Chamber Board Approves Seven New Members
Representative Ward to Speak at WE-LEaD Lunch’N’Learn
Chamber Opposes Purchase of Norfolk Southern
Catalyst Space to Host Thursday’s “Business After Hours”
Chamber Signs-On to Amicus Brief Opposing Clean Power Plan
Safety Program to Focus on Digital Self-Defense
Deadline Approaching for Business Excellence Nominations
Estep Approved as BASICS Committee Co-Chair
Chamber Golf Classic Registrations Being Accepted
Have You Picked-Up Your “Power Cards” Yet?
Final Call for Blair County Home & Garden Show Booth Spaces
Congratulations . . .
Chamber Board Approves Seven New Members
The following business were approved for membership in the Blair County Chamber on February 18th by the Board of Directors: Housing & Redevelopment Insurance Exchange of Scranton, Laurel Business Solutions of Ebensburg, LegalShield of Port Matilda, Primary Health Network Charitable Foundation of Sharon, RhinoTech Solutions of Altoona, Tussey Mountain Landscaping of Hollidaysburg and West Penn Windows & Doors of Roaring Spring.
Representative Ward to speak at WE-LEaD Lunch ‘n’ Learn
Representative Judy Ward of the 80th Legislative District will be the keynote speaker at the WE-LEaD “Lunch ‘n’ Learn” program, set for February 25th from noon to 1:30 p.m. at Park Hills Golf Club. WE-LEaD, Women Encouraging – Leadership Education and Development, is a program of the Blair County Chamber of Commerce. The title of Ward’s presentation will be, “Breaking Ground: An Open Discussion on the Reality of Women in Politics.” She will discuss her experience in her first year in office, the realities of the job, the level of acceptance by her colleagues and the challenges of balancing family life with work. The cost to attend Lunch ‘n’ Learn is $25 for Chamber Members and $40 for non-members. The cost includes lunch. To register, contact The Chamber at 943-8151 or register online. Corporate sponsor of the Lunch ‘n’ Learn is Seltzer Financial Strategies.
Chamber Opposes Purchase of Norfolk Southern
The Blair County Chamber of Commerce has submitted a letter to the United States Surface Transportation Board opposing an effort by Canadian Pacific Railway to purchase Norfolk Southern Corporation. Such a purchase would potentially put hundreds of Blair County jobs in jeopardy and would be a critical blow to the local economy. “We are extremely concerned about the possible consequences of such a purchase and support Norfolk Southern’s attempt to keep such an acquisition from taking place,” explained Chamber President Joe Hurd. “As one of the county’s largest employers, it’s vitally important that we are able to preserve all NS jobs.”
Catalyst Space to Host Thursday’s “Business After Hours”
Catalyst Space, located at 1331 12th Avenue, Suite 205, in Altoona, will be the host of the February “Business After Hours.” The event will take place this Thursday, February 25th from 5:00 - 7:00 p.m. Cost to attend is $6 for Members pre-registered and $12 for non-members. Call The Chamber at 943-8151 to register or you can register online.
Chamber Signs-On to Amicus Brief Opposing Clean Power Plan
After much consideration, the Blair County Chamber’s Board of Directors has voted to sign-on to an Amicus Brief opposing the Environmental Protection Agency’s Clean Power Plan. The brief argues that the Clean Power Plan harms state and local economies, with little to no benefit (according to EPA) and that the Plan violates federal law by upsetting the balance between federal and state regulatory authority. “While The Chamber is certainly not advocating on behalf of measures to harm the environment, it is not apparent that the EPA’s Plan accomplishes anything more than putting businesses in financial peril,” acknowledged Chamber President Joe Hurd.
Safety Program to Focus on Digital Self-Defense
The digital world is full of amazing tools, information, and benefits. At the same time, dangers to you, your data, and your business can lurk around every corner. What are some of the best ways to protect yourself and your business from these dangers? What do technologies like WiFi, firewalls, and web browsers even mean to your safety? The Blair County Chamber’s Safety Committee will host a presentation that will examine historical technical security failures, look at special use technology, and share real world examples from local industry experts. “Internet, Computer and Data Security: Self-Defense in the Digital World” will be the program this Friday, February 26th from 7:30 to 9:30 a.m. at Hoss’s in Duncansville. The presenters will be Jeffrey Sernell, Associate Vice-President for Information Technology at the University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown, and Matthew Sernell, President of Eagles Ridge Industries. The cost to attend is $20 for Chamber Members and $30 for non-members. To register, call The Chamber at 943-8151 or register online.
Deadline Approaching for Business Excellence Nominations
The nomination period for one of the Blair County Chamber’s most prestigious awards ends on February 26th. The Lifetime Achievement Award for Business Excellence will be presented at the Annual Business Excellence Dinner on June 13th at The Casino at Lakemont Park. The award recognizes a Blair County businessperson who enjoyed an outstanding business career and who made a positive impact on the community. Previous recipients of the Lifetime Achievement Award are: Ernie Wissinger (2002), G. William Ward (2003), Stephen Sheetz (2004), Donald Devorris (2005), Willard Campbell (2006), John Wolf (2007), Lee Hite (2008), Donald Detwiler (2009), Michael McLanahan (2010), Barry Smith (2011), Fred Imler (2012), Ben Stapelfeld (2013), William Thompson, Jr. (2014) and Timothy Sissler (2015). Nomination forms are available at the Chamber Office or can be downloaded by clicking here. Reservations are also being accepted for the Business Excellence Dinner. Call The Chamber at 943-8151 to make those reservations or register online at www.blairchamber.com. Dinner sponsorships can also be secured by calling Jessie Covert at the Chamber Office or by emailing her at jcovert@blairchamber.com.
Estep Approved as BASICS Committee Co-Chair
At its February 18th Board of Directors meeting, the Board unanimously approved Leslie Estep of the Tyrone Area School District to serve as co-chair of The Chamber’s BASICS Steering Committee. Estep replaces Dr. Robert Vadella. Todd Lewis of Shoe Fly Stores is the other BASICS co-chair.
Chamber Golf Classic Registrations Being Accepted
Registration is now open for the Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield Chamber Golf Classic. The Classic will be held on Monday, May 9 at Iron Masters Country Club with a lunch/registration at 11:00 and tee off at Noon. If you are interested, simply complete the registration form and return to The Chamber! Any questions, please contact Stacy Hoover at The Chamber, 943-8151.
Have You Picked-Up Your “Power Cards” Yet?
The Blair County Chamber’s new “Power Card” is generating an incredible amount of enthusiasm within the Chamber Membership and outside it as well. The biggest challenge: Getting the Power Cards to Chamber members. “We’re trying to avoid the cost of mailing them,” acknowledged Jessie Covert, The Chamber’s Vice-President of Sales & Membership Development. “So we’re hoping that our members are willing to stop-in to the office to pick them up. Otherwise, we’ll hope to get some of our committee volunteers to deliver them. Mailing is our last option.” Any Chamber-Member business willing to pick up their Power Cards can do so on Monday thru Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Final Call for Blair County Home & Garden Show Booth Spaces
The Blair County Chamber of Commerce and the Blair Bedford Builders Association are still accepting vendor booth reservations for the 46th annual Blair County Home & Garden Show to be held March 4, 5 & 6, 2016 at the Jaffa Shrine in Altoona. Exhibitor booth space is still available for home and garden-related businesses interested in showcasing their products or services. The show is also accepting vendor applications for the Home Treasures section. Home Treasures offers a boutique-style setting that features home interior items, candles, spices, hand-crafted items, and much more. To reserve a booth or for more information, call Stacy Hoover at the Blair County Chamber of Commerce at 814-943-8151.
Congratulations . . .
. . . to Window Perfections of Altoona which has earned the Angie’s List Super Services Award for 2015. Only about 5% of the window replacement companies in Pennsylvania have earned that award.
. . . to New Pig Corporation of Tipton, which recently earned an environmental protection award for its Pig Battery Acid Spill Kit from Environmental Protection magazine.
. . . to Concurrent Technologies Corporation, which won a 2016 Edison Award in the energy and sustainability category.
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February 22, 2016
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Upcoming Events
Register online
WE-LEaD Lunch 'n' Learn
Thursday, February 25
Noon - 1:30 p.m.
Park Hills Golf Club
Register Here
Business After Hours
Thursday, February 25
5:00 - 7:00 p.m.
Catalyst Space
Register Here
Safety Program
Friday, February 26
7:30 - 9:30 a.m.
Hoss's - Duncansville
Register Here
Blair County Home & Garden Show
Friday, March 4 - 1:00 - 9:00 p.m.
Saturday, March 5 - 10:00 a.m. - 9:00 p.m.
Sunday, March 6 - Noon - 5:00 p.m.
Jaffa Shrine, Altoona
Upcoming Committee Meetings
Week of 2/22/2016
Home & Garden Show Committee
Tuesday, February 23, 8:30 a.m.
The Chamber
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