First Commonwealth Bank is supporting the Chamber Foundation’s efforts to build the future workforce. The financial institution recently made a $1,000 donation to support programming for local school students. The Foundation coordinates a variety of programs to help the area’s young people understand the career opportunities that exist in the region, and the skills they will need to successful in the workplace. 

Of particular interest to First Commonwealth is the Foundation’s efforts to strengthen financial literacy in students. Employers often express concern that some employees don’t understand basic budgeting and struggle to manage their personal finances. The Chamber works with school districts to help set a baseline among young people so that they can be more successful citizens and employees in the future.  

First Commonwealth Bank is based in Indiana, Pennsylvania with a local branch at 315 Mill Street in Danville. 

Bloomsburg University Director of Athletics Dr. Michael McFarland has announced the hiring of Frank Sheptock ’86 as head football coach, effective immediately. 

Sheptock was a four-time PSAC First Team selection as a linebacker, a three-time First Team Associated Press All-American, and All-East Region honoree for the Huskies under head coach George Landis. Sheptock was inducted into the Bloomsburg Athletics Hall of Fame in 1997, the College Football Hall of Fame in 2007, the Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fame in 2010, and was named to the PSAC’s 150 Contributors of College Football in 2019 as one of Bloomsburg’s ten honorees.

Sheptock returns to Bloomsburg after a one-year stint at Misericordia University where he served as the defensive coordinator and linebackers coach. Prior to that, Sheptock was the head coach, and athletic director, at Berwick High School from 2016-19 and went 27-11 overall after taking over for legendary head coach George Curry. Sheptock’s Berwick teams reached the District 2 Class 4A title game in his first two seasons and a trip to the district semifinals in his final year.

The Chamber recognizes outstanding organizations and individuals each year at its annual meeting. This year’s event will be held on Tuesday, February 18th at Frosty Valley Resort. Nominations are now being accepted in five categories: Outstanding Citizen, Community Progress, Small Business of the Year, Large Business of the Year, and, new this year, Non-Profit of the Year. The following is a list of prior award recipients.

From NEPIRC

Smart companies are gaining a competitive edge through ISO Certification, boosting profits and augmenting efficiency in the process. The Northeast Pennsylvania Industrial Resource Center (NEPIRC) is offering a half-day (1/2-day) overview of the requirements of ISO 9001:2015 to show employers how to gain this competitive edge.

Pre-requisite: Currently NOT certified to ISO 9001:2015

Topics Covered:
• Context, issues and strategic direction of ISO 9001: 2015 Certified Organizations
• Commitment required by organizational leadership
• Planning requirements for implementing a Quality Management System
• Planning, Implementation and Control of production processes
• Performance evaluation and measuring the effectiveness of a Quality Management System
• Opportunities for process improvements

The program is being offered on two dates:

1/22/20 – 8:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. at NEPIRC
2/5/20 – 8:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. in Wellsboro

The Chamber extends a big thank you to the major sponsors of this year’s Holiday Open House. For the second straight year, we set a record for number of sponsors of this event, and it is the continued support of these businesses, organizations and individuals that helps the Chamber fulfill its mission of offering programs, benefits and events to its members, giving them a stronger voice and advocacy and being involved in more activities and initiatives in our communities. Thank you again to our sponsors for their generosity and support of this event. 

Event Sponsor
Geisinger

Holiday Cheer Sponsors
M&T Bank

Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Hodrick Realty

Gold Star Sponsors
Service 1st Federal Credit Union

Century 21 Covered Bridges Realty

Red Reindeer Sponsors
BIDA

Key Partners

LIVIC Civil

Luschas, Naparsteck & Crane, LLP

North Shore Railroad

The Women’s Center

Green Tree Sponsors
Atlantic Broadband

Century 21 Mertz & Associates

First Columbia Bank

First Keystone Community Bank

McTish, Kunkel & Associates

Susquehanna Valley Limousine

From JRG Advisors

Many employers and fellow employees want to help their employees and co-workers when there is a situation where they need to be away from work for an extended period of time but do not have paid time off (PTO) days left. These situations could range from natural disasters to an employee’s or employee family member’s serious illness. When times like this occur, having a PTO donation policy in place allows the donation of accumulated PTO from employees from a general pool. This allows employees to help their co-workers in a time of need, avoids “wasted” PTO, and could boost a positive work environment.

There are a few steps that an employer must follow in order to create a PTO donation policy. The first step is to decide when donated PTO is made available. Per IRS guidance, this should be limited to federally-recognized natural disasters, medical emergencies, or both. The employer should clarify and make clear the definitions of what exactly constitutes a medical emergency or natural disaster and compare this with IRS guidance. This will alleviate any confusion in the future. Complying with IRS rules is important to avoid unwanted tax implications on behalf of employees who donate PTO.

The next item for the employer is to take into consideration is the PTO “budget” for this policy. An example of this would be thinking about setting a limit on the amount of donations one can use or donate based on job titles. This will help with making sure that certain employees with the same job titles are not off at the same time. It also makes sense to establish maximum limits to the amount of PTO that can be donated, what happens is donated PTO is not used, and basic eligibility rules (how long must an employee be with the company before they may use donated PTO, for example).

The third step is to create and finalize the PTO donation policy or program. There needs to be a tracking mechanism for the donated and used PTO. Whomever is keeping track of the PTO needs to guarantee confidentiality of medical conditions of those who use the PTO for medical emergencies. When creating the policy, the employer also needs to set criteria in order to make sure that there is no discrimination within the policy. The last step is to execute and administer the plan. This may need to be announced during a staff meeting or during open enrollment for the employees in which it applies to so that they are notified that this policy exists. Employers will want to create request forms or applications for the PTO donation policy to know when PTO is needed or being given to the general pool.

Andy Keister of McTish, Kunkle & Associates reviews areas along the Rt. 11 corridor that are increasingly experiencing storm water issues.

Two projects announced recently will support businesses in Columbia County by investing in infrastructure and mitigating future risks of flooding. 

On December 12th, Governor Tom Wolf announced the approval of 26 rail freight improvement projects that will enhance freight mobility across Pennsylvania. SEKISUI SPI was among the projects which will assist the company in constructing two spur tracks and install unloading equipment. The company expressed its appreciation to the Governor’s office as well as North Shore Railroad and SEDA-Council of Governments Joint Rail Authority for their support of the project. 

Also in December, a storm water management study for a portion of the Rt. 11 corridor between Bloomsburg and South Centre Township got underway. With funding secured by Senator John Gordner and Representative David Millard, as well as contributions from the municipalities and several local businesses, the SEDA-COG Joint Rail Authority held a kick-off meeting with local stakeholders to identify problem areas. The study, expected to be completed by McTish, Kunkle & Associates by Spring, 2020, will identify priority areas along both sides of the corridor for repairing, upgrading, or installing infrastructure to better handle runoff from storms. The firm may also suggest ordinances and policies to reduce future risks.

The Chamber of Commerce helped organize meetings in South Centre Township following flooding of several major employers, including SEKISUI and Smucker’s, in the summer of 2018. 

From ChamberChoice & Smart Business Pittsburgh

Health care costs, and employee health benefits costs, have been increasing at an alarming rate for nearly a decade.

“Avoiding rising health care costs is nearly impossible, but employers need to be educated on why they continue to rise and the unique strategies available to manage costs for their organization and their employees,” says Jessica A. Galardini, senior vice president at JRG Advisors.

Smart Business spoke with Galardini about health care costs and what do about them.

What has led to increased health care costs?

Several market conditions have led to a decade of unrelenting increases. The two main factors have been an aging population and poor general health. Because older workers are more prone to health problems, companies see a rise in chronic conditions, costly medical problems, the use of prescription drugs, and an increase in the number and frequency of catastrophic claims. Poorer health among Americans also has contributed to health care cost increases. Preventable risk factors like obesity and high blood pressure have led to increases in chronic health conditions, such as diabetes and heart disease — illnesses that are long in duration and costly.

For employers, understanding why annual health plan renewal rates are significantly higher than the prior year is the key to forming strategies and solutions to their particular challenges. It is also important to educate employees about the reasons behind plan or contribution changes.

What can employers do?

While some employers struggle to absorb most of the cost, others have already raised deductibles and cost sharing, implemented high-deductible plans and increased employee cost sharing. These tactics, however, are a short-term fix. Employers need to identify and attack the root causes of rising costs with sustained, systemic changes. With poor health growing and the uncertain impact of health care reform, employers need short- and long-term strategies to manage costs.

What are some effective strategies to manage health care costs?

Employers can control rising costs, depending on the unique demographics and objectives of the group, by:

■ Using available health care data to make strategic plan decisions. This can be a top cost-cutting strategy. However, it’s important to go beyond accessing data. Employers should be educated on how to interpret and apply that data when making health plan decisions and implementing strategic changes.

■ Putting a greater emphasis on consumer-driven health plans like health savings accounts or health reimbursement accounts. These plans offer cost-savings for the employer and employee. With proper education, employees and their dependents can become smarter health care consumers, which saves both money.

■ Exploring alternative funding solutions, which enables employers to manage costs, while providing more customized benefits to their employees. These options consist of self-insured and level funding plan designs and can pave the way for employers of almost any size to potentially reduce their benefits cost.

■ Health and wellness initiatives can be an effective cost management strategy, especially when implemented with health care data. Designed to improve employee health and wellness, these programs not only lower costs but also increase productivity and reduce absenteeism. Initiatives can be customized (target specific diseases) and comprehensive (include dependents). Participation incentives are popular, but it is important to use effective incentives. It is better to reward employees for participating in a program or meeting a health goal than incentivizing a health risk assessment.

Which solution is right for your organization?

While short-term strategies such as employee cost sharing, remain prevalent, it is critical to explore multiyear plans and long-term initiatives that improve overall employee health and strategically manage costs in the future. Ultimately, a sustainable strategy that’s right for your business can best be achieved through a thoughtful and detailed analysis of your benefits program with the guidance of a trusted benefits consultant.

From PA Chamber of Business & Industry

Building a strong workforce development system relies in large part on ensuring that more individuals can access the necessary resources to obtain a good paying job in in-demand fields – whether it be through education, skills training or information about the types of careers they can pursue.  This strategy includes helping to facilitate employment among those who have criminal records and/or were formerly incarcerated. 

The PA Chamber has championed these goals all session long through our support for reentry legislation.  In June, PA Chamber President Gene Barr joined Gov. Tom Wolf and a bipartisan mix of lawmakers and stakeholders at a press conference to celebrate the “Clean Slate” law going live – a first-of-its-kind law in the nation that offers a second chance to low-level offenders wanting to get back into the workforce.  On Tuesday, Dec. 3, PA Chamber President Gene Barr discussed workforce development issues as they relate to reentry programs, and the benefits of employers hiring reentrants, at an employer roundtable which was hosted by the Lebanon Valley Chamber of Commerce and also included commentary from PA Department of Corrections Secretary John Wetzel, Kelly Evans, the department’s Deputy Secretary for Reentry and Department of Labor and Industry Secretary Jerry Oleksiak, among others.

In recent weeks, the state Senate unanimously approved PA Chamber-backed legislation that aims to reform Pennsylvania’s occupational licensing process to help applicants with a criminal record avoid rejection when applying for a state-issued occupational license.  And just this morning, the PA Chamber sent a memo to members of the House Judiciary Committee urging support for several bills that aim to facilitate employment among reentrants.  They include H.B. 1477, which mirrors the occupational licensing reform bill that just cleared the Senate; H.B. 1555, which encourages people on probation to pursue job training programs by reducing sentences once a program is successfully completed, and also limits situations whereby a violation can lead to parole revocation; and H.B. 2040, which would establish the “PA Second Chance Jobs” website where employers willing to hire ex-offenders can post job openings.  These bills are all scheduled to be considered today by the committee before heading to the House floor for further action.

“Pennsylvania is in the midst of a workforce crisis as many employers struggle to find qualified workers to fill open positions,” the memo stated.  “Helping facilitate employment among individuals with a criminal record or who were formerly incarcerated is an important part of a multi-pronged strategy to address these workforce challenges.”

The PA Chamber is among the most active stakeholders in the state toward building a 21^st century workforce that is equipped to compete on a global scale.  In addition to our support for public policies that promote a future-focused workforce development strategy, our organization also has developed a robust internal initiative, “Start the Conversation Here,” that is focused on educating employers, students and their families, and schools on available Pennsylvania jobs that do not necessarily require a four-year college education.  For details on that program, visit www.StartTheConversationHere.com.

• The Bloomsburg Children’s Museum was recently awarded an $80,500 grant from the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR). The successful application was written by Children’s Museum director Dr. Ginny Weibel in collaboration with the Columbia County Commissioners. The grant will provide funding for a renovation of the lobby of the Children’s Museum, adding a wheelchair ramp to replace the current lift, and refurbish the popular Greenway exhibit. The renovated Greenway will provide additional hands-on and interactive exhibits on topics such as local outdoor recreation, camping, geo-catching, native and invasive turtle and plant species, waste recycling and water conservation and protection, to name a few. 

• The Northeastern Pennsylvania Industrial Resource Center (NEPIRC) will hold a free four-hour seminar on leadership development tomorrow, Thursday, Dec. 12, from 8 a.m. – 12 p.m. at the Central Susquehanna Community Foundation, 725 Front St., Berwick. This program helps individuals become stronger, more impactful leaders. While joining other managers and supervisors to discuss workplace challenges, attendees will explore topics that include Self-Awareness, Power & Authority, Risk & Failure, and Leadership Style. Using self-assessment tools and experiential learning, attendees will examine their strengths and weaknesses while exploring best practices of exceptional leaders. To register, and for a list of other locations of similar seminars, visit NEPIRC’s registration page. 

• The office of Congressman Dan Meuser will hold its first annual Holiday Open House this Friday, Dec. 13, from 2-5 p.m. at the Congressman’s Pottsville district office, located at 121 Progress Ave., Losch Plaza Lobby, Pottsville. Food, drink and holiday spirit will be provided, and attendees are asked to bring a toy for the Toys for Tots drive. RSVP by email or call 570-871-6370. 

• Bloomsburg University’s fall graduate commencement is scheduled for this Friday, Dec. 13, and undergraduate fall commencement is on Saturday, Dec. 14. To help provide a safer environment for students, family members and guests and to expedite entry into facilities during large events, BU will be implementing guidelines that limit the size and type of bag that may be brought into its facilities. Please see the entire document that outlines the guidelines for its clear bag policy. 

• Wild For Salmon will host a holiday tasting this Saturday, Dec. 14, from 9 a.m. – 3 p.m. at its retail store located at 521 Montour Blvd. (Rt. 11), Bloomsburg. There will be samples of various holiday-inspired dishes and other festive samples available, as well as a couple of other vendors there as well. Visit the Facebook event for more information. 

• The dealerships that make up the Ken Pollock Auto Group, including Ken Pollock Ford Lincoln in Berwick, are holding their annual coat drive through Dec. 17. They will be collecting gently used and new coats in all dizes at their dealerships and tire and auto center to help families in the local communities. All donations collected at Ken Pollock Ford Lincoln will go to Columbia County Head Start.