November 2018 Corridors

November 2018

CORRIDORS

Serving Business Corridors in Western Pennsylvania Make the season of giving year round Why Gratitude in the Workplace Matters

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:

Kristina Hall Director of Events & Programs KHall@PghNorthChamber.com Melissa Leedy Member Accounts Executive MLeedy@PghNorthChamber.com Heather Schwartzbauer Membership & Digital Media Coordinator HSchwartzbauer@PghNorthChamber.com Amy VanAtta Executive Assistant AVanAtta@PghNorthChamber.com

3

From the President

4

Business After Hours, Signature Events and Connections Schedules

5 6

Member of the Month Make the Season of Giving Year Round

8

Why Gratitude in the Workplace Matters

10

Could Self-Funding Be the Strategy for You?

14

Avoiding an Unexpected Tax Bill

16

Community Connections

From the Shop Local, Shop Small I am sure that you have heard that small business is the lifeblood of the American economy. Did you know that half of all Americans are employed by a small business? And, that rate is growing! About two out of three new jobs in the United States are created by small business. That’s because small business ownership is growing! Even with the domination of the big box stores and internet shopping, there are 44% more small businesses now than there were 20 years ago. Women-owned businesses have almost tripled that rate Jim Boltz, President with over 114% growth in that timeframe. They now account for approximately 40% of the ownership of all small businesses.

There are some very good reasons that you should shop at a locally owned small business.

Here are a few: 1. The money that you spend stays in the local economy. As already stated, half of your neighbors work in small business. Not only that, owners buy equipment and supplies, use local banks, utilize local utilities and services, pay rent and local taxes.

2. Small business owners give back to their communities. They have a deep stake in the welfare of their neighborhood. It goes past just writing a check, though. They volunteer and fundraise. Many become community hubs that serve as a meeting place to bring neighbors together.

3. You are more important to the small business. For that reason, small businesses owners tend to listen more to their customers and are more flexible in accommodating their needs.

Service is personalized, hands on and usually more noteworthy. They don’t have big advertising budgets to proclaim how great that they are. Instead, they depend on their customer to spread the word and give them referrals.

4. Small businesses offer a more unique product. Their assortments are more region specific.

They have their finger on the pulse of what is popular in the area. It is not one size fits all.

They do not have the pressures of choosing items to sell that appeal to the masses from coast to coast.

5. Small business owners are extremely educated in their industry and their competition. They have to be! They will offer you a product that is in style, current with the times and competitively priced.

6. You can see, touch, feel, try on and inspect the actual product that you are purchasing.

7. You can take your purchase home with you on the same day.

8. Small business helps keep our neighborhoods unique and diverse. They define the personality of where you live. They create the difference between Zelienople, Mars, Shadyside, Cranberry and Perrysville. All great but all different.

Shop Small Saturday is November 24th. Please support your local small business. Not just on that day, however, but every day. There is so much to gain by it. *Statistics were provided by Salesforce

Page 3

B USINESS A FTER H OURS November 13 Tipsy Turkey Trot 5:00-8:00 p.m.

Jergel’s Rhythm Grille, Bakn, House of 1000 Beers, Stack’d Wexford

E VENTS Meet and Move Luncheon Monday, November 5 11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.

Pittsburgh Marriott North @ Cranberry Woods 100 Cranberry Woods Drive Cranberry Township, PA 16066 Giving Tree Celebration Friday, November 30 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.

Glade Run Lutheran Services Dining Hall 70 W Beaver Street Zelienople, PA 16063

M ARKETPLACE L UNCH M EETINGS November 7 Monte Cello’s at The Hampton Shoppes 11:30 a.m. - 1:00 p.m., 4655 William Flynn Highway Route 8, Allison Park November 26 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 Warrendale: Tuesdays, 11:30 a.m.

DoubleTree By Hilton, 910 Sheraton Drive Cranberry Twp.: Wednesdays, 7:30 a.m.

Council Chambers, 2525 Rochester Road Ross Twp.: Thursdays, 7:30 a.m.

Treasure House Fashions, 7607 McKnight Road Valencia: Fridays, 7:30 a.m.

The Crystal Conservatories, 100 Conservatories Court

page 4

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 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

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 Steven W. Diffenderfer, Community Bank Todd Harris, Liberty Insurance Agency Jim Logan, Pgh Repair LLC Al Marschke, ACN Business Essentials

Alyssa Marsico, Alzheimer’s Association Tiffany Nolan, i.e. Insurance Robert O’Friel, Luttner Financial Group Mark Prentice, Healthy Environments, LLC Jan Stevens, Coldwell Banker Nicky Voynick, Salem Media Group

Pittsburgh North Regional Chamber

PNRC Member Gary Basilone

Basilone Executive Search Team Jim Boltz, President PNRC, said “I cannot think of a person who does more or is more active in the Chamber. Gary facilitates three of our Connections meetings (and has done so since their inception), serves on the Board of Directors and chairs the Board’s nominating committee. On top of that, he is a regular at most of our events where he welcomes the new and is a friend of everyone else. This award is long overdue and just a small way that we can show our appreciation. Thank you, Gary!”

“I have known Gary for 7 years and truly feel like he is a great resource for any information.

Whenever you need help, he is always there for you. He does a lot for the Chamber and is very deserving of this award. Gary takes the time to help build great connections, especially as a host of 3 Chamber connections meetings every week. He has a great sense of humor,” said Rakesh Unnithan, WesBanco.

Al Davidson said, “What would you give a volunteer who facilitates 3 early morning networking meetings? What would you give a volunteer who has successfully held basically every board position that the PNRC has? What would give a volunteer who is the voice of the chamber wherever he goes touring its accomplishments to all those that will listen? And what would you give someone who will help you at any turn, listen with an open mind and do all that he could to make sure that "you" were successful? At the very least you would give him the Member of the Month and at the very least we should all personally thank Gary for all that he has done and continues to do.”

PghNorthChamber.com

November 2018

page 5

Make the Season of Giving Year Round By: Amy Franz, United Way of Southwestern Pennsylvania At this time of year we are inundated by messages regarding the perfect gift, the perfect gathering and the perfect feast. And on the heels of those messages, we will soon be asked to declare our resolutions and what we plan to do differently in the New Year.

While it’s natural to separate our year into seasons, our basic needs must be met every day. And for many in our community, meeting those needs is not an easy task.

That’s where the United Way comes into play. We help to bring resources to those in need, every day. Whether it is access to affordable child care so a single mother can keep her job, or temporary housing for a family while they can gain and maintain permanent housing, the United Way is there.

The United Way of Southwestern Pennsylvania is chartered to serve Allegheny, Butler, Westmoreland, Fayette and Southern Armstrong Counties. Through local offices in Butler, Greensburg and Pittsburgh, the United Way is focused on creating community-based and community-led solutions that strengthen the cornerstones for a good quality of life: education, financial stability and health. In Butler County, the United Way has partnered with and invested in eleven agencies to conduct fourteen programs serving people below the poverty line. These programs include childcare scholarships; providing guidance and education to put young families on a path toward long term economic stability; income tax assistance for persons with disabilities; the elderly and those who speak limited English; skills development for transition-age students as they prepare to live and work independently in the community and eliminating the immediate crisis of homelessness.

The United Way of Butler County has also made investments in county wide initiatives that address these needs. Through PA 2-1-1 Southwest, residents have 24/7 access to health and human service information by simply picking up their phone and dialing 211. An afterschool tutoring program in Butler Area and Karns City Area School Districts supports at-risk students in third through fifth grades by focusing on additional instruction in English Language Arts and Mathematics. The Butler Emergency Relief Initiative is a coalition of community minded businesses, churches, local and county government agencies assisting individuals in time of need. Our employment initiative seeks to assist individuals who might struggle to find meaningful, sustainable employment due to their circumstance. The volunteer initiative make connections between interested volunteers and projects for nonprofit organizations across Butler County. During the most recent Week of Caring in October, 165 individuals invested their time and talents to provide 927.5 hours of volunteer service. Projects included landscaping, painting and programming for youth and seniors. This was an increase of nearly thirty percent over last year!

Later this month, we will be hosting two volunteer mixers to help people learn about volunteer opportunities throughout the year. Please consider attending either the November 14th mixer at Family Pathways in Butler or the November 19th mixer at the Cranberry Township Municipal Building. Both events are scheduled from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Registration is recommended and can be done by contacting John Furman at john.furman@unitedwayswpa.org or 724-285-4883, extension 233.

Thank you for what you have done, and will continue to do this season for the community. I am honored to be your Butler Region Director and look forward to partnering with you to expand United Way’s impact in the community.

Page 6

Pittsburgh North Regional Chamber

PghNorthChamber.com

July 2017

page 7

Why Gratitude in the Workplace Matters By: Dr. Ann Gatty, Strategic People Solutions Recently, I was involved with an organization doing some volunteer work with my Great Dane therapy dog, Beretta. You may know that Beretta and I present employee training workshops on conflict resolution and building positive employee engagement. We also volunteer at local health care organizations on a weekly basis. It is our mission to provide emotional support to the residents. However, with one organization, the administrative staff has walked past Beretta and me in the hallways on several occasions, never acknowledging our presence and never uttering a word of greeting or a word of appreciation. In other words, no thank you’ s offered.

It got me thinking about the types of organizations with which I contract. My work is primarily in building business plans and providing employee development for small to medium sized companies. I rely heavily on creating a strong, positive employee culture in which respect, trust, and gratitude are core values. So now, I ask myself, “Why should I be involved with a company where the administrators don’t show gratitude or respect for what I do?” Especially when I am volunteering my time.

Showing gratitude is important in the workplace. Smart leaders know this. By taking time to acknowledge employee effort, a workplace culture can be transformed. When gratitude is practiced in the workplace, positive relationships are nurtured, complaining is minimized, and employee satisfaction levels skyrocket. Showing gratitude is a form of showing respect. In the workplace, no one person can implement all aspects of a project. It takes help from others. It takes teamwork. When leaders take time to acknowledge the quality performance of others, to thank people for their efforts, to show gratitude for those going the extra mile—employees are more willing to try harder, and produce better results. The whole workplace mood is uplifted.

Besides, showing gratitude is just common decency. It is the opposite of complaining and making excuses. Showing gratitude puts smiles on faces. It helps people have the resilience to try again when things have been going off the rails with their assignments. Showing gratitude encourages trust as leaders from the top of the organization down to the bottom rung of the ladder know that employees are respected for their efforts and that what they are doing matters. A leader showing gratitude implies that she believes the employees can do quality work and she trusts their abilities.

Have you said “Thank you” today? People try to do well at their jobs and appreciate it when they are noticed. Showing gratitude is an important start in improving positive employee engagement. Drop us a post on Facebook at BerettaBytes, or on Twitter at @anngatty and let us know how you show gratitude in the workplace!

About the Author Dr. Ann Gatty is a business success expert. She helps her clients clarify the vision for their businesses, boost their leadership capabilities and add quality talent to help the clients reach their goals. Through a collaborative mentoring process, she and her clients create workable strategic business plans and success initiatives, while improving their workplace processes. She is frequently featured in the media and contributes blog posts for www.AllBusiness.com, www.MarketingInsiders.com, and www.WomenOnBusiness.com. Her interactive speaking engagements assist participants in discovering new-found talents and skills that they can immediately apply in the workplace. Join her Facebook Group, Strategic Thinking Summit Elites for strategies you can implement to grow your business success and enjoy camaraderie with others entrepreneur members.

Page 8

Member Accolades Jeff Wokutch Auto Body Gold Class Status

Congratulations to Jeff Wokutch Auto Body for achieving Gold Class Status! They are among only 15% of auto repair businesses to achieve Gold Class status in the Collision Repair Business!

Tiffany Nolan Five Star Professional Congratulations to Tiffany Nolan of i.e. Insurance for holding the prestigious honor of being named a 2018 Five Star Home/Auto Insurance Agent award winner.

Sammy’s Superstars raised over $700

Congratulations to Sammy Turo for raising over $700 for the Down Syndrome Association of Pittsburgh (that helps make care at Down Syndrome Center of Western PA possible).

Dr. Kirsten Lin named one of Pittsburgh's 40 Under 40 Honorees Congratulations to Dr. Kirsten Lin, Founder of Family Matters Direct Primary Care, for being named one of Pittsburgh’s 40 under 40 Honorees!

Jan Stevens Five Star Professional

Congratulations to Jan Stevens, Coldwell Banker, for holding the prestigious honor of being named a 2018 Five Star Professional.

ConnectedHealth CEO named Smart 50 Honoree Congratulations to Betty Rich, CEO of ConnectedHealth, LLC for being named one of the Smart 50 Honorees. This award recognizes top executives for their ability to effectively build and lead savvy organizations.

RevLocal Wins Yext U.S. Partner of the Year Award Congratulations to RevLocal for winning Yext's U.S. Partner of the Year award for always staying on the leading edge of digital knowledge management for their clients.

Dan LaVallee named one of Pittsburgh's 40 Under 40 Honorees Congratulations to Dan LaVallee, Director of Government and Business Relations, Government Programs, UPMC Health Plan, for being named one of Pittsburgh’s 40 under 40 Honorees!

Entrepreneur Magazine Adds Minuteman Press to Best Franchises List

Minuteman Press International was recently included in Entrepreneur magazine’s Best of the Best Franchises list, which recognizes the 105 companies that ranked at the top of their industry categories in Entrepreneur’s Franchise 500® ranking.

ARMSTRONG raises funds for local food banks Congratulations to ARMSTRONG for raising $4,355 for our local food banks through their efforts at A Walk For Hunger event.

Insperity Ranks Best Places to Work, Marking 4th Consecutive Year Congratulations to Insperity, a leading provider of human resources and business performance solutions for America’s best businesses, for ranking #1 on Houston Business Journal’s List of Best Places to work for the 4th consecutive year!

George Payne Five Star Professional

Congratulations to George Payne, Federated Mortgage Corp., for holding the prestigious honor of being named a 2018 Five Star Professional.

PghNorthChamber.com

November 2018

Could Self-Funding Be the Strategy for You? By: SBN Staff Self-funding is not a new strategy. But while historically utilized for large employer groups, its availability for medium and small employers is new. And the concept is showing impressive results when it comes to giving employers greater input in health plan design and more control over rising medical benefit costs.

Smart Business spoke with Domenic Pascucci, consultant at JRG Advisors, about the benefits of a self-funded health plan.

Why is control of a health plan so important?

Employers need to focus on where their medical dollars are spent to accurately implement and assess a benefits strategy that stabilizes costs. Employers that cling to their fully insured plan must face the reality that they have no control. They wait until 60 to 90 days from their renewal, hoping for a favorable renewal offer, but they’re often slapped with an increase. And so, the last-minute scramble begins — they modify their plan design, switch insurance companies and shift costs to employees.

These methods are a temporary solution at best. They never serve as a long-term strategy to effectively or efficiently manage an employee benefits program. In a self-insured or self-funded health plan, the employer takes on direct financial responsibility for employees’ health care costs. Rather than being in a large, fully insured risk pool, the self-funding employer takes on the risk for its group.

Why do some employers hesitate to switch?

Self-funding has grown in popularity and proven to save money, but ‘taking on risk’ can be an uncertain and intimidating concept. Many employers are misinformed and hesitate to make the leap from fully insured plans. A Sun Life Financial study found that nearly 50 percent of employers were skeptical of self-funding because of the fear of financial risk and 40 percent were fearful of incurring catastrophic claims.

Most self-funded employers, however, purchase stop-loss insurance to cover catastrophic claims, which protects the employer and caps the financial risk exposure. Furthermore, self-insured health plans are exempt from most state insurance laws and mandates. Not having to pay regular premiums to an insurance company can produce substantial savings. An employer is only paying for claims that actually occur in the self-funded model.

How do employers know if their organization is a good candidate for a self-funded plan?

Self-funding is not the right fit for every employer. Some careful research and analysis should be conducted by an experienced consultant that specializes in this type of funding arrangement. Identifying an employer’s financial situation, risk tolerance, cash flow, historical performance of claims and coverage needs are all factors that will help an employer decide.

What do employers need to know about setting up a self-funded plan?

If employers are viable candidates, their broker should guide and educate them on making the transition.

Once an employer is committed to a pre-determined strategy that meets the company’s needs and affordability, a financial model should be developed. It will help identify potential outcome scenarios that will not only reduce the employer’s concerns, but also reduce the risk of incurring a large financial pitfall from a costly claim. Various stop-loss deductibles and their impact should be modeled out.

Once the financial model is set up, the broker can examine plans and benefits to find those that best suit the needs of the employer and employees. This is also a good time to review the responsibilities for managing the cost and affordability of the self-funded plan. To make the transition as smooth as possible, the self-funded plan should be similar to the fully insured plan. Finally, employers need a clear understanding of a third party administrator’s role, the various levels of insurance, network availability and which networks are best suited for them.

What’s the takeaway for employers?

If your goal is to take control of your benefits program and rising costs, it’s worthwhile to examine if selffunding is a solution for you. Seek the guidance of an experienced insurance professional who can provide a detailed analysis of your liability — only then will you be informed and ready to decide whether this strategy is for you.

Insights Employee Benefits is brought to you by JRG Advisors Page 10

Small Businesses and Workers Benefiting from Tax Cuts By: SBA Mid-Atlantic Regional Administrator Michelle Christian President Donald J. Trump had taxpayers and small business owners in mind when he signed the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act into law December 22, 2017. The new law cut corporate tax rates from 35% to 21% for 2018 and lowered income tax at nearly all levels. Tax cuts for working families allow them to keep more of their hard-earned money and provide more opportunity for everyone to achieve the American dream.

Cutting back taxes for American business owners allows our nation of entrepreneurs to grow the economy from within while competing globally with international businesses interests. A lower tax rate opens the door to new and better opportunities. It also enables employers to reward their employees with higher wages, bonuses and better benefits, which frees up hard-earned capital for growth-minded businesspeople to reinvest in their companies by hiring more workers, buying better equipment, and building new facilities.

The new tax cuts are applied nearly across the board, but with emphasis on businesses that are key to stimulating economic growth as a benefit to the whole country. Lower taxes mean more of our own money is free for us to grow and create jobs ourselves. When we pocket more of our salaries and more of our business profits, we are more likely to spend that “newfound” money, which continues to bolster the economy so we all benefit from this increase in our “bottom line.” As I travel across SBA’s Mid-Atlantic Region to speak with business owners, they tell me they are using these tax savings to reinvest in themselves, and their communities.

As a direct result of the new tax law, Dollar Bank in Pittsburgh earlier this year announced $2,000 permanent raises for their employees making $60,000 or less per year – about 60% of their 1,300-person workforce. NexTier Bank in Butler, Pennsylvania paid out $1,000 bonuses for all employees and is using their tax cuts to fund tuition reimbursement, on-the-job training and wage raises for hourly employees.

Please be sure to think ahead about how this tax relief law affects you and your community. Look over the new tax rules with your accountant if you use one, or speak to one of the thousands of SBA-sponsored SCORE mentors or with your local Small Business Development Center for advice on the next steps for your small business.

Take advantage of the extra money in your pocket and reinvest in yourselves, your business, and your country.

We have a great opportunity to once again prove what small businesses can do for the economy when we remove barriers to their success.

Page 11

Health and Wellness Fair

The Chamber hosted a BRAND NEW Health and Wellness Fair at Ross Park Mall on Friday, October 26. We were happy to welcome community vendors and hear informational and educational presentations from the area’s leading experts!

Business After Hours SHOWCASE

The Chamber was excited to host our third Business After Hours SHOWCASE event on October 30th at ember & vine inside the DoubleTree by Hilton Cranberry. The theme of the evening was “Don't be spooked by holiday spending. Shop early and support our members"! We welcomed vendors to help attendees get a jump-start on holiday shopping! Student members from Pitt were even in attendance! Photos courtesy of Mei Tsui, Live Young International.

Avoiding an Unexpected Tax Bill Tax withholding can be complicated, and with the passage of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) legislation, it's even more so since a number of tax provisions have changed. As such, it's important to make sure the right amount of tax is withheld for your particular tax situation.

ADVERTORIAL

Many taxpayers have already adjusted their withholding, but for those with more complicated tax situations who have been putting it off, it's not too late. You should be aware, however, that the longer you wait, the fewer pay periods there are to withhold the necessary federal tax. In other words, more tax will have to be withheld from each remaining paycheck.

Let's take a look at which taxpayers would benefit from a "paycheck checkup" right now to avoid an unexpected tax bill next year.

Taxpayers Receiving Large Refunds Taxpayers who typically adjust their tax withholding so that they receive a large refund at tax time could be affected by tax law changes in the TCJA including reduced tax rates and significantly different tax brackets, as well as the removal of personal exemptions and doubling of the standard deduction. Adjusting tax withholding now will help taxpayers make sure the amount withheld is best for their particular tax situation--and avoid an unpleasant tax surprise next year.

High Income Taxpayers with Complex Returns High-income taxpayers often find that itemizing instead of taking the standard deduction is more beneficial, but with the passage of tax reform legislation, that might no longer be the case. Taxpayers affected by any of the following tax changes should check and adjust their withholding as soon as possible:  Changes to tax rates and brackets.  Expansion of the child tax credit.  The standard deduction nearly doubled to $24,000 for joint filers and $12,000 for singles.  A $10,000 cap on deductions for state and local property, sales and income taxes.  New limits on deductions for some mortgage interest and home equity debt.  Higher limits on the percent of income a taxpayer can deduct as charitable contributions.  No deductions for miscellaneous expenses including investment expenses and unreimbursed employee expenses such as travel, meals, entertainment and uniforms.

It is especially important for those with high incomes and complex returns to review withholding because these taxpayers are often affected by more of these changes than people with simpler returns. This is also true if they also make quarterly estimated tax payments to cover other sources of income or are subject to the selfemployment tax or alternative minimum tax.

Taxpayers with Dependents In addition to expanding the Child Tax Credit, the TCJA added a new tax credit for parents or other qualifying relatives supporting a dependent age 17 or older at the end of 2018. This new tax credit – Credit for Other Dependents - is a non-refundable credit of up to $500 per qualifying person. This change, along with others, can affect a family's tax situation in 2018 and it's important to check and adjusted withholding amounts if necessary to prevent an unexpected tax bill and even penalties next year at tax time.

Tip: Families with qualifying children under the age of 17 should first review their eligibility for the expanded Child Tax Credit, which is larger. Taxpayers should also note that both credits begin to phase out at $400,000 of modified adjusted gross income for joint filers and $200,000 for other taxpayers.

Taxpayers Working in the Sharing Economy Because the U.S. tax system operates on a pay-as-you-go basis, taxes must be paid on income as it is received rather than at the end of the year. Generally, people who are part of the sharing economy and who do not have an employer need to make sure they pay their taxes either through withholding from other jobs they may have or by making quarterly estimated tax payments to cover their tax obligations.

To continue reading more, click here.

The Chamber was excited to celebrate the opening of Beyond the Table Research on Tuesday, October 2. They are located at 2605 Nicholson Rd. Bldg. 5, Ste. 5130 near the Wexford I-79 interchange.

The Chamber was pleased to welcome Community Bank Northern Business Center into the area on Thursday, October 18. They have expanded their market area into the North! They are located at 100 Pinewood Lane, Suite 101 in Warrendale.

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 excited to celebrate a Grand Opening with Jewelry by Alicia and Scott on Tuesday, October 23. Stop by for hand-crafted jewelry!

They are located at 306 Warrendale Rd. in Wexford.

The Chamber was excited to celebrate a ribbon cutting ceremony with Smorey Giger Law on Monday, October 29. They celebrated the launch of a new strategic partnership with LegalSifter.

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 Let there be lights!

The heavily used soccer fields in North Boundary Park will soon be able to extend their playing hours well into the night. Bronder Technical Services will install a full set of pole-mounted field lights on the park’s three soccer fields. The work is expected to be completed before the end of the year. To read more, click here.

Cranberry to collect unwanted prescription drugs The drive-thru, drop-off collection program was created to safely dispose of expired and unneeded medications which could cause harm if misused. No ID needed, no questions asked, no fees. For more information, click here.

Pine Township Holiday Dazzle Show Come get in the holiday spirit at the Pine Community Center on Saturday, November 17 from 4:007:00 PM for a Holiday Dazzle Show! For more information, click here.

Program Guide Find out all of the events happening in Pine Township by clicking here to view the 2018 Program Guide!

McCandless Township Marketing the Presidency on November 15 Join Steve Mihaly, retired vice president of the H.J. Heinz Co. and a longtime collector of campaign memorabilia, as he presents “Marketing the Presidency” on Thursday, November 15 at 7 p.m. at the McCandless/Northern Allegheny Heritage Center. For more information, click here.

Fall roadside cleanup nets more than 100 bags of trash Nearly 70 volunteers made the fall 2018 McCandless roadside cleanup a success. The volunteers collected roughly 110 bags of trash. Click here for more information.

Businesses with 1-10 employees comprise

80% of our Chamber membership

page 16

NexTier Bank Nonprofit Spotlight Giving Tree Nonprofits Victim Outreach Intervention Center (VOICe) is the sole provider of comprehensive domestic violence, sexual assault and other crime victim services for the more than 180,000 people who call Butler County, Pennsylvania, home. For more information visit http://www.voiceforvictims.com/aboutvoice/. The gifts from the Pittsburgh North Regional Chamber Giving Tree Program are targeted towards current recipients of agency services. It provides and allows the clients feeling domestic violence to experience joy throughout the holiday season.

Glade Run, founded in 1854, provides autism, mental health, and unique therapeutic educational programming to children, adults and families through school and community based offerings across Western Pennsylvania. For more information visit http://gladerun.org/about-us/our-mission-values/ The mission of Lutheran Senior Life/Lutheran Service Society is to serve the less fortunate with a variety of social services. For more information visit http:// www.lutheranseniorlife.org/about. The gifts from the Pittsburgh North Regional Chamber Giving Tree Program are targeted towards children in the adoption/foster program as well as senior adults with limited family support. These gifts help the individuals feel cared for, remembered and loved as a person who may be forgotten.

North Hills Community Outreach Imagine what it’s like to be a low-income teen. Forget the holidays…when everyone at school is talking about the gifts they’ll get, like “lit” video games and that “on fleek” outfit from Abercrombie, you’re wondering if you’ll get a used sweatshirt from the thrift store. When parents are struggling, kids often get the short end of the stick. And although holiday gifts are not a necessity, feeling confident and part of the crowd goes a long way to a kid’s outlook on life and school. Each holiday season at North Hills Community Outreach helps hundreds of local families who face crisis, hardship and poverty by collecting new, unwrapped gifts for children and teens. For more information, visit https://nhco.org/ This mission of The Lighthouse Foundation is encouraging others to find hope in Christ by meeting their immediate needs and empowering them towards self-sufficiency. They serve Northern Allegheny County and Butler County. For more information: Call 724.586.5554 or visit: www.thelighthousepa.org MHY Family Services was founded in 1878 by the women of the United Presbyterian Churches of Pittsburgh and Allegheny City. Continuing to pursue our mission to promote the safety, health, education and spiritual well-being of youth and families, we are now an organization serving boys and girls, ages 9-18 and families who need therapeutic behavioral health care. For more information visit www.mhyfamilyservices.org.

Pittsburgh Mercy Intellectual Disabilities Services The desire to connect with others, to contribute, to feel useful and valued is an essential element of the human spirit. That’s why Pittsburgh Mercy offers services to help those living with intellectual disabilities lead healthy and fulfilled lives. Our intellectual disability programs serve more than 500 unique individuals and their families in the community annually. Our services are designed to promote community inclusion and improve quality of life, whether it’s providing vocational training, preparing for employment or volunteer work, arranging housing and services that match the amount of supervision needed, or providing community opportunities and in-home support for those living with their families. Learn more at https://www.pittsburghmercy.org/ Once Upon a Hero became an official nonprofit organization in January of 2013, inspired by the heroic and selfless acts of Don Spillane, who lost his life while trying to help another.

With the commitment of volunteers and the support of donors/sponsors, Once Upon a Hero brings together the community and raises money to help local families and individuals in need. Learn more at https://onceuponahero.org/

page 17

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

We thank you for your continued support!

20 +Years

Basilone Executive Search and Staffing Garden Montessori School

Ridge Insurance Agency, Inc.

Babcor Packaging Corporation

Star Limousine Service Inc.

Junior Achievement

Mazza Wines

Terry's Plumbing, Inc.

Houlihan's Restaurant

Stepping Stones Children's Center

The Pointe at Adams Ridge

A.W. Beattie Career Center

C. W. Howard Insurance Agency, Inc.

Cranberry Physical Therapy, an MRS Physical Therapy i.e. Insurance

Pittsburgh Marriott North

AXA Advisors, LLC

Total Technology Integration, Inc.

Paracca Flooring

Karen L. Vidt, CPA

Owl Cleaners Inc.

Huntington Learning Center

Advanced Controls and Distribution

Cranberry Eagle

Pittsburgh Job Corps-Career Transition Services

Advance Sourcing Concepts, LLC HouseMaster Home Inspections Trib Total Media MedExpress Urgent Care - Mars AAA East Central/North Hills Myers, Patsy & Associates, LLC

ARS Coffee Funyak Landscapes, L.P. IntegraPay Construction Junction North Hills Family Dental First National Bank - Wexford Flats Wolfendale Inc.

Northwestern Mutual - Cranberry

TownePlace Suites

The Hormone Center

Pittsburgh Philharmonic

Family Bowlaway Fun Center

Total Energy Resources, LLC

Kutchko Nursery Inc.

Instant Imprints

Smorey Giger Law

North Star Strategic Wealth Partners

Welcome to those who have joined!

Szoszorek Home Services, LLC

Daniel Paul Photography/Tri-State Sports Photography

Regional Industrial Development Corporation (RIDC)

Colonnades Family Medicine

Atria's Restaurant & Tavern - Richland

Choose Fitness

Home Savings Bank

In Community Magazines

ChiroEvolution

HelloFresh

Appleseed Events

Special Olympics Pennsylvania

Amy Davis

Thank you for your referral!

Tiffany Nolan, i.e. Insurance page 18

Pittsburgh North Regional Chamber

PghNorthChamber.com

November 2018

page 19

Thank you to our Valued Corporate Sponsors and Chamber Partners