You’re Ready to Sell – Is Your Business?

July 26, 2023

You’re Ready to Sell – Is Your Business?

Source: David Blain, CPA, CVA, McKonly & Asbury

You have been thinking about your retirement plan for years. Your business has provided you with a good living, and now it is the time to take the next step of looking to offload your business and ride into the sunset. But wait a minute, is now the right time to sell your business? How will the market and an acquirer look at your business? Is your business in the best position it can be in to sell at a price that will make sense and provide you with the retirement income you will need for the period of retirement you are looking for? If you are contemplating these questions, here are some tips to consider and ways to best position your business to ensure you receive the highest value possible for your business to achieve your future goals.

Know Your Free and Available Cash Flow
Sounds easy, right? You’re the business owner, of course you know what the cash flow of the business is. But do you really? How much of your expense base is non-operating cash expense? Examples of non-operating cash expenses would be staff lunches, parties, outings, etc. Many business owners are very generous with their employees. These types of expenses are great for the morale of the employees, but is it a core business expense? Understanding what constitutes a core business expense versus a non-operating expense is important for normalizing the cash flow stream. Other items to consider would be personal expenses. While you would like to think that personal expenses do not run through the business, there still might be some that do. Being able to identify and extract those expenses will also improve the business cash flow and ultimately the cash flow value of your business.

Evaluate the Management Structure of Your Business
Many business owners have a very “hands on” approach. This is your business and you have run it for decades. While it might seem great that you know all the ins and outs of their business, what happens if you are not there? Does all that knowledge leave with you? Is there anyone in the business that can operate the business in your absence? One issue that can really affect the value of a business is the lack of a management structure. In the valuation world, valuators will discount the value of the business if there is only one or two key employees in the business. One way to increase the value of your business for a potential acquirer is to have a management structure in place that will allow the business to operate even if one of the key employees is absent. Evaluating your C-suite (COO, CFO, CIO, CMO, etc.) will ensure you have the right leadership in place to operate the business in the event you or a key member of the team is missing. Also, evaluation of your key upper and middle level management personnel will also add value through the depth of their technical knowledge and expertise.

Understand Your Market
This is your business, and you believe that it is clearly the best in the industry. No one competes with your process, procedures, and overall business structure and management. While this might be your belief, understanding what the market is actually saying about your business will also help you to evaluate the real value of your business. Doing your research on your industry and competitors will help you to better identify what strategic advantages your business really has. Maybe your competitors have a product or business model that is more advanced compared to yours. Factors like these will impact market multiples and deal structure. Other items to consider are the types of deals that are being done in your market. Are there private equity organizations looking to buy a turnkey operation? Are there competitors looking to buy market share or just a book of business? All of these considerations have an impact on value and market multiples. Understanding what the market is saying is a very critical component to how to best position your business for its highest value.

Consider Your Goals
For many, the goal is going to be to maximize the cash paid in the transaction. That is clearly a great idea, but do you have other goals with the business transaction you are trying to achieve? For many owners, finding a soft landing spot with the new company is also an objective of a sale due to a sense of loyalty to their employees. Also, ensuring that the clients you so diligently worked with for many years are taken care of by the new owners is often another concern. Sometimes, there is still a desire to continue working, just without the hardship and worry of running the day-to-day business. Alternatively, some owners look for the ability to continue to work and still be active in the business. Your ultimate life goals are also going to drive your decision on whether to sell now or later. Take all of your goals into consideration in addition to the economics of the transaction when making your final decision.

As you can see, sometimes what seem to be the easiest decisions in life are not as easy as they are thought to be. Taking the above points into consideration while contemplating the next steps in your life and your businesses longevity will aid in making the right decision regarding when the right time to sell and transition your business will be.

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McKonly and Asbury, LLP, can assist you with analyzing your business to help you make these decisions and assist you with a sell side process. If you would like to talk to one of their professionals in our Entrepreneurial Support & Client Accounting Segment on this topic or any other business-related topic, please do not hesitate to contact them.

Business Mergers Could Get a Lot Harder

July 26, 2023

Business Mergers Could Get a Lot Harder

Source: US Chamber of Commerce

The Federal Trade Commission and the Justice Department released updated merger guidelines on Wednesday. While these guidelines aren’t law, they have shaped how the courts interpret and weigh in on antitrust cases.

• More importantly, they demonstrate the antitrust agencies’ views regarding mergers and acquisitions.

Why it matters: If current agency leaders are successful, the result would be less competition in the economy and a harder path forward for businesses looking to grow.

Be smart: The vast majority of mergers and acquisitions in the U.S. raise no competitive concerns.

• Evidence shows that mergers increase competition in the market and provide benefits to American consumers.

• The dire consequences often predicted when mergers are announced often fall flat.

The US Chamber's take: These guidelines are designed to chill merger activity, which will deny smaller companies access to the capital and expertise they need to grow. This places U.S. businesses at a disadvantage with their global competitors.

What’s next: Congress and the courts should continue to reject the agencies’ efforts to undo the consumer welfare standard and decades of antitrust precedent that has served the U.S. economy and consumers so well.

Dig deeper:

• A Shift in Merger Enforcement Risks Damaging Our Economy

Member News – July 26, 2023

July 26, 2023

Member News – July 26, 2023

First Columbia Bank Photography back in 2023

The second annual 2023 First Columbia Bank Photography Competition is open for entries. Open to residents within a 50-mile radius of a First Columbia Bank office and local university students! Submit your captivating images by September 29th to photos@firstcolumbiabank.com. Entry is free! Get the registration packet here.

Summer Concert Series Continues in Danville, Bloomsburg, Berwick, Catawissa

Have you connected with this midweek fun? Check out the concerts in Danville (Tuesdays, 7 PM at Memorial Park), Bloomsburg (Wednesdays, 7 PM at the Bloomsburg Town Park), Berwick, (Thursdays 7 PM at Jackson Mansion) and Catawissa (Tuesdays, 7 PM at Cara Park, South 4th St.

Member Businesses Looking for New Hires

Submit your job opens in the Chamber and get them listed on our website. Check out who is hiring.

Webinar: Manufacturing Panel Discussion

On July 27 at 2:00 pm, the manufacturing team at McKonly & Asbury will host this roundtable discussion with Janice Snyder, Brett Bauer, Dave Hammarberg, and Jeremy Peachy. Attendees will gain insight on cybersecurity concerns, recent tax changes impacting manufacturers, and attracting and retaining staff. The webinar is free and one "specialized knowledge" CPE credit is available for this webinar. Register today.

Bloomsburg Community Luau

Bloomsburg Community Luau, Saturday, September 9, 2023, at the Bloomsburg Town Park starting at 6PM. Enjoy live music and entertainment, great food, fun tropical activities, enter the Tiki Lounge decorating contest, and see Elvis on the outdoor big screen in the classic film Blue Hawaii. Bring a chair or blanket to relax and enjoy the entertainment at the corner of Market Street and Fort McClure Blvd.

Commonwealth University - Bloomsburg Offers Parking Help

Commonwealth University - Bloomsburg is making their hospital parking lot available until classes start on August 21, 2023, for those customers and business owners who are losing their parking spaces due to the construction on the East Pine Avenue lot construction. Thank you to Commonwealth University - Bloomsburg for the help to Bloomsburg businesses.

Drive-through Senior Expo Planned

On Wednesday, August 2, 10:00 am - 1:00 pm, a Drive through Senior Expo will be sponsored by State Representative Robert Leadbeter's office. See flyer for more details.

CSIU To Hold Free Training

Educators, First Responders, and Community Members register today for free trainings on Youth Mental Health First Aid and QPR Suicide Prevention. See a full list of dates and times here.

IMC to host Webinar Series

The Innovative Manufacturers' Center will be hosting a free four-part webinar series about attracting and retaining employees. The series starts July 25th. See full details.

BTE announces 46th Season

New Faces, New Spaces are coming your way care of the Bloomsburg Theatre Ensembles' 46th season. Check out the season line-up.

Fall 2023 Career Expos

Commonwealth University of Pennsylvania is excited to bring the power of all 3 of our universities together to benefit our students and employer partners across the state in a Fall 2023 Accounting and Financial Services Career Expo and Management, Supply Chain, Marketing, Technology and Analytics Expo on campus in Bloomsburg. Reach out to Darwin Kysor at 570-484-2181 to get more details about participation.

BU Community Day Fair & Carnival

Set to take place August 18, from 6 PM to 8 PM, this event is on the B.U. Academic Quad and provides students with the opportunity to connect to the community. Local businesses and non-profit organizations are encouraged to attend. Learn more by reaching out here to Rebecca Toth, at 570-389-4189. See the flyer.

NEPIRC Manufacturing Day: October 13

Join NEPIRC on Friday, October 13th to celebrate the many contributions of our region’s manufacturing industry! At Manufacturing Day, you’ll be able to see product demonstrations; learn more about the cool products made right here in our local communities, and more!

Coming in October...Downtown Bloomsburg, Inc.'s Chili Cookoff & Fall Festival!

Stunning fall foliage and cooler temperatures create the perfect atmosphere for this first annual, family-friendly downtown Bloomsburg event. Read more.

UPS Strike Averted

July 26, 2023

UPS Strike Averted

UPS and the International Brotherhood of Teamsters have reached a tentative agreement that averts a strike and prevents service disruptions to consumers and businesses. A major work stoppage would have wreaked havoc on the economy.

Why it matters: A strike by UPS workers could have been the costliest in at least a century. UPS moves $3.8 billion of goods daily. Had a strike occurred, nearly four million small and medium-sized businesses that depend on UPS for delivery of critical goods would have been affected.

What we did: Last week, the Columbia Montour Chamber joined a coalition letter to the White House detailing the harm a strike would cause and asking the administration to help both sides come to an agreement as it did in both the railroad and West Coast port terminal contract negotiations.

The US Chamber's take: “The Chamber commends UPS and the Teamsters on reaching a tentative labor agreement that prevents work stoppages and returns certainty for the many businesses and consumers that rely on UPS and its workers,” said Chamber President and CEO Suzanne P. Clark. “While the agreement is a win for the nation, this and other negotiations are a reminder that unnecessary brinksmanship can do lasting damage to our businesses, consumers, and the workforce critical to our nation’s success.”

The Columbia Montour Chamber's take: "Already, an audible sigh of relief is heard among business owners and consumers in our region. We're grateful to the U.S. Chamber for organizing a nationwide response, the Administration for hearing that response, and for both UPS and the Teamsters for their work to reach an agreement. The state of the economy and all of its unpredictability means that business owners are riding wave upon wave of anxiety. Averting a strike is a most welcome reprieve," said Chris Berleth, CMCC President.

Looking ahead: Union workers will vote on the agreement starting on Aug. 3.

Looking for more on this subject? Read our previous article:

KEY INSIGHTS INTO THE UPS AND TEAMSTERS LABOR NEGOTIATIONS

Last Week in the Legislature

July 25, 2023

Last Week in the Legislature

July 25, 2023

Source: PA Chamber of Business & Industry

State budget negotiations remained stalled in Harrisburg last week as the House and Senate stand in recess and are not scheduled to reconvene until September. On the other hand, Senate President Pro Tempore Kim Ward (R-Westmoreland) offered a glimmer of hope, telling ABC 27 news on Friday, “I’m sure at some point in August we’ll be able to get the general appropriations signed…”

Of course, the House and Senate must still reach an agreement on various code bills that are passed in conjunction with the budget and dictate how funding is allocated. Additionally, other budget-related bills (like funding for state-related universities) remain unresolved at this time.

Further complicating the resolution to this year’s budget standoff is the resignation of Democratic State Rep. Sara Innamorato (D-Pittsburgh), who announced Wednesday that she would step down to focus on her campaign for Allegheny County Executive.

Innamorato’s departure leaves the partisan makeup of the House in a 101-101 tie, ostensibly stripping House Democrats of their status as the majority party. However, the rules package adopted in March included a provision enabling the caucus to retain its majority powers in the event of a vacancy until a special election has been conducted. A special election for Innamorato’s seat has been scheduled for Tuesday, Sept. 19, one week before the House returns to the legislative session.

In a press conference on Thursday, House Republican Appropriations Chairman Seth Grove (R-York) said that Innamorato’s resignation, paired with the ongoing budgetary gridlock, means that any substantial movement on the budget agreement will likely be delayed until at least October.

Need a refresher on what was included in this year’s budget bill? Click here to read the PA Chamber’s 2023-24 State Budget Rundown.

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Founded in 1916, the Pennsylvania Chamber of Business and Industry is the state's largest broad-based business association, with its membership comprising businesses of all sizes and across all industry sectors. The PA Chamber is The Statewide Voice of Business^TM.

Why Your Best Employees Leave

July 25, 2023

Why Your Best Employees Leave

SUMMARY

Employee dissatisfaction at work is often rooted in feeling overlooked, a lack of purpose, and limited creative freedom. Recognizing employees' daily efforts, understanding their 'love languages,' and fostering a sense of belonging can combat feelings of undervaluation.
Making sure work feels meaningful and impactful for employees is critical, which can be achieved by establishing a shared vision and involving the workforce in strategic conversations, thus fostering a sense of shared purpose.
Enabling employee autonomy and creative freedom has been shown to improve workplace satisfaction. Avoiding micromanagement, valuing employee input, and providing them with control over their roles and working conditions have been found to be effective measures.

564 words ~ three-minute read

Fifty years ago, few people expected to find happiness at work. But as the saying goes, times have changed. Underneath all the reasons workers quit, unhappiness tops the list.

But what causes workers to become unhappy at work and what can employers do about it?

Employers hear a lot about compensation and benefits packages, yet research shows that modern workers want more from their employers. In fact, when it comes to greater workplace satisfaction, it’s the emotional side of work that ultimately keeps top talent fulfilled.

Here are three reasons great workers walk away, plus some aligned solutions to help you keep your best and brightest.

3 Reasons Great Employees Walk Away

#1 Feeling Overlooked

Employees are human, and according to best selling author and researcher, Brené Brown, every person needs to feel worthiness and belonging. When workers are performing well and giving their best and still go unnoticed or unacknowledged, they don't feel valued. In turn, this lack of appreciation affects productivity and, worse, fuels resentment.

As Debby Muno, managing director of Genos North America, told Fast Company, employees want to feel connected to their leader, their purpose, and to their organization. Workers who feel seen, according to Muno, are “stronger collaborators and communicators, and are more engaged.”

Organizations that focus on recognizing their employees’ daily efforts and big successes foster a positive team culture. Also, taking time to understand how employees want to be recognized means no one gets overlooked. In recent years, assessments like the Five Love Languages have expanded to understanding appreciation in the workplace. Knowing your employees ‘love language’ ensures they get noticed in a way that resonates with them.

#2 A Lack of Purpose and Meaning

Employees who find happiness at work share something in common. They feel like their work matters. Finding this connection may seem challenging at first – after all, your grandparents would probably chuckle at the notion of a shared purpose. But ignoring this aspect of workplace happiness comes with great risk, as some of the qualities that make up your best employees likely include an intrinsic desire to make a difference.

Leadership experts recommend organizations have a shared vision and include workers in the conversation. According to Harvard Business Review’s writers James M. Kouzes and Barry Posner, “The best way to lead people into the future is to connect with them deeply in the present. The only visions that take hold are shared visions—and you will create them only when you listen very, very closely to others, appreciate their hopes, and attend to their needs.”

# 3 Not Enough Choice or Creative Freedom

Everyone wants to feel like they have control over their lives, and this desire includes time spent at work. Unfortunately, many leaders micromanage their employees, which leaves some of the smartest and hardest workers feeling stifled instead of satisfied.

The good news is that talented employees often have great solutions for how to improve productivity, communication, and workplace satisfaction. Organizations that value employee input and choose to incorporate their insights will create a workplace where people feel seen and valued at work. In a recent hybrid work study, researchers found that beyond flexibility workers want autonomy. In a present age where a one-size-fits-all approach no longer works, employers who give workers more control and input over their roles and optimal working conditions will win out over organizations who fail to tune in.

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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.

Key Insights into the UPS and Teamsters Labor Negotiations

July 21, 2023

Key Insights into the UPS and Teamsters Labor Negotiations

Source: John Drake, US Chamber of Commerce

The United Parcel Service (UPS) and the International Brotherhood of Teamsters (Teamsters) are in the final stages of negotiating a new, long-term collective bargaining agreement for approximately 340,000 UPS employees. These negotiations will establish compensation, benefits, work hours and conditions for several years, so while both sides report significant progress in reaching an agreement, it is not unusual for talks to become strained before a deal is reached.

Most Recent Developments

Recently, the Teamsters announced they would resume contract negotiations with UPS, beginning the week of July 23rd. Like last year’s rail negotiations, UPS will be forced to prepare for a potential strike in the coming days, meaning our nation’s communities, businesses, and local governments will soon see service disruptions before the “official” August 1 date that a strike could begin. This makes it incredibly important for both sides to reach a deal as soon as possible to avoid any potential service disruptions to the American public, which is why the U.S. Chamber led a coalition letter of more than 250 organizations, and State and local chambers including The Columbia Montour Chamber, calling on the administration to intervene in the negotiations.

Background

UPS is one of the world’s largest package delivery companies and a leading provider of global supply chain management solutions, including a variety of transportation, distribution, logistics, and customs services. Every day UPS moves approximately 5% of the nation’s GDP – or roughly $3.8 billion of goods.

Important to performing this work are the approximately 340,000 UPS package car drivers, feeder drivers, loaders, sorters, clerks, and others, who are represented by the Teamsters. Indeed, UPS is the single largest employer in the Teamsters union.

The current contract, which expires on August 1, 2023, is unpopular with the new Teamsters’ leadership – Sean O’Brien, the Teamsters’ new president, promised to reverse several of its provisions as part of his campaign for the union’s top post.

Despite this, both sides have reported productive discussions since negotiations began in April to negotiate a new agreement. In late June, Mr. O’Brien expressed optimism to reach a new agreement by early July. To date, both sides have reached tentative agreements on 55 issues – which includes virtually all of Mr. O’Brien’s stated priorities such as installing new heat safety measures for UPS vehicles, the use of technology, prohibiting in-vehicle cameras, and eliminating the “22.4 drivers” (also known as “combo drivers”) classification. This leaves a handful of issues to resolve.

In recent days, news reports show heightened rhetoric by the Teamsters, including demands for a “last, best, and final offer,” and walking away from the negotiating table. While these actions are cause for concern, they are not unexpected. Historically, contract negotiations can become more heated during discussion of the most important items. Further, it is important to remember that the current contract remains in place until August 1. As long as a contract is in place the Teamsters may not legally strike, meaning time remains to negotiate.

Impact on Small Businesses and Consumers

Small businesses are especially reliant upon UPS and its competitors for timely deliveries of everything from financial products, critical medical supplies, agricultural equipment, baby formula, semiconductors, school supplies, and other critical business goods.

If a worker strike were to occur, the nearly 4 million small-and-medium-sized small businesses that count on UPS to deliver their products will be impacted. We’ve unfortunately seen this before during the strike in 1997, with one CNN article reporting “The strike has snarled package delivery service across the country, affecting thousands of businesses, large and small.” And another saying, “The strike has sent 185,000 workers to the picket line and slowed delivery of millions of packages.”

Small businesses have made a remarkable comeback since the pandemic, with the number of applications to start new companies recording a 53% jump from pre-pandemic levels. Small businesses also represent 43.5% of gross domestic product, or 99.9% of all U.S. businesses.

Consumers and businesses of all sizes are counting on both sides to remain at the table and reach an agreement that avoids a strike at all costs.

A Broader Look

The UPS-Teamsters negotiation is the latest labor negotiation to capture the nation’s attention. Last year, the six largest freight railroads reached an agreement with their twelve unions only after the threat of a national rail strike and the direct intervention of the Biden Administration and Congress. More recently, the West Coast port terminals reached an agreement with the International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU) following a year of negotiations and service stoppages and immediately after the Chamber called for President Biden to directly intervene in helping finalize the negotiation.

Just like with the current UPS-Teamsters negotiations, rhetoric was heated in these two negotiations, especially towards the end.

Bottom Line

UPS and its workers are incredibly important to our economy and the business community. For 100 years, UPS has collaborated with the Teamsters to provide industry-leading pay & benefits for their employees, while achieving industry-leading marks on safety and on-time-performance.

While the Teamsters have increased their rhetoric in recent days, it’s important that both sides stay at the negotiating table for the sake of not just UPS and the Teamsters' rank and file, but for U.S. businesses and consumers.

About the authors

John Drake

John Drake is vice president for transportation, infrastructure, and supply chain policy at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, the world’s largest business advocacy organization. In his role, Drake is responsible for representing the business community on transportation, infrastructure, and supply chain issues before Congress, the administration, the media, the business community, and other stakeholders. Drake is also a member of the Commercial Customs Operations Advisory Committee, which advises the U.S. Customs and Border Protection on improvements to U.S. trade.

New Member Highlight – Balanced Bear Bookkeeping

July 19, 2023

New Member Highlight – Balanced Bear Bookkeeping

Balanced Bear Bookkeeping, LLC, established in February of 2022, brings a unique, personalized approach to the realm of bookkeeping services. While the business has a special focus on supporting health and allied health professionals, it also extends its specialized services to other service-based businesses.

Founder Torie Brabander, with her decade-long experience in healthcare and certified bookkeeping skills, offers exceptional support tailored to the needs of each business.

At Balanced Bear Bookkeeping, it's not just about numbers. The philosophy is centered around treating each client as a unique individual. This approach is deeply rooted in Torie's background in patient care, emphasizing the importance of compassionate, individualized service.

Balanced Bear Bookkeeping is committed to alleviating the bookkeeping burden for small businesses, enabling them to concentrate on their passions, their work, and their clients.

Reach out to Torie today if you are in need of bookkeeping services!

A spoonful of sugar

July 19, 2023

A spoonful of sugar

By Chris Berleth and Taryn Crayton

You know the story well. Following a debacle with the latest of several nannies, a desperate father named George put an ad in a London newspaper for a replacement. With a little magic, the help of the East Wind upon which she flies, a hysterical uncle and a jack-of-all trades most famous for his work as a chimney sweep, a certain Ms. Poppins turns the hearts of the two youngsters in her charge to their father, and turns the heart of their father, to his children. To a child, the wonder of the story may be the spoonful of sugar, the self-cleaning room, or a certain super...long word. Our perspective shifts as adults though, doesn’t it?
The ultimate beauty of Mary Poppins is not even depicted on screen. Rather, it’s the happy ending that we never witness, and the promise of years of bliss made possible by Mary’s work.

Sometimes, it’s really easy to see the impact of the Chamber. At events like the Business After Hours, leadership workshops, seminars, and more, pictures often tell the tales that match the children’s perspective, that Chamber members connect at Chamber events. Those aren’t the best stories though.

Our favorite stories, and the ones we long to tell, are the second and third degree of a Chamber connection when something happens behind the scenes between members because of a great conversation, or a first-time introduction, a referral inquiry, or a handshake between new acquaintances. These stories are indicative of a substantive impact on the community and serve as evidence that the Chamber is a community-building tool. You may have heard us say it:

“Businesses don’t join Chambers to engage with the staff. They join the Chamber to connect and do business with other members. The strongest Chambers know this, make it happen, and get out of the way.”

Done right, your Chamber is a business version of this magical facilitator. Here’s what we mean:

In 2022, Apollo Point staff met with the Chamber to discuss how to make better use of their membership. They jumped at the suggestions we offered, and got right to it, connecting with other members through referrals, Chamber events, publications, and through a little staff-led strategy. In May, they hosted an incredible Business After Hours to bring all of their new connections together, and now, they’re sharing about amazing dividends – that over the weekend of July 8th, their outdoor patio and pool area hosted new Chamber friends from the Pine Barn Inn and Neighbor Lady Vino to provide food and wine for a fundraising event for the Geisinger Auxiliary on their property.

In an email to the Chamber, Jen Larsh of Apollo Point said this:

“We wanted to send you pictures of this event that was a HUGE success, and we thought you might want to have this info to show how important it is for chamber members to promote their fellow chamber businesses so that we can all win, and grow our community.”

Four separate businesses intersected at the Chamber, and after connecting, worked together to build something beautiful, “off-screen”.

If we may say so, it sure sounds like a spoonful of sugar.

To collaborate in ways in new ways with organizations in our community, consider chatting with us about your goals and shared vision.

Looking to start collaborating with other chamber members? Check out our events page, the member news section of E-Biz Weekly, or give us a call to brainstorm. If you do, we might even tell you about a man with a wooden leg named Smith.

Did we take the analogy too far?

Member News – July 19, 2023

July 19, 2023

Member News – July 19, 2023

NEPIRC Enters Alliance Agreement with OSHA

The Northeastern Pennsylvania Industrial Resource Center (NEPIRC) announced that it has entered into a two-year Alliance Agreement with the U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). Read full press release here.

Geisinger Janet Weis Children's Hospital receives National Recognition

Dr. Alfred P. Kennedy from Geisinger Janet Weis Children’s Hospital talks about Geisinger’s recent Level II National Verification from the American College of Surgeons and what it means to the surgical team as well as Geisinger’s patients and families. Via Eyewitness News WBRE WYOU

Penn College Receives $2 Million, Federal Grant

Awarded by the U.S. Commerce Department’s Economic Development Administration, the grant aims to attract and upskill the current and future workforce to meet the increasing demand for clean energy, architecture, construction, and concrete science professionals. Learn More about the grant here.

North Shore Railroad Wins Jake Safety Award with Distinction

The American Short Line Railroad Association recognized North Shore Railroad with the Jake Award with Distinction for performing better than the Class II and III industry average injury frequency rate as reported by the Federal Railroad Administration. Read more about this award.

Columbia Montour Visitors Bureau's Digital Quarterly Magazine

Enjoy the Summer edition of the Columbia Montour Visitor's Bureau's Quarterly Digital Magazine.

Teen Center and Children's Museum Team Up

Tuesdays the center and Bloomsburg Children's Museum, with support from Nuts, Bolts & Thingamajigs Foundation, host “How Did You Make That?” summer camp, an exciting and innovative opportunity designed to inspire and educate youth who are interested in various manufacturing techniques and potential career options.

Sekisui Kydex - what do they do?

Check out this cool YouTube Short to find out.

Summer Concert Series Continues in Danville, Bloomsburg, Berwick, Catawissa

Miller-Keystone Blood Centers in Need of Donations

Blood supplies drop in the summer and Miller-Keystone Blood Centers are in need of all blood types. To learn more about giving blood and finding a donation center click here.

Steinbacher, Goodall & Yurchak Named to PA Business Central's "Fifty to Follow" Women-Owned Businesses

Steinbacher, Goodall & Yurchak, an elder law and special needs law firm has been named to an annual list of the top 50 women-owned organizations in its coverage area. Learn more about their third straight year appearing on this list.