Download to read offline
![Member Feature SpotlightMember Feature SpotlightDecember 2015December 2015
Juntos de Lebanon
Interview with Guadalupe Barba
Mission
Strives to be the main organization in the City of Lebanon to
assist community members through educational and cultural
programs.
Vision
To provide educational and cultural support to help the commu-
nity through programs that empower families while increasing
the quality of life in the City of Lebanon.
Though Juntos de Lebanon, a nonprofit, cultural and educa-
tional organization, was officially founded in 2013, its origins
trace back to 2004. From 2004 through 2005, a group of indi-
viduals from the Lebanon community worked together through
the local Spanish radio station. After the Spanish radio station
closed down, they started meeting at the Hispanic Center in
Covenant United Methodist Church. Their mission? To pro-
mote Hispanic culture and cater to the specific needs of the
Spanish population.
Now, ten years later, Guadalupe Barba is the last, original
member of the group that met at the Spanish radio station. Gua-
dalupe owns an authentic Mexican restaurant with her husband,
Sergio, called La Placita. Originally from Mexico, Guadalupe
has a master’s degree in politics and culture and over 20 years
of teaching experience. Guadalupe met her husband when they
were both teaching music in Mexico, and it was Sergio’s work
that brought their family to Lebanon, PA.
With La Placita located on the first floor, the second floor
serves as the center of operations for Juntos de Lebanon. Mem-
bers from the local community joined together to help clean,
paint, and transform this space into a welcoming classroom.
Juntos de Lebanon is an all-volunteer organization dedicated
to working together with the local Lebanon Valley community
to provide educational and cultural activities and to address the
specific needs of Lebanon’s Hispanic population. Guadalupe
explained that some of these specific needs include helping indi-
viduals to set up their own email accounts, providing translator
services, and informing individuals where they can receive vac-
cines and other medical services.
Juntos de Lebanon also provides ESL classes for two different
learning levels. They teach literacy through La Casa Amiga, a
program through the Mexican Consulate.
“People [in the program] can read and write, but they never
formally got grades,” Guadalupe explained. “When they finish
with the [ESL] program, they get a certificate.”
Guadalupe stated that Pennsylvania has three La Casa Amiga
programs, and Juntos de Lebanon’s ranks second. In addition to
ESL classes, Juntos de Lebanon also started offering citizenship
classes at the beginning of November of this year. On Novem-
ber 21, Juntos also partnered with the Mexican Consulate to
provide passport services at St. Benedict’s Church in Lebanon.
These classes and programs help to empower individuals and
instill them with confidence, while simultaneously strengthen-
ing and uniting the community.
Most of Guadalupe’s students are bilingual, and she expressed
her belief that knowing how to read, write, and listen in English,
knowing how to utilize computers, and being good citizens are
all things which are good for the local community.
However, while learning English and understanding the
idiosyncrasies of the Lebanon Valley community are essential,
maintaining cultural ties is likewise vital.
“In our minds, we have our culture. In our hearts, we have our
friends,” Guadalupe said. “When we come to a new place, we
bring that with. We need support so we don’t lose it.”
Guadalupe sees a change happening in Lebanon, and it’s a
good change. She sees individuals in the local community being
more open and receptive, willing to work with one another as a
team to promote unity and acceptance. One of the best ex-
amples of this is the recent Hispanic Gala which took place on
Wednesday, Oct. 7, at HACC, Central Pennsylvania’s Com-
munity College Lebanon Campus. HACC, the Lebanon Valley
Chamber of Commerce, the City of Lebanon, and Juntos de
Lebanon all partnered together to host the event.
It is this collaboration which Guadalupe feels can fuel and pro-
mote the colorful, extensive diversity apparent in Lebanon.
“When your mind is open to other people and other opportu-
nities, it’s a good thing,” Guadalupe said. “Juntos is for all people
who want to know and learn about Hispanic culture.”
What’s truly impressive is that with all of their projects and
activities, Juntos de Lebanon receives no outside funding. All of
their office materials, school supplies, and furniture are donated.
Guadalupe is currently working on a grant application through
the United Way of Lebanon County. Guadalupe is always look-
ing for donations of paper, pens, and whiteboards for her class-
room and for volunteers willing to devote their time to teach
and share their talents.
What’s most rewarding for Guadalupe is when she sees all of
this volunteer time and hard work paying off. She sees work-
ing for Juntos de Lebanon and working for the community as a
mutual exchange – everyone working towards the common goal
of improving the Lebanon community.
Anyone interested in learning more about Juntos de Leba-
non and their mission can contact Guadalupe at 717-222-7948
or guadalupe_barba@yahoo.com.mex. Guadalupe can also be
reached through La Placita, located at 922 Cumberland St.,
open Monday through Saturday from 9:30 a.m. through 8 p.m.](https://image.slidesharecdn.com/a2b512ab-2800-4f88-bb4b-f142df97c5c3-160214005349/85/LVCC_December-9-320.jpg)
Uploaded byJosephina Encarnacion, MBA MS
LVCC_December
This document is the December 2015 newsletter from the Lebanon Valley Chamber of Commerce. It includes information about upcoming Chamber events in December and January, such as Business After Hours receptions and an Economic Forecast Breakfast. It also summarizes several recent Chamber events, including a workshop on business development in Spanish, a discussion on public affairs led by a local nonprofit, and a Salute to Community Services reception recognizing area nonprofits. Finally, it welcomes several new Chamber members and advertises meeting room space available at the Chamber offices.
LVCC_December
- 1. Focused on theBusiness of the Lebanon Valley WHAT’S INSIDE... For more information on Chamber events visit www.lvchamber.org GO GREEN! The Chamber’s monthly newsletter is available via email. Have you signed up? You can opt-out of the traditional hard copy and have newsletter notifications and links sent to you via email. Also, ask to add other employees, colleagues and friends to the Chamber’s newsletter email list. Get it days before the hardcopy! Contact Peggy Kreiser to sign-up today! 717.273.3727 or email: pkreiser@lvchamber.org SOURCETHE SOURCETHE Business After Hours............................2 Careers in Two Years............................3 Down on the Farm...............................7 Farm/City Banquet...............................7 Government Affairs..............................3 Groundbreaking...................................6 Investment Renewals............................5 Leadership Lebanon Valley...................8 Member Headlines...............................5 Member Milestone Anniversaries..........6 Ribbon-Cuttings...................................6 Salute to Community Services..............3 Small Business Roundtable...................7 Upcoming Events.................................2 Welcome New Members.......................4 What’s Inside For Your Business. For Our Community.December 2015 | Volume 29 | No. 12 We’re going completely electronic! This will be our last hardcopy newsletter until we go to an all e-newsletter format in January 2016! Stay tuned for new designs and formats! 2016 Economic Forecast Breakfast Register Now! Don't miss this preview of what lies ahead in 2016 for our local, state, and national economies, as well as for key sectors of our economy! Our 2016 Economic Forecast speakers are: - Andrew Hill, Ph.D., Economist, Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia - Mike Sliney, Vice President & Senior Advisor Consultant, Franklin Templeton Investments Thank you to our presenting sponsor, Jonestown Bank & Trust Co., and to our speaker sponsor, Steve Goodhue of Edward Jones in Myerstown. We hope you'll join us as we take a look at the year ahead at our 2016 Economic Forecast! Register online at lvchamber.org, by calling 717-273-3727, or by emailing info@lvchamber.org. Chamber Offers Free Business Development Workshops in Spanish On Thursday, Nov. 12, the Lebanon Valley Chamber of Commerce hosted a free Biz 101/Finance 101 business development workshop in Spanish at the Chamber’s office. This event was presented by the Chamber in partnership with The Women’s Business Center at Community First Fund, the U.S. Small Business Administration, and the Kutztown University Small Business Development Center. It was sponsored by Metro Bank. Both Chamber members and non-members were welcome to attend this free event. The Biz 101: Introduction to Business portion of the workshop explained the fundamentals of becoming a successful entrepreneur. Topics centered on weighing considerations in starting a business, evaluating business strengths and weaknesses, understanding and developing life experience skills to the business arena, developing a strong business idea, and the key elements of a comprehensive business plan. The Finance 101: Introduction to Business Finance portion of the seminar was an informative training program that taught individuals the fundamentals of the loan approval process. Topics centered on basic banking practices, the five C’s of credit and how they impact finances, how to relate to lenders and create strong alliances with financial institutions, and the “behind the scenes” process of credit analysis and loan approval. “Small business is vital to the fabric of the Lebanon Valley, and the Lebanon Valley Chamber of Commerce wishes to help our residents achieve their entrepreneurial goals,” said Bethany Houser, director of membership at the Lebanon Valley Chamber of Commerce. “We are blessed to have a strong and vibrant Latino community and we are dedicated to providing resources in both English and Spanish to help plan and start a business.” Check out the Chamber’s online events calendar at www.lvchamber.org for upcoming, diverse, multicultural events! Josephina Encarnacion, the director of the Latino Business Resource Center at the Kutztown University Small Business Development Center, addresses attendees.
- 2. December 2015 2 LEBANON VALLEY CHAMBEROF COMMERCE 2015 Executive Committee Chair of the Board Rodney Seidel (First National Bank of Fredericksburg) Chair-Elect Edward J. Coyle (Buzgon Davis Law Offices) First Vice Chair Karen Groh (I.A. Design) Member-at-Large Christopher Gebhard (Hoaster Gebhard & Co.) Treasurer/Corporate Secretary Ken Phelps (Lebanon Valley College) Immediate Past Chair Margie Yohn (BeYohnd Mail & Marketing) President & CEO Gregory D. Buckler, IOM 2015 Board of Directors Mike Battistelli (Stifel) Karen Baxter (Met-Ed) Scott Downs (Lebanon Daily News) Robert Funk (Arthur Funk & Sons, Inc.) Jamie Hanford (Ladd-Hanford) Vickie Hoover (Country Fare Restaurant) Dr. Steven Houser (Annville-Cleona School District) David Kerr (AT&T - Pennsylvania) Audrey King (Bell & Evans) William M. Mulligan (Good Samaritan Health System) Troy Peters (Jonestown Bank & Trust Co.) Tom Richey (LMS Commercial Real Estate) Mickey Santora (WLBR/WQIC Radio) Jeff Steckbeck (Steckbeck Engineering & Surveying) Melissa Stewart (Butler Manufacturing Div. of BBNA) Phil Tipton (Lebanon Family YMCA) Bonnie Wenger (Wen-Crest Farms) Ex Officio William Ames (Commissioner, County of Lebanon) Sherry Capello (Mayor, City of Lebanon) Susan Eberly (Leb. Valley Economic Development Corp.) Carrie Ehrgood (LV Young Professionals) Karen Groh (Community of Lebanon Association) Amy Leonard (Leadership Lebanon Valley) Curtis Martin (Lebanon County Farm Bureau) Kristine Warner (Palmyra Area Business Assoc.) LTC Dale Waltman (Fort Indiantown Gap) UPCOMING EVENTS Mark your calendar now for these networking, informational and educational programs. For more information or to register for any of these programs or events, please contact the Chamber office at 717-273-3727 or visit the Chamber’s website at www.lvchamber.org. DECEMBER 10 I Annual Breakfast 7:30 - 9:30 a.m. at StoneRidge Retirement Living 16 I Business After Hours 4:30 - 6:30 p.m. at Iron Valley Tubing (Iron Valley Golf Course) 17 I LVYP Holiday Mixer 5:00 - 7:00 p.m. at the Lebanon Farmers Market (Mezzanine Level) 18 I Small Business Roundtable Noon - 1:00 p.m. at the Chamber Office JANUARY 6 I Gene Barr (President & CEO of the Pennsylvania Chamber of Business & Industry) Presentation 7:30 - 9:00 a.m. at the Chamber Office 21 I 2016 Economic Forecast Breakfast 7:30 - 9:30 a.m. at Alden Place Clubhouse 22 I Small Business Roundtable Noon - 1:00 p.m. at the Chamber Office 26 I Referral Group Refresher 8:00 - 9:30 a.m. at the Chamber Office 27 I Business After Hours 4:30 - 6:30 p.m. at the Lebanon Valley Family YMCA Save Time! Register & Pay Online! For more information or to register for any of the events listed here, please visit the Chamber’s website at www.lvchamber.org Lebanon Community Theatre Offers Free Preview The Lebanon Valley Chamber of Commerce’s November Business After Hours reception was hosted by the Lebanon Community Theatre, located at Maple Street and Theatre Drive in Stoever’s Dam Park in Lebanon, on Tuesday, Nov. 3. The Lebanon Com- munity Theatre hosted the event to showcase their facilities and their upcoming productions. The event featured networking, hors d’oeuvres, beverages, and door prizes. At the end of the night, the theatre also offered a free preview of their new show, “Seussical the Musical.” Attendees were also invited to stay and watch the full dress rehearsal. The Chamber’s Business After Hours recep- tions are designed to provide the organiza- tion’s members and other business attendees with the chance to network with area business people and to develop new potential client contacts. The receptions provide members with a means to gain exposure for their busi- ness or organization. Interested in hosting your own Business After Hours event? Contact Jessica Stankovich at jstankovich@lvchamber.org. The cast of “Seussical the Musical” performs the opening number for event attendees. The Lebanon Community Theatre building.
- 3. December 2015 3 GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS CollaborationProduces Careers in Two Years by Lauren Holubec, HACC, Central Pennsylvania’s Community College The Lebanon County Career and Technology Center (LCCTC) and HACC, Central Pennsylvania’s Community College, recently purchased the rights to the Careers in Two Years website for Lebanon County. In conjunction with the partnership developed by the Lebanon Valley Economic Development Corporation, this website will be a way for Lebanon County manufacturing initiatives to be highlighted. Targeting students, parents, educators, community members, and industry partners, the website features video clips and fast facts to educate anyone on manufacturing jobs within the community. There are many lucrative manufacturing careers within Lebanon County, and this website will be one way for individuals to be more informed about their career options. Whether a student is in middle school or graduated but with no set career path, or perhaps an adult looking to make a career change, this website will provide options for all. Additionally, business and industry partners have the opportunity to list current job openings, making this another way to recruit qualified individuals. For more information, please contact Lauren Holubec at lsholube@hacc.edu or 717-736-4212. Local Nonprofits Discuss Public Affairs & Community Benefits On Thursday, Nov. 5, the Lebanon Valley Chamber of Commerce hosted a discussion led by Mike Barnhart of Quest Inc. Held at the Chamber office, this free event was open to both Chamber members and members of the public. It was part of the Chamber’s monthly Public Affairs Roundtable series. On behalf of the Chamber’s Community Benefits Roundtable, Barnhart presented to attendees about the importance of nonprofit organizations in the Lebanon Valley community and the essentiality of partnerships with for-profit organizations. The monthly Community Benefits Roundtable offers member nonprofit organizations a vehicle for identifying and discussing organizational issues and challenges and enhancing the nonprofit sector’s visibility to the business community. Sponsored by PRL Inc., the Lebanon Valley Chamber of Commerce's Public Affairs Roundtable provides a forum for Chamber members to discuss and obtain updates from key local, state and federal officials on current issues of importance to our area’s business community. For more information on the Community Benefits Roundtable or the Public Affairs Roundtable, contact Greg Buckler at 717-273-3727 or gbuckler@lvchamber.org. Nonprofit Organizations Recognized at Chamber Event On Tuesday, Oct. 20, the Lebanon Valley Chamber of Commerce hosted its annual Salute to Community Services networking event. The event was held at the recreational center at Alden Place. The evening featured networking, music, wine, refreshments provided by Quest Inc., and wine- and chocolate-themed door prizes. Garcia Garman & Shea PC was the sponsor for this year’s Salute to Community Services. The October Salute to Community Services reception showcased the community service organizations at work in the Lebanon Valley community. There were approximately 30 nonprofit organizations present with booths where attendees could learn more about the services they provide and the volunteer opportunities they have available. Clair Weaver, the executive director of Jubilee Ministries who is retiring next year, was presented with the Chamber’s Lifetime Contributor Award for his hard work and dedication to the Lebanon Valley. The nominees for the 2015 Nonprofit of the Year Award, presented at this year’s Annual Breakfast on December 10, were also present. This year’s nominees include the Humane Society of Lebanon County, OnFire Youth Ministry, and Welsh Mountain Medical and Dental Center. Representatives from each organization had a chance to speak at the podium and tell event attendees why they should be voted Nonprofit of the Year. Attendees had an opportunity to vote for one of the three nonprofit nominees as they left the event. Nonprofit organizations attending the Salute to Community Services included Albright LIFE Lebanon, the American Cancer Society, the American Red Cross, the Central Pennsyl- vania Blood Bank, Compeer of Lebanon County, Covenant/Pathfinder United Methodist Church, Developmental & Disability Services of Lebanon Valley, Dress for Success South Central PA, WellSpan Good Samaritan Health System, Habitat for Humanity, the Humane Society of Lebanon County, Jubilee Ministries, Lebanon Community Theatre Inc., Lebanon County Area Agency on Aging, Lebanon County Library System, Lebanon Family Health Services, Lebanon Valley Conservancy Inc., Lebanon Valley Family YMCA, Mental Health Association of Leba- non County, OnFire Youth Ministry, Probe, Quest Inc., RSVP of the Capital Region Inc., the United Way of Lebanon County, Volunteers in Medicine Free Clinic, and Welsh Mountain Medical & Dental Center. Thank you again to our event sponsor, Garcia Garman & Shea PC, and to our wine sponsor for the evening, Beyohnd Mail & Marketing! Mike Barnhart of Quest Inc., the chair of the Chamber’s Community Benefits Roundtable, presents Garcia Garman & Shea with an award to thank them for their sponsorship. Pictured are (from left to right) Barnhart, Vincent Garcia, Will Oyster, Matthew Garman, and Chamber President Greg Buckler. Event attendees visit the 30 nonprofit tables. Weaver is presented with the Lifetime Contributor Award. Pictured are (from left to right) Oyster, Barnhart, Weaver, and Buckler.
- 4. 4 December 2015 MEETING ROOMSAVAILABLE IN CHAMBER OFFICES For a list of the amenities, room rental guidelines and rates contact the Chamber at 273-3727 or at info@lvchamber.org. WELCOME NEW MEMBERS Please join us in welcoming these businesses and organizations as some of the newest members of the Lebanon Valley Chamber of Commerce. These new members, which were approved by the Chamber’s board of directors at its No- vember meeting, are joining you and approximately 775 other businesses, orga- nizations, and professional firms that are investing in the future of the Lebanon Valley. Please make it a point to call upon these and our other members when seeking a product or service they provide. MKSalesDirect.com Brian Schell 45 Royal Road Lebanon, PA 17042 Phone: 717-250-3762 Email: BrianS@MKSalesDirect.com Website: www.MKSalesDirect.com E-Commerce Recruited By: Bethany Houser Kathy’s Cuisine Kathy Snavely PO Box 622 Mt. Gretna, PA 17064 Phone: 717-507-2667 Email: kathyscuisine@gmail.com Website: www.kathyscuisine.com Personal Chef Recruited By: Bethany Houser Dollar General Distribution Center Christine Weaver 30 Martha Drive Bethel, PA 19507 Phone: 717-933-1808 Email: chrweave@dollargeneral.com Website: www.dollargeneral.com Distribution Recruited By: Bethany Houser Advance Auto Parts Michael Katchur 119 West Lincoln Avenue Myerstown, PA 17067 Phone: 610-451-2777 Email: michaelkatchur@advance-auto.com Website: www.advance-auto.com Auto Parts – Retail & Wholesale Recruited By: Bethany Houser UniqueSource Products & Services David Richardson 1007 N. Front Street Harrisburg, PA 17102 Phone: 717-317-9576 Email: drichardson@uniquesource.com Website: www.uniquesource.com Nonprofit Sales & Marketing Recruited By: Chamber Staff Kirby Acupuncture Ann Kirby Phone: 717-341-7221 Email: kirbyacupuncture@gmail.com Website: www.kirbyacupuncture.com Acupuncture (Holistic Medicine) Recruited By: Suzy Biever New Members Connect! Amidst aromas of homemade bread and egg casseroles, the Lebanon Valley Chamber of Commerce hosted a New Member Connect session on Tuesday, Oct. 21. The session, which was sponsored by Pennsylvania Chamber Insurance, was free and open to all recent new members of the Chamber and members who had previously been unable to attend one of the informational programs. Anyone interested in joining the Chamber or learning more about the organization was likewise invited to attend. The meeting featured a light, homemade breakfast baked by the Chamber’s very own Director of Membership Bethany Houser! At the New Member Connect session, attendees had the opportunity to share information about their business or organization with the other new members in attendance. They also had the chance to discuss with Chamber ambassadors their expectations for the organization and what they hope to gain through their membership. In turn, the Chamber staff and ambassadors provided attendees with detailed information on Chamber benefits and services, as well as suggestions on how members can get the most from their membership.
- 5. 5 December 2015 MEMBER HEADLINES LebanonValley Chamber Members Make the News On Thursday, Oct. 22, the United Way of Lebanon County held its first campaign update meeting at The Wetlands Restaurant in Lebanon. David Warner Jr., an attorney at Buzgon Davis Law Offices and the 2015-2016 campaign chair, provided attendees with the campaign update. Lebanon Family Health Services held its 2015 Latino Health Fair on Saturday, Oct. 17, at the Lebanon Middle School. The event featured a free, healthy breakfast, over 40 vendor booths, health screenings, children’s activities, free flu shots, and food demonstrations. FirstEnergy Corp.’s plant located in Shippingport, PA, is constructing a $200 million, 24,000-square- foot facility to help prepare the approximately 3.5 million tons of coal waste produced annually to ship elsewhere. The plant will remove water from coal combustion residuals. The plant plans to have the new facility finished by 2017 when Little Blue Run, the current landfill utilized for the waste management, closes. (Source: Pittsburgh Post-Gazette) Snyder, Secary & Associates, an engineering consulting firm based in Susquehanna Township, recently opened an office in York. Joshua George has been hired to lead the office. (Source: CPBJ.com) The Hershey Company recently released its Kisses Deluxe chocolates in the U.S. market. These are twice as big as the regular Hershey’s Kisses, and they feature a creamy chocolate center enveloping a roasted hazelnut. In 2013, these products were introduced to the Asian market. (Source: CPBJ.com) Due to low, third-quarter earnings, Harley Davidson Inc., recently released a statement saying that they plan on cutting jobs and reducing shipments. They did not specify how many jobs, or in which locations these jobs would be cut. (Source: CPBJ.com) PinnacleHealth has partnered with Cigna Collaborative Care to launch a new care program to help fill in the gaps in health care and increase and improve access and affordability of care. (Source: CPBJ.com) On October 22, Quandel Enterprises Inc. broke ground on a $7.2 million project building an electrophysiology lab and a hybrid lab at Easton Hospital located in Northampton County. (Source: CPBJ. com) Centric Bank and Sechler Family Foods Inc. (Bell & Evans) were both honored among the Central Penn Business Journal’s “Top 50 Fastest Growing Companies” at the Hilton Harrisburg on Friday, Oct. 23. (Source: CPBJ.com) On Wednesday, Oct. 21, the law offices of Reilly Wolfson celebrated their 75th anniversary with a gathering and ceremony at its location on Cornwall Road in Lebanon. Chamber President Greg Buckler was in attendance to present two proclamations from the PA House and Senate. The United Way of Lebanon County will be collecting donations of winter clothing up until Friday, Dec. 11, for its seventh annual “LIVE WARM” drive. New or gently used hats, scarves, gloves, and mittens for both adults and children will be collected. These donations will then be distributed to local shelters. Last year, the United Way of Lebanon County collected 914 items through its “LIVE WARM” outreach project. The Wall Street Journal has been reporting stories about Theranos, a California-based laboratory company which Capital BlueCross recently partnered with in early 2015 in order to help bring low-cost laboratory services to PA. The stories insinuate that Theranos’ blood tests are not as accurate as previously led to believe, and that the company is utilizing traditional lab methods rather than new instrumentation. (Source: CPBJ.com) For the month of November, Lebanon Picture Frame & Fine Art Gallery presented their Annual Pottery Show. This year, the show featured the work of local potters Jessica Greet, Nathan Nixdorf, and Mark Myer. Shanghai Golden Monkey Food Joint Stock Co. Ltd., a Chinese company which makes candy, chocolates, protein-based items, and snack foods, and which was acquired by The Hershey Company at the end of 2013, is expected to bring in approximately $80 million in sales by year’s end. It was initially expected that the company would bring in $200 million. (Source: CPBJ.com) Developmental & Disability Services of Lebanon Valley recently awarded a few of its clients with Employee of the Year Awards. Susan Swigonski, who has been employed at Lebanon Valley College for 25 years, was named the Female Employee of the Year. The Lebanon Lowe’s Home Centers Inc. was recognized as the Employer of the Year. On November 6, all Susquehanna Bank branches were converted to BB&T branches. The Lititz-based Susquehanna Bancshares was acquired in August by the North Carolina-based BB&T Corp. (Source: ydr.com) Amerman Ginder & Co. LLC received a new addition this fall. Max Amerman received a marketing degree from Penn State University in 2012. After graduating, he moved to Baltimore, MD, to work for RR Donnelley, one of the world’s largest print, digital and supply chain service providers. This fall, Max had an opportunity to come work with his father, taking the lead to ensure their company’s technology and marketing needs are being met as he simultaneously takes accounting classes. Talen Energy Corp. has finished the acquisition of MACH Gen LLC and completed the sale of Talen Renewable Energy LLC. The MACH Gen LLC acquisition cost $1.175 billion and added three natural gas power plants to the company. (Source: lvb.com) University of Pennsylvania Health System, the parent company of Lancaster General Health, has entered into a partnership with VPS Healthcare, a 14-hospital company based in the United Arab Emirates. (Source: lancasteronline.com) According to the U.S. Small Business Administration’s (SBA) office located in Philadelphia, Centric Bank approved nearly double the SBA loans in Central PA as any other lender in the 2015 fiscal year, approving over $14 million in SBA loans. (Source: CPBJ.com) (Con’t on Page 6) Haller Enterprises Inc. Mickey Santora Cornwall Manor Elco Machine & Tool Shalters Insurance Inc. TempForce White’s Harley-Davidson Sales A & H Industries Leiby’s Inc. Just Like Family Home Health Care Services Union Township Lebanon Rescue Mission Cils Inc. Coleman Memorial Park Commission Landis Builders Inc. PA Dutch Council Boy Scouts of America Eagle Secure Solutions LLC Home Improvement Outlet Inc. Rhoads & Sinon LLP Synergy Employment Group Inc. Fredericksburg Sewer & Water Authority Comfort Inn Lebanon Valley/Ft. Indiantown Gap Ephrata National Bank Spohn Performance Inc. First Aid & Safety Patrol of Lebanon MEMBER INVESTOR RENEWALS The Lebanon Valley Chamber extends its apprecia- tion to the following members who renewed their membership in the Chamber during the month of November. Through their renewals, these members are continuing their support of the Chamber and are demonstrating their ongoing commitment to the growth, prosperity, and quality of life of the Lebanon Valley.
- 6. 6 December 2015 RIBBON-CUTTING Members’ MilestoneAnniversaries Congratulations and thank you to these Chamber members who celebrated their Milestone Membership Anniversary in November 2015. 5th Anniversary Haller Enterprises Inc. • Union Township 10th Anniversary PA Dutch Council Boy Scouts of America • Eagle Secure Solutions LLC 25th Anniversary Leiby’s Inc. • First Aid & Safety Patrol of Lebanon 35th Anniversary Shalters Insurance Inc. • White’s Harley-Davidson Sales (Con’t from Page 5) During the month of October, Hollywood Casino at Penn National Race Course brought in $18.1 million in revenue. Their slot machine revenue was 1.8 percent higher than October of 2014. (Source: CPBJ.com) On November 10, the new North Cornwall Health Center located on Cornwall Road in Lebanon opened. The new facility will be home to Orthopedic Asso- ciates of Lancaster, the owner of the 73,000-square-foot building. The facility will also house North Pointe Surgery Center, LG Health Physicians Quentin Family Medicine, LG Health Urgent Care, and The Heart Group of LG Health. (Source: CPBJ.com) Jonestown Bank & Trust Co. (JBT) has been recognized by Pennsylvania Com- munity Bankers Association (PACB) for its strong commitment to community service. At its 2015 annual convention, PACB recognized JBT as one of only 19 Pennsylvania community banks to receive the PACB “Grow Your Community” Award this year. Harrisburg International Airport (HIA) announced that it will install two elec- tric vehicle charging stations at its facility. The Susquehanna Area Regional Airport Authority board signed an agreement with Blink Network LLC, a sub- sidiary of Florida-based CarCharging Group Inc., to install the charging sta- tions. (Source: CPBJ.com) Chicago-based accounting firm Baker Tilly Virchow Krause LLP announced that it has completed its acquisition of SF&Co., a company located in York. (Source: CPBJ.com) Gregory Hummer has joined Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Homesale Realty as a realtor and member of the Theresa Hummer Team. He will special- ize in residential and commercial sales throughout Central Pennsylvania. Em- mily Longenecker has also joined the company as a realtor and will specialize in residential sales. On Thursday, Nov. 12, the United Way of Lebanon County, along with the Lebanon Valley Family YMCA, hosted a “community dialogue” between Con- gressman Charlie Dent and Lebanon County nonprofit organizations at the YMCA Freer Family Community Youth Center in Lebanon. FirstEnergy’s Pennsylvania utilities (Met-Ed, Penelec, Penn Power and West Penn Power) offer rebates to businesses to help cover the upfront cost of energy efficiency project upgrades, including lighting retrofits, HVAC replacements, food service equipment and more. By taking advantage of these rebates, busi- nesses can reduce their energy use and lower operating costs with long-term savings. Your recently completed energy efficiency project may qualify if you submit your incentive application within 180 days of the installation date. Visit energysavepa-business.com for full details. On Thursday, Nov. 12, Ephrata National Bank affirmed on its Facebook page that it is not being acquired by another, larger organization. (Source: CPBJ.com) HACC, Central Pennsylvania’s Community College’s HACC Foundation, the fundraising entity of the organization, recently awarded approximately $360,000 for various programs and projects at the school. From 2014-2015, the HACC Foundation awarded the college nearly $2.3 million total. (Source: CPBJ.com) On Wednesday, Oct. 28, Orthopedic Associates of Lancaster LTD hosted a ribbon-cutting ceremony to celebrate the grand opening of their new Lebanon location at 1701 Cornwall Road. Present at the event were representatives from the Lebanon Valley Chamber of Commerce, representatives from Orthopedic Associates of Lancaster, and area public officials. Tours of the new facilities were offered for attendees. Congratulations to Orthopedic Associates of Lancaster on this new venture! Groundbreaking On Thursday, Oct. 29, the Chamber took part in the Kreider Commons groundbreaking ceremony. Kreider Commons is a planned senior apartment building located in Lebanon. The Woda Group Inc., a real estate development company based in Ohio, is renovating the A. S. Kreider old shoe factory building to turn it into housing for seniors. The apartment complex will feature 50, one- and two-bedroom apartments for seniors with low to moderate incomes (ldnews.com). Refreshments and a light lunch were provided, and attendees were encouraged to bring along a new or gently used pair of shoes or a winter coat to donate to the Salvation Army of Lebanon. A guided tour of the facility was also offered. In attendance were representatives from the Chamber, city and state officials, and representatives from The Woda Group. Doctors at Orthopedic Associates of Lancaster help Chamber representatives and area public officials cut the ceremonial ribbon. City and state officials and representatives from The Woda Group take part in the official groundbreaking ceremony at Kreider Commons.
- 7. December 2015 7 Tell UsYour Story! “Why are you a small business? What made this choice important to you?” These are just a few of the questions that were the topic of the Lebanon Valley Chamber of Commerce’s October Small Business Roundtable. The roundtable was scheduled for Friday, Oct. 23, at the Chamber office. October’s open discussion focused on business owners’ unique stories about the beginnings of their entrepreneurial endeavors. Small business owners and home-based entrepreneurs shared their individual stories to help inspire one another. The Chamber’s free, monthly Small Business Roundtable sessions are designed to provide small business owners and home-based business entrepreneurs with information exchange and networking opportunities, as well as educational workshops aimed at meeting the small business and home-based business owners’ needs. While the sessions are intended for members of the Lebanon Valley Chamber, Chamber non-members may attend one roundtable meeting as a guest to learn more about the roundtable program and the Chamber. Save the date for our next roundtable on Friday, Dec. 18. 35th Annual Farm-City Banquet Following tradition, this year’s annual Farm-City Banquet began with a milk toast by the Lebanon County Dairy Princesses. Before enjoying a hearty meal catered by Country Home Catering, attendees at the 35th Annual Farm-City Banquet raised their white, chocolate, or vanilla milk and toasted to the dairy and agricultural industries. The 35th Annual Farm-City Banquet was held on Thursday, Oct. 29, at the Lebanon Valley Expo Center. Nearly 250 representatives from Lebanon’s agricultural and business communities attended. This year’s master of ceremonies was Ray Maillet of WLBR/WQIC, and highlights included the presentation of the Farm-City Scholarship and the Century Business and Century Farm Awards. Lisa Boltz, a sophomore at Penn State Berks, was announced as the recipient of a $1,000 Farm-City Scholarship. This year’s Century Farm recipients were Jim and Cheryl Dice. Kreamer Funeral Home was recognized as the Century Business recipient. As part of the program, Karen Groh of IA Design and Meranda Sellers, a dairy farmer, presented on their Farm-City Exchange experiences. A slideshow with pictures from the elementary school and open farm tours held at the John Kline Family Farm was also shown. The banquet ended with another annual tradition: the auction of the shawl which was made at the beginning of the night during the sheep-to-shawl demonstration. Thank you again to our event’s silver sponsors, Fulton Bank and Kauffman’s Animal Health Inc.! Thank you as well to our Bronze Sponsors, Farmer Boy Ag and WellSpan Good Samaritan Hospital! Jim and Cheryl Dice accept the Century Farm Award from Jim Tomanelli of Fulton Bank, the chair of the Chamber’s Farm-City Committee. Tomanelli presents John Kline, owner of the John Kline Family Farm, with an award to show the committee’s appreciation for allowing the elementary and open farm tours to visit their property. Stephen Lum accepts the Century Business Award from Tomanelli on behalf of Kreamer Funeral Home. The Lebanon County Dairy Princesses give the milk toast. Down On the Farm! The Lebanon Valley Chamber of Commerce’s 2015 Fall Farm Tour took place on Friday, Oct. 16, and on Sat- urday, Oct. 17. On Friday, fourth and fifth grade students from Northwest Elementary School visited the John Kline Family Farm located on South Ramona Road in Myerstown. The Kline’s farm is a dairy farm with over 150 cows! The Klines also manage OnFire Youth Ministry, a nonprofit or- ganization. On Saturday, the farm tour was open to the entire Lebanon Valley community. At this free event, visitors had the opportunity to tour and experience a working farm. Members of the Chamber’s Farm-City Committee were present to give guided tours. Attendees could also enjoy an up-close look at farm equipment, visits with the farm animals, and farm-fun games and prizes with the Lebanon County Dairy Princesses. The Chamber’s Fall Farm Tour is held each year as part of its Farm-City activities to provide residents of the Lebanon Valley with the chance to learn firsthand about the operations of area farms and about the importance of our area’s agricultural industry to our economy. Local veterinarian Dr. Terri Coon, DVM, teaches students about animal health. One of the calves gets up close and personal!
- 8. PRSRT STD U.S. POSTAGE PAID HARRISBURG,PA PERMIT NO. 1055 604 Cumberland Street Lebanon, PA 17042 (717) 273-3727 Fax (717) 273-7940 www.lvchamber.org info@lvchamber.org Chamber Staff President & CEO Gregory D. Buckler, IOM gbuckler@lvchamber.org Director of Communications & Marketing Suzanne Biever, MFA sbiever@lvchamber.org Director of Membership Bethany Houser bhouser@lvchamber.org Director of Finance & Operations Nicole Ivie nivie@lvchamber.org Director of Leadership & Education Jessica Stankovich jstankovich@lvchamber.org Administrative Assistant Charity Heilman cheilman@lvchamber.org 27th Leadership Lebanon Valley Class Graduates On Tuesday, Nov. 10, the Lebanon Valley Chamber of Commerce celebrated the graduation of its 27th class from its Leadership Lebanon Valley (LLV) program. The LLV Commencement Ceremony was held at the Lebanon Country Club, and Bayer HealthCare was the presenting sponsor for the event. The LLV Commencement Ceremony was designed to formally honor and recognize the achievements of the 2015 Leadership Lebanon Valley class and to introduce prospective participants to the program. Attendees were able to meet with members of the 2015 LLV class, LLV board members, and LLV alumni to learn more about the program. Founded in 1989, Leadership Lebanon Valley is a program of the Lebanon Valley Chamber of Commerce designed to develop community, business and civic leaders. The 11-month program begins in January with an overnight retreat and ends with graduation in November. The classes are generally on the second Tuesday of each month from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Each session focuses on an issue critical to the success and prosperity of the Lebanon Valley region. Participants are exposed to a variety of viewpoints through local leaders and are provided the opportunity for open discussion. Sessions highlight topics such as justice, education, agriculture, health and human services, heritage and culture, etc. Applications are still being accepted for the 2016 Leadership Lebanon Valley class. Applications can be found at the Chamber office or online at www.lvchamber.org. Anyone with additional questions regarding the LLV program can contact Jessica Stankovich at 717-273-3727 or jstankovich@lvchamber.org. The 2015 LLV class! Pictured are (in alphabetical order) Jaci Arnold, Lebanon Valley Family YMCA; Suzanne Biever, Lebanon Valley Chamber of Commerce; Laurie Bowersox, HACC, Central Pennsylvania’s Community College Lebanon Campus; Carrie Boyer, Woodland Contractors Inc.; Joseph Crowe, Buzgon Davis Law Offices; Elizabeth Gingrich, Gingrich Insurance Agency; Stacy Griffiths, New Penn Motor Express Inc.; Jennifer Gruver, Tin Cans Unlimited; Douglas Gunden, Kapp Advertising Services Inc.; Jean Joseph, Bayer HealthCare; Angela Kritzer, Griswold Home Care; Corey Lamoureux, Reilly Wolfson; Daniel Landes, Lebanon County Christian Ministries; Patricia Pasquale, Lebanon Family Health Services; Cindy Pratt, Bowman’s Insurance Group; Matthew Reedy, Reedy Diesel Service; Samuel Ruiz, VA Medical Center; Samantha Smith, VA Medical Center; Kelly Smith, WellSpan Good Samaritan Hospital; Amy Sullivan, Cornwall-Lebanon School District; Evelyn Trostle, Bayer HealthCare; Kristine Warner, Greener Grass Graphics; Robert Wentling, VA Medical Center; Jordan Witman, Strickler Insurance; Aspasia Yeager, Humane Society of Lebanon County. need picture
- 9. Member Feature SpotlightMemberFeature SpotlightDecember 2015December 2015 Juntos de Lebanon Interview with Guadalupe Barba Mission Strives to be the main organization in the City of Lebanon to assist community members through educational and cultural programs. Vision To provide educational and cultural support to help the commu- nity through programs that empower families while increasing the quality of life in the City of Lebanon. Though Juntos de Lebanon, a nonprofit, cultural and educa- tional organization, was officially founded in 2013, its origins trace back to 2004. From 2004 through 2005, a group of indi- viduals from the Lebanon community worked together through the local Spanish radio station. After the Spanish radio station closed down, they started meeting at the Hispanic Center in Covenant United Methodist Church. Their mission? To pro- mote Hispanic culture and cater to the specific needs of the Spanish population. Now, ten years later, Guadalupe Barba is the last, original member of the group that met at the Spanish radio station. Gua- dalupe owns an authentic Mexican restaurant with her husband, Sergio, called La Placita. Originally from Mexico, Guadalupe has a master’s degree in politics and culture and over 20 years of teaching experience. Guadalupe met her husband when they were both teaching music in Mexico, and it was Sergio’s work that brought their family to Lebanon, PA. With La Placita located on the first floor, the second floor serves as the center of operations for Juntos de Lebanon. Mem- bers from the local community joined together to help clean, paint, and transform this space into a welcoming classroom. Juntos de Lebanon is an all-volunteer organization dedicated to working together with the local Lebanon Valley community to provide educational and cultural activities and to address the specific needs of Lebanon’s Hispanic population. Guadalupe explained that some of these specific needs include helping indi- viduals to set up their own email accounts, providing translator services, and informing individuals where they can receive vac- cines and other medical services. Juntos de Lebanon also provides ESL classes for two different learning levels. They teach literacy through La Casa Amiga, a program through the Mexican Consulate. “People [in the program] can read and write, but they never formally got grades,” Guadalupe explained. “When they finish with the [ESL] program, they get a certificate.” Guadalupe stated that Pennsylvania has three La Casa Amiga programs, and Juntos de Lebanon’s ranks second. In addition to ESL classes, Juntos de Lebanon also started offering citizenship classes at the beginning of November of this year. On Novem- ber 21, Juntos also partnered with the Mexican Consulate to provide passport services at St. Benedict’s Church in Lebanon. These classes and programs help to empower individuals and instill them with confidence, while simultaneously strengthen- ing and uniting the community. Most of Guadalupe’s students are bilingual, and she expressed her belief that knowing how to read, write, and listen in English, knowing how to utilize computers, and being good citizens are all things which are good for the local community. However, while learning English and understanding the idiosyncrasies of the Lebanon Valley community are essential, maintaining cultural ties is likewise vital. “In our minds, we have our culture. In our hearts, we have our friends,” Guadalupe said. “When we come to a new place, we bring that with. We need support so we don’t lose it.” Guadalupe sees a change happening in Lebanon, and it’s a good change. She sees individuals in the local community being more open and receptive, willing to work with one another as a team to promote unity and acceptance. One of the best ex- amples of this is the recent Hispanic Gala which took place on Wednesday, Oct. 7, at HACC, Central Pennsylvania’s Com- munity College Lebanon Campus. HACC, the Lebanon Valley Chamber of Commerce, the City of Lebanon, and Juntos de Lebanon all partnered together to host the event. It is this collaboration which Guadalupe feels can fuel and pro- mote the colorful, extensive diversity apparent in Lebanon. “When your mind is open to other people and other opportu- nities, it’s a good thing,” Guadalupe said. “Juntos is for all people who want to know and learn about Hispanic culture.” What’s truly impressive is that with all of their projects and activities, Juntos de Lebanon receives no outside funding. All of their office materials, school supplies, and furniture are donated. Guadalupe is currently working on a grant application through the United Way of Lebanon County. Guadalupe is always look- ing for donations of paper, pens, and whiteboards for her class- room and for volunteers willing to devote their time to teach and share their talents. What’s most rewarding for Guadalupe is when she sees all of this volunteer time and hard work paying off. She sees work- ing for Juntos de Lebanon and working for the community as a mutual exchange – everyone working towards the common goal of improving the Lebanon community. Anyone interested in learning more about Juntos de Leba- non and their mission can contact Guadalupe at 717-222-7948 or guadalupe_barba@yahoo.com.mex. Guadalupe can also be reached through La Placita, located at 922 Cumberland St., open Monday through Saturday from 9:30 a.m. through 8 p.m.
- 10. Cedar Haven’s namehas been in the news quite frequently this past year, being passed around in a type of “political hot potato,” as Mark Kessler, NHA, adminis- trator for the facility, put it. In 2015, the Lebanon County-owned establishment was sold to Stone Barn Holdings, an investment group, and became a private, for-profit facility. The transition, though smooth, wasn’t without its difficulties, drawing a few negative comments from opponents of the sale. Kessler explained how the owner- ship transition was a challenge for Cedar Haven’s employees having to put up with some of the negative reactions voiced from the community. “Our department heads average 25 years of service. We are a four-star facility, and we have excellent service,” Kessler stated. “I’d put our care here up against that of- fered anywhere.” Before the purchase of Cedar Haven by Stone Barn Holdings, the facility’s exis- tence can be traced back to 1830, when an Act of the Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania approved of a poorhouse for Lebanon County. That same year, the Lebanon County Commissioners purchased over 150 acres of land for this purpose. Fast- forward to 1966, the original “Almshouse” institution was replaced by a more modern structure officially called Cedar Haven. As they say, the rest is history. Kessler explained that one of the first things addressed after the transition of ownership was to update Cedar Haven’s technology, expanding on electronic re- cords with the goal of becoming completely electronic. In addition to adding this new hardware and software, Cedar Haven also partnered with a new IT provider, Intermix IT, to enhance functionality and data pro- tection. Since the transition, Cedar Haven has extended itself to all local health care providers in an effort to form new and in- novative partnerships. Cedar Haven offers both long-term care and short-term rehabilitation services in ad- dition to a monitored dementia unit, only contracting out two of their departments: physical therapy/occupational therapy and dietary services. They have also partnered with PharMerica to provide residents with in-house pharmacy services. At 324 beds, this nursing facility is the largest in the county. On an average day, approximately 312 of its beds are occupied. Care is provid- ed for a wide range of patients, from those on Medicare, Medicaid and commercial in- surance, to those paying privately for care. Kessler stated that almost all of the resi- dents at Cedar Haven require some form of assistance with their individual activities of daily living. They serve residents who need minimal assistance to those requiring extensive assistance with complex medical conditions. The facility has a long-standing affiliation with the Fredericksburg Community Health Center. Dr. Robert Haggard and his staff at the Fredericksburg Center are at Cedar Haven six days a week. There is always at least one doctor present to provide care to residents, something which Kessler says is unique to Cedar Haven. “A typical facility just has physicians who attend and see the resident every thirty or sixty days depending on their admissions date,” he explained. “Dr. Haggard and his group are the attending physicians for all residents. This is appealing to families to know that someone is always there, six out of seven days a week, to check on the clinical needs of their loved one should the need arise.” In addition to the daily care and services provided by nurses and Dr. Haggard and his staff, Cedar Haven’s services also include dental, optical, podiatry, mental health and wound clinics located on-site. With the clinics located on Cedar Haven’s campus, residents enjoy easy access to care rather than having to leave the facility to attend appointments. However, residents aren’t required to utilize Cedar Haven’s clinics. If a resident wants to continue seeing their own doctor outside of the facility, Cedar Haven provides them with non-emergency transportation delivered by their staff. Cedar Haven has continued its campus partnerships which existed prior to the sale. Eldercare, an adult day care, and the Renova Center, which provides care for individuals with severe or profound men- tal disabilities, are also located on Cedar Haven’s campus. Cedar Haven also offers therapeutic recreational activities for its residents. Kessler described the recreational program as “very robust,” and “better than any other facility.” Residents can take part in a variety of activities and field trips, from watching movies, to making crafts, to shopping excursions, and music programs. As Kessler stated, all of these activities planned by the very dedi- cated therapeutic recreation staff serve as “the heartbeat of the building.” The majority of the residents of Cedar Haven are referred there through the WellSpan Good Samaritan Health Sys- tem, along with referrals from the Hershey Medical Center, VA Medical Center and Ephrata Hospital. When referrals come through to Cedar Haven, Patti Malay, the admissions director, meets with the indi- viduals and their families to determine their needs and ascertain whether or not Cedar Haven will be able to provide them with the appropriate care. The department heads are likewise involved in the admissions process. Kessler explained that all of Cedar Haven’s departments are fully-integrated, and the business office is always ready to help families navigate through admissions and insurance paperwork. “Nursing facilities aren’t something which people spend a great deal of time shopping for,” Kessler said. “There’s a quick decision which needs to be made, and we become an option. We’re very supportive through this difficult process; it’s what makes it a very rewarding industry.” Cedar Haven’s staff totals 375 individu- als, including nurses, social service workers, administrative staff, housekeepers, laundry workers, building and grounds and thera- peutic recreation staff. Kessler noted that Cedar Haven is always accepting applica- tions for a variety of positions. Anyone interested in applying can contact Melinda Peiffer, the director of human resources. Cedar Haven also has its job openings posted on its website. One of the ben- efits of working for Cedar Haven, Kessler explained, is their staff education oppor- tunities. The facility not only offers nurse aid training classes, but provides on-site, directed staff training to keep current with trending clinical standards. Cedar Haven is devoted to providing its employees with ongoing training and professional develop- ment. Anyone with additional questions or who would like to learn more about Cedar Haven, its facilities, and its services, can contact them at 717-274-0421 or visit their website at www.cedarhaven.healthcare. Ce- dar Haven’s campus is located at 590 S. 5th Avenue in Lebanon and its administrative offices are open Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. through 4:30 p.m. Cedar Haven Interview with Mark Kessler, NHA, Administrator
- 11. A second generationcompany, Kauffman’s Animal Health Inc. was founded by Dave and Tom Kauffman’s parents, Leon and Pauline, in 1978 to manufacture, package, and sell high- quality animal health products. Their father had worked for Whitmoyer Laboratories located in Myerstown, PA, until he decided to start his own business. Their first building opened in the old Bargaintown USA complex located on North Seventh Street. Leon managed the Barker, Moore and Mein division of Whitmoyer Laboratories which produced and sold products similar to which Kauffman’s was founded upon. The roots of Kauffman’s Animal Health Inc. were in the horse racing industry. Kauffman’s made vitamin and mineral premixes fed to race horses, even though the Kauffman family itself never initially owned horses. Later, in his 60s, Leon purchased and bred horses of his own. Over the years, the business grew to include private label production of supplements and mixes. Today, Kauffman’s ships its products worldwide. In fact, the United Arab Emir- ates is currently its biggest consumer of equine products. Kauffman’s has also expanded its product line to include products for species other than horses, such as livestock, poul- try and canine. In 1998, Kauffman’s began manufacturing LIRA GOLD® for a client. LIRA GOLD® is a direct-fed, microbial product containing live bacterial cultures (similar to live and active cultures in yogurt) and enzymes designed for all classes of dairy and beef cattle feeds. The LIRA GOLD® line includes nutritional solutions designed to improve digestive health, improve milk production, support immune function, and more. The demand for LIRA GOLD® grew quickly, and Kauff- man’s Animal Health had to look for a bigger building in order to keep up with production. They moved to their current location at 21 Keystone Drive in Lebanon in Decem- ber of 1999, from which all of its products are produced in a climate-controlled facility and shipped. In 2004, Kauffman’s purchased the LIRA GOLD® brand name and marketing rights from their client. All of Kauffman’s Animal Health products are natural solutions. They never have any medicated products in their manufacturing facility, but rather strive to find all-natural alternatives. Next to the equine products, the LIRA GOLD® line of products is Kauffman’s next bestseller. Products for the laying hen industry account for approximately 20 percent of their business as well and canine supplements are a profitable, but small portion of Kauffman’s sales. Another of Kauffman’s brand name products is KA-HI, a cold-pelleted, vitamin, protein and mineral supplement that helps to insure against nutritional deficiencies in equine diets. In addition, they produce a variety of other equine nutritional supplements including Integri-Hoof, Flex Steps, several electrolyte supplements, and single nutrient supple- ments. “If you walk into any tack shop, I guarantee that you’ll see stuff we’ve made,” Tom said. In 1995, Leon and Pauline sold Kauffman’s Animal Health Inc. to Tom and his brother, Dave. Dave serves as the com- pany’s president, and Tom serves as its vice president. One of the biggest challenges facing Kauffman’s is the re- cent Food Safety Modernization Act. This act was signed into law in January 2011 and provides the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) new authorities and requirements. The rules surrounding the act are just now being released and businesses are given one to three years to comply, depending on the size of their company. The new rules focus on docu- mentation of compliance with Current Good Manufactur- ing Practice in order to identify and minimize hazards, and forward and backward traceability of ingredients and finished products in the event of a recall. Kauffman’s began moving toward compliance in 2011 right after the act was introduced. They began utilizing their computer system to a greater extent in order to maintain documentation. However, Tom said that these added steps in their process have led to increased man hours for not just his company, but others as well. This increase in required man- power will result in prices increasing for consumers. “People don’t realize how safe and inexpensive our food supply is in the United States,” Tom stated. He also said that with these new FDA regulations, “Food and feed production facilities with tighter margins will have bigger challenges, and smaller companies without computerized process systems will struggle.” Kauffman’s Animal Health has 20 total employees. Four- teen of them are full-time, two are off-site salespeople, two are retired, part-time employees, and the remaining two are Tom and Dave’s parents who still work part-time at the facil- ity. Kauffman’s Animal Health took an active role in the Lebanon Valley Chamber of Commerce through sponsorship of the Farm-City Committee events in the early 2000’s. The Farm-City Committee plans and organizes the annual Farm Tour program, Farm-City Exchange Days, and Farm-City Banquet to promote greater appreciation for the importance of both the agricultural and business communities in the Lebanon Valley. “It’s so important for the Farm-City Committee to exist and do what we do, which is educating the public,” Tom explained. “It’s our vision for the Chamber. It’s the events we choose to support which tie to our business.” Anyone interested in learning more about Kauffman’s can visit their website at www.ka-hi.com, email them at info@ KA-HI.com, or call them at 717-274-3676. KAUFFMAN’S® Animal Health Inc. Interview with Tom Kauffman
- 12. Member Feature SpotlightMemberFeature SpotlightDecember 2015December 2015 River of Hope is a 501(c)(3) organization which strives to provide therapy to help individuals through “Nurturing Healthy Relationships.” Their main office is located at Gingrichs Men- nonite Church located at 100 Forney Road in Lebanon. This main location was opened in 2012. Dave Musser, LMFT, is the founder and executive director of River of Hope. Formerly a pas- tor at Gingrichs Mennonite Church, Musser found that the time he spent counseling individuals at his church started to outweigh all of his other duties. He was encouraged to begin offering coun- seling and therapy full-time. In 2015, three River of Hope satellite offices opened. These offices are located at Calvary Bible Fellowship Church in Sink- ing Spring, PA, at Encounter Church of Palmyra, and at Ephrata Church of the Brethren. Although River of Hope’s offices are located within various churches, they have no direct affiliation with them, and the organization takes a non-denominational approach with its clients. As expressed in their mission statement, River of Hope “nurtures healthy relationships by providing hope and heal- ing through preventative education and professional, Christ- centered therapy for all ages and life stages.” River of Hope helps counsel children, teens and adults in a variety of different client service areas, from aging issues, to anxiety, to grief, to pre-marital counseling, to stress management. “Marriage therapy probably has our deepest focus,” explained Shelly Hitz, the director of operations at River of Hope. With a staff of seven individuals, including Hitz and six thera- pists, River of Hope is slated to provide over 3,300 hours of therapy in 2015, or 270-290 hours per month. All of the organi- zation’s therapists have various areas of focus, and all are either licensed or working toward their clinical license. There are a number of attributes which make River of Hope a very unique organization. For one, they do not accept insurance. Hitz explained that this allows them to cater to their individual clients, formatting a therapy program that fits their specific needs. Different services at River of Hope have different costs as- sociated with them, but the organization uses a sliding fee scale. A standard one hour therapy session costs $80, but it could go as low as $15 based on household income and other factors. James Black, MA, LPC, a therapist at River of Hope, explained that another characteristic unique to the organization is its sys- temic approach. Using this approach, River of Hope’s therapists take a “practical look at behavioral patterns within relational groups – families, households, businesses, churches…to uncover unhealthy patterns of thought, action, and belief in order to redi- rect the relational system toward healthy interaction.” Black and Hitz do see a number of patterns emerging in the types of therapy they are offering to their clients. They see more and more teens needing help coping with stress and anxiety. Black stated that he sees more women ages 30 and older dealing with depression. River of Hope’s therapists help individuals with situations ranging from families who have adopted, families with special needs children, to marriages that have broken apart due to unfaithfulness. In addition to their standard therapy sessions, River of Hope is in the process of developing a program called “Nurture 13.” This is a week-long, intensive, marriage counseling program. Couples meet with a therapist for two hours for five consecutive days and engage in therapeutic exercises and take various assessments. River of Hope is now also offering the Gottman Relationship Checkup. This is an online survey which each couple takes. Then, the couple meets with a therapist from River of Hope to review the survey assessment. The survey acts as an identifier of a couple’s strengths, reveals a couple’s challenges, and acts as a clinical therapeutic tool. Black noted that the Gottman Rela- tionship Checkup is not only effective for married couples, but for cohabitating couples as well. Hitz explained that River of Hope is also developing a niche area of counseling providing aid for business leaders. The organi- zation can design seminars tailored to whatever topic a business is looking for. If an organization wants to offer their employees a workshop on handling stress or on leadership qualities, then River of Hope can design a program specifically for them. River of Hope also offers employers an Employee Assistance Program. Through this program, business employers can pay for the first three to six sessions at River of Hope for their employ- ees. Businesses aren’t charged unless their employees actually take advantage of the sessions. Employees can meet with River of Hope therapists to discuss any topic, from handling a tran- sition into a new role within their company, to dealing with personal matters. River of Hope holds a few signature events to help raise money for their organization. Their Coffee & Dessert Night features a silent and live auction and is held on the first Saturday in No- vember. A Ministry Leaders’ Breakfast is held annually in March and in September. River of Hope is always looking for business sponsors for these events. Anyone interested in learning more about River of Hope, their mission, and their services, can contact them at 717-274-3950. Information is also available online at www.riverofhope.org. River of Hope Interview with Shelly Hitz & James Black River of Hope’s staff. Standing (left to right) are Meredith Engebretson, LPC; Bethany Kyper, LCSW; Rebecca Hollenbach, MAMFT; Michele Miller, MAMFT; and James Black, LPC. Seated (left to right) are Shelly Hitz and Dave Musser, LMFT.
- 13. Wednesday, December 16 4:30- 6:30 p.m. Iron Valley Tubing (Iron Valley Golf Course) 201 Iron Valley Drive, Lebanon FREE for Chamber Members $10 Public Admission Join Lebanon Valley Chamber members and guests for an opportunity to network, expand your business contacts and gain exposure for your business or organization. Enjoy great hors d’oeuvres, beverages and door prizes! Iron Valley Golf Club will host the event to feature their new Iron Valley Tubing facilities! Iron Valley Tubing features 15 lanes for snow tubing, a 900 ft. run, and a 130 ft. drop! And yes! There will be snow tubing!!! Please contact the Chamber if you would like to gain additional exposure for your busi- ness or organization by contributing a door prize for this event. (Members Only)
- 14. Thursday, December 17 5- 7 p.m. Lebanon Farmers Market Mezzanine Level 35 S. 8th St., Lebanon FREE for LVYP Members $10 Non-Members (Ages 21-40) Join us for some holiday networking! Get in the holiday spirit with the Lebanon Valley Young Professionals at their December mixer. The event will feature delicious food and wine from the Lebanon Farmers Market! Attendees are encouraged to bring a food item to donate to the Salvation Army! Register by Decmeber 16 online at lvchamber.org, by calling 717-273-3727, or by emailing Bethany Houser at bhouser@lvchamber.org. LVYP Holiday Mixer Thursday, December 17 5 - 7 p.m Lebanon Farmers Market Mezzanine Level 35 S. 8th St., Lebanon FREE for LVYP Members $10 Non-Members (Ages 21-40) Join us for some holiday networking! Get in the holiday spirit with the Lebanon Valley Young Professionals at their December mixer. The event will feature delicious food and wine from the Lebanon Farmers Market! Attendees are encouraged to bring a food item to donate to the Salvation Army! Register by Decmeber 16 online at lvchamber.org, by calling 717-273-3727, or by emailing Bethany Houser at bhouser@lvchamber.org. LVYP Holiday Mixer
- 15. 604 Cumberland Street Lebanon,PA 17042 (717) 273-3727 lvchamber.org The Small Business Roundtable Presents: Friday, December 18 12:00 - 1:00 pm The Small Business Roundtable is a meeting of area businesses (including home-based and small businesses), although all Chamber members are welcome to attend. Non-Chamber members are also welcome to attend one meeting as our guest before joining. The meeting is casual and attendees can bring their own lunch. If you think you will be attending the meeting, please RSVP to the Chamber at 273-3727 or e-mail BHouser@lvchamber.org. Come early and network with fellow small business owners! You’ve waited all year for this. It’s our annual pot luck luncheon. Bring your favorite dish or snack and enjoy the holiday treats of others while we talk about our experiences, successes, and issues as small businesses in the Lebanon Valley. Drinks courtesy of the LV Chamber Come in for a Break Mark your calendar now for our next meeting: Friday, January 22
- 16. 2016 Economic ForecastBreakfast Thursday, January 21 7:30 - 9:30 a.m. Alden Place Clubhouse 100 Freeman Drive, Lebanon $25 Chamber Members $30 Public Admission Don’t Miss This Preview Of What Lies Ahead In 2016 For Our Local, State & National Economies, As Well As For Key Sectors Of Our Economy! Presenting Sponsor: COMPANY TABLE SPONSORSHIPS - $250 for Table of 8 - Prominently-Located Table Identified by Sponsor Business Name - Sponsor Business Listed in the Breakfast Program Our 2016 Economic Forecast Speakers: Andrew Hill, Ph.D. Economist, Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia Mike Sliney Vice President & Senior Advisor Consultant, Franklin Templeton Investments Speaker Sponsor: For Your Business. For Our Community.