Castle Views
The Newsletter of the Greencastle-Antrim Chamber of Commerce
2008 January/February

With 8 breakfasts, eleven mixers, Old Home Week, the Civil War Trails Discovery Weekend, seminars, the Administrative Professionals Day Luncheon, High School and Middle School Career Expos, Golf Tournament, Sidewalk Days, Annual Banquet, Shoppes of Greencastle Holiday Open House, Heritage Christmas and ribbon cuttings and ground breakings, 2007 was a busy and productive year, for the Chamber.   Our various events were well-attended and well-received, providing our members with opportunities for networking, education, promotion of their businesses and greater involvement in the community.  We even beat some of the records we set last year - at the Golf Tournament, Annual Banquet  and Sidewalk Days, in particular.  

 Plans are well under way for 2007: breakfast sponsors and speakers are being lined up and mixers are being planned (the first will be at the Antrim House on February ).  

 If you would like to host a mixer, please contact the Chamber at info@greencastlepachamber.org or 717-597-4610.

 We are once again partnering with the Mercersburg Area and Greater Waynesboro Chambers of Commerce to hold a Legislative Breakfast.  

Our goal, as stated last year, is to make it an annual event.  This year’s breakfast, with the County Commissioners as the speakers, will be held on March 28.  F&M Trust will be returning as the sponsor. 

 The Administrative Professionals Day Luncheon,  will be held on April  23. Summit Health will be sponsoring the event again this year. More information will be available in the next newsletter. 

 The Business Education Partnership has begun planning the High School Career Expo; the Golf Tournament Committee has held its first meeting (a sponsorship package will be mailed shortly for the tournament, which will be held on June 11) and the Sidewalk Days Committee will start meeting soon.

 The Membership Committee will be updating the Directory – and has already begun discussing the Annual Banquet.   Its main focus, currently, is two-fold: getting the calendar of events confirmed and planning a Membership Drive.

The first stage of the Membership Drive was to compile a list of the area’s non-member businesses.  The second stage will be a mail campaign later this month, which will be followed by phone calls and visits in February. 

If you are interested in assisting the Membership Committee with the Membership Drive, please contact the Chamber.

Our partnerships with PCI Insurance,   the Chamber Plus Program and the Embarq Chamber Program will continue into 2008 (see the enclosed Chamber Plus and Embarq inserts for more information on those two programs) and we have a new program for Chamber members:  the Comcast Spotlight  Chamber Promotion.  You can learn all about this unique advertising program at the January 29 Chamber breakfast, which is being sponsored by Comcast Spotlight.

From the Director’s Desk

By Bill Gour

 When I started working at the Chamber in August of ‘05, my initial goal was to “learn the job.”  With a year of experience behind me, my goal in 2007 was to increase the value of a Chamber membership by offering more to our members.  With the help of our Board of Directors and the army of volunteers who assist us, Deanna and I were able to do just that.  We made the Chamber even more vital than before, primarily by expanding the calendar of events.

 Here are some of the year’s accomplishments and highlights:

v            A record 8 breakfasts - each with dynamic and informative speakers, providing  valuable  educational and networking opportunities for attendees  and a cost-effective promotional tool for sponsors;

v            An unprecedented 11 mixers – with each providing promotion for the hosts and networking for the attendees;

v            Strong attendance numbers at Chamber events;

v            Participation in the Civil War Trails Discovery Weekend;

v            The most successful Golf Tournament;

v            An active Membership Committee;

v            The largest attendance ever at the Annual Banquet;

v            A record number of vendors for Sidewalk Days;

v            Continued advocacy on behalf of member businesses;

v            The maintenance of  solid relationships with partners such as the other Franklin County Chambers of Commerce, the Franklin County Area Development Corporation,  the Greencastle-Antrim Area Development Corporation, the Greencastle-Antrim School District , CareerLink, the Small Business Administration, the Small Business Development Center at Shippensburg University and municipal, county and state  governments;

v            Representing the interests of Chamber members, and the greater community, through active membership on the Franklin County Government Affairs Committee, Franklin County Visitors Bureau Advisory Board, the Franklin County Industrial Development Authority and the Boards of Directors of the Greencastle-Antrim Area Development Corporation and the Franklin County Area Development Corporation;

v            Participation, along with a team from Franklin County,  in a Job Fair in Coudersport (Potter County);

v            New member benefits;

v            A Chamber membership which is at an all-time high;

v            Involvement in Old Home Week, including hosting an Open House/Mixer and serving as the unofficial headquarters prior to (and even after)  the opening of the official headquarters;

v            The Administrative Professionals Luncheon;

v            Another successful Heritage Christmas, with the crowd at the Tree Lighting being as large, or even larger, than the year before.

 It is an honor to serve all of you and this community. I look forward to seeing what we will accomplish in 2008 - and the years to come.  I urge you to make the most of your membership through active participation.   Your business and our community will both benefit.

Another Advantage of Chamber Membership: Southern Franklin County Chamber + Insurance Program

Members of the Greencastle-Antrim Chamber of Commerce can save money with large group buying power through the business insurance program.  Only Chamber members are eligible.  Program eligibility based on individual risk characteristics, loss experience and company underwriting guidelines. Eligible Business Insurance Lines through Penn National Insurance: General Liability, Business Owners, Commercial Auto, Commercial Fire, Inland Marine, Workers’ Compensation, and Crime Insurance.  As a member of the group, you could EARN A DIVIDEND based on your premium size plus the group premium volume and claims experience!

Want to know more?  Call one of the Chamber Member insurance agencies today:

v           Craig, Friedly, Potter & Moore Insurance , 717-762-3147

v           Strickler Agency, Inc., 717-263-4179

v           Wright-Gardner Insurance, Inc., 301-733-1234

PCI Insurance Offers Free Online HR Solutions

In addition to a comprehensive suite of benefit programs for both businesses and individuals, PCI Insurance recently added a valuable service to the administrative advantages provided to customers. As a result of a newly formed partnership with Ceridian, the HR Solutions center launched in December 2007.

Linked from the PCI Insurance web site at www.pachamberinsurance.com, HR Solutions is a web-based library of Human Resources information, materials and data. Access to the majority of information on the site is free for PCI Insurance customers. Below is an overview of the tools and resources available on HR Solutions:

• Employment alerts

• Management forms

• Employee handbook samples

• Job descriptions

• Compliance law overview

• Employment manuals

With just a PCI Insurance account number, customers can log in to research dozens of HR compliance, training and policy issues or download numerous management forms. HR Solutions is linked from and can be accessed by visiting www.pachamberinsurance.com.

The HR Solutions center is just another benefit of chamber membership and participation in the PCI Insurance benefit program. To find out more about HR Solutions or the PCI Insurance benefit programs, please call 800.755.3021 or visit www.pachamberinsurance.com.

Reminder: The first Chamber breakfast of the year  will be held at 7:30 on January 29 at the Antrim House.  The sponsor, Comcast Spotlight, will be introducing a new BENEFIT OF MEMBERSHIP – the Greencastle-Antrim Chamber Promotion.  Our speaker will be Mike Unruh, the Director of the Small Business Development Center at Shippensburg University.  Mike will be providing an overview of the services and resources available through the SBDC network.  RSVP by noon on the 28^th (717-597-4610;

Info@greencastlepachamber.org).

Mark your calendars and watch the mail for your invitations:

--The first mixer of the year will be held at the Antrim House on February 21;

-There will be a Chamber breakfast on February 26;

-There will be a joint mixer, with the Greater Waynesboro Chamber of Commerce, at the new Gold’s Gym in Waynesboro, on March 13;

-The County Commissioners will be the speakers at the Legislative Breakfast on March 28;

-There will be a mixer at Van Winkle’s Creative Images on April 10;

-The Administrative Professionals Luncheon will be held on April 23.

SMALL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT CENTER AT -SHIPPENSBURG UNIVERSITY WINTER WORKSHOP SCHEDULE

Emergency Preparedness Planning for Small Businesses                                   January 11, 2008 | 8:30–11 AM
Location: Shippensburg University, Shippensburg, PA                                          Cost: $10

 The First Step: Starting a Small Business                                                               January 23, 2008 | 1-3:30 PM
Location: Murata Business Center, Carlisle, PA                                                         Cost: $10 (Free to veterans)

 Start Up Basics                                                                                                               January 24, 2008 | 6-9 PM
Location: York College of Pennsylvania, York, PA                                                     Cost: $15

 Business Planning I                                                                                                       February 7, 2008 | 6-9 PM
Location: York College of Pennsylvania, York, PA                                                     Cost: $60/series or $20 per workshop

 The First Step: Starting a Small Business                                                                 February 12, 2008 | 9-11:30 AM
Location: Chambersburg Chamber of Commerce, Chambersburg                             Cost: $10 (Free to veterans)

 Business Planning II                                                                                                       February 14, 2008 | 6-9 PM
Location: York College of Pennsylvania, York, PA                                                     Cost: $60/series or $20 per workshop

 Writing an Effective Business Plan                                                                              February 20, 2008 | 1-4 PM
Location: Murata Business Center, Carlisle, PA                                                           Cost: $15

 Business Planning III                                                                                                       February 21, 2008 | 6-9 PM
Location: York College of Pennsylvania, York, PA                                                       Cost: $60/series or $20 per workshop

Business Planning IV                                                                                                       February 28, 2008 | 6-9 PM
Location: York College of Pennsylvania, York, PA                                                      Cost: $60/series or $20 per workshop

 Marketing on Pennies                                                                                                      February 29, 2008 | 9 AM-Noon
Location: Shippensburg University Grove Hall, Shippensburg, PA                          Cost: $25

 Start Up Basics                                                                                                                  March 13, 2008 | 6-9 PMLocation: York College of Pennsylvania, York, PA                                                 Cost: $15

 The First Step: Starting a Small Business                                                                  March, 13, 2008 | 1-3:30 PM
Location: Murata Business Center, Carlisle, PA                                                           Cost: $10 (Free to veterans)

 Writing an Effective Business Plan                                                                              March 18, 2008 | 9 AM-Noon
Location: Chambersburg Chamber of Commerce, Chambersburg, PA                       Cost: $15

 Business Planning I                                                                                                          March 27, 2008 | 6-9 PM
Location: York College of Pennsylvania, York, PA                                                        Cost: $60/series or $20 per workshop

 Business Plan                                                                                                                   April 3, 2008 | 6-9 PM
Location: York College of Pennsylvania, York, PA                                                      Cost: $60/series or $20 per workshop

 Business Planning III                                                                                                       April 10, 2008 | 6-9 PM
Location: York College of Pennsylvania, York, PA                                                       Cost: $60/series or $20 per workshop

Business Planning                                                                                                              April 17, 2008 | 6-9 PM
Location: York College of Pennsylvania, York, PA                                                         Cost: $60/series or $20 per workshop

 Doing Business with the Commonwealth                                                                       April 23, 2008 | 9 AM–12 PM
Location: Shippensburg University Grove Hall, Shippensburg, PA                            Cost: Free

 Writing an Effective Business Plan                                                                                April 24, 2008 | 1-4 PM
Location: Murata Business Center, Carlisle, PA                                                             Cost: $15

 The First Step: Starting a Small Business                                                                     April 29, 2008 | 9-11:30 AM
Location: Chambersburg Chamber of Commerce, Chambersburg, PA                          Cost: $10 (Free to veterans)

CONTACT:  Mike Unruh, Director of the Shippensburg University SBDC, 717-477-1935; sbdc@ship.edu

U.S. Small Business Administration

David C. Dickson, District Director, U.S. Small Business Administration, Philadelphia District Office

90 Percent Financing Available to Purchase Commercial Real Estate

The start of another year is upon us and so is another tax season.  Small business owners are starting to gather their records and are making appointments to see their accountants.  Many small business owners will review their statements and ask themselves the same question:  Why am I paying rent, when I can own my own building?   

 Small business owners thinking of purchasing or renovating commercial real estate or purchasing equipment to grow or expand their businesses should consider the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) 504 Loan Program.  The 504 loan provides a small businesses access to the same type of long-term, fixed-rate financing enjoyed by larger firms. Interest rates are equivalent to favorable bond market rates.  A 504 loan may be used to purchase fixed assets such as: land and improvements, including owner-occupied buildings, grading, street improvements, utilities, parking lots and landscaping; construction of new facilities, or to modernize, renovate or convert existing facilities; or to purchase long-term machinery and equipment with a useful life of at least 10 years.   Soft costs like architectural and legal fees, environmental studies, appraisals, and interest and fees on the construction and/or interim bank financing can also be rolled into the loan.  Financing for other needs such as working capital, inventory, debt consolidation or refinancing are eligible through a separate SBA 7(a) Loan Guaranty Program. 

 A typical 504 project is structured with fifty percent of the project costs provided through a private-sector lender.  This senior loan is usually for a 10-year term at a fixed or variable rate, depending on the relationship with the lender. Forty percent of the project costs are financed with a fixed-rate debenture secured with a junior lien from a SBA Certified Development Company (CDC).  The debenture is backed by a 100 percent SBA-guaranty.  And the final 10 percent of the project cost is provided by the purchaser. 

 The low 10 percent down payment is the big attraction of this program. It is possible to require even less from the business if a city, town or the state trying to attract businesses to their community is willing to provide a small piece of the financing in a subordinate position.  Because of the lower down payment required and the ability to finance the soft costs, the small business will realize upfront cash savings of approximately $100,000 on a $1 million project.

The maximum SBA debenture can be up to $2 million.  Certain manufacturing entities are eligible for up to a $4 million debenture. This means that a CDC can work with you to put together financing for a $10 million project with the bank providing a $5 million first mortgage with a SBA 504 debenture of $4 million, and only 10 percent equity.

Maturities of 10 or 20 years are available. Interest rates on 504 loans are pegged to an increment above the current market rate for five-year and ten-year U.S. Treasury issues. The December 2006 interest rate was approximately 6.5% percent and is fixed for the life of the loan. 

 Most Pennsylvania businesses would be eligible for this loan program.  The 504 Loan Program defines a business as small if its net worth is under $7 million and net profits after taxes are under $2.5 million.  Any type of legitimate business is eligible for 504 financing, including manufacturing, wholesale, service, professional service or retail. 

 Many businesses in Eastern Pennsylvania have used the benefits of the 504 loan program including the following: 

 Grace Park, Stroudsburg, Pa – George and Tammy Loudon used a 504 loan to open their senior living facility.  They provide assisted living and full-time care to seniors for short and long-term stays.

 Iron Hill Brewery, West Chester, Pa – This award winning micro brewery and restaurant used the 504 loan program to receive low fixed-rate financing to purchase the equipment.  They have additional North Wales and West Chester Pennsylvania, as well as Wilmington and Newark, Delaware. 

 Patagonia Bar & Grill, Richboro, Pa – Daniel and Silvia Lucci used the 504 Loan Program to finance their new building.  This is the second business venture for the Lucci’s who also own Café con Leche in Newtown.

 Small Businesses should consider the following advantages of the SBA 504 program: 

• Low down payment.  In most cases, the company is required to inject just 10 percent of the total project cost, which includes renovations and soft costs. This allows the business to preserve cash for working capital. (Ordinarily, banks require a 20 to 30 percent down payment on the purchase price.) 
• Fixed rate on the SBA 504 portion. Small businesses don't have to worry about the prime lending rate going up and can calculate the exact amount of their mortgage payments for 20 years.
• Long term.  504 loans are for 10 or 20 years. Because the CDC is in second lien position, the lender doing the 50 percent first lien loan, are willing to lend at a longer term. Longer terms reduce monthly payments

• Low interest rate. Even with fees and closing costs included in the rate, the 504 program offers a low fixed rate for a subordinate mortgage loan. The blended rate between the lender portion and the SBA’s 504 portion makes the project very affordable, particularly for small businesses

 Lenders should consider the following advantages of the SBA 504 program: 

• The lender has less risk because the SBA 504 loan is in second position
• A lower loan to value ratio
• The first mortgage lender gets CRA credits

 To learn more about this program, call John Fleming at 215-580-2718 or John Banks at 215-580-2711.

 Manager’s Corner:  Performance Reviews – They’re Not Just A Once A Year Thing

A client was experiencing some employee performance issues and asked us to present training to their managers on a new employee performance evaluation form.. Terrific however, they weren't thrilled when I told them that the training should only focus about 10 percent of the time on the actual use and mechanics of the form. The bulk of the training needed to focus on managing performance and preparing for the reviews all year long. They couldn't expect a form to solve the performance issues they were experiencing.

 We suggested seven core ideas be included in the training to help the managers and employees address the performance issues they had:

 1. Building trust between the managers and employees. It's pretty tough for a manager to critique an employee's performance and have her comments well-received when there's no trust or respect between them. Trust and respect take time to earn. Start now.

 2. Determining and communicating clear job duties. A basic listing of what the person filling the position is expected to do on a daily, weekly, monthly, quarterly, and annual basis is a big help. It needs to be clear to both the manager and employee what tasks the employee is expected to perform.

 3. Determining and communicating the performance standards. Once it's clear what the employee is supposed to do, it also needs to be made clear to what standard the work is to be done. If the performance rating scale has "Excellent" as its highest rating, the employee needs to be told what "Excellent" performance looks like, so he or she knows the standard you will use in the rating process. If the managers don't know what "Excellent" looks like, how are the employees supposed to know and perform to "Excellent" standards?

 4. Communicating and documenting job performance all year long. There should be no surprises at review time. Too often, that's all it is: a series of things done wrong all year long that were never addressed at the time. To prevent this, when an employee does something really right or wrong, acknowledge it, address it with the employee right away, and document it. The employee can then keep doing things right and correct things that need to be corrected.

 5. Coaching, re-aligning, and developing. Good managers monitor their employees' performance constantly. Performance that starts to veer off-track can be quickly refocused, and missing skills can be addressed through training or other means. Good managers are vigilant.

 6. Evaluating Job Performance. This is the actual rating of the employee's performance. If good and not-so-good performance has been documented all year, the actual form completion is just a matter of pulling the file and citing the examples tracked all year long. Specific examples of each item rated are crucial. These specific examples again let the employee "see" what levels of performance were expected in each category rated.

 7. Holding Performance Review Meetings. This meeting should hold no surprises about past performance. All of those should have been addressed in real-time. The Review Meeting should review the rating form -- which again should be no surprise -- and then focus on developing goals and plans for the next year or rating period. These goals and plans can then be a guide for both the managers and employees to track the next year's performance.  If your managers start to complain about having to complete their employee performance review forms, you might ask if they've done their job well all year long. If so, the performance reviews and meetings are a great time to positively plan for the future. If not, share with them how to they can make the process a win-win in the future.

 Copyright 2007 - Liz Weber, CMC - Weber Business Services, LLC. Liz can be reached at liz@wbsllc.com or (717) 597-8890. Additional articles on strategic and succession planning can be found at http://www.wbsllc.com/articles.shtml or http://www.liz-weber.com/articles.php

MEMBERS IN THE NEWS

 Waste Management

Waste Management Receives International Habitat Conservation Award

Mountain View Landfill received certification for its contributions to wildlife habitat conservation at the Wildlife Habitat Council’s 19^th annual symposium, The Value of Green.  At the conference in Baltimore, nine Waste Management landfills were certified as wildlife habitat, bringing the grand total of WHC-certified landfills to 33.  Waste Management’s landfills provide more than 19,733 acres of protected habitat for wildlife.

 “Helping America Think GreenÒ and clean is our business,” said Cheryl Shields, Director of Community Relations. “Every year, Waste Management recycles enough paper to save 41 million trees, and our landfills provide tens of thousands of acres for community parks, recreation centers and protected wildlife habitats. I’m proud that our company and our employees want to ensure that we pass the planet to the next generation in better shape than we inherited it. It’s a lofty goal, but our generation can be the first generation to accomplish it.”

 The Mountain View Reclamation Landfill site formerly was an apple orchard, Christmas tree farm and shale mine. Now, 500 of the site’s 750 acres are reserved for wildlife habitat. The site is surrounded by rural countryside, gently rolling hills and mountains, and woodlands consisting of maples, oaks, ash, gum, dogwood, redbud, sycamore, Canadian hemlock and pines. The wildlife team regularly tests water quality in the three tributaries of Conococheague Creek that cross the site, as well as the ten ponds on site. Results of the testing are shared with the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection as required.  The wildlife team members work with numerous partners, from other corporations to county and state agencies. The Mountain View Reclamation site sponsors and participates annually in Earth Day events for the Greencastle-Antrim School District, and gives tours of the site to students and the general public.  The wildlife team implements a deer management plan for deer herd growth and control, and compiling on-site observations of deer numbers. Currently 30 to 35 deer are present at the facility.

 WHC’s certified wildlife habitat programs focus on restoration, creation, protection and enhancement of habitat and individual species management by establishing Wildlife at Work programs. Certification criteria are stringent. Sites must demonstrate that programs have been active for at least one year with a management plan that lists goals, objectives and prescriptions and complete documentation of all program activities.

 Small Business Development Center/F&M Trust

Shippensburg University SBDC Partners with F&M Trust to Offer Small Business Educational Programs

Officials at the Shippensburg University Small Business Development Center (SBDC) and F&M Trust announced a partnership to present educational programs and workshops for aspiring entrepreneurs and existing small business owners in Franklin and Cumberland County.

 The low cost workshops will cover basic business skills as well as more advanced and specific business management, and feature experts and leaders from industry, government, higher education, and professional associations. Workshops will be held at Shippensburg University, the Chambersburg Chamber of Commerce, and Murata Business Center in Carlisle. Topics will include practical information such as Starting a Small Business, Writing an Effective Business Plan, Employee Best Practices, and more.

 A schedule of upcoming workshops, including times, locations, and registration information can be found online at www.shipsbdc.org/upcomingSem.html.

Shalom Christian Academy

Shalom Christian Academy Players will present the play “Cinderella,” written and directed by Carol Gardner.  All performances will be held at Marion Mennonite church Sanctuary on Tuesday, January 22, at 9:30 a.m. and 6:30 p.m., and on Wednesday, January 23, at 9:30 a.m.  Admission is free.  School groups and home school groups are welcome.  Please call 717-375-2223 with any questions or to reserve seats for large groups.

 Photo Gem

Photo Gem has moved to 103 South Carlisle Street, Greencastle, right behind the Farmer’s Wife and Curves.   January 2 was the first day in their new location.

 Besore Library

Positions Open at the Besore Library

Want to work in a great environment and serve your community, too?  The Besore Library needs a Circulation Desk Assistant (a paid position) to work Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday evenings, and alternate Saturday mornings (an average of 11 hours per week).  The successful applicant will assist patrons at the circulation desk, work on special projects as needed, and serve as a passport agent (training provided).  The applicant must be detail oriented, able to work independently, with excellent communication and customer service skills, as well as basic computer skills (additional training is provided on site).  To apply, pick up an application at the main desk at the Besore Library.  For more information, call 717.597.79

The Besore Library is also seeking applicants for the Director’s position, as Barb Schuit, the current Director, is moving out of state due to her husband’s new job.  A certified librarian is needed to direct the operations of the Besore Library, beginning February 16, 2008.  MLS degree  preferred.  Send resume to Franklin County Library System, 101 Ragged Edge Road South, Chambersburg, PA  17202.  Direct questions concerning the Director’s position to Linda Starr at 717.709.0280, x 208.

 Need Some Entertainment for the Holidays?

Travelling during the holidays and need to entertain yourself or the kids with an audio book on CD?  Want to curl up with some popcorn and a new DVD during the vacation?  Come to the Besore Library and find lots of newly-arrived audio books (free with your library card) and DVD’s ($1.00 for 2 nights with an adult’s library card).  Of course there are lots of new books as well, many with holiday themes to enjoy.  Some of our new titles include:

DVDs:  High School Musical 2, Spiderman 3, Waitress, Pirates of the Caribbean: at World’s End, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, Dream Girls, and the Simpsons Movie.

Audio Books:  Christmas Beginning (Perry), Christmas Pearl (Frank), Christmas Promise (VanLiere), New Year’s Quilt (Chiaverini), Between Sundays (Kingsbury), The Chase (Cussler), T is for Trespass (Grafton), Stone Cold (Baldacci), The Heir (Bradford), Double Cross (Patterson), and Book of the Dead (Cornwell).

Children’s new audio books on CD include learning Spanish with fairy tales such as Cinderella, Goldilocks, and Beauty and the Beast; Bob the Builder, Click Clack Moo, Cows that Type; Dooby Dooby Moo; How Do Dinosaurs Say Goodnight; and I Lost My Bear.

We wish to thank the Friends of the Library for their generous contribution to the purchase of many of these new audiobooks and DVD’s.

So come on in to the Besore Library and choose something to enjoy as you travel or relax at home during the holidays!  All of us at the Library wish you and your loved ones a wonderful holiday celebration.

 Leadership Franklin County

Leadership Franklin County Participants Complete Diversity Training

Participants of Leadership Franklin County completed diversity training in Waynesboro, PA.  This session is one of many leadership sessions designed to develop local community leaders.  The focus:   recognize, understand, appreciate, and leverage differences and backgrounds to build stronger teams.  Participants discussed inclusion, workplace collaboration, multiculturalism, and immigration impacts.  Activities included small-group role plays on specific diversity scenarios and a panel discussion with local leaders in the education, business, and government sectors.   Since 1986, Leadership Franklin County equips current and emerging leaders to serve as community leaders.  Participants interact with county-wide business leaders, educators, and professionals, developing an awareness of the problems, opportunities, and resources available in the area.  For further information about Leadership Franklin County, contact Alex Bacay, (717) 360-7653.

 Smith Elliott Kearns & Company, LLC

The accounting and consulting firms of Smith Elliott Kearns & Company, LLC and Robert M. Snyder and Associates, Certified Public Accountants, merged their firms on January 1, 2008.  Smith Elliott Kearns & Company, LLC began in 1963 and grew rapidly by providing quality service to businesses and individuals in the Shenandoah and Cumberland Valleys. SEK&Co is a regional certified public accounting firm with offices in Chambersburg, Carlisle, and Hanover, Pennsylvania and Hagerstown, Maryland.  The management and direction of Smith Elliott Kearns & Company, LLC firmly rests with the 19 members who locally provide leadership and service in each practice area.

 Fritts Appointed

Edward L. Buchanan IV, CPA, Managing Member of Smith Elliott Kearns  & Company, LLC, is pleased to announce that William F. Fritts II, CPA, CVA was appointed to the position of Member-In-Charge of the firm’s Hagerstown office, effective January 1, 2008.  Mr. Fritts succeeds Jerry B. Bullington, CPA who has held the leadership position for the last 24 years.  Mr. Bullington will continue with SEK&Co, practicing as a Member of the Firm serving physicians and closely-held businesses with their tax and accounting services needs.   Mr. Fritts has been with SEK&Co since 1997, and a Member of the Firm since January 2001.  He is a member of the Accounting Services and Tax Department in the Hagerstown office, and a member of the firm’s Management Committee, Tax Committee, and Human Resources Committee.

 Rotz & Stonesifer, P.C.

Despres Hired

Rotz & Stonesifer, P.C. announces the addition of Robin Despres to its staff as Payroll Manager. In this role, Despres will supervise the firm’s full service payroll department that provides the complete range of payroll and payroll tax service to clients.  A native of Chambersburg, Despres brings over 18 years of payroll experience in the public accounting arena to Rotz & Stonesifer. Despres began her payroll career with Baker O’Connor, LLC in Foxboro, Massachusetts as a payroll processor. After three years of service, she was promoted to Supervisor of the payroll department. In 2002, she was promoted to Office Manager with responsibility for both of the firm’s offices. In 2007, she assumed the Director of Operations role with Baker O’Connor supervising a staff of seven administrative staff.  In addition to her payroll and office management responsibilities, Despres was involved with client retention and new business development activities to support the firm’s growth.

 Rider Hired

Rotz & Stonesifer, P.C. announces the addition of Michael L. Rider, CPA to its York office staff as Senior Staff Accountant. In this role, Rider will provide tax, accounting, and consulting services for the firm’s business clients in the York area.   Rider brings over 20 years of public accounting experience to the firm. Rider began his career with a small firm in Gettysburg with responsibilities including audit, review, compilation and tax services for businesses. He also prepared federal, state, and local tax returns for individuals, partnerships, corporations, trusts and estates, and not-for-profit organizations.  He was the sole proprietor of his public accounting business in Biglerville for three years. Most recently, Rider worked for a public accounting firm in Hanover. In addition to tax preparation work with both individuals and businesses, Rider also provided advisory services to clients in an effort to minimize tax liability. Rider graduated from Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania with a Bachelor’s degree in accounting.   

 Wilson College

Hendrickson Appointed

Wilson College Vice President for Academic Affairs and Dean of the Faculty, Mary Hendrickson, was recently appointed to serve on the American Council on Education’s (ACE) Internationalization Collaborative Advisory Council. Dr. Hendrickson will serve on the council from 2008-11. The advisory group currently consists of 17 internationalization leaders working to help shape future directions for ACE’s Internationalization Collaborative, according to ACE Program Associate Jill Wisnieski. She said the collaborative, which is made up of 80 educational institutions including Wilson, focuses on the challenges of implementing comprehensive internationalization strategies at member institutions by providing faculty and administrators with a forum to share ideas and help each other further their own international agendas. Hendrickson, who has served in her current position since January 2006, came to Wilson College in 1988 as an assistant professor of political science. She was named associate dean in 1995 and served as acting dean of the college from March 2002 to July 2003. She has served Wilson in a number of capacities, including dean of students and associate professor political science.  Hendrickson has a doctoral degree in political science from the University of Minnesota. She has a master’s and bachelor’s degrees in political science from Mankato State University in Minnesota, from which she also has a bachelor’s degree in mass communications.

CLASSES IN ZUMBA FITNESS SENSATION

Zumba, the popular new fitness craze based on Latin music and dance, has been added to Wilson College’s spring personal enrichment class offerings. The first class will begin Jan. 28.  Zumba combines high-energy, motivating music with unique moves and combinations that allow participants to dance away stress. The class, which is geared for women and men, is based on the principle that a work-out should be fun and easy, allowing participants to stick to the Zumba fitness program and achieve long-term health benefits. Classes are scheduled for 6 to 7 p.m. Mondays from Jan. 28 through March 24 in Laird Hall. The class is limited to 20 people and the cost is $40 per person.  Participants should dress in comfortable clothing and refrain from eating before class.  For more information or to register, contact Wilson Coordinator of Enrichment Programs Mary Foltz at (717) 262-2025, (800) 421-8402 or mfoltz@wilson.edu

WILSON CO-SPONSORS PENNSYLVANIA SOCIETY RECEPTION

Wilson College was one of 43 of the state’s private colleges and universities to co-sponsor a reception hosted in conjunction with the 109^th annual Pennsylvania Society Dinner, which was held Saturday, Dec. 8 in the famed Waldorf-Astoria hotel in New York City.  Wilson President Lorna D. Edmundson represented Wilson College and the event, during which presidents of Pennsylvania’s institutions of higher learning mingled with political figures and other members of the Pennsylvania Society, a nonprofit, charitable organization with nearly 2,000 members around the world.  The reception was coordinated by the Association of Independent Colleges and Universities of Pennsylvania (AICUP).  The influential Pennsylvania Society, founded in 1899, says its purpose is “to honor achievement, reward excellence, promote good will and understanding, and celebrate service to the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and to humanity in general.” The oldest organization of its kind in the United States, the group is not affiliated with any political party, business or profession.  The annual holiday dinner, held on the second Saturday of December in the Waldorf-Astoria’s Grand Ballroom, is one of the most widely anticipated events of the season by Pennsylvania movers and shakers.

 Exhibit will Feature Work of Local Printmakers

Wilson College will hold a reception from 5 to 7 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 23, to mark the opening of Juxtapositions, an exhibition of work by Penn’s Woods Printmakers. The exhibit, presented by Wilson’s Department of Fine Arts and Dance, will continue through Feb. 22 in the Bogigian Gallery, which is located on the second floor of Lortz Hall.   The exhibition will be a diverse show featuring different printmaking processes and techniques. Subject matter will include landscape, still life, figure and possibly abstraction.  Penn’s Woods Printmakers is a group of talented area artists who regularly use the printmaking studio at Wilson College and often exhibit their work together throughout the region. In addition to creating work at the college, many of them also work in their own studios.  Bogigian Gallery