Member News ~ November 13, 2025
Spotlight on Berwick Community Day - November 15th
Spotlight on Berwick is a free, day-long community celebration happening Saturday, November 15 at the Berwick Theater. Families can enjoy hands-on STEM and art activities, live performances, and movie showings including Sing 2 and The Addams Family 2, capped off with live music and a BTE Improv show. Hosted in partnership with Amazon Data Centers, the Berwick Arts Association, and local vendors, the event highlights recent theater upgrades and celebrates the power of community collaboration. Learn more.
The Community Giving Foundation’s Women’s Giving Circle hosts preparatory Seminar - November 19th
The Women’s Giving Circle invites you to On the Bright Side: Preparing for Tomorrow, Navigating End-of-Life Planning on Wednesday, November 19, 2025, at 10:00 AM at the Montour County Administration Center (435 E. Front St., Danville). This free session will help attendees navigate end-of-life planning with clarity and confidence, covering wills, powers of attorney, advance directives, and meaningful communication with loved ones. Register here.
DBA Announces Holiday Calendar with Pink Friday Kick Off Event - November 21st
The Danville Business Alliance's Promotions Committee has been hard at work creating a full calendar of events & promotions to engage our community, and to help support you and your businesses in what we hope will be a fun, festive, and prosperous holiday season. The season includes a “Pink Friday” kick off event, Santa Parade, Holiday Market and More! Click here to view the whole calendar.
Susquehanna Human Resource Management Association (SHRMA) November Chapter Meeting - November 20th
Join SHRMA for Emotional Trauma 101 for HR Professionals on Thursday, November 20, from 7:15–10:30 AM at Silvermoon Banquet Hall, 137 Silvermoon Lane, Lewisburg. This in-person event includes a hot breakfast and features a panel from R&L Consulting, Bingaman & Son Lumber, and Wellspan Health. This meeting is open to both members and nonmembers. Register Now!
Villager Realty Announces Q3 2025 Agents of the Quarter
Villager Realty, Inc. proudly recognizes three standout Realtors® for their exceptional service and leadership in the third quarter of 2025. Pam Whitenight earned the title of Agent of the Quarter, Drew Sassaman, and Samantha Guetherman was recognized for her rapid professional growth and client dedication. Villager Realty celebrates their excellence, teamwork, and commitment to raising the standard of real estate service across the region. Click here to read on.
SBDC Offers Go Global Webinar - November 20th
Join the Wilkes University SBDC and partners for a free online session on Thursday, November 20, 2025, from 9-10 AM (EST) exploring new opportunities following the U.S.–U.K. free trade agreement and Ireland’s expanding role in Pennsylvania’s export landscape. Featured speaker Declan Barry, Pennsylvania’s Authorized Trade and Investment Representative for the UK, Ireland, and Scandinavia, will share insights on international trade, logistics, and investment trends. Register by clicking here.
Pine Barn Inn Gives Back This Holiday Season!
The Pine Barn Inn has launched their Pay It Forward with Pine Barn Inn program. The initiative provides chef-prepared meals to community members in need, spreading warmth and kindness right here in the Susquehanna Valley. Learn more at pinebarninn.com or by contacting Lauren Hosterman at lhosterman@pinebarninn.com.
Save the Date: Focus Central PA 2026 Industrial Development Forum
Mark your calendars for the Focus Central PA Industrial Development Forum on Wednesday, March 11, 2026, at the Nittany Lion Inn in State College, PA. This forward-thinking event brings together leaders in industrial innovation and economic growth to explore opportunities shaping Pennsylvania’s future. Learn more at FocusCentralPA.org
Are you planning an event for the United States' 250th anniversary?
The year 2026 marks the 250th anniversary of the United States of America, and the Chamber is proud to be part of the Columbia and Montour Counties America 250th planning committee. We’re calling on local organizations to share their plans for celebrations and events. If your organization is planning an activity, please contact Beth Goldman at gold1beth@gmail.com, Co-Chair of the Columbia Montour County America 250th Committee. Stay tuned for more details as our community prepares to celebrate this historic milestone!
Montour Preserve Watercraft Concessionaire Request for Proposals - November 20th
The Montour Area Recreation Commission is seeking a concessionaire to offer unpowered watercraft for rental to the public at the Montour Preserve. The concessionaire may also offer for rent or sale fishing, boating, and picnic supplies as deemed appropriate by MARC. Proposals will be received by MARC at any time until 12 PM on Thursday, November 20, 2025. Proposals will be reviewed by MARC staff and presented to MARC’s Board for consideration during MARC’s meeting on Monday, November 24, 2025. Proposals are to be submitted by email to RStoudt@MontourRec.com or by mail to: MARC | PO Box 456, Danville, PA 17821.
DBI and The Bloomsburg Public Library Host Holiday Train Rides Sponsored by Service 1st Federal Credit Union - November 29-30
Join the annual North Pole Express Train Rides courtesy of Downtown Bloomsburg, Inc. and the Bloomsburg Public Library on Saturday, November 29 and Sunday, November 30. Tickets are available online and in person at the library, but be sure to book early, as rides sell out. This event is sponsored by Service 1st Federal Credit Union to support the community and spread holiday cheer.
Bloomsburg Children's Museum Announces November Programs
The Bloomsburg Children’s Museum (2 West 7th Street) is pleased to announce its programs for November 2025. The Bloomsburg Children’s Museum will be closed on November 27th and 28th. For more information about these and additional programs, click here or visit the-childrens-museum.org
4 Ways Skills-Based Volunteering Benefits Small Businesses
Source: CO - By U.S. Chamber, Erica Sweeney , Contributor
Creating a volunteer program helps you support local charities and important causes while developing your team’s expertise.
Running a small business gives you a range of skills: bookkeeping, marketing, social media strategy, human resources, and management. This expertise is what makes your company successful, but you can also use it to help your community by creating a skills-based volunteering program.
Skills-based volunteering involves business owners and their teams offering their knowledge and skills to local nonprofits. And it’s a win-win for everyone involved.
Charitable organizations tap into professional skills they need to further their missions. Companies expand their knowledge and develop employees’ skills in real-world settings, according to Common Impact, a nonprofit that connects businesses with nonprofits.
“It helps people understand the skills and value of the skills they already have by using them in a service context,” said Rachel Hutchisson, CEO of Common Impact. “It helps them build community, get to know other people, and sometimes showcase skills that they have that they don't get to use at work.”
The business benefits of skills-based volunteering
Last year, 76% of small business owners reported volunteering their time with community or civic groups, charities, youth sports, schools, religious organizations, or other groups, according to a National Federation of Independent Business survey. And 71% said doing so is important for their company’s success.
Here’s how skills-based volunteering benefits small businesses.
It improves employee retention
After implementing a skills-based volunteering program, 90% of companies experienced a decrease in turnover, according to a Common Impact survey. The report also found that:
- Ninety-six percent of employee volunteers viewed the experience as a professional-development opportunity.
- Ninety-one percent of employees said the volunteering opportunities made them more likely to recommend their employer to others.
Skills-based volunteering boosts morale among employees, as they collaborate with others on a meaningful mission or project. It provides employees and business owners with opportunities to hone their skills while furthering causes they care about.
It builds your brand image
Volunteering your skills lets you engage the community while showcasing your expertise. This in turn can increase your visibility and boost your image. When people in the community see your company giving back, they may be more likely to trust you, and this could lead to loyal, new customers, according to an Adobe Express report. It also helps you develop a reputation as a company that cares about its community, which increases awareness about your work.
It boosts the local business community
A thriving small business community benefits all companies. Creating a better local business environment is one reason to volunteer your skills. In the NFIB’s report, 82% of small business owners said their community involvement is important to creating a better local business climate.
Small business owners will also likely meet other business and community leaders while volunteering, which enables networking opportunities and possible collaborations. It could also generate referrals or introduce you to someone whom you can go to for advice.
It increases satisfaction and well-being
Giving back to local organizations just feels good. Almost all of the small business owners surveyed in the NFIB’s report said involvement in community activities was important for their “personal satisfaction and fulfillment.”
It can have the same effect on your team. Nearly 70% of small business owners said community involvement was important to the well-being and morale of their employees.
How to get started with skills-based volunteering
Start by thinking internally and involving your employees, Hutchisson says. Ask employees what causes or nonprofits they’re interested in supporting and what skills they’d like to offer.
Also, consider what might be a natural fit. For instance, if your business is food-based, offer your skills to local food pantries or other hunger-relief organizations.
“You start within, understand your skills, understand the interest of your people, and then you look for ways to engage with the outside world,” Hutchisson says.
Once you have an idea of what you’d like to support, reach out to the nonprofits that you and your team identified. Discuss their needs and the skills that you bring to the table — and map out a plan for working together. For example, if they need a more efficient way to track expenses, you could apply your accounting expertise. Or if they lack a social media strategy, help create a schedule for posting on the platforms.
Another option is to organize your team to volunteer at an event, like a 5K supporting a charity, or set up a fundraising drive, such as collecting nonperishable food around the holidays.
Start small, Hutchisson suggests. “Small businesses shouldn’t feel like they have to take a big leap to get involved in skills-based volunteerism. It’s something they can take one step at a time.”
CO— aims to bring you inspiration from leading respected experts. However, before making any business decision, you should consult a professional who can advise you based on your individual situation.
CO—is committed to helping you start, run and grow your small business. Learn more about the benefits of small business membership in the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, here.
Trust Comes First: Why Growth Depends on Keeping Promises to Customers and Teams
Source: Chamber Today
- Attention is harder to earn from both customers and employees.
- Trust, not tactics, drives lasting growth and loyalty.
- Transparency and follow-through build stronger brands and stronger teams.
- The most successful organizations treat credibility as their competitive edge.
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Growth today is not just about getting noticed; it is about being believed. Whether you are serving customers, leading a team, or managing community relationships, trust has become the foundation that every other result rests on.
The Shift from Attention to Assurance
For years, businesses measured success in clicks, likes, and foot traffic. The louder the message, the better the results. But the rules have changed. People are more cautious with their attention and their loyalty. They are tired of empty promises, fine print, and over-polished messages.
Now, what people want most is assurance: Can I count on you to do what you say?
The same is true inside the organization. Employees want to know that leaders will follow through, not just on pay or perks, but on values, workload, and respect. When trust runs high, teams speak up, share ideas, and stay longer. When it runs low, even small misunderstandings can snowball into turnover and burnout.
The Trust Dividend
Research from Edelman shows that people are more likely to buy from and stay loyal to companies they consider trustworthy. But the payoff goes beyond sales. Trust makes communication easier, decisions faster, and relationships more durable.
The good news is that trust is not a mystery. It is built through small, consistent choices that prove reliability. It looks like responding quickly to a customer concern, owning a mistake before it becomes a complaint, or giving employees clarity instead of assumptions.
When your business keeps promises, even quiet ones, it builds something that marketing dollars cannot buy: credibility that sticks.
The Daily Work of Building Trust
In today’s attention-scarce world, you do not have to outshout competitors; you have to out-care them.
That means:
- Be transparent about what you can and cannot do.
- Communicate early and often, even when news is uncomfortable.
- Deliver the same experience people expect, every time.
Consistency builds belief. It turns customers into advocates and employees into ambassadors.
And when technology enters the picture, from digital tools to AI-driven systems, the same rule applies: use it to strengthen relationships, not replace them. Automate the repetitive tasks, but keep the conversations human.
The Bottom Line
Trust has always been the quiet engine behind sustainable growth. It is what keeps customers coming back and teams rowing in the same direction.
Attention may get you a click or a visit, but trust earns you commitment. And commitment, from employees and customers alike, is the true measure of success.
When your business leads with trust, every promise kept becomes a form of marketing, and every relationship becomes a reason to grow.
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The Columbia Montour Chamber of Commerce is a private non-profit organization that aims to support the growth and development of local businesses and our regional economy. We strive to create content that not only educates but also fosters a sense of connection and collaboration among our readers. Join us as we explore topics such as economic development, networking opportunities, upcoming events, and success stories from our vibrant community. Our resources provide insights, advice, and news that are relevant to business owners, entrepreneurs, and community members alike. The Chamber has been granted license to publish this content provided by Chamber Today, a service of ChamberThink Strategies LLC.
Cybersecurity Is Everyone’s Business
Source: McKonly & Asbury, Elaine Nissley
Key Takeaways
- Enterprise Accountability: Cybersecurity must be treated as a core business risk, with executive leadership and the board responsible for governance, oversight, and adequate resource allocation.
- Communication & Oversight: Siloing cybersecurity within IT leads to poor communication, limited understanding of business risks, and underinvestment in critical protections.
- Security Culture: Building a strong security culture helps prevent insider threats through continuous employee training, behavioral monitoring, and accountability at all levels.
- Vendor Risk Management: Third-party vendors often pose significant cybersecurity risks – organizations need thorough due diligence, strong contractual security clauses, and ongoing monitoring to mitigate exposure.
- Proactive Defense: Implementing zero-trust principles and supply chain threat modeling helps identify vulnerabilities early and strengthen protection against complex, large-scale attacks.
Every organization’s future depends on treating cybersecurity as an enterprise responsibility, not just an issue that the IT department needs to deal with. Cybersecurity incidents do not just stem from technology. This article will discuss the organizational behaviors that increase the risk of a cybersecurity incident and strategies to reduce those risks.
Assigning Cybersecurity to the IT Silo
Common Conditions
Cybersecurity headlines often emphasize malware, phishing, and zero-day vulnerabilities. What they do not highlight are the human and organizational aspects that resulted in the incident. As a result, organizations relegate cybersecurity to IT. Since only IT is held accountable, there is generally poor organization communication and understanding of the business risks. This results in not adequately investing in cybersecurity and limited executive understanding of their accountability and the need for oversight.
Strategy to Mitigate this Risk
Treat cybersecurity as a high priority business risk. Make executive management and the board responsible for oversight. Include cybersecurity as a key line item for governance and risk management functions within the organization. Allocate resources to cybersecurity and hold the entire enterprise accountable. Require reporting on cybersecurity risk areas and understand if those risks are adequately mitigated.
Security Culture
Common Conditions
Lack of a security culture can increase an organization’s chance of insider risks. According the 2025 Ponemon Insider Threat Report, “the cost of insider risks continues to rise.” The Ponemon report identifies the cost of insider threats by the risk profile.
The Ponemon report highlights the human factors that contribute to the rising costs related to insider threats. These include insufficient employee training, as well as a lack of employee understanding or compliance with the organization’s requirements related to security, confidential data, and maintain current patched and upgrades.
Strategy to Mitigate these Risks
Establish an insider threat program that addresses both the human and the technical contributors to insider threat management. Key components of the program include:
- Designate a Senior Official responsible to implement and oversee the program and make them accountable to report to the oversight body.
- Leverage human resources records related to ongoing patterns of disgruntled behavior and conflicts with coworkers and other colleagues. Evidence shows that types of insider crimes are often preceded by nontechnical behaviors in the workplace.
- Provide insider threat awareness training to employees. Stress the consequences of behaviors that may result in a breach. Train the employees to identify and report red flags that may result in a breach.
- Conduct host-based user monitoring of individual employee activities both physical and digital.
- Conduct self-assessments of insider threat posture.
- Consolidate monitoring and use AI driven tools to support the analysis of the monitoring and surveillance data.
Third Party Vendor Management
Common Conditions
Third parties frequently are the weak link that results in a breach. Two recent examples include:
Leidos Data Breach: In November 2022, Diligent Corp notified Leidos Holdings, a major DOW contractor, that data they hosted for Leidos was stolen. The cause was vulnerabilities in platforms operated by Diligent Corp, a third-party vendor used by Leidos for internal investigations and case management. The breach exposed documents submitted via Leidos’ Enterprise Case Management System (ECMS)—used by non-IT staff, such as compliance officers, HR personnel, and internal investigators. These documents included personal information and potentially sensitive project details related to Pentagon contracts.
SolarWinds Software Supply Chain Attack: This attack impacted 425 of the U.S. Fortune 500 companies, the top ten U.S. telecommunications companies, the top five U.S. accounting firms, all branches of the U.S. Military, the Pentagon, the State Department, as well as hundreds of universities and colleges worldwide. Key recommendations from the Center for Internet Security (CIS) emphasize the human components related to the breached. They include, 1) remind users not to visit untrusted websites or follow links from unknown sources, 2) educate users on the threats posed by hypertext links or attachments, apply least privilege to all systems and services, and always run software as a non-privileged user.
Strategy to Mitigate these Risks
Third party data breaches are not mitigated by the technology that an organization has deployed within their organizational boundaries. This risk requires a robust vendor management due diligence and monitoring program within an organization. In addition, it is important to include contractual security obligations and breach notification clauses.
Supply chain attacks, as demonstrated by the SolarWinds breach, are hard threats to prevent because they take advantage of trust relationships, such as communication channels and update mechanisms. Supply chain threat modeling is one way that an organization can proactively assess risks and take steps to prevent attacks. Where risks are identified, consider applying zero-trust principles to applications and servers, as well as the user base.
Summary
The sophisticated cybersecurity threats, from ransomware to supply chain breaches, target not just systems but entire business operations. If cybersecurity is still siloed within an organization’s IT department, it is time to evolve. Protecting an organization in today’s digital landscape requires broad leadership engagement, enterprise-wide policies, and shared responsibility across every function.
For more information on cybersecurity, please reach out to Partner David Hammarberg or Director Elaine Nissley.
It’s Not About “If” You’ll Face a Crisis, It’s About How Ready You’ll Be
Source: PA Chamber of Business & Industry, By Stephanie Shirley, APR
Here’s a hard truth: every business will face a crisis at some point. It might not be a headline-making scandal or a cyberattack. It could be something quieter, but just as damaging—a leadership transition gone wrong, a rogue employee post on social media, or a customer complaint that snowballs online.
The difference between a business that recovers and one that unravels often comes down to this: whether you’ve prepared a crisis communications plan before the crisis hits.
And here’s the surprising part: developing that plan doesn’t just help you survive a crisis. It can actually transform how your business communicates, operates, and leads.
I’ve worked with hundreds of organizations over the past 15 years, from small family-run firms to statewide nonprofits and Fortune 500 companies. Across every industry and every economic climate, I’ve seen the same pattern repeat. The businesses that invest in communications planning, especially crisis communications, run smoother, perform better, and recover faster.
A Crisis Communications Plan Is More Than Protection, It’s Optimization
Too many business owners see a crisis communications plan as a “break glass in case of emergency” tool. In reality, it’s a strategic advantage.
Think of it as a comprehensive tune-up for your business communications, a process that aligns your internal systems, sharpens your leadership messaging, and builds trust with your audiences before a problem ever occurs.
It’s the equivalent of maintaining your car’s engine rather than waiting for it to seize up on the highway. You’re not just preventing disaster; you’re improving performance.
In fact, I would venture to say that in my experience, the vast majority of business inefficiencies and internal communication breakdowns are discovered and solved through developing a crisis communications plan.
When you take the time to identify your vulnerabilities, define your messaging, and streamline your response processes, you inevitably uncover the hidden gaps that are slowing down productivity, confusing employees, or eroding your brand consistency.
The result is a more agile, self-aware, and high-functioning organization.
Why Every Business, Large or Small, Needs One
I often hear: “We’re not big enough to need a crisis plan.” Or, “That’s something for corporations with PR departments.”
Wrong.
Crisis doesn’t discriminate by company size or sector. In fact, smaller and midsized businesses often face higher risks because they lack the infrastructure and staffing to manage unexpected fallout.
A well-developed plan gives you:
- Clarity: Who speaks, what’s said, and how quickly you respond
- Control: A defined process that keeps leadership aligned and confident
- Continuity: Your operations and reputation stay intact, even when tested
Whether you’re a three-person team or a statewide enterprise, a crisis plan gives you the same thing every business leader wants: peace of mind.
How a Strong Plan Strengthens Everyday Operations
Crisis planning isn’t just about preparing for the worst, it’s about performing your best every day. The process naturally exposes inefficiencies and improves collaboration across departments.
Here’s what I see happen time and again when businesses invest in strategic and crisis communications planning:
- Roles and Responsibilities Get Clearer
You quickly discover who’s accountable for what and who’s been wearing too many hats. - Internal Communication Improves
Teams stop working in silos. Information flows faster and more accurately. - Leadership Messaging Gets Sharper
Your executives become more confident, credible, and consistent in how they represent the brand. - Customer Trust Deepens
A business that communicates with transparency and empathy builds goodwill, long before it’s tested. - Reputation Becomes a Managed Asset, Not a Gamble
You can’t control every narrative, but you can control how prepared you are to respond to one.
A crisis plan doesn’t just prepare you for the storm. It strengthens your infrastructure, sharpens your voice, and elevates your reputation in calm weather, too.
How to Get Started (and Why Now Is the Time)
If you’ve never built a crisis communications plan, start small. Here’s a practical framework:
- Identify your vulnerabilities.
Brainstorm the top five scenarios that could harm your operations or reputation, everything from data loss to leadership changes to public controversy. - Outline your communication chain.
Who gets notified first? Who approves statements? Who speaks publicly? This alone will reveal major gaps in your internal processes. - Develop holding statements.
Draft adaptable messages that express empathy, accountability, and action so you’re not crafting your first public statement in panic mode. - Train your spokespeople.
Crisis moments are high-stakes, high-pressure environments. Media and message training can make the difference between being professional and poised, or appearing caught off guard. - Revisit and refine regularly.
Your plan should evolve as your business does. Schedule an annual review alongside your strategic planning cycle.
Even if a crisis never happens (and let’s hope it doesn’t), the process will make your organization stronger, more aligned, and more communicative than before.
The Edge That Sets You Apart
When competitors scramble to react, the prepared stay composed. That composure, rooted in strategy, isn’t just good crisis management, it’s good business.
A comprehensive communications plan, including a crisis strategy, is one of the smartest investments you can make because it doesn’t just protect your brand, it amplifies it.
It gives your team clarity, your customers confidence, and your business an edge that most never think to develop.
And in a marketplace where reputation drives everything from recruitment to revenue, that’s not just insurance. That’s your competitive advantage.
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Stephanie Shirley, APR, is a Strategic Communications Specialist and owner of Bennis Public Relations, a Pennsylvania-based firm helping businesses, organizations, and nonprofits strengthen their brands, navigate challenges, and communicate with clarity and confidence.
With more than 15 years of experience advising hundreds of clients across sectors, Stephanie’s expertise transforms how organizations prepare, respond, and thrive. For a no-cost consultation, Stephanie can be reached at Stephanie@bennisinc.com
4 Common Cash Flow Disruptions in Small Businesses (and How to Solve Them)
Source: CO - By U.S. Chamber, Jodi Helmer , Contributor
Cash flow disruptions are widespread and persistent for small businesses, but strategies like digital invoicing, cost control, and cash forecasting can help optimize cash flow.
SaveCash flow disruptions affect 88% of small businesses, but fewer than one-third are taking steps like tracking expenses, streamlining payroll, or digital automation to address them. The problem is both widespread and persistent, according to Jameson Troutman, Head of Product for Small Business at JPMorgan Chase.
“Cash flow is really critical for small business,” he said. “It is foundational to running the business.”
Here are four strategies small businesses can use to optimize cash flow.
1. Streamline customer payments
Small businesses are often waiting on money that should already be in the bank. A QuickBooks survey found that 56% of small businesses are waiting on cash from unpaid invoices and almost half were 30-plus days overdue.
For small businesses with limited cash reserves, even short payment delays can cause a ripple effect. Using digital invoicing and real-time payment tools can accelerate revenue collection.
Accepting multiple forms of payment allows small businesses to balance instant payments with those that take longer to reconcile, said Brian Clarke, Payments Analyst and Deputy Director in the Regional and Community Outreach Department at Federal Reserve Bank of Boston.
2. Change payment terms
Asking suppliers to extend payment timelines from net-30 to net-45 or net-60 terms can help avoid a cash crunch. Asking for early payment discounts when cash flow allows can also offer cost savings.
Troutman believes that building strong relationships with suppliers can open the door to negotiating better terms in exchange for faster payments or other concessions, adding, “It allows you to have a relationship-based discussion verses a transactional discussion.”
Small businesses that shrink their payment terms can also improve cash flow. QuickBooks found that 40% of small businesses that expected payment upon receipt experienced cash flow issues, compared to 60% of small businesses that offered 90-day payment terms.
3. Control costs
Keeping costs in check can leave more cash in the bank. Renegotiating a lease, switching to a more affordable supplier or lowering other fixed costs can optimize cash flow. Cuts should be strategic: Instead of cutting whole categories of spending, Troutman advises scaling back.
“You don't want to shut off marketing for a quarter [because] it could impact your potential growth but maybe you turn off one marketing channel,” he said. “It's about altering your strategy versus trying to completely turn it off.”
4. Plan for big investments
It’s no secret that large expenses can throw cash flow out of balance. Cash forecasting helps small businesses understand when there are likely to be surpluses or shortages of cash to better plan for equipment upgrades or other major expenses.
“Those types of decisions around when you make some of those bigger capital investments are also areas that small businesses will lever to manage cash flow,” Troutman said.
Delaying an investment until revenue is steady can ensure there is enough capital to cover the expense without putting the business into a cash flow crisis.
With the right mix of digital tools, expense strategies, and strong relationships, small businesses can optimize cash flow and stay focused on growth.
CO— aims to bring you inspiration from leading respected experts. However, before making any business decision, you should consult a professional who can advise you based on your individual situation.
CO—is committed to helping you start, run and grow your small business. Learn more about the benefits of small business membership in the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, here.
Your Business Can’t Outgrow You: The Hardest Truth in Entrepreneurship
Source: Chamber Today
- The ceiling on your company’s growth is often the founder’s own capacity to lead.
- The habits that built early success can later hold a business back.
- Growth requires personal transformation and outside support, not just better strategy.
- Every entrepreneur needs a plan for their own leadership development — not just their company’s.
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Every entrepreneur dreams of scaling their business. Few realize that the biggest obstacle to that growth might be staring back at them in the mirror.
At some point, every business plateaus. Sales level off. Teams lose focus. What used to work suddenly stops producing results. The instinct is to look outward and blame the market, the economy, or the team. But more often than not, the real problem is not external. It is you.
The Mirror Moment
In the early stages, control feels like survival. Founders make every decision, close every sale, and solve every problem. Their fingerprints are on everything, and that intensity fuels early momentum.
Then growth happens. The team expands. Complexity increases. What once worked begins to break. The same control that built the business becomes the very thing that holds it back.
This is the mirror moment, when a leader realizes the business cannot grow beyond their current capacity. If you struggle to delegate, your team cannot move quickly. If you fail to communicate clearly, your people cannot act decisively. If every decision still runs through you, your company cannot scale beyond your personal bandwidth.
It is not a question of effort. It is a question of evolution. The business has grown, but the leader has not yet grown with it.
From Founder to CEO
The hardest shift in entrepreneurship is learning to stop doing and start leading. That transition requires new skills such as trust, communication, accountability, and patience. It also requires courage to let others succeed without your constant involvement.
True leadership is measured not by how much you control but by how much you empower. It is about creating systems that can thrive without you in the middle of every decision. The question changes from “How can I do this faster?” to “Who can take this further than I can?”
Founders who make this leap understand that control is an illusion. Growth only becomes sustainable when leadership is shared instead of centralized.
The Leadership Ceiling
Every company has a leadership ceiling, a limit set by the founder’s mindset, habits, and ability to handle complexity. When leaders stop growing, so does the business.
The best entrepreneurs recognize that ceiling early. They seek mentorship, invest in their leadership skills, and build teams that complement their weaknesses. They replace pride with curiosity and ask a powerful question: “What version of me does this company need next?”
Personal growth is the only way to raise the ceiling. The more a leader develops self-awareness, emotional intelligence, and strategic perspective, the higher the organization can climb.
The Bottom Line
The hardest truth in entrepreneurship is simple. Your business will only grow as much as you do.
If you are feeling stuck, do not just adjust your strategy — invest in your own development.
- Join a local leadership program to strengthen your skills and expand your network.
- Consider participating in a mastermind group where you can learn from other high-performing business owners who face similar challenges.
- Hire a business coach who can help you see blind spots, refine your decision-making, and stay accountable to your goals.
Every business reaches a point where its biggest bottleneck is the person who built it. The difference between staying there or breaking through depends on your willingness to grow.
The Chamber is here to help you do that — not just as a business owner, but as a leader who shapes the future of your company and your community.
The next level of your business starts with the next level of you.
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The Columbia Montour Chamber of Commerce is a private non-profit organization that aims to support the growth and development of local businesses and our regional economy. We strive to create content that not only educates but also fosters a sense of connection and collaboration among our readers. Join us as we explore topics such as economic development, networking opportunities, upcoming events, and success stories from our vibrant community. Our resources provide insights, advice, and news that are relevant to business owners, entrepreneurs, and community members alike. The Chamber has been granted license to publish this content provided by Chamber Today, a service of ChamberThink Strategies LLC.
Member News ~ November 6, 2025
2025-2026 Chamber Directories Are Now Available!
Single copies of the 2025-2026 Chamber directories are included in this month's edition of ChamberPack. If you would like more copies for your staff, waiting rooms, or customers, email Kyra McKinnon, Events & Marketing Coordinator, with your desired amount.
Mark Giesen Coordinates Successful Event and Shifts Gears to Upcoming Veterans Day Event - November 7th
On October 2nd, individual member Mark Giesen helped to coordinate a successful Teen Inspire event that brought together 43 Danville High School juniors and 23 mentors, including Chamber President Chris Berleth. The day included inspirational presentations, new connections, and swag bags complete with gratitude journals. Mark has now shifted his coordination skills to a Veterans Community Day happening at the Danville Area Community Center on Nov. 7, 10AM–2PM featuring a dozen vendors including the VA, CareerLink, The Link, lawmakers, and veteran retreat and recreation organizations. For More information about the Veterans Community Day you can reach out to Mark at mlawrencegiesen@gmail.com.
Villager Realty Donates $250,000 to Support Southside Fire Company
Villager Realty of Danville has announced a generous $250,000 donation to the Southside Fire Company, helping the department retire its debt on Engine 73 and establish a fund for the eventual purchase of a new replacement tanker. Click here to read on.
Folk/Americana Artist Charly Lowry to Perform at Weis Center - November 13th
The Weis Center for the Performing Arts will welcome Charly Lowry on Thursday, November 13 at 7:30 p.m. at the Weis Center. For more information about this event, contact Lisa Leighton, marketing and outreach director, at 570-577-3727 or by e-mail at lisa.leighton@bucknell.edu. For more information about the Weis Center for the Performing Arts, go to Bucknell.edu/WeisCenter or search for the Weis Center on Instagram, Facebook, or YouTube.
DBI and The Bloomsburg Public Library Host Holiday Train Rides Sponsored by Service 1st Federal Credit Union
Join the annual North Pole Express Train Rides courtesy of Downtown Bloomsburg, Inc. and the Bloomsburg Public Library on Saturday, November 29 and Sunday, November 30. Tickets are available online and in person at the library, but be sure to book early, as rides sell out. This event is sponsored by Service 1st Federal Credit Union to support the community and spread holiday cheer.
Zartman Construction Celebrates Award
Congratulations to Zartman Construction Inc. on being awarded the Governor’s Award for Safety Excellence this year!
Bloomsburg Children's Museum Announces November Programs
The Bloomsburg Children’s Museum (2 West 7th Street) is pleased to announce its programs for November 2025. The Bloomsburg Children’s Museum will be closed on November 27th and 28th. For more information about these and additional programs, click here or visit the-childrens-museum.org
Montour Preserve Watercraft Concessionaire Request for Proposals - November 20th
The Montour Area Recreation Commission is seeking a concessionaire to offer unpowered watercraft for rental to the public at the Montour Preserve. The concessionaire may also offer for rent or sale fishing, boating, and picnic supplies as deemed appropriate by MARC. Proposals will be received by MARC at any time until 12 PM on Thursday, November 20, 2025. Proposals will be reviewed by MARC staff and presented to MARC’s Board for consideration during MARC’s meeting on Monday, November 24, 2025. Proposals are to be submitted by email to RStoudt@MontourRec.com or by mail to: MARC | PO Box 456, Danville, PA 17821.
Did You Miss Last Week's Member News? Here's News That's Still Timely:
DBI and the Bloomsburg Fire Department Present Annual Veterans Day Parade - November 8th
Join Downtown Bloomsburg, Inc. and the Bloomsburg Fire Department for the Annual Veterans Day Parade on Saturday, November 8th at 10:00 AM. The route will travel down Main Street to Market Street, ending at the Bloomsburg Fire Hall, where a short program and community meal will follow. Come out to honor our veterans and show your support! Click here for more event details.
Sponsler Park Ribbon Cutting & Community Celebration - November 8
Join the Borough of Berwick and the Columbia Montour Chamber of Commerce for a Ribbon Cutting Ceremony at Sponsler Park on Saturday, November 8, from 12:00-2:00 PM celebrating the park’s new accessible upgrades. The event will feature live music by Dan Hess, food and coffee trucks, and participation from local nonprofits. Enjoy a family-friendly afternoon with free hotdogs, popcorn, and fun activities as the community celebrates this exciting transformation in Berwick’s West End. Read on.
Millville Area School District’s Agriculture and Engineering Programs Host 5K - November 8th
The Cultivate and Innovate 5K Race for CTE, hosted by Millville Area School District’s Agriculture and Engineering programs, will take place on Saturday, November 8, 2025, at 9 AM at the Bloomsburg Area Recreational Trail (behind the high school). The event brings together students, educators, and community members for a fun and active morning celebrating career and technical education. Participants can enjoy a scenic run or walk while supporting programs that prepare students for careers in agriculture, technology, and skilled trades. Click here to register. Click here for more information on how to support.
Are you planning an event for the United States' 250th anniversary?
The year 2026 marks the 250th anniversary of the United States of America, and the Chamber is proud to be part of the Columbia and Montour Counties America 250th planning committee. We’re calling on local organizations to share their plans for celebrations and events. If your organization is planning an activity, please contact Beth Goldman at gold1beth@gmail.com, Co-Chair of the Columbia Montour County America 250th Committee. Stay tuned for more details as our community prepares to celebrate this historic milestone!
7 Skills Employees Need to Have – Both with AI and IRL
Source: McKonly & Asbury
As artificial intelligence becomes a permanent fixture in the workplace, it’s reshaping – not replacing – how people work. Automation and generative AI are accelerating productivity, but they also spotlight the skills machines can’t replicate. For HR and L&D leaders, a workforce that balances digital fluency with soft skills is a competitive advantage.
Here are seven must-have skills that help employees stay effective in the age of AI and in real life.
1. Critical Thinking and Problem-Solving
AI can analyze data and suggest solutions, but it can’t weigh trade-offs or solve unstructured problems. Critical thinking helps employees evaluate AI output, identify risks, and adapt strategies when conditions change.
According to the World Economic Forum, analytical thinking is one of the top skills in demand through 2027. As more workflows become AI-driven, employees need to question assumptions, assess context, and make decisions that go beyond algorithms.
2. Adaptability and Continuous Learning
Technology moves fast, so people need to move faster. The rise of AI has made reskilling and upskilling core to employee development. Workers who embrace new tools and shift mindsets quickly can stay ahead of evolving demands.
This kind of adaptability goes beyond software. You and your teams need to be open to change and comfortable with ambiguity. A skills-based approach to learning helps organizations develop people for what’s next.
To support adaptability:
- Introduce microlearning content employees can access on demand.
- Offer AI literacy training across all departments, not just IT.
- Encourage peer-led knowledge sharing and reverse mentoring.
- Recognize employees who model a growth mindset during change.
3. Creativity and Innovation
AI can generate content, do research, make images, and compose music, but it can’t originate truly new ideas. Creativity remains a uniquely human strength. Employees who combine curiosity, experimentation, and strategic thinking will continue to drive innovation.
4. Emotional Intelligence and Empathy
AI can simulate conversation, but it can’t read the room. Emotional intelligence – understanding your own reactions and responding effectively to others – can help keep teams functioning in high-stress, high-change environments.
Research shows that leaders with high emotional intelligence build stronger relationships, improve morale, and reduce burnout. Empathy also plays a central role in customer service, leadership, and DEI work, where trust – not just logic – drives outcomes.
5. Communication and Collaboration
AI can draft content, but it can’t build alignment. Teams still rely on people to share context, clarify intent, and move projects forward.
To thrive in today’s hybrid environments, employees need to communicate clearly with both humans and machines. To begin with, this requires accurately interpreting AI outputs and subsequently translating those insights into actionable steps across departments.
In addition, effective communication means listening attentively, sharing ideas openly, and engaging in constructive feedback loops. Moreover, it involves collaborating across roles, functions, and time zones to ensure that work gets done efficiently and cohesively. Ultimately, this blend of technical fluency and interpersonal agility is what drives meaningful progress in AI-integrated workplaces.
6. AI and Digital Literacy
As more roles integrate AI tools, basic digital literacy isn’t enough. Employees don’t need to be engineers, but they need to understand how AI works, where it fits, and what its limitations are.
They also need to know how to use AI tools ethically and integrate outputs into workflows. Digital literacy helps reduce misuse and builds trust in AI-powered systems.
Ways to build AI literacy include:
- Offering hands-on training with task-specific AI tools
- Creating quick-reference guides for ethical AI use
- Hosting lunch-and-learns on AI trends and use cases
- Encouraging employees to test and compare AI tools
- Adding AI awareness in onboarding and compliance training
7. Project Management and Coordination
AI can streamline planning, but people still drive execution. Effective project management connects goals to action, tracks milestones, and adjusts in real time.
Strengthen project management by:
- Training employees on agile workflows and iterative planning
- Assigning rotating project leads to develop coordination skills
- Using AI tools for scheduling and resource forecasting
- Tracking cross-functional dependencies in shared dashboards
Employees with strong coordination skills help teams move faster; more importantly, they serve as the connective tissue between strategy and execution. By balancing budgets, timelines, people, and tools, they ensure that no element operates in isolation. In addition, they close the loop between insight and impact – thereby transforming AI-enabled strategies into measurable outcomes. As a result, organizations gain not just speed, but precision and accountability.
Strong Human and AI Skills Set Teams Apart
AI is rapidly transforming the way we work; however, it is not replacing the core attributes that make people uniquely valuable. While automation and algorithms continue to reshape tasks and workflows, it is equally important to recognize that human insight, empathy, and adaptability remain irreplaceable. Therefore, strengthening soft skills in tandem with technical competencies is essential – not only for staying relevant, but also for cultivating long-term resilience.
As we look ahead to 2025, the imperative becomes clear: to build a future-ready workforce, organizations must invest in both human and AI capabilities. In other words, success will depend on our ability to integrate emotional intelligence with digital fluency.
To that end, explore the latest joint training experience from Dale Carnegie and Matt Britton—Consumer Trends Expert and Author of Generation AI. Their program, Human By Design: Future – Proofing Yourself In An AI-Driven World, is available both online and in-person, offering actionable strategies to help professionals thrive amid technological disruption.
As an owner of the Dale Carnegie Mid-Atlantic franchise, McKonly & Asbury is able to offer an extension of services to our clients and friends of the firm, expanding our expertise in the areas of leadership, team building, and people development as Dale Carnegie offers programs in leadership, management development, customer engagement, service, sales, communication, and more.
AI for Small Business 101: How to Get Started
Source: CO by the US Chamber, Miranda Fraraccio , Contributor
Here's how small business owners can effectively implement artificial intelligence into their workflows, with practical tools and strategies for success.
Businesses use artificial intelligence (AI) for numerous purposes, from automating routine tasks to providing better customer service.
If you're new to the world of business AI tools, here's how you can choose the right ones for the right tasks and take your business to new heights. However, data from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce shows that while 58% of small businesses have adopted generative AI, many small businesses are still navigating how to get started.
How small businesses can use AI
According to the U.S. Chamber’s Empowering Small Business Report 2025, 58% of small businesses have adopted generative AI, and 87% say it has helped them operate more efficiently and compete more effectively. Many report increased sales, improved profitability, and greater confidence in their ability to grow.”
Here are some ways small businesses are currently using AI to scale.
Improve operational efficiency
AI plays a big part in streamlining operational processes for businesses. Companies use AI-powered tools to track inventory levels, automate data entry, handle scheduling, gauge product demand trends, and more.
Gain data insights
AI-powered small business marketing tools and competitive analysis tools help SMBs analyze ample data, providing deeper insights into customer behaviors, product popularity, and market trends. These insights help SMBs tailor their marketing strategies and remain competitive in their respective markets.
Create content
Content creation is among the top applications for AI-driven tools alongside social media management and marketing. AI can generate ideas for various types of content, including text, graphic designs, videos, and social media posts, to save businesses valuable time in their marketing efforts.
Enhance customer service
AI-powered chatbots can automate simple inquiries, helping SMBs scale their customer service and operate online 24/7 without additional staffing. This strategy can lead to quicker resolution times, an improved customer experience, and a lighter load for customer service agents.
Track finances
AI-powered financial planning tools help SMBs manage everything from invoice and expense tracking to budget creation and management. These tools can automate bookkeeping, reduce manual data entry and human error, and forecast future trends using historical data.
Popular AI tools for small businesses
While new AI-driven tools are constantly developing, the following frontrunners are among the most popular options suited to small businesses:
- ChatGPT: ChatGPT is a well-known AI tool that uses deep learning to generate humanlike text responses to user-provided prompts. Small businesses can use ChatGPT for a variety of tasks, like developing marketing campaigns, drafting sales pitches, or brainstorming blog and social media content ideas.
- DALL·E 2: DALL·E 2 is a cloud-based art generator that helps businesses easily create visual content. It can quickly create unique, realistic images based on text-based user inputs and edit existing photos.
- Grammarly: Grammarly is an AI-powered writing assistant that corrects spelling, grammar, and language usage and generates content. Whether your business is content-focused or sends numerous emails daily, Grammarly can improve your communications and ensure your writing is up to par.
- Notion AI: Notion AI is an AI-powered workspace where small businesses can plan and track projects, collaborate, communicate, and create together. It leverages AI to help answer questions, generate content, and provide insights.
- QuickBooks Intuit Assist: QuickBooks Intuit Assist streamlines SMBs' financial management by centralizing bookkeeping, offering flexible payment options, analyzing cash flow, and providing access to business loans and new lines of credit.
Choosing the right AI tools for your business
For AI to have the greatest impact on your business, you want to strategically choose and deploy tools in areas that make the most sense. Ask yourself the following questions to help you narrow down your options when researching AI-powered solutions:
- What business function will this tool help us with? Identify which of your unique business's processes can be automated or made more efficient with AI. Then look for tools that support those specific processes.
- Will this tool be easy for my team and I to adopt? Consider how easy the tools are to use and how well they'll integrate into your existing tech stack.
- Will I get the results I want? AI tools can produce a wide range of outputs, and not all of them are useful or high quality. If possible, sign up for a free version or trial of the software you're considering so you can test it out and make sure you understand how to work with it for optimal results.
- What will my return on investment be? How much time and money will you save with the solutions you choose, and what can you do with those extra resources to grow your business?
For more guidance on adopting AI for your small business, check out this recap of our event, Ready. Set. Scale. How Small Business Can Leverage AI.
Be aware: As a best practice, avoid uploading sensitive business data or personally identifiable information (PII) to AI platforms. These tools may retain or use submitted data to improve their services, and confidentiality cannot be guaranteed.
CO— aims to bring you inspiration from leading respected experts. However, before making any business decision, you should consult a professional who can advise you based on your individual situation.
CO—is committed to helping you start, run and grow your small business. Learn more about the benefits of small business membership in the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, here.