august 2011 business magazine

SEPTEMBER 11, 2011 marks the 10th anniversary of the terrorist attacks on the United States – as well as the first American victory in the war on terrorism. The passengers and crew of Flight 93 took action, sacrificing their own lives to save others in defense of our country. We will never forget them.

The LET’S ROLL FLIGHT 93 MEMORIAL RIDE is an organized motorcycle event unlike any other to honor these 40 heroes and to raise funds for the Flight 93 National Memorial in Shanksville, Pennsylvania. Join hundreds of fellow riders from across Pennsylvania for this historical two-day event.

For more information, call Tracie Black at 800/815-2660 or visit our Web site at www.letsrollride.com.

LET’s Roll flight 93 memorial ride

40BIKESFLAGSHEROES

All proceeds benefit the Flight 93 National Memorial Campaign

HONORARY GRAND MARSHAL, The Honorable Thomas J. Ridge, co-chairman of the Flight 93 National Memorial Campaign, former Secretary of Homeland Security and governor of Pennsylvania

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, MEMORIAL CONCERT: American Country Music Star Darryl Worley

JOIN US FOR A RIDE INTO HISTORY!

www.letsrollride.com

BUSINESSM A G A Z I N E

VOLUME XXIV, NUMBER 8 AUGUST 2011Manufacturer & Business Association

World-Class Education

Within Your Reach / Page 8

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FEATURES > 3 / SpotlightBob Chitester, founder and CEO of Free To Choose Network, discusses American economist Milton Friedman’s 100th birthday in 2012 and the Free To Choose Network’s role in helping to advance his scholarly work.

21 / On the Hill U.S. Representative Mike Kelly (R-3rd District) urges a call to action for citizens to let their voice be heard about the big government, anti-growth agenda of the current administration.

24 / EventsSee extensive photo coverage of the Association’s 106th Annual Event and the fifth annual Roar on the Shore® bike rally in Erie!

22DEPARTMENTS > 4 / Business Buzz18 / HR Connection

22 / Legal Q&A29 / People Buzz

8EDITORIAL > 5 / Health MattersWhy smart employers should take advantage of the "patent cliff."CHRONIS MANOLIS

7 / Legal BriefHow to protect yourself from being liable to a third party because of an act of your agent. W. PATRICK DELANEY

28 / Blue Ocean StrategyAn update on the new programs and offerings at the MBA Blue Ocean Strategy Center – USA.ANGIE ANGUS

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August 2011

Blue Ocean Strategy Center

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SPECIAL SECTION >8 / First Annual Education GuideIt’s world-class education within your reach! View the Business Magazine's first annual Education Guide to find the institutions and programs that best suit your organization’s and employees’ needs.

August 2011 > www.mbausa.org > 1

Blue Ocean Strategy Center

SPOTLIGHT > by Karen Torres

VOL. XXIV, NO. 8 AUGUST 2011

© Copyright 2011 by the Manufacturer & Business Association. All rights reserved. Reproduction or use of editorial, pictorial or advertisements created for use in the Business Magazine, in any manner, without written permission from the publisher, is prohibited. Unsolicited manuscripts cannot be returned unless accompanied by a properly addressed envelope bearing sufficient postage. The maga-zine accepts no responsibility for unsolicited manuscripts or artwork. The Business Magazine and Manufacturer & Business Association do not specifically endorse any of the products or practices described in the magazine. The Business Magazine is published monthly by the Manufacturer & Business Association, 2171 West 38th Street, Erie, Pa. 16508. Phone: 814/833-3200 or 800/815-2660.

Mission StatementThe Manufacturer & Business Association is dedicated to providing information and services to its members that will assist them in the pursuit of their business and community interests. – Board of Governors

Manufacturer & Business Association2171 West 38th Street Erie, Pa. 16508 814/833-3200 or 800/815-2660 www.mbausa.org

Manufacturer Yvonne Atkinson-Mishrell& Business John ClineAssociation Board Dale Deistof Governors Bill Hilbert Jr. Timothy Hunter Dan Ignasiak Richard Knight J. Gordon Naughton John B. Pellegrino Sr., P.E. Dennis Prischak Robert S. Pursell Lorenzo Simonelli Phil Tredway

Editor in Chief Ralph Pontillo [email protected]

Executive Editor John Krahe [email protected]

Managing Editor & Karen Torres Senior Writer [email protected]

Contributing Angie Angus Writers Jessica Crocker W. Patrick Delaney Chronis Manolis

Photography Rob Frank R. Frank Photography 814/520-3985 [email protected]

Ron Stephens La Mirage Studio 814/835-1041 [email protected]

iStockphoto.com Jessica Crocker Veronica Pusa Karen Torres

Advertising Sales Patty Welther 814/833-3200 or 800/815-2660 [email protected]

Design, Production Printing Concepts Inc. & Printing [email protected]

ON THE COVER: Colleges and universities, as well as technical, trade and business schools around the region are expanding and enhancing their programs to meet the increasing demands of today’s work force and employers. For more information, see Page 8.

Please explain the purpose of the Free To Choose Network. Our Corporate Purpose is: To use accessible and entertaining media to build popular support for personal, economic and political freedom. To accomplish our Purpose, we focus on motivating middle and high school students to consider the value of liberty and the steps that must be taken to preserve that freedom, while instilling the passion and understanding needed for the future recovery of that freedom which has been lost to ever-growing government.

How do you motivate and educate students to support your mission? We use high quality, entertaining videos to tell stories that make students aware of the characteristics of those societies where individuals have the greatest freedom and prosperity. We challenge them to consider some aspect of the conflict between individual freedom and the politician’s desire to increase the size and scope of government. The goal is to create a “Wow, I never thought of it that way before!” moment that will become a lifelong reminder of the tug of war between freedom and government and the constant need to rein in the latter to preserve the former.

Next year marks the 100th birthday of Milton Friedman, widely considered one of the most influential economists of the 20th Century. Please explain why you consider him such an important figure in American business. Having spent thousands of hours over three decades with Milton and Rose, my view of their importance is heightened by interaction with them on both the personal and intellectual level. Intellectually their importance is undeniable. They brought up-to-date the 200 years of scholarship in economics reaching back to Adam Smith. They also adhered to the tradition of open inquiry, to the pursuit of data from which one could project likely human behavior in response to various stated conditions. Secretary of State George Shultz believes Milton Friedman was the most influential person in the last half of the 20th Century. He and others point to the work of Friedman as largely responsible for the widespread acceptance of free market capitalism, which lifted millions out of dire poverty.

Friedman was an influential leader in free-market economics and an advocate of limited government. Please explain how Friedman’s legacy plays into the Free To Choose Network’s mission and message? Milton’s research led him to conclude that economic, personal and political freedoms were interdependent; over time, you can’t sustain one without the others. He warned those who wanted to limit economic freedom through punitive taxation, over-regulation, government takeover of businesses, etc. that such actions would inevitably lead to the loss of personal and political freedom. We continue to use the mass media to bring that message to as many people as possible.

You had the good fortune of working with Friedman on the Free To Choose program more than 30 years ago. How would you describe the importance of this project even today? On Memorial Day weekend 1977, Milton came to Erie to record two shorts videos that would give him some idea of what it would be like to host a documentary TV series. At the time we were enduring the double-digit inflation of the Carter administration, Britain was an economic basket case and income taxes were double today’s rates. Milton was concerned about the future of the United States and the world. He explained why he agreed to do the TV series. “Bob was able to persuade me, because I feel so strongly that America is at a critical point in its history. For the past 50 years we have been moving away from the fundamental principles that have made this a great country.”

The TV series was first telecast in January 1980. Margaret Thatcher had just been elected and Reagan was elected that fall. Friedman had been an adviser to each of them. Over the next three decades the series was broadcast in countries around the world and is still in demand on DVDs. Prime ministers of countries as diverse as the Czech Republic, Estonia and Mongolia report that the book based on the TV series was their guide in establishing governments after the fall of the Soviet Union. Thousands of people told the Friedmans and me that the series changed their lives.

How do you plan to honor Friedman’s life and ideas in 2012? Free To Choose Network in association with WTTW, the PBS station in Chicago, is producing a revival of three of the original 10 programs in the Free To Choose series. In addition, we have taken on the role of urging individuals and groups around the world to undertake activities in celebration of the 100th anniversary of Milton’s birth and have established a website, www.miltonfriedmanscentury.org, where we will post information about all those activities.

Bob Chitester is the founder and CEO of Free To Choose Network, an Erie, Pennsylvania-based organization that uses accessible and entertaining media to build popular support for personal, economic and political freedom. Chitester recently met with the Business Magazine to discuss American economist Milton Friedman’s 100th birthday in 2012 and the Free To Choose Network’s role in helping to advance his scholarly work.


NORTHWEST SAVINGS BANK EARNS TOP CUSTOMER SATISFACTION RANKINGFor the second consecutive year, North-west Savings Bank has been ranked highest in customer satisfaction in the Mid-Atlantic Region, according to the J.D. Power and Associates 2011 Retail Banking Customer Satisfaction Study.

The study, conducted in January, analyzes overall customer satisfaction with their retail banking experience based on six factors: account activities, account information, facility, fees, problem resolution and product offering. Northwest received the highest satisfaction score in the Mid-Atlantic Region, which includes Pennsylvania, New York, New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia and Washington, D.C.

Headquartered in Warren, Pennsylvania, Northwest Savings Bank is a full-service community bank that operates 172 banking locations in Pennsylvania, New York, Ohio, Maryland, and Florida.

For more information, visit www.northwestsavingsbank.com.

REAL ESTATE FIRM ANNOUNCES MAJOR EXPANSIONMarsha Marsh Real Estate Services recently announced a major expansion with the purchase of a second office building in Millcreek Township. The new facility, located at 4202 West Ridge Road, oc-cupies 2,350 square feet and will serve as home base for additional agents. Follow-ing extensive renovations, the new office will include two conference rooms and individual offices.

"After three and a half years of unprecedented growth, the brokerage has run out of adequate space to support our growing roster of agents and the increasing volume of clients," explained Laban Marsh, agent, broker and owner. "A second location will provide more than double the professional office space and it will enable the entire Marsha Marsh Real Estate Services organization to better serve our valued clients through increased resources, greater technology and additional conference/meeting space.”

Marsha Marsh Real Estate Services on upper Peach Street is home to 30 full-time

and independent agents. Renovations for the new building are under way with a grand opening celebration slated for September or October 2011.

For more information, visit www.marshamarsh.com.

ERIEZ® FACILITY ACHIEVES 1,000 DAYS WITHOUT A LOST TIME ACCIDENTEriez, a world authority in advanced technology for magnetic, vibratory and inspection applications, recently marked 1,000 days that Eriez® headquarters employees worked without a lost time accident, and recognized the remarkable achievement with a celebration at the company’s headquarters.

“This milestone achievement distinctly demonstrates the personal accountability our employees take when it comes to safety,” said Tim Shuttleworth, Eriez® president and CEO.

The Erie plant’s previous record for days worked without a lost time accident was 259. Shuttleworth attributed the facility’s improved safety record to increased employee awareness, as well as recent modifications at the plant, including the revamping of its new employee safety orientation to emphasize safety, increased safety training for all employees, and the incorporation of safety into the company’s health and wellness program.

For more information, visit www.eriez.com.

Business BuzzWINNERS OF STUDENT VIDEO CONTEST ANNOUNCEDRecently, the top six teams in the Industry Needs You video contest were an-nounced at the Lawrence County Business and Industry Career Fair.

Overall, 15 teams of high school students from 10 school districts in Lawrence and Mercer counties participated in the contest, an outreach effort sponsored by the Advanced Materials and Diversified Manufacturing (AMDM) Industry Partners of West Central PA to encourage interest in manufacturing careers. The students’ four- to five-minute videos showcased more than a dozen area manufacturers. The first-place winners, selected by a period of public voting and judging by a panel of local business leaders, received a prize valued at $1000. Second- and third-place teams received prizes valued at $500 and $250, respectively.

To view the winning videos, visit www.industryneedsyou.com.

DEPARTMENTS > Contact: Jessica Crocker

From left: Lawrence County first-place winners from Neshannock High School: Tom Wiczen, media teacher; Mark McNulty, WIB chairman; and students Amber Beahr, Gianna Neve, Gabrielle Zoltani and Andrew Sanfilippo.

From left: Mercer County first-place winners from Commodore Perry High School: Bob Messina, contest adviser; Mark McNulty, WIB chairman; and students Connor Chess and Gregory Happ.

Eriez President and CEO Tim Shuttleworth announces the facility’s record for days worked without a lost time accident.

4 < www.mbausa.org < August 2011

The prospect of dropping off a cliff is not normally appealing, but there can be exceptions when the cliff in question is a “patent cliff.”

The patent cliff is upon us and for employers who want to save money, it represents an opportunity to embrace, not a danger to avoid.

Defining the ’Patent Cliff’ The patent cliff refers to the years 2011-14, during which pharmaceutical companies expect a drop off in revenue as a number of their most popular products lose patent protection. The drop is anticipated because of the number and quality of products that are losing patent exclusivity.

Pharmaceutical companies that develop new drugs get patent exclusivity for a specified number of years. During that period, there can be no generic equivalents to the brand-name drugs for the public to choose. Starting in 2011 and continuing through 2014, some of the most popular drugs will lose patent exclusivity, including such big sellers as Lipitor, Plavix, Viagra, Provigil, Nexium, Singulair, Seroquel and Lexapro.

Every year drugs lose patent exclusivity, but never have so many popular drugs reached expiration dates at approximately the same time. The result is almost certain to spur interest in generics over the next two to three years.

How Employers Can Respond Employers have the opportunity to leverage the introduction of the generic versions of these drugs to help them bring down their health-care

costs. Generic drugs are a win-win for both the employer and the employee. In addition to the cost savings, there is substantial evidence to suggest that cost is a hurdle to medication adherence and lower co-payments for generic drugs can remove these cost barriers.

In conjunction with innovative formulary management, co-pay designs that promote generic medications are the easiest way to leverage the patent cliff. For example, having a material difference in co- pay amounts between brand-name and generic drugs is a powerful incentive for employees. Additional examples include applying deductibles to only brand drugs as well as having co-insurance only for brand drugs while having flat dollar co-pays on generic medications.

Generic vs. Brand-Name Generic drugs have the exact same dosage, the same intended use, and the same effects and side effects as the original drug. Safety and strength are also equal. As a result, the pharmacological effects are exactly the same. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) requires generic drugs have the same effectiveness as the brand-name product.

What generics do not have is a reputation with consumers. Brand-name drugs have developed reputations through years of use and extensive advertising. Generics also are less expensive because they are not advertised and insurance companies can offer the drugs to its members for a much lower co-payment.

In recent years, consumer acceptance of generic drugs has increased substantially and the patent cliff is likely to continue that trend. Lower prices also will help to drive acceptance. With generic drugs costing about one-eighth of some brand-name products, the low prices should get people’s attention.

For generics, employees typically pay co-pays that range from $5 to $15 compared to $20 to $40 for the brand-name equivalent. Meanwhile, the average retail price that plan sponsors pay for a brand-name drug is now approximately $128 compared to the average retail generic price at $18 — another reason why such savings are material for both employers and employees alike.

For more information about the patent cliff and financial advantages of generic drugs, please visit www.upmchealthplan.com.

Why Smart Employers Should Take Advantage of the 'Patent Cliff'

Health MattersEDITORIAL > by Chronis Manolis, R.Ph.

Chronis Manolis, R.Ph. is vice president of Pharmacy for UPMC Health Plan, which is part of the UPMC Insurance Services Division. The UPMC Insurance Services Division offers a full range of insurance programs and products including UPMC WorkPartners, LifeSolutions, Askesis, Community Care, UPMC Dental Advantage, and E-Benefits.


It doesn’t happen often, but the potential for liability is reason to be careful. It is the liability you may incur when your “agent” intentionally harms a third party.

Let’s start with some definitions. An agent, in the legal sense, is someone who you authorize to act on your behalf. Your employees are considered your agents. But so are other individuals such as a broker or a sales representative. Although most people rarely think of it, by engaging these agents (be they employees or independent contractors) you are empowering or “authorizing” them to deal with third persons on your behalf.

It is impossible to do business without engaging agents of one sort or another. The key is to protect yourself from being liable to a third party because of an act of your agent. Typical scenarios, such as your truck driver causing property damage to another in a motor vehicle accident, are going to be covered by your company’s insurance policy. Our focus here is the scenario where your agent takes action that you would never have authorized or intended. When does such conduct cause you to be responsible?

Take the oddly named and extreme case of Grease Monkey International, Inc. v. Montoya, 904 P.2d 468 (Colo. 1995). A man by the name of Mr. Sensenig was a former banker who was hired as president of Grease Monkey International, Inc. (“Grease Monkey”). Obviously, as president, Sensenig appeared to the public to be authorized to act on behalf of the company. Unfortunately, the owners of Grease Monkey didn’t realize that

Sensenig was dishonest to the core. Sensenig’s scheme was to contact his former banking clients and solicit money from them, telling them that they were either loaning money to or investing in Grease Monkey. He was quite successful at this, raising some $500,000. As you might guess, Sensenig put the money in his own pocket or squandered it. When the victims of this fraud realized what had occurred, they and their lawyers went looking to retrieve the money. Not surprisingly, they turned their attention to Sensenig’s employer, Grease Monkey.

Initially, the victims argued that this situation was not unlike a scenario where the company’s truck driver is in a motor vehicle accident. Sensenig was an employee of Grease Monkey at the time he solicited these funds, so the employer should be liable for his actions under the principle of master/servant liability. However, the Court denied recovery under this argument because an employer’s liability for conduct of an employee is limited to acts being carried out for the benefit of the employer. Certainly that was not the case here. Sensenig was using his position as an officer of Grease Monkey, but his purpose was to benefit himself.

Unfortunately, that was not the end of the story. The victims discovered in their investigation that the owners of Grease Monkey had given Sensenig significant authority to borrow without the need for approval by the Board of Directors and had exercised little control. A reading of the Court’s opinion leaves one with the impression that this lack of oversight was an important factor in the outcome of the case. The Court found that Grease Monkey had cloaked Sensenig with “apparent authority” to

solicit money from others on behalf of the company and that the victims had reasonably relied on this “apparent authority.” So, even though Grease Monkey had not given Sensenig actual permission to take money from these victims, it was enough that the company had placed Sensenig in a position to perpetrate the fraud. Grease Monkey had to repay the money.

What lessons are to be learned? Clearly, the broad scope of authority given to Sensenig and the lack of subsequent oversight was a terrible mistake. It is possible that a carefully crafted job description, a requirement for Board approval of borrowing, and written evidence of Board inquiry and oversight may have changed the outcome.

For more information on how to protect your organization from potential liability claims, contact Patrick Delaney at MacDonald, Illig, Jones and Britton LLP at 814/870-7658 or [email protected].

Legal BriefMonkey Business: The Risk of Apparent Authority

EDITORIAL > by W. Patrick Delaney

W. Patrick Delaney is a partner in the law firm of MacDonald, Illig, Jones and Britton LLP, where he is chairman of the firm’s Commercial Litigation Group. He is a 1976 graduate of Capital University Law School. His practice focuses on issues of business litigation in the state and federal courts throughout western Pennsylvania.


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Choosing the right college or institution of higher learning has always been an important decision, with the number of options constantly growing and the price of education following suit. The decision becomes even more pro-nounced in a competitive job market like ours. That is why colleges and universities, as well as technical, trade and business schools around the region are expanding and enhancing their programs to meet the increasing demands of today’s work force and employers.As innovation impacts all fields, continuing education is an excellent way to offer employees a chance to learn new technologies. This mix of skills applies to nearly every sector of the economy as firms create new business models and redesign work practices to compete effectively.“Greater education opens the door to more opportunities in the job market … with a higher level of responsibility,” explains Thomas Harley of research group GfK Customer Loyalty and Employee Engagement. “Engaged employees are a company’s most valuable asset.”A majority of business leaders agree, acknowledging that continuous education and training of employees is key to growing and thriving in today’s competitive business world. According to the University Continuing Education Association, a national association of higher learning institutions, employers continue to increase their investment in employee education, a clear recognition that they need a highly skilled work force to remain competitive. And statistics prove it.A recent survey reported by The Conference Board shows that of 500 CEOs, 98 percent noted at least one business benefit from workplace training and education. One-third reported a reduction in absenteeism and another

40 percent said that such programs led to increased employee retention.In fact, a study conducted by staffing firm Spherion Atlantic Enterprises LLC showed that six out of 10 respondents who received such training or mentoring said they were very likely to remain with their current employer for the next five years. Additional research by the National Bureau of Economic Research indicated that employees who participate in tuition assistance programs were less likely to leave their jobs than those who did not participate. But what is right for you and your organization?For many professionals, the time and expense of earning a master’s or other advanced degree can pay dividends over the course of a career; for others, less costly and shorter certificate programs that enhance skills also can lead to advancement.The path that workers choose depends on their field and ambitions. Career specialists say that, for example, master’s degrees are particularly helpful in professions such as business, health care and education, particularly for those with management ambitions. But professional business education and certification programs also can empower employees and position them to assume that next level of responsibility or help them in their career.So, whether you are considering encouraging your employees to pursue a certificate program or other advanced degree, there are a variety of traditional and online educational programs available. The Business Magazine encourages you to view our first annual Education Guide on the following pages to help find the institutions and programs that best suit your organization’s and employees’ needs.

World-Class Education Within Your Reach


Education

The Career Schools

Great Lakes Institute of TechnologyPhone:814/864-6666

TONI&GUY Hairdressing AcademyPhone:814/452-1900

Erie Institute of TechnologyPhone:814/868-9900

Website:www.thecareerschools.com

TONI&GUY has been providing cosmetology career training in the Erie area for many years, teaching students the latest hair cutting and coloring techniques as well as the business skills needed to be successful in the cosmetology industry.

An accredited health care and medical training school, Great Lakes Institute of Technology is dedicated to creating a student-centered environment by empower-ing individuals with the knowledge, practical skills and experience necessary to reach their career goals.

The Erie Institute of Technology is recognized regionally for its accredited training programs for those interested in pursuing computer, electronics, manufacturing and technology careers.

The Career Schools of Erie, Pennsylvania, although in three di!erent locations, are all under common ownership. Rick Gri"th, of Rick Gri"th Properties, became a controlling owner of J.H. Thompson Academies in 1996 and the name was changed to Great Lakes Institute of Technology in 1998. TONI&GUY Hairdressing Academy, a franchise of a global network of salons and academies, was brought to Erie and made a part of Great Lakes in 1995. Erie Institute of Technology (EIT) was founded in 1958 (originally named A.E.T.S. Technical School) and was acquired by Mr. Gri"th in fall 2001.

The Career Schools o!er the focused and hands-on training employers look for when hiring. Students are trained by professionals in their program of study and most complete extern-ships that give students real-world experience before entering the work force. Our curriculum is constantly evolving to keep up with the skill sets required by employers. In addition, instructors regularly meet with industry professionals to up-date the curriculum to ensure graduates are learn-ing the skills needed to be e!ective employees.

Great Lakes Institute of Technology Located at 5100 Peach Street, Great Lakes Institute of Technology is a medical training school that o!ers programs in the allied health #elds. The school is dedicated to creating a student-centered environment by empowering individuals with the knowledge, practical skills, and experience neces-sary to reach career and life goals. O!ering train-ing in simulated surgical, ultrasound, and medical labs, as well as externship training, students get real-world experience before graduation.

Programs• Dental Assistant• Diagnostic Medical Sonographer• Health Information Technology• Massage Therapist• Medical Assistant• Medical Billing and Coding• Medical O"ce Assistant

• Patient Care Technician• Pharmacy Technician• Surgical Technologist• Veterinary Assistant

Erie Institute of Technology Located at the Millcreek Mall complex, Erie Insti-tute of Technology is an accredited technical train-ing school o!ering diploma and associate degree programs. EIT has an impressive 12,000-square-foot manufacturing lab featuring 12 manual machines, seven CNC machines, and 15 welding booths. EIT also o!ers Continuing Education Classes and Industry Speci#c Training to area employers, allowing them to customize training for their employees and keep them up-to-date in their industry. Through this program, EIT has trained 3,400 students for employers since 2006.

Programs• Biomedical Equipment Technology• Business O"ce Professional• CNC / Machinist Technician• Electrician• Electronics Engineering Technology• Electronics Technician• Industrial Automation & Robotics

Technology• Maintenance Technician• Multimedia Graphic Design• Network & Database Professional• RHVAC Technology• Welding Technology

TONI&GUY Hairdressing Academy An international name in hairdressing, TONI&GUY Hairdressing Academy, located at 930 Peach Street is one of 16 academies in the United States. The mission of TONI&GUY Hairdressing Academy is to educate and produce highly quali#ed and employable graduates, thereby cultivating the profession of hairdressing as a whole.

Programs• Cosmetology Operator• Cosmetology Teacher• Manicurist


Some things are worth investing in...

atWe believe education is one of them

PREPARE YOURSELF

Education

Gannon University109 University SquareErie, PA 16541

Switchboard: 814/871-7000

Admissions: 814/871-7240

Toll Free: 1-800-GANNON-U(1-800-426-6668)

Website:www.gannon.edu

Gannon University is a caring community of dynamic faculty and sta! who educate moti-vated students in an environment focused on Catholic values.

Gannon is experiencing exciting changes on all several fronts. Most recently, Keith Taylor, Ph.D., was named Gannon’s seventh president after serving as the University’s provost and vice president for academic a!airs for six years. Gannon also is opening a new #ve-story residence hall this year. The building holds 293 beds and the latest living-learning technology and amenities, including a convenience store, #tness area, community kitchens and eleva-tors that generate electricity when in use.

For the past seven years, U.S. News & World Report’s “America’s Best Colleges” has ranked Gannon as a top tier university in the northern section of the United States, a re$ection of Gan-non’s outstanding students, dynamic faculty, exceptional sta! and successful alumni. And, for the #fth time, Gannon has been ranked in the Great Schools, Great Prices category.

Enrollment at Gannon is 4,219 students and personal attention for each student is provided with a student-to-faculty ratio of 14:1. Additionally, the Student Success Center is o!ering increased peer tutoring and supple-mental instruction for academically strugg-ling students.

Gannon o!ers nearly 100 academic pro-grams in the health professions, engineer-ing, business, education, social sciences and the humanities. Gannon’s Online Degree (GOLD) Distance Education program, which features MPA, RN to BSN and engineering management programs, is giving students the opportunity to learn online, around the clock, from any location. On campus, students can

pursue new curricula in leadership studies, nanotechnology, education and business/leadership tracks in the health sciences and additional tracks in the Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine (LECOM) accelerated pharmacy program.

Gannon’s health professions include physical therapy, o!ered to the doctoral level, and occupational therapy and physician assistant o!ered to the master’s level. Other signature health professions include sport and exercise science, nursing, radiologic sciences and respiratory care. Students enrolled in the health professions receive hands-on learning experience in a state-of-the-art Patient Simu-lation Center, which allows students studying di!erent disciplines to work collaboratively in a hospital-like setting.

From international business and foreign language courses, to study abroad and service trip opportunities, Gannon students are exposed to numerous global possibilities. Gannon’s Small Business Development Center (SBDC) assists about 700 local business own-ers each year. Additionally, the Erie Technology Incubator (ETI) at Gannon is helping to build local businesses and o!ers unique, on-campus internship opportunities for students.

Almost a third of Gannon students are enrolled in one of the University’s 20 graduate programs, which include a Ph.D. in Organi-zational Learning and Leadership, the #rst program of its kind in the region. Whether you are a recent high school graduate or an adult looking to further your education, Gannon of-fers degrees that will advance your career and help you become a leader in your profession, church and community.

Believe in the possibilities… at Gannon.

Keith Taylor, Ph.D. recently was named the seventh president of Gannon University.

Gannon University is centrally located in downtown Erie, Pennsylvania. The University was founded as Cathedral College in 1925.

Old Main, built in 1893 by Charles Hamot Strong, houses the President's o!ce, as well as the Provost's o!ce, Finance and Administration, University Advancement, Alumni Services and the Communications o!ces.


Education

Mercyhurst College501 E. 38th Street Erie, PA 16546

North East Campus – North East, PA (associate degrees and certi#cates) 814/725-6100

West Campus – Girard, PA (associate degrees) 814/774-0704

Corry Campus (associate degrees) 814/725-6144

Booker T. Washington Center 814/453-5744 Ext. 264

Adult & Graduate Programs 814/824-2270

Founded:1926

President:Thomas J. Gamble, Ph.D.

A!liation:Roman Catholic

Programs:Bachelor’s Degrees: 50 Pre-Professional Degrees: 13 1-Year Certi#cates: 7 Associate Degrees: 24 Master’s Degrees: 7

Faculty: 185

Total Enrollment:4,388

Website:mercyhurst.edu

About Mercyhurst Mercyhurst College is a fully accredited, Catholic comprehensive institution founded in Erie, Pennsylvania, by the Sisters of Mercy in 1926. Mercyhurst encompasses three campuses — Erie, North East and West (Girard) — and o!ers courses in downtown Erie, Corry (Pennsylvania) and in Northern Virginia.

The Erie campus, located on a picturesque hillside crowning the city, o!ers more than 100 #elds of undergraduate study, unique adult programs and seven graduate programs. At Mercyhurst North East, there are 24 as-sociate degrees, seven certi#cate programs, a bachelor’s degree program in nursing and the Public Safety Institute that provides career-track educational opportunities for students and continuing education for professionals in the #eld. The Mercyhurst West and Corry campuses o!er associate degree courses in business administration while courses at the Booker T. Washington Center prepare students to transfer to a two- or four-year campus.

A Mercyhurst education combines a rich sense of tradition with a progressive approach to the complexities of modern life. It supports a wide range of programs — from dance and art to geology and computer management systems — and prides itself on its service to students. Today, Mercyhurst enrolls more than 4,000 students and is consistently ranked in the top tier of “Regional Universities-North,” in the U.S. News & World Report annual guide to “America’s Best Colleges.”

Whether it is a bachelor’s in business or a master’s in leadership, our more than 150 programs of study at six locations and online have what you need to get ahead.

Associate Degrees & Certi"cates At the sprawling North East campus, students have the option of pursuing associate degrees and one-year certi#cates in fast growing indus-tries like health care, IT and hospitality man-agement while students at the West and Corry campuses work toward an associate degree in business administration. Upon completion, you’ll be ready to directly enter the work force or continue your education at the Mercyhurst Erie campus or another institution.

Bachelor’s Degrees With nearly 50 bachelor degrees and more than 100 areas of study, we can customize an academic program to meet your needs and future career goals. Programs like competitive intelligence, integrated marketing, busi-ness, international business, graphic design and communication are among those most relevant to today’s business sector.

Master’s Degrees Mercyhurst Erie o!ers seven highly regarded master of science degrees in areas of study that include organizational leadership, anthropology and our world-famous applied intelligence program. With many students be-ing working professionals, Mercyhurst o!ers $exible class times to accommodate a variety of schedules.

Continuing Education for Adults If you’re looking to pursue advanced training or to change your career path, you can take one non-credit course at a discounted rate. Or, if you already have a degree, you can pursue an undergraduate certi#cate, a four class graduate certi#cate or even a second degree (just take the courses you need, not the gen-eral requirements). Most #nd they can #nish these programs in one to two years. Plus, adult students can take advantage of $exible course schedules by choosing among a combination of day, evening, weekend or online classes.

Thomas J. Gamble, Ph.D. is the 11th president of Mercyhurst College.

Mercyhurst College’s Erie campus o"ers 50 undergraduate majors with 67 concentrations, as well as unique adult programs and seven graduate programs.

Mercyhurst College provides students with access to liberal arts, professional and career-path programs. To date, the College has more than 17,900 alumni representing all 50 states and 40 countries.


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Education

Penn State Behrend4701 College DriveErie, PA 16563

Founded: 1948

Chancellor: Donald L. Birx, Ph.D.

Programs:More than 40 bachelor’s, master’s and associate degrees as well as a range of minors and certi#cates

Faculty & Sta#: 660

Total Enrollment: 4,700

Website: behrend.psu.edu

Chancellor Don Birx brings more than 35 years of experience in both industryand higher education to his leadershipof the college.

Among the resources available to Penn State Behrend students are Penn State’s most advanced chemistry labs.

Penn State Behrend is part of the university ranked #rst among U.S. colleges and universities for producing graduates prepared to succeed.

Who We Are At Penn State Behrend, students bene#t from the resources of a major research university and the support of a welcoming student-centered college environment. The college is a growing part of one of the country’s most re-spected public universities — recently ranked #rst in a Wall Street Journal survey of business recruiters for preparing graduates to succeed.

Penn State Behrend was established in 1948 with a gift by Mary Behrend of her family’s 400-acre country estate and, in 1973, became the #rst campus beyond University Park to confer four-year degrees. Today, more than 70 percent of Behrend students start and #nish their Penn State degrees at the college.

Penn State Behrend is among the top public institutions in Pennsylvania on a number of academic measures, including SAT scores, student-to-faculty ratio, #rst-year reten-tion rate, and graduation rate. The School of Engineering is ranked among the top 50 undergraduate engineering schools in the country by U.S. News & World Report, while the Sam and Irene Black School of Business, o!ering a range of undergraduate degrees as well as popular MBA and Master’s of Project Management degrees, is regularly named one of the country’s best business schools by both U.S. News and The Princeton Review.

Equipping Students for Success The college’s mission is to give students the skills to thrive in the 21st century — through leading programs of study in business, engi-neering, the humanities, and the social and natural sciences; through innovative interdis-ciplinary o!erings that build complementary skills; through leadership and professional development opportunities beyond the classroom; and through partnerships with business, industry and the community that provide valuable learning experiences.

Interdisciplinary o!erings like business and engineering studies, actuarial math and sci-ence, and electronic game design are an area of emphasis for Penn State Behrend; these give students a unique set of skills valued by employers in emerging industries. Creating an open-laboratory learning environment is an-other area of focus in which business leaders, faculty members and students come together to innovate as teams.

With a student-to-faculty ratio of 17:1 and an average class size of 26, Penn State Behrend gives students the opportunity to get to know their professors and, often, work side-by-side with them on substantive research — experiences not typically o!ered by universities at the undergraduate level. On average, nine out of 10 graduating seniors describe their interactions with faculty mem-bers as exceptional, and 95 percent would recommend the college to family and friends exploring higher education.

Partnering in Our Region Re$ecting the university’s land-grant mission, Penn State Behrend operates more than three dozen outreach centers, programs and initia-tives for business and industry, area school students and the community. This includes Knowledge Park on the eastern edge of cam-pus, developed jointly with the Greater Erie Industrial Development Corporation.

Initiatives like Knowledge Park, approaches like open-laboratory learning, and research e!orts aligned with the region’s resources and needs demonstrate the college’s longtime and growing recognition of the importance of de-veloping partnerships that bridge academic, industry and government boundaries. They likewise represent Penn State Behrend’s vision of being a destination for innovative educa-tion and research as well as a transformative partner in the region.


Education

Pennsylvania College of Technology One College Avenue Williamsport, PA 17701

Phone: 570/326.3761 Toll-Free: 800-367-9222

Website: www.pct.edu

President: Davie Jane Gilmour, Ph.D.

Founded:Pennsylvania College of Technology became an a"liate of The Pennsylvania State University in 1989, after establishing a national reputation for education supporting workforce development, #rst as a technical institute (1941) and later as a community college (1965). Penn College is a special mission a"liate of Penn State, committed to applied technology education.

Programs:Bachelor of Science Degrees Selected B.S. degree completion programs

available through distance learningAssociate of Applied Science DegreesAssociate of Applied Arts DegreesAssociate of Arts DegreesCerti#catesCompetency CredentialsWorkforce Development & Continuing

Education, including:• WEDnetPA (state’s largest worker train-

ing program)• Plastics Manufacturing Center• Weatherization Training Center• Marcellus Shale Education & Training

Center

Enrollment:• 6,290 (total students enrolled in credit/

degree programs in Fall 2010)

• 6,748 (total participants in noncredit courses in 2009-10)

• 45,356 employees from 983 companies received training in 2009-10 through the state’s Guaranteed Free Training program (WEDnetPA), managed by Penn College

Faculty-to-Student Ratio: 1:18.4

Average Class Size: 18

Financial Aid: Four out of #ve students receive #nancial aid

Penn College President Dr. Davie Jane Gilmour outside the Madigan Library.

Penn College students enjoy access to hands-on instruction and the latest equipment.

Mission & Values Penn College is a public institution providing comprehensive, hands-on technical education at the baccalaureate and associate degree levels. Ev-ery member of the College community endeavors to create and sustain excellence in a student-centered environment that promotes personal growth, social awareness, a shared commitment to diversity, and lifelong learning, all of which help prepare graduates for success. Core values that guide Penn College include a commitment to: • Hands-on education • Student-centered environment • Business and industry partnerships • Community of respect

Programs and O#erings The College is accredited by the Commission on Higher Education of the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools, an agency recognized by the U.S. Secretary of Education and the Commission on Recognition and Postsecondary Accreditation.

Penn College achieved “Top 10” status in the America’s Best Colleges rankings published in 2011 by the U.S. News & World Report. Penn Col-lege ranked ninth among the “Top Public Schools: Regional Colleges (North).”

The modern Penn College campus o!ers students hands-on instruction and access to the latest equipment, leading to excellent graduate placement and “degrees that work” in more than 100 di!erent career #elds. Degree programs are administered through these academic schools: • Business & Computer Technologies • Construction & Design Technologies • Health Sciences • Hospitality • Industrial & Engineering Technologies • Integrated Studies • Natural Resources Management • Transportation Technology

Both two- and four-year programs provide a strong foundation in applied technology and comprehensive education that supports students’ career advancement potential.

Students enjoy access to a full college experience — including campus housing, athletics, clubs and organizations, community service and study abroad opportunities.

Workforce Development & Continuing Education at Penn College o!ers an extensive portfolio of noncredit classes and customized training for business, and manages the state’s largest worker-training program (WEDnetPA), the internationally recognized Plastics Manufacturing Center, the nationally acclaimed Weatherization Training Center, and, in partnership with Penn State Coop-erative Extension, the Marcellus Shale Education & Training Center.

Graduates of Penn College work in more than 100 di"erent career #elds.

Marcellus Shale Education & Training Center is a collaboration of Pennsylvania College of Technology and Penn State Cooperative Extension to provide a wide variety of resources to the community and the oil-and-gas industry.


Leadership Erie, dedicated to the development of community leadership since 1990, is now accepting

applications for the class of 2011.Please call 814.871.7231 for an app ication or brochure

Catholic Schools of the Diocese of Erie

For more information visit: h!p://www.eriercd.org/schools3.asp

Quality, Faith-Filled EducationPre -School through 12th Grade

Help us continue the mission!Support the TuitionAssistance Workof the STAR Foundationthrough the EITC Program.

HR ConnectionSURVEY: TRAINING, DEVELOPMENT TOP STAFFING CONCERN FOR HRNearly half (45 percent) of HR managers say their greatest staffing concern is employee training and development, according to a recent survey developed by staffing giant Office Team. Retaining top performers came in second, at 27 percent.

Five hundred HR managers at companies with 20 or more employees were asked, “Which of the following is your greatest staffing concern as a human-resources professional?” Their responses:

• Training and developing employees (45 percent)

• Retaining top-performing employees (27 percent)

• Recruiting new employees (23 percent)

• None/doesn't apply (5 percent)

“As workers take on expanded responsibilities, it becomes more important for companies to offer professional development to help their teams keep up,” said Robert Hosking of Office Team. “Training programs boost job satisfaction for employees by enabling them to build new skills and take on more challenging roles."

Also, "Job security is on everyone's minds, and having up-to-date skills is the key to staying relevant and marketable," he added. "By providing training opportunities, companies demonstrate they're committed to their employees' long-term career growth, and this can help with their retention efforts."

MAJORITY OF COLLEGE FACULTY USE SOCIAL MEDIA IN THE WORKPLACECollege faculty are twice as likely as other workers to be using social media as part of their job, and more than 80 percent of faculty are using some form of social media in their teaching, according to a new survey from the Babson Survey Research Group and Pearson.

The survey of nearly 2,000 faculty found that more than 90 percent of college faculty use social media in the workplace, compared to 47 percent of employees in other industries. In the classroom, 80 percent of respondents report using social media for some aspect of their course. Of those, nearly two-thirds use social media within their class session, and 30 percent post content for students to view outside of class.


Hire educationGraduating top prospects for Erie businesses for more than 125 years.

Looking for a speci!c employee or training for existing employees? Contact Brett Wiler at 814.456.7504 ext. 117 or at [email protected].

www.eriebc.eduVisit our website for important information including

graduation rates and median student loan debt.

erie business centercenter for business careerscenter for computer careerscenter for healthcare careerscenter for hospitality careerscenter for legal careers

DEPARTMENTS > Contact: Stacey Bruce

Sam was one of those quality people that enroll in our classes all the time. I will never forget him. In fact, he is one of the reasons I love what I do. Sam didn’t want to come to class. He had been a supervisor for 28 years and was convinced that he knew all he needed to know. He resented being sent for additional training and had no problem telling me as soon as he walked in the room. With arms folded in front of him, he stared straight ahead and refused to participate in the discussions for the entire first half of the day. Then, something happened. As his classmates continued to talk, I noticed that he began to listen and

would occasionally write down a few notes. By the end of the day, he had filled four pages. At the end of the class, I was gathering up my materials and noticed Sam was still in his seat, staring at his notes. When the room cleared, Sam approached me. He put out his hand and thanked me for the class, tears welling in his eyes. Looking away, he said, “I thought I knew everything and, as it turns out, I knew nothing. When I think of the people who I mismanaged over the years, it makes me very sad. I should have been here 30 years ago.”Sam and I both learned a lesson that day. It’s never too late to learn and you can never start too soon.

For more information about the advantages of the Association’s professional development courses, please contact me at 814/833-3200, 800/815-2660 or [email protected]. I also encourage you to visit the Association’s website, www.mbausa.org, to learn more about our upcoming offerings.

Remember: It’s Never Too Late to Learn

Dan Monaghan is the director of Training at the Manufacturer & Business Association.


As a business owner, you know the value of turning over every stone. You know the value of being proactive versus reactive.

At Schaffner, Knight, Minnaugh & Company, P.C., that’s what we do to help you. We do our homework on your business. We give you the answers to questions you may not think to ask. We roll up our sleeves, and dig in deep to find the nitty gritty details under every stone. That’s world-class service at an extreme value.

When you are ready to find out what’s under the unturned stones in your business, give us a call.

Schaffner, Knight, Minnaugh & Company, P.C. ... World Class service for World Class clients.

Certified Public Accountants

The McGladrey Alliance is a premier a!liation of independent accounting and consulting "rms. The McGladrey Alliance member "rms maintain their name, autonomy and independence and are responsible for their own client fee arrangements, delivery of services and maintenance of client relationships. The McGladrey Alliance is a business of RSM McGladrey, Inc., a leading professional services "rm providing tax and consulting services. McGladrey is the brand under which RSM McGladrey, Inc. and McGladrey & Pullen, LLP serve clients’ business needs. McGladrey, the McGladrey logo and the McGladrey Alliance signatures are used under license by RSM McGladrey, Inc. and McGladrey & Pullen, LLP.

LEAVE NO STONE UNTURNED.

As a business owner, you know the value of turning over every stone. You know the value of being proactive versus reactive.

At Schaffner, Knight, Minnaugh & Company, P.C., that’s what we do to help you. We do our homework on your business. We give you the answers to questions you may not think to ask. We roll up our sleeves, and dig in deep to find the nitty gritty details under every stone. That’s world-class service at an extreme value.

When you are ready to find out what’s under the unturned stones in your business, give us a call.

Schaffner, Knight, Minnaugh & Company, P.C. ... World Class service for World Class clients.

Certified Public Accountants

The McGladrey Alliance is a premier a!liation of independent accounting and consulting "rms. The McGladrey Alliance member "rms maintain their name, autonomy and independence and are responsible for their own client fee arrangements, delivery of services and maintenance of client relationships. The McGladrey Alliance is a business of RSM McGladrey, Inc., a leading professional services "rm providing tax and consulting services. McGladrey is the brand under which RSM McGladrey, Inc. and McGladrey & Pullen, LLP serve clients’ business needs. McGladrey, the McGladrey logo and the McGladrey Alliance signatures are used under license by RSM McGladrey, Inc. and McGladrey & Pullen, LLP.

LEAVE NO STONE UNTURNED.

OntheHill DEPARTMENTS > Contact: Lori Joint

U.S. Representative Mike Kelly (R-PA) represents the interests of the 3rd District, especially as they relate to his work on the Oversight and Government Reform Committee, the House Com-mittee on Foreign Affairs, and the Education and Workforce Committee. To contact him, call his Washington office at 202/225-5406 or visit https://kelly.house.gov/contact-me.

We’ve well exceeded $14 trillion in debt. Every child born today, including my fifth grandchild born in May, owes $45,000 to the U.S. government. Unemployment hovers over 9 percent. Underemployment is far worse. Our health-care financial models are broken and have been made a lot worse by the so-called “Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.” Middle-class income families are disappearing. Both urban and rural poverty rates are staggering. Our business model for most of public education is completely broken. Uncertainty dominates the decision-making of American business owners. We are frighteningly close to our breaking point.

But we all know this, don’t we? As men and women in business, we do. But what we, as a collective group, have failed to do is effectively communicate the direness of our situation to our individual circles of influence: our friends, employees, colleagues and families. The truth is that I, as your representative in Congress, am not the best one to communicate this message. You are. You have far more persuasion over your sphere of influence than I, or any elected official for that matter, could or should have.

We have one of the only political systems in the world where the government is capable of providing the semi-dramatic change that we need to make through peaceful and democratic means. We just have to have the political will to get that done and that will not happen until we, as business and community leaders, more effectively communicate the following message: This administration has made things worse and if it does not change, along with getting a common-sense majority of legislators in both the House and Senate in 2012, our economy and way of life will be irreparably harmed.

Certain editorial boards and talking heads on radio and television will decry this statement as “hyper-partisan.” Yet the reality is this position has nothing to do with Republican or Democrat, conservative or liberal. Spend a

day talking with employers in western Pennsylvania and you’ll soon discover that there truly is an agenda coming out of this administration that is beyond dangerous and has completely stalled any hope of economic growth.

Consider these two examples: First, Boeing has overflow work from the Pacific Northwest. They have decided to build a plant in South Carolina that will employ thousands of people. Meanwhile, the National Labor Relations Board, an independent federal agency comprised of unelected officials, is preventing that move in order to advance an agenda that undermines Boeing’s right to make business decisions that are in its best interest. Think about that. A regulatory agency telling a law-abiding company that employs thousands of people that they cannot grow and create jobs at their own will.

Second, this administration and several big government-minded legislators are trying to destroy community banks. They can’t do it through legislation so they are trying to do it through regulation –– namely, the so-called “Consumer Protection Financial Bureau,” which makes a living harassing community banks that are good corporate citizens –– some right here in western Pennsylvania (See May 25 Wall Street Journal article, “Holding Mrs. Warren Accountable”).

With very few exceptions, no matter whom the Republican Party nominates for president in 2012, they will be dramatically better than the big government, anti-growth agenda of this current administration. Nobody will be perfect but if we, as leaders in our workplaces, homes and communities, cannot unite behind a candidate that will actually allow us to move anything resembling a pro-growth agenda forward, and effectively communicate that to our spheres of influence, I fear it will be too late. Please stand up, be vocal, and as leaders in the community, communicate this as best as you possibly can. Our kids’ and our grandkids’ future depends on it.

A Call to Action


WHAT SHOULD BE INCLUDED IN OUR COMPANY POLICY REGARDING EDUCATIONAL ASSISTANCE?A policy addressing your educational assistance program is necessary so employees know what to expect and are able to take advantage of your program. Your plan or policy should clearly address the following details:• What type of continuing

education qualifies for reimbursement;

• Which expenses the program covers;

• The percentage of qualifying costs that will be reimbursed;

• The maximum amount of money that can be paid to an

individual employee; and• When the reimbursement will

be given.

IS EDUCATIONAL ASSISTANCE TAXABLE INCOME?Whether employees must be taxed on money received as part of an educational assistance program depends on how you set up your plan. In order for money received to qualify as nontaxable income to the employee, the program must:• Be spelled out in a written plan;• Be limited to $5,250 in

reimbursements per calendar year; and

• Not discriminate in favor of highly compensated employees.

MUST WE TRACK EDUCATIONAL ASSISTANCE?It's essential to keep records of tuition assistance representing how much was awarded and to whom. This is not only necessary to prove that you are not discriminating in favor of highly compensated employees, but also to prove that you are not discriminating in any other ways (providing men with more educational opportunities than women or refusing opportunities to individuals who are racial minorities). If you are required to maintain an Affirmative Action Plan, you'll need to track training opportunities provided to your employees and include that information in your plan.

Legal Q&A


It's August, which means that the start of the new school year is just around the bend. But children aren't the only ones who benefit from education. In many cases, employees can, too. Countless employers recognize the benefit of continuing education for their employees and provide educational assistance programs to encourage employees to enhance their abilities at work. In fact, U.S. employers spend billions of dollars each year on educational assistance programs and, in most cases, this investment does not go to waste. A majority of employers already offer educational assistance programs; however, many experience relatively low participation. With some work, an educational assistance program can evolve to help these businesses effectively develop and maintain highly skilled employees.

First, to avoid paying for tuition unnecessarily, let your employees know that you are paying attention to submitted costs. They should be required to itemize and provide receipts for any expenses you reimburse. Employees may be discouraged from taking courses that are hardly work related if they must explain the relation of courses to their professional lives.Next, if you find that your educational assistance program is not benefiting your company as much as it is an employee’s oil-painting interests, you may find that you need to set more strict guidelines regarding reimbursable courses of study. Your company may even want to determine the specific courses or programs that are eligible for educational assistance.However, even if courses seem to have little or no application to your company's business function, don't

overlook the value of courses that teach critical thinking or creative skills. While you have every right to restrict employees to a more career-centered path, you may want to consider the long-term benefits of a broad educational scope. For more information about educational assistance programs, please contact the Association's HR & Legal Services Division at 814/833-3200 or 800/815-2660.

DEPARTMENTS > Contact: Tammy Lamary

Professional Development: School is Back in Session

1109 East 38th Street • 1005 Greengarden Road

2436 Buffalo Road • 518 State Street • 5500 Zuck Road1220 West 32nd Street • 1825 Downs Drive

(Located in Walmart Supercenter - Peach & I-90)

Contact us today! 814-825-2436Your savings federally insured to at least $250,000

and backed by the full faith and credit of the United States Government

National Credit Union Administration, a U.S. Government Agency

NCUA

As a lifetime member of Erie Federal Credit Union, Rusty Ward naturally

turned to his credit union when he was ready to start his business in 2005.

“Working with the credit union was an effortless process, the personal service I received made all the difference,” said

Rusty Ward of Natural Motion Hair Salon. Together, we can help you realize your dreams. If you’re thinking

of starting or expanding your business, give us a call or visit us at www.eriefcu.org.

Tammy Lamary is Labor & Employment Counsel for the Manufacturer & Business Association’s Legal Services Division.


Events The Manufacturer & Business Association recently held its 106th Annual Event on June 28 at the Bayfront Convention Center in Erie. For extensive photo coverage, visit the Association’s Photo Gallery on www.mbausa.org.

More than 1,300 guests attended this year’s Annual Event at the Bayfront Convention Center in Erie.

The highlight of the night was a question-and-answer session with keynote speaker Jack Welch (right) moderated by FOX Business News anchor Stuart Varney (left).

The Association thanked representatives from sponsors Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield, Howard Industries, PNC Bank, UPMC Health Plan, HealthAmerica, Logistics Plus, GE Transportation and Ridg-U-Rak, Inc.

The Most Reverend Bishop of Erie Donald Trautman led the invocation.

The Association introduced the Board of Governors who unanimously elected John B. Pellegrino Sr., P.E., president and CEO of Ridg-U-Rak, Inc. (center), as the 2011-2012 chairman.

Cynthia Kucenski (right) with Jack Welch, represented major sponsor Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield. Lorenzo Simonelli (right) of major sponsor

GE Transportation greets Association Board member Yvonne Atkinson-Mishrell and guest.

Tim Nolan (left) of sponsor HealthAmerica welcomes moderator Stuart Varney. 24 < www.mbausa.org < August 2011 24 < www.mbausa.org < August 2011

Sue and Gary Schneider of sponsor Howard Industries with Jack Welch.

The Belles treated Association Chairman John B. Pellegrino Sr., P.E. of major sponsor Ridg-U-Rak, Inc. to a special song.

Each guest received a special edition of the Business Magazine, the June 2011 Annual Report.

The Annual Event is the tri-state region's premier business networking reception.

Ki Kim (center), standing for the Victory Belles’ stirring performance of the national anthem, represented major sponsor UPMC Health Plan.

Jim Berlin (left) of sponsor Logistics Plus with Jack Welch.

The Victory Belles, a World War II-era singing and dancing trio, entertained the audience with their patriotic performance.

Marlene Mosco (right), representing major sponsor PNC Bank, mingles with guests, including former Pennsylvania First Lady Michele Ridge (second from left), at the member reception.

Congressman Mike Kelly (second from right) was one of the many community and business leaders in attendance.

August 2011 > www.mbausa.org > 25August 2011 > www.mbausa.org > 25

Events2011 BIKE RALLY ERIE, PA

JULY 14, 15 & 16

The fifth annual Roar on the Shore® bike rally, presented by the Manufacturer & Business Association, major sponsor Harley-Davidson of Erie, the City of Erie and more than 35 area business sponsors, raised funds for the construction of the Flight 93 National Memorial in Shanksville, Pennsylvania. For complete photo coverage, visit www.roarontheshore.com.

Thousands flooded State Street to welcome the estimated 6,000 bikes in Thursday’s Bringin’ in the Roar parade, sponsored by Toyota, into The Hub in downtown Erie.

National recording artist Darryl Worley served as grand marshal for Thursday’s Bringin’ in the Roar bike parade and headlined the evening concert in Perry Square.

Erie Mayor Joe Sinnott and Roar Board Chairman Clarence Kearney welcome the crowd to the 2011 rally.

The 2011 rally drew more than 80,000 bikers from as far as Salt Lake City, Utah and Washington State.

Michele Smith, host of Discovery HD Theatre’s “Two Wheel Thunder,” led more than 120 bikes in the first annual Lake Escape Motorcycle Run, sponsored by Roth Cadillac.

Miles Cadwallader (left) and Sarah Ambler were married in the rally’s first-ever biker wedding, performed by Erie 3rd Ward District Justice Tom Carney (right) on Thursday night at The Hub’s Main Stage.

Susan and Kelly Lapping of Major Sponsor Harley-Davidson of Erie.

Hundreds of bikes gathered for the fourth annual Thunder on the Isle: The Mayor’s Ride, sponsored by Harley-Davidson of Erie.

26 < www.mbausa.org < August 2011 26 < www.mbausa.org < August 2011

Bikers enjoyed a Friday evening ride around Presque Isle State Park.

World-renowned stunt rider Bill Dixon wowed crowds during daily shows sponsored by Off-Road Express.

Saturday’s Roar to the Vineyards at Off-Road Express attracted hundreds of riders eager to take in the beauty of North East’s wine country.

Ken Nacke, whose brother Louis “Joey” Nacke II was one of the 40 heroes aboard Flight 93, thanks rally goers for raising funds for the completion of the Flight 93 National Memorial in Shanksville.

Concert goers crowd the streets in downtown Erie.

Fierce, female-led Mustang Sally rocked Friday’s headline concert at The Hub’s Main Stage.

The pre-parade gathering at Presque Isle Downs & Casino kicked off a weekend of rides, bands and more.

Former Pittsburgh Steelers running back and Vietnam vet Rocky Bleier, who has previously raised funds on behalf of the Flight 93 National Memorial Campaign, speaks to the crowd in Perry Square at an appearance co-sponsored by Off-Road Express.

LoCash Cowboys played to a packed Hub at Saturday night’s Rock ‘N’ Roar concert.

Raine Raven was crowned the 2011 Miss Roar on the Shore on Saturday evening.

The 2011 rally was expected to pump $26 million into the Erie economy.

August 2011 > www.mbausa.org > 27August 2011 > www.mbausa.org > 27

EDITORIAL > by Angie Angus

Angie Angus is the manager of Blue Ocean Strategy Programs and Support Services for the MBA Blue Ocean Strategy Center – USA, and a certified Blue Ocean Strategy practitioner. The Center teaches companies and organizations of all sizes and types how to implement Blue Ocean Strategy in order to find new markets for their products and services.

The MBA Blue Ocean Strategy Center — USA opened its doors two years ago as the exclusive Blue Ocean Strategy (BOS) training center in the country, joining an elite group of facilities around the world to teach one of the most innovative and groundbreaking business strategies available. During this time, we’ve had engagements with 235 companies reaching more than 2,700 people. We’ve provided advanced training, coaching and support to more than 160 people from more than 50 companies and organizations. These businesses range in size from multinational corporations to small, family owned operations that represent both the nonprofit and for-profit sectors. Manufacturing, educational institutions, health-care organizations, distributors, construction, retail, technology and social service organizations have all sought this innovative strategy training to propel their companies forward.These companies also have provided valuable feedback in developing new courses that are designed to be accelerated, more convenient and customized to meet individual company needs. Thus, two years after opening our doors, the excitement continues with new programs and offerings.Blue Ocean Strategy Module 1 This accelerated Blue Ocean Strategy course combines 20 hours of instruction and experiential learning with up to eight hours of company specific remote support following the session (per company). Participants will learn the methodologies, concepts and tools of BOS and how to utilize them during the Visual Awakening, Visual Exploration and Visual Creation phases. Upon completion of the course, attendees will be prepared to implement the first three phases of Blue Ocean Strategy within their own company or organization. Blue Ocean Strategy Module 2 The area where most companies fall short with strategic planning is during the implementation phase. This unique course provides your company with six to eight hours of customized instruction and support during the implementation phase of Blue Ocean Strategy to help reach your strategic planning goals. You will learn to overcome key cognitive, political, motivational and resource hurdles. The support is offered remotely in one- to two-hour segments, which are scheduled at your convenience, making this program timely, convenient and economical.IN THE HUDDLE: Identifying Your Team’s Game Plan for the Future Vision defines how your organization will look in the future. And while vision is a long-term view, it requires a singular focus. While evaluating how your company is uniquely positioned in the marketplace, your vision can be clouded by the various perspectives your executive team brings to the table. As advantageous as these differences seem, they can present very definite challenges. This course teaches how to

incorporate various executive team member perspectives into a focused vision with everyone looking through the same lens. This new three-hour course will provide you with a quick and easy tool to help your company’s leadership construct a strong foundation from which to develop a winning game plan for the future.RECIPE FOR SUCCESS: Redefining Your Buyer's Experience to Increase the Size of Your Customer Pie The competition for customers is relentless and comes from all directions. As a result, our slice of the customer pie becomes smaller as we compete for the same customers. Rather than narrowing our focus, we should expand our view to “noncustomers”— buyers who could be patrons of our industry but, for one reason or another, are not. This group represents a tremendous opportunity to experience unprecedented growth. This new three-hour course will show you how to open up opportunities for sustainable growth by retaining your current customer base and by attracting those all-important noncustomers.Unlocking the Power of Blue Ocean Strategy Webinar During this one-hour Blue Ocean Strategy overview, BOS instructors will present a proven analytical framework and the tools for successfully creating and capturing blue oceans of opportunity. These courses offer everything from an introduction, to using some of the tools and concepts, to learning to fully implement Blue Ocean Strategy. The training, coupled with the experience, coaching and support that is offered through the MBA Blue Ocean Strategy Center — USA, gives each company the knowledge and tools to compete successfully in a global and increasingly challenging market. If you are interested in learning more about blue ocean strategy, please visit mbausa.blueoceanstrategy.com or contact me at [email protected].

Blue Ocean Strategy – USA Introduces New Training Programs, Offerings

Renée Mauborgne (center), co-author of Blue Ocean Strategy: How to Create Uncontested Market Space and Make the Competition Irrelevant, with the Association’s BOS training team, traveled to Erie, Pennsylvania in 2009 to announce the founding of the MBA Blue Ocean Strategy Center – USA.


VINEYARD OIL AND GAS CO. PROMOTES VP OF MARKETINGMelissa Eastman has been promoted to vice president of natural gas marketing for Vineyard Oil and Gas Co. in North East, Pennsylvania.Previously, Eastman was director of production and marketing, responsible for natural gas supply and trading. In her new job, Eastman will be responsible for oil and gas producer servic-es, interstate pipeline transportation, retail and wholesale gas sales, and commodity trading activity.

NEW ATTORNEY JOINS MARNEN GROUPDonald F. Fessler Jr. recently joined the Erie-based law firm of Marnen Mioduszewski Bordonaro Wagner & Sinnott, LLC, as a member. With more than 22 years of experience, Fessler will provide legal counsel and representation primarily in the area of workers’ compensation, civil litiga-tion and real estate. He also provides legal assistance to property owners concerning real estate tax assessments.

BERNSTEIN, BURKLEY NAMED 2010 BEST LAWYERS IN AMERICA Robert S. Bernstein, managing partner of the Bernstein Law Firm, P.C., and Kirk Burkley, partner of the Bankruptcy & Restructuring prac-tice area, were recently selected by their peers for inclusion in The Best Law-yers in America® 2010 in the field of bankruptcy. Best Lawyers is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey in which more than 25,000 leading attorneys cast almost 2 million votes on the legal abilities of other lawyers in their specialties.

The Bernstein Law Firm is located in downtown Pittsburgh with satellite offices in Washington, Lycoming and Philadelphia counties. The firm concentrates on credi-tors’ rights, bankruptcy and restructuring, and business law.

MAXPRO TECHNOLOGIES APPOINTS ENGINEERING VPMaxpro Technologies, which specializes in high-pressure products, including fittings and tubing for the water jet industry, recently promoted Gregory Soltys to vice president of Engineering at its Fairview, Pennsylvania facility.Soltys will continue in his management of the engineering team at Max-pro Technologies as well as being involved in the development of business strategies. Soltys, who has more than 30 years of engineering experience, earned a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering technology from Gannon University and is registered as a professional engineer.

ERIEZ® MAKES APPOINTMENTS Eriez®, headquartered in Erie, Pennsyl-vania and a world authority in advanced technology for magnetic, vibratory and in-spection applications, recently announced the following promotions:Brian Vrablic has been appointed to the new position of sales engineer -Recycling. In his new role, Vrablic will support the Eriez Heavy Industries Group, which is led by Dan Norrgran, Heavy Industries market manager. Tom Saccamozzone has been named project manager-Heavy Industry. Saccamozzone joined Eriez in October 2000 as a technical sales repre-sentative. According to the company, Saccamozzone’s expanded responsibilities will now include projects specifically related to the aggregate and foundry markets as well as engineering companies.John Mackowski has been appointed to the newly created position of Metalworking Product manager. In his new role, Mackowski will be responsible for product management of Eriez’ Hydroflow® and Magnamation products. Mackowski’s expanded duties include serving as project

coordinator on large filtration orders, coordinating the many aspects and parties involved in system orders. Additionally, Mackowski will be respon-sible for the traditional product manage-ment role of customer and field sales support, literature, marketing and trade show support, development of training and sales support materials, as well as coordination of product development with Sales, Engineering, and Research and Development.Andrew Kloecker has been named manager-Metalworking Distributor Sales. Kloecker previously had served as a technical sales representative. In his new role, Kloecker will oversee Eriez’ Metalworking distributor network and support Eriez representa-tives in the implementation of distribution strategies for sales growth of Eriez equip-ment to the metalworking market.Dave Heubel has been appointed to the newly created position of director-North American Sales. Most recently, Heubel served as national sales manager for the U.S. Light and Heavy Industry Markets, which includes Metals Recycling. Darrell Milton has been named market manager-Metals Recycling.Milton joined the sales staff of Eriez-Canada in 1991, rising to the posi-tion of sales manager. He and his family relocated to Erie in 2006 when he took the position of Canadian sales manager, joining the Erie-based International Division. Mike Shattuck has been promoted to Product Manager-Recycling Equipment. In his new role, he will continue his duties of actively selling Eriez equipment to the Metals Recycling Market, while taking on the responsibilities of coordinating new and modified product development and cost reduction programs for Eriez’ recycling product offerings.

People Buzz EDITORIAL > Contact: Karen Torres


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