where’s My Amended Return” tool on the IRS website, just enter your taxpayer identification number (usually your Social Security number), date of birth and zip code. If you have filed amended returns for more than one year, you can select each year individually to check the status of each.

Don’t hesitate to contact a Holsinger, P.C. tax expert if you need assistance filing an amended return or have any questions about Form 1040X. For more information, visit their website.

It was with great pleasure that we could celebrate the Grand Opening of PGH Smile Boutique on Thursday, June 14. PGH Smile Boutique is Pittsburgh’s all new premier dental provider with the latest technology and treatment approaches to dentistry. Visit them at 904 Warrendale Village Drive in Warrendale!

The Chamber helped to welcome Best Western PLUS into Cranberry Township on Thursday, June 14. This is the only Best Western branded hotel in the Pittsburgh area! Visit them at 5001 Cranberry Springs Dr, Cranberry Twp.

Ribbon Cuttings

The Chamber is very fortunate to celebrate the grand openings of new businesses into our growing region. On behalf of our members and Board of Directors, welcome!

The Chamber was pleased to welcome ZIGsZEN Hair Salon on Thursday, June 21. ZIGsZEN was founded on the philosophy that a salon is where guests should experience unsurpassed customer service and attention while relaxing in a “noattitude” environment. Visit them at 11279 Perry Hwy. in Wexford.

The Chamber welcomed OMEGA Federal Credit Union into on Friday, June 22. For over 77 years, OMEGA has provided financial services to residents in Pittsburgh and its surrounding communities. Visit them at 10455 Perry Highway, Wexford.

Community Connections will provide the latest updates from our municipality partners.

Stay up-to-date on what is happening in the areas that you live and work in.

Cranberry Township Martinis with Monet Enjoy sipping a variety of Martinis and other drinks with Local Artists on July 11. Just $15 or $25 for two per advance ticket includes admission, ticket redeemable for free drink & snacks. Click here for more information.

Bike Rodeo Riding bikes can be fun for kids as well as for adults. But it can also be dangerous. Cranberry Township’s 4th annual Bike Safety Rodeo will be held on July 21st on the Kids Castle Playground rain or shine. Police officers will provide free bike inspections, helmet fitting, and information about the statutes that apply to bicycle use in Cranberry. For more information, click here.

McCandless Township McKinney Road Bridge Closed

The McKinney Road bridge will be closed from June 7th till August 7th. Click here for detour listings.

Pine Township Friends of Pine Community Golf Outing Pine Community Golf Outing will be on July 30th at the Wildwood Golf Club in Allison Park. Click here for further information.

Pine Community Days Pine Community Day is on July 21st from 4:00pm to 9:30pm at the Pine Community Park. For more information, click here.

The Chamber averages

16 new member businesses each month

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NexTier Bank Nonprofit Spotlight The Lighthouse Foundation

Since 1985, The Lighthouse Foundation has been serving the needs of economically disadvantaged individuals and families in northern Allegheny County and Butler County. The mission of The Lighthouse Foundation is encouraging others to find hope in Christ by meeting their immediate needs and empowering them towards self-sufficiency. Over the past 33 years, The Lighthouse Foundation has expanded its programs and services to include five transitional housing locations, a weekly food pantry distribution, a low income car ownership program, emergency financial assistance, free educational classes, and an interim homeless shelter. In June, The Lighthouse will launch a new transitional housing option, a sober living house. Located in Butler, the sober living house will be a safe haven for up to 4 men in recovery.

The Lighthouse Foundation makes a significant impact on the lives of those who utilize its programs.

In 2017, The Lighthouse provided food orders for 2,673 households, including 7,645 people, financially assisted 172 households, helped 8 families acquire a safe, reliable vehicle, provided transitional and interim housing for 165 people, including 64 children, and provided free educational classes to 86 individuals. Thanks to the partnership and support of PNRC, local businesses, churches, organizations, and individuals, lives are being changed through The Lighthouse Foundation.

Want to be a beacon of light in your community? There’s 4 easy ways to make an impact on your neighbors in need:

VOLUNTEER

DONATE

SPONSOR

SHARE

Upcoming opportunities to partner with The Lighthouse Foundation include The Lighthouse Foundation Golf Outing on July 16th at the Butler Country Club and the 4th Annual Soaring for Hope Gala on September 21st at the White Barn in Prospect. Volunteer your time, donate items for the silent/basket auctions, sponsor an event, and share The Lighthouse Foundation’s programs, services, and upcoming events.

To learn more about the programs and services of The Lighthouse Foundation or to purchase tickets for Lighthouse events please visit www.thelighthousepa.org.

Let ’s continue to provide hope and change lives, together. page 17

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

We thank you for your continued support!

20 +Years Creative Real Estate Development Co

Lifesteps

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Meridian Specialty Services, Inc. The Lynch Law Group Sain Law, LLC Rj Community Management Office Furniture Outlet Allstate Insurance - The Walch Agency LLC North Way Christian Community Pittsburgh Post-Gazette Home Depot - Cranberry RPS Financial Solutions Western PA Chapter of Nat. Hemophil Masonic Village at Sewickley New York Life- Hacker Baierl Family YMCA First National Bank - Gibsonia

Max & Erma's - Cranberry Joe Palmieri Construction, Inc. Pittsburgh Catholic Newspaper Mullin Landscape & Winter Management Goldfish Swim School Wexford Houk Consulting Pittsburgh Cares EchoHR Dagostino Electronic Services, Inc. The Lighthouse Foundation Acri Commercial Realty Schooley Mitchell of Pittsburgh Hughie's Event Production Services The Diet Doc Pittsburgh North Parry Custom Homes

Howard Hanna Real Estate Services - Cranberry Amy Reed Healthy Life Sechler Law Firm, LLC Mark Bianco The Payroll Shoppe Holistic Aging-Options For Elder Care Emily Novak Photography LLC Pittsburgh Senior Directory

Welcome to those who have joined!

Web.com

Transformative Business Coaching

Just in Thyme Catering and Events, Inc.

Cutco Cutlery

OMEGA Federal Credit Union-Wexford

ZIGsZen Salon

Sign Language Interpreting Professionals, LLC.

New York Life– Pham

Jason’s Deli-McCandless

Your Hangout Spot, LLC

Best Western Plus Cranberry-Pittsburgh North

Agera Energy

Office Max

Sana View

Steelsmith, Inc.

Health Star Home Care

Pittsburgh Business Show

Ten Four Social Gibsonia Dental Care

Thank you for your referrals!

John McCool, Legal Shield & Identity Theft Protection

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Nicky Voynick, Salem Media Group Dr Shannon Theiroff, Choice Restorative Medicine

Pittsburgh North Regional Chamber

PghNorthChamber.com

July 2018

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Thank you to our Valued Corporate Sponsors and Chamber Partners