Member News ~ August 6, 2026
Events & Dates:
Danville Business Alliance Announces August 2026 Event Calendar- August 1 through 31
Danville Business Alliance invites residents and visitors to enjoy a full calendar of community events in August one of the busiest months of the summer in Danville. All events are free and open to the public. Complete calendar of events here.
The First Step: Starting a Small Business in Pennsylvania - Aug 4
Wilkes SBDC is hosting a no-cost, one-hour webinar is designed to answer the frequently asked questions of aspiring entrepreneurs. Register here
CHAMBERPACK flyers due - Aug 17
Looking to be a part of our bi-monthly mailer? Fill out our advertising contract and contact Taryn!
SVUW United in Recovery Picnic - Aug 20
Join Susquehanna Valley United Way for United in Recovery at their Recovery Picnic at Claude Kehler Park and help create a space of connection, support, and hope. This event brings individuals, families, and community partners together to celebrate recovery and expand access to resources. Learn More.
McKonly & Asbury 2026 State and Local Tax Update - Aug 27
In this 2026 State and Local Tax Update webinar, Director Lindsey Haney and Manager Thomas Davis will provide practical insights into recent legislative, regulatory, and practical updates affecting businesses and taxpayers, with special emphasis on tax planning opportunities. This free, one-hour webinar will take place on Thursday, August 27 at 2:00 p.m. EDT. One “Tax” CPE credit is available for this webinar. Registration Link: WEBINAR: 2026 State and Local Tax Update | Tax Consulting
Berwick Offering Healthy Workplace Grants- DUE Aug 31
Columbia County Pennsylvania Farm Bureau - Sept 1
Announcements:
Service 1st 2026 Charity Duck Derby
Service 1st Federal Credit Union held their Annual Charity Duck Derby Saturday, August 1, raising $22,000 to benefit two local organizations. Over 5,6000 tickets sponsoring the ducks in the race were sold for this year’s event, a new record for the fundraiser. Funds raised by the event will benefit For the Cause NEPA and the Bloomsburg Salvation Army Service Center.
Bloomsburg Children’s Museum Receives Grant from PPL Foundation
The Bloomsburg Children’s Museum received a $100,000 grant from PPL Foundation to support expansion. The grant will fund the Museum’s “Unleashing Potential: Powered by PPL” initiative designed to strengthen the resources needed for the Museum to transition successfully into its expanded campus. The Museum’s expansion will increase its capacity to offer hands-on exhibits, educational programs, classroom experiences and community outreach.
Pennsylvania Attorney General Dave Sunday Highlights Economic Development at B.I.D.A. Annual Meeting
The Berwick Industrial Development Association (B.I.D.A.) recently welcomed more than 150 members, business leaders, elected officials, and community partners to its Annual Membership Meeting & Dinner Celebration at the Berwick Golf Club, featuring Pennsylvania Attorney General Dave Sunday as the keynote speaker. Sunday emphasized the strong connection between economic development and public safety, noting that safe communities, a skilled workforce, consumer confidence, and fair business practices are essential for business growth and investment. B.I.D.A. leaders highlighted the importance of collaboration among businesses, government agencies, and community organizations in driving regional economic success. The event also recognized the accomplishments of the past year, celebrated regional growth, and thanked sponsors for their continued support of B.I.D.A.’s mission to strengthen the local economy through business development, workforce initiatives, and community partnerships.
Susquehanna Kids Newsletter Out Now
Susquehanna Kids released their August newsletter including local events, carnivals and weekend highlights for the whole family. View Newsletter here.
Did You Miss Last Week's Member News? Here's News That's Still Timely:
Dwell is hosting Back to School Pop-Up event - Aug 7
Glen Brook Cruise for a Cause - Aug 16
Glen Brook is hosting Cruise for a Cause with the Alzheimer’s Association. This event will take place on Sunday August 16th from 11am-3pm at 901 East 16th street Berwick, PA 18603. There will be food, basket raffles and music. All vehicles are welcome and dash plaques will be provided to the first 30 vehicles registered. For more information and registration contact Maria Fazio (570)-204-8308 or mfazio@glenbrookrhc.com.
Danville - America’s 250th Celebration Train Rides - Sept 12
Bloomsburg Fair Announces 2026 Free Stage Line Up - Sept 25 - Oct 3
Camp Victory Newsletter Out Now
Click here to read the Summer 2026: Special Gala Edition Newsletter. This edition features awards, to Debbie Snyder & West Pharmaceutical Services, Inc.
The Community Giving Foundation has reached $100 million in assets
64th Annual Berwick Invitational at the Berwick Golf Club
Shape the future of programming at Thomas Beaver Free Library
Hinerfeld Commercial Real Estate Sold Former Marjol Battery Site Throop, PA
Hinerfeld Commercial Real Estate announces the successful sale of a 101-acre property formerly known as the Marjol Battery Federal Superfund Site in Throop PA. This transaction is a major milestone in the property’s evolution from a formerly industrial property to land for future residential development. The approximately 101-acre property is expected to be developed into a residential community.
Amazon – New Member Highlight
Amazon has become a significant economic contributor in Pennsylvania through investments that create jobs, strengthen local communities, and expand access to career opportunities across the Commonwealth. The company operates fulfillment and logistics facilities throughout the state, supporting thousands of employees with competitive pay, benefits, career development, and education programs such as Career Choice. Beyond its operations, Amazon invests in community partnerships, workforce development initiatives, and charitable programs that support education, disaster relief, hunger relief, and other local needs. By combining innovation with long-term investment, Amazon continues to play an important role in Pennsylvania’s economy while working to make a positive impact on the communities where its employees live and work.
President’s Message: Strong Roots, Visible Growth
Chris Berleth Columbia Montour Chamber of Commerce CEO/President
Last week at the U.S. Chamber Institute for Organization Management, I heard a familiar story about Chinese bamboo. It was a story I’ve heard before, but it landed differently this time.
For years, the grower waters the soil and tends the ground, yet very little appears above the surface. Then the bamboo begins to grow at an extraordinary pace.
The growth may look sudden, but it is not. Long before it becomes visible, the plant is developing the root system needed to support what comes next.
What looks sudden usually isn’t. What looks simple on the surface is often the result of steady work underneath.
That lesson applies to chambers of commerce, particularly when it comes to advocacy.
Advocacy through Institute for Organization Management
Institute for Organization Management is a professional development program of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce that brings together chamber and association professionals from across the country. The curriculum covers leadership, finance, governance, membership, communications, and advocacy. Just as valuable are the peer conversations.
Throughout the week, I had the opportunity to work alongside chamber executives representing communities of different sizes, industries, and political environments. We compared challenges, discussed ideas, and shared experiences about what it takes to lead an effective organization.
The details vary from one community to another, but the fundamentals are often the same. Strong chambers listen to their members. They build relationships before those relationships are needed. They earn credibility by being prepared, consistent, and constructive. They also understand that meaningful progress rarely comes from one meeting, one letter, or one conversation.
That is especially true in advocacy.
Advocacy is sometimes misunderstood as showing up in Harrisburg or Washington to argue for or against a bill. That is part of the work, but it is only one part.
Lobbying is the specific act of asking lawmakers to support, oppose, or amend legislation. Truth be told, we don’t do a lot of lobbying. That’s really the purview of political action committees, especially our friends in the state and U.S. Chambers. Advocacy is broader. It includes educating public officials, sharing the experiences of employers, supporting worthwhile projects, building coalitions, convening conversations, and making certain that business voices are heard before decisions are made.
Often, the most important advocacy happens quietly.
It happens when a member tells us about a regulation that is causing an unintended problem. It happens when employers identify a shared challenge involving childcare, transportation, workforce development, energy, taxes, permitting, or infrastructure. It happens when we bring those experiences to elected officials and community partners who may not otherwise understand how a policy is working in practice. It also happens when we create opportunities for people to know one another before a difficult issue arises.
One of the best recent examples was the success of our Municipal Appreciation Night.
Advocacy Through Municipal Appreciation Night
The evening brought business leaders and municipal officials together in a setting that was not focused on a crisis, a public hearing, or a specific policy dispute. Instead, it gave
us an opportunity to recognize those who serve our communities and to strengthen the relationships between local employers and the officials making decisions that affect them.
Municipal leaders oversee issues involving infrastructure, zoning, permitting, public safety, transportation, downtown development, and community investment. Employers bring firsthand knowledge of workforce needs, customer activity, business expansion, and the obstacles that can prevent an investment or project from moving forward.
Those perspectives need to meet more often.
Thanks to Geisinger, our Premier Sponsor, Municipal Appreciation Night created space for that to happen. It reminded us that advocacy does not always begin with a position paper or formal request. Sometimes it begins with a conversation, a handshake, and a better understanding of the people on the other side of an issue.
These relationships are part of the root system beneath effective advocacy.
Over the past several years, the Columbia Montour Chamber of Commerce has worked to strengthen those roots. We have become more deliberate about identifying the issues affecting our members, more consistent in communicating those concerns, and more intentional about building relationships with officials and organizations positioned to help address them.
Transportation remains both a workforce issue and an economic development issue. Roads, public transportation, drainage systems, and other infrastructure affect whether employees can reach work, whether businesses can move products, and whether communities can attract investment.
Childcare continues to limit the ability of some employers to recruit and retain workers. Workforce development requires stronger connections among businesses, schools, training providers, students, and families. Permitting, regulations, energy costs, taxes, and public investment all influence whether local employers can compete and grow.
These are complicated challenges. None will be solved through a single event or legislative session. They require good information, strong partnerships, and continued attention.
That is why we need to hear from our members.
Advocacy in Columbia & Montour
Tell us what is affecting your business. What is making it harder to hire, invest, expand, or serve your customers? Which policies are working well? Which ones are producing unintended consequences? What concerns are developing that may not yet be receiving attention?
Our advocacy agenda cannot be shaped only by headlines coming from Harrisburg or Washington. It must be grounded in the experiences of employers here in Columbia and Montour counties.
When members share those experiences with us, they give the Chamber more than an issue to discuss. They give us the information we need to identify common challenges, educate public officials, build partnerships, and advocate for practical solutions.
We also want to give our members opportunities to better understand the political and policy environment in which those decisions are being made.
Upcoming Advocacy Efforts
On October 13, our next Legislative Lunch will feature T.J. Rooney and Alan Novak for a discussion about the political outlook for Pennsylvania and the nation.
Rooney and Novak come from different political parties and hold different perspectives. They also demonstrate something that feels increasingly rare in American public life. People can disagree, even strongly, without treating one another as enemies.
They represent the broad and often overlooked center of Americans who hold sincere differences of opinion, but who can still listen, speak respectfully, share a laugh, and work together where common ground exists.
That is the kind of conversation we want to host.
The event will not be about political theater or trading rehearsed talking points. It will offer honest analysis, principled disagreement, mutual respect, and a clearer understanding of what the political environment may mean for employers and communities.
Additional details and registration information for the October 13 Legislative Lunch are out now!
Stay Involved
In the meantime, I encourage you to engage with us. Bring us your questions, concerns, and experiences. Help us understand where government policy and business reality are colliding.
The Chamber cannot effectively represent a business community it does not hear from. Your voice gives our advocacy direction, credibility, and strength.
Like the bamboo, the results may not always be immediately visible. Relationships take time to develop. Ideas often need to be repeated. Trust must be earned before it can be relied upon.
But when the roots are strong and the work continues, growth eventually breaks through the surface.
The U.S. Is Almost Out of Blood. Employers Can Change That.
Source: US Chamber
The American Red Cross has declared its second-ever national blood supply crisis — and the numbers are stark. Right now, the country has less than a one-day supply of type O blood, the most commonly transfused blood type. Every blood type is in short supply.
Summer is always a strain on the national blood supply. Fewer donations, higher demand. But this year, demand has far outpaced supply, and the Red Cross has begun limiting distributions of type O blood to hospitals facing the most critical, life-threatening emergencies.
This is a moment for employers to step up.
Businesses have something no public awareness campaign can replicate: direct, trusted relationships with their people. A message from a manager, a reminder in a team meeting, a company-hosted blood drive — these things move people to act. According to the Red Cross, just three more donors at each blood drive this summer can end this crisis and stabilize the national blood supply.
What your company can do right now:
Promote an existing blood drive at your workplace or in the community. Share information through employee newsletters, ERGs, intranet posts, and team reminders. Make it visible and make it easy.
Give employees time to donate. Blood donation takes up to two hours, including travel. Flexible scheduling removes the single biggest barrier to participation.
Host a new blood drive. The American Red Cross can help you set one up at your office, worksite, or a nearby community location. Getting started is easier than you think.
Every donation is vital. Every drive matters. And right now, the business community has a real opportunity to make a difference when it counts most.
Schedule a DonationHost a Blood DriveAdditional donation locations can be found here:
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The Columbia Montour Chamber of Commerce is a proud member of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and an active part of the U.S. Chamber Federation of small and regional chambers, which routinely provides content like the article above. The content above does not constitute legal, accounting, tax, or other professional advice but is for general informational purposes. For accurate, complete advice, readers are encouraged to consult with qualified legal, accounting, or other professional advisors before making any decisions based on the information provided. If you need help finding qualified help, please contact the Chamber for a list of our members.
How to Implement Better Work-Life Balance Processes for Your Team
Source: US Chamber Miranda Fraraccio , ContributorThe 2020s have been a period of rapid change for the workforce, with new developments in everything from technology to public policy reshaping the modern working world. Among these changes is a growing focus on healthy work-life strategies, driven in part by a new generation of workers placing greater emphasis on personal health, wellness, and balance.
In this guide, we break down what this means for employers and how they can implement changes that support their teams.
What is work-life balance and why does it matter for your team?
Today’s hyper-connected world can make it hard to fully log off once the day is done, especially with subtle expectations to check email after hours or remain available for quick requests. Work-life balance focuses on creating a healthy separation between one’s professional and personal responsibilities, allowing employees to set boundaries that help both areas of life to thrive without constant overlap.
Focusing on your team’s work-life balance helps them avoid feeling overworked and burned out, which is common in today's workforce. In fact, according to Gallup’s 2026 State of the Global Workplace Report, 50% of employees in the U.S. and Canada reported experiencing stress “a lot of the day yesterday,” compared with the global average of 40%. The report also found that 69% of employees in the region were either not engaged or actively disengaged at work — a trend that can affect employee productivity, retention, and overall business growth.
Work-life integration vs. work-life balance
Instead of creating a complete separation between work and personal life, as work-life balance does, work-life integration seeks to combine the two in a way that feels healthy and manageable for employees. At the root of work-life integration is flexibility, with employees able to work in ways and at times that better fit their lifestyle. With this strategy, employees may join a meeting remotely while traveling, adjust their hours to accommodate family responsibilities, or take a midday appointment without using PTO.
The right work-life integration process is crucial, however. When the lines between work and personal life become too blurred, work-life integration can quickly lead to negative consequences, such as decreased morale, increased employee stress and workplace loneliness, and overwork.
How to choose the right approach for your business and workforce
Both work-life balance and work-life integration can help employees feel more fulfilled in their personal and professional lives. Many businesses use a mix of both, setting clear boundaries where consistency is needed while offering flexibility where they can.
To determine which approach is best suited for your team, consider the following questions:
- Do you need staff available during specific hours? Consider whether clients require real-time support or whether flexible hours would work without affecting service.
- What structure works best for your team? Does your team collaborate frequently, or can employees work independently without constant interaction?
- How will you measure accountability? Will employees stay on track with flexible schedules, or do certain roles require set hours to keep work moving?
- Do employees need clearer boundaries or more flexibility? Does your team need firmer working hours and communication expectations to separate work from personal life, or would remote options and flexible scheduling help blend the two?
- Does your team have the right tools? Can your team adopt a new work-life strategy with its current systems, or would you need new tools to support it?
Company policies that support work-life balance and integration
Promoting healthy work-life habits starts with leadership, both in the policies they implement and how they enforce them. Below are some examples of company policies that can help to reinforce healthy work-life strategies.
- Remote work options. Write formal remote or hybrid work policies to clarify who is eligible to work outside of the office, how often they can do so, and what expectations apply.
- “No contact” hours. Allow employees to set hours when they can be sure they won’t be disturbed by work communications, helping them truly log off after work.
- Meeting-free days. Establish meeting-free days, ideally every week, where employees can count on uninterrupted time to complete tasks and manage their workload. This practice requires leaders to audit existing meetings, rethink priorities, and determine which conversations need to happen in real time versus email.
- No-guilt PTO benefits. Nearly 1 in 5 people experience “vacation guilt,” according to a study published in the Journal of Travel Research. Break this cycle by expanding your company’s PTO benefits, such as offering unlimited PTO or dedicated mental health days, and genuinely encouraging your team to use the time available to them.
- Mental health and physical wellness benefits. Wellness benefits, such as mental health support coverage or gym memberships, can promote well-being and help employees invest in themselves outside work.
- Generous leave and family support policies. Allow employees to manage personal and family responsibilities without undue stress through policies such as parental leave, caregiver leave, bereavement leave, disability accommodations, and return-to-work support.
Practical strategies for supporting work-life integration
For teams working to blend their work and personal lives, these work-life integration strategies can help make the transition smoother.
Offer flexible scheduling options
Depending on the role and your staffing needs, flexibility can take many shapes. You may choose to implement hybrid workweeks, in which employees split their working hours between home and the office, offer fully remote options where possible, or adjust working hours to accommodate employees’ lifestyles. You can even offer compressed schedules, where employees work longer hours upfront to finish their workweek sooner.
Make sure employees can use flexibility without penalty
Data from Harvard Business Review shows that while many employers are offering flexibility to promote healthy work-life initiatives, bias remains against those who unplug outside working hours. The judgment can quickly lead to confusion and harm workplace culture, rather than making employees feel confident in their decision to embrace flexibility.
To avoid confusion, set and document policy expectations, then enforce them fairly across the entire team.
Adapt to individual work preferences
Work-life integration requires flexibility around how employees work best. Some may prefer traditional business hours, while others may be more productive earlier in the morning, later in the day, or around personal responsibilities. The goal is to create adaptable options that support different working styles without disrupting your company’s service or team’s collaboration.
Use regular check-ins to understand what employees actually need
Talking regularly with your team, whether through informal or formal check-ins, can help you understand how your employees are responding to new strategies and where they may need additional support. These conversations can also reveal scheduling conflicts, workload challenges, and personal responsibilities that may affect employees’ ability to do their best work.
How to help employees avoid burnout
Whether your goal is true work-life balance, integration, or a blend of both, these strategies can help you and your employees avoid burnout by creating a healthier equilibrium between your personal and professional worlds.
Set shared working hours and communication boundaries
To ensure employees can maintain a healthier balance between their personal and professional lives, set mutually agreeable boundaries around workplace communication, especially if your team works in different time zones. During agreed-upon hours, teams and their managers can expect a timely response from their colleagues; outside of those hours, communication may go unanswered until the next business day without issue.
Use time blocking to protect focused work and personal time
Encouraging time-blocking habits can help your employees better manage their workloads without letting it spill into their personal time. By dividing the day into dedicated blocks of time for deep work, meetings, and admin tasks, employees can create more manageable schedules and reduce the constant task switching that often leads to longer, more stressful workdays.
Time blocking also gives managers and coworkers clearer visibility into team availability, reducing unnecessary interruptions and protecting both productivity and personal time.
Reevaluate team workloads and delegate strategically
Just because your team has always worked a certain way doesn’t mean it’s the best approach. Regularly review what’s on each employee’s plate, which tasks are most important, and who’s the best fit for the job. Doing so can help leaders identify overloaded employees, spot lower-priority tasks that can be streamlined or paused, and delegate responsibilities more intentionally.
Model healthy balance as a leader
It’s important to be a model for your team by practicing healthy habits. Take the day off when you’re sick or need personal time, and reduce your responsiveness while you’re on vacation. Avoid sending messages late at night or praising teammates for overworking. By showing your employees that you value both their well-being and your own, they’ll be more inclined to do the same for their own needs.
How to measure and adjust your work-life strategy over time
Once you’ve implemented a work-life strategy for your team, you’ll need to monitor its success to ensure the changes you’ve made are effective. Below are some ways to measure and adjust your strategy over time.
Review workload and productivity trends
Beyond seeing the impact on your employees, it’s important to assess how your work-life strategies affect your overall business goals. Review employees’ work quality, deadlines, and project progress to ensure they maintain strong performance standards while keeping workloads manageable. If people seem behind, use problem-solving techniques to reassign responsibilities, adjust priorities, or hire support.
Monitor policy usage
Track how many employees are using the available policies and how they’re using them. If employees aren’t taking PTO, opting for flexible scheduling, or respecting no-contact boundaries, this may indicate confusion around how to use these offerings or a lack of encouragement from management. Alternatively, low usage may mean employees don't see the benefit, the policies aren’t clear, or they aren’t well-suited to your employees’ needs.
Watch for signs of burnout
Both teamwide and individual burnout can manifest as changes in workplace behavior, performance, and engagement. While these signs don’t automatically indicate burnout, they may suggest employees need additional support, especially when they appear across multiple team members.
- Missed deadlines or decreased quality of work.
- Change in demeanor, such as irritability, withdrawal, or low morale.
- Consistently arriving at work tired or appearing mentally drained.
- Increased tardiness, absenteeism, or last-minute callouts.
- Lack of motivation, focus, or engagement.
- More frequent mistakes or difficulty completing routine tasks.
Track employee feedback and engagement
Seek feedback from employees to understand how they feel about your work-life strategy through anonymous surveys, one-on-one meetings, and pulse checks. Doing so can help you uncover patterns among your employees, which can guide your decision-making to improve your strategy.
Danielle Fallon-O’Leary and Sean Ludwig contributed to this article.
CO— aims to bring you inspiration from leading respected experts. However, before making any business decision, you should consult a professional who can advise you based on your individual situation.
CO—is committed to helping you start, run and grow your small business. Learn more about the benefits of small business membership in the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, here.
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The Columbia Montour Chamber of Commerce is a proud member of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and an active part of the U.S. Chamber Federation of small and regional chambers, which routinely provides content like the article above. The content above does not constitute legal, accounting, tax, or other professional advice but is for general informational purposes. For accurate, complete advice, readers are encouraged to consult with qualified legal, accounting, or other professional advisors before making any decisions based on the information provided. If you need help finding qualified help, please contact the Chamber for a list of our members.
Pennsylvania Unemployment Rate Falls, State Sets New Record for Jobs
Source: PA Chamber SentinelThe state’s unemployment rate declined one-tenth of a percentage point from May and remained below the national rate of 4.2 percent. Compared with June 2025, Pennsylvania’s unemployment rate fell two-tenths of a percentage point, while the national rate increased by one-tenth of a point over the same period.
Pennsylvania’s civilian labor force — the number of residents working or actively seeking employment — increased by 17,000 in June to a record 6,643,000. Employment also reached a record high, while the number of unemployed residents declined by 6,000 during the month.
Total nonfarm employment rose by 1,000 jobs in June to a record 6,209,600. Employment increased in seven of the state’s 11 industry supersectors.
Leisure and hospitality posted the largest monthly job gain, while professional and business services recorded the largest decline. Education and health services reached a record employment level during the month.
Over the past year, Pennsylvania added 34,500 nonfarm jobs, with employment gains in six of the 11 industry supersectors. Education and health services accounted for the largest annual increase, adding 28,400 jobs since June 2025.
The monthly employment report is based on preliminary estimates and is subject to revision as additional data becomes available.
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The Columbia Montour Chamber of Commerce is a proud member of the PA Chamber of Commerce and an active part of the U.S. Chamber Federation of small and regional chambers, which routinely provides content like the article above. The content above does not constitute legal, accounting, tax, or other professional advice but is for general informational purposes. For accurate, complete advice, readers are encouraged to consult with qualified legal, accounting, or other professional advisors before making any decisions based on the information provided. If you need help finding qualified help, please contact the Chamber for a list of our members.
Real Property Management Apollo – New Member Highlight
mmercial properties, the company offers comprehensive management solutions that include application underwriting, leasing, tenant relations, maintenance coordination, financial reporting, regulatory compliance and property oversight. Real Property Management Apollo is part of the largest national property management organization in North America - With over 40 years of experience, 450 offices nationwide, and over 80,000 units under management. By combining local market expertise with the proven system and processes of Real Property Management, RPM Apollo works to simplify property ownership, protect investments, and create positive experiences for both property owners and residents.Member News ~ July 30, 2026
Events & Dates:
Last Call for Chamber Directory Ads - July 31
The deadline for advertising in the 2026-27 Membership Directory is tomorrow. If you're interested in advertising, contact bflanagan@columbiamontourchamber.com
Bloomsburg Unclaimed Property Event - July 31
The Pennsylvania Treasury is returning billions of dollars in unclaimed property to its rightful owners, and Treasury staff will be in Bloomsburg this Friday to help people search for missing money or other unclaimed property. Join them on Friday, July 31, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Philadelphia Federal Credit Union, 1615 Columbia Blvd., Bloomsburg. Treasury staff will be available to help you search for unclaimed property, start a claim and answer your questions. If you can't attend the event, you can search Pennsylvania's unclaimed property database
If you need assistance searching for unclaimed property or filing a claim, please contact one of Senator Lynda Culver's district offices.
Celebrate Berwick - Aug 1
From 11am - 4pm, Market Street in front of the Jackson Mansion and McBride Memorial Library will be closed to traffic and filled with craft vendors, food trucks/vendors, live music, adult beverages, activities for kiddos, and so much more!
CSO Emergency Solutions Grant Review - Aug 3
Dwell is hosting Back to School Pop-Up event - Aug 7
Glen Brook Cruise for a Cause - Aug 16
Glen Brook is hosting Cruise for a Cause with the Alzheimer’s Association. This event will take place on Sunday August 16th from 11am-3pm at 901 East 16th street Berwick, PA 18603. There will be food, basket raffles and music. All vehicles are welcome and dash plaques will be provided to the first 30 vehicles registered. For more information and registration contact Maria Fazio (570)-204-8308 or mfazio@glenbrookrhc.com.
Danville - America’s 250th Celebration Train Rides - Sept 12
Bloomsburg Fair Announces 2026 Free Stage Line Up - Sept 25 - Oct 3
Announcements:
Camp Victory Newsletter Out Now
Click here to read the Summer 2026: Special Gala Edition Newsletter. This edition features awards, to Debbie Snyder & West Pharmaceutical Services, Inc.
The Community Giving Foundation has reached $100 million in assets
64th Annual Berwick Invitational at the Berwick Golf Club
Shape the future of programming at Thomas Beaver Free Library
Hinerfeld Commercial Real Estate Sold Former Marjol Battery Site Throop, PA
Hinerfeld Commercial Real Estate announces the successful sale of a 101-acre property formerly known as the Marjol Battery Federal Superfund Site in Throop PA. This transaction is a major milestone in the property’s evolution from a formerly industrial property to land for future residential development. The approximately 101-acre property is expected to be developed into a residential community.
Did You Miss Last Week's Member News? Here's News That's Still Timely:
Glen Brook Shoe Drive - July 29
The Women's Center Red Sand Project - July 30
Join The Women's Center from 11am-1pm in Bloomsburg or Danville to spread awareness during World Day Against Trafficking in Persons. Click Here for More Information.
Danville Business Alliance is Looking for Vendors - July 31
The 48th Annual Fall Arts & Crafts Festival will be here before you know it! Join them as a vendor! For best space availability, it is recommended to register before July 31!
Register online today: https://visitdanvillepa.org/.../fall-arts-crafts.../
Senator Lynda Schlegel Culver invites you to attend her upcoming grant seminar, “How to Be a Better Applicant,” - August 13
Join them from 2:00–4:00 p.m. at the Bloomsburg Area High School Auditorium, 1200 Railroad St., Bloomsburg, PA 17815. RSVP: Please register by Tuesday, August 11 using this link or by calling their Shamokin Dam office at 570‑743‑1918.
Pine Barn Inn hosts Susquehanna Valley Business Mixer - August 17
Pine Barn Inn in partnership with 7 Mountain Media invites local business owners, professionals, chamber members, and community leaders to join them for the Susquehanna Valley Business Mixer. This free networking event will be held Monday August 17th from 4:00pm-6:00pm at the Pine Barn Inn Ballroom. Attendance is free, and registration is easy, reserve your spot here.
The Exchange Presents Bloomsburg’s 18th Annual ArtFest - Aug 22
Dedicated to bringing the arts to all communities throughout the region, The Exchange presents Columbia County’s biggest one-day-fine-art-and-music event of the year. The 18th annual ArtFest will take place on Saturday August 22nd from 10am-5pm. This event will be located on Market Street in downtown Bloomsburg from the monument down to 3rd Street. ArtFest will showcase over 50 artists original work accompanied by live music, food vendors and fun educational activities for all ages. For more information about The Exchange and ArtFest, visit ExchangeArts.org.
CCDP and DCDC Present Bounce Boogie and Benefit- Sept 12
Journey Bank Photography Competition Registration Deadline Approaching - September 18
Stryker Security Breach – How Important Is MFA?
Key Takeaways
- Global Admin Access = Total Exposure: Compromising a single Global Administrator account gave attackers unrestricted control, allowing them to create new admin accounts, execute commands, and wipe thousands of devices.
- Phishing & Credential Stuffing Are Highly Effective: The breach highlights how social engineering and reused credentials remain major vulnerabilities, especially when tied to high-privilege accounts.
- MFA Is Critical – But Must Be Phishing-Resistant: Basic MFA isn’t enough; organizations need stronger, phishing-resistant MFA and tighter privileged access controls to prevent unauthorized admin access.
- Least Privilege & Multi-Approval Reduce Risk: Limiting user permissions and requiring multiple admin approvals for critical actions can significantly contain damage and help detect malicious activity early.
On March 11th, 2026, Stryker, a global medical technology firm, experienced a Microsoft related incident that led to (allegedly) 200,000 devices being compromised; this included servers, work computers, corporate phones, and even personal devices that were enrolled in the company portal. Over 59,000 people and (allegedly) 50 Terabytes (TB) of data were exfiltrated from Stryker across 79 countries. A hacktivist group linked to Iran’s Ministry of Intelligence, Handala, has claimed responsibility for the hack.
How Did It Happen?
Within Microsoft In-Tune, Microsoft’s cloud-based endpoint management tool, there are a plethora of different roles, privileges, or permissions. But the role with the function of doing anything and everything, Global Administrator, was compromised. Using phishing and stuffing scams to gain access to an existing Global Administrator account, the attackers were able to create their own Global Administrator account.
Phishing is a type of social engineering cyberattack where scammers deceive individuals into revealing sensitive information or installing malware by pretending to be a trusted source – often by sending malicious links for users to visit or download from. Whereas stuffing is an automated cyberattack that inserts stolen usernames and passwords into the login fields to gain access to an account for malicious activity. This information is usually obtained via the dark web from previous data breaches – and assumes that individuals re-use the same login across multiple websites (which is why the name of the family dog is not a good password).
Once the group created their own Global Administrator account, the possibilities were endless (and unrestricted). With Global Administrator privileges, the group was able to run default commands configured by In-Tune – in this case, built-in wipe all commands. At Stryker, a Mobile Device Management (MDM) policy is configured. This is essentially a set of security rules, functions, and configurations enforced on corporate or personal devices (phones, laptops, tablets). This includes employees enrolled in Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) policies. BYOD allows employees to use select company programs and apps on their personal phones. All devices linked to In-Tune and MDM policy were remotely wiped and factory reset.
CISA’s Call to Action for Companies Using In-Tune
Following the attack, Cybersecurity & Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), released a critical alert for companies using In-Tune or any other endpoint management software.
- Use principles of least privilege when designing administrative roles.
- Essentially, assign the minimum needed privileges for a user to complete their daily job functions.
- Enforce phishing-resistant multi-factor authentication (MFA) and privileged access hygiene.
- Configure endpoint management software to block unauthorized access to privileged functions, like passkeys.
- Configure access policies to require Multi Admin Approval.
- We get it, another push notification is tedious – but, an added layer that requires another “admin” approval ensures that malicious activity like this will be caught and flagged.
McKonly & Asbury can assist your company in managing cybersecurity threats by performing a SOC for Cybersecurity engagement to identify whether effective processes and controls are in place as well as provide you with recommendations to detect, respond to, and mitigate and recover from breaches and other cybersecurity events. For more information on these services and more, be sure to visit our SOC services page, as well as our Cybersecurity services page, and don’t hesitate to reach out to contact us with any questions.
What’s the Difference Between PR and Marketing?
Source: US Chamber
Some people confuse public relations (PR) and marketing, but they aren’t the same thing. PR focuses on creating a positive image for the company, while marketing focuses on attracting new customers to the business. Understanding how they differ can help your small business get the most out of both functions.
What is the difference between PR and marketing?
The easiest way to think about how the two tactics differ is that marketing promotes your products, while PR manages your company’s image. Here are some other differentiators:
The question isn’t whether you should focus on PR or marketing exclusively, because your business needs both. The best approach for most small businesses is to start with owned media like your website and social media content. From there, layer in earned media efforts through PR outreach and use paid media strategically to amplify what's already working.
- Daily activities. PR professionals spend their time writing press releases, pitching positive stories about the company, and building media relationships. They also handle crises like data breaches or customer service incidents. Marketing professionals spend their time planning product launches, creating affiliate programs, and conducting client research.
- Audience. The PR department speaks to different audiences depending on the company's needs. For instance, they may create a positive outreach with the media, company stakeholders, or even employees. In comparison, the marketing department is focused mainly on reaching customers and prospects.
- Goals. PR is focused on creating a positive image for the company and building a good relationship with the company’s various stakeholders. Meanwhile, marketing focuses on reaching customers and increasing sales for the company.
- Metrics of success. PR professionals consider whether or not they effectively create a positive buzz for the company. In comparison, marketing might look at whether a product met its sales goals or the return on investment from a recent campaign.
Earned vs. paid vs. owned media
Another way to compare PR vs. marketing is through the lens of earned, paid, and owned media. Paid media is what most people think of as traditional marketing. It includes ads, sponsored posts, and paid placements. The benefit of paid media is that you control the message and you pay for the reach.
In comparison, owned media includes your website, blog, email list, and social media profiles. Both marketing and PR teams play a role here by creating content that builds brand awareness and engages your audience.
Earned media refers to coverage you didn’t pay for, and this is PR’s primary domain. An example of earned media would be a journalist featuring your business in an article. It has a lasting impact because any Google search related to your company could potentially surface it.
How to build a basic PR strategy without a big agency budget
Small businesses don’t need a large budget to start building brand awareness. Creating a PR strategy often starts by identifying what you want customers and the media to associate with your business. This could include your company’s mission or a problem your product solves.
From there, look for stories within your business, including the industry or community, that are newsworthy, like a new product launch or local event sponsorship. Start connecting with local repor
ters who cover topics related to your business. Following journalists on LinkedIn and engaging with their content before pitching them can also help build familiarity.
Thought leadership can be another effective low-cost PR strategy. Business owners can publish articles on LinkedIn, contribute guest posts to industry websites, or comment on trending industry news. These activities help establish your small business’s credibility without requiring paid advertising.
Tools small businesses can use for PR outreach
Here are the best free and paid tools available for PR outreach:
- Google Alerts: This free tool lets you set up alerts for your company, top competitors, and key industry terms to monitor coverage and spot new opp
ortunities. - Prowly: This PR platform helps you find media contacts and create and distribute press releases.
- Business Wire: Business Wire can distribute your press releases to hundreds of thousands of publications across 160+ countries.
- Muck Rack: Muck Rack is a journalist database that helps you find the right contacts and track their recent work before you pitch them.
- Prezly: The software tracks earned media coverage and brand mentions across online news and blogs.
- LinkedIn: LinkedIn is often overlooked as a PR tool, but it’s ideal for positioning yourself as a thought leader and connecting directly with journalists.
When to use PR vs. marketing strategies
CO— aims to bring you inspiration from leading respected experts. However, before making any business decision, you should consult a professional who can advise you based on your individual situation. CO—is committed to helping you start, run and grow your small business. Learn more about the benefits of small business membership in the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, here.
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The Columbia Montour Chamber of Commerce is a proud member of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and an active part of the U.S. Chamber Federation of small and regional chambers, which routinely provides content like the article above. The content above does not constitute legal, accounting, tax, or other professional advice but is for general informational purposes. For accurate, complete advice, readers are encouraged to consult with qualified legal, accounting, or other professional advisors before making any decisions based on the information provided. If you need help finding qualified help, please contact the Chamber for a list of our members.