SEDA-COG’s 2022 Board Officers Elected

Board officers for SEDA-Council of Governments (SEDA-COG) were elected at the Dec. 7 public meeting

The 2022 SEDA-COG Board of Directors’ officers will be Mifflin County Commissioner Kevin Kodish, president; Centre County Commissioner Mark Higgins, first vice president; Montour County Commissioner Ken Holdren, second vice president; Larry Reisinger of Perry County, secretary; and Dennis Van Benthuysen of Snyder County, treasurer.

The 2021 officers were Juniata County Commissioner Mark Partner, president; Kodish, first vice president; Higgins, second vice president; Reisinger, secretary; and Van Benthuysen, treasurer.

Kodish said he is looking forward to serving as board president in the new year.

“Serving as board president for 2022, I look forward to continued service with our dedicated board of directors and our professional staff. Together, we will continue to administer existing programs and identify new opportunities to encourage and support long-term economic growth. These efforts serve to strengthen the quality of life throughout our 11-county SEDA-COG region.”

SEDA-COG Executive Director Kim Wheeler thanked outgoing board President Mark Partner for his service to the agency.

“Board President Partner has done an exemplary job leading throughout unprecedented times. We deeply appreciate his guidance,” Wheeler said. “We are eager to see what we can accomplish with Commissioner Kodish at the helm.”

Board member appointments and reappointments took place in January. The SEDA-COG board is a 22-member, county-based policy board representing both public and private sectors.

SEDA-COG is a community and economic development agency in Lewisburg and is one of seven Local Development Districts in Pennsylvania. SEDA-COG enhances the quality of life and economic advantage for residents and businesses in the 11 central Pennsylvania counties through its vital partnerships and initiatives.

In a presentation from Seven Mountains Media, participants will learn tips for maximizing their social media business page(s). The following topics will be discussed: 

When is the best time to post?  How often? Join Leslye Schumacher Social Media Rockstar with Seven Mountains Media for a FREE informative workshop. Learn how using social media can help your business grow and how to interpret social media analytics.  Followed by a live Q & A session.  All who register will receive an on-demand link to view the presentation at your convenience. 

Leslye’s background in media spans 25 years and includes working for both large and mid-size television, radio and newspaper companies. She has held positions in sales, management, marketing and sales event planning and production. She currently trains Seven Mountain’s multimedia specialists on how to create effective digital campaigns for clients.

Click here to register.

Adults that need help with basic computer skills including using email, the internet, and Microsoft Office applications can receive free coaching at the Bloomsburg Children’s Museum. Through a partnership with the Central Susquehanna Intermediate Unit (CSIU), coaching with access to computers and the internet is available three days a week. The coach can work with people who have never used a computer before.

Lab hours are Monday, 10 a.m. – 4 p.m., Tuesday, Noon – 4 p.m., and Thursday, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Interested individuals can drop by during those hours or call Rick at the CSIU at 570-523-1155 ext 2320.

Area Employers Invited to Talk with Students at Vo-Tech Open House

Columbia-Montour Area Vocational-Technical School is holding an open house on Sunday, February 6^th from 1 to 4 p.m. for junior high school students considering attending the school and their parents. Area employers are invited to attend to talk with students about job opportunities. Interested employers should contact Tracy Gillespie by February 1^st at tgillespie@cmvt.us or 570-784-8040 ext. 3322.

New Board Members Announced for Community Giving Foundations: Bloomsburg and Danville

The Community Giving Foundation: Bloomsburg recently welcomed four new members to its 2022 Board of Directors. In addition to the four new board members, the Bloomsburg board is represented by: John Thompson (chair), Pam Young (vice chair), Donna Coombs, Lynn Cromley, Tom Kapelewski, Jessica Lehman, and Patti Leighow.

Ms. Elizabeth Dowd

Ms. Dowd is a resident acting company member with the Bloomsburg Theatre Ensemble (BTE). She moved to Bloomsburg from Chicago to pursue private study with legendary acting teacher Alvina Krause when she became part of the founding of BTE. Forty-four years later, Bloomsburg has long been the place she calls home. Ms. Dowd is the grateful partner of Rand Whipple and mother to two adult children. She is an active community member, most recently with the Coalition for Social Equity, Women in Action workgroup, and co-organizer of the “Bloomsburg Reads” event.

Dr. Heather S. Feldhaus, PhD

Dr. Feldhaus is a sociologist who specializes in the study of social problems. She earned her BA and MA in sociology at the University of South Alabama and her PhD at Southern Illinois University at Carbondale. She is currently the Interim Associate Provost for Faculty Development, Dean of Graduate Studies, and Professor of Sociology at Bloomsburg University. She also founded the Center for Community Research and Consulting at BU. Her research focuses on how communities define and think about social problems and how this shapes their efforts to solve problems. She is particularly interested in issues surrounding rural poverty and homelessness.

Dr. Feldhaus enjoys being active in the community. She is currently the vice president of the board of directors for the Community Strategies Group and serves on the United Way of Columbia and Montour Counties allocations committee. She is a regular volunteer for the Bloom Seed Library and uses her professional skills as a frequent volunteer or consultant for many regional groups that need help with strategic planning or data collection and analysis. Dr. Feldhaus lives in Orangeville with her husband and two sons.

Mr. Jeff Lylo

Mr. Lylo is the owner of J. Lylo Jewelers, located in downtown Bloomsburg. Born and raised in Berwick, he graduated from Berwick High School and then Penn State University with a degree in Hotel, Restaurant, and Institution Management. After completing gemological certifications and apprenticing at Good as Gold (Bloomsburg), Mr. Lylo opened his own business in 1999. Through the jewelry business, he plays a role in community members’ major life events from births to engagements to wedding anniversaries. This role is a legacy from his grandfather, owner of Nespoli Jewelers, who instilled the importance of personal relationships with customers.

In addition to his constant presence at J. Lylo Jewelers, Mr. Lylo also serves on the board for Downtown Bloomsburg, Inc. As the father of two active boys, he can often be found around town at youth sporting events, church activities, and school performances.

Mr. Leo V. Sokoloski

Mr. Sokoloski is the Chief of Police at Bloomsburg University, overseeing the day-to-day management of police operations and life safety, property protection, and investigations on campus. He also serves as a consultant for the Central Susquehanna Intermediate Unit, offering school crisis preparedness and practical services to help make schools safer and ready for all emergencies. Mr. Sokoloski was the previous Chief of Police for the Town of Bloomsburg for 12 years. He has served on many initiatives and community groups across the region to promote education and safety for local residents.

The Community Giving Foundation: Danville recently welcomed four new members to its 2022 Board of Directors. In addition to the four new board members, the Danville board is represented by: Bonnie Trump (chair), Linda Brown (co-vice chair), Dennis Hummer (co-vice chair), Wendy Tripoli (financial liaison), Donna Cush (secretary), Ken Ackerman, Marc Baranouski, David Betz, Kimberly Burke, Greg Cole, Mark LaMotte, Christen Mowad, Mary Petrick, and Gary Visneski.

Mrs. Marsha Albertson

Mrs. Albertson is a Senior Accountant at HRI, INC., an asphalt manufacturing and construction company located in Muncy, PA. She is a 1989 graduate of Hughesville Area School District and graduated from Bloomsburg University with a BS in Business Administration. She has worked with HRI, INC. for 25 years. Mrs. Albertson owned Fran’s Dairy Bar in Millville for 13 years and Grandma Edwards’ food stand at the Bloomsburg Fair for 10 years. She enjoys relaxing on the beach, entertaining, and spending time with family and friends. She also finds great pleasure in volunteering and fundraising, which she has done over the years through her son’s sporting teams. Mrs. Albertson has been married for almost 26 years. They have a son who attends Bloomsburg University and a daughter in high school.

Mr. Tim Karr

Mr. Karr grew up in Selinsgrove. Following college, he served with the Army Black Horse Armored Cavalry Regiment as a 1st Lt. on the East/West German Border, followed by two years with the Reserves. Returning to the area in 1973, Mr. Karr opened Villager Realty, Inc. Today, he serves as CEO/President of Villager Realty, a sales leader in the Central Susquehanna Valley with 33 agents, three locations, and appraisal, relocation, development, and construction divisions. He resides in Riverside with his wife.

Mrs. Shelley Nemeth

Mrs. Nemeth is currently an independent consultant specializing and focusing on the training of pre-school teachers and educators. As an early childhood education professional, she has extensive experience in classrooms, administration of childcare programs, managing multiple childcare facilities, early learning programs, public relations, staffing, recruitment, curriculum development, staff training, and developing leadership training materials.

Originally from Canada, Mrs. Nemeth and her husband have lived in the United States since 2000 and have been happy to call the Danville community home since 2007. In addition to her professional activities, Mrs. Nemeth is involved in a local book club, church fellowship, and pursuing her personal interests of cooking, art, and decorating.

Mr. Bob Stoudt

Mr. Stoudt grew up near Turbotville and graduated from Warrior Run High School. He holds a bachelor’s degree in Geography/Environmental Planning from Bloomsburg University and a master’s degree in Geography from Indiana State University. After living in Indiana for several years, he moved to Pittsburgh to work for Navigation Technologies, a digital mapping company. Mr. Stoudt and his wife moved back to Watsontown in 2002, where he continued to work part-time until the births of their three kids. While being a stay-at-home dad, he volunteered with a number of local organizations for several years. In 2010, Mr. Stoudt became part-time deputy director of the Montour Area Recreation Commission (MARC) and assumed the role of Director later that year—a role he continues to hold today.

Mr. Stoudt’s recent volunteer service has included board/committee roles with: Columbia Montour Chamber of Commerce; Columbia Montour Partnership for Community Development; Columbia Montour Visitors’ Bureau; Warrior Run Community Corporation’s Pathways Committee; Montour County Recreation Authority; Friends of Allegheny Wilderness; SEDA-Foundation; Watsontown Borough Parks Renovation Committee; Western Pennsylvania Conservancy Land Steward; and the Boy Scouts of America. Additionally, he has worked with 31 Eagle Scout candidates and one Girl Scout Gold Award candidate on projects through his roles with the Warrior Run Community Corporation and Marc, with another four projects now underway.

On Tuesday, January 25, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) announced that it would be withdrawing it’s mandate that employers with at least 100 employees require vaccinations or weekly testing. The move follows the Supreme Court decision earlier this month which stated that “challengers were likely to prevail on their claims” challenging the Emergency Temporary Standard. As part of the announcement, the Biden administration said that it would be requesting that the lawsuits be dismissed.

Click here to read more.

The Columbia Montour Chamber of Commerce is proud to announce the nominees for the organization’s 2022 Annual Awards. The awards will be presented at this year’s Annual Meeting, the 81^st for the organization, being held virtually on Wednesday, Feb. 9^th at 11:00 a.m. Click here to register.

This meeting provides an opportunity to recognize organizations and individuals for their extraordinary efforts in serving the community throughout the year. The Chamber will present five awards: Small Business of the Year, Large Business of the Year, Nonprofit of the Year, Community Progress Award, and the Outstanding Citizen Award.

The Outstanding Citizen Award, the longest-tenured award, was first presented in 1970. The organization added the Small Business of the Year, Large Business of the Year, and the Community Progress Award in 2011.  The Nonprofit of the Year was first introduced in 2020.

The recipient of each award is selected by the Awards Committee. Members are as follows:

• Jeff Emanuel, Chamber Foundation Director
• Renee Gerringer, Ronald McDonald House of Danville
• Lisa Makara, Geisinger | Wilkes-Barre
• Chris Stamatedes, PPL Electric Utilities
• Jeffrey Whitenight, First Columbia Bank & Trust
• Elaine Woodland, First Keystone Community Bank
• Melanie Ziegler, FirstLight Fiber

Nominees for the 2022 Annual Awards are as follows:

Small Business of the Year

• Martz Technologies, Inc.
• Ponduce Farms
• Shanty Secrets

Large Business of the Year

• Crispin Multiplex
• Great Dane
• North Shore Railroad
• Webstaurant Store

Nonprofit of the Year

• Columbia County Traveling Library
• Berwick Area United Way
• For the Cause
• The Hand in Hand Family Resource Center
• Ronald McDonald House of Danville

Outstanding Citizen

• Lissa Bryan-Smith
• Jeff Emanuel
• Harry Mathias
• Catherine “Kay” Mentrikowski

Community Progress Award

• Northeast Training Institute
• Tri County Lumber

The Pennsylvania Small Business Development Center is holding a free webinar Friday, January 28th to help employers understand the Employee Retention Tax Credit (ERTC), including who qualifies, and the key questions to ask your CPA or payroll provider. The presenting firm has been able to help businesses calculate and amend their 941 filings to claim this credit. Register for this event here. 

Learner objectives: 

• Learn what the Employee Retention Tax Credit is
• Determine if your business qualifies
• Identify qualifying wages
• Calculate the Credit
• Know “what to ask” to your CPA or payroll provider

A program designed to help employees develop and sharpen skills that relate to leading in today’s workplace environment is being offered again this Spring. The five-module Management and Leadership Certificate Program is appropriate for new or emerging leaders or existing workplace leaders, managers, and supervisors who have not previously been exposed to leadership training. The program is a collaboration between The Columbia Montour Chamber of Commerce and Bloomsburg University.

Sessions cover supervisor effectiveness and effective communication, understanding what motivates employees and change management, coaching, feedback, and performance management, navigating a multigenerational workforce, and conflict management. The course will include assessments, activities, and other learning enhancement components to help each participant individualize their learning experience. Participants will receive a certificate from Bloomsburg University upon completion and will have identified personal development goals to provide to their employers.

The program launched in the Fall of 2019 and is offered each Spring and Fall. Sessions for this Spring are scheduled to begin in-person Tuesday, March 8th and will be held every other week from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at SEKISUI KYDEX’s South Campus, ending May 3rd. The program may shift to a virtual format depending upon trends. Cost is $595 for employees of Chamber of Commerce members. Complete program details and the application are now available online.

The program qualifies for WEDnet funding for eligible employers. For eligibility information, visit wednetpa.com or contact Jennifer Williams at 570-389-4004.

In February, The Chamber of Commerce will present its annual awards at the organization’s 81st Annual Meeting. This prestigious event has a tremendous history, honoring outstanding citizens and businesses throughout the area. This year’s meeting will be the second held virtually due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The meeting provides an opportunity to recognize organizations and individuals for their extraordinary efforts in serving the community throughout the year. This look back is to again highlight those, past and present, that have worked to make Columbia and Montour counties a great area to work, live and do business.

The Outstanding Citizen Award began in 1970. The Chamber added three more awards in 2011: Small Business, Large Business, and the Community Progress Award, which consolidated what were formerly known as the Community Class Awards. Community Progress recognizes organizations that have made significiant physical investment and improvement in a property in the area.  In 2020, the Chamber added the Nonprofit of the Year award to spotlight the efforts of the many human service agencies in the area.

“The Chamber of Commerce was formed over 80 years ago by community and organizational leaders who realized that they could be more effective in strengthening the community by working together,” said Fred Gaffney, President of the Columbia Montour Chamber of Commerce. “Today, the Chamber is well positioned to continue serving area employers and communities. The Annual Meeting is not only an opportunity for us to talk about our efforts, but celebrate some of our outstanding partner organizations and individuals.”

A history of previous award recipients is as follows:

SMALL BUSINESS OF THE YEAR

• 2021: Bason Coffee & Roasting
• 2020: Marr Development
• 2019: For the Cause
• 2018: Steph’s Subs
• 2017: Freas Farm Winery
• 2016: Key Partners Realty
• 2015: Bloom Bounce
• 2014: InnoTek Computer Consulting
• 2013: Old Forge Brewing Co.
• 2012: Walkers Jewlers
• 2011: Fuel Fitness

LARGE BUSINESS OF THE YEAR

• 2021: First Columbia Bank & Trust
• 2020: Atlantic Broadband
• 2019: Knoebels
• 2018: SEKISUI
• 2017: Central Columbia School District
• 2016: Geisinger-Bloomsburg Hospital
• 2015: Danville Child Development
• 2014: PPL Electric Utilities
• 2013: Berwick Offray
• 2012: Walkers Jewelers
• 2011: Columbia Montour Home Health/VNA

NONPROFIT OF THE YEAR

• 2021: Community Giving Foundation
• 2020: AGAPE

COMMUNITY PROGRESS AWARD

• 2021: PB&J Bar
• 2020: Frosty Valley Resort
• 2019: Community Strategies Group
• 2018: LCBC Church Columbia-Montour
• 2017: Geisinger Woodbine
• 2016: Pump House Wedding & B&B
• 2015: Art of Floating
• 2014: First Keystone Community Bank
• 2013: Turkey Hill Brewing Co.
• 2012: Service 1^st Federal Credit Union
• 2011: Town Camera

OUTSTANDING CITIZEN 

• 2021: Area Frontline Healthcare Workers
• 2020: Lisa Makara
• 2019: Linda Brown
• 2018: Denise Stone
• 2017: Daniel Jankowski
• 2016: Mary Clapp
• 2015: Mike Monico & Travis Petty
• 2014: Tim Wagner
• 2013: Bette Grey
• 2012: Eileen Chapman
• 2011: Ramona Alley
• 2007: Rod Keller
• 2003: Bob McCoy & Paul Reichart
• 2001: James Magee
• 1997: Daniel J. Bowman
• 1993: George H. Hemingway
• 1986: Richard A. Benefield
• 1985: Roy D. Snydeer
• 1984: James G. Law
• 1983: Paul R. Everly Jr.
• 1981: Anna Mae Lehr
• 1980: George A. Thompson
• 1979: Boyd F. Buckingham
• 1978: Dorothy Jean Kimmel
• 1977: Lester Jones
• 1976: Edward T. Kitchen
• 1975: Clark B. Patterson
• 1974: Norman Hoffman
• 1973: Robert Nearing
• 1972: Marco Mitrani
• 1971: Edward F. Schuyler
• 1970: Edwin Barton

The U.S. Supreme Court today blocked a nationwide vaccine and testing mandate for large employers. It does, however, allow a vaccine mandate for more than 10 million health care workers to go into effect nationwide.

“Although Congress has indisputably given OSHA the power to regulate occupational dangers, it has not given that agency the power to regulate public health more broadly. Requiring the vaccination of 84 million Americans, selected simply because they work for employers with more than 100 employees, certainly falls in the latter category,” the unsigned opinion says.

The rule would impact some 84 million individuals and require private employers with 100 or more employees to ensure they are fully vaccinated or undergo regular testing and wear a face covering at work. There are exceptions for those with religious objections.

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration issued the private-employer rules in November. Several parts of the regulations, including a requirement for mask-wearing in the workplace by unvaccinated individuals, were set to take effect this week. However, the testing requirements weren’t scheduled to be enforced until next month.

The case will now go back into the Sixth Circuit for further consideration on the merits of the challenge consistent with the Supreme Court’s decision. Therefore, while blocked from going into effect, the ETS is not yet invalidated.