November 2007 - poconobusinessjournal.com

Transcription

www.pbjonline.com
POCONO
Regional Business News & Resources
Pocono Business Journal
Seven Bridge Road, RR# 5 Box 5198
East Stroudsburg, PA 18301
CELEBRATING TWO YEARS
www.pbjonline.com
POCONO
November 2007, Vol. 3, Issue 11
Human Resources
THIS MONTH
Retention Intervention:
• Retention Intervention . .............................p. 1
• Letters to the Editor ..................................p. 3
• The Interview: What to Ask,
What Not To Ask .......................................... p. 8
• Bizzy Awards Recap............................... p.10
• Inclusion and Respect Key for
Holiday Celebrating . ............................p. 11
• Exploring the Myth of the Entrepreneur...p. 11
• Professional Profile: Tobyhanna
Army Depot ..........................................p. 12
• The True Cost of Turnover........................p. 14
• Compliance Basics for HR Professionals...p. 15
• Juicier Paycheck Not The Only Road
To Happy Workforce............................. p.16
• Violence Can Migrate from Home
to Workplace........................................ p.17
• Business Tax Credits for Early
Childhood Subsidies............................. p.20
• Op-Ed:
PA Chamber: Improvements on
Unemployment Compensation System....p. 4
• PBJ Columnists:
Business Lawyer......................................p. 7
HR Toolbox...............................................p. 4
Leadership Pocono................................p. 16
Marketing Momentum.............................p. 9
Regional Healthcare Report..................p. 10
Residential Real Estate Quarterly............p. 5
Sustainable is Attainable.........................p. 5
United Way............................................p. 14
Getting and Holding Onto Talent
“We try to make this a happy environment. We pay according to merit. If they
perform, they get a raise; if they don’t,
then we sit down and talk.”
- Louis Schrenko, co-owner,
Country Kettle, East Stroudsburg
– Full story on Page 16
OBSERVE
6 Election Day
11
15 17 17
22 23 Veteran’s Day
America Recycles Day
Take a Hike Day
National Adoption Day
Thanksgiving
Black Friday
QUESTION
What is the total number of
business establishments in
Monroe County?
See PMCC Business Magazine ad
for the answer on page 10.
www.pbjonline.com
Photo Credit: Perry Hebard
QUOTE
Ric Reaman, CFO at Nesquehoning fire truck manufacturer Kovatch Enterprises, believes internal job postings is one way to help retain good employees
with the right skill sets.
By Ken Clark
At a four-county average of 4.6 %, unemployment in the
Poconos hit a 30-year low this summer. That constitutes good
news for workers, but bad news for some of the companies
that hire them. Employers, who once filled their ranks with
little more than a classified ad, now must struggle not only
to recruit a workforce, but to retain one once they have it in
place.
Kovatch Enterprises, which builds fire trucks and other
specialty vehicles in Nesquehoning, has launched an ambitious
benefits and training program in a bid to stem a growing
turnover rate among the 800-plus workers on its factory
floor.
Retail Goliath Wal-Mart, plagued by widely publicized
worker dissatisfaction in the past, has announced a generous
new benefits package for its 1.3 million full and part-time
workers, including expanded health care and an increase in
last year’s list of 20 generic prescription drugs to 2,400 which
employees can buy with a co-pay of $4 each.
At Monadnock Non-Wovens in Hawley, Keith Hayward
offers health and dental care, paid vacations, training, flexible
working hours and a pay scale above basic minimum wage. Still,
a shortage of workers often forces him to delay delivery of the
polypropylene foam his plant makes for use in face masks, cleaning
supplies and flotation gear to customers who are clamoring for it.
“The biggest problem is if we can’t get sufficient people to
run our machinery and we can’t manufacture enough product to
meet the demand,” he said. “So, we’ve basically got material and
capital sitting idle, waiting for people run it. We have plenty of
demand for our product and we have to delay or tell them (the
customers) in many cases that we can’t manufacture products for
them.”
Monadnock has a staff of 30 full-time and a dozen part-time
see RETENTION page 6
Professional Profile - Tobyhanna Army Depot: Managing Human Capital on a Grand Scale page 12
2
Pocono Business Journal | November 2007
TABLE OF CONTENTS
www.pbjonline.com
POCONO
ARTICLES
Twin Willow Publishing Company
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
Ken Clark
Kathy Ruff
Judy Mehl
CONTRIBUTORS
Steve Cunningham
Tom Ford
Susan Gallagher
Chris Grape-Garvey
Richard J. Henley
Heidi Hewlett
Victoria Mavis
Dominick Sacci
Lesley Smith
EDITORIAL ASSISTANTS
Danielle Eberhardt
COPY EDITOR
Joan Groff
PHOTOGRAPHER
Perry Hebard
SALES
DEPARTMENTS
• Business Briefs – Who’s Who/What’s What. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . p. 18-19
• Calendar of Events. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . p. 21
• Columnists
Business Lawyer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . p. 7
HR Toolbox . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . p. 4
Leadership Pocono. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . p. 16
Marketing Momentum . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . p. 9
Regional Healthcare Report . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . p. 10
Residential Real Estate Quarterly. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . p. 5
Sustainable is Attainable . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . p. 5
United Way . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . p. 14
• Editorial – PA Chamber: Improvements on Unemployment Compensation System. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . p. 4
• Focus List – Payroll Services. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . p. 20
• Register – Deeds, Mortgage Transactions and New Corporations/Fictitious Names . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . p. 22
Advertisers Index
Blue Cross of Northeastern Pennsylvania. . . . . . 6
East Stroudsburg University of PA. . . . . . . . . . . 9
Hemlock Point Lodge. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
HR For Hire . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
Michael Baxter & Associates
Commercial Real Estate. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
PRODUCTION/DESIGN
Jason Trump
Pocono Commuter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
Monthly Missive
Human resources, by
far, are the most valuable
commodity in business.
Recruiting the right people
to begin with, training them,
and properly compensating
the workforce all factor equally into a company’s bottom line.
This issue of Pocono Business Journal
explores the many issues encompassed within
the human resource industry. Insight into the
topic of workforce retention provides evidence
that compensation doesn’t always require pay-
If you would like to guarantee receiving the Pocono
Business Journal monthly, please mail subscription
form along with check made payable to:
Seven Bridge Road
RR#5 Box 5198
East Stroudsburg, PA 18301-9209
Geisinger Health System. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
Pocono B2B . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
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
SUBSCRIPTION FORM
First Impression Career Center. . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
[email protected]
CIRCULATION
[email protected]
Retention Intervention . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . p. 1
Letters to the Editor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . p. 3
The Interview: What to Ask, What Not To Ask. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . p. 8
Bizzy Awards Recap. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . p. 10
Inclusion and Respect Key for Holiday Celebrating . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . p. 11
Exploring the Myth of the Entrepreneur. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . p. 11
Professional Profile: Tobyhanna Army Depot. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . p. 12
The True Cost of Turnover . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . p. 14
Compliance Basics for HR Professionals. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . p. 15
Juicier Paycheck Not The Only Road To Happy Workforce . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . p. 16
Violence Can Migrate from Home to Workplace . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . p. 17
Business Tax Credits for Early Childhood Subsidies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . p. 20
Pocono Medical Center. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
Pocono Mountains Business Magazine . . . . . . 10
Pocono Personnel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
Name:_______________________________
Title:_ _______________________________
Company:____________________________
Address:_ ____________________________
Phone:_______________________________
City:________________________________
State:________________________________
Zip:_________________________________
____ 1 year (12 issues): $30.00
____ 2 years (24 issues): $60.00
RGB Custom Homes. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
Sherman Theater. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
TN Printing. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
Viamedia. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
ing more money to employees; alternative options
abound. Another ill that plagues the local employer
is all-time low unemployment. Businesses, therefore, are finding it increasingly difficult to hold
onto qualified employees, so it’s important to be
receptive to hearing and heeding their needs and
concerns to keep spirit and productivity high.
Even though expenses are always a stressor
for the business owner, he or she should never
underestimate the hidden costs associated with an
unhappy, mismanaged workforce.
If there ever was a recipe for a maintaining a
healthy employee mentality, I think it would be to
start with an up-to-date personnel policy handbook,
mix in qualified and trainable employees with competitive compensation, and add fairness, flexibility
and humor. Then serve with open communication.
Thank you for choosing
BAM!! You’ll have a fantastic workforce and a
profitable bottom line.
Bon Appétit.
Marynell K. Strunk
Publisher/Editor
Contact me at [email protected]
please recycle this paper
3
NEWS
Letters to the Editor
To the Editor:
I was just reading your October issue of the
Business Journal and enjoying the articles regarding
customer service. I especially identified with your
experience at the check-out counter. That is one of
my pet peeves and something that business owners
really need to audit.
Regarding the customer service topics, our own
company takes this very seriously. Diakon Lutheran
Social Ministries (our parent company) rolled out
a new leadership education series this year called
“Service from the Heart.” The focus is on gracious
hospitality towards enhancing customer service
and how it relates to our day-to-day interactions
with our fellow employees. The premise being that
a team that treats one another with kindness and
respect, would carry over those characteristics in
customer service. It’s one of the things about
Diakon and Pocono Lutheran that I so respect
and which makes this company and community
a great place to work and live. The program will
eventually be rolled out to all staff as a required
in-service education and it will be incorporated
into our job evaluations as well. Something all
companies should consider!
Betsi Olmstead
Pocono Lutheran Village, East Stroudsburg
Editor’s Note: Pocono Lutheran Village was
mistakenly omitted from October’s Focus List of
assisted living facilities. The addition has been
made for next year’s list.
-----------------------------------------------------------To the Editor:
Brava!
I’ll bet the cashier didn’t say “thank you”
either! Another of my pet peeves is giving change:
put the bills in the hand, drop the change on top
and then ice it all with the receipt. There really is
a correct way to give change: change in the palm,
bills between the thumb and forefinger, receipt in
the bag! Voila! No more juggling act! It all boils
down to people not caring and management being
out to lunch.
Marlena Sensale
Union Dale
-----------------------------------------------------------To The Editor:
I’m a business owner, and want to tell you what
a great resource the Pocono Business Journal is...
I’ve found some great information in the journal as
well as on your Web site-- thanks!
Erin Baehr, CFP, EA
Baehr Financial
Shawnee-on-Delaware
To The Editor:
I just finished reading
the October issue of PBJ and
wanted to let you know that I
wholeheartedly agree with your
assessment of the importance
of good customer service. It’s
unfortunate that it is so often neglected or completely lacking in
an operation that otherwise may
have a solid product or quality
service.
As a brand new entrepreneur, I am very sensitive to the
fact that all of my actions and
decisions impact the success of
my business. Knowing that my
business plan and daily operation would maintain a strong
commitment to personalized
and courteous customer service
was a no-brainer. Although I’ve
only been open (several) weeks,
it is already paying off. I’m
enjoying the positive response
of repeat customers and word
of mouth referrals. Customers
are valuable to any business and
should be helped to feel that
way.
I invite you to stop by my
store anytime. You’ll be greeted
with a smile, a warm welcome,
and purchase or no purchase,
I’ll let you know I appreciate
your stopping by.
Best regards,
Susan Parker
Owner, Montana Mercantile,
LLC, Tannersville
PBJ BLOG
“Blogging
for
Business”
Exceeding National
Heart Care Standards
When a heart attack strikes, every second is critical
for survival. Studies show that opening a heart
attack patient’s blocked artery within 90 minutes of
hospital arrival can reduce fatalities by nearly 40%.
If you or a loved one experiences a heart attack, you
can depend on Pocono Medical Center to provide
expedient heart care without sacrificing quality.
Within less than a year of operation, the ESSA
Heart & Vascular Institute at Pocono Medical
Center is already exceeding national standards. On
average, our heart attack patients are treated in the
catheterization lab within less than 60 minutes of
hospital arrival—an average that is well below the
national benchmark of 90 minutes door-to-wire
time. For world-class cardiac care close to home,
only PMC has the advanced resources and highly
trained cardiovascular team prepared to deliver
the exceptional cardiac care you need, whenever
you need it.
Talk about business online
with PBJ columnists.
ESSA HEART AND VASCULAR INSTITUTE
www.pmchealthsystem.org
-----------------------------------------------------------
David Doron, MD and Vidya Ponnathpur, MD in the Cardiac Cath Lab; (lower right) Paul Perchansky,
RT, (R), (CI), (VI)
pbjonline.com/blog
4
EDITORIAL
Improvements Sought for State’s Unemployment Compensation System
PA Chamber of
Commerce
Lesley Smith
a case of necessitous and compelling nature
by adding a provision that it also be a cause
attributable to employment (H.B. 1473);
• clarify that a claimant is ineligible for benefits if
his unemployment is due to “willful misconduct”
(H.B. 1472);
• require UC claimants to participate in job search
programs (H.B. 1542);
The Pennsylvania Chamber and pro-business
lawmakers are working together to advance a
package of bills designed to make the state’s unemployment compensation system fairer and more
competitive with other states.
While Pennsylvania has seen a decline in its
unemployment compensation rate, the number of individuals who are unemployed and receiving benefits
on a long-term basis is not decreasing. As a result,
on a calendar basis, both employers and claimants
continue to realize increased taxes in order to fund the
UC system.
Leveling the playing field requires that both
tax and benefit eligibility issues are addressed.
At a Capitol news conference on Oct. 16, the
two groups unveiled a reform package that
addresses the many problems still facing the
Commonwealth’s UC system. The legislation would:
• permit a referee to dismiss the case without receiving testimony or evidence on the merits of the
case if the appellant fails to appear for the hearing
(H.B. 787);
• further refine the law’s current ineligibility for
benefits for voluntarily leaving work without
• add a requirement that the last employer and the
separating employer be furnished a copy of any
written statement provided by the claimant relating to his/her separation from employment, if the
employer makes such a request in writing. The
claimant would have the same right to any written
statement provided by an employer (H.B. 1831);
and
• provide for definitions of “average working
wage” and “suitable work,” clarify how the contribution rate and experience rating is determined,
and establish the qualifications required to secure
compensation, as well as the rate and amount of
that compensation (H.B. 1375).
All employees need and deserve a UC system
that compensates them adequately when they are out
of work and their unemployment is not primarily due
to their own choices or preferences. Employers want
consistency and predictability. All Pennsylvanians
want the unemployment compensation system to be
fair and honest. These reforms will be a step in the
right direction for employees and employers, while
not affecting the rights of current recipients.
PBJ READER’S RESOURCE
|
http://hrdailyadvisor.blr.com
HR Daily Advisor
HR Daily Advisor is Business and Legal
Reports’ Web site on all things HR. From
special reports on legal issues such as
harassment and hiring, to tips on team
building and leave policy. Specialized
resources are available for compensation,
safety and environmental professionals.
Includes RSS feeds, audio conferences and
opportunities to participate in industry
surveys and to contribute a guest column;
also offers HR software and publications for sale.
Debbie Burke
Lesley Smith is the director of communications for the
Pennsylvania Chamber of Business and Industry, the
state’s largest broad-based business association, with
a membership representing more than 50 percent of
the private workforce. More information is available
on the Chamber’s Web site at www.pachamber.org.
Even Small Shops Need Smart HR
HR Toolbox
Victoria Mavis
www.pbjonline.com/blog
For growing small and startup businesses, making a
decision to hire your first employees can seem almost as
daunting as starting the business.
People in such situations tend to think they don’t
need to establish a human resource program since they
will only have one or two employees, and that their
time may be better spent generating sales or catering to
customers. That naïve outlook lays the foundation for
creating unnecessary problems that could complicate
your operations.
Every employer must garner specific employee
information including immigration status and pay withholding status to comply with government mandates.
But employees also need general guidelines from
their employers such as appropriate attire, work hours,
time-off policies and other general expectations. Though
many small employers allow great flexibility in these
areas, depending on the type of business, a lack of
employee understanding about those expectations and
nuances could unwittingly create additional burdens on
your business – even if you only have one employee.
Despite popular belief, small businesses face the
same HR problems as their larger counterparts; it’s simply seen on a smaller scale.
So how are the one-person or mom-and-pop businesses with limited resources solving their human
resources dilemmas?
In today’s technological world, many small employers may resort to the Internet for those answers. Just
Google “human resources” and you’ll find 512 million
possibilities. Your choices for “hiring an employee” are
much more limited with only 6.5 million hits. While
the Internet may have the information you need, finding
expert sources with up-to-date, reliable data becomes
another time-consuming challenge.
Over the past decade, the marketplace has expanded
its expert human resource offerings to make it affordable
and accessible to every employer. Those offerings range
from labor attorneys, HR and business consultants to
accountants and payroll or insurance companies. Today
many chambers of commerce and other trade organizations also offer useful HR programs at meetings, workshops or online seminars (webinars).
The key to finding the accurate HR information you
need when you need it requires the employer to know
the triggers that warrant seeking the advice of a professional as well as which professional to contact.
For example, if you want to outline guidelines on
employee use of computers or train your employees in
customer service techniques, an HR consultant should
be contacted. Whenever you encounter a hiring decision
or a firing decision when you have a problem employee,
that’s when you want to get the help of a seasoned
professional. If you see a liability that looks as if it could
lead to legal activity or an employee threatens to sue
you, it may be wise to contact an employment attorney.
You don’t need to know everything there is to know
about human resources, but you do need to know when
to wave the red flag and the correct person to call for the
assistance needed. Do your homework by finding the
attorney, consultant or other seasoned HR professional
to use as an as-needed member of your business team.
Victoria Mavis is the President/CEO of Core People
Resources, LLC, a Web-based human resources expert
system designed to help small employers reduce the risk
of financial exposure associated with employment issues.
The company is located in Wind Gap. Vickie has over
17 years of experience and her expertise is in providing
businesses with practical and affordable approaches to
their ‘people’ problems through the use of Internet technology. You can reach her at [email protected] or visit www.corepeopleresources.com
Have something
to say ???
Send Letters to the Editor at
[email protected].
Remember to include your
contact information.
Corrections/Additions
In the October issue, the Commonwealth Workforce
Development System (CWDS) should have been noted as
the name of the new Web site for those in the PA Career
Link system. It is not the new name for PA CareerLink.
5
EDITORIAL
Fall Trees Add Color and Vitality to Business Districts
Sustainable is
Attainable
Susan Gallagher
How lucky we are to live and work in an area
exciting enough to attract visitors from far and wide.
Pocono tourists can enjoy outdoor activities, fine
dining or cultural events, or shopping excursions to
quaint downtown districts.
The scenic beauty of our area only enhances
these experiences. This is especially true amid an
autumn explosion of fall color, as we come to appreciate the connection between maples and oaks and
birches, and the quality of a life surrounded by trees.
We tend to think of trees in terms of what they
do for us - maybe because they do so much. They
give us oxygen, provide habitat for native wildlife,
filter our air and water, and prevent soil erosion. The
net cooling effect of a healthy shade tree rivals that
of any air conditioner, helping reduce both energy
costs and greenhouse gas emissions.
According to the Arbor Day Foundation, apartment buildings fill with tenants more quickly, and
those tenants stay longer, in neighborhoods with
tree-lined streets. It may sound like something out
of an elementary school science text, but we can
marvel at the beauty of fall foliage without fully
understanding how it occurs. No doubt our visitors
rarely stop to ponder why the mountains are awash
in color - they simply enjoy it.
This colorful display need not be restricted to a
mountain vista. Many communities and downtown
business districts have taken advantage of everything street trees have to offer. Several studies have
shown that while business owners and visitors alike
are put off by the unkempt and overgrown look of
more natural vegetation, all respond positively to
properly sited trees and other greenery.
Throughout Pennsylvania, shade tree commissions have sprung up like hopeful seedlings, taking
on the task of bringing urban forestry into surrounding landscapes. Spring blossoms, summer shade,
and fall foliage make tree panting a smart move for
year-round benefits. Even naked winter limbs can be
adorned with festive lights for the holiday season.
The benefits of tree-lined city streets are numerous, but so are the challenges. Luckily, these can
be met head-on in the planning process. A carefully
chosen and sited collection of street trees is almost
guaranteed to be trouble-free, or at least nearly so.
Trees might be selected for mature height, ease
of maintenance, fall color, or any other number of
factors. The right tree in the right place can bring
years of positive results. And resources to assist
anyone interested in street tree planting abound!
The comprehensive Web site, www.treelink.org, is
a great place to start.
As trees throughout the Poconos prepare for
a well-deserved winter’s rest, community-minded
business owners and residents can work to bridge
the gap between concrete sidewalks and the natural
world through tree planting. In the end, we’ll all
benefit from everything street trees have to offer.
Susan Gallagher is Chief Naturalist of the Carbon
County Environmental Education Center. She can
be reached at (570) 645-8597 or by emailing
[email protected]
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POCONO
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Third Quarter of 2007: Not What We Hoped For
Residential Real
Estate Quarterly
Dominick J. Sacci
Historically, Realtors® in our area would bank
on July through September being the busy season.
This was the time when the activity of buyers would
increase tremendously and homes placed on the market
for sale over the previous four to six months would
sell.
For the first time in six years, we had stocked
shelves and good sale prices, but no line of buyers
beating down our doors. It just didn’t happen this year.
When we search for reasons why, the real estate
industry turns to the financing crunch and the coverage
of it. This isn’t so much a direct real estate issue as it
is a financing issue. Realtors® have the product and interested buyers; we just cannot statistically get the deal
financed. I say “statistically” because there is a part of our
market that isn’t affected by the financing crunch: buyers with good credit who have money to put down. No
matter what happens to the economy - no matter if gas
prices shoot up or interest rates fluctuate - the purchasing activity of this demographic stays consistent. It is
the buyers who require “creative” financing that are
typically the cause of real estate booms and declines.
Our challenge is the media’s coverage of what is
happening nationwide and viewers thinking it directly
negative coverage of real estate overall in our country
applies to us locally. You would think that property
doesn’t change, it won’t be long before the news apvalues have plummeted, foreclosures are at a record
plies directly to our area.
high, and nothing is selling in our area. However, this
So, where do we go from here? Closed sales are
is not the case; not yet, anyway.
off 33% YTD, while the pending sales are off 40%.
Local viewers hear of the declining markets in
This suggests that the real estate slowdown in the
Miami, Las Vegas, Sacramento, and Phoenix and
Poconos will first get worse before it gets better.
become scared into waiting for prices to go down. But
prices aren’t going to immediately adjust as much as
Dominick J. Sacci is vice president and general manone might think. Owners who bought at the high with
ager for Wilkins & Associates Real Estate, Inc. Mr.
106% financing simply do not have any equity, and
Sacci has been tracking market statistics for the last
cannot sell their home to cover their initial investment.
five years. Market data was compiled from the Pocono
These individuals are now forced to hold on or are
Mountain Association of Realtors’® MLS system.
threatened with foreclosure. Some are turning to rentReaders can discuss the residential real estate market
ing the home.
with Mr. Sacci at www.pbjonline.com/blog.
We are also faced with the market’s domino effect.
Aside from the buyers who
couldn’t purchase a home
because the type of loan that
they qualified for doesn’t exist
anymore, the bigger problem
is that homeowners in New
York and New Jersey who
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cannot sell their homes there
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sure, the negative adjustment
Ɏί΁ϱͩʜѠʜљΒʜ‫ڠ‬зϱǪϱʜЙљʹљ‫ڠ‬ʜљɎǪΒ
of our property values is still
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a good six to twelve months
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are up 3% overall compared to
this time last year. While our local market is not
as bad as other markets, if the
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6
NEWS
RETENTION... cont. from page 1
employees to run its production line, but Hayward said
they keep leaving.
“We’ve added six people so far this year and we’re
looking for another six,” he said. “The problem is, if
they leave after 12 months or two years, they take away
their experience that they’ve gained over that time and
we have to start all over again.”
Cheryl Ranaudo, proprietor of Ranaudo Personnel
Agency in Milford, said courting and keeping employees now takes a lot of hearts and flowers, along with
promises made and kept, to cement a corporate-workforce marriage these days.
“For companies to retain good employees, it’s obviously competitive wages,” she said. “But
the company needs to provide the employee with a friendly work environment and
you have to have good communications
throughout the organization with clear
objectives and goals. Everybody needs to
be on the same page. Companies need to
make their employees think they’re part of
the team, that they’re valued and respected
and that their work matters.”
Ranaudo, who sends employee candidates to client companies to temp
for three months to see if they fit the
company for permanent jobs, added several more perks she said are essential to
finding and binding good people to a job
site. They are flexible working hours so
that “if something arises, they can handle
whatever the crisis might be without being
penalized”; generous health care benefits;
room for advancement – both in salary and
job title; a 401(K) with a company match;
and college reimbursement. She also said
it is a good idea to seek out older workers, increasing numbers of those who are
retired but who want or need to return to
the workforce.
“Anybody who has work experience is a prize to any company because
they’re going to give it their all,” she said.
“They’re very reliable. It’s usually the
younger ones who don’t know what they
want to do with their lives, who are not so
reliable.”
Kovatch Enterprises’ Ric Reaman,
the company’s Chief Financial Officer, is
pursuing one of Ranaudo’s recommendations -- that of communication.
“One of the commentaries we got back
in doing some exit interviews was that
some employees chose to leave because
they weren’t really sure what opportunities there were,” he said. “Not that there
weren’t opportunities for advancement,
but they wondered if their skill sets would
allow them to pursue some advancement
within the organization. One of the things
we’ve implemented is an internal job
posting, so that there’s an opportunity for
somebody who might not be immediately
identified by a supervisor, but could be a
great fit for the position that needs to be
filled. This makes them feel as though they
really have some control over their own
destiny.”
Reaman said that, in addition to a
benefits package including a 401(K)
plan, short and long-term disability
insurance, health coverage and an intern
program with the Carbon County Technical Institute, the company also has added
a periodic newsletter and an enhanced
orientation program “so that employees
really understand the story of the organization and where we feel, as a company, our
sense of pride comes from in the products
that we build and the services we provide.”
Wal-Mart, nationwide, employs 1.3
million full-and part-time workers (or “as-
sociates” as they are known), including more than 3,000
people at two Supercenters and a distribution center in
Monroe County, and at one store each in Carbon, Pike
and Wayne counties. Steve Restivo, director of Corporate Affairs for the chain’s Northeast Region, said WalMart’s existing package of benefits has just been sharply
upgraded.
In addition to rock bottom prescription drug prices,
which the company estimates will save associates about
$25 million in 2008, the health care plan now allows
more than 50 ways in which the workforce can customize individual coverage on a sliding scale of employee
contributions.
“We feel we offer a competitive wage and good
benefits that include not only health care for full and
part-time associates, but 401(K) programs, bonuses and
store discounts,” Restivo said. “That’s why you see, on
a regular basis, we literally get thousands of applications
for just a few hundred jobs when we open a new store.”
As to the pay scale, Restivo said, “There are no
Pennsylvania associates who make minimum wage. Our
average wage in Pennsylvania is $10.23 an hour.”
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7
NEWS
Criminal Records in Hiring Decisions – Use With Care
The Business
Lawyer
Tom Ford
Concerned about workplace violence, theft,
and security, employers are increasingly turning
to criminal background checks to screen job applicants. Employers could be setting themselves
up for a surprising, and expensive, education if
they are not familiar with Pennsylvania law on
how criminal records may be used by a potential
employer.
Pennsylvania employers are permitted to make
hiring decisions based on only felony or misdemeanor convictions - arrests or charges cannot
be considered by the employer. More important:
felony and misdemeanor convictions can be considered “only to the extent to which they relate to
the applicant’s suitability for employment in the
position.” Unfortunately, the law doesn’t say what
“relat(ing) to the applicant’s suitability” means.
There is also scant case law to guide us.
As a result, making hiring decisions based on
criminal records must be done with caution. While
a conviction for burglary can probably be a proper
basis to deny an applicant a position as a residential
cable installer, depending on the circumstances,
an embezzlement conviction might not be a lawful
basis to deny an applicant a bookkeeper position.
There are also significant undecided questions
which arise under the Pennsylvania statute. For
example, it is unclear when assault convictions
can safely be used to deny someone a position.
From the employer’s point of view, for example,
an applicant for a position that requires interaction
with the public, vendors, or other employees probably shouldn’t have a history of assault. Also left
unclear is whether an existing employee, looking
for a promotion or transfer to a different position, is
considered an “applicant” under the act.
Nevertheless, there are some guidelines that the
prudent employer should follow.
• First, employment application materials should
always ask the applicant to list his/her felony
and misdemeanor convictions. This will give
the employer an opportunity to ask the applicant about the conviction. There is no prohibi-
tion on denying employment because someone
lied on the application.
• Second, try to consider a conviction in the
context of the overall merits of the applicant.
Inflexible rules not only may result in potential claims under the criminal records law, but
might also result in the loss of a potentially
good employee.
• Third, make sure that the people charged with
reviewing the criminal record are thoroughly
familiar with the requirements of the position.
The employer needs to cautiously evaluate if
the conviction directly relates to the applicant’s
qualifications for the position. Unless the issue
is crystal clear, it is generally worthwhile to
consult your business lawyer to discuss the
question.
useful to the employer. But the Pennsylvania law
on their use is vague and imprecise. As a result,
an employer can run a serious risk if a mistake is
made. Employers need to proceed deliberately,
with caution, and, in many cases, only after consulting with a business lawyer, to minimize the
chances of unintentionally running afoul of the act.
Tom Ford is a principal at Smithford Business
Lawyers, LLC, with offices in Stroudsburg and Wilkes-Barre. You can reach him at (800) 728-1406,
by email at [email protected], and read his
blog at www.pbjonline.com/blog.
• Fourth, document it. If you decide to deny
employment because of the criminal record
– even if only partially – prepare a file memo
(preferably with your lawyer’s input) outlining
the correlation between the conviction and the
applicant’s suitability. If you’ve entertained
an applicant with a criminal record and decide
not to make the hire on a basis other than the
conviction, it is equally (perhaps even more)
important to memorialize that decision as
well. That memo should detail all of the noncriminal background reasons for rejecting the
applicant.
Train your HR department not to suggest to
applicants that they are being favorably considered. If that applicant is later turned down after the
criminal records check, even if the conviction had
nothing to do with the decision not to hire the applicant, the applicant will claim that it did.
Finally, the law also requires written notice to
an applicant if the hiring decision was based to any
degree on the convictions. Even if it was proper to
reject the applicant, the failure to give the written
notice is, itself, a separate violation.
A violation of the act can be an expensive
lesson for the employer. The law mandates a
minimum actual damages award of $1,000, plus
a minimum civil penalty of $1,000, which can be
increased to up to $10,000. Actual damages can
be thousands or tens of thousands of dollars in lost
wages for the rejected applicant. Also, the wrongfully rejected applicant would be entitled to court
costs and attorney fees.
Criminal background checks can be
PBJ BLOG
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Business”
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8
NEWS
The Interview: What To Ask, What Not To Ask
By Debbie Burke
job-related information, and to always treat male
and female applicants identically. In order to help
prevent claims of discrimination, employers need
to avoid stereotyping gender roles in all aspects of
their dealing with applicants and employees.”
In essence, the interview itself should address
candidates’ ability to “get the job done” in the
hours prescribed, to the standards in the job description. As with all recruitment efforts, employers always should discuss beforehand the expectations for performing the job which should include
working hours and time off.
Throughout the quest to find reliable workers,
employers may rightly find themselves pondering
the wisdom of hiring individuals who have difficulty getting to work on time, keeping regular
hours or limiting absenteeism to a bare minimum.
One demographic that many employers perceive
as bringing these issues into the
workplace is the single parent,
or more specifically, the single
mother. Regardless of the ethics
of the issue, this is the reality for
many who own or manage a business.
Kiki Peppard, a resident of
Monroe County, is one single
mom who has turned activist,
using her outrage for what she
terms “maternal profiling” to seek
a law that would prevent prospective employers from practicing it;
specifically, from being allowed
to inquire at the interview phase
if an applicant is married, what
position her spouse holds, and if
she has children. Recently she and
hundreds of others- men, women
and children- took their cause to
Washington at an all-day rally. The result was increased
visibility to legislators on the importance of HB 280 and SB 280,
which would make it “unlawful for an employer, because of
familial or marital status, to refuse
to hire or employ or contract with,
or to bar or to discharge from
employment such individual or
independent contractor, or to otherwise discriminate against such
MATTHEW J. DEGIROLAMO, MD, FAMILY MEDICINE
individual or independent contractor with respect to compensation,
hire, tenure, terms, conditions
Geisinger Medical Group–Mt. Pocono is pleased to welcome Matthew J. DeGirolamo,
or privileges of employment or
MD, to our outstanding staff of providers. Board certified in family medicine, Dr.
contract, if the individual or independent contractor is the best able
DeGirolamo earned his medical degree from the St. George’s University School of
and most competent to perform
Medicine in Wisconsin and completed his residency at Warren Hospital Family Practice
the services required.”
Employers need to feel confiin New Jersey. As the newest doctor in Mt. Pocono, Dr. DeGirolamo will care for
dent that their recruits are going to
patients of all ages, from infants to seniors. And he is backed by the resources and
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ness lawyer Tom Ford, “TechniNow that’s peace of mind.
cally, it is perfectly legal to make
employment decisions based on
marital status. However, there
Call us today at 839.3633 to schedule an appointment with Dr. DeGirolamo.
are already existing prohibitions
against employment practices that
We accept most major health plans and are welcoming new patients.
have a disparate impact on one
gender. ‘Gender stereotyping’ or
‘family responsibility discrimination’ is a recognized basis for
gender discrimination claims.
Interview questions are frequently
used to demonstrate an employer’s gender stereotyping. So,
while it is still technically legal
21 Commerce Court, Mt. Pocono
to ask a potential employee about
marital and family status, doing
that can bolster discrimination
RE DE FI N I N G BOUNDARIES
claims.” The proper course, Ford
continues, is to “limit inquiries to
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9
NEWS
Freebies, Gifts, Giveaways, and Chachkas
Marketing Momentum
Heidi Hewlett
I was online the other day searching for some
unique promotional items to dazzle my clients with
this upcoming holiday season, when I came upon
an item that gave me pause. Customized salt and
pepper shakers. I admit that I struggled with the
concept of this giveaway and marveled at the fact
that there appears to be a need for something like
this. Why else would the promotional printer offer
it for purchase?
I then realized that the messaging practice truly
has become entrenched in the industry, and the sky
seems to be the limit. Oh, wait a minute, we’ve
already succeeded in messaging the sky through
skywriting…perhaps we should rethink the old adage.
Specialty advertising can be an important part
of your Integrated Marketing Communications
program. From the traditional pens, pencils, mugs
and calendars onto coolers, rugs and salt and pep-
per sets, it seems that you can put your logo on just
about anything. Still, don’t be overwhelmed by
the array of choices. If you remember to employ
the following litmus test to the giveaways you are
considering, you’ll make a better choice all around.
1. Do you really want the item that you are customizing to be associated on a long-term basis
with your company?
company. These gifts can strengthen your communication efforts with all types of customers.
Heidi Hewlett is the owner of BladeHewlett Marketing & Development. BladeHewlett offers outsourced marketing services to companies without
a fulltime marketing staff and especially small to
medium sized businesses.
2. Does the message you are including on the
item match your company’s message?
3. Is the purchase strictly based on price, or are
you also looking at quality?
4. Is the item something your target market needs
or wants?
5. Does the item somehow relate to your company’s product?
6. Are you purchasing these premiums from a
reputable and reliable company?
With some thought and creativity into the
development of your specialty advertising, you
should be able to develop an effective method to
increase the memorability and recognition of your
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10
NEWS
Transparency a Clear Choice for PMC
Regional Healthcare
Report
Richard J. Henley,
FACHE, FHFMA
Recognizing that patients have a need and a right
to access information about healthcare providers, hospitals have begun to publish more information about
their performance and the quality of their patient care.
Pocono Medical Center is dedicated to becoming a
leader in the transparency revolution that is sweeping the healthcare industry. Essentially, transparency
means sharing organizational information without
carefully filtering or withholding sensitive information from the community.
By publishing information pertaining to quality,
finance and patient satisfaction, PMC has welcomed
transparency as a means to educate and connect with
our community. Our transparency initiative has driven
a number of new and exciting changes at PMC. For
instance, our employees can now view their depart-
ment’s patient satisfaction surveys each month by
logging on to the PMC Intranet. This enables our staff
to see how their departments are performing both
nationally and internally, thus helping them identify
areas for improvement.
We’ve also added a new section to our Web site
(www.poconohealthsystem.org) called “Our Performance.” There, users can access important organizational data, such as the hospital’s 990 IRS filing, or
tax return, for fiscal year 2006. The new section also
posts monthly results for our five major patient satisfaction survey areas, which include Inpatient and Outpatient services as well as the Cancer Center, Emergency Room and Ambulatory Surgery. We have also
chosen to publish the quarterly results of our 22 core
measures of patient care, which are derived from the
Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services’ Hospital Compare report. Also found in Our Performance is
the Community Benefits Report, which outlines our
many contributions to the community.
We believe that publishing this type of information helps our employees stay connected during a
period of extraordinary growth and helps others learn
about the many ways PMC benefits the community.
Moreover, as community members become accustomed to regularly reviewing the hospital’s performance in important areas like patient satisfaction and
quality outcomes, the increased public accountability
will have a twofold benefit. First, it will help the com-
munity learn about the ways PMC is not just meeting
but exceeding national and state benchmarks for quality care. Second, public accountability will further
underscore the importance of quality for the entire
PMC family.
An essential ingredient in establishing confidence
between healthcare providers and those they service
is having a fair exchange of information. In providing
information about our service, quality and financial
outcomes, we hope to maintain a trusting relationship
with our staff and our community. This transparency
will provide patients with the information and tools
necessary to make more informed decisions about
their health. Better healthcare, better options and better decisions: the advantages of transparency are, like
the initiative itself, undeniably clear.
Richard J. Henley, FACHE, FHFMA is the president
and CEO of Pocono Medical Center and Pocono
Health System. He has more than 25 years of experience in healthcare, executive leadership, strategic
planning, and operations and finance. Henley also
serves on the Board of Governors of the American
College of Healthcare Executives, an international
professional society of 30,000 healthcare executives
who lead hospitals, healthcare systems and other
healthcare organizations.
2007 Bizzy Awards Re-Cap
By Debbie Burke
The award recipient for Best Business Card Design at the recent Greater
Pocono Mountains Chamber of Commerce’s Bizzy Awards told how she came up
with the winning creation. On the S&K Construction business card, the blueprint
in the background represents that “their job starts from the ground up: they do
the foundations, the land clearing, the trees, and utilities,” according to marketing
director Deborah Stewart. The purple color is evocative of a sunset, showing how
S&K works until the sun is down. Stewart was as happy with the win as she was
of the turnout and hopes for an even bigger event next year. Says Stewart: “It’s
good to get one day to feel special and be recognized for your accomplishments.”
The event was produced by George Roberts Productions and held in late September at Caesar’s Brookdale Resort in Scotrun.
This year’s winners are:
Best Overall Business – Shawnee Inn
Best New Business – Action Coach
Best Large Business – PMC’s Heart & Vascular Institute
Best Medium Business – AAA North Penn
Best Small Business – Hair Alternatives
Best Business Logo – Access Office Technologies
Best Business Web Site – Sherman Theater
Best Business Card Design – S&K Construction
Best Business Curb-Side Appeal – Grace Park
Best Business Marketing Campaign – Chestnut Hill Nursery
11
NEWS
Inclusion and Respect are Key Words
for Holiday Celebrating in Workplace
By Judith Mehl
December 25 is the only legal holiday with religious connotations. Regional businesses commemorate the day, but some offer “The Holiday Party” to
respect others’ ethnicities. Despite diverse approaches, gift-giving variations, and policies, the time marks
a joyous occasion.
“With 125 years of tradition behind the Hotel
Fauchère we work hard to honor our history,”
commented Richard Pleasants, general manager of
the Milford hotel. “We put up one live tree in the
reception area and decorate it with both antique ornaments and contemporary ornaments which fit with our
décor.” The hotel features interiors that combine
antique pieces with contemporary design. Pleasants
added, “We have created several local Christmas
parties for both hotel guests and nearby residents in
both our Delmonico Room dining room and the Bar
Louis.”
A holiday party is held the first week of January
for employees, not only as a celebration but also as
a thank you for all their efforts during the festivities
for guests. Fauchère provides the food and employees
bring in their own dishes that reflect a diversity of
ethnic backgrounds. Gift-giving, however, was not
part of the celebration last year when the hotel first
re-opened.
At Hager Furniture, a small, family-owned
business in Palmerton, they celebrate like a family.
Individual members, including former employees,
join in for the group party even though they may not
hold the same religious beliefs. According to Jeff
Hager, the owner, “We have a good time; no employees object to the way we decorate and observe
the holiday. As far as gifts, everyone is welcome
to do as they wish. It’s the spirit of giving that’s
important.”
At the Dime Bank, serving five branches and
with an operations office in Honesdale, the scope
is different but the sentiment is the same. Committees decorate; branches hold their own parties to
add to the main one involving 130 employees and
spouses. Gift-giving has no rules, with some of the
branches donating and buying gifts for families
through the Wayne County Children’s Christmas
Bureau. Jill George at Dime’s HR department said
ethnicities are respected in decoration considerations, especially in closing signs that denote by
symbol the various religious beliefs.
Though the companies differ on their invitee
list (Hager Furniture invites families; Dime Bank,
spouses; and the Hotel Fauchère, only employees),
the cultural issue of how to celebrate Christmas
did not appear at all problematic, possibly due
to the newness of the diverse community or the
desire not to want to stand out. “Here it may not
be a big deal in the scheme of life,” said Victoria
Sanders, associate vice president of Inclusion and
Equality at East Stroudsburg University, where
she promotes respect for individual differences.
“More important to people may be the feeling that
they are being treated fairly overall.”
Exploring The Myth
of the Entrepreneur
By Debbie Burke
The Alternative Board (TAB), a peer advisory membership organization covering northwestern New Jersey
and northeastern Pennsylvania, along with Achieve Business Solutions and Ashford Consulting, recently hosted a
sold-out networking and dinner event titled “Beyond EMyth Mastery” at The Villa in Mountain Lakes, N.J. The
evening featured business expert Michael Gerber, founder
and chairman of E-Myth Worldwide, a firm he founded
in 1977 to transform the development of small businesses
worldwide. Gerber, the author of seven books, faced an
enthusiastic crowd of over 300 attendees, among them
TAB member companies from the Stroudsburg region.
During his presentation, Gerber set out to debunk
myths like the notion that entrepreneurs need to master
the complete realm of details in their business (they don’t;
instead, he says, they need to take more of a big picture
approach). Martha Heise, who owns and operates a martial
arts academy in Snydersville called Phoenix Rising, said
she came away with some good insights. “Make sure the
dream you have to run the business is aligned with the
dream you have for your life. If not, you’ll be in conflict,”
she said. With a business that is entering its fifth year,
Heise believes that what she learned will help her to be
even more efficient.
“There were a lot of good ideas that relate to my
business,” says Steffan Hoffman, co-owner of the newly
founded Cinch Media located in Stroudsburg. What
particularly resonated with him was Gerber’s take on
entrepreneurialism. “There are entrepreneurs and there
are technicians,” says Hoffman. “Entrepreneurs should be
working on the company, and not in the company.” The
advice from Gerber now has Hoffman evaluating how to
fine-tune his business plan and whether to outsource more
work. “He’s a really good speaker. You tend to pay attention when they are.” Cinch Media provides graphic design
and photography.
12
PROFESSIONAL PROFILE
Managing Human Capital on a Grand Scale By Kathy Ruff
The human resources department represents a critical component of employee well-being in any organization, no matter how small or large. HR responsibilities
include payroll, benefits, hiring, firing and complying
with ever-changing state and federal tax laws and regulations.
Tobyhanna Army Depot (TAD) confronts many of
the same HR challenges faced by other employers in
the area, though with a higher volume as northeastern
Commercial
Real
Pennsylvania’s largest employer.
“We are really an employer of choice in northeastern
Pennsylvania,” says David Jadick, strategic business
analyst for the Tobyhanna Army Depot. “Fortunately,
that provides us some measure of relief from many of
the recruitment and retention challenges that typically
plague many employers.”
The Depot boasts that its first-year retention rate
remains consistently around 95 percent and its annual
attrition rate is about seven percent. Those enviable
figures stem in part from the Depot’s attraction as an
employer with higher-paying jobs and an average salary
Est
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& PROPERTY MANAGEMENT
of $49,300, to attractive benefits and ample opportunities for career advancement.
“If we were to identify one challenge we do face, it
would probably be finding sufficient numbers of people
who are qualified to fill our skilled needs,” says Jadick.
“Looking for someone with an associate’s degree in
electronic technology and electronic engineering technology with an equivalent knowledge of experience and
education, that level of education and that particular skill
isn’t all that common.”
Tobyhanna Army Depot is the Defense Department’s
largest center for the repair, overhaul and fabrication of
a wide variety of electronics systems and
components, from tactical field radios to the
ate & Investments
ground terminals for the defense satellite
communications network. Tobyhanna’s
missions support all branches of the armed
forces.
Its 5,200 employees travel from the
Lehigh Valley, Poconos and other areas of
northeastern Pennsylvania to work at the
Depot’s Monroe County facility. The Depot
requires 130 job skills to perform its missions, including engineers, electronicsmechanics, computer specialists and industrial trade workers.
As part of its human resources duties,
the Depot has taken a proactive stance to
meet a continuing demand for skilled workers, a demand it expects to continue as the
need for electronics expertise grows and as
nearly half of its workforce will be eligible
to retire within the next five years.
“We have been working very closely
with area chambers of commerce, economic
development agencies, high schools, colleges,
CareerLink, career-technical institutes,
students, parents and even adults, who are
looking to change careers for one reason
or another, to make them aware of the job
Make yourself a successful business owner
opportunities that are available at Tobyand on the road to a profitable future!
hanna, the types of training and skills
required to obtain those jobs and, basically,
Time to get out on your own!
the process for applying for and obtaining a
Commercial/retail cabinet
job,” says Jadick.
manufacturing business
That outreach includes a student
career experiences program, a co-op prowith established cliental.
gram with several schools in the area that
Ref #1337B
$225,000
offer associate degrees in electronic technology and electronic engineering technolRare opportunity to own a
ogy, and partnerships with area colleges
laundromat in a busy shopping
and educational facilities to offer associate
center with great lease terms.
degrees in electronics, engineering, logistics
High traffic location.
and business-related disciplines.
Ref #1409
$369,000
“The whole purpose is to ensure
we have a steady flow of new employees
Well established auto body
who have the skills, ability and the technical qualifications to complete our mission
repair business. Business is
here at Tobyhanna,” says Jadick. “We have
growing! Great opportunity for
people sitting on the curriculum advisory
an experienced professional.
board of many of these schools ensuring that
Ref #1328
$222,500
the schools are offering the types of course
work that we need when their graduates
Computer business with
come to us as full-time employees. It’s been
services that include repair,
a good way of getting those new employees
training, and hardware.
in here and making sure they have the correct
Critical staff will remain.
qualifications to do the work we need them
Ref #1387
$175,000
to do.”
For instance, schools in Carbon
County have taken the high school level
Established towing business
electronics course on the road, seeing one of
with three trucks and numerous
its largest enrollments for such courses this
motor club contracts. Excellent
year.
opportunity!
“People are certainly aware of the
Ref #1322
$125,000
Depot’s mission and they are starting to see
there are career opportunities here,” says
Jadick. “They are beginning to understand
that while the opportunities are there, they
need to bring something to the table as well.
This includes some who have decided to
change jobs in mid-career.”
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13
PROFESSIONAL PROFILE
at Tobyhanna Army Depot
At the Depot, the average age for employees is
around 47, and the average age for new hires rests somewhere in the mid 30’s. Yet, due to the Depot’s mission
to support the country’s delicate electronics communications armed forces needs, some human resource functions take on a more stringent focus.
“There are certain background checks of various
levels of intensity depending on the level of clearance
involved,” says Jadick. “We have a number of security
protocols in place to guard not only information but the
installation as well.”
Despite its size and mission, Jadick believes the
Depot is not very different from smaller businesses.
“From an HR perspective, regardless of the nature
of your business, we believe that employees are our
greatest assets, our greatest resource,” he says. “An HR
function must be capable of meeting their needs and
should do so in a manner that, to the greatest extent possible, allows employees to obtain necessary information
and assistance. This may require, for example, making
HR representatives available during the evenings or
having them go out to the work site as opposed to having the employees come to them. Basically, HR’s focus
should be on addressing the needs of the organizations
and finding ways to make things happen and not be a
roadblock.”
Yet Tobyhanna faces some unique roadblocks due to
the nature of its business.
“One of our other very imminent or current challenges is staffing positions for reparations activities
throughout the world and in support of programs we
have in Iraq,” says Loretta Yearing, TAD’s chief of staffing. “That has become an ever-increasing workload for
Tobyhanna, filling up positions in remote areas or filling
up positions on traveling teams that go to different
locations to prepare to perform repair workload for the
government.”
This exists at places such as Fort Hood, Texas
and Fort Lewis, Washington, as well as sites in Asia,
Afghanistan and Iraq. To attract employees to such positions, the Depot offers foreign and danger pay differentials and opportunities for overtime as incentives. The
desire to support the troops creates additional incentive
for some employees.
“As far as the mission that we are performing right
now, especially in support of Operation Iraqi Free-
dom, we have heard from many of the military and the
soldiers about how critical our systems are. By putting
those folks out in the field, they get to see hands-on how
well the systems work and what the systems do. That
has made a great impact on the employees here at Tobyhanna,” says Yearing.
From an HR perspective, the depot’s training opportunities also create a great impact on employees.
“We have a local training center here on post, and
we spend hundreds of thousands of dollars every year on
training as well as bringing some of the local colleges in
at night to give courses here,” says Yearing. “A number
of schools come in and provide training opportunities.
We provide on-the-job training as well as formal classroom training in order to advance.”
For Tobyhanna Army Depot, training and career advancement represent vital keys to a healthy and vibrant
workforce today and for the future.
At the Depot, one of the most challenging HR issues is staffing for reparations activities throughout the world, and attracting new employees who have the skills, ability and technical qualifications needed.
Name: Tobyhanna Army Depot
Location: 11 Hap Arnold Boulevard, Tobyhanna,
PA 18466
Telephone: Customer Service (877) 275-8629
Tagline: Excellence in Electronics
Web Site: www.tobyhanna.army.mil
Employees: 5,200
Location: Property located on 1,296 acres, including 153 buildings on 398 acres in the industrial
area and a large area of preserved wetlands in
Coolbaugh Township, Monroe County.
Years in Operation: Opened Feb. 1, 1953, but
has maintained Army presence in some fashion
since 1912 when it was first used as a field artillery
training camp. Other uses include as a Civilian
Conservation Corps (CCC) camp, artillery training
of West Point cadets, a World War II prisoner-ofwar camp, and storage point for gliders used in the
D-Day landings at Normandy in 1944.
Most Recent Award: 2007 Shingo Gold Medallion (Public Sector), which recognizes private and
public sector organizations that successfully apply
Lean Six Sigma techniques to improve the quality
and efficiency of their operations.
Tobyhanna Army Depot has just received the 2007 Shingo Gold Medallion (Public Sector), recognizing the successful application of Lean
Six Sigma techniques in use throughout TAD’s operations. Photos courtesy of Tobyhanna Army Depot.
TOBYHANNA ARMY DEPOT TIDBITS:
The average number of service years for employees is 16, with veterans comprising 47 percent of the
workforce.
The Depot’s direct impact for the fiscal year ending Sept. 30, 2006 was:
$315.8 million in Employee Salaries and Benefits
$ 29.5 million in Contractual Services (includes construction/renovation)
$ 12.2 million in Supplies and Equipment
$ 3.5 million in Commissary Goods
$ 3.9 million in Utilities
$ 3.2 million in Travel
$ 1.9 million in Line Haul (trucking services)
TAXES: Tobyhanna personnel pay approximately $10.7 million annually in state and local taxes.
Property tax revenues are estimated at another $2.77 million.
ECONOMIC IMPACT: According to the Northeastern Pennsylvania Alliance’s economic models, the
Depot’s total regional annual economic impact exceeds $2.194 billion and creates 9,500 regional jobs.
14
NEWS
Your Donation Improves the Community, Makes Monroe County a Better Place to Work
Strengthening Families, Helping Children Succeed,
Meeting Basic Needs, or Promoting Self-Sufficiency.
You can also donate to the United Way’s Teen Works
Initiative, which encourages youth to implement
community projects; or to a specific health or human
service nonprofit agency. In 2006, the monies were
allocated as follows:
By Chris Grape-Garvey
In 2006, the United Way of Monroe County
raised a record $1,215,919 for health and human
service programs and initiatives. This year’s goal is
$1,225,000, and it can be reached through the support of everyone in our community.
When you donate to United Way, you are
truly making a difference in people’s lives right in
your own backyard. This year’s campaign theme
is “Neighbors Helping Neighbors…It’s the Right
Thing To Do.” It emphasizes the fact that your donation stays in Monroe County and truly helps those
in need through effective programs with measurable
outcomes.
You can contribute through an employee campaign at your workplace or give on your own. If your
workplace does not have an employee campaign,
you can call our office to learn more about getting
started. Donations can be directed to the community
impact fund, allowing volunteers to invest monies
where they are needed most in the community; or
they can be directed to a targeted giving area such as
• Strengthening Families: 15 percent
• Promoting Self-Sufficiency: 20 percent
• Meeting Basic Needs: 17 percent
• Helping Children Succeed: 18 percent
• Direct Community Services: 15 percent
• Youth Allocations & Teen Works: 1 percent
• Donor designations to nonprofits and other
United Ways: 5 percent
• Campaign/Administration Costs: 13 percent
Where does the money come from? In 2006,
58% came from employee and individual giving,
31% was the result of corporate giving, and 11%
came from special events.
There are different levels of giving and recognition, too. Donors who give an hour of pay per month
are Golden Givers; Emerging Leaders are under age
40 and commit $300 or more to the campaign; and
the Leadership Giving Circle is for individuals who
contribute $1,000 or more annually. But any donation is appreciated and needed.
The best incentive for giving is from your heart,
knowing that you will have made our community a
better place to live. But a brand new Honda Civic
The True Cost of Turnover
By Debbie Burke
The revolving door of staffing can be extremely costly to you as an
employer. Not only does the cost of training figure into it (and along with
that, compromised efficiency and productivity), but also in terms of morale. Those who remain (or ‘survive,’ as some might cynically put it) might
begin to feel uneasy and wonder if they too, should look to leave what they
perceive as a sinking ship.
Exit interviews can be helpful but don’t be fooled. Those on their way
out might not want to burn their bridges or offend management with blunt,
albeit helpful, criticism. Perhaps even more, they are no longer invested in
a career at your company so might not feel the obligation or commitment to
share any of their insight, and are, instead, relieved to be moving on.
“Organizations need to be more sensitive to groundswell discussions;
not whistle-blower stuff but rather subtle indicators, like if they see a lot of
absenteeism or the quality of work is not what it should be,” says Professor
of Business Management/Human Resource Management Richard Warner,
of Lehigh Carbon Community College. “A mechanism should kick in, some
motivational tool to get them excited about working there.” Offering some
down-time or ‘play’ used to be thought of as non-productive, says Warner,
but now, he adds, “Companies that have lightheartedness tend to hold onto
their personnel a lot more.” The best preventive measure is taking an honest look at how you treat
your employees. Try to pick up on the “buzz” of why they are not content,
and look to make repairs if feasible. Don’t throw away the talent you have
in-house if a little flexibility on your part can make it a great place to come
to work. Chances are you already have an inkling of what’s wrong, and
working to fix it can send a huge message. And remember, the competition’s
watching…and listening to your ex-employees. The bottom line you save
may be your own.
visit: www.pbjonline.com
Hybrid is another incentive for giving. As with last
year, LTS Builders is donating a car that will be won
by a lucky contributor to the United Way campaign.
This year’s vehicle is a snazzy and efficient 2008
Honda Civic Hybrid provided by Ray Price Dealerships, with promotional materials courtesy of Jenagraphics. To qualify for one chance to win the car,
you need to donate $3.00 a week through payroll deduction or contribute a one-time payment of $156 to
the United Way of Monroe County. You can improve
your odds of winning with three chances by pledging
$5.00 a week in payroll deduction or contributing a
donation of $260. Donations must be directed to the
community impact fund or a targeted giving area.
In the next few weeks, billboards in the area will
be advertising the car incentive, courtesy of Adams
Outdoor Advertising and WSBG 93.5 FM will be
airing public service announcements.
For more information, you can visit www.
unitedwaymonroe.org or call (570) 629-5657 or visit
our Web site for more information about the 2007
campaign.
Thanks for helping your neighbors!
Chris Grape-Garvey is the community outreach and
special events director for United Way of Monroe
County.
15
NEWS
Compliance Basics for Human Resource Professionals
By Debbie Burke
The abundance of acronyms below encompasses
just a few of the many compliance issues of which HR
directors and business owners need to be aware. These
guidelines paint with broad strokes; for more information, business owners and executives should refer to
the PA Department of Labor and Industry or confer
with legal counsel.
ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act): Prohibits employers from discriminating against qualified individuals with disabilities on the basis of their disabilities
in the provision of agency services, programs, and
activities.
Employment At Will Doctrine: An organization may
terminate the employment of an individual for any
reason or for no reason at all; limited by the Wrongful
Discharge Doctrine below.
ERISA (Employee Retirement Income Security Act):
Sets minimum standards for most voluntarily established pension and health plans in private industry to
provide protection for individuals in these plans.
FACTA (Fair and Accurate Credit Transaction Act):
Requires all employers to shred or burn all papers
(or to smash or wipe all computer disks) that contain
personal employee information when it is no longer to
be safeguarded by the employer.
FLSA (Fair Labor Standards Act): Covers overtime
and explanation of exempt and non-exempt status.
Employer should have clear guidelines and let employees know the category they are in when hired/promoted to avoid disputes over requests for overtime
pay.
FMLA (Family Medical Leave Act): Lets employees
know their rights under the law: 12 weeks of unpaid
leave for prescribed family circumstances. Employer
may require employee to use accrued vacation time,
etc. if company policy states this.
I-9 (Immigration and Naturalization): Each employee
must complete, sign, and produce original documentation required that must be witnessed by HR. The
I-9 can be filed in the employee’s personnel folder.
Employers have three (3) days from the date of hire to
have this form completed and on file.
Harassment/Intimidation Policy: Title VII requires
that employers not discriminate on the basis of age,
disability, ethnic/national origin, gender, race, religion
or veteran’s status.
HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act): Federal act requiring privacy of health
information, ensuring protection of medical information, and, in general, provides rights and protections
for participants and beneficiaries in group health
plans. Prohibits discrimination against employees and
dependents based on their health status; allows a special opportunity to enroll in a new plan for individuals
in certain circumstances.
Sarbanes-Oxley Act: Corporate governance procedures to ensure a company is acting in an ethical matter.
Concerns accounting procedures, whistleblower
activities, and other ethical issues. Requires employer
to take action and train staff accordingly, and comes
into play if company is conducting business with the
federal government, foreign practice, and other situations.
OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration): Relates to safety on the job. The employer is
obligated to provide a safe working environment for
employees.
UC (Unemployment Compensation): Employers pay
a tax based on usage. Unemployment Insurance (UI)
provides unemployment benefits to eligible workers
who become unemployed through no fault of their
own and meet certain other eligibility requirements.
W-4: Federal and State Withholding taxes. Each
employee must complete and sign this form to enable employer to put him/her on company payroll. It
must be saved and can be updated at any time at the
employee’s request.
WARN Act (Worker Adjustment and Retraining
Notification Act) mandates certain procedures if an
employer is planning plant closings or massive layoffs
representing a specified percentage of the total workforce.
WC (Workers’ Compensation): Covers procedures if
an individual is hurt on the job. Programs under Workers’ Compensation umbrella provide wage replacement benefits, medical treatment, vocational rehabilitation, and other benefits to workers who are injured at
work or acquire an occupational disease.
Wrongful Discharge Doctrine: Does not impose on
organizations a duty to terminate employment in good
faith, but does impose liability for terminating employment in violation of a fundamental and well-defined public policy, including protection under express
contracts of employment.
For more information:
http://www.doleta.gov/programs/factsht/warn.htm
http://www.portal.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt?open=51
2&objID=404&&level=1&css=L1&mode=2&in_hi_
userid=2&cached=true
State Required Employee Notices
NOTICE
POSTING
REQUIREMENTS
HOW TO OBTAIN
NOTICE
Abstract of the Pennsylvania Child Labor
Law
Form No. LLC-5
All Pennsylvania Employers of Minors
Department of Labor and Industry
Bureau of Labor Law Compliance
(717) 787-4670
Hours of Work for Minors Under Eighteen
Form No. LLC-17
All Pennsylvania Employers of Minors
(717) 787-4670
Minimum Wage Law Poster and Fact Sheet
Form No. LLC-1
All Pennsylvania Employers
(717) 787-4670
Abstract of Equal Pay Law Form No. LLC-8
(717) 787-4670
Pennsylvania Right to Know Law Form No.
PSF-4/4S
Public Employers (State, County,
Township, etc.)
PENNSAFE
(717) 783-2071
Unemployment Compensation Form No.
UC-700
All Employers
Bureau of UC Benefits and Allowances (717) 783-3140
Workers Compensation Form No. LIBC-500
Your Insurance Carrier or Department of Labor and Industry Bureau
of Workers’ Compensation Self-Insured Only: (717) 783-5421
Employment Provisions Pennsylvania Human Relations Act
Form No. PHRC-1
Public Accommodation Provisions
Form No. PHRC-2
Fair Lending Practices
Form No. PHRC-3
Fair Housing Practices
Form No. PHRC-4
Employers of Four or More Employees
Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission
(717) 772-2845
see COMPLIANCE page 20
16
NEWS
Juicier Paycheck Not the Only Road to Happy Workforce
By Ken Clark
Big box stores and major manufacturers are
equipped to deal with an unstable workforce. They
have the resources to pay top dollar to bring in people
with the skills they need, and to implement generous benefit packages to hold them. But what are little
“Mom and Pop” operations, barely able to meet the
rent payment and the light bill, to do?
Elaine Tweedy, Director of the Small Business
Development Center at the University of Scranton
and adjunct teacher in the Kania School of Management, said they must recruit with care and make the
workplace so comfortable that an employee would
get homesick if he or she went anywhere else.
“In general, you’re going to hire what you recruit,” said Tweedy, who also serves as an outside
consultant to various small businesses. “Your recruiting process has to be done very, very well from start
to finish to get the right people on board, to have a
natural fit with your organization. The training and
orientation after you get them on board are equally as
important. A company that thinks through the entire
hiring process will tend to retain individuals longer
than one that just does this somewhat haphazardly.”
Tweedy said for the small business operator, referrals are key to getting the right employees because
“you feel better about referrals from others who
already know the individuals than you know about
unknown entities.” Then there are benefits, such as
flexible work hours or “virtual work,” that an employee can do at home with a computer.
“Those are the things attracting long-term employment because they are not offered by everybody,” she said. “Things are changing. People no
longer keep their jobs for 30 years. Younger folks just
coming out of college, within the five-year period
in which they leave a college or university environment, will probably have changed jobs three times.
You’re not looking at longevity, so what you want to
do is build loyalty by offering things that other people
don’t.”
At Keller Williams Realty in Stroudsburg, just
such a process is under way in the form of an intensive training program, with the top producers as
mentors and a profit-sharing system for Realtors who
achieve a certain level of performance. Such programs -- especially the profit-sharing -- are rare in the
real estate business where agents are unsalaried independent contractors, living strictly on commission.
“There’s a Rising Star program here that includes
coaching and materials needed to get the job done,
so that if you’re new to this business, you’re able to
grow,” said Associate Broker Barbara Garris. “The goal here is for each Realtor to be a
100% agent, which means that they can retain
100% of their commissions after paying the
appropriate cap.”
The “cap” is an annual $21,000 in commissions, which a top producer generally can
reach within six months. At traditional agencies, Realtors must turn over a percentage of
their commissions to the agency owner no matter how much they earn in a year. At the point
of the interview, Keller Williams was served
by 52 full or part time agents, with more coming on board.
A random check of small business owners
in the area indicated that they may suffer fewer
headaches in retention than their major league
counterparts, partly because of the almost family atmosphere in which many of them work.
“We try to make this a happy environment,” said Louis Schrenko, co-owner with
his wife, Pamela, of the Country Kettle in
East Stroudsburg. “Our pay is comparable in
the retail market, maybe above retail. We pay
according to merit. If they perform, they get a
raise; if they don’t, then we sit down and talk.”
The Country Kettle, purveyor of candles,
bulk candy, specialty foods and a wide range
of figurines and collectibles, has 12 employees:
six full-time and six part-time. Schrenko said
he has very little turnover in staff.
It is a similar scene at Main Street Jukebox
in Stroudsburg. Owner/manager Mike Pachter
said he offers no benefits and declines to say
what his pay scale is. He has only four employees, only one of whom has left because of
a “change in career plans.”
“People stay because they like the job, and
we treat them fairly,” he said.
“It isn’t like an unhappy workplace environment where they leave and find other jobs.
I’ve had one employee as long as seven years.”
Of course, one quick way to avoid problems with employees is simply not to have any.
Such is the case with Mike and Linda Lazaro
of Penny Lane Candies in Hawley. “There are
only Mike and me,” said Linda. “And one high
school kid who comes in to run the popcorn
machine.”
As long as people keep eating popcorn and
candy, they’re not going anywhere else.
Leadership Pocono
Class of 2008:
The Journey Begins
By Steve Cunningham
The Leadership Pocono Class of 2008, in
conjunction with East Stroudsburg University,
held a team building retreat during a weekend in
September at Stoney Acres. The event featured
various team building and leadership challenges,
and each of the 22 participants was encouraged to
lend his/her talents and support to help solve group
problems.
The event began on Friday evening with a
kick-off dinner and icebreaker. The attendees were
divided into small groups, and each team was asked
to list the qualities of a successful leader. The lists
were then shared with the entire group.
On the second day, the teams were eager
to perform their outdoor challenges. Each one
proved more difficult than the last, causing key
leadership skills and styles to emerge among the
participants. Even in the midst of obstacles, team
members found opportunities to motivate and
support each other . “I really was not sure how I
could complete a particular challenge, until I saw
the group rally around my teammate,” said participant Beth Booterbaugh. “Once I realized the extent
they would go to get her through the obstacles, I
realized they would do the same for me. I knew I
could trust my team.”
Like Booterbaugh, many others relied on the
support of their team members throughout the
event. Throughout the physical activities, which
included such difficult tasks as pole climbing and
log walking, you could hear team members encouraging each other, chanting, “You can do it!”
Physically and mentally exhausted, the participants packed up their belongings and headed home
after a rewarding retreat experience. The Leadership Pocono Class of 2008 is now officially a team
and is ready to tackle any challenge the program
offers.
Leadership Pocono, Inc. is a regional program
designed to strengthen our community by identifying potential leaders, developing their leadership
skills and motivating them for ongoing community
involvement. The Class of 2008 will graduate in
June 2008.
17
NEWS
Violence Can Migrate from Home to Workplace: Know the Warning Signs
By Kathy Ruff
A deputy shoots six in Wisconsin…a postal
worker shoots a co-worker…students and teachers die
in school violence in Virginia, Ohio and Colorado.
These examples represent the tip of the iceberg for
the amount of violence encountered in the workplace
across the country. According to the Occupational Safety and Health
Administration, homicide represents the fourth-leading
cause of fatal occupational injury in the United States.
In 2005, 564 of a total 5,702 fatal work injuries were
workplace homicides.
Workplace violence is defined as any act that
results in physical or emotional harm against or
by an employee in the workplace, in the course of
performing assigned duties, or as a result of performing assigned duties. Perpetrators may be strangers,
customers/clients, employees or former employees or
a personal/domestic partner.
Workplace violence can happen anywhere, including in any small or large business located in the
Poconos, but few employers acknowledge the need
for policies to address the issue. Yet employers can do
something.
“There’s no possible way to address it other than
performing background checks,” says James R. Nanovic, Esquire, attorney with Nanovic Law Offices,
Jim Thorpe. “If you have done a check, you would
have seen this guy had a propensity for violence and
whatever his criminal record might be.”
While background checks can divulge prior violent
tendencies, they do not identify the possible life stress-
es that candidates, once hired, take into the workplace
and how they might deal with them.
For example, a husband shot and killed his estranged wife as she left work early in order to file for a
divorce. A boyfriend killed his girlfriend hours after he
was served with a protection from abuse order. Similar
episodes occur across the nation from those with violent histories, and from others considered passive and
productive members of society. Workplace violence
comes in different forms, including domestic violence
and sexual assault or abuse.
“Every organization needs to have a policy on
sexual harassment and also to know that we are a resource in developing those kinds of things,” says Jane
Koeble, interim director of the Women’s Resources of
Monroe County. “When it comes to domestic violence,
the person in charge of the workplace needs to know
something about protection from abuse and resources
in the community where they can refer people.”
Employers can call their local domestic violence
and sexual assault organizations to request the services
of a community educator to administer in programs
addressing workplace violence.
One key to preventing workplace violence is to
educate workers about the high-risk behaviors that
can lead to violence and the importance of prompt
reporting of any incidents, threats or uncomfortable
behaviors seen. Companies should establish policies
and training programs to outline what is unacceptable
and train employees in the procedures to report such
events.
For example, batterers sometimes use work phones
and computers to harass and intimidate other individu-
als. Employers should notify employees of such unacceptable behaviors while on their time and at work.
“For instance, if you have a woman who is on your
staff and three days out of the month she is calling
in sick because she fell, broke a bone or had some
kind of excuse why she is not coming to work, you
may want to be asking ‘is there something going on
at home that we can help you with?’” says Ruddy.
It’s about being open to having a conversation about
what’s going on.”
A statewide network of domestic violence programs offers training to educate employees on warning
signs of potential violence and what steps to take to
report such behaviors.
Warning signs may be more difficult to spot and
predict in some businesses, including hospitals, but
employers can take preventive steps.
“We have, on a regular basis, de-escalation training
for our employees,” says Pieternel Feeheley, human
resource development manager for Pocono Medical
Center. “When they encounter a visitor or a patient or
a situation where there is someone highly agitated, the
first response would be to try to de-escalate that in a
kind way, to get them stepped down from being in an
agitated state by talking to them.”
Many hospitals also employ additional strategies
for areas where a higher-level incident could occur.
“You could be in the waiting room of the emergency department in the middle of the night and a gang
member could have been brought in hurt and there
could be an incident that happens in the waiting room,”
says Feeheley. “We need to be prepared for anything.
So we have safety protections in place if there is a situation where we need some extra manpower.”
FIVE WARNIG SIGNS OF ESCALATING BEHAVIOR
Warning Sign
Suggested Response
Confusion: Behavior characterized by
bewilderment or distraction. Unsure or
uncertain of the next course of action.
• Listen to their concerns.
• Ask clarifying questions.
• Give them factual information.
Frustration: Behavior characterized
by reaction or resistance to information.
Impatience. Feeling a sense of defeat in
the attempt of accomplishment. May try
to bait you.
• See steps above.
• Relocate to quiet location or setting
• Reassure them.
Impatience: Feeling a sense of defeat in
• Make a sincere attempt to clarify
the attempt of accomplishment. May try
concerns.
to bait you.
Blame: Placing responsibility for
problems on everyone else. Accusing or
holding you responsible. Finding fault or
error with the action of others. They may
place blame directly on you. Crossing
over to potentially hazardous behavior.
• See steps above.
• Disengage and bring second party
into the discussion.
• Use teamwork approach.
• Draw client back to facts.
• Use probing questions.
• Create “yes” momentum.
Anger: Judgment-call required: Characterized by a visible change in body
posture and disposition. Actions include
pounding fists, pointing fingers, shouting or screaming. This signals very risky
behavior.
• Use venting techniques.
• Don’t offer solutions.
• Don’t argue with comments made.
• Prepare to evacuate or isolate.
• Contact supervisor and/or security.
Hostility: Judgment-call required:
Physical actions or threats which appear imminent. Acts of physical harm
or property damage. Out-of-control
behavior signals they have crossed over
the line.
• Disengage and evacuate.
• Attempt to isolate person if it can be
done safely.
• Alert supervisor and contact security
immediately.
Source: Minnesota Dept. of Labor & Industry
18
BUSINESS BRIEFS
WHO’s WHO
BILIANIS
GENEROSE
BOMBA
KRUSHIN
Ackerman - Lt. Col. Timothy Cassibry, commander of the
392nd Signal Battalion at Tobyhanna Army Depot, recently
handed the flag, and command, of B Company to Capt. Chris
Ackerman. Prior to assuming command, Ackerman was a member of the 392nd Expeditionary Signal Battalion. The mission of
B Company is to install, operate and maintain communications
systems in any designated theater area of operation utilizing the
Joint Network Node and Command Post Node.
Aukscunas - Algird Aukscunas was recognized for his 35 years
of government service during the recent Length of Service ceremonies at Tobyhanna Army Depot. Aukscunas is an electronics
worker, Electronic Service Division, Systems
Bilianis - Spiros Bilianis of Stroudsburg, vice president of
Coldwell Banker Commercial Operations since 1992 and a
certified commercial investment member (CCIM), has purchased
the commercial business at Coldwell Banker Phyllis Rubin in
Stroudsburg.
Bomba - Bernard Bomba was recognized for his 30 years
of government service during the recent Length of Service
ceremonies at Tobyhanna Army Depot. Bomba is an electronics mechanic, Tactical Missile Division, C-3 Systems/Avionics
Directorate.
Bowles - Marty Bowles recently purchased Digital Zone, a
Web technology company located in the First National Bank
of Palmerton building in Gilbert. Bowles has seven years of
experience in working for a New York newspaper, and has spent
12 years in the military and working with company logistics.
Under his direction the company has taken on a new face as a
design marketing firm, specializing in print design, Web design,
videography, promotional items, printing, mass media consulting
and marketing.
Columbo - John Columbo was recognized for his 30 years of
government service during the recent Length of Service ceremonies at Tobyhanna Army Depot. Columbo is an electronics
mechanic, Satellite Communications Division, Communications
Systems Directorate.
Combs - Bonnie Combs was recognized for her 30 years of government service during the recent Length of Service ceremonies
at Tobyhanna Army Depot. Combs is a management analyst,
Communications Scheduling Division, Production Management
Directorate.
D’Adamo - Heather D’Adamo of Kresgeville, Coldwell Banker
Phyllis Rubin’s operations manager of Northampton County
Acquisitions, an Accredited Buyer Representative (ABR) who
earned her real estate license in 1999 and her broker’s license
in 2004, purchased the residential business at Coldwell Banker
Phyllis Rubin in Stroudsburg.
Della Vecchia - Daniel Della Vecchia has been appointed as the
new assistant in the Dingmans Ferry office of Wilkins & Associates.
Feissner - Katherine Feissner joins NEPA Alliance as a Local
Government Specialist within the Community and Government
Services Division, where she will focus on the energy efficiency
initiative within the division. She comes to NEPA after serving
three years as executive director of Eastern Middle Anthracite
Region Recovery, Inc. in the Hazleton area. Feissner was the
Recipient of the Temple B’nai B’rith Award for Excellence in
Public Administration in 2004 and is the former Secretary of the
COLUMBO
D’ADAMO
MACCARTNEY
FEISSNER
ROSKOWSKI
Freeland Business and Development Authority.
Ferraldo - James Ferraldo was recognized for his 30 years
ceremonies at Tobyhanna Army Depot. Ferraldo is an electronics
Field - Matthew Field, a resident of Stroudsburg, has been
awarded the designation of Super Starter by MetLife, in recognition of superior sales achievement. Field works in the East Penn
Financial Group located in Allentown.
Generose - William Generose was recognized for his 30 years
ceremonies at Tobyhanna Army Depot. Generose is an electronic
measurement equipment mechanic, C-3 Systems Division, C-3
Systems/Avionics Directorate.
Green - Dean Green, former owner of Tire Discount Center
in Brodheadsville, has launched “Operation Touch of Home”
through the first week of November to benefit soldiers in Monroe County and elsewhere. Shoppers can purchase items on the
soldiers’ ‘wish lists’ and the items are then shipped to soldiers
overseas. Local participating businesses include Wal-Mart in
East Stroudsburg, Kinsley’s ShopRite in Brodheadsville, Bill’s
ShopRite in Brodheadsville, and Ahart’s Market in Blakeslee.
Highhouse - George Highhouse was recognized for his 35
years of government service during the recent Length of Service
ceremonies at Tobyhanna Army Depot. Highhouse is a training
instructor, Technical Development Division, Business Management Directorate.
Hillman - Wilkins & Associates announces the hiring of new
agent Jimmy Hillman in the Dingmans Ferry office. Originally
from Holland, Hillman moved to the area in 1994 and speaks
German and Dutch. He has a BA in communications from California State University and holds both a New York and a Pennsylvania Real Estate license. A multi-million dollar producer
for two consecutive years at Weichert Realtors - Ruffino Real
Estate, Hillman was honored with the Executive Club Award for
Outstanding Sales Performance in 2006.
Jackson - David Jackson, formerly with the Bucks County
Conference and Visitors Bureau, Inc., has been hired as the
regional sales manager for the Pocono Mountains Convention
& Visitors Bureau. Jackson will be responsible for increasing
business from the meetings market, including corporations, associations, sporting and other events and reunions. Jackson has
over 20 years experience in the tourism and hospitality industry,
including positions with the Temperance House Restaurant and
Country Inn as general manger and with ARAMARK at the
Pennsylvania Convention Center as a division manager.
Jantz - Karen Jantz was recognized for her 35 years of government service during the recent Length of Service ceremonies at
Tobyhanna Army Depot. Jantz is a management and program
analyst, Operations Management and Analysis Division, Production Management Directorate.
Krushin - Frank Krushin was recognized for his 35 years
ceremonies at Tobyhanna Army Depot. Krushin is an electronics
FERRALDO
SCHIEL
FIELD
YANOCHKO
MacCartney - John MacCartney was recognized for his 30
ceremonies at Tobyhanna Army Depot. MacCartney is an electronics mechanic supervisor, Tactical Communications Division,
Communications Systems Directorate.
Roskowski - John Roskowski was recognized for his 30 years of
government service during the recent Length of Service ceremonies at Tobyhanna Army Depot. Roskowski is a machinist leader,
Industrial Services Division, Systems Integration and Support
Directorate.
Schiel - Tami Schiel, a program support assistant in the
director’s office at Tobyhanna Army Depot’s Communications
Systems (CS) Directorate, earned the Tobyhanna Army Depot
Employee of the Quarter Award for the third quarter of the 2007
fiscal year for performance above and beyond her assigned
duties. In addition to Schiel’s typical administrative responsibilities as program support assistant, she also performs duties
as the organization’s training coordinator and awards program
administrator.
Schwab - William G. Schwab of Lehighton is serving as the
2007-2008 assistant editor for the ABA Legal Trends Newsletter
for the General Practice, Solo and Small Firm Division of the
American Bar Association. He was named to this position at the
recent ABA Annual Meeting in San Francisco. Schwab received
his appointment from Division Chair, Keith B. McLennan of
Collegeville, Pa. Schwab is the principal of William G. Schwab
& Associates and is a member of the Carbon County and the
American Bar Associations. He was named one of Pennsylvania’s Super Lawyers for 2007 in recognition of his work in bankruptcy and general litigation, and is one of the top five percent of
attorneys in Pennsylvania who are eligible for that honor.
Stackhouse - Kenneth Stackhouse was recognized for his 30
ceremonies at Tobyhanna Army Depot. Stackhouse is a lead
electronics technician, Satellite Communications Systems Engineering Division, Production Engineering Directorate.
Strenk - Wilkins & Associates announces the hiring of new
agent Jan Strenk, who is originally from Slovakia and is multilingual, speaking Slovak, Polish and Russian. He moved to the
area seven years ago and is a 2007 graduate of Pocono Real
Estate Academy. He obtained business administration credits
from Brooklyn College and Empire State College. Before joining Wilkins & Associates, Strenk worked at an exclusive co-op
building in Manhattan, NY, and owned JDS Construction.
Wesp - East Stroudsburg University Professor of Psychology,
Dr. Rick Wesp is leading the creation of a new national organization for pre-graduate psychology education. Wesp recently
met in San Francisco with officers of the Council of Undergraduate Psychology Programs (CUPP) and the Council of Teachers
of Undergraduate Psychology (CTUP) to discuss the plans for
the consortium. Wesp is former national chairperson of CUPP
and currently serves on the board of directors of CTUP.
Yanochko - Thomas Yanochko was recognized for his 35 years
ceremonies at Tobyhanna Army Depot. Yanochko is a tactical
operations center project officer, Forward Repair Activity Division, Command, Control and Computer (C-3) Systems/Avionics
Directorate.
19
BUSINESS BRIEFS
WHAT’s WHAT
3D Image Studio, a new graphic design company in Stroudsburg, recently announced it presented its work during a meeting about a forthcoming Museum of the History of Polish Jews attended by the President of Poland, Lech Kaczynski, and the Polish Diplomatic Corps to
the United Nation at the Consulate General of the Republic of Poland
in New York. The studio specializes in digital, three-dimensional (3D)
designs. The presentation consisted of a virtual architectural walkthrough of The Museum of the History of Polish Jews, which is to be
constructed in Warsaw, Poland by the end of 2010. Viewers were able
to virtually orbit the exterior of the museum and its surroundings, and
to take a virtual stroll through the interior and preview future exhibits.
3D Image Studio is affiliated with East Stroudsburg University’s
(ESU) Business Accelerator and P.J. Moskal is an Adjunct Professor
at ESU, teaching the Interactive Media Course at the Department of
Media, Communication and Technology.
95-3 DNH, Sunny 105 and parent company Bold Gold Media Group
were the recipients of the Outstanding Sponsor of the Year award for
their work with the American Red Cross Blood Services 95-3 DNH
and Sunny 105, along with sister stations Thunder 102 and 105 The
River, continually worked to rally their listeners to give blood at local
American Red Cross blood drives throughout Wayne, Pike, Lackawanna and Luzerne Counties of PA and Sullivan County NY.
According to State Rep. Keith McCall, Carbon County Community
Transit will receive $120,000 from Pennsylvania’s Community Transportation Capital Equipment Program to help purchase new sharedride buses and upgrade equipment countywide. The funding is part of
a nearly $9 million statewide initiative that will help purchase newer,
safer buses in 56 counties.
As part of its 20th Anniversary Celebration, Centennial Homes, Inc.
entered several of its homes in the 2007 Pocono Builders Association Builders Awards and won in the categories of Best Value Under
$150,000; Best Value $150,000 - $250,000; and Most Affordable
Value Under $125,000; as well as Best Home Under 1500 SF and Best
Auxiliary Building. Accepting the awards was Centennial Homes, Inc.
Vice-President, Robert Hutchins.
Marcy Turkington, president of Achieve Business Solutions, a leading
area provider of business organizational and developmental solutions
for small to mid-sized companies, and TAB-certified facilitator and
SBL Coach for The Alternative Board® Peer Advisory organization,
has announced the launch of AchieveNextLevel.com, a Web 2.0 online
business community forum and resource center. The content-rich
resource is available to business community members at no charge
as a forum for posting and finding solutions to business challenges
and opportunities. Designed and developed jointly by Turkington’s
company and Cinch Creative Media of Stroudsburg, the site makes
use of leading-edge technologies, including community forums, site
and user blogs, RSS feeds and video, and features regularly updated
news, information, polls, surveys, live and e-Learning events. Business
content ranges from marketing and sales to financial, operational and
technology.
For the second consecutive year, Bobbie Smith, a real estate agent
in the Mt. Pocono office of Coldwell Banker Phyllis Rubin Real
Estate, has turned into a holiday elf with a wish to get as many people
as possible to help her crochet or donate 500 scarves for her “500
Scarves for the Holidays Drive.” Last year, 318 scarves were collected
in the 2 weeks before Christmas and donated to the Salvation Army
and Women’s Resources and other charitable organizations. Her goal
is to crochet another 50 and she is looking to the business community
for assistance. Hand-made or purchased scarves can be donated at
any of the Coldwell Banker Phyllis Rubin Real Estate offices located
throughout Monroe County.
DMI Manufacturing of East Stroudsburg recently has established
a relationship with Friedman Electric Supply, a major distributor in
northern and central Pennsylvania that is expanding into upstate New
York. Friedman is part of the Sonepar group, the world’s largest privately-held electrical distributor with operations in 29 countries. Rep.
John Siptroth has been assisting Guy Lestician of DMI Manufacturing
with his plans to establish a manufacturing facility in Monroe County
to produce his patented energy saving technology for a global market.
Rep. Siptroth has facilitated meetings between Lestician and economic
development agencies and state departments and is promoting the
technology to the Rendell Administration within the Special Session
on Energy.
The Pocono Mountains Chamber of Commerce has a new name and
brand identity. Now as The Greater Pocono Chamber of Commerce,
the new brand essence statement is “The voice of business since
1910,” representing the organization’s longevity and stability. The
new name is in black, signifying the chamber’s purpose as the voice of
business is to help businesses operate “in the black.” The gold colors
represent the ultimate result- prosperity. The image of the golden sun
represents a brighter future rising on the horizon and the waves represent technology’s impact in business growth throughout the Greater
Pocono area. The new brand image was developed and sponsored by
Gallagher & Gallagher of Stroudsburg.
The Lodge at Keen Lake in Waymart just completed its new log
cabin which is now open for banquets and business events. The log
cabin seats up to 99 people for events and includes a commercial
kitchen with in-house catering, along with Wireless access, and is
set amidst the picturesque Keen Lake. There is also a retail store on
premises called Wallflower Boutique.
The National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission has granted
Northampton Community College’s licensed practical nursing
program continuing accreditation for eight years, the maximum period
permitted by the national accrediting body. To qualify for reaccreditation the college had to meet rigorous standards. The commission based
its decision on an extensive self-study report compiled by NCC’s
nursing faculty, the college catalog, the report of nurse educators who
conducted a site visit, and the recommendation made by the National
League for Nursing’s program evaluators and evaluation review panel.
In an effort to show economic development executives and decision
makers that northeastern Pennsylvania abounds with amazing places
to recreate, Penn’s Northeast recently hosted its Fifth Annual Fall
Festival at Paupack Hills Golf and Country Club in Greentown, Pike
County. Real estate brokers, site selection consultants and members of
the Governor’s Action Team were invited to spend the day either golfing at Paupack Hills or fishing on Lake Wallenpaupack. The day was
topped off by a networking reception, dinner and awards. More than
80 people attended, many of them real estate brokers and developers
from New York, New Jersey and Philadelphia.
PNC Bank, a member of The PNC Financial Services Group, Inc.
(NYSE: PNC) supported small business owners across Pennsylvania
with $58.4 million in U.S. Small Business Administration loans, which
ranks No. 1 in total dollar volume. PNC Bank, recognized by the SBA
as a Preferred Lender for its ongoing proficiency in processing SBAguaranteed loans, achieved the top ranking in the state for the U.S.
government’s reporting period of Oct. 1, 2006, to Sept. 30, 2007. PNC
has been the No. 1 lender for the past three years in the Philadelphia
and Pittsburgh regions.
The Pocono Builders Association recognized several local businesses for their award-winning projects in the Pocono region at the
association’s sixth annual awards dinner held in September at the
Stroudsmoor Inn. Over 70 awards were given out to local businesses
for their projects that were completed in 2006. The Award of Excellence, which is presented to the most prestigious project, was awarded
to OakRidge Construction Company for a remodeling project over
$50,000.
The Pocono Builders Association recently announced Saturday and
Sunday, March 15 and 16, 2008, as the upcoming dates for the Greater
Pocono Home Show. The Home Show will return to the Galleria at
Split Rock Resort. In 2007, the event gate attendance doubled, and
the total number of exhibits had increased 20%. Exhibitors are being
sought now for next year’s show, for which additional exhibit space
and activities for attendees have been added.
Cleanup at the former International Boiler Works (IBW) in East
Stroudsburg now will move forward, thanks to a new $158,500 Industrial Sites Reuse Program (ISRP) grant from the Department of Community and Economic Development for environmental remediation.
The Pocono Mountain Economic Development Corp. competed
with other projects in Altoona and Harrisburg for the grant monies.
Chuck Leonard, PMEDC’s executive director, presented the project at
the Pennsylvania Brownfields Conference in Harrisburg last month.
The judging panel selected the IBW project to receive the award based
on the need, the location and the potential economic impact of new
companies on the site. The IBW site has been vacant for more than 15
years and once was the employer of over 200 people. As a rail-served,
industrial-zoned property, it is an attractive site for redevelopment.
The IBW Revitalization Project is also supported by a Monroe County
Revolving Loan made possible by CDBG funds from the Monroe
County Commissioners.
The Pocono Mountains Association of REALTORS (PMAR)
elected new officers and directors to its board during the Annual Business Meeting in October. For the first time in PMAR history the voting
process was completed entirely online. Newly elected members of the
board of directors are: Dawn Chamberlain, Keller Williams Realty;
Libbie A. David, Coldwell Banker Phyllis Rubin Real Estate; Kris
Leshanski, Park Avenue Realtors; and Dennis A. Mooney, First Choice
Real Estate, Inc. Each will serve two years. Newly elected officers of
the PMAR board are Eileen Chaladoff, an agent with Prudential Associates, president elect; Barbara G. Samet, broker/owner of Barbara
Samet Real Estate, vice-president elect; Christina Primrose, associate
broker with RE/MAX of the Poconos, treasurer elect; and Gloria F.
Green, Coldwell Banker Phyllis Rubin Real Estate, secretary elect.
In addition, chairpersons were elected for standing committees of the
Board and include: David, Montgomery, MLS Committee Chairperson; John M. Franc, Keller Williams Realty, MLS Committee Vice
Chairperson; Douglas A. Freeman, Realty World Becky Freeman
and Associates, Government Affairs Committee Chairperson; June
Cestone, Barbara G. Samet Real Estate, Ltd., Community Services
Committee Chairperson; and Green, Education/Internal Communications Committee Chair. They will each serve one year.
Right Reason Technologies (RRT) has made its extensive library of
trainings available to enterprise-level organizations throughout the
country via its new eCommerce platform, the Right Reason Technologies Store. Through this new store, anyone can purchase copies of
RightCourse sign up for RightTrack trainings without need of making
a phone call. The availability of RRT’s training library through an
eCommerce solution will help bring formal training programs to
smaller businesses, especially those in the Pocono Mountains region.
Additionally, RRT introduces the first product in a new product line
that will allow trainers to enhance their training programs called
Professional Voicing. This enables the text of computer-based trainings
and presentations to be narrated by a professional voice talent. Professional Voicing helps trainers keep their trainings accessible to those
with vision disabilities. Right Reason Technologies is a technology
and Web-based training company based in East Stroudsburg, founded
in 2001, providing training and eLearning solutions to businesses and
schools in the Pocono area and throughout the country.
SuiteDigs, Inc. recently launched its doggie habitat products, dog
“condos” equipped with Webcams, feeders and bathroom facilities,
available through its online store. Spurred by his need to contain an
8-week-old puppy while at work, company founder Thomas Jackson
decided against a crate or the sacrificial puppy mishap room. Each
dog habitat module measures 55 inches wide by 25 high and 25 deep,
and can be combined or configured based on preference. Custom
colors are also for the choosing. Standard frames are made of black
ABS composite material, an extremely strong, durable, thick plastic.
Sturdy brushed aluminum windows and doors allow the dogs to enter
and see out. Their sliding feature allows owners to leave them open
without tripping over the typical swing-style doors of gates and crates.
SuiteDigs, Inc. currently has two patents pending with the US Patent
Office for its products.
An Air Force C-130 cargo aircraft suspended 130 feet below a Pennsylvania Army National Guard CH-47 Chinook helicopter recently began a new mission. In September, the tandem-rotor helicopter airlifted
the 53-year-old fuselage from the Wyoming Valley Airport in Forty
Fort to the Tobyhanna Army Depot (TAD). The airframe was used
for training purposes by the 92nd Aerial Port Squadron, U.S. Air Force
Reserve, Wyoming Valley, prior to its deactivation. TAD will use the
airframe to test configurations of various communications-electronics
systems developed and maintained by the Depot.
First-year data charting the progress of Tobyhanna Army Depot’s
vegetative (green) roof indicates the project is on schedule. The
demonstration project featuring pre-planted modules has produced a
10-percent reduction in storm water runoff, a 25-percent energy savings for Building 11 and improved storm water quality. According to
environmental experts, test results suggest that the thousands of sedum
perennials taking root on one wing of the Headquarters Building will
also extend the roof life and contribute to a healthier environment. The
Joint Services Initiative funded Tobyhanna’s proposal to use green
roof technology because, if successful, it would save money, positively
impact the environment and be transferable across the services.
Army engineers and members of the Public Works Directorate (DPW)
joined forces to determine the operating status of 104 electrical substations located inside Tobyhanna Army Depot’s industrial area. At the
Depot’s request, 22 members of the 1st Detachment B Company, 249th
Engineering Battalion (Prime Power), Fort Bragg, N.C., deployed in
August to perform preventive maintenance and were tentatively set to
depart last month. The test results will help public works employees
prioritize future repair and upgrade projects, and minimize future
unscheduled outages.
Fifteen Tobyhanna employees at Tobyhanna Army Depot took part in
the first Association for Operations Management training course which
was an accelerated nine-month study program. The members of the
Master Production Scheduling (MPS) team participated in the Certified
in Production and Inventory Management (CPIM) program as part of a
continuing process to educate front-line employees on the “how’s and
why’s” of the Web-based Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system.
The ERP is a framework for organizing, defining and standardizing
business processes. The CPIM program is internationally recognized
as the standard for individual assessment in the field of production and
inventory management
Technicians in Tobyhanna Army Depot’s Flight Control Systems
Branch now support the Stability Augmentation System (SAS) Amplifier, which is used on Navy Sea Hawk helicopters. It is one of many
C4ISR systems the Depot supports for the Army and Air Force as well
as the Navy. C4ISR stands for Command, Control, Communications,
Computers, Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance systems.
The Sea Hawk is the Navy’s version of the Army’s Black Hawk. Both
are used for a variety of utility and assault missions.
Wayne Bank recently donated $5,000 to Honesdale Communities
That Care, Inc. The gift is made possible through the Pennsylvania
Educational Improvement Tax Credit program which, under the direction of the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic
Development, provides tax credits to businesses making contributions
to state-approved organizations. The bank’s contribution will be used
locally to benefit the community rather than being paid to Harrisburg
in the form of taxes which are distributed state-wide.
Webleaps, a Henryville-based graphic design and Web hosting firm
founded in 2005, recently launched a new Web site. In addition, the
company has donated its services for the upcoming “Run for the Red”
Marathon for American Red Cross for Monroe County. The event
takes place in May of 2008.
Please send all press releases for
consideration to [email protected]
20
FOCUS LIST
PAYROLL SERVICES
Company
Address
Phone/Fax
Years in
Business
Web site
AAAA Income Tax
Services
690 Milford Road, East
Stroudsburg PA 18301
(570) 476-6878
Martin Accounting &
Tax Service
707 Church Street, Honesdale, PA 18431
(570) 253-6610
(570) 253-1401
N/A
18
Payrolls Unlimited
Pocono Summit Plaza,
Pocono Summit, PA
18346
(570) 839-3790
(570) 839-4190
www.prudata.com
21
Zenith Business Solutions
160 Lake Valhalla, East
Stroudsburg, PA 18301
(570) 236-8429
(866) 286-8947
N/A
# Employees
Services
Business Contact
6
Payroll processing, business setups, audit representation, corporate taxes,
income tax preparation
Dr. John Georgiou,
S.E.A
25
www.zenithbs.com
1
3
Payroll services/accounting services, tax return
preparation (individual/
small business)
Steven R. Martin, E.A.
3
Payroll processing
David Morgan
1
Business administrative
and operational services
including payroll and
bookkeeping
Christina Haas
Disclaimer: If your company is located within Carbon, Monroe, Pike or Wayne counties in northeastern Pennsylvania and was not included in the listing, please contact Pocono
Business Journal so we can include your company in future editions of this focus list.
COMPLIANCE... cont. from page 15
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Your Rights Under the Fair Labor Standards
Act (Minimum Wage)
All Employers (Excluding Agriculture)
Agricultural Employers (Minimum Wage)
Form No. WH BUB 1376
All Agriculture Employers
U.S. Department of Labor
Employment Standards Administration Wage and Hour Division
Notice to Employees of State and Local
Governments
All State and Local Government Employers
Philadelphia (215) 597-4955
Wilkes-Barre (570) 826-6538
Notice to All Employees Working on Federal
of Federally Financed Construction Projects
Form Nos.
WH 1321 (English)
WH 1321 AP (Spanish)
All Federal of Federally Financed Construction Project Employers
Notice to Employees Working on Government Contracts
Form No. WH 1313
Employers Working with Government
Contracts
These lists have been created by the Employer Advisory
Council.Certain employers may be required to post additional
notices specific to their area of employment.
Source: Commonwealth of PA Office of Administration/
Human Resources
Article source: PA Dept. of Labor and Industry; Core People
Resources LLC, Wind Gap
Businesses Reap Tax Credits
for Early Childhood
Development Subsidies
By Debbie Burke
The tax benefit to businesses which support preschool and
Pre-K programs was the topic of a recent business breakfast
titled “Economic Development=Early Childhood Development.” Business owners and daycare providers broke bread
with elected officials and economic development execs, as
speakers including Dorothy Kaplan, DCED Deputy Secretary
Business Assistance, told the audience about the Educational
Improvement Tax Credit (EITC) program, launched in 2001.
Under the program, businesses get back, in tax credits,
90% or more of the amount of their donation to preschool and
Pre-K programs throughout the commonwealth. EITC had a
cap last year of $61 million in tax credits; this year Gov. Rendell, who according to Kaplan “gets it,” lobbied to increase that
to $75 million. “We issue our tax credits on the first day of the
tax year, and businesses are lined up to get them,” she says.
Associate Professor of Early Childhood Education Bina
Patel, at Northampton Community College’s Monroe Campus,
says that current research supports how the business community and society at large benefit from buying in to the importance of early childhood ed.. “With a high quality of education, students who attended preschool become contributing
members of society by being gainfully employed and bringing
revenue back to the community,” she says. “High quality early
childcare is very expensive, but businesses that are supportive
can help to subsidize their workers’ expenses.” Across town
in East Stroudsburg, daycare director Rae Stonbley of The Art
Learning Center says that promoting quality early learning
helps her industry to be recognized as “a profession, not just
babysitters.”
Family-friendly business environments, says Kaplan,
need to offer family-friendly policies. She then asked, “Who
benefits? A, the businesses; B, education; and C, our kids. The
ultimate goal is to create a better-trained workforce.”
For more information:
Call Penn State Cooperative Education in Pike County at (570)
296-3400 to inquire about “Employer Options for Child Care”
publication.
Or visit:
Educational Improvement Tax Credit Program, Pennsylvania
Dept. of Community and Economic Development
http://www.newpa.com/programDetail.aspx?id=62
Pennsylvania’s Promise for Children
http://www.papromiseforchildren.com/
21
CALENDAR OF EVENTS
November 1
Value Stream Mapping, Northeastern Pennsylvania Industrial Resource Center, Inc.
(NEPIRC), 75 Young Street, Hanover Industrial Estates, Wilkes-Barre. Registration at
7:30 a.m. with Continental Breakfast; course 8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Fee: $225 includes
refreshments and lunch. Call (570) 819-8966 for more information.
Monroe County Housing Summit 2007: Homes Within Reach, Shawnee Inn &
Golf Resort, Shawnee-on-Delaware, 8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. The Housing Summit is
sponsored by the Pocono Healthy Communities Alliance and the Pocono Mountains
Association of Realtors®. Call (570) 517-3955 for more information.
November 1, 8, 15, and 29
BNI Bartonsville, 7:00 a.m. - 8:30 a.m., Howard Johnson’s, Route 611, Bartonsville.
Call (570) 237-5869 for more information.
November 2
It Is Your Business: The Impact of Domestic Violence on the Workplace, hosted by
Penn State Worthington/Scranton Continuing Education. Held at The Inn at Nichols
Village, Clarks Summit, 8:30 a.m. – 4:15 p.m. Pre-registration cost $100; on-site registration cost $130. Employers have found that domestic violence often follows their
employees to work and affects the workplace in terms of economics, liability/security
risks, absenteeism, healthcare costs, and worker safety. Call (570) 346-4460 ext. 242
or email [email protected].
Developing an Effective Policy & Procedure Manual, University of Scranton Center
for Professional Training and Development, Scranton, 9:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. Fee: $95
includes materials and lunch. Call (570) 941-7582 for more information.
Website Enrollment, PA CareerLink, 9:00 a.m. -11:00 a.m.; Employer Website Assistance 3:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. Call (570) 620-2850 or visit www.cwds.state.pa.us for
more information.
November 2, 6, 16, 23 and 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 for more information.
November 3
Fall Professional Development Conference, Penn State Cooperative Extension, 9:00
a.m. - 1:30 p.m., held at First Presbyterian Church, 300 Broad Street, Milford. Cost:
$10. Diversity Means Differences Among People workshop helps develop diversity
competence through a series of hands-on activities; Managing Conflict workshop
helps participants discover ways to find common ground and resolve differences that
will result in a stronger organization. For a printable brochure, visit pike.extension.
psu.edu. Call (570) 296-3400, or email [email protected] for more information.
Job Search Assessment Workshop, First Impression Career Coaching, Bartonsville
location, 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 noon. Unlock the answers that will get your job search
back on track. Cost $35. Call Kathy at (570) 476-0406 or email [email protected] for
more information.
Career Exploration Workshop, First Impression Career Coaching, Bartonsville location, 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 noon. Jumpstart the process by identifying occupations that
match your interest areas and your desirable workplace preferences. Cost $35. Call
Kathy at (570) 476-0406 or email [email protected] for more information.
Career Coaching, Group Session, First Impression Career Coaching, Bartonsville
location, 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 noon. Get support, encouragement and real- life career exploration/job search tools. Group will be facilitated by a Certified Career Coach with
more than eight years experience working with job seekers in Monroe County. Cost
$33. Call Kathy at (570) 476-0406 or email [email protected] for more information.
November 5
Website Enrollment, 8:00 a.m. - 10:00 a.m.; Résumés & Cover Letters, 9:00 a.m.
- 11:30 a.m.; Mock Interviews, 1:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m. PA CareerLink, Tannersville site.
Call (570) 620-2850 or visit www.cwds.state.pa.us for more information.
Brown Bag Monday, Carbon County Chamber of Commerce, 110 North 3rd Street,
Suite 216, Lehighton, 12:00 noon. Informal lunch with CCCC executives. Call (610)
379-5000 for more information.
November 5 and 6
OSHA 10 Hour Safety Training Program for General Industry, Northeastern Pennsylvania Industrial Resource Center, Inc. (NEPIRC), 75 Young Street, Hanover Industrial
Estates, Wilkes-Barre. Day 1, 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.; Day 2, 8:00 a.m. - 12:00 noon.
Fee: $425 includes refreshments and lunch. Call (570) 819-8966 for more information.
November 5 and 7
Composite Desktop Publishing, University of Scranton Center for Professional Training and Development, Scranton, 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Fee: $265 includes materials
and lunch. Call (570) 941-7582 for more information.
November 5 - 9
Job Methods Training, Northeastern Pennsylvania Industrial Resource Center, Inc.
(NEPIRC), 75 Young Street, Hanover Industrial Estates, Wilkes-Barre, 8:00 a.m.
- 11:00 a.m. Fee: $495. Call (570) 819-8966 for more information.
Job Instruction Training, Northeastern Pennsylvania Industrial Resource Center, Inc.
(NEPIRC), 75 Young Street, Hanover Industrial Estates, Wilkes-Barre,1:00 p.m. - 4:00
p.m. Fee: $495. Call (570) 819-8966 for more information.
November 5, 7, 12, 14, 19 and 21
Introduction to Computer Programming, University of Scranton, Center for Professional Training and Development, 1:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Fee: $290 includes materials
and lunch. Call (570) 941-7582 for more information.
November 6
Healthcare Employer Symposium, 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 noon. PA CareerLink, Tannersville site. Call (570) 620-2850 or visit www.cwds.state.pa.us for more information.
November 6 - 8
Industrial Hydraulics, Northeastern Pennsylvania Industrial Resource Center, Inc.
(NEPIRC), 75 Young Street, Hanover Industrial Estates, Wilkes-Barre, 8:00 a.m.
- 3:00 p.m. Fee: $950, includes refreshments and lunch. Call (570) 819-8966 for more
information.
November 6, 13 and 20
Quickbooks 2007, 6:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. Fee: $165 includes text. University of
Scranton, Center for Professional Training and Development. Call (570) 941-7582 for
more information.
November 7
Networking Seminar, LeTip Chapter of Stroudsburg, Budget Inn & Suites, 7:00 a.m.
Cost: free. Event offers venue for individuals to promote their products to a group
of potential clients and advocates. Call Louise at (570) 588-4113 or email ruonpar@
verizon.net for more information.
Career Explorations, 9:00 a.m. - 2:30 p.m.; Computer Basics, 2:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m. PA
CareerLink, Tannersville site. Call (570) 620-2850 or visit www.cwds.state.pa.us for
more information.
People Power, Achieve Business Solutions/TAB. Cost: free, includes lunch. Time
to be determined. Held at the Community Room at Tri-Co Federal Credit Union,
Augusta, NJ. Call (973) 250-4144 for more information.
Global Warming on Fish and Wildlife in PA, Pike County Conservation District
Education Building, Rt. 402, Blooming Grove, 10:00 a.m. Call (570) 226-8220 for
more information.
The Value of Conserving, 6:00 p.m. - 9:15 p.m., PPL Learning Center, Route 6 at
Lake Wallenpaupack, Hawley. Cost: free. Keynote speaker DCNR Secretary Michael
DiBerardinis will explain the creation of a DCNR Conservation Landscape Initiative
for the region that will have a positive and long lasting impact on our communities
and natural resources that provide vital services and improve the quality of our lives.
November 7 and 8
OSHA 10 Hour for General Industry, Monroe County Public Safety Center, 100
November
Gypsum Road, Stroudsburg, 8:30 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. Cost: $300; 10% discount for
Greater Pocono Chamber of Commerce members. Presented by Bair Safety Consulting
Services’ Steve Bair, an authorized OSHA outreach trainer whose primary focus is
workplace safety and applying methods that eliminate injury. Call (610) 588-9126 or
email [email protected] for more information.
Learn to Use Your Computer, 6:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. Fee: $150 includes text. University
of Scranton, Center for Professional Training and Development. Call (570) 941-7582
for more information.
BNI Milford, 7:00 a.m., Mount Haven Resort, 123 Log Tavern Rd., Milford. Call (570)
November 8
Member Success Program, BNI Pennsylvania/New Jersey, held at Abilities, 264 Route
31, Washington, N.J., 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 noon. Cost: $5. Call Steve Gambino at (908)
Computerized O’Net Assessments, 9:00 a.m. - 10:30 a.m. PA CareerLink, Tannersville
site. Call (570) 620-2850 or visit www.cwds.state.pa.us for more information.
Lunch and Learn Broadband Access, Verizon Wireless, Woodlands Resort, 1073 Highway 315, Wilkes-Barre, 12:00 noon – 2:30 p.m. Internet access for business. Email
[email protected] for more information.
November 9
Strategies for Inclusive Outdoor Programs Training Workshop, Pocono Environmental
Education Center, Dingmans Ferry, 1:00 p.m. – 3:30 p.m. Cost: Members $20/ Nonmembers $25. Instructor Kathy Ambrosini will provide specific examples of strategies
to make programs more inclusive for people with disabilities. Workshop looks at a
variety of challenges to learning, and the aids and interpretive strategies that enable
all participants to get the most from their outdoor experience. Training geared for any
staff or director who provides programs for people in the outdoors. Includes training,
instructional book, and light snack. Sponsored in part by funding from the PA Blue
Ribbon Foundation and the Christopher Reeve Quality of Life Foundation. Call PEEC
at (570) 828-2319 for more information.
Employer Website Assistance, 3:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. PA CareerLink, Tannersville site.
November 9 and 16
Understanding Copyright, Trademark & Fair Use, 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. Fee: $225
includes lunches and text. University of Scranton, Center for Professional Training and
Development. Call (570) 941-7582 for more information.
November 10 and 17
Photography Basic Concepts, 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. Fee: $150 includes text. University
of Scranton, Center for Professional Training and Development. Call (570) 941-7582
November 12
Business Card Exchange, Greater Pocono Chamber of Commerce, Hotel Jonas,
Kunkletown, 5:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. Cost in advance: $10 Chamber members, $20
non-members; Cost at the door: $15 Chamber members, $25 non-members. Call (570)
November 13
ProfitCLUB by: ActionCOACH, 556 Main Street, Stroudsburg, 2nd floor, 7:30 a.m.
- 9:00 a.m. Profit Club is a group of like-minded business owners who meet bi-weekly
for an hour and a half in a structured environment to learn and discuss new business
tips, strategies and ideas. Call ActionCOACH at (570) 517-7100 or email [email protected].
Industrial Hands-On Pneumatics, Northeastern Pennsylvania Industrial Resource
Center, Inc. (NEPIRC), 75 Young Street, Hanover Industrial Estates, Wilkes-Barre,
8:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. Fee: $950 includes refreshments and lunch. Call (570) 819-8966
Introduction 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. PA CareerLink, Tannersville site. Call (570) 620-2850 or visit www.cwds.state.pa.us for more information.
Greater Pocono Chamber of Commerce Women in Business luncheon, 12:00 noon,
Shawnee Inn & Golf Resort, Shawnee-on-Delaware. Topic: Gifts that Give Back, presented by Women in Business Committee, sponsored by Bill Skinner, ActionCOACH.
Cost: $13 Chamber members, $16 non-members and walk-ins. Call (570) 421-4433 for
more information.
Meeting/Mixer, Lehighton Area Council of the Carbon County Chamber of Commerce, Platz’s Restaurant, 101 Harrity Road, Lehighton, 5:30 p.m. Representatives
from the Iron Pigs Baseball of the Lehigh Valley will present an introduction of Minor
League Baseball, followed by a question and answer session. Reservations required by
November 9. Call (610) 377-2191 or e-mail Lehighton Area Council at [email protected]
November 13 - February 12
Water Distribution Systems, Northampton Community College, Main campus in Bethlehem, 6:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m. Fee: $360. Call (610) 861-5080 for more information.
November 14
Carbon County Chamber of Commerce Networking Breakfast, Blue Ridge Country
Club, 2230 Fireline Road, Palmerton, 7:45 a.m. Call (610) 379-5000 for more information.
One-on-One Résumé Writing Assistance, 8:30 a.m. - 12:00 noon. PA CareerLink, Tannersville site. Call (570) 620-2850 or visit www.cwds.state.pa.us for more information.
November 14-15
Solution Selling for Sales Executives, Northeastern Pennsylvania Industrial Resource
8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Fee: $1295, includes e-Learning and student workbooks. Call
(570) 819-8966 for more information.
November 14-15
Train the Trainer Forklift Training, Northeastern Pennsylvania Industrial Resource
Day 1, 8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. (lunch included), Day 2, 8:00 a.m. - 12:00 noon. Call
November 15
The 6-S System: Workplace Organization and Standardization (with Simulation),
Northeastern Pennsylvania Industrial Resource Center, Inc. (NEPIRC), 75 Young
Street, Hanover Industrial Estates, Wilkes-Barre, Registration 7:30 a.m. with Continental Breakfast; course 8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Fee: $225 includes refreshments and lunch.
Forklift Train the Trainer Seminar, Monroe County Public Safety Center, 100 Gypsum
Road, Stroudsburg, 8:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m. Cost: $195; 10% discount for Greater Pocono Chamber of Commerce members. Presented by Bair Safety Consulting Services
by Steve Bair, an authorized OSHA outreach trainer whose primary focus is workplace
safety and applying methods that eliminate injury. Call (610) 588-9126 or email [email protected] for more information.
The First Step: Start-up Basics, East Stroudsburg University, 10:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.
Cost: $10. Workshop focuses on business basics including registrations, licenses,
forms of organization, taxation, research tools, resources and more. Call Brad Klein,
director, ESU Business Accelerator and Pocono Mountains Keystone Innovation
Zone, (570) 422-7920.
BNI Mixer, Malibu Ranch on Foster Hill Road, Milford, 5:30 p.m. - 9:00 p.m. Cash
bar and light refreshments. Call (570) 296-7176 for more information.
November 15, 20, 27, 29 and December 4, 6, 11, 13, 18
Execution and Control of Operations, Certified in Production and Inventory Management (CPIM) program, University of Scranton, 6:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m. Cost: Members
$435, non members $525. Call (570) 941-7582 for more information.
November 16
Monthly Breakfast, Greater Pocono Chamber of Commerce, Best Western Pocono
Inn, Stroudsburg, 7:30 a.m. Sponsored by Keystone Nazareth Bank & Trust, Special
Program by Monroe County Historical Association. Cost in advance: $10 Chamber
members, $14 non-members in advance. Cost at the door: $12 Chamber members,
$18 non-members. Call (570) 421-4433 for more information.
Résumé Critique, 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 noon. PA CareerLink, Tannersville site. Call
(570) 620-2850 or visit www.cwds.state.pa.us for more information.
The Lost Art of Workplace Coaching, University of Scranton, Center for Professional
Training and Development, 9:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. Cost: $95, includes program materials, parking pass and lunch. Workshop focuses on four key coaching beliefs. Call
Innovator of the Year at Wayne Economic Development Corp. (WEDCO) Sustaining
Member Luncheon, 12:00 noon, Settlers Inn, Hawley. Senator Lisa Baker will be the
featured speaker. Contact WEDCO at (570) 253-5334 or [email protected] for more
information.
Dinner and a Movie along the Delaware River, by Pike County Conservation District.
Held at Riverview Inn, Milford, 6:30 p.m. Cost: $30. Program: “Controversy on the
Delaware: A Look Upstream at the Tocks Island Dam Project.” Call (570) 226-8220
or email [email protected] for more information.
November 17
Job Search Assessment Workshop, First Impression Career Coaching, Bartonsville
location, 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 noon. Unlock the answers that will get your job search
back on track. Cost $35. Call Kathy at (570) 476-0406 or email [email protected] for
more information.
Career Exploration Workshop, First Impression Career Coaching, Bartonsville location, 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 noon. Jumpstart the process by identifying occupations that
match your interest areas and your desirable workplace preferences. Cost $35. Call
Kathy at (570) 476-0406 or email [email protected] for more information.
Career Coaching, Group Session, First Impression Career Coaching, Bartonsville
location, 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 noon. Get support, encouragement and real- life career
exploration/job search tools from Certified Career Coach and other members of the
group. Group will be facilitated by a Certified Career Coach with more than eight
years experience working with job seekers in Monroe County. Cost $33. Call Kathy
at (570) 476-0406 or email [email protected] for more information.
EPA Refrigerant Containment Certification review course/certification test. Offered
at Northampton Community College and co-sponsored by Refrigeration Service
Engineers Society (RSES), 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m., NCC Main Campus in Bethlehem.
Cost: $130 for review course; $48 for re-test of EPA Refrigerant Containment Certification Test. Class will review requirements governing ozone-depleting chemicals and
environmental and operational materials involved in EPA refrigeration. Final three
hours of class is licensure exam for service technicians who install, service, maintain
or repair high and low pressure HVAC/R systems. Call (610) 691-2900 or (877) 5430998 for more information.
November 19
Find a Job You’ll Love!, 9:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.; Computer Basics, 2:00 p.m. - 3:00
p.m. PA CareerLink, Tannersville site. Call (570) 620-2850 or visit www.cwds.state.
pa.us for more information.
November 20
ActionCLUB, Eight-session program by ActionCOACH, 556 Main Street, Stroudsburg, 2nd floor, 7:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m. Cost: First Attendee, $2,195; second attendee
free. Program covers business-building strategies Call ActionCOACH at (570) 5177100 or email [email protected] for more information.
Introduction to CareerLink Services, 10:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.; Résumés & Cover Letters, 11:00 a.m. - 1:30 p.m. PA CareerLink, Tannersville site. Call (570) 620-2850 or
visit www.cwds.state.pa.us for more information.
November 21
Career Exploration, 9:00 a.m. - 2:30 p.m. PA CareerLink, Tannersville site. Call
November 26
Computerized O’Net Assessments. PA CareerLink, Tannersville site. Call (570) 6202850 or visit www.cwds.state.pa.us for more information.
November 27
ProfitCLUB by: ActionCOACH, 556 Main Street, Stroudsburg, 2nd floor, 7:30
a.m. - 9:00 a.m. Profit Club is a group of like-minded business owners who meet
bi-weekly for an hour and a half in a structured environment to learn and discuss new
business tips, strategies and ideas from an Action International Business Coach. Call
ActionCOACH at (570) 517-7100 or email [email protected].
Employer Website Assistance, 3:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. PA CareerLink, Tannersville site.
November 28
Convert CWDS Résumé to Microsoft Word. PA CareerLink, Tannersville site. Call
November 29
NEPIRC’s Approach to Kaizen, Northeastern Pennsylvania Industrial Resource Center, Inc. (NEPIRC), 75 Young Street, Hanover Industrial Estates, Wilkes-Barre, 8:00
a.m. - 11:45 a.m. Fee: $125. Course covers the use of Kaizen (continuous improvement) and is geared toward cell, team and line leaders, supervisors, managers and
process improvement teams and leaders. Call (570) 819-8966 for more information.
Change Management, Northeastern Pennsylvania Industrial Resource Center, Inc.
(NEPIRC), 75 Young Street, Hanover Industrial Estates, Wilkes-Barre, 12:15 p.m.
- 4:00 p.m. Fee: $125. Call (570) 819-8966 for more information.
November 30
Presentation Techniques, University of Scranton, Center for Professional Training
and Development, 9:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. Workshop covers elements of concise, wellstructured presentations. Fee: $95 w/ materials and lunch. Call (570) 941-7582 for
more information.
If you would like to have your business event
listed in the PBJ Calendar of Events, please
submit information to [email protected].
22
PBJ REGISTER
Deeds
Carbon County
Franklin Township
Anthony Gulotta to John Ackerman, $409,900.
Anthony Novak to Brian Piccioni, $366,250.
Kidder Township North
UNI Realty of Wilkes-Barre to Kush & Min LLC,
$650,000.
Kidder Township South
Thomas P Carney Inc to Jason Christie, $303,493.
Penn Forest Township
Thomas Hume to Joseph Aversa, $350,000. Jeanne
Toal to Sara Wasson, $285,000.
Towamensing Township
Fred Beeson to Frederick Carrer, $265,000. Troy
Green to John Marchi, $295,000.
Monroe County
Barrett Township
Posters and Things Inc to Dennis and Lydia Vanluvanee, $300,000. Thomas Fernley to Justin and
Kari Richards, $336,140. Kematico Development
CO to Vincent and Sharon Keegan, $891,158.
Vincent and Anne Merola to Robert and Margaret
Rugolo, $349,900.
Chestnuthill Township
John and Mary McCabe to Todd and Cheryl Olsen,
$250,000. James and Jill Luton to Robert and Dina
McFadden, $312,500. Thomas and Barbara Bentz
to Michael and Twila Meyers, $278,000. Patrick
Jones to Norris and Jillian Minor, $283,000. Ann
Smith to Jonathan Koszalka, $347,000.
Coolbaugh Township
Kelly and Roger Cullen to James Richardson,
$358,000. Andrzej Malarz to John Wayne and
Cecilia LaTouche, $255,000. Robert and Renee
Bitterman to Robert and Leslie Rigby, $362,500.
Yvonne and Paul MacNamara to Alberto and
Zandra Quine, $306,200.
East Stroudsburg Borough
LTS Development LLC to Samuel and Sander Gilmete, $299,900. LTS Development LLC to Claude
and Tamayo Mollenthiel, $329,000.
Hamilton Township
Douglas Maeir to George and Lillian Hendry,
$265,000. Ted and Carol Fehr to Staley Petko,
$465,000. Walter and Patricia Salinski to Raymond
Hansen and Donna DePalma, $263,500. Victor and
Maria Trason to Michael and Dawn Marie Blaum,
$280,000.
Jackson Township
John and Sandra Sweeney to James and Judy
Gordon, $335,000. David Stackhouse to Anthony
Hendricks, $279,000.
Middle Smithfield Township
Joseph and Doreen Bussiere to Biet Hernandez, $265,000. Toll PA IV to Francis Dunnery, $387,130. Romec Inc to Thomas Ansilio,
$389,000. LTS development to Seymour and Andrea Portes, $429,900. Wilkens and May Charles
to Christopher and Ellen Spara, $519,900. Ann
Mount Pocono Borough
Ann Smith to Jonathan Koszalka, $347,000. Ann
Paradise Township
Robert Berthound to Stephen and Teresa Musumeci, $295,000. William and Kimberly Hillman to
Marvin and Melissa Hodges, $369,900.
Pocono Township
Ralph and Regina Shomer to Gregory Mussich,
$338,550. Ivan and Eulalia Gutierrez to Kirk Dennis, $519,700. Brian and Helen Adkins to Steven
Rivera and Natalie Duque, $310,000. Kramer and
Jackett Enterprises to 611 Property Holdings LLC,
$825,000. Mark Silver to Merdine Morris-Scantling, $265,000. David and Cho Young Lee to Jin
Kim, $540,000. Michael and Katherine DeLuca to
Philip and Erika Cohen, $315,000. Ann Smith to
Jonathan Koszalka, $347,000.
Polk Township
Robert and Judy Arienta to Amrish and Pratixa
Patel, $347,000. Romario and Suzanne Relosa to
Howard and Barbara Nuss, $350,000.
Price Township
LTS Development LLC to William Ulma and Amy
Serafin, $426,800. Thomas and April Cook to
MG09 Patrners, $385,000. Kal-Tac Inc to Chandler
and Julio Hernandez, $355,000. Harold and Joan
Loehlein to John and Gwynn Mangler, $289,900.
to Valerie Petersen, $257,000. Velma and Bruce
Hoffman to Driebe Family Limited Partnership,
$655,000. LTS Development LLC to Camille
Grant, $413,890. Zhijian Qian and Yumei Wang to
Manan and Purvi Desai, $294,000.
Tobyhanna Township
James and Bridget Grace to Joseph Costa,
$265,000. Helen Geyer to Jeffrey and Elizabeth
Mattes, $525,000. Joseph and Divna Buechel to
Kathleen Giovannelli, $305,000. Matzel Development to Kareem Adams, $290,631. Mary and
Clarence Brower to Michael Angst, $1,495,000.
Wayne and Gail Havelock to Ralph and Margaret
Mucerino, $280,000. Matzel Development to Trudi
Bisono, $296,061. David and Emma Wengerd to
Duny and Ashbey Royer, $299,000. Charles and
Patricia White to Richard and Kim Katzenback,
$371,666. Brian and Amy Mahoney to Joseph
and Lauren Catrino, $275,000. Patricia Stanton to
Anthony Pagano and Catherine Fenn, $262,000.
Pike County
Blooming Grove Township
Pawel and Lucyna Szostak to Natalia Aparicio,
$279,000. CMCB LLC to August and Linda Falco,
$279,000. Ronald and Kimberley Borress to Ira
Friedman, $300,000. Donald Muller to Michael
Tarpley, $392,000. Bernard and Lowell Steinberg
to Donald and Susan WENGER, $595,000.
Delaware Township
Audrey Robertson to Lenape Conservation Partnership, $300,000. Alfred Page to Edward Gaherty,
$297,000. Boris Soskil to Aleksandr and Tatyana
Dudin, $252,000. Mario and Patricia Genovese to
John Sivo, $300,000. Steven Levine to Abel and
Giselle Peltro, $254,000. Carol Hipkins to Frank
and Elizabeth Arrison, $357,500. Keith and Dawn
McDermott to Dylan DeSantis, $350,000. Louis
and Bernadette Kedves to Brian and Deena Souza,
$295,000. Earle Henriquez-Gil to Peter and Mary
Boyle, $335,000. Margaret Steinberg to Robin and
William Desrosiers, $262,000.
Dingman Township
William and Irene Scarlino to Jason and Christine
Ertola, $269,900. James Martowicz to Leroy
Westburgh, $255,000. Edmond and Judith
Chamberlain to Andrew Keppler, Sr., $250,000.
Sunnylands Inc to Michael Deperi, $400,000.
Juergen and Irene Jakob to Kenneth and Patricia
Muller, $299,000. Bruce Diamond to John and
Leah Keenan, $445,000. John Susen to Jonathan
Coscia, $275,000.
Greene Township
Sandra Wenzel to Millkirk Inc, $300,000. Alberta
Grabowski to Marshwood LP, $447,695. Frederic
and Ingeborg Schwarz to Jeffrey and Deborah
Purdy, $785,000. Jeff Szyszko to Peter and Kristin
Keller, $255,000. Shawn and Liz Robinson to
Thomas and Kelly Johnson, $789,000.
Lackawaxen Township
Dominick Tripodi to Patrice Capo, $320,000.
Alfred and Maria Osias to Woodloch Pines, Inc.,
$570,000. Woodloch Pines Inc. to Michael and
Allison Mancino, $750,000. Glenn and Eileen
Fisher to Robert and Patricia Mead, $343,000.
Donald and Suzanne Rumbaugh to Christopher
and Christy Girard, $322,000. Herbert and Sandra
Martin to David and Debra Thornbury, $619,000.
Douglas and Gail Lopez to Robert J Falcone,
$585,000.
Lehman Township
Richard Marcano to George and Gabriella Prundl,
$260,000.
Matamoras Borough
Citizens Bank of Pennsylvania to Inland American
CFG PA Portfolio DST, $2,358,750.
Milford Borough
Sanford Beecher to John Klemeyer, $333,333.
Mary and Catherine Kelleher to Maegan Connelly
and Jonathan Kameen, $273,000.
Milford Township
Toll PA VIII to Mark and Jodi Weems, $589,202.
Citizens Bank of PA to Inland American CFG PA
Portfolio DST, $2,104,667.
Palmyra Township
Andrew and Stacy Taranto to Gary and Jean
Pollaro, $273,000. Robert and Mary Beagen to
Mark and Connie Kolodzieski, $460,000. Stone
Silo Food Inc to Norman and Jo Ann Transue,
$280,000. Gumble Brothers Inc to James Gumble,
$300,000. Joseph Goglia to Daniel and Loriann
Russo, $485,000.
Shohola Township
William Bliss to Charles and Ellen Shechtman,
$420,000.
Ross Township
Eric and Russelle Strauch to Douglas Maier and
Maria Snook, $310,000. Joseph Dabronzo to Jaime
Bastidas, $575,000.
Westfall Township
Margaritte Malfy to Lucy Nell Stewart, $460,000.
Delaware Highlands Properties LLC to Syed
Masihuddin, $256,000.
Smithfield Township
John Hood to Mountain Manor Development
Company LLC, $375,000. Mads and Susanne
Ravn to Moses Karanja, $405,000. RGB Homes
LLC to Eric Ziomek and Christine Moore,
$303,900.
Clinton Township
Browndale Properties One to Anthony and Penelope Chiovari, $255,000. Charles and Jill Puntar
to John Hovan, $250,000.
Stroud Township
NVR Inc to Anthony Henry and Constance
Bradley, $358,105. Patrick and Jane Callaghan
to Joseph Walewangko and Jennifer Huebner,
$355,000. Americorp Builders Inc to Felicia
Hamilton, $337,000. Pierre Vales to Samuel Diaz,
$274,000. LTS Development LLC to Keith and
Charlene Bishop, $406,995. Joseph and Zelda Best
Wayne County
Dyberry Township
Charles and Ruth Vasko to John and Francene
Vendetti, $795,000.
Honesdale Borough
James and Debra Blockberger to Kenneth and
Patricia Oldham, $250,000.
Lake Township
George Carr to Gregory and Hilda Maietta,
$370,000. Ralph and Lois McFarland to Gary and
Susan Miller, $375,000.
Lebanon Township
William and Nancy McGroary to Wendy Adams,
$370,000.
Paupack Township
Michael Flynn to Peter Vanschaick, $420,000.
Gatell Levinson to Diane Madaio, $400,000. Kathryn Daniels to John Pickard, $255,111. Mitchell
and Sarah Wilson to Michael and Margaret Norton,
$725,000. Dale and Donna Renner to Wayne and
Kathleen Degan, $465,000.
Preston Township
Charles and Nancy Bell to Massimo Palomba,
$289,000.
Salem Township
Ruth Picinich to Joan York, $600,000. Clarence
Lukeski to Rite Aid of PA Inc., $750,000.
Mortgages
Carbon County
Franklin Township
John Ackerman, Wells Fargo Bank, $327,920.
Brian Piccionni, MERS, $274,321.
Kidder Township North
Kush and Min LLC, Penn Security Bank,
$520,000.
Kidder Township South
Resort Holdings LLC, Centrue Bank, $575,000.
Thomas Halikman, The Bank, $500,000. Pauline
Rycyk, MERS, $286,000. Daniel Rossetti, MERS,
$269,000.
Lehighton Borough
Westminster Place Partnership, First National
Bank of Pennsylvania, $736,000.
Lehigh Township
Bruce Thomas, MERS, $360,000.
Lower Towamensing Township
Leah One Inc., National City Mortgage, $900,000.
Palmerton Telephone Company, First National
Bank of Palmerton, $950,000.
Mahoning Township
Munzer Yacoub, Nova Savings Bank, $280,000.
Scott Ritter, PNC Bank, $250,000.
Palmerton Borough
Dean Serfass, Mauch Chunk Trust Co., $750,000.
Penn Forest Township
Mitchell Ross, Equity One Inc., $250,000. Joseph
Aversa, CCO Mortgage, $280,000.
Monroe County
Barrett Township
Jack and Deborah Faler, Chase Bank, $251,100.
Pietro and Antonina Barretta, National City Bank,
$279,720. Vincent and Sharon Keegan, The Business Bank, $417,000. Robin Ottoway, MERS/UBS
Mortgage, $500,000. David Buchter, First Tennessee Bank, $391,200.
Chestnuthill Township
Robert Villano, GMAC Mortgage, $268,800.
Norris and Jillian Minor, MERS/Countrywide,
$283,000. Joseph and Nina Alberti and Gregory
Briner, MERS/National Penn Bank, $500,000.
James Kern Sr., MERS/Lafayette Bank, $325,000.
Jackett and Kramer Mgmt., Marlene Sensale,
$425,000. Peter and Aneta Lotrean, National
City Bank, $360,000. Ricky and Karen Samuels, MERS/Taylor Bean & Whitaker Mortgage,
$309,000. Robert and Jennifer Ducalo, MERS/
Flagstar Bank, $409,600. Pasquale and Jennie
Cona, AFC Reverse Mortgage, $300,240. Pasquale
and Jennie Cona, Housing & Urban Development,
$300,240.
Coolbaugh Township
James Richardson and Elizabeth Taleporos,
MERS/Countrywide Bank, $286,400. Louis and
Patricia Gambino, MERS/Countrywide Bank,
$285,000. Stanley and Gayle Harmer, Wachovia
Bank, $350,000. Robert and Leslie Rigby, ABN
Amro Mortgage, $290,000. Alberto and Zandra
Quine, MERS/Countrywide, $275,580. Leon Grey
Jr., National City Bank, $270,200.
East Stroudsburg Borough
Samuel and Sander Gilmete, MERS/Countrywide, $284,900. Claude and Tamayo Mollenthiel,
National City Bank, $263,840.
Eldred Township
Joseph and Jane Parlegreco, MERS/First Residential Mortgage Network, $255,000.
Hamilton Township
Marino and Linda Santarelli, Wachovia Bank
NA, $250,000. George and Lillian Hendry,
MERS/Hometown Security, $265,000. Stanley
Petko, MERS/Cardinal Financial, $340,000. Jane
George and Nelson Lauver, World Savings Bank,
$280,000.
Jackson Township
Douglas and Ursula Myers, JP Morgan Chase
Bank, $296,000. Anthony Hendricks, MERS/Lincoln Mortgage, $265,050. Victor and Yolanda
Villalta, MERS/Countrywide Bank, $281,690.
Middle Smithfield Township
Charles and Maria Degennaro, Wells Fargo Bank,
$256,825. Kathleen Saal and Edwin Doerr, Wachovia Bank NA, $250,000. HRP Corp., Textron
Financial Corp., $12,000,000. Laurette, Robert and
Ivette Chartock, MERS/M&T Bank, $303,300.
Roger and Teresa Kuntz, Keystone Nazareth Bank
& Trust, $300,000. Aurelio and Jessica Jiminez,
MERS/Countrywide, $283,500. Francis Dunnery and Erica Brilhart, MERS/TBI Mortgage,
$308,000. Thomas Ansilio Jr., Anthony and Rita
Mecca, $349,000. Seymour Portes and Andrea
Ridore-Portes, GMAC Mortgage, $378,000.
Christopher and Ellen Spara, MERS/Citimortgage,
$415,920. Miggy’s Corp Six, Citizen’s Bank of
PA, $4,000,000. Simone and Kyle Bridgeforth, JP
Morgan Chase Bank, $275,000.
Paradise Township
Marvin and Melissa Hodges, MERS/National
Bank of Kansas City, $382,291. Glenn and Cynthia
Matthews, MERS/Wall Street Financial Corp.,
$285,000.
Pocono Township
Gregory Mussinch and Stacy Wolf, MERS/Indymac Bank, $338,550. Kirk Dennis, MERS/
Countrywide Bank, $467,730. Mark and Lucy
Niedzielski, MERS/First Bank, $382,500. Steven
Rivera and Natalie Duque, MERS/Equifirst
Corp., $279,000. Jimmy Schlier, PNC Bank NA,
$275,000. GII Property Holdings/CMMC Holdings, Community Bank and Trust, $660,000. Kurt
and Concetta Disbrow, Chase Bank, $346,500.
Alexander and Nancy Holtzman, Penn Business
Credit, $2,580,000. Merdine Morris-Scantling,
MERS/Countrywide Bank, $251,750. Alexander
Holtzman / Summit Lanes, Penn Security Bank
& Trust, $2,100,000. Jin Kim, JP Morgan Chase
Bank, $300,000.
Polk Township
Amrish and Pratixa Patel, MERS/Countrywide,
$277,600. Stephen and Nancy Dougherty, Mauch
Chunk Trust Co., $263,700. Deven Holland,
MERS/Taylor, Bean & Whitaker Mortgage
Group, $261,000. Antonio and Maria Mirassol,
MERS/Taylor, Bean & Whitaker Mortgage Group,
$328,000.
Price Township
William Ulma and Amy Serafin, GMAC Mortgage
Co., $405,460. Michael and Bianca Matyi, PNC
Mortgage, $300,240. Michael and Bianca Matyi,
Housing and Urban Development, $300,240.
MG09/Jonathan Greenwald and Robert Maynard,
Gelt Financial Corp., $420,000. Chandler and
Julio Hernandez, MERS/Taylor, Bean & Whitaker
Mortgage Group, $337,250.
Ross Township
Stephen and Nancy Tinker, MERS/Franklin First
Financial, $350,000. Jaime Bastidas, National City
Bank, $417,000. Beverly and Clifton Chambers,
Countrywide Bank, $270,000.
Smithfield Township
Mountain Manor Development Co., JP Morgan
Chase Bank, $256,000. Moses Karanja and
Florence Choge, MERS/Countrywide, $405,000.
Anthony and Danielle Rossi, MERS/Fairfield
Mortgage, $270,000. Kuang Cheng and H Sueh
Wu-Cheng, MERS/Suntrust Mortgage, $635,000.
Vincent and Joann Costa, MERS/Equity One Inc.,
$447,225.
Stroud Township
Anthony Henry and Constance Bradley, MERS/
NVR Mortgage Finance, $340,150. Joseph Walewangko and Jennifer Huebner, JP Morgan Chase
Bank, $284,000. Felicia Hamilton, MERS/Countrywide Home Loans, $320,150. JAR Ventures,
Public Savings Bank, $397,500. Keith and Charlene Bishop, National City Bank, $366,295. Regina Bryson and Regina Britten, Countrywide Bank,
$282,300. Franklin and Carmen Flores, MERS/
Countrywide Bank, $266,749. Leonardo and
Marisel Bullaro, MERS/Countrywide, $310,000.
George and Jacquelyn Swayze, MERS/Bayrock
Mortgage, $301,500. Lorraine and Frank Gaspar,
MERS/Countrywide, $319,400. Camille Grant,
GMAC Mortgage, $273,890. Michael and Donna
Sullivan, MERS/Indymac Bank, $332,500. Manan
and Purvi Desai, Bank of America, $279,300.
Jaime and Ruth Jaramillo, MERS/Franklin American Mortgage Co., $255,000.
Stroud Township
Forte Inc., PNC bank NA, $3,700,000. Andrew
Chagin, MERS/First Residential Mortgage Network, $312,000. John and Jennie Rossi, Housing
and Urban Development, $292,500. John and
Jennie Rossi, Indymac Bank/Financial Freedom
Senior Funding, $292,500. LTS Development,
M&T Bank, $6,570,000.
Tobyhanna Township
Kathleen Giovannelli, MERS/Freedom Mortgage
Corp., $274,500. Kareem Adams, Wells Fargo,
$274,550. Michael Angst, MERS/Countrywide
Bank, $1,046,500. Trudi Bisono, Wells Fargo
Bank, $277,851. Richard and Kim Katzenback,
ABN AMro Mortgage, $250,000. Bradley and
Caroline Graham, Penn Security Bank, $417,000.
Alexander Holtzman, Penn Business Credit,
$2,580,000. Alexander Holtzman, Penn Business
Credit, $2,580,000. Eric and Patricia Bergstrom,
Wachovia Bank NA, $250,000. Christian Charity Foundation, Citizens and Northern Bank,
$402,000. David and Emma Wengerd, Citizens and
Northern Bank, $402,000.
Tunkhannock Township
Anthony and June Scimonelli, MERS/Quicken
Loans, $351,000.
Pike County
Pike County Mortgages
Blooming Grove Township
Gem Partners Development LLC, Pennstar Bank,
23
PBJ REGISTER
$620,000. Herman Frederick, MERS/Countrywide,
$288,000. Glen and Marianne Dykstra, Countrywide Bank FSB, $321,000.
Delaware Township
Mark and Loretta Wolsiefer, MERS/Countrywide,
$313,500. Robert and Alina Hans, Vertical Lend
Inc., $382,500. Robert and Alina Hans, Housing
and Urban Development., $382,500. Dylan DeSantis, MERS/GMAC Mortgage, $280,000. Peter and
Mary Boyle, Sussexmortgage.com, $268,000.
Dingman Township
Vannatta Realty & Builders, Sussex Bank,
$360,000. Barbara Daggett and David Webster, MERS/Countrywide, $295,000. Howard
Briendel, GMAC Mortgage/MERS, $417,500.
Michael Deperi, Proponent Federal Credit Union,
$360,000. Donald Eichele and Deborah Reynolds,
Washington Mutual Bank, $284,000. Ira and
Beverly Miller, National City Mortgage, $277,210.
Jonathan Coscia, MERS/USAA FSB, $275,000.
Greene Township
Michele and Mark Lafave, MERS/Lehman Brothers Bank FSB, $437,000. Jeffrey and Deborah
Purdy, Bank of America, $585,000. Peter and
Kristen Keller, MERS/Mortgage Line Financial
Corp, $251,062. Thomas and Kelly Johnson,
MERS/Countrywide, $417,000. Margie Sigler,
MERS/New Day Financial, $504,000.
Lackawaxen Township
Kathleen and Pat Campanaro, MERS/Countrywide, $263,150. Faynette Sherlock, MERS,
$368,000. Patrice Capo, MERS/Countrywide,
$256,000. Michael and Allison Mancino, MERS/
Countrywide, $600,000. Christopher and Christy
Girard, Bank of America, $257,600. Jadwin Associates, Dime Bank, $2,300,000. William and Marie
Bouchery, AFC Reverse Mortgage, $315,000.
William and Marie Bouchery, Housing and Urban
Development, $315,000.
Lehman Township
Richard and Teresa Bauer, Household Finance
Consumer Discount Co, $275,530. Thomas
and Paulette Davidowski, MERS/Equity One,
$360,000.
Matamoras Borough
Kathleen and Aaron Churchill, MERS/HSBC
Mortgage, $261,300.
Milford Borough
John Klemeyer, Wayne Bank, $750,000.
Milford Township
Mark and Jodi Weems, MERS/TBI Mortgage,
$260,000. Julio Santos, Wayne Bank, $500,000.
Palmyra Township
Kevin and Dianne Cherry, Wachovia Bank,
$500,000. Randi Brooks Borger, Wayne Bank,
$750,000. Mark and Connie Kolodzieski,
MERS/Freedom Mortgage Corp, $368,000. James
Gumble, Gumble Brothers Inc, $300,000. Daniel
and Loriann Russo, JP Morgan Chase Bank,
$388,000.
Westfall Township
Township of Westfall, Dime Bank, $2,000,000.
Olga Mendez, MERS/Morgageit Inc., $275,600.
Wayne County
Berlin Township
John and Steven Kiesendahl, Dime Bank,
$417,000. Rose Stachowiak, Honesdale National
Bank, $260,000.
Buckingham Township
Wall Street Lodge Inc, Old Forge Bank, $350,000.
Camp Morasha Inc, Dime Bank, $1,300,000.
Camp Morasha Inc, Dime Bank, $250,000. Kevin
Schrader, Honesdale National Bank, $1,000,000.
Canaan Township
Stanton and Elizabeth Rush, Community Bank &
Trust, $325,000.
Clinton Township
Dreher Township
Betty and Stephen Rudowsky, Wells Fargo Bank,
$300,240. Betty and Stephen Rudowsky, Housing
and Urban Development, $300,240. Jodi and William Wagner, MERS, $268,800.
Dyberry Township
Francene and John Vendetti, Honesdale National
Bank, $445,000.
Honesdale Borough
Eric and Mary Anne Linde, Dime Bank,
$2,300,000. Wayne County Historical Society,
Wayne Bank, $250,000.
Lake Township
Hilda and Gregory Maietta, MERS, $296,000.
Danielle and Gilberto Sierra, Chase Bank USA,
$256,000. Arthur and Eleanor Shelko, Amwest
Capitol Mortgage, $300,240. Arthur and Eleanor
Shelko, Housing and Urban Development,
$300,240. Gary and Kathleen Enslin, Honesdale National Bank, $250,000. David and Judy
Ziembicki, MERS, $655,000. Barbara Burlingame,
MERS, $333,000.
Manchester Township
Union Lake Hotel Company Inc, Dime Bank,
$2,000,000.
Mount Pleasant Township
Charles Clark, Honesdale National Bank,
$350,000. Lee and Diane Erdman, MERS,
$283,650.
Oregon Township
John and Jennifer O’Reilly, Citibank, $480,200.
Palmyra Township
John and Steven Kiesendahl, Dime Bank,
$417,000.
Paupack Township
Carol and Martin Buss, Wachovia Bank, $266,000.
Peter Vanschaick, Novaris Federal Credit Union,
$336,000. Michael and Margaret Norton, Wells
Fargo Bank, $417,000. Raymond and Mary Hutt,
MERS, $409,000. Wayne and Kathleen Degan,
Team Capital Bank, $395,250.
Preston Township
One I L Inc, Dime Bank, $500,000. Camp Morasha
Inc, Dime Bank, $1,300,000. Camp Morasha Inc,
Dime Bank, $250,000. Kevin Schrader, Honesdale
National Bank, $1,000,000.
Salem Township
Joan York, MERS, $250,000. Adam Zengel,
Pennstar Bank, $250,000. Charles and Diane
Durkin, Citibank, $250,000. Brian Chapman, Penn
Security bank & Trust, $250,000.
South Canaan Township
David and Judy Ziembicki, MERS, $655,000.
Waymart Borough
Ali Haxhaj, MERS, $351,000.
New Corporations / Fictitious Names
Carbon County
Environmental Technical Services, Environmental
Restoration, 613 White St., PO Box 206, Bowmanstown, McClean, Karen and Shrout, David. EVB
Property Management, Real Estate, 24 Spokane
Road, Albrightsville, England, Hilary J and Mark
Van Buskirk. Jadam Property Solutions, Real
Estate Management / Maintenance, 1845 Hemlock
Drive, Lehighton, Jadam Construction, Inc. and
Zielinski, Gerald J. KMF Contracting, Carpentry/Roofing, 2250 Church Hill Road. Macolson
Truck & Vehicle Repair, Vehicle Repair, 18 W. Fell
St, Summit Hill, Taschler Jr, Charles R. Maleski
Electric, Electrical Construction, 686 Brenkman
Drive, Weatherly, Maleski, Mark. One Love
Foundation, Support Business Childrens Orphanage & Schools, 240 West Hazard St., Summit
Hill, Mecrlatorn, Jay and Stianchie, Maria. Sharp
As Nails, Laser Engraved Gifts, 90 Cardinal Dr.,
Lehighton, Nametko, Barbara E. Sounds Good
Music & More, Resale of Music, 236 Delaware
Avenue 1st Floor, Palmerton, Zwack, Richard.
Tiki Tans, Tanning Salon, 279 A Delaware Avenue,
Palmerton, Hodes, Lisa K. Twin Builders, Home
Building and Remodeling, PO Box 144/2581
State Route 903, Albrightsville, Lignore, Scott and
Lignore, Shawn.
Monroe County
Alpha Building Solutions, Inc., Cleaning service,
688 Blue Mountain Lake, East Stroudsburg. B&S
Latin Multiservice, Inc., Income Tax Preparation, International Money Transfers, Translation
Services, 217 North 9th Street, Stroudsburg. BTH
Inc., Consulting, 54 Keystone Road, East Strouds-
burg. CHIS, Inc., Home Inspections, 2650 Drive,
Blakeslee. Chohan Inc., Gas Station, Convenience
Store, RT 715 and RT 611, Tannersville. Curran
Management Service, Inc., Consulting, 10 Empire
Plaza, Stroudsburg. DSD Roofing and Construction, Inc., General Construction, 36 Mount Nebo
Road, East Stroudsburg. Internet, Sales and Customer Services Support, Inc., Marketing Services,
RT 903 East, Blakeslee. Naseer and Sons Inc.,
Real Estate, RT 715 and RT 611, Tannersville. Pocono ATV and Small Engine Repair Inc., Sales and
Repair Services, 210 Michael Lane, Stroudsburg.
Queensboro Flooring P.A. Corp., Flooring, 7005
Route 611, Unit 4, Stroudsburg. R and K Certified
Travel Inc., Travel Planning Services, 2 Charley
Drive, East Stroudsburg. The Bread Master Inc.,
Bread Delivery, 109 Allan Drive, Effort. The
Pocono Home Show Inc., Real Estate, 47 Manor
Drive, Stroudsburg. The Tom Stephens Agency,
Inc., Financial Services, Lot 5 B, Jay Park, Marshalls Creek. Transaction Specialist Association,
Inc., Financial Services, Marshalls Creek. United
Hispanic Construction Corp., Construction, 217
N 9th St, Stroudsburg. A & R Excavating, Tree
Removal, Lawn Excavation & Maintenance, Home
repairs, painting, 1217 Hellers Ln., Long Pond,
Amato, Michelle. A.C.T. Enterprises, Internet
sales, 26 Serfass Road PO Box 555, Gilbert,
Parascando, Ann Marie. Aralnin’s, Cleaning
Business, 501 Penn Estates, East Stroudsburg,
Bocchino, Kathleen S and Steven. Betty’s An
American Diner, Restaurant, 44 Woodland Rd.,
Mount Pocono, Mount Airy #1 LLC. BTH, Consulting, 54 Keystone Road, East Stroudsburg, Ho,
Binh. Create-a-Scape, Landscaping, 701 Thomas
St., Stroudsburg, Werkheiser, Jerome. Dave (The
Wiz) Muller, Commercial equipment repair, 903 B
Service Road, Effort, A. Wiz, Inc. Deano Designs,
Remodeling/Construction, HC 87 BOX 169 Y-1,
Pocono Lake, D’Abazzio, Richard and Deano, Jon.
Deer Daves Hunting Gear, Hunting Equipment and
Accessories, 1003 Mountain Rd., Effort, Burdee,
David E. Drew’s Lawn Care & Landscaping,
Lawn Care/Landscaping, 1111 Titania Road,
Tobyhanna, Lesso, Andrew, Jr. Eunikue Fashion,
Custom Made Clothing, RR 7 - 7097 Ross More
Drive, Saylorsburg, Placide, Marie Claire. Fornaro’s Transport, Motor carrier- hauling refrigerated
and general freight, 23 Travis Drive, East Stroudsburg, Fornaro, Nofrio F., Jr. Gary in the Morning,
Radio Broadcasting & Marketing, Internet news
& services & event planning, RR 3 Box 3232
Mountainview Drive, Stroudsburg, Smith, Gary.
Gray Matter Communications, Public Relations &
Event Planning, HC 1 - Box 15-C, Pocono Park
Lane, Swiftwater, Gray, Lee. Gypsies, Bar/Nightclub, 44 Woodland Rd, Mount Pocono, Mount
Airy Lodge #1 LLC. H.G. Fix All, Construction,
433 Hawthorne Terrace, Stroudsburg, Garcia,
Humberto. H.I.R.E.S., Home Improvement and
Repairs, PO BOX 74, Upper Seese Hill Rd.,
Canadensis, Brush, Lynn L. and Manhart, Leona.
In The Wind Jewelry Design, Making and Selling
of Jewelry, RR3 Box 624 Church Road, Kunkletown, Keesler, Gina. Koei-Kan Karate Pocono
Summit Dojo, Martial Arts, 703 Rt. 940 Unit 3 &
4, Pocono Summit, Amadeo, Patricia, L & F Framing & Drywall, steel framing / drywall / suspended
ceilings / doors, 221 Evergreen Circle, Tobyhanna,
Musto, Louis J. and Sidman, Frank. Le Sorelle
Cucina, Restaurant, 44 Woodland Rd., Mount Pocono, Mount Airy Lodge #1 LLC. Lee’s Boutique,
Retail Store, 44 Woodland Rd., Mount Pocono,
Mount Airy Lodge #1 LLC. Lord’s Catering,
Mobile Food Vendor, RD 4 Box 4108, Mills Road,
Saylorsburg, Branstetter, Linda. Monroe County
Recycling Center of Pa., Recycling, 541 Scott
St., Stroudsburg, 33 SALVAGE, LLC. Mount
Airy Casino Resort, Casino/Hotel, 44 Woodland
Rd., Mount Pocono, Mount Airy Lodge #1 LLC.
Mount Airy Shoppe, Retail Store, 44 Woodland
Rd., Mount Pocono, Mount Airy Lodge #1 LLC.
Mountain View Vineyard, Vineyard, 1220 Neola
Road, Stroudsburg, Rice, Randall A. P&C General
Construction, Home improvements, 1013 Cambell
Way, Tobyhanna, Polanco, Antonio B. Passionate Memories, Event Planner, RR 7 Box 7666,
Stroudsburg, Mangan, Juanita D. Pocono Living
Magazine, Magazine Publication, 1929 North 5th
St., Stroudsburg, Monroe Realty Services Inc. Red
Steak House, Restaurant, 44 Woodland Rd., Mount
Pocono, Mount Airy Lodge #1 LLC. Rejuvenation
Massage Therapy, Massage Therapy, 75 Crystal
St., East Stroudsburg, Van Leuvan, Kristie Anne.
Right on Radon Services, Radon Testing, RR 21
BOX 6326, 104 Hidden Lake Dr., East Stroudsburg, Przebieglec, Stephanie. Royal Web Designs,
Info Tech Services, 5512 Bridle Rd., Stroudsburg,
Rosol, Michael. The Diabetic Sock Hut, Website
Sales of Diabetic Socks, HC 87 Box 6, Pocono
Coming Next Month ... December 2007
Lake, Lafevre, Debbie A. The Glass Bar, Bar/
Lounge, 44 Woodland Rd., Mount Pocono, Mount
Airy Lodge #1 LLC. The Grrls Click Investment
Club, Investing, 120 Berwick Heights Road, East
Stroudsburg, Behman-Drayer, Trish, Benfante,
Jean, Kocher, Donna, McCrohon, Caryn, O’Brein,
Kelly, and Stein, Marcia. The News Stand, News
Stand and Retail Store, 44 Woodland Rd, Mount
Pocono, Mount Airy Lodge #1 LLC. The Spa
at Mount Airy, Spa, 44 Woodland Rd, Mount
Pocono, Mount Airy Lodge #1 LLC. Wizdome,
Mail Order, 12409 Mountain Laurel Drive, East
Stroudsburg, Sapienza, James and Leah.
Pike County
AAJS, Inc., Acquisition & Operation of Aircraft,
2741 Hemlock Farms, Lords Valley. E. Vincent
Enterprises, Inc., Business Management Company,
637 St. Rte. 739, Suite 5, Lords Valley. GJT Enterprises Inc., Transportation Services, Greentown.
IMTI Systems, Inc., Computer Based Business,
100 Sunny Court, Lackawaxen. S, L & V Inc.,
Dry cleaning and laundromat, 307 W. Harford St.,
Milford. A To Z Jobbing, small jobs: yard work,
clean-up, odd jobs, 1419 Section 2 St. Andrews
Drive, Janssen Jr., Albert and Janssen Sr., Albert.
Autumn Treasures, online sales, auctions, 4001
Conashaugh Lakes,248 Seneca Drive, Milford,
VanHorn, Donna Lynn. Eglise de Dieu Mont des
Oliviers de Pocono, Church, 1509 Pine Ridge,
Hillaire, William and Marfrancosi, Wag. Fetch and
Fix, Synthetic motor oils & lubricant sales, 100
Willow Ave., Matamoras, Doughman, Jeffrey and
Judee. J D Contracting, Home improvement, 103
Magnolia Lane, Dingmans Ferry, Dipietro, Joseph
S. LBK Enterprise, Cell phones/ communication,
1831 Route 739, Dingmans Ferry, Luciano, Kathleen. Limo’s R Us, Transportation services, 130
Estates Road, Greentown, GJT Enterprises, Inc:
Irish, George Ruffalo, Joseph Ruffalo, Thomas.
Pregnant Dog Rescue, Dog rescuing, 345 RT
447, Newfoundland, Mesko, Cynthia. Quick Fix
Roofing, Repair, replace roofing, 125 Ash Lane,
Milford, Hernandez, Stefaine A. Stevenson Window Company, Window Installation, HCR 67 Box
193, Dingmans Ferry, Stevenson, Jon Tyler. Visual
Endeavors, Computer visualization services, 122
Chippy Cole Road, Milford, Sheppard, Joanne M
and Wilen, Wendy J.
Wayne County
EK Angel Investment Corporation, Investment
Properties, 126 Milanville Rd., Beach Lake. Glass
Pond One, Ltd., Real Estate Development &
Mgmt, 162 Smith Farm Road, Honesdale. J & L
Construction Consultants Inc., Consulting, 125
White Tail Lane, Lake Ariel. M. Schwartz Home
Improvements, Inc., Construction, 226 Beach
Lake Highway, Honesdale. MJB Enterprises
Incorporated, Garden Center and Landscaping,
1446 Hamlin Highway, Lake Ariel. Mom’s Auto
Sales, Inc., Unknown, 22 Village Road, Beach
Lake. Slab Castle, Inc., Real Estate Holding
Company, 23 North Road, Mount Pleasant. Visual
Image Productions Inc., Multi media production,
130 Shady Lane, Honesdale. Beach Lake Bread,
bread bakery, 258 Milanville Road, Beach Lake,
Hason, Jennifer. Green Demolitions-Honesdale,
retail sales of secondary market kitchens / baths,
45 Brown St., Daley, Angela A and Stephen. News
Eagle, Newspaper publishing, 307 Main St., Hawley, Gate House Media Pennsylvania Holdings,
Inc. Protek 1, Electronic component installation
services, 376 Crestmont Dr., Newfoundland,
Zmuda, Adam. Provisions Home and Garden,
Selling of antiques, RR 402 Box 103, Hawley,
Fox, Peter L. The Independent Extra, Newspaper
publishing, 220 8th Street, Honesdale, Gate House
Media Pennsylvania Holdings, Inc. The Wayne
Independent, Newspaper publishing, 220 8th
Street, Honesdale, Gate House Media Pennsylvania Holdings, Inc. Wallenpaupack Garden Center,
Retail garden center, 87 Dewberry Drive, Hawley,
Weiss, Karla. Your Way Travel Agency, Home
based travel agency, RR 1 - Box 1864, Beach
Lake, Rake, Cynthia M.
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.
POCONO
www.pbjonline.com
Reflections and Projections
www.pbjonline.com
• Affordable Housing: How the issue is affecting the housing market in the Poconos
• Transportation Update: Bridges, roads, The Train
• Businesses Look Ahead: Goals for the New Year
• County-by-County Project Update: Economic development in progress
• Professional Profile on Wall Street West: The Synchrium Group, Ben Franklin Technology Partners,
and the business continuity industry; plus fresh feedback from NYC
24
POCONO
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