From Penn State World Campus

Note: Employees of all Columbia Montour Chamber members, their spouses and dependents are eligible for a 5% discount on tuition through the PSU World Campus.

Today’s engineers need to be equipped to meet the ever-changing demands of a modern society and to understand how to innovate and better streamline processes. In order to meet these needs, Penn State will offer a new online degree — master of engineering in industrial engineering — beginning in fall 2019 to meet these requirements.

This 30-credit master of engineering program, offered online through Penn State World Campus in partnership with the Harold and Inge Marcus Department of Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering, allows students from diverse engineering backgrounds to develop their skills in industrial engineering and in focus areas of their choice.

“The curriculum has been developed to allow engineers to develop strategic skills that will broaden their professional horizons and equip them with specialized knowledge in focus areas they are interested in,” said Robert Voigt, professor of industrial engineering and graduate program coordinator for the department.

The program is intended to be flexible to suit the needs and interests of the students in the program. It features courses in areas such as product innovation, service system engineering, advanced manufacturing processes and systems, organizational excellence and human factors.

During the last semester, students will use the skills they acquire throughout the program to identify and complete a capstone project to solve an industrial problem typically based on their workplace needs. 

“This program is great for those who want to earn their graduate degree but can’t make it back on campus,” said Andris Freivalds, Lucas Professor of Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering. “There is great flexibility with online education as it allows professionals to work and study.”

Applications to begin the program in spring 2020 admission will be accepted through Dec. 1. This program is designed for working professionals who a hold bachelor’s degree in engineering and want to enhance their knowledge and skills to advance their careers. 

Visit the industrial and manufacturing engineering graduate programs page for more details about this online master’s degree.

Representatives from area nonprofit organizations (and a few from outside Columbia and Montour Counties as well) had an opportunity to meet and interact with potential volunteers and future board members at the Chamber’s inaugural Mixer with Nonprofits on Aug. 28, held at Maria Joseph Continuing Care Community’s Meadows Community Center in Danville. This event, which the Chamber anticipates will likely become an annual event, was open to the public and anyone that was interested in learning more about the many nonprofits in our community, their work and mission, and their needs. 

Attendees had an opportunity to enjoy hors d’oeuvres prepared by Maria Joseph’s food services staff, as well as beer from Turkey Hill Brewing and wine provided by the Susquehanna Heartland Wine Trail. Prior to the event, the 2019-20 Leadership Central Penn class, a program of the Foundation of the Columbia Montour Chamber, held its orientation program, and class members were then able to meet with several of the nonprofits that attended the event to learn more about them and get ideas for which one to pick for their service projects. The LCP class is annually divided into small groups of 4-5 individuals, all of which must complete an eight-hour service project for a nonprofit of their choosing. 

Thank you for the 29 nonprofit organizations that attended this event. 

Chamber Members
AGAPE
Bloomsburg Public Library
Bloomsburg Theatre Ensemble
Children’s Museum
Camp Victory
Cats in Bloom
Columbia Child Development Program
Danville Child Development Center
The Exchange
For The Cause
Greenwood Friends School
Hand in Hand Family Resource Center
Hope Enterprises
Maria Joseph Continuing Care Community
N4Cs
Ronald McDonald House of Danville
United Way of Columbia and Montour Counties
Weis Center for the Performing Arts

Non-Members
American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network
American Cancer Society Relay For Life of Montour County
Berwick Theater and Center for Community Arts
DJ Choices
Eos Therapeutic Riding Center
Galt Foundation
The Gate House
Good Samaritan Mission
PFLAG Danville
The 3B’s

From PA Chamber of Business & Industry

The General Assembly’s return to Harrisburg for the fall session is just a few short weeks away.  On behalf of our broad-based membership, the PA Chamber is preparing by urging lawmakers to prioritize legislation that will reverse negative perceptions about Pennsylvania’s business climate and help businesses of all sizes grow and succeed.

A new study offers the latest proof that the Commonwealth has its work cut out for it in terms of attracting jobs and capital against surrounding states.   Financial rating website WalletHub recently ranked the Commonwealth a very dismal 45^th in the country for its “2019 Best and Worst States to Start a Business,” and third from the bottom in terms of the state’s overall “business environment.”   Unfortunately, these rankings take away from the positive things about Pennsylvania that we should be able to celebrate and tout – for example, a recent Bloomberg study ranked PA No. 1 in terms of having the nation’s most diverse economy.

Through our member-driven advocacy efforts, the PA Chamber is prioritizing a more competitive business tax climate as lawmakers come back this fall.  This will start with comprehensive tax reforms, including the reduction of a 9.99 percent Corporate Net Income Tax rate that is among the nation’s highest.  We’re also tackling Pennsylvania’s burdensome regulatory environment – which consists of more than 153,000 regulations on the state’s business community – by supporting legislation that would streamline and update antiquated regulatory policies.  We’re working toward an equitable justice system that provides fairness and predictability; as well as labor laws that balance the needs of both employers and workers.  And, we’re fighting back against misguided efforts to stymie business growth – including leading the opposition against a government-mandated wage increase and a targeted additional severance tax on natural gas companies operating here in PA.

When lawmakers come back to session in September, the PA Chamber is continuing our push to get these important initiatives enacted.  Doing so will send the right message to the nation’s business community that Pennsylvania has a lot of attributes that make our Commonwealth great, including: a prime geographic location, a diverse economy, extensive natural resources and a dynamic citizenship that we’re working to prepare for 21^st century jobs through a number of workforce development efforts.

• The Penn State World Campus have hold a webinar on Wednesday, Aug. 28, from 8-9:30 p.m. specifically for women interested in the Penn State Online MBA program offered through the World Campus. Faculty Director Dr. Janet Duck and Managing Director Stacey Dorang Peeler will share important information about the program, and will answer questions about program curriculum. They will review application requirements and explain the admissions process, while also sharing insight as to what you can expect as an online student. In addition, they will explain how this specific program can help women succeed and grow both professionally and personally. Current Penn State online MBA students will also share advice on how women interested in this program can fit it into an already busy schedule, and will give tips for balancing school, work, and family responsibilities. Register online.

• Ryan Flannery Trio will perform their unique style of jazz music tomorrow night, Aug. 29 at 7:30 p.m. in the Weis Center Atrium to kick off the Weis Center’s 2019-20 season.
  

  Jazz musician Ryan Flannery.

  The family-friendly performance is free and tickets are not required. A native of Lewisburg and a recent graduate of the College of Charleston School of Music, guitarist/composer Ryan Flannery is steadily building his name as one of the most compelling and impressive young jazz artists in the South East. Flannery possesses a strong technique, a warm luminous tone, a natural sense of swing and distinctive chording. This trio includes Ron Nihoff on drums and McCarthy Fitch on bass.They will perform a memorable set of tunes including funk, ballads, and uptempo hard bop. For more information about the Weis Center for the Performing Arts and its current season, visit it online. 

• This year will mark the fifth year that local organizations and communities have joined forces to help fight pediatric cancer and raise funds to benefit the ThinkBIG® Pediatric Cancer Fund. The Going Gold initiative, which began in 2015, continues to expand. To date, this initiative has raised $42,800. This year’s Going Gold kickoff events are scheduled for Thursday, Aug. 29 at 6 p.m. at Old Forge Brewing in Danville; Wednesday, Sept. 4 at 6 p.m. at Marley’s Brewery & Grille in Bloomsburg; and Wednesday, Sept. 11 at 6 p.m. at Brendan’s Towne Tavern in Lewisburg.

  

  Members of the Going Gold Committee recently announced events being held throughout September 2019 to raise awareness about pediatric cancer and support the ThinkBIG® Pediatric Cancer Fund.
  L-R: Colleen Phillips, Service 1st Federal Credit Union; Cassandra Niglio, ThinkBIG Pediatric Cancer Fund; Colby Wesner, ThinkBIG Pediatric Cancer Fund; Jace Rovenolt, Old Forge Brewing Company; Carol Tevis, ThinkBIG Pediatric Cancer Fund; and Kelly Miller Barrick, Lewisburg.

  Each event will feature a proclamation, entertainment, and much more. The public is welcome and encouraged to attend.  Going Gold shirts will be sold during the events for $15. In September, shirts will also be available at any Service 1st Federal Credit Union location, while supplies last. Marley’s and Old Forge have collaborated on a special brew called Gold Dust pale ale for this year’s Going Gold initiative. $1 from each pint of Gold Dust purchased throughout the month will be donated to this cause. Additionally, Rusty Rail Brewing Company is donating $1 from every goblet of their Fool’s Gold that is sold during September. All proceeds will benefit the ThinkBIG Pediatric Cancer Fund. Additionally, other events throughout the month of September will also benefit ThinkBIG, including at Chamber members Columbia Colonnade and Nickle Plate Bar & Grill. See the complete list of events and ways to support this initiative.

• The Danville Child Development Center’s annual report is ready for download and reading. 

• Bloomsburg University has been ranked among the nation’s best colleges and universities by both Forbes’ Top Colleges in 2019, which features the top 15 percent of the more than 4,300 degree-granting post-secondary institutions in the U.S, and Money Magazine’s Best Colleges for Your Money in 2019. BU has also been ranked among the Best Regional Universities in the North for 2019 by College Consensus.com. In Forbes, Bloomsburg is ranked sixth among public institutions in the state of Pennsylvania. The rankings were based on alumni salary; student satisfaction; the percentage of student debt; American leaders; on-time graduation rates and academic success. The Money Magazine ranking was based on multiple criteria, including the six-year graduation rates; value-added graduation rate which is the difference between a school’s actual graduation rate and its expected rate, based on the economic and academic profile of the student body; peer quality (measuring the standardized test scores of entering freshman versus accepted students who enroll; and student-faculty ratio. 

• The 2019 Holiday Happenings committee of the Central Susquehanna Community Foundation is very pleased to announce Joanne Aurand, her late husband, Robert, and The Thomas Beaver Free Library as the honorees for the 24th annual Robert N. Pursel Award, which will be presented on Saturday, Nov. 2, at the Pine Barn Inn. Significant and meritorious community service is the focus of this award. This community remains blessed with people and organizations exemplifying contributions consistent with the example of the award’s namesake. Read more about the honorees and the event in this press release. 

• The Bloomsburg Area Community Foundation, an affiliate of the Central Susquehanna Community Foundation, will hold its annual luncheon on Thursday, Sept. 5, from 12-1:30 p.m. The event will take place at Monty’s on the campus of Bloomsburg University. This luncheon celebrates the investments made to community organizations through the work of the Bloomsburg Area Community Foundation. Local nonprofit organizations will be presented with 2019 grant awards during the event. There is no cost to attend, but reservations are required. Reserve your seat online or by emailing by Aug. 29. 

• Camp Victory will host its annual Community Open House on Sunday, Sept. 8, from 12-3 p.m. This free afternoon of family fun includes its rock climbing wall, zip line and paddle boats on the pond as well as hot dogs, ice cream, drinks, an arts and crafts project, a moon bounce, wagon rides and live music. at 1 p.m., there will also be a ribbon cutting to celebrate the recent expansion of the Welcome Center. 

Members once again had an opportunity to interact with the administration and staff members Geisinger Bloomsburg Hospital and also get a tour to check out some of the newest additions to the hospital at August’s Business After Hours, held in the hospital lobby. 

Geisinger Bloomsburg Hospital was recently recognized for the first time with a Premier QUEST Award for High-Value Healthcare. Top performers were selected from a field of nearly 250 hospitals across the country. Attendees also saw how high patient satisfaction scores have contributed to the hospital’s success and were able to check out the new MRI machine at the hospital, which features a shorter imaging tube for those patients that may be uncomfortable in the traditional longer tube. This is one of only a few such machines in the entire country. Members also learned about how the Geisinger team is working together to make the patient experience better every day for our loved ones, as well as enjoyed the usual delicious hor d’oeuvres prepared by Geisinger’s food services staff at GBH. 

Business After Hours provide regular opportunities to build business relationships while learning about the services offered by other Chamber members. The next Business After Hours will be held at the Bloomsburg Public Library, located at 225 Market St., Bloomsburg, on Wednesday, Sept. 18, from 4:30-6:30 p.m. 

More than 400 businesses and organizations belong to the Chamber to receive benefits and support efforts to strengthen their businesses and our region. Increased membership allows us to offer additional programs and benefits, have a stronger voice in advocacy and be involved in more activities and initiatives in our communities. The Chamber welcomes its newest member, Schwan’s Home Service, to help us fulfill our mission.

Schwan’s Home Service is a home delivery food service that is the largest direct-to-home delivery provider in the United States. Nationally, there are more than 400 sales and distribution centers throughout the country and over 4,500 delivery vehicles. Locally, Schwan’s Home Service has a sales  center at 14 Edwards Rd., Bloomsburg, and can be reached at 908-591-2456, by email, or visit their website. 

Additional information about NETI (pdf)

The Chamber was on hand to participate in a ceremonial groundbreaking for Larry C. Frace Inspections’ new Northeast Training Institute (NETI) on Friday, Aug. 23 at what will be the site of the new facility in the Columbia County Business Park in Lightstreet. 

The NETI, which is being built by fellow Chamber member Marr Development, will be a training ground for future building inspectors, which is a profession that is currently projected to lose thousands due to pending retirements in the next decade and needs to develop the next generation. This will be only the third such facility in the country, with the others in Colorado and Florida, and is expected to attract students from up and down the East coast as well as the Midwest. It will also be the only place in the country to offer training for both home inspectors and uniform construction code inspectors. It will feature a “House of Horrors,” an entire house within the building that is built incorrectly with thousands of defects and code violations, and will also offer several different types of classes for aspiring and veteran building inspectors alike. 

The NETI is expected to be completed by next spring. 

From ChamberChoice & Smart Business Pittsburgh

What does the term “performance review” mean to you? To many people, it means sitting down at the end of the year with a manager to discuss work performance over the past 12 months. To others, it could mean a quarterly meeting to report on the status of specific tasks and performance goals. And some may relate to it as a weekly conversation.

“Not all employers approach performance reviews the same way,” says Rob Higginbotham, finance and HR director at JRG Advisors. “Whatever method your company reviews take, it should be formulated from a basis of employee feedback and company culture.”

Smart Business spoke with Higginbotham about trending performance review practices.

How are companies accomplishing ongoing, periodic reviews?

Some employers are replacing the annual performance review with more frequent manager-employee check-ins, which occur monthly or weekly. These check-ins do not need to be lengthy and can be as simple as taking a short walk or coffee break.

For example, instead of waiting until the end of the year to review a year’s worth of projects, managers can give immediate feedback throughout the progress of a project. And when projects are completed, managers can discuss what was done well and areas for improvement. This format makes it easy for employees to ask questions or share ideas.

Frequent dialogue between managers and employees helps to promote continuous growth. And, it gives managers the chance to identify and resolve performance issues in a timely manner. As a result, feedback can seem less confrontational and managers can seem more supportive.

What are wellness checks? How do they affect employees?

Like a performance review, checking in on employee wellness can be critical for their success. Research indicates that people are more stressed than ever. Prolonged stress can lead to serious mental health issues and negatively impact the workplace and employee performance.

Employers can combat stress issues by weaving wellness into performance conversations. Managers who meet with employees more frequently have greater opportunity to talk about stress levels and the importance of personal well-being. In fact, regular conversations about these issues can maximize positive impact for the overall workplace.

How do artificial intelligence (AI) and people analytics play a role?

People analytics is a way of tracking things like employee engagement data, training program effectiveness and productivity. The practice examines human data and crunches the numbers so you have a better idea of the return on investment. Do you need to know if your employees feel appreciated? Do you want managers to have real-time coaching feedback? These are just two examples of how people analytics can make a difference.

Notably, these analytical tools are used to improve performance. If you have the data, you can find a system to be most effective. And with more advanced AI being created, systems will gauge an employee’s productivity based on whatever criteria you like — eliminating the guesswork.

Why is identifying strengths for upskilling important?

If you have a new task that requires new skills, should you hire a new employee for the job? The current trend says no, and to instead upskill current workers.

This process trains current employees in new skills and responsibilities that better suit their talents. If an employee is performing poorly in one area, that doesn’t necessarily mean he or she will not perform well in other areas.

Performance reviews offer a great opportunity for evaluating and identifying the skill sets of your employees. Since you’re discussing workplace performance anyway, floating the upskilling opportunities is a way to retain employees who are already familiar with your organization.

Like most trends, employee reviews will continue to develop. This means it is time to prioritize your approach.

The Central Susquehanna Community Foundation (CSCF) has undertaken a 5 ½ countywide initiative to meet ever-changing community needs in Columbia, Lower-Luzerne, Montour, Northumberland, Snyder and Union Counties. This work is supported through the Foundation’s Regional Impact Fund which is an unrestricted fund established to address a broad range of local needs. As a result, the CSCF is pleased to announce $50,000 in awards from the Regional Impact Fund to local nonprofit organizations, which included three Chamber members. Grant recipients received the awards during the Regional Impact Fund’s After-Hours Celebration on Aug. 15 in Lewisburg.

This year’s grant recipients include:
• American Red Cross – Home Fire Preparedness Campaign, $1,500
• Birthright of Sunbury, Inc. – Family Assistance for Emergency Infant Medicine Cabinet Supplies, $500
• Bloomsburg Fire Department – Thermal Imagine Camera, $1,585
• Bloomsburg Theatre Ensemble – Theatre for All, $5,000
• Greater Susquehanna Valley United Way – Local Vision Project, $7,500
• HandUp Foundation – Re-entry and Job Readiness Program, $5,000
• McBride Memorial Library – Library Computers, $4,270
• Montgomery House Library – On Site and Mobile Internet Service and Gadget Help, $2,000
• Setebaid Services, Inc. – In-Kind Medical Supplies Tracking System Project, $3,500
• Snyder County Libraries – Dementia Friendly Libraries, $3,000
• Susquehanna Valley CASA – Voices for Children – Recruit, Train and Deploy Volunteers in Snyder, Union and Northumberland Counties, $4,500
• Susquehanna Valley Law Enforcement Camp Cadet – Camp Cadet: Snyder, Union and Northumberland Counties Program, $1,645
• The Arc Susquehanna Valley – “Opportunity Imprints” All-Abilities Business Year One Start-Up, $2,500
• United Way of Columbia and Montour County – United in Recovery Regional Prevention Marketing Campaign, $7,500

Nonprofit organizations that provide programming in the Foundation’s 5 ½ county service area (Columbia, Lower-Luzerne, Montour, Northumberland, Snyder and Union Counties) are encouraged to apply during the 2020 competitive grantround. Details will be available at csgiving.org.

A special thank you is extended to M&T Bank, the Regional Impact Fund corporate sponsor.

From PA Chamber of Business & Industry

In its inaugural “Economic Diversity Index,” the financial news company Bloomberg has awarded Pennsylvania with the distinction of being the nation’s most diverse economy.

As reported in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, the Commonwealth edged out Texas for the No. 1 ranking after an analysis of the GDP generated in both the public and private sectors for each state.  According to the index, Pennsylvania ranked highest due to the balance in GDP among several key industries – real estate, manufacturing and health care.  When accounting for the public sector alone, Pennsylvania places third in the nation for GDP growth, with Colorado and Texas leading the rankings.

Toronto-Dominion Bank was quoted in the PG story as saying that “Pennsylvania’s proximity to large population centers and more affordable real estate remains fertile ground,” “Health care has been leading job creation for the past half-decade,” while “Pittsburgh is in the process of making the transition from steel city to tech town.”

These attributes – along with the state’s ample natural resources – will help to drive Pennsylvania’s economy forward in the 21^st century.  However, as a WalletHub survey recently proved, the state also has a long way to go in the way of its perceived business friendliness.  The PA Chamber is a leading voice in advocating for comprehensive state-level tax reforms, starting with lowering our 9.99 percent Corporate Net Income Tax rate; reducing the Commonwealth’s outdated and onerous regulatory policies; enacting civil justice reforms to bring fairness and predictability to Pennsylvania’s legal system; among other pro-business legislative priorities that are highlighted on our website.  Our organization looks forward to working with elected officials toward these policy goals when lawmakers return to session in September.