PNRC Committee Spotlight HYPE (Helping Young Professionals Excel)

supports the growth and involvement of talented young professionals by creating business opportunities, supporting community involvement, and fostering an overall investment in the future of our region. HYPE brings together young professionals with the most powerful network of business leaders in the Pittsburgh North region by providing opportunities, information, and mentorship to the next generation of leaders.

HYPE organized the Second Chance Prom at the Millvale Community Center earlier this year to raise money for the scholarship fund. They were able to raise enough to give six scholarships to high school graduates (five scholarships and one trade scholarship).

HYPE meets the first Wednesday of every month from 4-5 PM at Stack’d in Wexford.

Upcoming HYPE events:

HYPE Iron Chef - September 18, 2023 at Flour Power Kids Cooking Studios in Allison Park, PA

Back to School Mixer - September 2023. (A chance for college-aged students to get a chance to learn more about the Pittsburgh North Regional Chamber with light refreshments).

Meet ‘n Move - October 2023. An evening event with round-robin networking! Attendees will enjoy light refreshments and networking at one of the PNRC’s most popular events.

Meet the HYPE Committee Chair - Bradley Wilkins, Branch Manager at KeyBank Wexford

Questions? Are you interested in being a part of the HYPE Committee or learning more information? Contact Bradley Wilkins at Bradley_J_Wilkins@keybank.com or Carrie Nolan Robson at crobson@pghnorthchamber.com for all the details!

Stay tuned for more information about PNRC committees…

Ambassador, Community Outreach, Events and Programming, Farmers Market, Golf, Legislative & Economic Development, Marketing and Communications

How to Choose the Right Insurer for Your Benefit Plans

Offering the right mix of benefits to employees is a daunting task for almost any company. Yet most business owners understand the importance and value a strong employee benefit portfolio has on their company’s growth and overall success. But choosing the best benefits is only part of the story. Choosing the right insurance carriers to provide those benefits is not only the other part of the story, but an often undervalued aspect.

When evaluating different carriers for benefit plans, there are several things employers should consider prior to making a decision. While working with a benefits broker or consultant will greatly simplify this process, it is ultimately up to the business owner to assure the carrier selection is the best fit for their company. Here are a few points to consider:

Carrier Credentials…In addition to checking that carriers are licensed to do business in any state(s) with client locations, decision makers should also seek assurance that the carrier is financially sound and meets all state requirements, such as those involving required premium reserve levels.

Diversity of Products and Services…Most companies today, especially those with more than a few employees, tend to offer multiple plan options for their employees to choose from. The right carrier should have a wide portfolio of plans available for any group. Which of those plans should be in the company benefit package? That should be based on the specific demographics of each business, the health care needs of that population, and the company budget.

Provider Networks…Prior to including a plan in the company’s benefit portfolio, the decision maker should be assured that employees and their families will be comfortable choosing from the physicians and hospitals within the provider’s network.

Cost Competitiveness…This should be obvious, but with all other factors being equal, the plan premiums for both the company and its employees are a major factor in a decision to choose or bypass a carrier.

Level of Technology…Online access to health information, digital tools and monitoring, and other technology can assist in the management of health issues. This takes stress away from employees seeking enhanced wellbeing and provides employers utilization based savings in the process.

Customer Service Experience…Research the level of personalized customer service that the provider offers members. Especially in smaller businesses, where there are few if any, human resource personnel for employees to turn to for help with claim issues, a friendly, responsive, and effective call center can make or break the employee experience.

The Pittsburgh North Regional Chamber offers its members access to My Benefit Advisor as a solution for employee benefits, including voluntary offerings. For more information about My Benefit Advisor, visit our website at www.chamberchoice.net or contact Craig Pritts at (800) 377-3539.

Your Chamber membership is a valuable business tool that is complemented by our Affinity Program partners who help you to save time and money. Save on everything from payroll to energy and you don’t have to spend your valuable time researching - your Chamber has done it all for you!