Pocono Business Journal
Seven Bridge Road, RR# 5 Box 5198
East Stroudsburg, PA 18301
}
Celebrating 3 Years of Award-Winning Journalism at PBJ
POCONO
Regional Business News & Resources
THIS MONTH
• Business Partnerships A “Marriage”
Of The Minds............................................p. 1
• Entrepreneurs Seek The Perfect
Business Trifecta....................................p. 21
• Having a Plan Key To Getting Funds.........p. 7
• Insider’s Guide To Pocono Market...........p. 21
• Men Who Have Made An Impact.............p. 18
• Moonlight Serenade...............................p. 19
• Partners in Wedlock And Workplace.........p. 3
Best
New Business
www.pbjonline.com
January 2009, Vol. 5, Issue 1
Startups and Partnerships
Business Partnerships a
“Marriage” of the Minds
• PBJ Columnists
Ask SCORE.............................................p. 10
Guest Columnist/Disney Entrepreneur
Center.................................................p. 11
HR Toolbox...............................................p. 9
Leadership Pocono................................p. 12
Pocono Mountains Assn. of Realtors.....p. 11
Regional Healthcare Report..................p. 10
Sustainable is Attainable.......................p. 15
Workforce Development........................p. 14
QUOTE
“I really enjoy turning a property
into something positive and seeing
job creation.”
Full story on Page 18
OBSERVE
1
9
11
23
New Year’s Day
National Clean Off Your
Desk Day
Start of International
Printing Week
National pie Day
QUESTION
How many people carpool to
work in Monroe County?
See GPCC Business Magazine ad
for the answer on page 12.
please recycle this paper
www.pbjonline.com
Photo credit: Pocono Business Journal
Steve Putzi, Delaware and Hudson
Hotel, Honesdale
Fleur-de-lis owners Josephine Mero (left) and Martha Loomis work together to provide an “appealing” experience to those who enter the store.
By Nicholas Sergi
“I think it’s much more about the quality of the relationship.” So says George Fowler, and it may sound like
he’s talking about a marriage. Actually, Fowler is an independent small business consultant based in New York
City, and he’s talking about the core truth that makes a
small business venture by two partners work. “A business partnership is a marriage. It’s best if they know each
other well before they form such a partnership.”
To underscore his point, Fowler added that “you have
to know yourself, and you have to trust that your partner
knows himself or herself,” which includes trusting your
partner’s level of commitment and that each will bring
his or her contacts to the table. Fowler also believes it’s
important that a partnership, surprisingly, should not be
completely equal. “Someone should be able to make a final decision” if something should go awry in the relationship.
At Arrival, a Stroudsburg shop that specializes in
skateboards, snowboards and related clothing and accessories, the partners are three friends who combined
their skills and their passion. Each partner fills his own
niche. While all three can alternate running the day-today transactions in the store itself, Aaron Rude handles
see PARTNERSHIP page 8
Professional Profile - Elevations: the ‘Cheers’ of Health Clubs page 16
2
Pocono Business Journal | January 2009
www.pbjonline.com
POCONO
TABLE OF CONTENTS
ARTICLES
Regional Business News & Resources
Twin Willow Publishing Company
Pocono Business Journal
Seven Bridge Road
RR#5 Box 5198
East Stroudsburg, PA 18301-9209
570.421.0100 | fax 570.421.0404
www.pbjonline.com
PUBLISHER/EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
Marynell Strunk
EDITOR
Debbie Burke
REPORTERS
Patrick Bresnyan
Susan Jorstad
Sharon Rothman
Nicholas Sergi
John Shortino
CONTRIBUTORS
Susan Beecher
Steven Cunningham
Cheryl Ann Houseman
Edward Johnson
Theresa Long
Victoria Mavis
Brian A. Rider
Jerry Ross
Joseph Sebelin
Bob Wendelgass
EDITORIAL ASSISTANTS
Danielle Eberhardt
Chelsea McMahon
SALES
ads@pbjonline.com
PRODUCTION/DESIGN
Jason Trump
CARTOONIST
Tanya Kerkslag
CIRCULATION
circulation@pbjonline.com
COPYRIGHT: PBJ is protected under the federal Copyright Act. Reproductions of any part by
any means or facsimiles without the express written permission of the publisher are not permitted. Reprints of PBJ articles are available. For rates and information visit http://www.pbjonline.
com/reprints.html. PBJ cannot be responsible for the return of unsolicited material, manuscripts
and photographs without the inclusion of a self-addressed stamped envelope. Information
in this publication is gathered from sources considered to be reliable, but the accuracy and
completeness of the information cannot be guaranteed. Submission of information does not
guarantee inclusion. PBJ is published monthly from offices located at Seven Bridge Road, East
Stroudsburg, PA 18301. PBJ serves business owners, managers and professionals in the four
county Pocono region: Carbon, Monroe, Pike and Wayne. Subscriptions are available for $30
per year or $60 for two years. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to: Pocono Business
Journal, RR#5 Box 5198, East Stroudsburg, PA 18301
Monthly Missive
Dream….don’t despair.
The focus of the January
issue is exciting to me. The
motives, fortitude and sheer
determination that take an
individual from wherever they
start and place them in the midst of a start-up,
partnership, or entrepreneurship are intriguing
to me. Over the years, in speaking with business
owners, this impetus often comes from frustration
or dissatisfaction and quickly gives way to dreaming.
Dreams are the first step in building a business. The ability to provide a product or service
Business Partnerships a “Marriage” of the Minds . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . p. 1
Businesses And United Way Co-Market . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . p. 22
Elevations: The ‘Cheers’ of Health Clubs. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . p. 16
Entrepreneurs Seek The Perfect Business Trifecta . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . p. 21
Having a Plan Key to Getting Funds . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . p. 7
Insider’s Guide To Pocono Market . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . p. 21
Men Who Have Made An Impact. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . p. 18
Milford Pair Enjoys the 24/7. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . p. 3
Moonlight Serenade. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . p. 19
Partners in Wedlock And Workplace . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . p. 3
DEPARTMENTS
Book Review: “Innovate Like Edison” . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . p. 13
Business Briefs – Who’s Who/ What’s What . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . p. 23
Business Cartoon . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . p. 4 Calendar of Events . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . p. 26
Ear to the Ground: Pocono Plateau. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . p. 7
Legislative Roundup . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . p. 20
Reader’s Resource . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . p. 4
Columnists
Ask SCORE. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . p. 10
Guest Columnist/Disney Entrepreneur Center. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . p. 11
HR Toolbox . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . p. 9
Leadership Pocono. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . p. 12
Pocono Mountains Assn. of Realtors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . p. 11
Regional Healthcare Report . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . p. 10
Sustainable is Attainable. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . p. 15
Workforce Development. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . p. 14
Focus List – Business Lawyers. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . p. 25
Op Ed – Better Business Bureau . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . p. 4
Campaign for Clean Water. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . p. 5
Pennsylvania Retailers’ Association . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . p. 4
Register – Bankruptcies, Deeds, Mortgage Transactions and New Corporations/Fictitious Names. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . p. 24
Advertisers Index
Associated Libraries. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
Astraia Security Alliance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
Blue Cross of Northeastern Pennsylvania. . . . . . 6
Dime Bank . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
East Stroudsburg University. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
Express Employment Professionals . . . . . . . . . 26
First National Bank of Palmerton. . . . . . . . . . . 10
Greater Pocono Chamber of
Commerce Business Magazine . . . . . . . . . . . 12
Holly Corcoran, CPA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
Journal Publications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
Keegan Tees, Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
Monroe County Career Link. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
NEPA Ad Club . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
PA Chamber of Commerce. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
Penn Security Bank. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
Penn’s Peak Radio. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
Pocono Arts Council. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
Pocono Medical Center. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32
Premier Administrative Resources. . . . . . . . . . 12
Sherman Theater. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
Stone, Cypher, DeAngelo & Hornberger, LLP . 15
Strunk-Albert Engineering. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
TN Printing. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
University of Scranton . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
Wayne Memorial Health Systems. . . . . . . . . . . 19
West End Business Expo. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
with your unique trademark is what creates the
small business culture. A recent National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB.com) Economic
Trends Report points to a slowdown in the growth
and expansion of small business. A cursory review
of the current economy would send the most dogged
individuals running with their tails between their legs.
But look again, remembering that opportunity is often
cloaked in tragedy. Consumers still need goods and
services; there is still a need for sound, responsible
businesses.
Now’s the time to dream, not despair. Take a
good, hard look at your business and your business
plan. What can you offer that no one else can? Once
you look on the inside, take a look around you. What
do people want, that no one else is providing? How
can you fill this niche? It’s time for some self-examination. It will be the dreamers and doers who steady
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the economy and move everyone forward to better
times.
On behalf of everyone from Pocono Business
Journal, I wish all the businesses in the Poconos a
New Year filled with prosperity, continued growth
and the ability to dream.
Marynell K. Strunk
Publisher/Editor
Contact me at mstrunk@pbjonline.com
3
Pocono Business Journal | January 2009
NEWS
Partners in Wedlock and Workplace
Business partnerships can form out of friendships or mutual interests, other from financial need,
some spring from inspiration, and many are family
relationships that expand to business partnerships.
The Small Business Administration’s statistics
indicate that more than 20 million Americans are in
family-run businesses. Many are husband and wife
owned and operated, and as with any partnership,
one involving family members could come with a
unique set of problems.
Personal conflicts between married partners can
overpower any business problems and should be
addressed at the start of the business. The key to
any successful partnership, whether in business, at
home or the workplace, is excellent communication. Well-run partnerships start with defining and
communicating each partner’s responsibilities in
the context of a business plan that every one agrees
upon. Equally important is the trust factor, and
knowing if you are not available, the business is in
capable hands.
John and Ginny Lopis are the husband and
wife team that owns and operates The Lodge at
Woodloch, a destination spa in Hawley. They have
been a couple for over thirty-five years. They first
met when John was a professor of education at
Photo courtesy of Lodge at Woodloch
By Sharon Rothman
Sharing interests and a business vision are Ginny and John
Lopis, owners of The Lodge at Woodloch.
Michigan State University and Ginny was a high
school English and journalism teacher. They lived
together for eight years and then married. The Lopises have shared a passion for Eastern philosophy,
its meditation practices, and cooking with organic
foods. Ginny explained, “We believed it would
be great to open a spa that incorporated all of our
shared interests. John and I purchased a property
in Vermont to create our ultimate spa retreat. When
we began to do research and realized we needed to
learn a lot about the spa business to be successful.
We were smart enough to know we were on a path
Milford Pair Enjoys the 24/7
By Sharon Rothman
Mom and Pop businesses have been part
of the American landscape for centuries. Some
of the strongest companies started as small
family businesses. One local example is Steve
and Patty Vill, of Milford’s Industrial Hose
Supply, which sells hydraulic and industrial
hoses. The couple first met over two decades
ago. Husband/business owner Steve said, “It
was amazing that we hadn’t met sooner. Patty
and I had so much in common and share a lot
of mutual friends in the neighborhood. One of
those friends introduced us and the chemistry
was instant. We married within a year from our
first date, which was over twenty-one years
ago.”
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Steve continued, “I’ve been in this industrial hose business for most of my life and so
was Patty’s family. About twelve years ago
we started working together at Industrial Hose
Supply with her father and mother. They both
worked here until their passing a few years ago.
It is a great dynamic to work with family. If
some one is late to work, like one of my daughters, I’ll just go over to the house and pull them
out of bed! As far as our shared responsibilities,
my wife is the boss and I run the shop. It just
works for us. She has a degree in business and
she knows best. What our partnership really
strives for is to have economic growth within
Pike County and we will do whatever it takes to
help achieve its prosperity.”
please recycle this paper
of learning.”
For twelve years they worked as executives at
some of the nation’s most renowned world-class
spas, then in 1991 created their own spa-consulting
firm, JGL Spa Design. After 20 years of contributing their expertise and principles, JGL Spa Design
and Consulting opened the Lodge at Woodloch,
creating a vacation experience and an opportunity
for personal “awakening.” Ginny expressed how
part of their success in their business partnership
is just an extension of their positive marriage. “We
really enjoy each other’s company. We start each
day with a morning walk. Sometime we just talk,
and other times it may be a business meeting. I believe part of our success is we have definitive roles
and responsibilities. John is the CEO and I am the
COO. We respect each other’s decisions and opinions. We have a very solid decision structure that is
right for us and we’ve never had any conflict. We
really enjoy our time together. Our offices are right
across from each other and I find myself talking to
him through the doorway through out the day.”
John and Ginny are founding members of the
International Spa Association (ISPA). In 2005, they
received ISPA’s Visionary Award, one of the highest honors in the spa industry.
Letter to the Editor
With our nation in the midst of its worst economic crisis since the Great Depression, Congress
must be willing to take bold and decisive action to
spur a housing and economic recovery. Unless we
are able to halt the slide in home prices, the nation’s
housing and economic woes will continue to grow
even worse. This is why a robust housing component must be an integral part of the new economic
stimulus package under consideration by the incoming Obama Administration and new Congress. A
failure to stem the decline in home values and jumpstart home sales will result in more foreclosures,
more problems with troubled mortgage assets and
an increasing inventory (already at record levels),
which in turn will drag down property values even
more.
In order to break out of this downward spiral,
we need to get skittish home buyers back into the
market. To stimulate demand, Congress should
enact a meaningful tax credit between $10,000 and
$22,000 available to all qualified home buyers,
coupled with an aggressive interest rate buy-down
program to as low as 2.99 percent for those who
purchase a home in 2009.These measures will stabilize home prices, prevent future foreclosures, restore
consumer confidence and start creating jobs. Congress enacted similar policies during an economic
downturn in the mid-1970s. It worked then. And it
can work again.
Robert K Pierce, President
Pike County Builders Association
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POCONO
Regional Business News & Resources
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Don’t Be Without Your “Taste”
In order to bring you more business news, the staff at Pocono Business Journal has launched
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4
Pocono Business Journal | January 2009
OP ED
Here Today, Gone Tomorrow: Business Bankruptcies
Guest Columnist
Edward Johnson
It’s not pretty. We all know what “it” is: the
economy. Here is the conundrum. Businesses are cutting prices to attract customers; however, how will you
know if the business is in trouble and unable to deliver
on its promises? This issue is not germane to consumers. It is equally applicable to businesses. Every business is, in a sense, also a consumer as it relies on and
seeks out the services and products of other businesses.
As a result of the declining economy, the number of
businesses closing their doors has increased substantially, leaving confused buyers wondering what will
happen to undelivered goods, services and outstanding
warranties. Your Better Business Bureau (BBB) offers
some advice for businesses on what to do if a company
you are dealing with closes up shop.
The current freeze on credit is having a serious
impact on business. Bankruptcy filings by U.S. businesses rose 67 percent in September over the previous
year, according to data compiled by Automated Access
to Court Electronic Records. Companies commonly file
for Chapter 11 bankruptcy, which means they intend to
reorganize and continue to do business, or Chapter 7,
which means the company will close up for good and
liquidate any assets in order to pay creditors. If a business intends to continue operations under Chapter 11, it
will often continue to redeem gift cards, fulfill services
and deliver on goods. Some Chapter 11 bankruptcies,
however, quickly turn into Chapter 7 cases. The chances
for the consumer to receive any compensation are then
greatly diminished.
In order to prevent problems, businesses are urged
to deal with sellers they trust. Before making a purchase, check the BBB report on the company. If the
Business Humor by Stoosh
report is adverse and there are many complaints, particularly in the past 12 months, a red flag should go up.
In addition, the more expensive the purchase, the more
you have to risk. Proceed with caution and perform
your due diligence. However, despite your best efforts
to identify companies in financially troubled waters,
there is no crystal ball and you may end up having to
deal with a bankrupt firm. The following are steps you
can take if a retailer files for Chapter 7:
Goods or Services Due
Bankruptcy law is specific regarding who will
benefit first in the case of a firm’s liquidation. Unfortunately, customers are at the back of the line. Typically,
the money gained from the sales of the company’s
assets goes to paying back secured creditors, as well as
any employee wages, before whatever is left over is divvied among customers who didn’t receive the promised
services or goods.
Customers who paid with credit cards, though, may
be able to dispute the charge with the credit card company and get their money back—for this reason, among
others, the BBB highly recommends you pay with a
credit card. For those who paid by debit card, check or
cash, they must file a claim with the bankruptcy court
administering the process. The deadline is typically 90
days after the filing date. More information on filing
a claim, including downloadable forms, is available
online at www.uscourts.gov.
Warranties
The validity of any outstanding warranties varies
for each bankruptcy. If a firm goes out of business, the
customer may be able to rely on the manufacturer’s
warranty. If a manufacturer goes out of business, the
customer may be able to rely on any warranties provided by the retailer. Many extended warranties and service
plans are provided and administered by third parties and
are typically not affected by a firm or manufacturer going bust.
Gift Cards
In cases of Chapter 11 bankruptcy, courts will
decide if the business must honor gift cards or certificates. If the business has filed Chapter 7 bankruptcy,
the holder must file a claim. In some cases, customers
might actually get back part of the value of the card.
Some retailers have tried wooing new customers by
accepting a bankrupt competitor’s gift card but this is
generally a rare circumstance. The BBB advises that
customers redeem gift cards as soon as possible in order
to avoid any headaches with bankruptcy files and court
actions.
Edward Johnson is president and CEO of the Better
Business Bureau serving the Eastern and Northeastern
Pennsylvania region.
Employee Free Choice Act (EFCA): What It
Is and How It May Change Your Business
Guest Columnist
Brian A. Rider
As we head into a new legislative session in 2009,
one piece of proposed legislation businesses should be
aware of and keep an eye on is Employee Free Choice
Act (H.R. 800, S. 1041), better known as the Card
Check Bill.
The Card Check Bill was passed in the House and
blocked in the Senate in 2007, but it is no secret that
it will be a top legislative priority in 2009. Organized
labor spent tens of millions of dollars putting Democrats
in Congress and the White House and is certain to make
a push for this in early 2009.
Proponents of the bill say it would make it easier
for unions to organize and its passage would ultimately
result in higher wages and better working conditions.
Opponents say the act would allow unions and
coworkers to coerce and intimidate workers into joining
unions and could result in layoffs or company closures
if wage and benefit increases were forced beyond employer means.
Currently, the law states if union organizers collect
signatures from at least 30 percent of the employees in
a bargaining unit, the federal National Labor Relations
Board will hold an election to determine whether to cer-
tify the union. This process was established to balance
the interests of employees, unions, and employers in
order to ensure that workers can hear all sides and then
make up their minds and vote in private.
Because union density has dropped to about 7.5
percent in the private sector, organized labor is seeking to change the rules to make it easier to organize.
Instead of determining whether a union would be
certified through a federally-supervised secret ballot
election, the Card Check Bill would allow the union
would be certified the moment it collected a majority of
signed authorization cards. The Card Check Bill would
therefore eliminate the campaign period and the legal
requirements that regulate it, not to mention eliminating
the ability of employees to make an informed decision
in private. Employee decisions would be made in front
of union organizers, which greatly increases the opportunity for coercion and pressure in the process.
The Pennsylvania Retailers’ Association along with
our national affiliates, National Retail Federation (NRF)
and Retail Industry Leaders Association (RILA), will
be in strong opposition of this bill as we believe fair
practices are already in place for the organization of
unions and secret ballots need to remain in tact to avoid
coercion. Organized Labor will be forcing this issue
early in the 2009 legislative session so we strongly encourage the Pennsylvania business community to have
your voice be heard now by contacting the PA Congressional Delegation.
Brian A. Rider is the president & CEO of the Pennsylvania Retailers’ Association which is dedicated to
the protection and promotion of Pennsylvania’s retail
industry through information, business services and
legislative representation.
NOTE TO READERS: Opinions expressed in any
commentary published in PBJ are not necessarily a
reflection of the opinions of PBJ. Likewise, PBJ will
not be held responsible for any suggestion or advice
published by PBJ and PBJ assumes no liability
for actions that result based on such material. The
publisher and staff welcome your opinions on issues.
Write to PBJ at the address listed on the inside front
cover or e-mail editor@pbjonline.com.
|
PBJ READER’S RESOURCE
www.entrepreneurship.org
An entity whose mantra is that entrepreneurs
will lead our nation’s economic recovery,
entrepreneurship.org provides a detailed
view of the critical role today’s entrepreneurs
play. With an eye on global entrepreneurism
(including policies that will impact on such
self-starters) to the importance of social
media as an entrepreneurial strategy, this resource includes a variety of channels on topics
such as HR, finance, sales and marketing. An
enewsletter and lots of interactive capabilities
add to its value.
Debbie Burke
5
Pocono Business Journal | January 2009
OP ED
Forested Streams Benefit Wildlife and Communities
Guest Columnist
Bob Wendelgass
Nearly 15% of Pennsylvania’s rivers and streams are so polluted they are on
the nation’s “dirty waters” list…and homes
and lives are tragically lost in floods every
year. One solution that can go a long way
to address these problems is preserving trees
along our streams. Where forests remain
along our streams, water quality is protected,
flood damage is reduced, wildlife habitat is
improved, and healthier communities are created.
For decades, we’ve built too close to
streams, cutting down forests and filling
flood-plains to make way for homes and
businesses. We’re now paying the price with
flood damage, water pollution, and lower
quality of life. Moving new construction
far enough from streams so that streamside
forests can work could help reduce the costs
of polluted water and flood damage.
The Pennsylvania Campaign for Clean
Water is promoting minimum 100 foot
forested buffers along streams and rivers in
our state. Our plan would only affect new
development. Existing development within
the buffer zone and farming activities would
be exempted. Special variances would also
protect property owners whose land is mostly
located within the buffer zone.
Why 100 feet? The scientific consensus
is clear: buffers of 100 feet or more are better
able to reduce pollution, prevent flooding,
and protect our drinking water.
Preserving a 100 foot buffer zone allows
rainfall to soak into the ground instead of
rushing directly into streams. This water is
purified and released more slowly into the
stream, preventing pollution, erosion, and
flood damage. Trees also shade the stream,
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PBJ
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POCONO
Regional Business News & Resources
www.pbjonline.com
holding down water temperatures and providing better
habitat.
People living along the stream also benefit. Decreasing the amount of water that rushes into a stream when
it rains can reduce flooding, cutting property damage.
Buffers can reduce the cost of stormwater management by
reducing the need for expensive structures. Keeping our
streams clean also makes our drinking water safer and less
expensive to treat.
Our proposal makes economic sense in that it keeps
development out of the path of flooding, reducing potential
damage for homeowners, and can help developers reduce
costs for stormwater management structures. In addition,
most developments often include open space and green
space as amenities for buyers; our proposal would encourage them to concentrate that green space along stream corridors. In other states with buffer requirements, we have
been told that it did not necessarily result in more open
space, but mostly reconfigured its location.
Bob Wendelgass is National Deputy Director for Clean Water Action and chair of the PA Campaign for Clean Water, a
statewide coalition of watershed and conservation groups.
East Stroudsburg University
Inventing the Future
A Member of the Pennsylvania State
System of Higher Education
EAST STROUDSBURG
UNIVERSITY
of Pennsylvania
ESU Research and Technology Park, 51,000 sq.ft. Technology and
Innovation Center, future home of the ESU Business Accelerator, ESU
Research and Economic Development, Cyber Crime and Forensic Institute,
R & D Facilities, and Anchor Tenants. Project completion Fall 2009.
Building the Infrastructure
for a Global Economy.
East Stroudsburg University of Pennsylvania serves as an educational
asset and economic engine for the region. ESU is committed to expanding
regional alliances and academic opportunities to prepare students to serve,
lead and succeed in a global economy.
The ESU Center for Research and Economic Development, a private,
nonprofit, 501(c) 3 corporation, is developing the ESU Research and Business
Park on 11 acres of property in Smithfield Township. Phase 1 of the project
includes the construction of a 51,000 sq.ft. Technology and Innovation
Center on 4.4-acres in the Pocono Mountains Keystone Innovation Zone.
Additional build out of the Park is planned involving public and private
partnerships. Phase 1 is anticipated to create 595 jobs and generate $57M
into the Monroe County economy. For further information contact ESU’s
Division of Research and Economic Development at 570-422-7920.
www.esu.edu
ESU has been identified as
a ‘best practice’ model in
community and economic
development regionally
and by the Pennsylvania
State System of Higher
Education. We are proud to
operate an award-winning
Business Accelerator
program that is creating
high-tech jobs while our
sponsored programs and
research efforts have
generated in excess of
$22.5M in grant funding
over the past five years.”
– ESU President
Robert J. Dillman
6
Pocono Business Journal | January 2009
NEWS
Working Your Trade Show Booth
By Barry Thomsen
All your advance planning, expense and work are
about to pay off because “it’s show time!” You’ve
spent the money to get into this trade show. Now it’s
time to reap the rewards. It’s how you work your
booth that will determine how much you’ll get out
of it. Here are a few suggestions to get maximum
results:
• Keep the walk-in front area of your
booth open and clear at all times so
visitors can enter easily and not have to
maneuver around you or your staff to
get in.
• Dress professionally and make trips to
the rest room to check your appearance
as the day goes on. Keep breath mints
handy and use them often.
• Don’t sit behind a table or anywhere
else. Stand with a friendly smile even if
it hurts or you’re tired. The next person
stopping by could be the big one. If you
must sit and rest, go to a rest area for a
few minutes.
• Have water in your booth to refresh
yourself and staff between visitors.
You’re going to do a lot of talking.
Moist towelettes are also refreshing.
• Don’t eat food in your booth. It’s bad
manners and looks unprofessional sitting on a table while you’re talking to
someone. If you’re hungry, get a quick
snack at the concession area.
• Greet visitors with a simple Hello and
give them a minute or two to look
around. Then ask a few questions about
where they’re from and if they use your
type of products.
• Try to get a business card from each
visitor and make notes on the back for
future reference. You can code them as
to their importance or other significant
details.
• Make sure you have enough staff in
your booth to handle the expected
number of guests. People won’t wait
very long if no one is available to talk to
them.
• Ask visitors if they would like to take
literature with them or should you mail
it to them after the show. There is usually too much to carry and they will appreciate receiving it back at their office.
• Have a demonstration of your product
or service and post times when it will
start. If you can’t do a demo, consider
having a TV with a company video
constantly showing its use.
• Have a contest or drawing for prizes and
encourage everyone to enter. The more
valuable the prize, the more entries (and
traffic) you could expect.
• Try to create a situation or event in your
booth that will attract media attention
to get some free publicity. You want as
much media attention as you can get;
it’s free.
• Give your booth staffers a 15 or 20-minute break every two hours so they return
refreshed. Going a long time without
a break can make them a little grouchy
and less friendly to your visitors.
• Don’t turn your back to the booth entrance and
aisle. If you are talking to someone, guide him
or her to the side so others can enter easily and
browse.
• Have a last minute meeting with your staff every
day of the show to remind them of your goals and
what you expect to achieve. Be open to all questions about situations from the previous day and
head off any problems that occurred yesterday.
Why
• Videotape your exhibit in action so you can
review it after the show and make changes and adjustments for the next trade show. Show it to your
staff and ask for suggestions. Each trade show
exhibit should be a little better than the last one.
Barry Thomsen is the publisher and editor of Small
Business Idea-Letter. Visit www.idealetter.com for
more information.
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7
Pocono Business Journal | January 2009
NEWS
Business Consultant Brenda Scott from DCED suggests the “Entrepreneur’s Guide,” available on its Web
site at www.newpa.com.
By Patrick Bresnyan
If you’re starting a new business in the Poconos
and you’re hoping to secure funding, it all starts with
a written business plan. According to Mary Beth
Wood, executive director of the Wayne Economic
Development Corporation in Honesdale, “It is the
first question we ask of anyone who has come to our
office seeking assistance.” Such a plan is crucial to a
prospective lender because it defines the business and
its components, such as marketing and financials.
In Milford, Rachel Hendricks, deputy director for
Economic Development at the Pike County Economic
Development Authority, agrees: if you’re going to
look for money, you need that plan. “If they tell us
they want to take out a loan to open their business,
or make the ghastly comment that they hope to get
grants to open their business, we tell them the business plan is a must.”
Your plan helps demonstrate that you’ve carefully
thought out how the business will operate and, more
important, how the business will make enough money
to repay the lender. If a new business owner submits
a grant or loan application without a plan or with
one that’s incomplete, Hendricks says, “The lender
will likely wonder if they’re a good risk since they
don’t have all of the information to know they’ve
thought it through.”
“Despite what you see on TV, there really is
no free money for small business start-ups,” says
Wood. Funding is there to help build a business but
only if a clear “blueprint” is in place.
Where to start? Brenda Scott, a business consultant at the Center for Entrepreneurial Assistance
at the Department of Community and Economic
Development in Harrisburg, says the Entrepreneur’s
Guide provides a “checklist for new entrepreneurs,
an outline of a business plan, business structure
information and some state licensing requirements.”
Polish Trade Show Brings
International Guests, Local
Officials, and Technology
Photo courtesy of the Polish Consortium Group
Photo courtesy of DCED
Having A Plan is Key to Getting Funds
Key Elements of a Strong Business Plan
• Mission Statement—What’s the nature of your
business?
• Marketing Plan—How will you sell your business to the public?
• Operations Plan—How will your business run?
• Insurance Plan—How will you protect your business?
• Financial Plan—How much money will it take to
be successful?
RESOURCES
Entrepreneur’s Guide-Starting and Growing a Business in Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development
www.newpa.com
Pennsylvania Small Business Development Centers
(PASBDC)
www.pasbdc.org
Ear To The Ground: Pocono Plateau
The Hickory Run Tap House on Route 534 in
Albrightsville opened just before Thanksgiving in the
former Hickory House.
Fromm Electric Supply of Reading, which
opened a location in Mt. Pocono in October, added its
tenth branch on November 19 by opening a facility in
Honesdale. The Honesdale service center will initially
employ two local industry professionals.
Minuteman Towing and Repairs’ newest location, a six-bay truck service garage off Route 534 and
Interstate 80 near White Haven, has its steel up and
its roof on, with contractors hurrying to get the walls
and doors on before the coldest days of winter. The
Mifflinville company will be towing customers to its
newest location later this spring.
Kripa Motel Group of Allentown, owners of
the Comfort Inn at the Turnpike and Interstate
80 in Kidder Township, has taken control of the
Denny’s restaurant at that location and closed it.
The restaurant reopened in mid-December after
renovations as the Woodside Bar & Grill, serving
lunch and dinner, and featuring a full sports bar.
Contributed by Seth Isenberg/Journal Newspapers
EDITOR’S NOTE: “Ear to the Ground” offers
information on a given region of the Poconos, contributed by professionals who have heard snippets
of business news relevant to our readership area.
To participate, please email editor@pbjonline.com
or call (570) 421-0100.
The Polish Trade Show, a two-day event held at
The Inn at Pocono Manor in November, brought
business guests and dignitaries alike, including
a representative from the Consulate General of
Republic of Poland; Rep. Mario Scavello (R,
176); and Thomas P. Williams, District Project
Director from Rep. Paul Kanjorski’s office. The
first day included a seminar delivered by the
Chief of Trade and Investment of the Consulate
General of Poland, about Poland/US Business
partnerships. The event had over 25 exhibitors,
from travel agencies to suppliers of innovative
building materials to a business offering solar
collection technology. Pictured are guests and
participants, with Peter Wilk of the Polish Consortium Group at the far right.
PBJ BLOG
“Blogging for
Business”
Talk about business online
with PBJ columnists.
www.pbjonline.com/blog
Come Together!
AAF Ad Club ADDY Awards
Friday, February 20 • Westmoreland Club
59 South Franklin Street • Wilkes Barre
nepaadclub.com
8
Pocono Business Journal | January 2009
FEATURE STORY
PARTNERSHIP... cont. from page 1
the accounting, Hans Ziegler focuses on buying the
merchandise, and Mike Kijewski spends time offsite nurturing potential business contacts.
“Everything [about the partnership] is written
down,” says Ziegler, who adds that their friendship
and common purpose is the foundation of the company, with each one having his defined role.
Arrival offers products to “kids who don’t
gravitate to team sports and would rather pursue
something that is not as structured, where they
can do their own thing and make their own path,”
notes Ziegler.
Josephine’s Fleur-de-lis, another small business located in Stroudsburg, is run by Josephine
Mero and Martha Loomis who consider themselves equal partners with the same vision for their
shop, which offers one-of-a-kind gifts.
Loomis says what makes their partnership
work is that each one has a trio of skills they
bring, all of which have been essential to success.
Mero, who worked to convert what was once a
deli into a store of ornate gift items, serves as the
buyer, the merchandiser (arranging the gift items
to make them “appealing to the customer,” according to Loomis), and the designer.
Loomis’s expertise lies in more business-related concerns: marketing, operations, and community relations. Whenever possible, she says, “We
let each other do what we do best.”
And then sometimes you have to make lemonades out of lemons.
In creating a business partnership, it’s vitally
important to not only know and trust your pro-
spective partner or partners, it’s also important
to trust your own instincts. Stroudsburg’s Joann
Cartiglia learned this lesson the hard way. In the
late 80’s and early 90’s, she owned a retail store on
Main Street called Truly Tasteful, where she sold
unique gourmet gifts. The success of this little
enterprise surprised her, and she was able to turn
Truly Tasteful from merely a small retail operation
into a wholesale distributor, providing products to
13,000 retail stores across the nation.
It was then that she sought a partnership to
help her run her business. “The Web was a new
frontier I knew nothing about. I didn’t want to
manage the business anymore. I wanted to concentrate on my family and hire people familiar with
the industry. I was approached by two gentlemen
from a software company.”
Cartiglia wanted to continue to work in sales
and product development. With the promise of
giving her company a presence on the Web and
using a new gift-giving software to sell her products to large companies, Cartiglia says she wound
up relinquishing too much control over her successful company. Soon, the company started taking huge losses, and she left Truly Tasteful before
it went bankrupt. “My mistake was that I didn’t
trust my own business instincts.” She stressed the
importance of due diligence in forming any kind
of partnership.
In early 2003, she decided to open two new
businesses; in essence, managing, in her own
words, to “turn lemons into lemonade.” The first,
TQT Product Sourcing, offers product design and
sourcing for a variety of consumer goods, including kitchen products for gourmet food manufac-
turing. She also started thequeenstreasures.com,
which began as an eBay store. The company,
which sells accessories scaled for American Girl
dolls, has achieved Platinum Seller status on
eBay. The enterprise has expanded to Amazon.
com.
Feeding the Poconos
A new Web site and food drive program has been launched by restaurateur
Steve Ertle of Big Daddy’s in Scotrun.
Dubbed “Feed the Poconos” this effort aims
to promote Monroe County-based food
pantries and soup kitchens for those wishing to drop off food or for families who
need such services. “I’m working on getting
other businesses to get on board and pass the
torch,” says Ertle, who started the program
off with a donation from Big Daddy’s of 100
Thanksgiving meals to the East Stroudsburg
Salvation Army. Local Web designer Dennis
Jeter from A Sound Strategy Inc. (Stroudsburg) created the site to address a need.
“There is no central place for people to find
out how to give and participate,” says Jeter.
Business owners and professionals who are
interested in becoming involved can visit
FeedthePoconos.com for more information.
9
Pocono Business Journal | January 2009
HUMAN RESOURCES
HR Updates Employers Need to Know
HR Toolbox
Victoria Mavis
As President Obama takes office and his administration begins to address employer issues such as
workers’ compensation, healthcare, or workers’ ability
to form unions through the Employee Free Choice Act,
employers should also be aware of long-standing laws
that were amended during 2008 and became effective in
January 2009.
FMLA Update
Early in 2008, the FMLA (Family Medical Leave
Act) was amended to include the National Defense Authorization Act which gave two new leave entitlements
for eligible military family members:
Up to 12 weeks of leave for certain qualifying
exigencies arising out of a covered military member’s
active duty status, or notification of an impending call
or order to active duty status, in support of a contingency operation, and
Up to 26 weeks of leave in a single 12-month
period to care for a covered service member recovering
from a serious injury or illness incurred in the line of
duty on active duty.
Final regulations effective January 16, 2009 are
expected to clarify for families of Military service members on active duty how to take FMLA job-protected
leave to manage their affairs.
The regulations are expected to address (1) short
notice deployment, (2) military events and related activities, (3) childcare and school activities, (4) financial
and legal arrangements, (5) counseling, (6) rest and
recuperation, (7) post-deployment activities, and (8)
additional activities where the employer and employee
agree to the leave.
The Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA)
Since the ADA was implemented in 1990, employers have struggled to understand what is covered under
the act as its definitions (e.g., disability, major life activity, substantially limits, reasonable accommodation)
have been open to debate and have been the subject of
years of litigation and Supreme Court decisions.
In September 2008, President Bush signed the
Americans with Disabilities Act Amendments Act of
2008 (ADAAA) into law. This alters who is considered
to have a “disability” under the Act by changing the
way statutory terms are to be interpreted. The Act still
retains the ADA’s basic definition of “disability” as an
impairment that substantially limits one or more major
life activities, a record of such an impairment, or being
regarded as having such an impairment. However, the
Act expands the definition of “major life activities” by
including two non-exhaustive lists:
The first list includes many activities that the
EEOC has recognized (e.g., walking) as well as activi-
Business and Books Presents
“Managing Healthcare Costs”
W
ties that EEOC has not specifically recognized (e.g.,
reading, bending, and communicating);
The second list includes major bodily functions
(e.g., “functions of the immune system, normal cell
growth, digestive, bowel, bladder, neurological, brain,
respiratory, circulatory, endocrine, and reproductive
functions”);
These lists better define who is considered disabled
under the Act, and they broaden the scope of individuals
that are covered under the law. Other provisions were
also amended under the Act.
The effect of this one amendment is that it greatly
expands the number of individuals that are covered
under the law. The difficulty for employers going forward is that it may not be obvious when an individual
has a disability that is covered under the ADAAA, and
because the law prevents employers from asking about
the nature of the disability employers will be challenged
to provide accommodations in unknown situations.
For a complete list of final regulations, visit the
www.dol.gov (FMLA) or www.eeoc.gov (ADAAA)
Web site.
NOTE: This material is provided as general information and is not a substitute for legal advice.
Victoria Mavis is the president/CEO of Core People
Resources, LLC (Stroudsburg), providing companies
and organizations with outsourced Human Resource
services including legal compliance, staffing, and
employee training programs. Mavis can be reached at
(570) 213-4367 or visit www.corepeopleresources.com.
West End
Business Group
L
L
C
The Direction of Business in the West End
Photo credit: Pocono Business Journal
&
Free
Admission!
proudly present
West End Business Expo 2009
January 17, 2009 at the American Legion Hall Rt 209, Gilbert, PA 9 AM to 5 PM
Erin Baehr, EA, CPA and Holly Corcoran, CPA presented “Managing
Healthcare Costs Through Tax Benefits” at the November Business and Books
event at Borders in Stroudsburg. Topics of discussion included flexible spending accounts and how HRAs and HSAs differ. Shown in photo are, at left, Erin
Baehr, speaking with Michael Katz from R.J. Groner of Stroudsburg, a heating,
air conditioning and plumbing services company.
PBJ’s next Business and Books will be held at Borders on January 15 at
5:30 p.m. “Editors on the Road Part 2: Using PBJ as a Tool to Grow Your Business” will be presented by PBJ’s Publisher Marynell Strunk and Editor Debbie
Burke (see our Calendar of Events in this issue). An exciting lineup covering a
variety of new topics follows throughout 2009.




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


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
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
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Ben hodist ank!
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The West End Business Expo is designed to showcase businesses, schools, and
non-profits in the West End. The Expo is a wonderful opportunity for exhibitors to
contact a broad cross section of potential customers and clients, and is also a terrific
way for area residents to become acquainted with local enterprises.
Special thanks to our event sponsors
qbR�esourceNEPA,LLC
For exhibitor information, please visit us at www.westendbusinessgroup.com or call 610-295-9226
10
Pocono Business Journal | January 2009
HEALTHCARE
Nursing And The Financial Bottom Line
Regional Healthcare Report
Theresa Long
The climate in healthcare is ever-changing.
In fact, the one guarantee is that healthcare will
never stay the same. Whether it’s the changes in
reimbursement, delivery of care, staffing or the
nursing shortage, there will always be an evolution
in healthcare. One of the most significant challenges we face as health care providers is staying
financially sound. Nursing has a dramatic and
significant effect on the bottom line of any healthcare organization. If managed and lead effectively,
nursing can save and help turn around a financially
depressed situation.
The healthcare environment is now so heavily
regulated that there is a process called “constant
readiness” in which a healthcare facility is required
to be ever ready for the next survey or “white glove
treatment.” The responsibility of adherence to
these strict guidelines lies with the administration,
and implementing these regulations typically lies
with nursing.
Compliance affects a hospital’s reimbursement.
If a facility is found to be out of compliance, depending on the regulatory body, a financial penalty
can result and the healthcare organization’s reputation and credibility could suffer. The public must
feel trust for any organization which provides care.
Without this, consumers will simply seek another
organization which has better survey results. The
nursing staff needs to become experts in understanding and implementing all of the regulatory
changes.
The next issue for a positive bottom line is the
recruitment and retention of adequately trained
nurses. Inconsistent nursing staff yields poor morale, no continuity of care, unhappy consumers and
a significantly negatively impacted bottom line.
The ingredients needed to attract nurses can be
found in many Magnet-designated hospitals. Those
common denominator attributes include a supportive and positive work environment; and providing a culture that empowers nursing by creating a
process for them to have a strong voice.
The key to success is attracting and retaining
an engaged staff who feel a sense of ownership
with the administration and board of directors. The
nurse today can turn a failing system into a successful system. The result will be satisfied consumers who will utilize the system time and time
again, and will tell others.
Theresa Long has served as the director of Emergency Psychiatric Services for the County of
Philadelphia MH/MH; and the director for Psychiatric Services at Albert Einstein Medical Center
in Philadelphia. Long is now the vice president of
Nursing at the Blue Mountain Health System in
Lehighton.
HR Tidbit
By Victoria Mavis
Q. What forms should be updated at the beginning
of the year?
A. All employees should be asked to verify the
information on their W-4 or submit a new W-4 for
taxes. Additionally, employees’ addresses should
be verified so W-2s are mailed out to the correct
address. The beginning of the year is also a good
time to review the employee handbook to make
sure all policies and work practices are current.
Relatively Speaking, Family Businesses Need Extra Care
Ask SCORE
The family business is an American small business
tradition, one that gives parents, spouses, children, and
others an opportunity to contribute to and share in a
dream that can grow and prosper over many generations.
But without proper planning and management,
family businesses can also be the source of contention,
acrimony, and even irreparable harm to once-loving relationships. That’s why it’s important for aspiring entrepreneurs to fully understand the pros and cons of going
into business with relatives and in-laws. The needs of
the business may not always be compatible with family
harmony, resulting in a situation that handled improperly, can jeopardize the survival of both.
When bringing family members into a business for
the first time, especially as investors or in a startup situation, you should consider putting the business relationship in writing. Family members sometimes buy into the
excitement of a business startup without a clear idea of
their role once the business is underway.
In an ongoing family business, it’s important to
treat family members fairly. While some experts advise
against hiring family members, that sacrifices one of
the great benefits of a family business. Countless small
companies would never have survived without dedicated
family members, but avoid favoritism. Pay scales, promotions, work schedules, criticism and praise should be
evenhanded between family and non-family employees.
Don’t become the employer of last resort for every
distant relation who calls. Base employment on the
skills or knowledge they can bring to the business. If
your kids will be joining the business, make them get at
least three to five years business experience elsewhere
first to help them gain perspective of how the business
world works outside of a family setting.
Problems and differences of opinion are common in
Our community. Our commitment.
During times of concern, we all depend on trusted relationships for support and
reassurance. For over 100 years, our family of depositors has relied on us for
safe and stable monetary guidance. To continue earning your trust, we pledge
to never relax our prudent standards when dealing with your financial assets.
Additionally, we offer you peace of mind knowing your deposits are insured by the
Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation to the maximum level. If we can be of any
assistance during these unique times, we invite you to stop by any of our branches.
Our promise to you is our century old commitment of protecting your family’s
financial stability.
a family business, so it’s important to keep lines of communication clear. Weekly meetings to assess progress,
air differences and resolve disputes work well for many
family firms.
Just as solo entrepreneurs and non-related partners
need to separate their business and personal lives, owners of family businesses need to prevent work-related
issues from dominating family activities. While it may
be difficult to totally confine shop-talk to the workplace,
make it a standing rule not to discuss work and business issues at social gatherings or at designated “family
times” where the focus should be on other things.
SCORE is a nonprofit organization of more than
11,000 volunteer business counselors who provide free,
confidential business counseling and low fee training
workshops to small business owners. Online counseling services are also available at www.score.org. David
Richmond, the Pocono Mountains SCORE contact, can
be reached at d.richmond1@epix.net, or (570) 4249401.
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11
Pocono Business Journal | January 2009
COLUMNS
Housing Stimulus Package Would Boost Confidence
Pocono Mountains
Assn. of Realtors
Cheryl Houseman
With so much uncertainty in the economy
this year, one thing is clear: if Congress passed a
comprehensive housing stimulus package, I believe
we will see a surge in the economy. For nearly a
decade, booming real estate markets across the
United States contributed to a thriving robust
economy. Realtors® recognize that when real
estate transactions are abundant, we are helping
families fulfill life-long dreams of homeownership.
Buying and selling real estate means so much to
the community and economy as a whole.
I recently came across a 2006 USA Today
article that discussed real estate prices being out
of whack and overinflated. Fast forward to late
2008: prices have come back down to normal, and
perhaps we are just bringing them to where they
should be.
Lawrence Yun, National Association of Real-
tors® chief economist, said consumer hesitation is
understandable.
“Many potential home buyers appear to have
withdrawn from the market due to the stock market
collapse and deteriorating economic conditions,”
he said. “We have favorable affordability conditions, but we need more than that to give buyers
with jobs the confidence they need. This is why a
housing stimulus is so critical now to encourage
more buyers to draw down the inventory and stabilize home prices. Without home price stabilization,
there will not be an economic recovery.”
Can the federal government afford to pass yet
another stimulus measure aimed directly at getting
the housing market moving? National Association
Of Realtors® (NAR) leaders say the government
can’t afford not to.
NAR has crafted a Four-Point Housing Recovery Plan and is making an all-out push to get
it through Congress. This plan includes calling on
banks to use the “rescue funds” for lending and:
• Expanding the $7,500 first-time home buyer tax
credit to all buyers and eliminating that program’s repayment requirement.
• Making permanent the prohibition against banks
entering real estate brokerage and management.
• Making permanent the high-cost conforming
loan limit of $729,750. That limit has been in
New Year, New Business?
Guest Column
Special to PBJ
Jerry Ross
A brand new year brings lots of new resolutions.
With a difficult economy, many people will resolve to get
serious about the idea of starting their own business. For
many, it is the American Dream, but careful preparation,
research and a thoughtful personal inventory are required
to keep that dream from becoming a nightmare.
I have experienced the joy of starting a new business,
and enjoyed the financial rewards of selling one too. I
have also known the endless workdays and frustration of
a business that wasn’t working. While there is some luck
and a variety of economic conditions that affect a start-up,
there are some basics that would-be entrepreneurs can use
to improve the chances for small business success.
Begin by writing a business plan. This gets your
idea on paper and out of your head. It should include
your to-do list, logistics required, people you need, and
the money required. I use a three-ring binder which allows me to add pages as new ideas occur, and to edit and
update easily. Another benefit of your plan is developing
a history of what works and what needs to be changed as
you grow. Once your plan is detailed, craft a one-page
summary of what your business will do, why it’s needed,
and why you are uniquely qualified to do it. If you can’t
convey your idea quickly, and convincingly, you need
more research before you take the leap.
Market research is required for a profitable start-up
attempt. You need to know your competitors, potential
market size, and what your competitive position will be.
Are you going to be faster, cheaper, or provide more value
than your competitors? Will you deliver or will clients
effect for less than a year and had been scheduled to drop to $625,500 on Jan. 1, 2009. NAR
analysts say the higher limit, to be effective,
needs more time to work.
Cheryl Houseman is the government affairs
director for the Pocono Mountains Association of
Realtors®. She served as the former chief of staff
to Rep. Mario Scavello. Houseman can be reached
at (570) 424-8846 or chouseman@poconorealtors.com.
Workplace Wellness
Help employees beat the post-holiday
slump and keep New Year’s resolutions through
the The Kaizen Way, a Japanese method where
small changes lead to continual improvements
over time. Encourage staff to do a one-minute
desk stretch or take ten deep breaths for a
healthier workplace.
but you have to prepare for the responsibility and the pressure that comes with making the big decisions. Evaluating
your financial situation is critical in your launch decision
and your ongoing business plans. You must know your
financials, what things really cost, and how long sales results are going to take. Use this time to build your savings,
pre-pay for start up expenses, and prepare for an extended
time without your paycheck. Most start-ups are severely
undercapitalized so they begin to cut critical items from
their business plans due to lack of funding. Many struggle
through that difficult period; however, most fail because
they can’t hold on long enough.
If your New Year’s resolution is to consider starting
your own business, these pointers will reduce the risk of
your dream becoming a nightmare!
come to you? Do you know what folks will actually PAY
for your offering? Many times we listen to others tell
us what a great idea we have, but the key is to actually
research the answers. Many adamant supporters disappear when they are asked to actually purchase. Another
research option is to actually test your idea, possibly on
eBay, or at a local market on the weekends before you
invest. Any experience gained prior to launch will be a
huge benefit. Additionally, the research librarians at your
local libraries are a wonderful source for quickly gathering information on your target clients and marketplace.
Building your support team is another essential
ingredient for a smooth start. Begin with your family. Do
you know if they’re supportive of your idea to become an
Jerry Ross is the executive director of the Disney Entreentrepreneur? This decision will impact your earnings,
preneur Center in Orlando, Fla. He has two decades of
your available family time, and could prove stressful if
experience including leadership positions with AT&T,
things don’t go well, so it is important to involve them in
Ohio Bell, and Goal System Software. Ross was recently
your planning. Including your family in this decision is
was named one of the “Top 10 Businessmen to Watch” in
invaluable because you will rely on their ongoing support,
Central Florida by the Orlando Business Journal.
encouragement and direction.
Other support team members
might include personal mentors or business professionals
for some occasional perspective. Many successful entrepreneurs welcome the opportunity to share their expertise
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12
Pocono Business Journal | January 2009
COLUMN
Leadership Pocono 2009 Learns the Ropes
Leadership Pocono
Steve Cunningham
This past fall, the 2009 Class of Leadership Pocono quickly learned leaders rise to any challenge
no matter how difficult—or high—the obstacles.
After ten years of almost perfect weather, Mother
Nature decided to challenge this group more than
any others before them. And they made it. Their
strength and ability to endure an uncomfortable
situation was evident as they cheered and applauded each other throughout the Challenge by Choice
ropes course at Stony Acres at East Stroudsburg
University. This was only the beginning of an
intensive ten-month program.
Leadership Pocono participants had this to say
about the day:
“What a wonderful experience. I learned a lot
about myself and others. Even though the rain
posed quite a challenge, it was still every bit as
exciting and worthwhile.”
“Despite the terrible weather, the experience
provides the identification, development and emwas amazing. We all worked together. When doing
powerment of excellence in business, personal and
high ropes, you feel scared, anxious and anticipate
community leadership. Our vision is to provide
the worst. But it was amazing to watch everyone
a learning experience where those who shape our
cheer you on, come together and immediately
community tomorrow learn leadership skills from
develop a bond and a caring relationship right from
those who are doing it today. For more informathe start.”
tion, visit www.leadershippocono.org. Leadership
After that unforgettable day the class began
Pocono, Inc. is a wholly-owned subsidiary of the
the more traditional side of the program. A leader
Greater Pocono Chamber of Commerce.
knows the key to success is through the commitment to one’s employees, customers and commuSteve Cunningham, a vice president at Pocono
nity, skills which participants can build through
Medical Center, serves as Chair of the Marketing
Leadership Pocono. Acknowledging that the best
Committee for Leadership Pocono.
leaders excel in communication, the class and
mentors gained experience through an interactive
workshop led by Marianne Chester and Tom Rhiel
from mEnterprise Solutions, LLC. Dr. Matthew
Connell, dean of Northampton Community College (Monroe Campus), facilitated an enthusiastic
please recycle this paper
discussion on the many different styles of leadership. The day climaxed when Gary Olson, president and CEO of ESSA
Bank & Trust, provided
insight into how ESSA
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Leadership Pocono
Astraia Security Alliance LLC
Employment and Background Screening Services,
Recruiting, Corporate Culture Consulting
The key to a successful business is hiring and retaining the most
qualified employees. It takes time, dedication and skill to recruit
and interview candidates for employment. Maintaining employee
moral and a strong productive work environment can be accomplished with the right planning in place.
If your company is at a stand still and you need a fresh perspective
to continue the growth and prosperity of your company, we have
the trained staff to assist you with your needs.
We offer the following services to achieve all of your needs:
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13
Pocono Business Journal | January 2009
NEWS
Leadership Class Gets Around
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Business
Books
&
Photo credit: Leadership Pike
Thursday, January 15
Borders Cafe`
Open to the public
5:30 .. – 6:30 ..
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BUSINESS JOURNAL
POCONO
Regional Business News & Resources
The third class of Leadership Pike recently toured parts of Pike County,
stopping by Woodloch Pines & Springs, one of the biggest employers in Pike
County, and the Shohola Historical & Railroad Society’s Caboose Museum in
Shohola (shown). The Leadership Pike students (from left) include Ethan Mindrebo, McGoey, Hauser & Edsall Consulting Engineers; Deborah Crockett, student
at Penn State University; Thomas DeLuca, retired NYC firefighter; Amy Burke
and Deborah Unflat from Dime Bank; Lisa Marie Hall, University of Scranton
Small Business Development Center; Cena Block, owner of Sane Spaces; Janice
Kessler, Milford Wellness Center; Eugene Ruzanski, McGoey, Hauser & Edsall
Consulting Engineers; and Kathryn Murphy, Honesdale National Bank; and at far
right, Cooperative Extension educator Peter Wulfhorst. Photo courtesy of Pike
County Cooperative Extension.
PBJ Editor Debbie Burke recently presented PBJ’s “Editors on the Road” to
Leadership Pike at last month’s meeting at Mt. Haven in Milford, providing tips
on media relations and how to write a press release.
Deadline For Save Our Planet
The Greater Pocono Chamber of Commerce’s Save Our Planet awards are
being held at the April 19 Women in Business Luncheon. Applications will
be available online at the Greater Pocono Chamber of Commerce’s Web
site at www.greaterpoconochamber.com or by calling (570) 421-4433, or
visit http://www.pbjonline.com/documents/SOP.doc . The deadline for applications is Friday, January 19.
EDITOR’S PICK – BOOK REVIEW
“Innovate Like Edison”
Image courtesy of Dutton/Penguin Group
By Debbie Burke
A brilliant multi-tasker, Thomas Edison’s life
and achievements are the central theme of this
book on managerial innovation. Edison had, in one
fell swoop, actually come up with several breakthroughs resulting in the now-famous and successful
experiment
in his laboratory in Menlo
Park, New
Jersey. Drawing on the five
types of skills
(for example,
“kaleidoscopic
thinking” which
forces you to
make creative
connections)
that Edison
used during
his lifetime
of inventing,
authors Michael
Gelb and Sarah
Caldicott present this guide on how business owners,
entrepreneurs, and other creative thinkers can translate from idea to application.
The story is partially a biographical one, culling
from Edison’s early years of scientific curiosity - he
used money from a paper route to build his first
chemistry lab, and he jumped at the opportunity to
learn everything he could about telegraphy - and
moving into his later influence by the likes of Benjamin Franklin and Michael Faraday (whose inventions set the stage for the electric generator).
What the authors refer to as “innovation literacy” is the key to leveraging your organization’s
strengths and delivering “super-value to your customers as effectively as possible.” There are many ways to
accomplish this literacy, which is as important as financial or computer literacy. One method is to put together
multidisciplinary teams made up of different experts
who bring a unique perspective. Another method is to
make sure each individual has opportunities and the
solitude in which to dream, to ponder, and use associative thought. The point is made that, for example,
when polled many people will say their best ideas
come to them in the shower or during a long walk.
The book provides numerous examples of how
these concepts are readily seen in everyday life, and
often lends a psychological explanation. In marketing,
we remember those brands or campaigns to which we
have an emotional connection, as well as those that
fall into the “PROPAR” scheme: Primacy (elements
that are mentioned first); Repetition; Outstanding (in
a written list of items, we most easily recall anything
in a font that stands out from the others); Personal
Association (meaningfulness, a quality that we have
had experience with); and Recency (the last-mentioned
item in a list or the last thing said).
In case this sounds too complex, the authors have
committed these concepts to a chart in the back of the
book called “The Edison Innovation Literacy Blueprint” along with a 90-day plan to achieve the organization’s goals of innovation, a scoring system that will
show you where your competencies are strongest, and
a self-assessment tool that will help you get started.
“Innovate Like Edison”
Author: Michael J. Gelb and Sarah Miller Caldicott
Publisher: Dutton/Penguin Group
ISBN: 978-0-525-95031-8 (hardcover)
Price: $25.95
Book courtesy of Dutton. PBJ’s review and this book
are available at Borders Stroudsburg.
please recycle this paper
14
Pocono Business Journal | January 2009
ECONOMY
Pocono Workforce Board Rises to Economic Challenges
Workforce Development
Joseph Sebelin
2009 will prove to be a real challenge to the
Pocono Counties Workforce Investment Board. The
October crash of the stock market and subsequent
disintegration of the Housing Industry are sending
financial shock waves throughout the Northeast. Nationally, auto sales are at their lowest point since 1992
and total housing starts this year are expected to be at
their lowest level since 1945. The unemployment rate
hit 6.5% in October, the highest level since March
1994.
Additional challenges facing the Northeast are
rapid advances and changes in technology and global
competition. Pennsylvania’s Workforce System is
responding to these challenges through a series of innovative programs designed to assist industry and the
workforce.
The Pocono Counties Workforce Investment
Board is comprised of members from Carbon, Monroe, Pike and Wayne Counties. The Board is committed to assisting the unemployed, dislocated workers
and individuals entering the workforce for the first
time during this down turn. Individuals in need of
assistance finding another job or receiving training
and/or retraining are encouraged to utilize the CareerLinks and Satellite Centers within the Pocono Counties. Two comprehensive CareerLink sites are located
in Jim Thorpe and Tannersville. Satellite locations
are in Honesdale and Shohola.
The Board is committed to assisting employers
and companies located within the Pocono counties to
grow and remain competitive by providing training
to their incumbent workforce. Partnering with three
other Workforce Investment Areas in the Northeast,
Pocono Counties has secured Job Ready PA Funding to form industry partnerships in the following
clusters: Logistics/Transportation, Health Care,
Diversified Manufacturing, Energy, Electronics and
Food Processing. Employers are encouraged to join
the partnership and identify industry training for
their respective companies. Industry partnerships are
multi-employer consortiums that are industry-led and
demand-driven. The partnerships focus on creating
and retaining a skilled workforce through industryspecific training and education programs developed
in cooperation with business and industry leaders.
They bring together multiple employers in the same
industry or cluster to identify and address common
workforce needs. Partnerships also provide companies with a more cost-effective process to provide
training to their existing workforce. The Board’s goal
is to strengthen and sustain a company’s workforce in
order to compete in a global economy.
Preparing our region’s youth population for the
careers of tomorrow is a Board priority. Young people must develop the skills they will need to succeed
in tomorrow’s workforce. The board is focusing on
tomorrow’s workforce by strengthening our relationship with the educational community at the secondary
and post-secondary levels to train a new generation of
workers. The board is initiating business/education
Photo credit: Pocono Business Journal
PBJ Hosts Holiday Business Card Exchange
partnerships that will have employers talking directly
with educators to address the science, technology, engineering and math skills required for a 21st century
workforce. A series of youth initiatives, working with
the school districts in all four Pocono Counties, has
been initiated. A Career Pathways Awareness Program focusing on career guidance, workplace readiness and linked to academic credits and credentials
is underway. Career Cruising has been implemented
in all four counties; this is a comprehensive guidance
system featuring assessment tools career information,
college and financial aid, an electronic portfolio and a
series of other supports beneficial to students, educators and parents. Emerging workforce issues must be
addressed if our region is to remain competitive and
prosper, not only in good economic times but also
during periods of economic stress.
Visit http://pcwia.org for office locations or additional information.
Joseph Sebelin has 34 years of experience in employment and training programs. He worked for the Carbon County Tourist Promotion Agency; served as the
Team Operations Manager with the Schuylkill/Carbon Agency for Manpower funded under the Comprehensive Employment and Training Act (CETA); and
served as Director of the Carbon County Workforce
Training Program. He was appointed executive director of the Pocono Counties Service Delivery Area 15,
a four-county consortium of Carbon, Monroe, Pike
and Wayne Counties in 1983, which transitioned into
the Pocono Counties Workforce Investment Area.
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Pocono Business Journal and the Sherman Theater recently hosted over 80 business professionals at the Sherman Theater on Main Street in downtown Stroudsburg for the annual
Greater Pocono Chamber of Commerce Holiday Mixer. The monthly business card exchange is an opportunity for the business community to mingle and network in an informal
setting. Every month there is a new sponsor and location. “Pocono Business Journal was
thrilled to co-sponsor the event and pleased with the opportunity to meet and visit with
our readers. Overall it was a great evening,” says Marynell Strunk, publisher of Pocono
Business Journal. Pictured from left: Editor Debbie Burke, Publisher Marynell Strunk, and
Editorial Assistant Chelsea McMahon.
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Pocono Business Journal | January 2009
COLUMN
Common Sense, Integrated Approach Needed to Reduce Flood Losses
Sustainable is
Attainable
Susan Beecher
The Pike, Wayne and Monroe County Conservation Districts recently teamed up with Congressman
Chris Carney’s office and the Pocono Northeast
Resource Conservation & Development Council to
hold a Stormwater/Flood Summit for local government officials. Presenters at the Summit ranged
from local emergency management coordinators and
stream experts to civil engineers and state and federal floodplain and water resource management officials. Some sobering information emerged from the
Summit: Pennsylvania is one of the most flood-prone
states in the nation. The PA Department of Community & Economic Development (DCED) estimates
that $6 billion in flood damages occur annually in
the Commonwealth - a four-fold increase from the
early 1900s. In addition, per capita flood damages in
Pennsylvania increased by more than a factor of 2.5
in the last century in real dollar terms.
The National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP)
of 1968 needs an overhaul. Originally developed to
help property owners get low-cost flood insurance,
the NFIP actually promotes development in flood
risk areas and ignores potential adverse impacts of
floodplain development to existing properties. Floodplain mapping on which the program is based often
ignores changing conditions and underestimates
areas prone to flooding. The program undervalues
natural floodplain functions such as flood water storage, ground water recharge and discharge, dissipation of energy, stream channel stability, sediment &
nutrient storage. Since its inception, the NFIP has
resulted in increased property at risk from flooding.
Reducing flood losses is a responsibility shared
by federal, state and local officials as well as residents and businesses throughout our region. Continuing encroachments by new land development
into floodplains make existing flooding problems
worse and create new threats – increased potential
for private property damage, damages to transportation networks and public utilities such as water
supply and wastewater facilities, personal injury or
death and environmental damages to important water
resources.
With the reality of shrinking government funding available for repeated payouts for flood damages,
what can local officials, residents and businesses do
to promote more sustainable, less flood prone development in the Delaware River watershed? Summit
presenters stressed that there is no “silver bullet”; an
integrated approach is needed that focuses on prevention of damages rather than after-the fact, often
expensive and, in many cases, only temporary fixes.
Some guiding principles for such an integrated
approach were outlined by the Delaware River Basin
Interstate Flood Mitigation Task Force, a group
assembled at the request of governors from Pennsylvania, New York, New Jersey and Delaware. They
include:
Uniform floodplain ordinances that better protect
floodplains and keep development out of harm’s
way; better stormwater management planning and
implementation that minimize runoff from new development and reduce runoff from existing development; protection of headwater streams and stream
and river buffers; land use regulations that promote
low impact development; improved management of
existing reservoirs; improved floodplain mapping
and flood warning systems.
Many of these principles have been embraced
by selected municipalities in updated comprehensive
plans and land use regulations that better protect
natural resources, but we can do much more to
implement these measures throughout the region.
Susan Beecher has served as Pike County Conservation District Manager since 1989, on state-delegated
environmental regulatory programs, community
planning initiatives, watershed management and
conservation education and outreach activities. She
can be reached at (570) 226-8220 or by email at
pikecd@pikepa.org.
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Pocono Business Journal | January 2009
PROFESSIONAL PROFILE
Elevations: the ‘Cheers’ of
The owners of
Elevations Health Club
Fast Facts
Scotrun
Route 611 North
P.O. Box 295, Scotrun, PA 18355
Hours: M - F 6:00 a.m. - 9:30 p.m.
Weekends 8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Marshalls Creek
Meadow Lake Plaza, Route 209
900 Business Drive, Suite 109
East Stroudsburg, PA 18302
Hours: M-F 6:00 a.m. - 9:00 p.m.
Weekends 8:00 a.m. -12:00 Noon
Owners:
Rob Bishop (Pocono Township)
Barry Klein (Middle Smithfield Township)
Employees: 35
www.elevationshealthclub.com
Elevations Health Club,
friends since seventh grade, made their decision to open a gym together back in
the mid-90’s while attending college. Rob Bishop talked Barry Klein, a runner, into
lifting weights with him, and soon found himself running, too. “We thought, could
we just hang out together for the rest of our lives and not be bothered working for
someone else?” says Klein, only half-joking.
Bishop completed a Bachelor’s in psychology and Klein, a degree in
computer science, then they formed a plan. “I agreed to go to work in my field,
while Rob pursued an advanced degree in Exercise Science,” explains Klein, who
took a job on the West coast. “He would work as a strength and exercise coach
and I would try to make money and learn about business. When I moved back
East, I had a boss I hated, and told Rob, ‘If we don’t start our own business now, I’m
going to kill him!’ ”
The two searched for a location in the Northeast to be close to their
families, and found Elevations in Scotrun with an owner ready to sell. They took
over in September 1995. “At that point, we were completely overwhelmed,” recalls
Bishop. “Our vision of a dream gym was a guy’s gym where people lifted weights.
What we got was a health club with babysitting and step aerobics.”
They garnered advice from experienced business owners, trade magazines
and conferences, and began re-creating Elevations to fit the business motto they’d
had since college: The ‘Cheers’ of Gyms, where everybody knows your name. “It’s
not about the exercise, it’s about being the third place, after home and work,” says
Klein. “It’s about enjoying the experience while you happen to work out.”
“Most health clubs survive on sales,” says Bishop. “We decided to focus on
retention, to get members to show up and use their memberships. We grew more
slowly but built stability.” Their marketing included special events for the entire family
and unannounced ‘surprises’ at the club, such as free massages and bagels.
Instead of signing up new members for annual contracts, theirs are
monthly. “It’s more challenging month-to-month. We have to earn your business
every month,” says Klein, noting their focus on member-to-staff ratio. “We foster
an atmosphere so people come more to talk than just to exercise,” adds Bishop.
“There are plenty of gyms for a fitness-minded person to get a great workout. Only
10 to 15 percent of the population belongs to a health club, and fewer want to
be. We’re not catering to people who love going to the gym. Our base is ‘normal
people’ who want a break in their day. Our business has all flowed from that.”
The single biggest reason people don’t join a fitness center is intimidation
because they’re not in shape, says Klein; but he says most people aren’t. “Our job
Elevations Health Club owners Rob Bishop (at left) and Barry Klein at their Marshalls Creek location. Photo credit: Susan Jorstad.
17
Pocono Business Journal | January 2009
PROFESSIONAL PROFILE
Health Clubs
is to teach you and make you feel you’ll fit in,” he says. “All our memberships
include initial workouts with a trainer.” The key to maintaining their focus
and being successful, says the pair, was to remain true to their business plan,
capturing that essence of ‘The Cheers of Health Clubs.’ “Every decision you
make should relate to the core reason you’re in business,” says Bishop, noting
that the specifics, such as adding a pool to the Scotrun facility, all evolved from
that.
“One of our challenges is overcoming that first question of ‘What’s
your price?’” observes Klein. “We ask them to come try our club for a day.
Every health club is different. We want them to understand what we offer to
properly compare.”
Looking back, the owners mention a few things they would have done
differently. One was having more money for start-up, as Klein continued to
work in the computer industry until 2002 while working part-time at Elevations
in order to build capital. “Every success leads to more risk. For businesses that
don’t get complacent, there’ll always be more decisions,” notes Bishop.
Growth here in the Poconos has changed people’s traffic patterns,
affecting their choice in fitness centers – a consideration in Elevations’ own
growth. In 2002, they began planning the Scotrun expansion for a pool, and
broke ground in 2005. At the same time they were seeking a location for a
second facility which would be close enough to be able to share staff. Meadow
Lake Plaza in Marshalls Creek was a fertile market area and Stroudsburg
builder Jeff Snyder constructed their Scotrun club.
“At the time, I was functioning as the general manager in Scotrun and
construction manager for the expansion mess,” says Bishop, who slept at work
most nights that year. “When the Marshalls Creek space became available, I said
‘Let’s wait until the other renovation is completed.’ Barry said ‘What are the
odds of both (facilities) being ready to open at the same time? In the world of
construction delays, it’ll never happen.’ ”
In step with Murphy’s Law, the December 2006 grand opening at
Marshalls Creek was less than 30 days before the January 2007 opening of
the pool at Scotrun. Their staff ballooned from 10 to 40 in under a month. “If
we had to do it over again, we would have staggered those,” agrees Klein. “But
looking back, we took our pain all at once! You take your opportunities when
they come.”
Elevations
continued to grow with its
on-site wellness center and purchase of the formerly rented Scotrun property.
“Owning real estate between Great Wolf and Mt. Airy on (Rt.) 611 will
hopefully prove to be a smart decision,” says Klein. Elevations also has a large
and growing number of corporate accounts, from groups of 10-20 coworkers
who join together to subsidize memberships through employees at corporations
with over 2,000 employees.
“We offer local businesses a wellness program for no money out
of pocket,” explains Klein. “We get paid from membership fees which the
employer collects through payroll deduction. We establish a relationship with
the employer, and the employee wins with a membership fee you can’t get off
the street. Everybody wins. We’re really excited about that.” Some employers
opt to pay for part of the memberships as a benefit that is a low cost to the
company. Employees also gain freebies like on-site programs in stress relief. “It’s
about getting creative about ways to pay for wellness programs. You no longer
have to convince employers of the value of a fitness program.”
In 2006, Klein and Bishop were recognized with a Bizzy Award by the
Greater Poconos Chamber of Commerce for Best Medium Business. “It was
a testament to the number of people we’ve met and the good relationships
we have with local businesses and customers.” In 2009, they intend to ‘execute
well’ the growth they’ve achieved, and to continue to focus on retention efforts.
They also plan to expand member services with swim lessons for children and
improving personal training offerings.
“We realize anything that is discretionary will be cut from people’s
budgets,” says Klein. “Our responsibility is to be more engaged with members.
We know people when they’re in their t-shirts and shorts, we know people
on a first-name basis. We try to be mutually respectful of people who have
celebrity status, to let them ‘escape’ to work out. We are fortunate to offer
a business that makes people’s lives better. That makes you feel good about
getting up in the morning.” Bishop is married to Cheri, and has three children:
Matthew, 17; Ryan, 14; and Jessica, 11. Klein and his wife Deann have a oneyear-old daughter, Carly.
By Susan Jorstad
Elevations opened its pool in the Scotrun facility in January 2007.
Photo courtesy of Elevations.
Rob & Barry’s Tips
For Forming A Business Partnership
Elevations Health Club co-owners Rob Bishop and
Barry Klein share their perspectives on business partnerships
– from decision-making to division of labor, trial and error, and
maintaining a friendship.
“The best advice we got was to write down the roles
and responsibilities each will carry,” says Bishop. “Define them
well and define the rules by which you’ll resolve day-to-day
conflicts.” The day-to-day hiring is one of Bishop’s responsibilities.
“I can meet a candidate and offer my opinion, but it’s his
(Bishop’s) decision,” says Klein, who is in charge of the finances.
“Rob can ask questions and lobby, but I make the decision.”
When it comes to money, each can spend up to a set dollar
figure. Beyond that amount, he must check with his partner. “If
we don’t agree, we do nothing,” says Klein. “It forces us to come
to a conclusion.”
One discrepancy was whether to buy equipment for
spinning classes. They compromised and bought a half-dozen
bikes to try it out, rather than investing in twenty. The pair had
even been forewarned that running a business together would
mean sacrificing their friendship. Thankfully, for them, laying out
a very detailed, formal arrangement has kept business decisions
from becoming personal.
Another piece of advice: Work for someone else first
in the field in which you think you want to run a business. “I like
pizza a lot, but that doesn’t mean I know how to run a pizza
place,” says Klein. “You need to learn how money changes hands,
how contracts are drawn up. We took vacations to go to health
club trade shows.”
“You’ll have no idea of the number of things you’ll
have to oversee as a business owner,” says Bishop, enumerating
finer details such as cleaning and stationery printing. “We once
ordered 10,000 envelopes by accident; we’re still using them.”
“Our ESU interns often say they want to own a gym
one day,” says Klein. “Rob hands them a plunger, because you’d
better learn to plunge a toilet. Our rule for staff is, if you find a
problem, you solve it.” says Klein.
18
Pocono Business Journal | January 2009
NEWS
Men Who Have Made An Impact, And The Towns That Love Them
By Susan Jorstad
This month, Pocono Business Journal recognizes
the efforts of four local businessmen who have had an
ongoing positive impact in their towns and surrounding
communities. All have grounded their business decisions with family and community-minded goals.
NAME: Richard W. Berkowitz
BUSINESS: Sherman Theater and
Performing Arts Center, Stroudsburg
TITLE: President
FAMILY: Married to Catharine for
17 years; daughter Kasie, 10; son
Jordan, 6
As an entrepreneur, Berkowitz has run, built, and
rebuilt numerous businesses and considers ‘difficult
projects’ his specialty. “As a preteen I was lucky
enough to start my career as a professional actor in an
old theater. It always stayed with me. I thought our
community deserved this opportunity, that the theater
deserved one last chance at glory. So I gave up everything to build and run the Sherman Theater.”
The impact of this commitment is far-reaching:
the Sherman draws tourists from 34 states, generates
millions of dollars in additional local spending beyond
ticket prices, and has led the continued revitalization
of Stroudsburg. Berkowitz and his staff are involved in
nearly every major event in Stroudsburg and Monroe
County in some way. As co-founder of Stroudfest and
Autos in Autumn, he donates nearly $200,000 each year
in theater resources to various charities. He also created
the Spotlight Awards which provide money to schools
in the four-county region, and has helped raise nearly
$170,000 in gross proceeds for area non-profits.
Says Berkowitz: “The decision to turn non-profit
was made to help the community ensure that this historic resource remains forever. As the arts and charities consolidate, we recognized that this project and its
benefits were bigger than any one person or family. So
we partnered our groups together with the intention of
making the Sherman Theater a permanent part of the
community. In 2007, I turned over the daily operations
and receipts to the Sherman Project so it could gain the
momentum needed to receive grants and donations. We
are now in the process of raising the remaining funds
to complete the build-out and acquire properties and
equipment. We have managed to be included in the state
budget, so we are aggressively trying to raise the funds
necessary to help the community take permanent control
of the project.”
NAME: John H. Drury, Jr.
BUSINESS: Mauch Chunk Museum
and Cultural Center, Jim Thorpe
TITLE: Founder, President
FAMILY: Married to Janet for 54
years; three grown sons (David, Dale,
and Mark); nine grandchildren.
In 1993, Drury founded the Mauch Chunk Museum
to collect, preserve, display, and study matters related
to the historical development of the Borough of Mauch
Chunk, now Jim Thorpe. He supervised the installation
of exhibits, administration of the museum, and the rehabilitation of its home, the
historic St. Paul’s Methodist
Church.
One of his passions
is working to save historic
properties at risk of demolition. He enlisted the help of
the Mauch Chunk Historical
Society, the Borough of Jim
Thorpe, and the Kemmerer
Memorial Park Association to enable the museum
to secure and stabilize the
former Kemmerer Carriage
House. “Another major purpose of the endeavor,” he
says, “is to engage young
people in the restoration
process and promote the
fascinating early history
of the town.” Fundraising events for the project
included a Victorian Fall
Ball in the Mauch Chunk
Museum Ballroom. “We
are also planning a booklet
(called) ‘Front Hill Families’ with biographies of
the creators and sustainers
of the American Industrial
Revolution in its earliest
years, who fashioned the
grandeur that was Mauch
Chunk’s during the late
19th and early 20th centuries. Local students from
the History Club and Honor
Society will participate in
this effort.”
Drury led a community effort, along with
fellow “Lion” Ron Sheehan
(director of the Asa Parker
Mansion) to memorialize
town founder Josiah White
by renaming a local park
in his honor. “We were able to get positive responses
from many organizations, the Borough Officials of Jim
Thorpe and 180 signatures of local residents. After 1 ½
years, the Carbon County Commissioners agreed, and
the park, which had undergone a $500,000 renovation,
was officially renamed Josiah White Park.”
The former president of the Jim Thorpe Chamber
of Commerce, vice president of the Jim Thorpe Lions
Club, and executive director of the Switchback Gravity
Railroad, Drury has also authored numerous historical
publications and produced video programs on Mauch
Chunk.
NAME: Stephen M. Putzi
BUSINESS: American Real Estate
Investment Holdings, Inc; Delaware
& Hudson Hotel, Honesdale
TITLE: Owner, President
FAMILY: Wife Suzanne; daughter
Madeline, 14; son Dennis, 9
For eighteen years, Putzi
worked for Keyspan Energy’s gas division as a day laborer. “I ran a jackhammer all day. They had me slated
for that position for the rest of my career ... so I decided
to create my own pension plan, not the company’s.” On
weekends, he began investing in real estate in the Pocono Mountains while continuing to work for Keyspan.
“It’s amazing what happens to property when you hold
onto it for a while, especially well-located real estate.”
Putzi loved fishing, so he bought lakefront properties. “I
could only afford properties with problems, so I bought
a lot of waterfront that was unsuitable for development.
It became a little hobby, collecting useless parcels and
finding a way to make them ‘buildable’ with new septic
technologies.” Eventually he compiled and resold
enough properties to start purchasing commercial, cash
flow properties.
When he became a full-time real estate investor
in 2005, he started taking on community projects and
challenges, such as buying the dilapidated Fife & Drum
Motel and restoring it into the Delaware & Hudson
Hotel. His goal is to complete the project in two years,
including proper landscaping.
“I love getting up in the morning and meeting the
challenge,” Putzi explains. “I really enjoy turning a
property into something positive and seeing job creation. I particularly enjoy working with the kids at the
hotel where we have roughly 11 employees. They are
a lot of fun and I don’t want them to feel as if they are
working under a microscope. I believe in flextime and a
happy work environment. I’m always willing to share
stories and investment ideas with the young people that
come to work here. Brainstorming with them helps me
think creatively. Building a business and investing is by
no means easy. Sometimes you really have to squeeze
water out of a penny and be willing to take risk.”
NAME: Frank R. Redington
BUSINESS: The Dime Bank,
Honesdale
TITLE: Vice President, Commercial
Lending
FAMILY: Wife Cathy; two grown
children (Joan Marie; Frank Jr.,
deceased), five grandchildren and one
great-granddaughter
Redington first discovered banking in 1963 as a
part-time teller through a high school/work program
with Miners National Bank in his native Wilkes-Barre.
“After serving in the Marine Corps, I realized I needed
to do two things if I were to choose banking as a career:
(1) finish my education and (2) leave Wilkes-Barre,
see MEN page 19
19
Pocono Business Journal | January 2009
NEWS
Moonlight Serenade
MEN... cont. from page 18
which was economically depressed due mainly
to the coal industry.” He moved to Philadelphia,
where he joined Continental Bank and earned
an Associate’s Degree at the Wharton School
of Accounts and Finance at the University of
Pennsylvania, and a diploma from the Stonier
Graduate School of Banking at Rutgers University. Redington then went on to work for New
Jersey National Bank.
“After four years, I realized corporate
lending was not for me. It proved to be objective, black-and-white number crunching, not the
relationship lending which I was accustomed
to while dealing with the local business community.” After 22 years in Bucks County, their
children grown, Redington and his wife moved
to their vacation home in Lake Wallenpaupack,
where he has made an impact on the communities of both Pike and Wayne County. He’s served
as a board member and Chairman of the Pike
County Industrial/ Business Development Corp.,
and a board member of the United Way Pike
County and the Northeast Pennsylvania Alliance. Through The Dime Bank, he has provided
millions of dollars to fund the economic growth
and development of the local business communities.
Redington says, “The Dime Bank is by far
the most community-minded bank I’ve worked
for during my 40-plus years in banking. My
professional and community involvement has
provided me terrific intrinsic value, both with
the people I’ve worked with and mentored, and
the opportunity to look around the communities
and see all the businesses that I have helped to
prosper. Intrinsic value is something you can’t
eat, spend, sell or use, but it sure feels good.”
The practice of moonlighting is not uncommon.
In fact, the number of American workers holding
second jobs is on the rise, leaving employers to
rethink their policies covering employees who hold
multiple jobs. According to a January 2008 study by
the Department of Labor (Annual Report: Multiple
jobholders by demographic and economic characteristics), one in seventeen workers (roughly five percent
of the American workforce) hold multiple jobs, and
this number has been increasing during the past
decade. Employers can find that more and more of
their employees are moonlighting, whether to prevent
financial hardship, build up their savings, or simply
as another source of income in case of cutbacks or
layoffs. Michael Farber, president of Hawk View
Resources, a staffing and consulting firm in Milford,
believes that the ranks of the doubly-employed are
expanding because many companies have cut bonuses
and failed to keep up with the rising cost of living,
leaving staff with few choices beyond taking on extra
work. The question as an employer is how to protect
yourself and your company while allowing employees
to hold second jobs.
In some cases, this is a non-issue. If your company is in the financial services sector and you have
employees who are seeking extra work in the hospitality industry, there is rarely an overlap between
clients. Also, there are still many employers who do
not require their workers to divulge whether they hold
a second job. However, if an employee’s second job
is in the same industry, the question of a conflict of
interest arises.
According to Barbara Yamulla, director of Human Resources at ASI Employer Solutions in Lansford, employers tend to prohibit employees from
holding second jobs with competitors to protect proprietary information. Also verboten would be employees who choose to work as a private contractor in the
same field at their ‘day’ job. Victoria Mavis of Core
People Resources (Stroudsburg) used the example
of workers in trades to illustrate the point. “If you
are an HVAC company and one of your employees
starts doing HVAC work on the side, this becomes an
issue because they are taking business away from the
employer.” Mavis adds that it’s not only the danger
of an employee morphing into a competitor; if the
employee begins using company tools and materials, he or she is essentially stealing property from the
Contact PBJ
for Ad Rates.
www.pbjonline.com
e-mail: ads@pbjonline.com
POCONO
www.pbjonline.com
Regional Business News & Resources
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Michael Farber, president of Hawk
View Resources, says moonlighting is
on the rise.
employer.
To prevent these conflicts, many companies
require workers to sign nondisclosure agreements
and non-compete agreements, defining and limiting
the nature of the work employees are allowed to do
outside of their full-time or regular job. These forms,
often available for free online, can be used to ensure
that an employee’s second job poses no risk of harming the primary employer, whether by preventing the
spread of business information or simply by curtailing
the type of work that could lead to a conflict of interest.
Many employees find themselves in need of
extra work, especially during economically unstable
times like the present. This does not mean that such
a situation will always harm the employer or result
in poor or compromised performance. However, if
this does occur, there are ways employers can protect
themselves. The best way to achieve this is by encouraging employees to disclose their extra work. By
decreasing the legal and financial risks to the company using non-compete and nondisclosure contracts,
an employer can assure that they and their workers
can continue to do business even if those workers
hold additional jobs. Michael Farber of Hawk View
Resources says, “The main thing that employers
should consider: is it better to have an employee remain and take on an additional part-time job to make
ends meet, or, would it be better to let him or her go?
I think in most cases, the cost of finding, interviewing and hiring a replacement would cost an employer
more than providing flexibility to a loyal employee.”
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20
Pocono Business Journal | January 2009
LEGISLATIVE ROUNDUP
Legislative Roundup
Compiled by Debbie Burke
For this issue we asked our elected officials:
Do you support changing the current formula for
distributing state funds inasmuch as new census data
will not be available until 2010? How has this put the
Poconos at a disadvantage?
Sen. Lisa Baker (R, 20)
Unavailable for comment
Sen. Lisa M. Boscola (D, 18)
“Those who have a stake and represent portions of the
Pocono area in Harrisburg need to make sure they fight
for more state funding in the future. As State Senator, I am dedicated to this effort. We have witnessed
rapid growth in the Pocono region. With that growth
requires the need for enhanced state funding.
Changing the current formula for distributing state funds
throughout the Commonwealth will be a challenge to
say the least. Doing so would represent much needed
change in Harrisburg. Furthermore, common sense tells
us that we can explore the possibilities of altering these
funding formulas at any time, and do not have to wait
every ten years per the census. Overall, everyone – the
state legislature, the Governor and state agencies – must
come together to ensure the Pocono region receives its
fair share of state funding well into the future.”
Sen. Patrick M. Browne (R, 16)
“To accommodate the fixed costs that are often associated with programmatic investments such as education,
transportation and human services, many of the funding
formulas used to distribute state appropriations utilize
hold harmless provisions. However, when major shifts
in the population occurs over time, hold harmless provisions undermine the effectiveness of corresponding
formulas. As a remedy, the General Assembly should
place an adjustment trigger in all distribution formulas
to update the base of hold harmless calculations (i.e.
population, student count, vehicle miles driven) when
that base shifts by more than 10 percent. This will allow
for greater formula equity while allowing for fixed cost
planning and adjustment.”
Rep. Mike Carroll (D, 118)
“Changes to how our school districts were funded this
year have helped provide more equitable funding, but
there is still a serious funding equity problem for counties like Monroe due to outdated funding formulas that
have not been properly adjusted to reflect population
growth. I sponsored H.B. 2262, which would require
the use of the most recent federal census data in any formula used to distribute state funds. Some of the current
formulas date back to the 1990 census, which results
in some counties getting shortchanged. Although my
legislation did not make it out of committee this session,
I plan to re-introduce the bill in the next legislative session to help counties in our region get the funding that is
reflective of their populations.”
Rep. Sandra Major (R, 111)
Unavailable for comment
Rep. Keith McCall
(D, 122)
“While in many cases
the expanded tax base
that comes along with
fast growth is the key
to providing municipal
services and schools
to match that growth
and when formulas are
severely outdated it’s
time to examine – on
a case-by-case basis –
how to bring the state
funding effort to the
level our counties need.
I believe the legislature
needs to examine all
its funding formulas,
starting with the everdropping state share
of basic and secondary education funding.
Back during the Casey
Administration, the
state was providing up
to fifty percent of the
operating budget of our
school districts. Now
that number is down
below thirty percent,
and fast-growing
districts in the Poconos
have had no choice but
to increase the property
tax burden on our ho-
meowners and businesses. We can and should examine
these funding formulas to make sure our area is getting
its fair share.”
Sen. Robert J. Mellow (D, 22)
Unavailable for comment
Sen. Raphael J. Musto (D, 14)
Unavailable for comment
Rep. Mike Peifer (R, 139)
“I am working in Harrisburg to adapt the funding formulas for our area to reflect the actual growth and needs we
have and update them before the next census in 2010.
Our area deserves its share of state funding, not just in
the years immediately after a census occurs when some
formulas are modified to mirror population shifts. The
constant challenge for a growing area like ours is that
censuses occur only every 10 years, so funding needs to
adapt to population shifts that occur in years six, seven,
eight and nine after a census instead of relying on fiveto 10-year-old data. Counties, municipalities and school
districts, especially in Pike and Monroe Counties, have
been growing at a rapid rate, and so must funding.”
Rep. Mario M. Scavello (R, 176)
“Many of the state reimbursement formulas are based on
outdated census data or reimbursement formulas, which
are especially inequitable to growing regions of the
state like Monroe and Pike County. What I have succeeded in doing over the past six years, especially with
regard to the funding of growing schools, is to attract
significant levels of funding to reward our growing area
and make up for disparity in current funding formulas.
However, having said that, our formulas are outdated
and need to be updated with the 2010 new census data.
Aging, MH/MR, Children and Youth, and school funding formulas all need to be updated. The supplements
certainly help, but don’t make up years of underfunding
in the 1990s.”
Rep. John J. Siptroth (D, 189)
“I am in complete agreement with Rep. Carroll and
Rep. Peifer that the antiquated funding formula must
be changed so that high-growth areas like the Poconos
receive a more equitable share of available resources.
This change is something I have advocated since I took
office. I plan to carefully review the legislation proposed by my colleagues, and to sign on as a co-sponsor
if I think it will be beneficial to my legislative district,
which has seen some of the most rapid growth in the
state since 2001. None of this new growth is considered
when basing funding allocations on outdated data from
the federal census. Monroe and Pike Counties are also
penalized because of provisions that prevent areas with
declining population from losing funding, therefore
restricting the amount of available funding for other
areas.”
Rep. Edward G. Staback (D, 115)
Unavailable for comment
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www.pbjonline.com
21
Pocono Business Journal | January 2009
NEWS
Insider’s Guide to Pocono Market
By Susan Jorstad
1. Connect early with the local municipality. “Doing so opens a lot of doors to information helpful to
planning your business: zoning, building requirements, population, transportation, and utility providers,” says Sivick. “Many townships also have maps
of existing businesses, which give an idea of how
well-rounded the community is in certain types of
businesses. This is especially valuable now that there
are so many home-based businesses.”
2. Don’t be fooled by demographics. “Monroe
County’s rapid population growth does not necessarily translate into potential customers for new
businesses,” cautions Richmond. “Most newcomers
are commuters who aren’t available during normal
business hours to purchase goods or services offered
by local business.” Targeting and capturing their
business requires a carefully thought-out marketing
strategy.
3. Ensure your business is well capitalized. New
businesses should have enough working capital to
sustain themselves for at least one year. It takes time
to attract enough customers to break even and then
Photo courtesy of Penn’s Northeast
Several local professionals offered their take
on what Pocono businesses need to know to navigate both the local market and the current economic
conditions. Lehman township supervisor John Sivick
stresses the importance of developing good relations with your local municipality. David Richmond,
volunteer counselor for SCORE (Service Corps of
Retired Executives as well as non-retired business
owners), coaches startups. Penny Cannella, president
of Penn’s Northeast – a partnership of public and
private economic development agencies and private
businesses that assist companies new to the area –
suggests marketing strategies, and Rachel Hendricks,
vice president at Pike Industrial Development Corporation, has advice for grant-seekers.
8. Grants are rare and limited. “Grants are extremely difficult to come by, even though many
people believe they can access grant funding for any
business venture or need,” cautions Hendricks. “The
Ben Franklin Technology Center has grants for high
technology companies or new high-tech products.”
9. Grant information is free. If you choose to pay
for help, make sure you are paying for a service, not
free information.
Think outside the marketing “box,”
advises Penny Cannella, president of
Penn’s Northeast.
generate a profit.
4. Location! Locating along a frequently traveled
road provides visibility, but that does not always
translate into new customers. A well-chosen location
can be the difference between success and failure.
5. Do your homework. “Carefully research the need
for your product/service, the competitive environment, demographics and buying patterns of your
target market,” says Richmond. “Give special attention to your marketing plan. Talk to local businesses,
the Chamber of Commerce and SCORE.”
6. Network! “Look for new alignments, not just
ways to cut costs,” says Cannella. “Be creative. Tap
into the tremendous resources within the local community and universities. Dialogue with colleagues to
discover opportunities as well as ways of managing
risk.”
7. Consider ‘buddy marketing’ promotions. Include in your brochure a leaflet for another business
that will reciprocate, enabling you to reach a whole
new pool of potential customers.
Entrepreneurs Seek The Perfect Business Trifecta
By Patrick Bresnyan
If you have your plan in place- or it’s
a work in progress- know that you should
consider these three professionals to help you
navigate business ownership.
ATTORNEY - It’s crucial for entrepreneurs to have a firm grasp of which licenses
are required. Attorney Elizabeth Anderson of
Hawley says new business owners must be
proactive in making sure that all registration
and licensing requirements are in place. Some
licenses, like business permits, are issued on
the local level. Others, such as incorporation
papers or registration of a fictitious name, are
done at the state level. Anderson says a lawyer
can help you sort through the necessary paperwork to “avoid having something that would
come back and bite you later.”
MARKETING PRO - Once you’ve
handled the licenses and registrations, marketing is another critical part of a business plan.
Heidi Blade, owner of Blade Hewlett Marketing (Beach Lake), says marketing assistance
can “help a business align its message to be
communicated to the public with the mission
and ideas presented in their business plan.”
Marketing is more than just looking at different ways to advertise. It involves public relations, research, and customer support strategies,
among other things. Blade says if you want
to be able to target your ideal market, budget
enough money to get the job done.
STAFFING FIRM - Finally, if you want to
save a little money on the personnel front, have
a talk with a professional staffing firm. Agencies usually cover all the payroll expenses--like
processing fees and Workers’ Compensation-and can help you recruit for your specific needs.
If you don’t need employees all the time, Terry
Burns (owner of Express Employment Professionals in East Stroudsburg) says a staffing
firm can provide employees during peaks or on
a temporary basis, keeping the worker off the
employer’s payroll. Some staffing firms can
also help an owner understand the requirements
of human resource laws, as well as assist with
drug screening and background checks.
10. Be positive but realistic. A slow economy is
a time to seek innovative ways of doing things, but
within reason. “Rethink your marketing opportunities, sharpen your skill sets and think outside the
box,” says Cannella. “Don’t get frozen by all the
negatives. Hang in there! A positive outlook bears
on one’s reality.”
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES:
Ben Franklin Technology Partners
www.benfranklin.org
Small Business Development Center (SBDC)
(570) 941-7588
www.academic.scranton.edu/department/sbdc
PA Stimulus Programs
www.newPa.com
866-GO-NEWPA
Penn’s Northeast
www.pennsnortheast.com
SCORE
www.score.org
U.S. Small Business Administration
www.sba.gov
800-827-5722
Shout the news from
your “green” rooftop:
The Second Annual PBJ
“Green List” is coming!
In our April 2009 issue, Pocono Business Journal highlights the top ten firms
throughout the Pocono region that have
demonstrably impacted our environment
for the better. We seek businesses that
are truly stewards of the environment,
with programs to minimize waste, re-use
resources, and encourage employees to
be more environmentally responsible.
Each of the top entries will be featured
in a mini-profile and receive a certificate
from PBJ, along with a complimentary
subscription. Please send all nominations
to editor@pbjonline.com. Nominations
are due March 2, 2009. Look for criteria
and other details online at http://www.
pbjonline.com or download the application from http://www.pbjonline.com/
documents/GreenListApplication.pdf.
22
Pocono Business Journal | January 2009
NEWS
FOCUS
LIST
Businesses and United Way Co-Market
For The Community’s Benefit
Photo courtesy of BH&G RE Wilkins & Assoc.
The United Way of Monroe County is finalizing new
guidelines on how businesses can co-market with the organization for special events or fundraisers. Varying levels of
involvement and criteria are being established.
Employee campaigns are still the backbone of how the
business community supports United Way in meeting its annual campaign goal for health and human services. Payroll
deductions and corporate gifts are two ways companies lend
their support. However, an increasing number of companies
are hosting special events in addition to running a workplace
campaign. While the United Way campaign traditionally runs
from September through December, fundraising events can be
held year-round.
These events generate goodwill and positive community
and public relations for the businesses and United Way. They
also provide tax incentives for the business host or sponsor.
United Way’s Marketing Committee is now finalizing the
criteria/guidelines. For more information, visit www.unitedwaymonroe.org or call (570) 629-5657 and ask for Chris
Grape-Garvey, special events and community outreach director. More details will be available when the co-marketing
criteria have been formulated.
Monroe and Pike Family Wishes Granted
Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate Wilkins & Associates sponsored families in the Monroe and Pike Children and Youth programs last month. BH&G/
Wilkins’ Vice President and General Manager Dominick J. Sacci said, “Every
year we are given the Christmas wish lists of several families in the C&Y
programs. Caseworkers talk to the foster children and families to find out what
they’d like for Christmas. We then collect donations, shop to fulfill the lists,
and hand-deliver the truckloads of gifts to Children and Youth.” From left are
Yarrow Wilkins, president; Doreen Morales, receptionist; Nancy Frantz, office
manager; and Dominick J. Sacci, VP/GM.
please recycle this paper
Pike County Business
Spotlight for 2009
Pocono Business Journal, the
Pike County Chamber of Commerce
and new sponsor Bold Gold Media
are partnering to recognize outstanding for-profit Pike County companies.
Those businesses chosen will be highlighted in an article with a photo in the
Pocono Business Journal and in NewsFlash (the chamber’s monthly newsletter), and eNewsFlash (the chamber’s
electronic newsletter). The Business
Spotlight runs four times per year.
Member businesses of the Pike
County Chamber that are interested in
applying can download an application
at www.pbjonline.com or www.pikechamber.com. For more information
call Pocono Business Journal at (570)
421-0100 or the Pike County Chamber
of Commerce at (570) 296-8700.
Safe n Secure n Strong
Member FDIC
POCONO
Regional Business News & Resources
www.pbjonline.com
23
Pocono Business Journal | January 2009
BUSINESS BRIEFS
WHO’s WHO
ATEN
BLANK-TOOMBS
HANSEN
BRINDISI
KIDDWATSON
Aten -Robert Aten has been named the new chief of
the Sheet Metal Fabrication Branch, Systems Integration, and Support Directorate at Tobyhanna Army
Depot. He supervises 53 people who perform metal
fabrication and assembly, and provide Mobile Depot
Maintenance support.
Birmelin – Lyndsay Birmelin has been appointed the
new workforce coordinator of Wayne County’s new
Workforce Wayne program.
Blank-Toombs – Better Homes and Gardens Real
Estate Wilkins & Associates has reopened its Vacation Rental Department which will be supervised by
Patricia Blank-Toombs, vice president and sales manager. The department will rent townhomes, vacation
homes, lakefront homes, condos, park model homes
and timeshares.
Brindisi - Helayne L. Brindisi has been hired as a
commercial lines agent at Yutz-Merkle Insurance.
She brings more than 17 years of experience in
the insurance industry specializing in commercial,
personal, and life insurance, and holds licenses in
Pennsylvania and New Jersey, and she has earned the
Certified Insurance Service Representative (CISR)
designation.
Brower - Kim Brower of Caesars Pocono Resorts
has been promoted to reservations supervisor. Brower
will be responsible for evaluating reservation personnel and providing ongoing employee training to
enhance the booking process.
Burns – Terry Burns, owner of the former Pocono
Personnel, is converting her independent staffing
business into Express Employment Professionals,
is the nation’s fifth-largest staffing company that
employs more than 350,000 people each year through
temporary help, flexible staffing, evaluation, and
direct hire.
Caprioli – Nicholas Caprioli has been named the
new chief of the Technical Publications and Provisioning Branch, Production Engineering Directorate
at Tobyhanna Army Depot. He supervises 21 people
who develop, validate, and verify technical manuals.
Diaz – Executive Chef Laurie Diaz has recently
closed The Private Table in East Stroudsburg and
opened Sticks n Stones Bar and Grill across from
Caesars Pocono Palace Resort in East Stroudsburg.
The new restaurant has a bar, four giant screen TVs
and offers darts, golf simulation and arcade games.
Diaz has certifications in wine and maintains a
BROWER
KRAFTICHISIN
BURNS
SANDERSON
ServSafe status.
Fabunan - Ruben Fabunan was named chief of the
Image Optics/Laser Branch, Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Directorate at the Tobyhanna Army Depot. He supervises 47 people who
work on night vision goggles, scopes, driver’s viewers, laser designators, and laser range finders.
Griffin – Lawrence P. Griffin has joined the Frailey
Agency (Stroudsburg) as an office manager. Griffin
brings 30 years of financial services experience from
MetLife as a Regional Director of training and as a
corporate director of automation.
Hagan – Thomas B. Hagen, chairman/owner of Eriebased Custom Group Industries, and chairman of the
board of Erie Insurance Group, was elected chairman of the Pennsylvania Chamber of Business and
Industry (Harrisburg) Board of Directors at its annual
membership/board meeting. He previously served as
first vice chairman of the PA Chamber board.
Hansen - Richard Hansen has been designated chief
of the Master Production Scheduling (MPS) Branch,
Production Management Directorate at the Tobyhanna Army Depot. He supervises 27 people in the
scheduling and execution of the MPS workload.
Herman - Dr. Charles K. Herman, medical director of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery at Pocono
Medical Center, recently co-authored a chapter in the
fourth edition of the Handbook of Nutrition in the
Aged, published by CRC Press, on the role of nutrition in recovery and healing after surgery. The publication is a nutrition and health textbook for medical
and nursing students throughout the world.
Kiddwatson – Graham Kiddwatson, five-time award
winning medalist of the prestigious Chaine Des
Rotisseurs award, has been named the new executive
chef at Cliff Park Inn Restaurant and Golf Course in
Milford. Chef Kiddwatson was head chef for Crystal
Springs Golf and Country Club, a resort hotel located
in New Jersey.
Kraftchisin - Tracy Kraftchisin was recently appointed the new chief of the Manufacturing Support
Branch, Production Management Directorate at Tobyhanna Army Depot. She supervises 23 people who
oversee the scheduling and program management of
workload for several divisions.
Nikles - National Association of Home Builders,
Washington, D.C. honored Ed Nikles, president of
DIAZ
SCROBOLA
FABUNAN
WEILAND
Ed Nikles Custom Builder, Inc. (Milford) as the 2008
Custom Home Builder of the Year. The field of nominees included twenty national finalists from among
more than 240,000 NAHB member companies. The
award recognizes a custom builder for his or her
outstanding craftsmanship in building one-of-a-kind
custom homes as well their exemplary business
practices.
Porter – Jennifer Porter has been named the new
director of Workforce Initiatives at Wayne County’s
new Workforce Wayne program.
Postupack - The University Economic Development
Association has elected Mary Frances Postupack,
chief executive officer of the Research and Economic
Development (RED) division at East Stroudsburg
University, as one of five new members to its board
of directors. With more than two decades of experience with economic development, Postupack serves
as chief executive officer of research and economic
development at ESU. She is developing ESU’s 15acre Research and Technology Park.
Sanderson - Lisa L. Sanderson with BOBHAY.com
has joined Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate
Wilkins & Associates as a partner. Sanderson is also
a holder of the ABR (Accredited Buyer Representative) designation.
Scrobola - James Scrobola has been appointed chief
of the Design and Development Branch, Production
Engineering Directorate at Tobyhanna Army Depot.
Scrobola supervises 29 people who provide engineering support for prototype design, integration, system
testing, manufacturing, and technical drawing and
manual development.
Toth - Paul Toth has been named new division chief
of the Product Support Division, Production Management Directorate at Tobyhanna Army Depot. Toth
supervises 17 people in a variety of programs.
Weiland – Scott Weiland has recently resigned as
executive director of the Pike County Chamber of
Commerce and has accepted a position with the
Greater Scranton Chamber of Commerce as vice
president of Operations.
Please send all press releases for
consideration to editor@pbjonline.com
24
Pocono Business Journal | January 2009
BUSINESS BRIEFS
WHAT’s WHAT
Angela’s Child Development in Stroudsburg
recently received a $500 grant from MetroAction’s
Child Care MicroGrant program to purchase new
play equipment enhancing physical education and
teaching healthy eating habits to the children in their
care. The MetroAction Child Care MicroGrant program awards ten MicroGrants each year to improve
the quality of childcare throughout eight counties in
northeastern Pennsylvania.
The Dingman Delaware Insurance Agency, LLC
has held a grand re-opening in Dingman’s Ferry.
Great Wolf Lodge recently raised approximately
$59,000 during its 2008 Community Days, which
will go to United Way Monroe County and the Barrett Paradise Friendly Library.
The Greater Pocono Chamber of Commerce
is considering the formation of a Monroe County
Infrastructure Task Force to study the imminent
and future needs of various infrastructure projects
throughout Monroe County. The chamber also has
re-launched its West End Committee which meets
on the second Wednesday of each month from 8:00
a.m. – 9:00 a.m. at the Western Pocono Community
Library.
A recent grand opening was held at The Harrington
House (formerly The Hattree Inn) in Milford. The
new owner, Adriane Wendell, has renovated the
rooms of the facility.
Lehigh Carbon Community College (LCCC) has
begun offering employment retraining opportunities
to residents of Lehigh, Carbon, or Schuylkill counties who have been affected by business or industry
plant closing or layoff. Applicants may enroll for
a maximum of one term/semester on a tuition-free
basis. Eligibility requirements necessitate students
must have been laid off, permanently or indefinitely,
from a full-time position within 12 months prior to
the time they make application for the program.
Lehigh Carbon Community College has received
the KEYS award at the KEYS Regional Workshop at
Harrisburg Community College. The award signifies
that the LCCC KEYS program had an 85% Work
Participation Rate among KEYS student participants.
KEYS is a program of the Pennsylvania Department
of Public Welfare designed to provide an opportunity
and support for Pennsylvania Temporary Assistance
for Needy Families (TANF) recipients to pursue a
degree or credit-bearing certificate at a Community
College in Pennsylvania.
Linda’s Full Service Salon & Tanning, Inc. (Mt.
Pocono) was awarded a contract with the PA De-
partment of Public Welfare to perform beautician
services for female and African American female individuals residing at the Hamburg Center, Hamburg,
PA. The services include shampooing, conditioning,
cutting, styling, curling, color and chemical treatments. Linda’s Full Service Salon & Tanning, Inc., a
Woman Minority Business Enterprise (WMBE) and
HUBZone Certified business, has been in operation
since 2004. In 2006, Linda Thomas contacted the
NEPA Alliance Procurement Technical Assistance
Center (PTAC) for assistance with contact solicitations that qualified with cosmetology.
Manpower Tannersville has celebrated its 60th year
in business and has been in the Pocono area for 40
years. Manpower is a $21 billion global enterprise
that annually serves 9 million people and 400,000
clients from a network of 4,500 offices in 80 countries and territories.
Monroe Career and Technical Institute is launching its new Adult Culinary Program this month,
designed to prepare participants for employment as a
preparatory cook or sous chef in restaurants, hotels,
casinos or for those considering having their own
restaurant, bed & breakfast or Personal Chef Services as well as those already in the field, wanting
to upgrade their skills. In completing this 16 month
course, students will also receive their ServSafe
Food Safety Certification. Also recently launched
is MCTI’s Pharmacy Tech program, which to date
has graduated approximately 30 individuals. The
program covers basic pharmacy theory and types of
medications, drug interactions, customer service, and
pharmaceutical calculations. The students are also
required to complete a 100 hour externship at a local
pharmacy. MCTI is working on an agreement for an
externship at Pocono Medical Center’s Pharmacy.
Monroe’s Paradise Township received a $12,515
grant from the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) under the Sewage Facilities Enforcement
Grants Program to help the municipality with sewage enforcement provisions; also, an underground
storage tank in Stroud Township will be removed
with a $4,000 state grant. The sewage grant reimburses half of the township’s eligible expenses for
performing sewage enforcement provisions. The
Pennsylvania Sewage Facilities Act requires local
agencies to administer a permitting program for the
installation of septic systems. The program establishes uniform standards to protect public health and
prevent environmental problems due to substandard
or malfunctioning septic systems.
Schaedler Yesco Distribution, Inc. was recognized
as Business of the Year for companies employing
101 or more employees. The award was presented
Coming Next Month ... February 2009
at the fifth annual Central Penn Business Journal
Business of the Year Awards gala. Schaedler Yesco
Distribution, headquartered in Harrisburg, is an electrical, lighting, datacomm, and industrial supplies
distributor serving Pennsylvania businesses since
1924.
St. Luke’s Hospice hosted a presentation by Rev.
Anne Huey, Support Services Coordinator, St.
Luke’s Hospice, and Dr. Ric Baxter, Medical Director, St. Luke’s Hospice in Lehighton. The presentation provided information on the impact of hospice
care on the patient and family members, how to
request hospice services, what patient diagnoses are
treated and the St. Luke’s team approach to providing care and support.
Trintek Product Integration, Corp., an IT company which is working to develop an interactive intelligent robotic software system, has just moved into
East Stroudsburg University’s Business Accelerator. Trintek’s technology reduces soldiers’ exposure
to enemy threats. The founder and owner of the
company, Marlon Holder, has over 14 years of experience in Defense Systems Engineering and expertise
in Electro-Mechanical, Re-Engineering Product
Development and Systems Integration. Other firms
that are part of the ESU Accelerator include: ABP
Software, LLC; A Sound Strategy, Inc.; Chaperone Technologies; Cinch Creative Media, LLC;
Energy & Research Technology Hub; FD Software Enterprises, LLC; Marker Test, Inc.; Nadig
Trading, Inc.; and Info Valley Corp.
A grand opening and ribbon-cutting ceremony was
held for Wayne Memorial Hearing Solutions
(Honesdale), a full-service facility offering screenings for hearing loss and information on products to
correct hearing deficits, and how various assistive
technologies make hearing television, telephones and
conversation speech clearer and easier to understand.
Weichert, Realtors® Acclaim (Tannersville) has
consolidated three locations to its recently purchased
corporate office in Tannersville. Agents and support
staff from Brodheadsville and East Stroudsburg have
joined the Tannersville team.
Members of Weichert, Realtors® Ruffino Real
Estate traveled from Milford to Morris Plains, New
Jersey, to tour the Weichert® campus. Weichert
headquarters is home to more than 1000 personnel.
Please send all press releases for
consideration to editor@pbjonline.com
POCONO
www.pbjonline.com
Regional Business News & Resources
Finding Opportunities in the Current Market
www.pbjonline.com
• Job Creation Takes Turn for the Green: Carbon County about to explode on green scene
•While You Wait: What you can (and should) strengthen now, before the economic bounceback
•Making Workforce Development A Reality: Monroe-based business leader has plans to bring schools
and business together
•Professional Profile: Finding opportunities in the written word at Books and Prints (Milford) and Main
Street Books (Hawley)
25
Pocono Business Journal | January 2009
FOCUS LIST
By
County: Carbon Monroe Pike Wayne
Business Law Firms and Attorneys in the Pocono Region
Address
Phone
Engler, Jane F.
77 W. 10th Street, Jim Thorpe, PA 18229
(570) 325-3000
Nanovic Law Offices
57 Broadway, Jim Thorpe, PA 18229
(570) 325-2774
Smith Law Offices, P.C.
26 W. Broadway, Jim Thorpe, PA 18229
(570) 325-8800
Amori & Riegel, LLC
513 Sarah Street, Stroudsburg, PA 18360
(570) 421-1260
Bensinger & Weekes, PA
529 Sarah Street, Stroudsburg, PA 18360
(570) 421-4727
Fisher & Fisher Law Offices, LLC
1200 PA Route 940 Suite #2, Mt. Pocono, PA 18344
(570) 839-8690
Gordon, David R.
1883 Jory Road, Pen Argyl, PA 18072
(610) 588-0965
Higgins Law Office
26 North Sixth Street, Stroudsburg, PA 18360
(570) 421-3830
Krawitz & Krawitz, P.C.
553 Main Street, Stroudsburg, PA 18360
(570) 421-7800
Lyons, Daniel P.
11 North Eighth Street, Stroudsburg, PA 18360
(570) 421-0454
Mancuso & Mancuso
808 Monroe Street, Stroudsburg, PA 18360
(570) 476-1099
Newman Williams Mishkin Corveleyn Wolfe & Fareri, P.C.
712 Monroe Street, Stroudsburg, PA 18360
(570) 421-9090
Primrose and Quigley
17 N. 6th Street, Stroudsburg, PA 18360
(570) 421-2350
Reaser, Jr., William J. Jr.
111A North Seventh Street, Stroudsburg, PA 18360
(570) 421-5590
Royle & Durney
Merchants Plaza, Suite 8, Tannersville, PA 18372
(570) 620-0320
Savoia, Steven R.
701 Main Street, Suite 400, Stroudsburg, PA 18360
(570) 972-2060
Smithford Business Lawyers, LLC
600 Main Street, Suite 118, Stroudsburg, PA 18360
(800) 728-1406
Spegar, Lawrence AJ Esquire
Box 105 Route 940, Pocono Summit, PA 18346
(570) 839-1674
Swaby Law Firm, LLC
560 Main Street, Stroudsburg, PA 18360
(570) 421-0177
Weidenbaum, Bradley
P.O. Box 721, Brodheadsville, PA 18322
(570) 992-3900
Whitfield, Lorrie
P.O. Box 100, Effort, PA
(570) 629-1268
Zito, Martino & Karasek, L.L.P.
Route 209, Brodheadsville, PA 18322
(570) 992-2424
Levy, Stieh & Gaughan, P.C.
542 U.S. Routes 6 & 209, Milford, PA 18337
(570) 296-8844
Lieberman, Charles F.
400 Broad Street, Milford, PA 18337
(570) 296-8885
Weinstein, Schneider, Kannebecher & Lokuta
104 W. High Street, Milford, PA 18337
(570) 296-8885
Worth, Magee & Fisher
104 W. High Street, Milford, PA 18337
(570) 325-4607
Anderson, Elizabeth Esq.
RR1 Box 118, Hawley, PA 18428
(570) 685-1023
Fine, Wyatt & Carey
811 Main Street, Honesdale, PA 18431
(570) 253-1120
Howell, Howell & Krause
Foster Building, 109 Ninth St. Honesdale, PA 18431
(570) 253-2520
Schlosser, Wayne
214 Ninth Street, Honesdale, PA 18431
(570) 253-3745
Treat, Jeffrey S.
926 Court Street, Honesdale, PA 18431
(570) 253-1209
Wayne
Pike
Monroe
Carbon
Organization
Disclaimer: If your organization is located within Carbon, Monroe, Pike and Wayne in northeastern Pennsylvania and was not included in the listing, please contact Pocono
Business Journal so we can ensure it is included in future editions of this focus list.
26
Pocono Business Journal | January 2009
CALENDAR OF EVENTS
January 2
BNI Shawnee-on-Delaware, 7:00 a.m. – 8:30 a.m. Inn at Shawnee, River Road, Shawnee-on-Delaware. Call (570) 420-8656 or
email hrccpa@ptd.net for more information.
Employer Website Assistance, PA CareerLink in Tannersville,
3:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. Call (570) 620-2850 or visit www.cwds.
state.pa.us or www.monroecountycareerlink.org for information.
January
more information.
January 5
Resumes & Cover Letters, PA CareerLink in Tannersville, 9:00
a.m. – 11:30 a.m. Call (570) 620-2850 or visit www.cwds.state.
pa.us or www.monroecountycareerlink.org for more information.
Business Card Exchange, West End Business Group, 5:00 p.m. –
7:00 p.m. at the American Legion Hall on Route 209 in Gilbert.
Cost: Members, $7; non-members, $14; non-registered walk-ins,
$20.Call Toni Inciarrano at (610) 295-2784 or email toni@westendbusinessgroup.com, or contact Scott Lifer at (610) 295-9226 or
email scott@westendbusinessgroup.com for more information.
Brown Bag Monday, Carbon County Chamber of Commerce,
12:00 noon. Informal lunch with CCCC management at CCCC
Office. Reservations required. Call (610) 379-5000 for more
information.
January 9
BNI Shawnee-on-Delaware, 7:00 a.m. – 8:30 a.m., Inn at Shawnee, River Road, Shawnee-on-Delaware. Call (570) 420-8656 or
email hrccpa@ptd.net for information.
Premier Party for “Nature’s Keepers” TV show, 6:00 p.m. held at
The Emerson House at the Hotel Fauchere. Cost: free, with cash
bar. Call the Delaware Highlands Conservancy’s Hawley office
at (570) 226-3164 or visit www.natures-keepers.org for more
information.
Accounting for Managers, University of Scranton, 9:00 a.m. – 1:00
p.m. Cost: $95, includes text. Visit www.academic.scranton.edu/
department/cce/quickbooks.html or call (570) 941-7582 for more
information.
January 5 and 12
Microsoft Excel 2003 – Level I, University of Scranton, 9:00 a.m.
– 4:00 p.m. Cost: $165, includes text and lunch. Call (570) 9417582 or email cptd@scranton.edu for information.
January 6
Intro to Career Link Services, 10:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m., Website
Enrollment, 3:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. Held at the PA CareerLink in
Tannersville. Call (570) 620-2850 or visit www.cwds.state.pa.us
or www.monroecountycareerlink.org for more information.
January 6, 13, 20 and 27
Microsoft Excel 2007 – Level I, University of Scranton, 1:00
p.m. – 4:00 p.m. Cost: $150, includes text. Call (570) 941-7582 or
email cptd@scranton.edu for information.
January 6, 13, 21 and 30
Microsoft Access 2003 – Level I, University of Scranton, 9:00
a.m. – 12:00 noon. Cost: $150, includes text. Call (570) 941-7582
or email cptd@scranton.edu for information.
January 7
BNI Milford, Cliff Park Inn, 7:00 a.m. Contact: Mike Dougherty
at (570) 460-5815.
LeTip of Stroudsburg, 7:00 a.m. - 8:30 a.m. JR’s, Green Tree
Drive, East Stroudsburg. Call (570) 588-4113 for more information.
Career Exploration, 9:00 a.m. – 2:30 p.m., Website Enrollment,
8:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m. Held at the PA CareerLink in Tannersville.
Call (570) 620-2850 or visit www.cwds.state.pa.us or www.monroecountycareerlink.org for more information.
January 7, 14 and 21
Quickbooks 2008, University of Scranton, 6:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.
Cost: $165, includes text. Visit www.academic.scranton.edu/department/cce/quickbooks.html or call (570) 941-7582 to register.
January 8
BNI Bartonsville, 7:00 a.m. – 8:30 a.m. Howard Johnson’s, Route
611, Bartonsville. Call Jim Connor at (570) 237-5869 for more
information.
Website Enrollment, PA CareerLink in Tannersville, 9:00 a.m. –
11:00 a.m. Call (570) 620-2850 or visit www.cwds.state.pa.us for
Computer Basics, PA CareerLink in Tannersville, 9:00 a.m. – 1:00
p.m. Call (570) 620-2850 or visit www.cwds.state.pa.us or www.
monroecountycareerlink.org for more information.
Hiring Do’s & Don’ts: Staying Legal in Your Hiring Process,
University of Scranton, 9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. Cost: $95 with
materials & lunch. Visit www.academic.scranton.edu/department/
cce/quickbooks.html or call (570) 941-7582 to register.
Learn to Use Your MAC, University of Scranton, 9:00 a.m. – 4:00
p.m. Cost: $165, includes text and lunch. Visit www.academic.
scranton.edu/department/cce/quickbooks.html or call (570) 9417582 to register.
January 12
Effective Selection Interviewing, Northampton Community College, Family Southside Center, Room 605, 8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Cost: $210. Call (610) 861-5590 or email ldi@northampton.edu
for more information.
Brown Bag Monday, Carbon County Chamber of Commerce,
12:00 noon. Informal lunch with CCCC management at CCCC
Office. Reservations required. Call (610) 379-5000 for more
information.
Computerized O’Net Assessments, PA CareerLink in Tannersville,
9:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m. Call (570) 620-2850 or visit www.cwds.
state.pa.us or www.monroecountycareerlink.org for more information.
Business Card Exchange, Greater Pocono Chamber of Commerce.
Chateau Resort and Conference Center, Tannersville. Co-hosted
by Pocono Business Journal. Cost in advance: $10 Chamber members, $20 non-members; walk-ins: $15 Chamber members, $25
non-members. Call (570) 421-4433 for details.
January 12-16
Convergence Boot Camp, Northampton Community College,
Hartzell Hall, Room 177, Monday through Thursday from 9:00
a.m. - 5:00 p.m.; Friday from 9:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. Learn to sell,
install and maintain Voice Over Internet Protocol (VoIP) products
from leading manufacturers and suppliers. Cost: $1,675, includes
text. Registration deadline 1/5. Call (610) 861-4550 for more
information.
January 12 and 19
Learn to Use Your Computer, University of Scranton, 9:00 a.m.
– 4:00 p.m. Cost: $165 with text and lunch. Visit www.academic.
scranton.edu/department/cce/quickbooks.html or call (570) 9417582 to register.
January 13
Home Inspectors course, Lehigh Carbon Community College,
main campus. Cost: $1,150. Call (610) 799-1500 for information.
Intro to CareerLink Services, 10:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m., Interview
Basics, 12:00 noon – 1:30 p.m., Salary Negotiation, 1:30 p.m. –
2:00 p.m., Website Enrollment, 3:00 p.m. -4:00 p.m. Held at the
PA CareerLink in Tannersville. Call (570) 620-2850 or visit www.
cwds.state.pa.us or www.monroecountycareerlink.org for more
information.
Women in Business Luncheon, Greater Pocono Chamber of
Commerce, Sycamore Grille, Delaware Water Gap. Sponsored by
Stephany Musgrave of Geisinger Careworks. Topic: “The Best
Year of Your Life” presented by Rocco Lombardo of Accomplishment Coaching. Cost: $15 Chamber Members, $18 non-members
and walk-ins. Call (570) 421-4433 to register.
January 13 and 19
BusinessRICH workshop, ActionCoach. 7:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Location TBD, within Stroudsburg. Cost: $1,195. Designed to
provide business owners with strategies for improving business
and outperforming the competition. Call (570) 517-7100 for
more information.
January 14
Home Improvement Registration Law Seminar, Ehrhardt’s
Waterfront Resort. Learn about a new law going into effect July
1, 2009, which will require home improvement contractors to
register with the state Attorney General’s office to do business
in Pennsylvania. Sponsored by the Wayne County Builders Association. Registration required. Cost: free. Call Wayne County
Builders Association at (570) 226-4941.
BNI Milford, Cliff Park Inn, 7:00 a.m. Call Mike Dougherty at
(570) 460-5815.
LeTip of Stroudsburg, 7:00 a.m. - 8:30 a.m. JR’s, Green Tree
Drive, East Stroudsburg. Call (570) 588-4113 for more information.
Nail Down Your Breakfast Seminar on Manufactured Stone,
PCBA Office, 9:00 a.m. Sponsored by the Pike County Builders
Association, presented by John Clark, Fireside Hearth & Home.
Cost: $10 PCBA members; $20 non-members. Call (570) 2965589 for information.
Trade Adjustment Assistance Seminar, Scranton Chamber of
Commerce, 9:00 a.m. – 10:30 a.m. Cost: free. Sponsored by
the US Dept. of Commerce. Call (570) 342-7711 or visit www.
metroaction.org for more information.
Employer Website Assistance, PA CareerLink in Tannersville,
3:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. Held at the PA CareerLink in Tannersville.
Call (570) 620-2850 or visit www.cwds.state.pa.us or www.
monroecountycareerlink.org for more information.
Building Your Business, Mount Pocono Borough Building, 10:00
a.m. – 12:30 p.m. Covers basic business startup and planning
strategies. Cost: $15. Pre-registration is required. Call (570) 9417588 for more information.
January 15
BNI Bartonsville, 7:00 a.m. – 8:30 a.m. Howard Johnson’s,
Route 611, Bartonsville. Call Jim Connor at (570) 237-5869 for
more information.
Employer Website Assistance, PA CareerLink in Tannersville,
3:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. Held at the PA CareerLink in Tannersville.
Call (570) 620-2850 or visit www.cwds.state.pa.us or www.
monroecountycareerlink.org for more information.
PBJ’s Business and Books Series, Editors on the
Road Part 2, held at Borders Shoppes at Stroud, 5:30
p.m. Cost: free. Topics include using the business journal
to expand your networking potential, and how to build on
good media relations. In the event of inclement weather, this
presentation will be held on January 22. Call (570) 421-0100
for more information.
January 15 - 29
Working in the Casino Industry – Is It Right for You? Northampton Community College, Fowler Family Southside Center,
Thursdays, 6:30 p.m. - 9:30 p.m. Cost: $35. Registration deadline
1/8. Call (610) 332-8660 for more information.
January 16
BNI Shawnee-on-Delaware, 7:00 a.m. – 8:30 a.m. Inn at Shawnee, River Road, Shawnee-on-Delaware. Call (570) 420-8656 or
email hrccpa@ptd.net for more information.
Lean6 Certification Level 2, Manufacturers Resource Center
(Bethlehem location), 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. Completion of Level
I required. Cost: $3,000, includes continental breakfast, lunch,
refreshments, and all materials. Registration deadline 1/9. Call
Angie Bove at (610) 758-4588 or (800) 343-6732 for more
information.
Mail Merge, University of Scranton, 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. Cost:
$130, includes text and lunch. Call (570) 941-7582 for more
information.
Résumé Critique, 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.; Employer Website
Assistance, 3:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. Call (570) 620-2850 or visit
www.cwds.state.pa.us or www.monroecountycareerlink.org for
more information.
January 17
West End Business Expo, sponsored by
Pocono Business Journal. American Legion Post
#927, Gilbert. 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. Cost: free. Visit www.
westendbusinessgroup.com or call (610) 295-9226 for more
information.
What is Fracking?, a discussion on the health, environmental and
economic effects of gas drilling, presented by Pike County Citi-
27
Pocono Business Journal | January 2009
CALENDAR OF EVENTS
zens for Clean Water and the Twin and Walker Creeks Watershed
Conservancy. 1:30 p.m. at Delaware Valley High School. Cost:
free. Call Keith LaPan at (917) 748-0930 or email krlapan@nyc.
rr.com for more information.
January 19
Registration deadline, 2009 Northeast Buyers Mission, held on
February 9, 11 and 13, 2009. Travel to Philadelphia, New York
City and Boston to meet with food and beverage buyers from over
20 countries. Call (570) 655-5581 or email Debbie Phillips at
dphillips@nepa-alliance.org.
Registration deadline, Japan Foodex 2009, March 3 – 6, 2009.
Promote your food product in Japan. Cost: $450 per company to
travel to Japan, $150 per company sending samples only to be
displayed at booth. Email mhorvath@nepa-alliance.org or call
(570) 655-5581.
Monthly Breakfast, Greater Pocono Chamber of Commerce. 7:30
a.m., Pocono Inne Town, Stroudsburg. Sponsor: Granite Transformations. Cost in advance: $10 Chamber members; $14 non-members. Cost at the door: $12 Chamber members; $18 non-members
at the door. Call (570) 421-4433 for more information.
Six Sigma Black Belt Program, Manufacturers Resource Center
(Bethlehem location), 8:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Cost: $6,500,
includes continental breakfast, lunch, refreshments, and all
materials. Registration deadline 1/14. Call Angie Bove at (610)
758-4588 or (800) 343-6732 for more information.
Brown Bag Monday, Carbon County Chamber of Commerce,
12:00 noon. Informal lunch with CCCC management at CCCC
Office. Reservations required. Call (610) 379-5000 for more
information.
Information session for RN/LPN Reactivation and Review Courses, Northampton Community College, Fowler Family Southside
Center, Room 507, 6:00 p.m. Cost: free. Call (610) 332-6585 for
more information
January 19, 26 and February 2
Microsoft PowerPoint 2003 – Level I, University of Scranton,
9:00 a.m. – 12:00 noon. Cost: $113 with text. Visit www.academic.scranton.edu/department/cce/quickbooks.html or call (570)
941-7582 to register.
January 20
Intro to CareerLink Services, 10:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.; Mock
Interviews, 1:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m.; Website Enrollment, 3:00 p.m.
– 4:00 p.m. Held at the PA CareerLink in Tannersville. Call (70)
620-2850 or visit www.cwds.state.pa.us or www.monroecountycareerlink.org for more information.
Leadership In Supply Management, Lehigh Carbon Community
College, 6:00 p.m. – 8:40 p.m. Schnecksville location. Cost: $139.
Course focuses on leadership, risk and compliance, and strategic
sourcing. Call (610) 799-1998 for more information.
Master’s Builders Association, monthly meeting, 7:00 p.m. Location TBA. Call (570) 595-2007 for more information.
sshow.com for information.
January 22
BNI Bartonsville, 7:00 a.m. – 8:30 a.m. Howard Johnson’s, Route
611, Bartonsville. Call Jim Connor at (570) 237-5869 for more
information.
Business/Education Partnership for Monroe County, breakfast,
7:30 a.m. – 9:30 a.m. Held at Northampton Community College’s Monroe Campus. Monroe County Youth Employment
Service, Inc. in partnership with the Pocono Counties Workforce
Investment Board will present a workshop to inform the business
community about opportunities to work with local schools on
workforce development. Cost: free. Contact Peter Olson-Alasty at
(570) 620-2410 or email payes@ptd.net.
Successful Negotiations, Northampton Community College,
Fowler Family Southside Center, Room 605, Bethlehem. 8:00
a.m. – 4:30 p.m. Develop techniques for skillful, effective negotiations. Cost: $210. Call (610) 861-5590 or email ldi@northampton.
edu for more information.
Website Enrollment, 9:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. Held at the PA CareerLink in Tannersville. Call (570) 620-2850 or visit www.cwds.
state.pa.us for more information.
January 23
BNI Shawnee-on-Delaware, 7:00 a.m. – 8:30 a.m. Inn at Shawnee, River Road, Shawnee-on-Delaware. Call (570) 420-8656 or
email hrccpa@ptd.net for more information.
11:00 a.m. Held at the PA CareerLink in Tannersville. Call (570)
620-2850 or visit www.cwds.state.pa.us for more information.
LeTip of Stroudsburg, 7:00 a.m. - 8:30 a.m., JR’s, Green Tree
Drive, East Stroudsburg. Call (570) 588-4113 for more information.
The First Step: Starting Your Business, East Stroudsburg University, 10:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. Covers registrations, licenses, business structures, taxation, assessing start-up costs, financing, and
more. Cost: $10. Pre-registration is required. Call (570) 941-7588
for more information.
Food Safety Employee Training For Personal Care Homes program. Registration deadline 1/16. 1:00 p.m. – 4:30 p.m. Monroe
County Cooperative Extension, Stroudsburg. Cost: $15. Call (570)
421-6430 or email MonroeExt@psu.edu for more information.
MS Access Application Development, Lehigh Carbon Community
College, Schnecksville campus. Call (610) 799-1500 for more
information.
January 29
BNI Bartonsville, 7:00 a.m. – 8:30 a.m. Howard Johnson’s, Route
611, Bartonsville. Call Jim Connor at (570) 237-5869 for more
information.
Lean6 101: Lean for the Job Shop, Manufacturers Resource
Center (Bethlehem location), 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. Cost: $300,
includes continental breakfast, lunch and all materials. Registration deadline 1/23. Call Angie Bove at (610) 758-4588 or (800)
343-6732 for more information.
The Power of PowerPoint, Lehigh Carbon Community College,
Schnecksville campus. 8:30 a.m. - 3:30 a.m. Cost: $119. Call
(610) 799-1500 for more information.
Website Enrollment, 9:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. Held at the PA CareerLink in Tannersville. Call (570) 620-2850 or visit www.cwds.
state.pa.us for more information.
Good Communication for Managers, University of Scranton,
9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. Cost: $95. Call (570) 941-7582 for more
information.
Building Your Business, PIDCO/Pike County Chamber of Commerce Office, 1:00 p.m. – 3:30 p.m. Covers basic business startup
and planning strategies. Cost: $15. Pre-registration is required.
Call (570) 941-7588 for details.
Computer Basics, 9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.; Employer Website
Assistance, 3:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. Held at the PA CareerLink in
Tannersville. Call (570) 620-2850 or visit www.cwds.state.pa.us
or www.monroecountycareerlink.org for more information.
Stress Management, Northampton Community College, Fowler
Family Southside Center, Room 605, 8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. Cost:
$210. Call (610) 861-5590 or email ldi@northampton.edu for
more information.
Lean6 101: Lean for Job Shops, Manufacturers Resource Center,
8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. Cost: $300 per student. Call Angie Bove at
(610) 758-4588 or email angieb@mrcpa.org for more information.
January 30
BNI Shawnee-on-Delaware, 7:00 a.m. – 8:30 a.m. Inn at Shawnee, River Road, Shawnee-on-Delaware. Call (570) 420-8656 or
email hrccpa@ptd.net for more information.
January 26
Brown Bag Monday, Carbon County Chamber of Commerce,
12:00 noon. Informal lunch with CCCC management at CCCC
Office. Reservations required. Call (610) 379-5000 for more
information.
Employer Website Assistance, 3:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. Held at
the PA CareerLink in Tannersville. Call (570) 620-2850 or visit
www.cwds.state.pa.us or www.monroecountycareerlink.org for
more information.
Résumés & Cover Letters, 9:00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. Held at the PA
CareerLink in Tannersville. Call 570-620-2850 or visit www.
cwds.state.pa.us or www.monroecountycareerlink.org for more
information.
Problem Solving Techniques, Northampton Community College,
Fowler Family Southside Center, Room 605, 8:00 a.m. – 4:30
p.m. Cost: $315. Call (610) 861-5590 or email ldi@northampton.
edu for more information.
January 21
BNI Milford, Cliff Park Inn, 7:00 a.m. Call Mike Dougherty at
(570) 460-5815.
January 27
Complete Access, Access instruction, Lehigh Carbon Community
College, Schnecksville campus. Call (610) 799-1500 for more
information.
LeTip of Stroudsburg, 7:00 a.m. - 8:30 a.m. JR’s, Green Tree
Drive, East Stroudsburg. Call (570) 588-4113 for more information.
Marketing Mechanics, University of Scranton, 2:00 p.m. – 4:00
p.m. Cost: $10. Pre-registration is required. Call (570) 941-7588
for details.
Nail Down Your Breakfast Seminar on Fireplaces, AIA Accredited, 9:00 a.m. Sponsored by the Pike County Builders Association, presented by John Clark, Fireside Hearth & Home. Cost:
$10 PCBA members; $20 non-members. Call (570) 296-5589 for
information.
Intro to CareerLink Services, 10:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.; Interview
Basics, 12:00 p.m. – 1:30 p.m.; Salary Negotiation, 1:30 p.m. –
2:00 p.m.; Website Enrollment,
3:00 – 4:00 p.m. Held at the PA
CareerLink in Tannersville. Call
POCONO
(570) 620-2850 or visit www.
cwds.state.pa.us or www.monRegional Business News & Resources
roecountycareerlink.org for more
information.
Career Exploration, 9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.; Website Enrollment,
8:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m. Held at the PA CareerLink in Tannersville.
Call (570) 620-2850 or visit www.cwds.state.pa.us or www.monroecountycareerlink.org for more information.
Introduction to Project Management, Northampton Community College, Fowler Family Southside Center, Room 605, 8:00
a.m. – 4:30 p.m. Cost: $210. Call (610) 861-5590 or email ldi@
northampton.edu for more information.
Quickbooks 2008, University of Scranton, 6:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.
Cost: $165, includes text. Visit www.academic.scranton.edu/department/cce/quickbooks.html or call (570) 941-7582 to register.
Microsoft Access 2007 – Level II, University of Scranton, 9:00
a.m. – 4:00 p.m. Cost: $165, includes text and lunch. Visit www.
academic.scranton.edu/department/cce/quickbooks.html or call
(570) 941-7582 to register.
January 20-23
2009 International Builders’ Show, Las Vegas. Visit www.builder-
The First Step: Starting Your Business, Carbondale Technology
Transfer Center, 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 noon. Cost: $10. Pre-registration is required. Call (570) 941-7588 for more information.
The Second Step: Developing Your Business Plan, Carbondale
Technology Transfer Center, 2:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. Covers the development of a business plan and composition of a narrative with
solid research. Cost: $10. Pre-registration is required. Call (570)
941-7588 for information.
BUSINESS JOURNAL
January 28
BNI Milford, Cliff Park Inn, 7:00
a.m. Contact: Mike Dougherty
at (570) 460-5815 for more information.
Nail Down Your Breakfast
Seminar on Crawlspace Myths,
9:00 a.m. Sponsored by the Pike
County Builders Association,
presented by David Strunk of
Strunk-Albert Engineering. Cost:
$10 PCBA members; $20 nonmembers. Call (570) 296-5589
for information.
Website Enrollment, 9:00 a.m. –
BUSINESS TODAY
Monday — Wednesday — Friday
8:40 P.M.
pennspeakradio.com
Tune in weekly to hear the latest business news
in the Poconos.
28
Pocono Business Journal | January 2009
PBJ REGISTER
BANKRUPTCIES
Monroe County
JSFS Realty LLC, $455,000
Progressive Construction Inc to Joseph Gallagher, $417,000
Daniel E. Altemose, Altemose Landscaping,
Pocono Pines. Chapter 7 Voluntary, filed
11/10/08.
Joseph A. Grenier, Catherine P. Grenier,
The Rose of Sharon Religious Books and
Articles, Cresco. Chapter 7 Voluntary, filed
11/10/08.
Richard A. Hamlet, Staytux, Inc., Stroudsburg. Chapter 7 Voluntary, filed 11/12/08.
William J. Ludwig, Merle Lynne Ludwig,
WJ Ludwig Landscape, Saylorsburg. Chapter
13 Voluntary, filed 11/21/08.
Charles J. Middaugh, Jr., Kelly A. Middaugh,
Wolfpac Enterprises, LLC, East Stroudsburg.
Chapter 7 Voluntary, filed 11/20/08.
Shawn Richard Pettis, Taunya M. Pettis, Pettis Transport LLC, Brodheadsville. Chapter
13 Voluntary, filed 12/8/08.
Judith Ann Porter, Petals of Light Rekiki
Center, Stroudsburg. Chapter 7 Voluntary,
filed 11/25/08.
R&S Auto & Truck Repair, Inc., East
Stroudsburg. Chapter 11 Voluntary, filed
12/5/08.
Keith A. Safin, KAS Trucking, Pocono Summit. Chapter 13 Voluntary, filed 12/02/08.
Joseph A. Sciabica, Crystal Wireless, East
Stroudsburg. Chapter 7 Voluntary, filed
11/26/08.
Ultimate Enterprises Inc., Cresco. Chapter 7
Voluntary, filed 11/11/08.
Keith A. Welsh, Welsh Machining, Keith’s
Construction, Blakeslee. Chapter 13 Voluntary, filed 11/20/08.
Pocono Township
W Richard and Diane Taitt to OKI Investment LLC, $500,000
Federal national Mortgage Association to
Paul and Cynthia Bartoli, $365,000
Anthony G. Crispi, AGC Management, Inc.,
Milford. Chapter 7 Voluntary, filed 11/25/08.
Delaware Township
Island Associates Consulting Inc to Brian
and Carolyn White, $370,000
Pike County
Deeds
Carbon County
Kidder Township South
Dennis Geraghty and Debra Zaboroski to
GJC Holdings LLC, $320,000
Cory and Denise Trucksess to Alan and
Marilyn Levy, $334,285
Steven and Jacqueline Ochsenreither to
Patrick and Theresa Sharp, $390,000
Robert and Michael Carney to Kevin and
Debra Deasy, $351,915
Mahoning Township
QSM LLC to D&G Associates LLC,
$643,000
Monroe County
Barrett Township
Susan and Mildred Kerestes and Barbara
Buchanan to James Bibber, $355,000
Chestnuthill Township
Gabriel Delacruz and Jacquelin Lopez to
Colin Outridge and William Rodriguez,
$300,000
Rchard and Mary Rylka to Darrell and Evelyn Seever, $325,000
Coolbaugh Township
Kathleen Jackson to Carl and Kathleen Stratton, $315,000
East Stroudsburg Borough
King KLP LLC to Christian and Jennifer
Fornataro, $465,000
Robert Weseloh and John DeVivo to MADDPP Carney LLC, $1,100,200
Jackson Township
Hamilton East Investment Group Inc to
David and Isabel Klarberg, $400,000
Janusz and Agata Nowak to Nicholas and
Hires Costa, $307,000
Middle Smithfield Township
Toll PA IV LP to Anthony and Teresa Asaro,
$405,900
Mount Pocono Borough
Sunrise Breakfast and Lunch Café LLC to
Stroudsburg Borough
Young Han Park to BCR Realty LLC,
$354,710
Harriet Andrews to Compton Ferreira and
Susanne Ramos, $400,000
Stroud Township
Jeffrey and Annette Warner to James Rattray
and Kelly Huff-Benkowski, $300,000
LTS Development LLC to Rochelle Quattlebaum, $369,800
Glenn and Susan Hawk to Steven and Patricia Paiewonsky, $325,000
Tobyhanna Township
Dermott and Regina Whalen to Noah Cook
and Debra Jih, $316,000
Simon and Rita Mosheshvili to Jae W and
Pamela Oh, $330,000
Scott and Denise Dobrin to Ricardo and
Theresa Salcedo, $650,000
Tunkhannock Township
Silver Active Adult Communities Lake
Harmony LLC to Tunkhannock Township,
$500,000
Cartus Relocation Corporation to Pierre and
Francis Joy Belisle, $342,000
Pike County
Dingman Township
Peter and Bonnie Timan to Jaime and Jillene
Cepeda, $370,000
Greene Township
Thomas and Kari Klein to Amy Mathis and
Nikolay Gavrishev, $350,000
Harold and Mary Lou Cantilli to Charles and
Gail Smith, $371,000
Lackawaxen Township
G Anderson Homes Inc to Heidi Frigano,
$309,730
Excell Homes Inc to Richard and Jerri Roberts, $300,000
Woodloch Pines Inc to Louis and Ann Margaret Timpanaro, $300,000
Matamoras Borough
Stephen Hughson to Pareshkumar Patel,
$375,000
Milford Township
John and Mary Ratzesberger to Taeyoung
and Chiaying Lee, $415,000
Palmyra Township
Beatrice Moore to Thomas and Marjorie
Michalski, $300,000
Sholan Ilyaev to Antonio Stanco, $425,000
Wayne County
Hawley Borough
Terrence and Cassandra Fitzsimmons to Jennifer Grabow, $450,000
Honesdale Borough
Frank Romol to Carlo Fodera, $350,000
Lake Township
Hayward and Teresa German to William and
Ava Sawyer, $302,500
Mount Pleasant Township
John and Earl Marshall to Quantum Farms
Pennsylvania Corporation, $495,000
Christopher and Lisa Amirtharajah to James
and Jacqueline Rantanen, $319,000
Paupack Township
Sandra Wanamaker to Gregory and Coleen
Soto, $300,000
David and Mary Garber to Randall Rhoads
Enterprises, $750,000
Remington Family Trust to Ronald Kraft,
$590,000
Joseph and Patricia Lamonte to Davis Lakefront Properties Inc, $525,000
Mortgages
Carbon County
Kidder Township South
Patrick and Theresa Sharp, MERS/Sovereign
Bank, $370,500
Varvara Clark, MERS/Colonial Mortgage
Service Company of America, $332,000
Raj and Maragret Kumar, MERS/Home
Loan Center/Lending Tree Loans, $310,000
Lehighton Borough
Lehighton Elderly Housing Associates, Wells
Fargo Bank, $4,120,000
Peter and Jill Turko, Wachovia Bank,
$1,050,000
Lower Towmensing Township
Peter and Jill Turko, Wachovia Bank,
$1,050,000
Penn Forest Township
Ernest and Nicole Sully, PNC Mortgage
LLC, $304,800
Towamensing Township
James and Jane Everett, KNBT/National
Penn Bank, $1,533,000
James and Jane Everett, KNBT/National
Penn Bank, $13,457,250
Forest Inn Property, KNBT/National Penn
Bank, $1,533,000
Forest Inn Property, KNBT/National Penn
Bank, $13,457,250
Monroe County
Barrett Township
James Bibber, MERS/M&T Bank, $342,308
Chestnuthill Township
Maryann Dowd, PNC Mortgage, $435,000
Maryann Dowd, Housing and Urban Development, $435,000
East Stroudsburg Borough
Christian and Jennifer Fornataro, Wayne
Bank, $1,102,000
MADDPP Carney LLC, Pocono Community
Bank, $550,000
MADDPP Carney LLC, 1909 Associates,
$546,917
Hamilton Township
Anthony Hernandez, MERS/PennWest
Home Equity Services Corporation,
$306,000
Middle Smithfield Township
Harima Inc, Wayne Bank, $1,400,000
Robert and Nicole Spano, Wayne Bank,
$1,400,000
Pierre and Francis Belisle, Mark Robinson,
$375,000
HRP, Textron Financial Corporation,
$12,000,000
Anthony and Teresa Asaro, JP Morgan Chase
Bank, $324,720
Gregory and Patricia Jones, Citicorp Trust
Bank, $472,482
Mount Pocono Borough
USFS Realty, Community Bank and Trust
Company, $389,882
USFS Realty, Community Bank and Trust
Company, $311,906
Joseph Gallagher, MERS/Taylor Bean and
Whitaker, $396,150
Pocono Township
OKI Investment LLC, Wayne Bank,
$350,000
Price Township
Ricardo Braylin, Penn Security bank and
Trust, $352,512
Ross Township
Charlotte O’Callaghan, HCI Mortgage
$405,000
Charlotte O’Callaghan, Housing and Urban
Development, $405,000
Smithfield Township
Domenick and Edana Totaro, Beneficial
Mortgage Company, $329,359
Stroudsburg Borough
BCR Realty LLC, Royal Asian Bank,
$354,710
Compton Ferreira and Susanne Ramos,
Wayne Bank, $420,000
Stroud Township
Grace Spicer, Bank of America, $325,000
Grace Spicer, Housing and Urban Development, $325,000
Tobyhanna Township
Ricardo and Theresa Salcedo, Fifth Third
Mortgage Company, $520,000
Patrick and Patricia Reilly, MERS/Gateway
Funding, $318,000
Pike County
Blooming Grove Township
Carl and Susan Bagnini, JP Morgan Chase
Bank, $405,000
Delaware Township
D&J Land Holdings LLC, First National
Bank of Palmerton, $500,000
Brian and Carolyn White, MERS/MNET
Mortgage Corporation, $320,000
Dingman Township
D&J Land Holdings LLC, First National
Bank of Palmerton, $500,000
Vannatta Realty and Builders Inc, Sussex
Bank, $360,000
NJ Federation of Young Men and Women
Hebrew Associations, Wayne Bank,
$6,500,000
Joyce Weigold, Wayne Bank, $365,600
Jaime and Jillene Cepeda, MERS/Mortgage
World Bankers Inc, $351,500
Lackawaxen Township
Masthope Rapids Property Owners Council,
Dime Bank, $3,200,000
D&J Land Holdings LLC, First National
Bank of Palmerton, $500,000
Louis and Ann Margaret Timpanaro, ESSA
Bank and Trust, $612,000
Steven and Nancy Prudente, ESSA Bank and
Trust, $417,000
Lehman Township
D&J Land Holdings LLC, First National
Bank of Palmerton, $500,000
Miriam and Harris Saberon, MERS/Residential Finance Corporation, $302,774
Milford Township
Taeyoung and Chiaying Lee, Bank of
America, $300,000
Robert Corn, MERS/Primary Residential
Mortgage Inc, $318,411
John Pfaeffle to George and Eugenia Pfaeffle, $354,693
NJ Federation of Young Men and Women
Hebrew Associations, Wayne Bank,
$6,500,000
Palmyra Township
David Thorne, JP Morgan Chase Bank,
$336,000
Dennis and Susan Rhoads, Fulton Bank,
$400,000
Dale and Barbara Dohner, Wayne Bank,
$600,000
Brian Bruneio, QNB Bank, $335,812
Shohola Township
David Weber, Wayne Bank, $300,000
D&J Land Holdings LLC, First National
Bank of Palmerton, $500,000
William Anderson and Anita O’Brien, Citibank NA, $308,000
Robert and Teresa Sachs, MERS/Merrill
Lynch Credit Corporation, $417,000
Westfall Township
John and Donna Butler, MERS/Metlife
Loans, $340,904
Graham MacDonald, James B Nutter and
29
Pocono Business Journal | January 2009
PBJ REGISTER
Company, $337,500
Graham MacDonald, Housing and Urban
Development, $337,500
Wayne County
Dreher Township
Robert and Dorothy Beirle, Honesdale National Bank, $500,000
Dyberry Township
Dorothy Rambo, Honesdale National Bank,
$304,000
Honesdale Borough
DML Properties, Fulton Bank, $480,000
Lake Township
William and Ava Sawyer, MERS, $297,826
Lehigh Township
Thomas and Patricia Bonikowski, MERS,
$417,000
Paupack Township
James and Patricia Oliver, Nichola Barna,
$362,000
Steven and Rosalie McCune, MERS,
$346,000
David and Linda Kraft, Wells Fargo Bank,
$417,000
Martin and Dolores Vasquenzo, Housing and
Urban Development, $387,000
Martin and Dolores Vasquenzo, Bank of
America, $387,000
Preston Township
One IL Inc, Dime Bank, $1,700,000
Salem Township
Christopher Hoffman, Wachovia Bank,
$400,000
New Corporations /
Fictitious Names
Carbon County
ANZ Contracting, construction, building and
maintenance, 700 Station Street, Lehighton,
ANZ Restorations, Inc
Bear Mountain Home Products Inc, internet
retail sales, 44 Mauch Chunk Street, Lehighton
CA Creative Hair Designs, LLC, hair styling,
90 Little Gap Road, Palmerton
Eastern Pennsylvania Paranormal Investigations, LLC, paranormal investigations, 309
Gypsy Hill Gardens, Lehighton
JayCee’s Deli, Inc, deli, 171 South First
Street, Lehighton
Leitrim, Inc, real estate, 179 Delaware Ave,
Palmerton
M & N Group LLC, investments, 133 Yellow
Run Road, Jim Thorpe
Mid Atlantic Realty Holdings, LLC, real
estate, 135 Breezewood Court, Palmerton
Noodlesaurus Glass Studio, jewelry and
glass beads, 350 Hahn’s Dairy Rd., Palmerton, Kristen Schaible
PANJA Corner, E-commerce, 473 North 8th
Street, Lehighton, Paula Kay Warner
Pereira’s Gulf, gas station/convenience store,
117 Delaware Avenue, Palmerton, Pereira
Enterprises, Inc
Spruce Hollow Realty, LLC, real estate,
1850 Spruce Hollow Road, Palmerton
The Chocolate Shoppe, retail chocolate sales,
300 South Third Street, Lehighton, Connie
A Blauch
Tin Roof Prete A Vivre, home furnishinginterior design retail store, 79 West Market Street Suite 300, Bethlehem, Samuel
R.Ciardi and Darrian Ford
Monroe County
4433 Holiday Birch LLC, real estate, 4433
Holiday Drive, Tobyhanna
A Landmark Abstract Agency, Limited Liability Company, title insurance agency, 201
Route 940, Mount Pocono
Advance Collision, restoration repair, 7 Nottingham Way, Bartonsville Kirk M Dennis
AJAY Fuel Inc, gas station/convenience
store, 2579 Milford Road, East Stroudsburg
Ambassador Medical Claims Services, file
medical claims electronically, 1003 Valley
View Drive, Stroudsburg, Cynthia Lewis
Archaotic LLC, design, marketing company,
3447 Wild Cherry Lane, East Stroudsburg
Beauty By V LLC, hair and nail services, HC
62 Box 158 B, Long Pond
Big Show Media LLC, advertising, RR 7
Box 7200, Saylorsburg
Boulder Lake Village Condominium Association, PO Box 707 Route 940 and Moseywood Road, Blakeslee
Burns Holding LLC, real estate holding, 429
B N Courtland Street, East Stroudsburg
Caribbean American Entrepreneurial Association, Inc, 4308 Campbell Way, Tobyhanna
Century Iron Works, rails, fences, steps, fire
escapes, beams, columns, repairs, welding,
steel fabrication, 45 Airport Road, Stroudsburg, Peter Ianniello
Chrismax Trucking, LLC, transportation
- trucking delivery services, 7228 Woods
Lane, Tobyhanna
Coral Harbor Consulting, LLC, consulting
services, 93 River Court, Pocono Lake
Culturenik Publishing, Inc, publishing, 1903
West Main Street, Stroudsburg
Dinsi’s Designs, beaded jewelry, 1745 Douglas Ave., Stroudsburg
DJ Custom Construction, LLC, construction,
216 Seneca Lane / PO Box 1037, Pocono
Summit
Driving School Management Company,
driver education, RR 7 / Box 7740-A,
Stroudsburg
El Coqui Cuts LLC, haircuts, 350 Main
Street, Stroudsburg
Ellen Kerz Interiors, Inc., construction, renovation, interior decorating and design, 3089
Henry’s Crossing, Cresco
Embroidery Express, clothing retail, embroidery and screen printing, 1336 Resica Falls
Road, East Stroudsburg, Edward Spannagel
Euro Security LLC, security systems, 1135
Glendale Terrace, Tobyhanna
Floors in Stock, retail flooring, 525 Main
Street, Stroudsburg, Snite Inc.
Friends of Monroe County Homeless
Animals, Inc, provide human and monetary
support for homeless animals of Monroe
County, 17 Heath Lane, Mount Pocono
FTC Carrier Corporation, trucking company,
306 Michelle Lane, Bartonsville
G & G Home Improvement, carpentry
business, H C 88 Box 1709, Pocono Lake,
Gilberto and Graciela Ramirez
Goody Kidz Day Care and learning Academy, 19A Nittany Court, Mount Pocono,
Crystal and Michael Goodwin, GOODY
KIDZ, LLC
Hideaway Outdoor Energy Products, Inc,
energy products, 7 Carney Road PO Box
781, Kresgeville
Jackson Manor Association, Inc., planned
community, charitable, Seven Bridge Road //
R.R. 5 // Box 5348, East Stroudsburg
JC & CB Home Remodeling and Repair,
construction, 456 Normal Street, East
Stroudsburg
Launch Enterprises, LLC, manufacturing
services, 4410 Route 611, Stroudsburg
Luigi Spagnola Contracting Corp., real estate
development, construction and management,
2 Katz Drive, Stroudsburg
M & S Country Store, retail groceries and
food sales, 275 Stokes Ave., East Stroudsburg, Michelle and Simon Hughes
Momma D’s Day Care Center LLC, day
care, One Knob Road, Mount Pocono
Mountain Spirit Yoga, LLC, yoga meditation
and counseling services, 27 North 6th Street,
Stroudsburg
Mountain View Trail Services, design construction maintenance of recreational trails,
RR 8 / Box 8142-A, Stroudsburg, John Motz
O’Leary Construction, Incorporated, construction, 4073 Manor Drive, Stroudsburg
PA Mobile Advertising, Inc, advertising, 808
Monroe Street, Stroudsburg
Pacific Street Records Corporation, 819 Ann
Street, Stroudsburg
PAETEC Business Services, telecommunications, 600 Willowbrook Office Park,
Fairport, Us Lec of Pennsylvania LLC
Pasta & Rice Catering, Inc., catering services, 3307 Emerald Blvd, Long Pond
Peace In The Storm Publishing, LLC,
publishing company, 168 Glade Drive, Long
Pond
PH-Construction, install, repair plumbing,
heating, carpentry, welding, concrete, etc.,
2471 Prices Drive, Cresco, Keith Spooner
Pocono Limited Winery, organic apple wine,
954 Mount Zion Avenue, Stroudsburg, Salavtore P.J Vito
Pocono Orthodontics, orthodontics, 134
Washington Street, East Stroudsburg
Pocono Snow, LLC, soccer club, RR 2 BOX
2033G, Stroudsburg
Posh Aroma, LLC, 14 Woodchuck Lane,
East Stroudsburg
Powerola Inc., convenience store, 44-45 McCauley Ave PO Box 1008, Pocono Pines
ProTech Support, LLC, computer sales service, repair, RR 3 Box 3239, Saylorsburg
Raritan Valley Motors of Poconos, car sales,
delivery, RR1 #1101, Bartonsville Moses
and Cecilia Oladugvewo
Real Living Ritter & Co. Real Estate, real
estate brokerage, 717 Sarah Street, Stroudsburg, James W. Ritter & Co. Real Estate, Ltd
Reverse Mortgage Services, title insurance, reverse mortgage closing services, 3
Landmark Center, East Stroudsburg Fidelity
Home Abstract, Inc.
Roy Toro Services, LLC, small motor repair,
7 Birch Acres, East Stroudsburg
Shear Envy salon, nail, hair service and
retail, 2 Fox Run Lane, East Stroudsburg,
George Nagele
SHF Enterprises, Inc., 7400 Route 611 Suite
100, Stroudsburg
Shining the Spotlight, educational website,
RR3 Box 3191A, Saylorsburg, Tialynn Eassoh
Simon T. ChuquiI DBA STC Construction,
roofing and siding, 8074 Red Squirrel Drive,
Tobyhanna Simon T Chuqui
SoHan Records (SohAN Records), music,
809 Horizon Dr, Stroudsburg, Antoine
Acevedo
Staffing USA, LTD., employee staffing, 37
Heath Lane, Mount Pocono
Street Flavor Records, produce and promote
music and video, RR 13 Box 2132, Stroudsburg, 209 Entertainment Inc.
Subway #35261, sandwich shop, 500 Route
940, Mount Pocono Shreya Subway Corporation
Subway, sandwich shop, 601 Route 940,
Mount Pocono SYJP Corporation
Sun Embroidery & T-Shirts, Inc., tee shirt
& novelty manufacture and sales, 940 North
9th Street, Stroudsburg Sung Bok Nam, and
Nam-Majidco II, Inc.
The Bright Life, LLC, entertainment and
performance, 624 Main Street, Stroudsburg
The House Doctor I O, home improvement, HC 3 - Box 3710, 613 Azalea Drive,
Albrightsville, Bertram H Berk
The Shoppes at Turtle Walk, LP, RR 2 / Box
30, Kunkletown Turtle Walk Shoppes Corp
Inc
Turtle Walk Shoppes Corp., Inc., real estate
management and development, RR 2 BOX
30, Kunkletown
VanFleet Welding, LLC, construction
oriented welding & fabrication, 399 Sterling
Road, Tobyhanna
Worthington Legal Counsel, LLC, law office,
One Empire Plaza, Stroudsburg
Xpress Business Services, LLC, Uni-mart
and gas station, 152 Brian Lane, Effort
Pike County
Argestes LLC, electrical contracting, 110
Sunflower Court, Milford
Bark Avenue Dog Grooming Salon, dog
grooming, 1035 Route 6, Shahola, Lisa
Kogan
CBH Holdings, real estate transaction, 154
Pond Drive PO Box 98, Matamoras, Joseph
S Biondo, Davis R Chant, and Peter D
Helms
Costello & Loshen LLC, Internet music and
apparel sales, 244 Locust Drive, Milford
ESE Home Improvement/Maintenance LLC,
interior / exterior painting, interior drywall
framing, ceramic tiles, 1877 Pine Ridge,
Bushkill
Exterior Structures, LLC, 1179 Route 507,
Greentown
Good Time Grill, LLC, restaurant, 1549
Route 507, Greentown
Hemlock Home Check, providing security
and home checks, HC 8 Box 8345, Lords
Valley, 739 Enterprises, LLC
JP Construction, home remodeling and
construction, 125 Oak Manor Drive, Milford,
Ernest Jaekel
K & M Custom Painting, interior painting,
196 Onieda Way Conashaugh Lakes, Milford, Paul John Kelleher
Lisa Pathak, MD, LLC, physician providing healthcare services, 1592 Route 739,
Dingmans Ferry
Michael L. Martin PHD PLLC, psychological, 201 W Harford St. Suite 100, Milford
Michael’s Construction, home improvements, 109 East Shore Drive, Dingmans
Ferry, Michael Anthony Leisik
Midatlantic Solar Energy, LLC, alternative
energy services, 303 West Harford Street,
Milford
Mid-West Trophy Outfitters, Inc., hunting
and outfitting business, 149 Sawmill Road,
Greentown
Milford Tobacco Outlet, smoke shop, 150
Sawkill Avenue, Milford, Edgar Rivera
Mr. Inside Out of PA, inspection services,
101 Pommel Drive Hemlock Farms, Lords
Valley, Robert Illenberg / R.I. Inspection
Services, Inc.
Northeast Warranties GP, LLC, warranty
sales, 500 Routes 6 & 209, Milford
Pine View Development LLC, 402 Broad
Street, Milford
Poconos Only, LLC, real estate, 190 Sparrow
Lane, Bushkill
Power Now, Generator service, sales, repair,
182 Southwynde Dr, Milford, Cynthia and
Rick Wendland
Progressive Business Advisers, consulting,
133 Magnolia Lane, Milford, Stephen C
Kirby
River Trucking LLC, light trucking, 659
Towpath Rd, Hawley
Schiffer Building Contractor Inc, construction, 3249 Hemlock Farms, Lords Valley
Taormina Contracting LLC, general contracting, 161 Aspen Drive, Milford
Wally’s Disposal, residential garbage service,
Hc 60 Box 44 Silver Lake Road, Dingmans
Ferry, Jackie Vangorden
Wayne County
269 Penn Hill Rd Properties LLC, real estate,
269 Penn Hill Road, Starrucca
DRI, LLC, design sales consulting, 3315
Northgate Road, Lake Ariel
Dublin, Inc, real estate, 810 Church Street,
Honesdale
Family First Vision Center, Inc., eye care,
1315 A Lake Ariel Highway, Lake Ariel,
G & F, LLC, restaurant/bar, 1 Crickett Hill
Road, Hawley
Happy At Home Pet Sitting, in home pet
sitting, 68 Bryant Road, Honesdale, Nancy
S. Johannes
Honesdale Auto Mart, sales and service of
autos, trucks, 3298 Lake Ariel Highway,
Honesdale, Honesdale Lincoln Mercury Inc.
Howell’s Medicine Center, pharmacy, 600
Maple Avenue, Honesdale Robert Howell
Jessie’s Coffee Cup Cafe, small coffee shop,
1186-A Hamlin Highway, Lake Ariel, Jessica
Marie Peet
Killy Bags, Inc., real estate, 810 Church
Street, Honesdale
Kiran’s Counseling, mental health counseling, 265 Steep Hill Road, Beach Lake, Kiran
P Miner
My Time Nail Salon, nail salon, Erie Street
Suite 2, Honesdale, Jennifer Lynn Mathews
NEPA Lock, Locksmith, 239 Prospect Street,
Hawley, Orlando D Marrero
Prestigious Painting, LLC, painting, 30 Ski
Hill Drive PO Box E, Newfoundland
Pride Motorcycle Club Waymart Local COOPERATIVE, fund raisers to assist correction employees and families, 1879 Roosevelt
Hwy, Honesdale
Roadside Rescue, LLC, truck repairs, trailer
repair, road service, 465 South Smith Road,
Waymart
Shakkour Tree Services, Inc, tree trimming
and removal, 207 Pine Street, Hawley
T’N’T Containers, roll off container business, 52 Long River Road, Newfoundland
Darling, Trevor and Timothy K. Kelly
UB Logistics Inc., logistics/inventory
management, 530 Main Street, PO Box 203,
Gouldsboro
MERS = Mortgage Electronic Registration
Systems
Disclaimer: Deeds and mortgages are recorded
as accurately as possible adhering to the cover
dates in the County Recorders’ office.
30
Pocono Business Journal | January 2009
COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE MARKETPLACE
MB&A
Understanding the Difference
Why is Michael Baxter & Associates the #1 commercial real estate
firm in the Pocono Mountains? Because for over 10 years, we have
put our clients and customers needs first!
WE PUT YOUR
NEEDS FIRST!
LARGEST INVENTORY
OF COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE
COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE
& PROPERTY MANAGEMENT
(570) 421-7666
www.BaxCommercial.com
Michael Baxter & Associates Commercial Real Estate and
Property Management has the most comprehensive database
of Pocono commercial real estate, including investment
properties, industrial space, offices, and retail properties.
Whether you want to list your property or you’re looking
to buy, call the true Commercial Specialists to assist you
today! Our inventory is full of opportunities for you!
31
Pocono Business Journal | January 2009
COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE MARKETPLACE
COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE
MARKETPLACE
Contact for Ad Rates
570-421-0100
www.pbjonline.com
POCONO
Regional Business News & Resources
 

 
 
 
   
     
     
    
      
  
   
       
     
    
       
   
   
    
    
       
      
   
 
    
    
    
       
      
   





 
 



 
     
    
     
      
    
     
  
   
     
        
   
   

    
   
   
       
      
      
     
    
   
      
      
      
     
 
 
    
    
    
     
     
    
  
    
    
        
        
       
   
   
   
   
     
      
     
    
   
   
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Pocono Business Journal | January 2009
meet the new face of Heart Care
ESSA Heart and Vascular Institute
When you work in a cardiac catheterization lab, timing is everything. Every second of a cardiac
event tests the heart muscle, and early diagnosis could mean the difference between life and death.
That’s why I’m proud to be a part of Pocono Medical Center’s cardiac catheterization team. With
an average door-to-balloon time of less than 64 minutes—a figure that beats the 90-minute national
average—we diagnose our patients faster than most hospitals in the country. With our advanced
technology, we’re able to pinpoint and treat blockages with exceptional speed. Everyday, our
patients tell us how thankful they are to have PMC’s cath lab so close-to-home. Knowing that I’m part
of a team that is so important to a community is why I joined PMC in the first place. And, like most of
my patients, I’d choose PMC again in a heartbeat.
www.PoconoMedicalCenter.org
Meet John Polishan, RN, PMC cardiac catheterization lab, and the new face of heart care.