2012 November Butler County Chamber Newsletter

November 2012

"We Mean Business"

1

INSIDEPresident’s Message

Page 2

Member News Page 3 - 4

Calendar Pages 5 - 6

E-Mail Seminar Page 8

New Members Page 9

T H E E D G Ev o l u m e 2 2 • i s s u e 1 1 • N o v e m b e r 2 0 1 2

a guide to Butler County business information

T h e o f f i c i a l n e w s l e t t e r o f t h e B u t l e r C o u n t y C h a m b e r o f C o m m e r c e

Printing provided by: Minuteman Press in the Pullman Commerce Center (724) 283-7403

ButlerCountyChamber.com724.283.2222

"Serving the Butler County

business communitysince 1896"

This Month’s

Chamber Flyers

Chamber Holiday Celebration

Butler Downtown Newsletter

E-Mail Marketing Seminar

lease join the Butler County Chamber of Commerce and sponsors, The Atrium, Friedmans Freshmarkets, Premier Power Solutions and Specialized Staffing and Industry Recruiters Inc., on Friday, December 7, 2012, for our Annual ‘Celebration of the Season’

Holiday Gathering. The event will take place from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at the Atrium, 1031 New Castle Road, Prospect, PA 16052.

This is the perfect way to start off the holiday season and will feature a delicious holiday menu including food, hors d’oeuvres and desserts compliments of Friedmans Freshmarkets and beverages courtesy of Specialized Staffing, Inc. and Duttons Beverages. Music will be provided by Wedding Solutions, LLC. Join Chamber Members as well as members of the Butler County Young Professionals, Slippery Rock Business Association and Butler Downtown, as we celebrate the season together in a winter wonderland.

Share your holiday blessings by bringing a new unwrapped toy that the Butler County Young Professionals will distribute to local children through Butler County Children and Youth Services.

The evening is only $10 per person and members are encouraged to bring guests. So, come and ‘Celebrate the Season’ with your friends and the Butler County Business Community on December 7th! Reservations are requested by contacting the Chamber at 724.283.2222 or via e-mail at [email protected]. Please see the invitation in this month’s newsletter.

Butler County Chamber of Commerce Holiday Celebration

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he Butler County Chamber of Commerce, in cooperation with the Clearview Mall, will present the 11th Annual ‘Health, Wealth, Wellness & More’ Business Expo on Friday, February 1, and Saturday, February 2, 2013, at Clearview Mall, Center Court. This event is open to all interested businesses and organizations.

Our sponsors this year are Butler Health System, The Y, Butler Eagle and Butler Armco Employees Credit Union. The event will take place on Friday from Noon to 6:00 p.m. and on Saturday from 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Vendors will receive for $125.00, one 8-foot covered table and two chairs. Electricity is limited and available on a first come first served basis.

Scheduled before Valentine’s Day, this expo is very popular with the local business community. Vendors experience great business-to-business networking opportunities as well as the opportunity to take advantage of the mall’s already built-in ‘shopper traffic’. Plus, as an added bonus, all vendors are permitted to sell merchandise during the event!

Space is limited so reserve early by contacting the Chamber at 724.283.2222 or [email protected]

Mark Your Calendars For February 1st & 2nd11th Annual ‘Health, Wealth, Wellness & More’ Business Expo at Clearview Mall

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Butler County Chamber of Commerce2

Board of Directors

professional staff

EXECUTIVE BOARD

Joe Taylor Board Chair Armstrong

Tammy Schuey 1st Vice Chair Butler Eagle

Brian McCafferty 2nd Vice Chair KENMAC Rental & Sales

Aubrey Hulings Treasurer Farmers National Bank

Dr. Nicholas Neupauer Past Chair Butler County Community College

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Karen Brackett NexTier Bank

Dr. Edward Bucha Slippery Rock University

Cecelia Buechele Foster Community Health Clinic of Butler County

Dino Capestrani Concordia Visiting Nurses

Elisabeth Howard Sommers C.W. Howard Insurance Agency

Brett Ligo Ligo Architects

Robi Lombardo First Energy Corporation

Janice Pakozdi-Luffy Bear Metallurgical Co.

Ken Raybuck CDC of Butler County

Stephanie Roskovski Butler Health System

Lyric Schnur Hefren-Tillotson, Inc.

Daniel Swartz ESB Bank

Dean Weiland Friedman’s Freshmarkets

Jen Whitmoyer Slippery Rock Business Assoc.

Affilate Organizations:Butler County Young Professionals Mike LysakowskiButler DowntownButler Human Resources AssociationFriday Morning Coffee ClubLeadership Butler CountyNew Visions for ButlerSlippery Rock Business Association

Stan Kosciuszko ..............................Ext. 23President Jennifer Monaco ..............................Ext. 21 Administrative Assistant Connie Swartzfeger Volunteer

A Letter From the president

“A Time for Thanksgiving”ovember brings to mind a few thoughts -- fall and winter approach with the Holidays quickly upon us. My favorite has always been Thanksgiving -- not only because it involves food and friends -- but also because it is truly a season for giving thanks for all of the blessings that we have enjoyed during the past year. The Butler County Chamber of Commerce is thankful for many reasons

-- the first and most important is for the thriving and active membership, which we currently enjoy. During these tough economic times, we remain the best investment anyone can make for connecting to a large regional network of local businesses. Butler County is our home and remains our focus, encouraging relationships and building bridges to the future. Our mission is and remains to support and strengthen the business, professional and industrial communities, encourage the development of new enterprises, and advocate for our membership.

Secondly, we need to be thankful for our longevity and our creativity, 116 years of service to the Butler County business community is nothing to take lightly. We continue to be the leader in business advocacy and promotion. This monthly newsletter is testimony to that fact with a myriad of news, views and events. 2012 saw the continuation of our highly successful recognition of area businesses and organizations. The Celebrate Business Annual Dinner recognized Bob McCafferty, North Country Brewing Company, as William A. Morgan, Jr. Entrepreneur of the Year and Sherry Kyne, The Atrium & Eisler Landscapes, as Chamber Business Champion. The Butler Little Theatre was awarded Community Champion for efforts unique and results far reaching in our community. Our affiliates expand our scope of interest and influence into a wide variety of avenues. Our professional development programs, training sessions, legislative action activities, among others, have been second to none in the region. We continue to administer Leadership Butler County, Butler Downtown, Slippery Rock Business Association, and the Butler County Young Professionals and maintain our affiliation with the Butler Human Resources Association.

Thirdly, I am very thankful for my Executive Board of Officers and the Board of Directors. Elections will soon be upon us and I encourage any member interested in serving on the Board or on any of our committees to contact me directly and add their name to a rather impressive “bullpen” of interested businesses and professionals. Not only is involvement at an all-time high, but so are sponsorships, new ideas and activities. Constantly interested in adding “value added” benefits to our members, we have partnered with numerous businesses and educational organizations to offer member discounts on products as varied as energy and email marketing, to connecting and counseling women in business. We continue our relationship with the Small Business Administration through S.C.O.R.E. and now hold on site Small Business Development Center sessions as well. By adding these cooperative efforts to our extensive menu of resources, the Board shows that they are receptive to change and to advancing our mission through creative joint ventures.

Fourth, we continued our mission of widening our spirit of cooperation and networking by coordinating numerous joint efforts with regional Chambers of Commerce and adjunct organizations. Our Board of Directors strongly believes that it is our duty to assist our membership to thrive in this competitive business climate. It is important that we network regionally, and that we promote regionally. It is for this end that we lunched with the Zelienople / Harmony, Allegheny Valley and Armstrong County Chambers .We networked and “mixed” with the Grove City Area, Mercer County, Venango, Lawrence County, Shenango Valley, Clarion and Franklin Area Chambers in Foxburg and Mercer. We continue to cosponsor the Spring Garden Market and Home Show with the Penn State Master Gardeners of Butler County.

Finally, I am thankful for my staff at the Chamber, for without them none of these above mentioned events and services would be possible. Administrative Assistant, Jennifer Monaco, and volunteer Connie Schwartzfeger, manage to keep all of our programs, services, publications, correspondence and ideas in tact and organized. As I complete my tenth year as your President, I can honestly ask myself and all of you “where did the time go?” We have come so far in our evolution, and I think that it is this change that gives our Chamber its status in the community – receptive to new ideas, willingness to cooperate and a mission that is simple – “Promote our members and our business community.” So, you see that we can have “Thanksgiving” not only at home but at work as well, and I wish each of you the Happiest of Holidays as we end our year on the same high level of success as we have come to expect from our membership and from our Chamber. For my part, I thank you all for your faith in me during the past ten years and for always being there to assist during the rough times and to celebrate the good times.

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November 2012 3


Member News

S eptember 2012 marked the twentieth year anniversary for Shaffer Financial Services. Jay G. Shaffer is the owner of the business located at 422 North Main Street in downtown Butler. Shaffer specializes in investments and retirement planning; life, disability,

and long term care insurance; and, employee group benefits for his clients in Western Pennsylvania and throughout the United States.

He is a registered representative with ING Financial Partners, Inc. Shaffer has been named “Associate of the Year’” by the Pittsburgh Association of Life Underwriters and has been recognized by the prestigious Million Dollar Roundtable. He has also been a member of the National Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors. Shaffer is a past Chairman of the Butler County Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors. He is currently the Vice Chairman of the board for Specialty Outreach Services and a member of the Butler Downtown Association’s Economic Restructuring Committee. Shaffer previously had a twenty-year career in the hospitality management field with Marriott Hotels and his family’s Horn of Plenty Buffet Restaurants.

K ristin McGinnis and Brenda Shockey are thrilled to bring Real Deals on Home Décor to the Butler area. Unlike other discount stores, which sell closeouts or seconds, Real Deals sells only new

products received weekly. The 2-days-a-week strategy helps keep overhead costs low by only being open Thursdays 9:00 a.m.-6:00 p.m. and Saturdays 9:00 a.m. -3:00 p.m. You may have to plan to come in, but their wide array of both contemporary and traditional home décor makes it worth the wait. Butler’s Real Deals on Home Décor is located at 891 Evans City Road, next door to the Butler Farm Market (on Route 68). For more information: www.realdeals.net/butler.

Real Deals on Home Décor Now Open!Shaffer Financial Celebrates 20th Anniversary

T he Butler County Symphony Orchestra presents an evening of jazz with acclaimed local guitarist Joe Negri and his trio on Saturday, November 3 at 7:30 p.m. The concert will be held at the Butler

Intermediate High School, 551 Fairground Hill Road in Butler. Negri has performed with diverse artists such as Johnny Mathis, Tony Bennett, Andy William and Eartha Kitt. “The Butler County Symphony Orchestra is known for its diverse programming,” says Ron McKissick, President of the Board for the Orchestra. “We look forward to an evening of non traditional symphonic music

In other Symphony news, the 23rd Annual Holiday Tour of Homes will be Saturday, November 17th from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. This is a self-guided tour and includes the following area homes: Jim and Joy Mulkern, 1258 Evans City Road, Evans City, PA 16033; Ken and Sue Leader, 251 Ridge Road, Zelienople, PA 16063; David Hill and Cynthia McKnight, 152 Haverford Drive, Butler, PA 16001; The Mainstay at Saxonburg, 214 Main Street, Saxonburg, PA 16056; Applebutter Inn, 666 Centreville Pike, Slippery Rock, PA 16057; The Old Stone House, 2865 William Flynn Hwy., Slippery Rock, PA 16057.

A cookie reception and luncheon benefiting Hill Youth Chorale will be held at Faith U.P. Church. Holiday Baskets will be on display at the reception. Tickets for any of the events are available at the Symphony office, 259 South Main Street in Butler or by calling 724.283.1402. For more information on the Butler County Symphony Orchestra visit butlersymphony.org

Jazz Legend Joe Negri performs with the Butler County Symphony23rd Annual Holiday Tour of Homes

Real Deals on Home Décor ribbon cutting.

A s we feast this holiday season, please assist us in helping Butler families in need to do the same. Please bring your holiday non-perishables to the Fairfield Inn & Suites, 200

Fairfield Lane, Butler PA 16001. Your donations will benefit -The Lighthouse Foundation. Please feel free to beseech these items throughout your company and label your collection to display your organization’s dedication to the local community. If you collect too much to carry, let us know – we’ll pick it up! We will be collecting donations until November 16th.Thank you in advance for your generosity! Please contact Audrianna Daniels: 724.283.0009 with any questions.

Holiday Food Drive


Member News

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Carbis WalkerOne of the “Best Places to Work” in Western PA

for 6th Consecutive Year

arbis Walker LLP, Certified Public Accountants & Consultants, is one of the Best Places to Work in Western Pennsylvania for the 6th consecutive year, according to the Pittsburgh Business Times.

Winners were determined by a process in which em-ployees at businesses across the region were invited to go online and rate their workplace on characteris-tics such as family-friendly policies, flex hours, ease of commute, pay, benefits, and others. Carbis Walker is proud of their “family first” approach such as annual family picnics, flexible work arrangements, Employee Appreciation Party and benefits including closing the offices every Friday between June 1 and September 1. Carbis Walker has maintained an overall interest in as-sisting each team member to find his or her passion, and actively pursue that career path within the Firm through one of its many niche-focused areas.

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Art Parties at the Art Center

lanning your holiday office party and want to try something different? Why not come to the Asso-ciated Artists of Butler County Art Center for an Art Party? Create wall worthy artwork in a par-

ty-like atmosphere. We supply all the paint, brushes and canvas for the event. Artist Eileen Stroup (you may know her from Titus Networking Inc.) is part en-tertainer, part art teacher in her role as the Art Party instructor. You can bring your own refreshments or have your event catered by one of the great local res-taurants. These events are perfect for team building or celebrations and are just plain fun. Check out Art-PartyButler.com for more information, or to plan an Art Party, contact Eileen Stroup at 724.431.2211.

T he mission of the U. S. Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tots Program is to collect new, un-wrapped toys during October, November and December each year, and distribute those toys

as Christmas gifts to needy children in the commu-nity in which the campaign is conducted. To make a donation, please contact Adecco at 724.284.9555 or by email at [email protected] We will be happy to schedule a pick up at your company.

Adecco in Butler is proud to be a part of the 2012 U.S. Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tots Program.

T he Dunbar Community Center invites you to be a part of its first annual diamond in the rough event, the Denim & Diamonds Auction hosted at the Butler Country Club. Join them

on Friday, November 16, 2012, for this extravagant auction with a VIP Reception beginning at 6:30 p.m. and event at 7:00 p.m. This event will feature over 30 separate diamond jewelry pieces and custom denim products auctioned off every five minutes throughout the evening to lucky ticket holders. In addition, abundant food stations and a cash bar will entice all throughout the evening. Advance ticket sales are $75.00 per person for unlimited chances to win the raffle items.

The goal is to raise $25,000 for Dunbar for its new vision of a bigger and better educational and recreational center for the children of Butler. The Dunbar Community Center provides the nutritional, recreational and educational needs for Butler’s youth through its summer Kidz Klub program, Food Service Program, and its newly added Center Avenue Elementary School Tutoring Project, in partnership with the Butler Area School District. For ticket information or to make a reservation please contact Paul Laurence Dunbar Community Center 501 Fairground Hill Road, Butler, PA 16001, 724.287.5648 or online at www.dunbarcenter.org.

Denim & Diamonds Auction

Sunday, Nov. 4, 2012

November 2012 7


T he newest Leadership Butler County class began their nine-month journey in September at an Opening Session Overnighter and Alumni

Gathering at Conley Resort. Sessions continued with an Executive Skills Training on October 5th at Slippery Rock University’s Leadership Course and on October 19th at Butler County Community College’s Safety Building for a Human Services & Volunteerism session.

The Leadership Skills Training combined physical

activities and challenges with classroom exercises to help the class think strategically, communicate effectively and act decisively. During Human Services and Volunteerism Day, the fire safety training program exposed the class to training required of and available to our area firefighters. Lunch was hosted by the Family Y. We thank both SRU and BC3 for their generous sponsorship of these sessions.


AEntreLeadership Seminar a Success!

ttendees at Dave Ramsey’s EntreLeadership Si-mulcast rated the event as an excellent opportu-nity that increased theirs skills and knowledge as leaders. They reported that the information

presented will help them to build cohesiveness among teams they lead and enhance their business relation-ships. Also featured in the simulcast were Chris Lo-Curto and Jon Acuff who inspired attendees to lead by serving and to thrive in times of chaos. The event was hosted by the First United Methodist Church at their Crossfire location. A delicious lunch was served by D’Anthony’s. The Chamber, Concordia Visiting Nurses and Shaffer Financial Services were also spon-sors of the event.

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We Met…We Moved…We Networked

he Belmont Ice Complex was the location once again for our fourth joint Meet-N-Move Luncheon with the Armstrong County Chamber of Commerce. Over 60 regional

businesses networked during the intensive lun-cheon session. Sponsored again by Quality Life Services, we thank them and all who attended to make this event a success.

Constant Contact Chamber Program

T he Chamber Board has approved joining the Constant Contact Chamber Program. This is a win for our organization and our members. The program provides

powerful Email Marketing, Online Survey, and Event Marketing tools which are designed to improve communications. Through our mem-bership in this program, Chamber members are eligible to save money on Constant Con-tact products and strengthen their marketing. In addition, the Constant Contact team has marketing experts hosting free seminars and networking events across North America so you can build your business or organization. Members get pre-pay discounts of up to 25% on Email Marketing, Online Survey, and Event Marketing tools and enjoy customer support, resources and KnowHow of their company. For more information call 866.876.8464 and tell them you are a member of the Butler County Chamber of Commerce, or attend the November 27 seminar at Concordia Lutheran Ministries (registration flyer in this newslet-ter).

November 2012 9


WelcomeNew Members

We welcome the following new members to the Butler County Chamber of Commerce.

North Hills Monthly MagazineContact: Mary Margaret Fisher, General Manager

PO Box 386Zelienople, PA 16063

P: 724.776.9800F: 724.776.9811

[email protected]

North Hills Monthly Magazine has “something for everyone” on community events, dining and entertainment, recreation and leisure, health and fitness, community resources, parents and children, community worship, people profiles and more of everything that is close to the heart of every community!

Shell AppalachiaContact: Amanda Peterson, Administrative

Assistant190 Thorn Hill Road

Warrendale, PA 15086P: 724.720.2330F: 724.720.3552

[email protected]/appalachia

With the acquisition of East Resources, a Pennsylvania-based oil and gas company, on July 29, 2010, Shell Appalachia is the foundation for Shell’s new operations and growth in the Appalachian Basin. Shell’s current Marcellus Shale operations are focused in Tioga County with exploration in Lawrence and Butler Counties.

Nowat Minuteman Pressin BUTLER

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112 Hollywood Drive • Suite 103 • Butler, PA 16001

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53RD ANNUAL PANCAKE FESTIVAL

T he A.M. and P.M. Rotary Clubs of Butler will host the 53rd Annual Rotary Pancake Festival on Election Day Tuesday at The Vagabond Center in Lyndora benefiting the Lifesteps Family Caring

Fund. This annual tradition will take place on Election Day, Tuesday, November 6, 2012,7:00 a.m – 8:00 p.m. The event is famous for its all-you-can-eat pancakes and sausages, crafts, games for kids, Bake Sale, basket auction and pull tabs. Pre-sale tickets on sale now for only $6. Cost per ticket at the door will be $7. Children 5 and under eat free. Tickets are available for purchase from Rotary Club members or at Lifesteps’ Central Office, located at 383 New Castle Road, Butler.

Volunteer opportunities are available throughout the day and contributions of baked goods, crafts and items for basket auction are also welcome. For more information, please contact Tina Grossman, Rotarian and Pancake Festival Committee Chairman at 724.431.4203.

TBoard of Directors

he Nominating Committee of the Butler County Chamber of Commerce is accepting candidates for the Board of Directors, term beginning Jan-uary, 2013. By laws deem “The members will

elect directors for a term of two (2) years. They may be re-elected once, but must then have an intervening period of not serving before again being eligible. Each Director will hold office for the term for which the Di-rector was elected, until a successor has been selected and qualified.”

Interested Members in “Good Standing” can send their letter of interest to Stan Kosciuszko at the Cham-ber office ([email protected]). Please include a resume or CV.

OPAWcasso Fine Art Auctionn Saturday, November 17, at 6:30 p.m. at The Atrium, 1031 New Castle Rd, Prospect, PA, the PAWcasso Fine Art Auction will showcase paint-ings created by Butler County Humane Society

dogs and cats. Paw prints large and small paired with tail swishes result in stunning artwork worth fighting over. In addition to PAWcasso paintings, exotic bird-houses and ceramic food bowls made by area artists will be auctioned. You can take a chance on dozens of spectacular Chinese Auction items including Steelers tickets, a Coach purse, a golf putter and outing, pet sports apparel, jewelry and more. Tickets are $25 in advance. $30 at the door. Ticket price includes hot & cold hors d’oeuvres, dessert bar, DJ, wine and hand-crafted beer brewed by Butler Brew Works. Tickets can be purchased at BCHS, Bottlebrush Gallery in Harmo-ny, Smith’s Flowers, Butler Florist and Agway in Mars, or by credit card at 724.789.1150. Visit www.butler-countyhs.org. All proceeds benefit the Butler County Humane Society animals.

Butler County Chamber of Commerce

Call 724-284-8505or order on-line at

www.bc3.edu/theater

2010-2011Performing Arts Series

Season PassesNow On Sale

Don’t Miss A ShowAll Eight Shows For Only $120!

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PAIDBUTLER, PA

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The official newsletter of the Butler County Chamber of Commerce101 East Diamond Street, Lower Level, Suite 116 Post Office Box 1082Butler, PA 16003-1082724.283.2222 • fax 724.283.0224ButlerCountyChamber.com RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED

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TECHNOLOGY THAT MEANS BUSINESSCall 724-284-8505

or order on-line atwww.bc3.edu/theater

2010-2011Performing Arts Series

Season PassesNow On Sale

Don’t Miss A ShowAll Eight Shows For Only $120!

Holiday Fairy Tales

Friday, December 7, @ 8 PMKick off the holiday season in style!

Join Clara as she embarks on a magical adventure in a Suite from Tchaikovsky’s

Nutcracker. Sing, dance, and dash through the snow with carols, Anderson’s Sleighride,

and other holiday favorites!

Documents

2012 November Butler County Chamber Newsletter