“Home Run for Safety” Scheduled for Wednesday at PNG Field
Fundraising is Topic of Friday’s “Best Practices”
Business Excellence Dinner Reservations Can Be Made Online
Chamber Recognizes “All-Stars” for May
Employee Health is Topic of Next “Breakfast Club”
Chamber Membership Survey Will Determine Future Strategy
Small Business Partners to Host Social Media Workshop
Business Hall of Fame Nominations Being Accepted
Chamber’s 2020 Trip to Russia Already Nearing Capacity
Congratulations . . .
“Home Run for Safety” Scheduled for Wednesday at PNG Field
The Blair County Chamber of Commerce Safety Committee will hold a Home Run for Safety event this Wednesday, June 5, 7:30 a.m. – 12:45 p.m., at Peoples Natural Gas Field, home of the Altoona Curve. Once again, the event will feature interactive stations, outstanding speakers, safety demonstrations and a large contingent of vendors with safety-related themes. The keynote speaker for this year’s Home Run for Safety is Tony Samento, President of Samento Industrial Training Systems. Located in Mechanicsburg, this company has provided safety training to more than 200,000 employees in various manufacturing environments across the United States and overseas. Stations at the event will focus on active shooter, stop-the-bleed, fire safety, CPR as well as local safety success stories. The cost to attend Home Run for Safety is $30 for Chamber Members and $40 for non-members. A continental breakfast is included. To register, call The Chamber at 943-8151 or register online. For more information contact Stacy Hoover at the Chamber, 943-8151.
Fundraising is Topic of Friday’s “Best Practices”
The Blair County Chamber’s Committee of Non-Profit Businesses has committed its next Best Practices Forum to a presentation on fundraising by one of the region’s best lecturers on that important topic. Dr. Sophie Penney, Senior Program Coordinator and Lecturer for Penn State’s all online, graduate and undergraduate certificate programs in fundraising will present “So Many Generations, So Little Time,” this Friday,June 7th from 8:15 to 9:45 a.m. at the Devorris Center for Business Development. In her presentation, Dr. Penney will talk about generational differences as well as similarities. She will also leave attendees with five steps that they can implement when returning to their offices. The cost to attend the Best Practices session is $10 for Chamber members and $20 for non-members. To register, call the Chamber at (814) 943-8151 or register online.
Business Excellence Dinner Reservations Can Be Made Online
The Chamber’s Business Excellence Dinner will be held on Tuesday, June 25th at The Casino at Lakemont Park. The highlight of that event will be the presentation of the Lifetime Achievement Award for Business Excellence to Rex Kaup of Young, Oakes, Brown & Company. Reservations are being taken at the Chamber Office (943-8151) or on the Chamber website. Limited sponsorship opportunities are still available. Don’t miss out on this great event!
Chamber Recognizes “All-Stars” for May
The Blair County Chamber’s ability to offer quality programming, events, recognition and advocacy efforts depends largely on the willingness of sponsors to step up to help underwrite the costs associated those efforts. So at the end of each month, we publish a list of businesses or individuals who sponsored anything Chamber-related during the month. They have helped us to make a difference in the business community. All-Stars for May are: ARC Federal Credit Union, Benzel’s Bretzel Bakery, Inc., Blair Companies, Complete Insurance,Ace Fixit Hardware, Allegheny Lutheran Social Ministries, Altoona Area School District Foundation, Altoona Blair County Development Corp., Altoona Curve, Altoona First Savings Bank, Altoona Grand Hotel, Altoona Kiwanis Club, Altoona Mirror, AnswerLinks, Inc., ARC Federal Credit Union, Balfurd Linen Service, Becky Crilly, Blair Companies, Blair Mill Outlet, Brian & Melissa Irwin, Buccinesse Society, Central Hydraulics, Central Pennsylvania Community Foundation, Conemaugh Nason Medical Center, Crossroads Physical Therapy, Debbie Eckenrode, Farmers Insurance, DelGrosso Companies & Affiliates Donna & John Gority, DQE Communications, LLC, E. B. Endress, Eardley Financial Agency, LLC, Encompass Health, FirstEnergy Foundation, First National Bank of PA, Goldstein, Heslop, Steele, Clapper, Oswalt & Smith, Haberstroh, Sullivan & George, LLP, Herbology Altoona, Hillview Healthcare and Rehabilitation Center, Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield, Home Depot, Hometown Bank of Pennsylvania, Howard Hanna Johnston Realty, Independent Catholic Foundation, Irwin Financial, Keller Engineers, Inc., Keystone Payroll, Keystone Response Services, LLC, Leonard S. Fiore, Inc., Lisa and Ron Drzal, Lung Disease Center of Central PA, Luther Development, LP, Manpower, Inc. of Altoona, McCartney’s Business Products, McQuaide Blasko, Mr. & Mrs. Matthew Stuckey, PC Works Plus, Penn Crest Bank, Penn Highlands Community College, Penn State Altoona, Premier Pest Control and Lawn Care, PSECU, Ravine Industries, Reliance Bank, Ritchey’s Dairy, Inc., Roaring Spring Water, Robert & Jill Gildea, Roberts Oxygen Company, Inc., Rodney & Susan Green, Ronald McDonald House Charities, S&T Bank, Seltzer Financial Strategies, Senior Life Altoona, Shoe Fly Stores, Smith Transport, Splish Splash Car Wash, Spring Cove School District, Stiffler McGraw & Associates, Inc., Stuckey Automotive, The Greg & Cathy Griffith Family Foundation, The JJAN Financial Group, United Way of Blair County, UPMC Altoona, UPMC Health Plan, Ward Transport & Logistics, Wells Fargo Advisors, WGL Energy, White Deer Run Treatment Network, Williamsburg Community School District, Young, Oakes, Brown & Company, P.C., and Zito Business.
Employee Health is Topic of Next “Breakfast Club”
Each year, businesses in Blair County have difficulty finding qualified employees. The expense of employee recruitment, however, can pale in comparison to the costs associated with employee absenteeism. Keeping employees healthy and effective will be the topic of a presentation at the June 13 “Breakfast Club,” set for 7:45 a.m. at The Casino at Lakemont Park. Thomas Marra, Regional Director of Cardio-Pulmonary Rehab for UPMC Altoona and UPMC Bedford will present, “The Benefits of Healthy Employees.” Marra will talk about the results of the recent Community Health Needs Assessment, why Blair County continues to be among the unhealthiest counties in Pennsylvania and what employers can do to help turn bad statistics around. In addition to Marra’s presentation, the trophies from the recent Corporate Wellness Challenge will be presented to three Blair County businesses. There will also be two scholarships presented to high school sophomores who wrote the outstanding essays following the BASICS/ Rotary Career Fair. The cost to attend Breakfast Club is $20 for Chamber Members and $30 for non-members. To register for the event, contact the Chamber at (814) 943-8151 or register online. Corporate sponsor of the June Breakfast Club is Healthy Blair County Coalition.
Chamber Seeking Member Input on Key Issues
The Blair County Chamber is looking to determine better ways to meet the needs and expectations of its members. To accomplish that, members who have provided the Chamber with their emails have received a link to a Survey Monkey survey that the Chamber hopes will be completed and returned quickly. “It should take less than five minutes to complete,” explained Chamber President Joe Hurd. “The results will help us in a variety of ways to design or modify programs that will make Chamber membership more valuable than ever.” The survey targets are not just the top administrative people at each company. “We’re looking for feedback from everyone at all levels,” he pointed out. “The more information we receive, the more we can accommodate the preferences of those who invest with us.” Anyone who has not responded to the survey will be getting a follow-up email reminding them of the importance of sharing their opinions.
Small Business Partners to Host Social Media Workshop
Two of the area’s most knowledgeable resources on social media will join forces for a special workshop on June 18th from Noon to 1:30 p.m. at Altoona Grand Hotel. The event is hosted by the Blair County Chamber’s Small Business Partners Committee and is sponsored by Okonak, Dean and Lechner, PC. Kyle Dammann, digital branding consultant, and Rob Wentz (Rob Z), content creator and digital marketer will present, “Social Media & Brand Strategy Talk.” The speakers will share their most effective online strategies and how to put social media and brand strategy to work for your business. Both Altoona natives, Dammann and Wentz have worked with dozens of local businesses, large and small, to increase their results online. The cost to attend the workshop is $20 for Chamber Members and $30 for non-members. Lunch is included. To register, contact the Chamber at (814) 943-8151 or register online.
Business Hall of Fame Nominations Being Accepted
Nominations are currently being accepted for the 2019 Hall of Fame and General Business Awards. Deadline for applications is June 17 at Noon. Call Judy Juda at the Chamber, 943-8151, to nominate a company.
Chamber’s 2020 Trip to Russia Already Nearing Capacity
Despite the fact that the trip is nearly a year away, the Blair County Chamber’s trip to Russia is nearly full. Only a few spots remain. The trip will depart from the Blair County Chamber’s parking lot on April 23rd and will return to that same location on May 1st. The Chamber is partnering with two of its members – Dream Vacations and Collette – to offer the nine-day trip, which begins in Moscow and concludes in St. Petersburg. Among the attractions included are the Kremlin, the Armoury and Hermitage Museums, St. Basil’s Cathedral, Red Square and Catherine Palace. There will be a boat cruise on the Moscow River and an opportunity to travel via the stunning Moscow Metro System. Travelers will also ride through the historic streets of St. Petersburg in a vintage Soviet car. The double occupancy price of anyone who books the trip prior to September 24th is $3,889. After that, it’s $200 more. Airfare is included in the price. For more information contact the Chamber at (814) 943-8151.
Congratulations . . .
. . . to Blair Candy Company of Altoona, which received 2018 Alexander A. Notopoulos Award from Altoona-Blair County Development Corporation on May 24th. The award is given annually to an outstanding Blair County business.
. . . to the dual-branded Fairfield and TownePlace Suites by Marriott of Altoona which received Platinum Circle Awards from Marriott, meaning they were in the top 5% of their brand in North America, determined by Guest Satisfaction Surveys. The TownePlace Suites was also named the top hotel in arrival experience of all hotels of the same brand across North America.
. . . to Linda Steele, who was honored as the 2019 Volunteer of the Year at Conemaugh Nason Medical Center in Roaring Spring. Steele has been a volunteer for the past seventeen years.
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June 3, 2019
Upcoming Events
Home Run for Safety
Wednesday, June 5
7:30 a.m. - 12:45 p.m.
PNG Field
Register Here
Non-Profit Best Practices
Friday, June 7
8:15 - 9:45
Devorris Center for Business Development
Register Here
Breakfast Club
Thursday, June 13
7:45 - 9:00 a.m.
The Casino at Lakemont Park
Register Here
SBP Workshop
Tuesday, June 18
Noon - 1:30 p.m.
Altoona Grand Hotel
Register Here
Business Excellence Dinner
Tuesday, June 25
5:30 p.m. - Reception
6:45 p.m. - Dinner
The Casino at Lakemont Park
Register Here
Business After Hours
Thursday, June 27
5:00 - 7:00 p.m.
Presbyterian Homes
Register Here
Upcoming Committee Meetings
Week of 6/3/19
Young Professionals Committee
Wednesday, June 5, 8:00 a.m.
The Chamber
Hall of Fame Committee
Wednesday, June 5, 8:00 a.m.
The Chamber
Public Policy Committee
Thursday, June 6, 8:00 a.m.
Devorris Center
BASICS Early Childhood Subcommittee
Thursday, June 6, 10:00 a.m.
Devorris Center
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