p & i edition 2016

Proud of our Past, Prepared for our FutureWe Believe in Bedford County and Our Workforce!This is what motivates us and has become our message…

BCDA offers assistance with:• Available Sites and Buildings

• Low-Interest Business Financing

• Entrepreneurial Development

• Tax Free Keystone Opportunity Zones

• Workforce Development

BCDA Staff: Terri Brumbaugh, Bette Slayton, Melanie Miller

When there’s a need —BCDA will find a way....

BCDA’s Board meets monthly to develop and implement economic development policies that positivelyaffect Bedford County and the state. Visit our website: www.bcda.org

Bedford County Development AssociationOne Corporate Drive, Bedford, PA 15522 • 814-623-4816 • [email protected] • www.bcda.org

BCDA BOARD MEMBERS:Sean Bardell, Chair – Dutch CornerDoug Gerber, Vice Chair – EverettBob Octavio, Treasurer – BedfordJP Tambourine, Secretary – State CollegeJenny DeLong, Asst. Treasurer – BedfordDavid DiPasquale, Asst. Secretary – BedfordBo Pratt, Immediate Past Chair – BedfordGregory Krug – PipersvilleAlan Frederick – Friends Cove

Trudy Mitchell – SaxtonLinda Bullington – Manns ChoiceSara Letzo – BedfordJames Wistar – PhiladelphiaBrett Schoenfield – BedfordGreg Lang – CressonJim Gosman – BedfordMark Bollman – EverettCharles Swartzwelder – Breezewood

EX-OFFICIOMEMBERS:Josh LangBarry DallaraPaul CrooksBedford CountyCommissioners

Bedford Rural ElectricCooperative Inc.

Proud to be a part of the growth in Bedford County –

where educational and professional opportunities are increasing.

A Touchstone Energy® Cooperative814-623-5101

www.bedfordrec.com

FORTRESS INSURANCE AGENCY

2 — Thursday, June 30, 2016 — Progress and Industry Edition, Bedford Gazette, Bedford, Pa.

ID Graphics get the word out for businessHusband and wife team embody ‘entrepreneurial spirit’

By Harry ZimblerCan a husband and wife

team of graphic artists run asuccessful graphic designbusiness while raising a fami-ly at the same time? Coreyand Monica Meckes can.

ID Graphics, celebrating 10years in business, is located indowntown Everett. It servesthe design needs of companiesand organizations throughoutBedford County and the Unit-ed States.

After graduating from col-lege, Corey and Monica ini-tially worked for other compa-nies. This experience gavethem the insight needed tostart their new business in2006. They were “all in.”

“We closed our eyes andtook a leap of faith,” saidMonica Meckes. They countedon the local business commu-nity to provide networkingopportunities. The EverettArea Better Business Associa-tion and the Bedford CountyChamber of Commerce havebeen very helpful.

Funding the new compa-ny was strictly a personalaffair.

“The only money weborrowed was in the formof a home equity loan we

used to purchase our firstprinter,” said CoreyMeckes. “We would neverfinance a piece of equip-ment that way again,though.”

The launch of IDGraphics required money,of course, but it alsodemanded a willingnessto work long hours andnever stopping work untila job was done, as prom-ised.

“Would we do it againand start our own busi-ness? Yes, of course wewould,” Monica said.

Despite great success intheir colorful new facility,Corey and Monica realizethat there will always bechallenges to running abusiness.

“It's a do-it-yourselfworld we are living in,”Monica explained. “Andbecause of this we findourselves having to con-

vince people and busi-nesses of the need for —and value of — a profes-sional graphic designer.”

With 38 years of com-bined experience in thefield of graphic design,Monica and Corey seegreat opportunities forfuture growth.

“The greatest opportu-nity is the large numberof potential clients wecould have locally if giventhe chance to show themthe benefits of using aprofessional design stu-dio,” said Corey.

“We have learned overtime from watching oth-ers and from our ownmistakes,” said Monica.“We are still learning.When you are a smallbusiness it is importantto take gradual, calculat-ed steps to form a firmfoundation on which tobuild.”

Thursday, June 30, 2016 — Progress and Industry Edition, Bedford Gazette, Bedford, Pa. — 3

Meet the 2016 BCDA Board

“When you are a small business it isimportant to take gradual, calculatedsteps to form a firm foundation on whichto build.”

—Monica Meckes, ID Graphics

—Continued from Page 1This year, the Bedford County

Development Association willexplore how entrepreneurs,past, present and future, havebuilt the local economy, and howthey will continue to do so as wemove through the 21st century.

When you drive past the Wal-Mart Distribution Center, afacility that employs hundredsof Bedford County workers, doyou think about the one manwho started it all? Sam Waltonhad a dream that he could oneday create a company to rivalthe largest retailers in thenation. Through hard work, per-severance and vision, he didthat just that.

Bedford County is filled withbusinesses that have becomeimportant employers after anentrepreneur took the risk tostart it and make sure it wouldgrow and prosper.

Today's global and fast-pacedeconomy is going to demand ahighly skilled workforce as wellas an entrepreneurial spirit thatcan be applied in any businessor industry, no matter how largeor small.

As Bedford County moves intothe future, it will be the entre-preneurs that will drive innova-tion and create the kind of jobsthat sustain families.

With this year's Progress andIndustry, BCDA celebrates thegreat vision of past entrepre-neurs as well as the generationsthat will create the future.

Bedford County DevelopmentAssociation is dedicated to work-ing hard to increase the avail-able capital investments thatnew and existing businessesneed. Finally, BCDA will seekevery way possible to helpempower the entrepreneurs oftomorrow.

Entrepreneurs . . .

—Photos submittedAbove, members of the Bedford County Develop-

ment Association board of directors are, front, fromleft, Assistant Secretary David DiPasquale, BedfordCounty Technical Center; Treasurer Bob Octavio;Vice Chairman Doug Gerber, Rex Heat Treat; Chair-man Sean Bardell, Howard Hanna Bardell Realty;Assistant Treasurer Jenny DeLong, Bun Air Corp.;Secretary JP Tambourine, FirstEnergy Corp.; andback: Office Manager Melanie Miller, BCDA; LindaBullington, Bullington Financial Services LLC;Trudy Mitchell, Southern Alleghenies Planning andDevelopment; Greg Krug, Lampire Biological Labo-ratories; Josh Lang, Bedford County Commissioner;James Gonsman, FNB; James Wistar, Everite DoorCompany; Brett Schoenfield, Omni Bedford SpringsResort & Spa; Greg Lang, Recreational EquipmentInc.; Mark Bollman, Tussey Mountain School Dis-trict; Paul Crooks, Bedford County Commissioner;Barry Dallara, Bedford County Commissioner;Charles Swartzwelder, East Providence Township;Vice President Terri Brumbaugh, BCDA; Sara Letzo,10/09 Kitchen; and President Bette Slayton, BCDA.Missing from the picture are: Immediate Past Chair-man Bo Pratt, Rockland Manufacturing Co., andAlan Frederick, Frederick Farms.

At left, new members serving on the Bedford Coun-ty Development Association are, front, from left,Josh Lang, Bedford County Commissioner; CharlesSwartzwelder, East Providence Township; and back:Mark Bollman, Tussey Mountain School District;Greg Lang, Recreational Equipment Inc.; JamesGonsman, First National Bank.

—Photo submitted Husband and wife, Corey and Monica Meckes, stand at ID Graphics, their graph-

ic design business in Everett, which is celebrating 10 years in business this year.

CorePA GlobalWorking together with

CorePA, Bedford Countyrecently hosted a group ofinternational journalists toenhance synergies withlocal businesses. From leftare Peter Darling, UK -Tradelink Publications Ltd.;Arun Kr. Singhal, India -DEW Journal; JohnSwatkoski, Vacuum Process-es Inc.; and Terri Brum-baugh, BCDA.

CorePAhopes to promote synergy

By Erin ThompsonGazette Staff Writer

Good customer serviceand word of mouth willtake you further in busi-ness than advertising, saysLinda Bullington, owner ofBullington Financial LLC,who has spent the last 18years making a name forherself in downtown Bed-ford.

Prior to March 2014,Bullington’s company oper-ated under CrossCountryMortgage until she decidedto go into business for her-self after growing “tired ofworking for corporateAmerica.”

“I wanted to be able togive answers to someoneinstead of calling a CEO toget a project completed,”she said.

She began her profession-al career teaching music for16 years in Pennsylvaniaand Texas until a 1994

move to Lewisburg, whenshe switched gears anddecided to get her realestate license.

In 1995, Bullington andher family moved back tothe Bedford area so herhusband could take a jobworking at JLG Industries.

In 1998, Bullingtonopened her first mortgageoffice as a branch managerfor Allied Home Mortgagein a leased space. She wasoperating the business sole-ly by herself. Just fourmonths after opening anoffice with Allied as abranch manager, Bulling-ton said she convinced herhusband to quit his job tohelp develop the company,where her whole family isnow employed.

Bullington purchased abuilding on East PittStreet, where she had themortgage company and wasa branch manager and

Pennsylvania state manag-er with Allied.

In 2004, Bullington pur-chased the North RichardStreet, where the businessis currently housed.

The business expandedin 2004 to offer real estatewith Central PA RealEstate Services LLC andtitle services with CentralPA Settlement ServicesLLC.

Bullington Financial alsooffers loan products forFHA, VA, USDA and Con-ventional Mortgages. “It’s aone-stop-shop,” she said.

When carving your ownway in business, Bullingtonsaid it is important to lookat where you are locatedand make sure your servic-es fit the needs of the peo-ple.

“In Bedford, they don’twant to call an 800 numberto get help,” she said,adding that above all, her

business is “very customerservice-oriented.”

Bullington said she can’tcount the number of cus-tomers who turn to herafter being frustrated withcalling different agenciesand speaking to a differentperson each time.

It’s the one-on-one con-sultation, she said, thatearns her business refer-rals.

Bullington says shedoesn’t believe in “pushy”sales tactics or telemarket-ing schemes to make salesand takes her time to makesure customers get thehouse they want.

She relies on buildingstrong relationship withclients, even inviting themto call or text with ques-tions in the middle of thenight.

“I want them to be com-fortable and if we havequestions we can work itout,” she said.

———For Melinda Feaster and

John Black, co-owners ofColdwell Banker SKS Real-ty on South Juliana Street,hard work is the key tomoving up in the ranks andbeing successful in busi-ness.

“You definitely need towork hard,” said Feaster,who added that in realty, itis also important to makeyourself available forclients.

Feaster and Black tookover as part owners in2007, then bought out thecompany in 2013.

“You also really have tolike what you do or you’rejust going to dread going towork,” Feaster said.

The co-owners startedout at Coldwell Banker asreal estate agents as a sec-ond job.

Feaster said when shestarted with the companyin 1998, most agents wereworking part time. Nowthat there are more homesbeing sold, she said morepeople are looking to realestate as a full-time career.

Feaster’s entrepreneur-ship started before shebegan with ColdwellBanker. She said she ownedher own hair salon and hassince then transitioned.

“It’s a lot of hard work, alot of time and a lot ofhours being able to be per-sonable with people,” shesaid. “I think that seems tohelp you be more successfuland give back to the com-munity.”

Before getting into realestate, Black said heworked as a teacher andathletic director for bothChestnut Ridge and Bed-ford school districts. In hislast seven years of teaching,he said he became involvedin real estate. The transi-tion, for him, was a naturalone.

“As a teacher, I alwaysenjoyed being around peo-ple,” he said.

Black was an agent forabout 10 years before buy-ing a piece of the company.

Black advised those look-ing to start their own busi-ness that “if you think youhave a good idea and areconfident in yourself, don’thesitate to try. A lot of peo-ple look back and say ‘Iwish I would’ve.’” he said.“If you have the chance you

should go for it, but youhave to believe in yourself.”

The company itself,Feaster said, has grownover the years, from havingjust three agents to asmany as 21 at one time.

Coldwell Banker, shesaid, has become known asthe number one realtor inBedford County, which shepartially credits to theoffice’s location.

Feaster also said Cold-well Banker stands out inthe Bedford communitybecause her agents are sopersonable.

“We stress to our agentsto treat people the way theywant to be treated and givea little extra effort,” shesaid.

———Another area entrepre-

neur recently took over theBedford branch of a compa-ny that is now known asthe largest family-ownedreal estate company in thenation.

Sean Bardell, owner ofHoward Hanna BardellRealty, purchased the Bed-ford branch from RichardJohnston, who had ownedthe company since 1984.

The Howard Hanna realestate company was estab-lished in 1957 and has 200offices nationwide. Bardellsaid it has become knownas the fourth largest realestate company in the Unit-ed States and the largest inPennsylvania.

Additionally, Bardell saidHoward Hanna is the onlyreal estate company in thenation with a 100 percentmoney back guarantee.

“That’s the differencemaker for a lot of people,”he said.

The key to Bardell’s suc-cess at Howard Hanna hasbeen simply hard work, hesaid.

“I think if you work hardand really concentrate inthe field that you’re work-ing in, you can basically doanything you want, but ittakes a lot of hard work,”he said.

Bardell said he has also

had to keep some unusualhours to maintain successat his branch.

“Everyone thinks realestate is a part-time or 9-to-5 job, but it’s prettymuch seven days a weekand you work a lot ofhours,” he said.

Since taking over thecompany in August, Bardellsaid the transition has beena smooth one.

“The market has beenreally good and things havebeen going really well,” hesaid.

Bardell had been work-ing under Johnston, sellingreal estate for 15 yearsprior to buying the Bedfordbranch.

“I always wanted to ownthe business if the ownerever wanted to sell or retireand I just got that opportu-nity last year,” he said.

Born and raised in Bed-ford, Bardell said when hecompleted his service in themilitary, he “went straightinto selling real estate.”

“I didn’t know what Iwanted to do, and RichardJohnston was looking forsomeone to train to becomean appraiser,” he said.

Since then, Bardell saidhe has “loves” what hedoes.

“I enjoy meeting all dif-ferent people and I enjoyseeing all the differentproperties,” he said. “It’sjust very enjoyable.”

In the future, he strivesto grow the Bedford branchand continue carrying outthe Howard Hanna busi-ness model, which is push-ing for a strong online pres-ence.

“Our website gets over amillion views in a month,so we’re trying to positionourselves on the web,” saidBardell, adding that he ispushing for his agents to betrained on how the indus-try is changing.

———Contact Erin Thompson

at [email protected]; 623-1151,ext. 150. Follow on Twitter@ethompsonbedgaz.

BOUTIQUES • ANTIQUES • DINING • GALLERIES • WINERY • PARKS • MUSEUMS

A TOP 10 MAIN STREET IN THE USA!

Photo credit: Grin Gallery


Bedford County realty gives a personal touch to buying property

Gazette Photos/Erin ThompsonAt left, Melinda Feaster and John Black, co-owners of Coldwell Banker SKS

Realty on South Juliana Street, pose for a photo on June 16. Feaster and Blackmoved up the ranks at Coldwell Banker in 2007.

Above, Sean Bardell, owner of the Bedford branch of Howard Hanna BardellRealty, poses in this June photo. Bardell purchased Howard Hanna, known as thelargest family-owned real estate company in the nation, in August.

Photo submittedLinda Bullington, owner of Bullington Financial

LLC, poses for a photo. Bullington’s company operat-ed under CrossCountry Mortgage until she decidedto go into business for herself in 2014.

“I wanted to be able to give answers tosomeone instead of calling a CEO to get aproject completed,”

—Linda Bullington, Bullington Financial LLC

By Harry ZimblerMany of the legends of

business started as wild-eyed entrepreneurs, oftenworking out of a basementor garage until a moreappropriate space could befound and afforded.

That, in many respects,is the story of BC Stone, afabricator of natural andmanmade stone pieces forresidential and commercialcustomers and one ofEverett and Bedford Coun-ty's premiere employers.

It all started when part-ners Rodney Bair andTravis Collins were drivingback from a job in Wash-ington, D.C.

“Rodney and I were rid-ing home one evening and Iasked him if he wanted tostart our own company. Hesaid yes and the rest is his-tory,” said Collins.

What led to the decisionto create a “start up,” oneof the riskiest things onecan do in business and life?

“I wanted to be in controlof my own future,” Collinsexplained. “I always knew Iwould be limited by thecompany I worked for. I feltI would be able to have abetter income and way oflife. The stars aligned whenwe started BC Stone.”

The decision to start thebusiness was soon followedby a move into — youguessed it — a garage.

“Rodney's mother-in-lawallowed us to use hergarage, electricity andwater for a few months, toget started.” Collins noted.

A local businessman owner-financed our first building.He took a chance on us andwanted to give us a shot.We purchased anotherrental property from him,and his father owner-financed one for us.”

Creating a company isrisky business. Often, itmeans little income for theowners for a long time. Thefear of failure and personalloss is often present whenentrepreneurs go out ontheir own.

“Fear is either paralyzingor a motivator,” Collinsbegan. “Confidence in your-self and your abilities arethe best way to overcomethe fear. Determine whatyou are fearful of and avoidit at all cost. That means,be willing to do whatever ittakes to succeed. Honestly,we didn't fear the initial

leap into our own company.We were extremely confi-dent in our abilities to pro-vide service and a qualityproduct.”

To get started, Collinsinvested $1,000 of his ownsavings. The partners setlow salaries and investedeverything else back intothe business for severalyears.

To grow, financing wasneeded. “We have a greatrelationship with severalbanks. We had virtuallyzero debt —except forbuildings — for the firstseven or eight years.

Both Bair and Collinsfeel fortunate that theirpartnership has been areal strength for the com-pany.

“Partners can make orbreak a company. We havebeen very fortunate. Wework well together. Wehave our set responsibili-ties but both will cover forthe other,” Collins said.

Make no mistake,despite the challenges, thepartners would do it again.“Of course a lot of personalsacrifices were made,” saidCollins.

To stay successful BC

Stone's leaders must antici-pate market trends anddeal with many regula-tions.

“Our greatest opportuni-ty is the new technologythat is coming. Our nextinvestment will be a robotarm that will replace threeof our waterjet saws.”

Collins said it takes more

than a great idea to startand run a business. “Youneed perfect timing, nervesof steel and luck. Businessacumen is 80 percent com-mon sense. See what othersdo wrong and don't do thesame thing. And treat cus-tomers and employees theway you want to be treat-ed.”

By Harry ZimblerJust off Interstate 99,

the REI Distribution Cen-ter sits majestically atop asmall hill. These days, it'seasy to take the building —and the many great jobsinside — for granted. It iseasy to forget that thisbuilding was created by amountain climber who sawa need and worked dili-gently to fill it. In otherwords, he was an entrepre-neur.

REI was founded byLloyd and Mary Anderson.Lloyd, an electrical engi-neer and amateur moun-tain climber, began climb-ing early in the 20th centu-ry. As his skill and interestin climbing grew, so did hisfrustration with the limitedstock, poor quality, andhigh prices of mountainclimbing equipment sold inthe United States.

Together with his wife,Mary Anderson, he beganordering high-quality Euro-pean outdoor equipmentand re-selling it to friends,mountain climbers, back-packers and hikers inWashington state.

In 1938, the Andersonsformed the RecreationalEquipment Cooperative toshare quality outdoor gearwith their fellow climbingbuddies.

They set up a shop in agarage, created a ware-house in the attic and anoffice in the family kitchen.

When asked why he did-n't make REI a full-fledgedbusiness and reap all the

profits for himself, Ander-son replied, “REI is a co-opand it ought to stay thatway. I never thought a manshould make money off hisfriends.”

Anderson became REI'spresident but continuedworking as an electricalengineer for Seattle's tran-sit system.

Currently, REI Co-opmembers pay a $20 life-time membership fee andreceive a 10 percent rebateon their purchases in agiven year.

In 2007, with the help ofthe entire Bedford Countyeconomic community, REIopened the 525,000 squarefoot distribution center.

The company needed tobetter serve its customerson the east coast. Thus,one of the nation's bestplaces to work is now call-ing Bedford County home.

This great success story— born in the mind ofLloyd Anderson and start-ed in the Andersons'garage — has grown and

evolved into an importantBedford County employer

and valued communitypartner.

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It is easy to forget that this building wascreated by a mountain climber who saw aneed and worked diligently to fill it.

—Lloyd and Mary Anderson and REI’s

Bedford Distribution Center

“Fear is either paralyzing or a motivator.Confidence in yourself and your abilitiesare the best way to overcome the fear.”

—Travis Collins, BC Stone

A perfect example of entrepreneurship in actionBC Stone went from working in a garage to thriving

REI climbed the mountain of industry, literally and figuratively

—Photos SubmittedREI’s distribution center in Bedford is shown in Bedford township, just off

Interstate 99. REI opened the 525,00 square-foot facility in 2007.

Lloyd and Mary Anderson are pictured modelingthe very latest in mountain wear for a 1946 newspa-per photo. The caption read: "The Smart Set." Lloydwas The Mountaineers president at the time, and thecooperative they founded in 1938 (later known asRecreational Equipment Inc. - REI) was one of thebest sources of mountaineering gear in the country.

—Photo SubmittedAt left, Rodney Bair and Travis Collins, co-owners,

stand in front of the BC Stone building, Everett. Thetwo started the natural and manmade stone fabrica-tion firm in a garage. Travis Collins, Rodney Bairand Gary Laidig stand in front of the aforemen-tioned garage, above.

Making Bedford IT services a one-stop shopAerial Communications services local computing needs

By Erin ThompsonGazette Staff WriterKevin Diehl, owner of

Aerial Communications,was attending college tobecome a Maryland statetrooper when he startedworking in informationtechnology.

Then, he said, IT was justsomething he enjoyed doing,but through working in thefield, he found there was agreater need in the commu-nity than what local compa-nies were offering.

“One of the things I sawin the county was therewere a lot of small compa-nies doing computer repair,but that people needed a lotmore services. My goal wasto grow the company toestablish a one-stop shop forcustomers that needed theservices that we offer,” hesaid. “I didn’t feel cus-tomers’ needs were beingmet at the company I wasworking for so I decided togo on my own.”

With the help of hisfather, Larry, Kevin becamea third generation self-employed Diehl. Ten yearslater, Aerial Communica-tions has grown to offer avariety of services includinganything from generalrepair for personal comput-ers to managing servers forcorporations to video sur-veillance. Kevin is now aleading IT company in theBedford area.

“My dad was the driving

force behind the supportand helping me grow andlearn to make the companywhat it is today,” saidKevin.

His father, Larry, hasbeen the owner of Diehl

Equipment Company formore than 40 years. Larrytook over the business whenhe was 21, shortly after hisfather, Kevin’s grandfather,Bernard, passed away.

Kevin said Bernard start-

ed Diehl Equipment Compa-ny in 1960 by offering milk-ing parlors and free stallbarns. Larry then expandedthe business to includewarehousing and commer-cial buildings.

Before he becameinvolved in IT, Kevin saidhe was attending school atAllegany College of Mary-land and studying criminaljustice to follow in hismom’s footsteps.

However, he said, ITseemed to come naturallyto him. “It wasn’t hard toget up and get to workeach day,” he said. “I reallyenjoyed it.”

Diehl launched his busi-ness in 2006, at age 18.When he started, he saidhe offered basic services,but had “full intention ofgrowing.” Now in its 10thyear, Aerial Communica-tions is in the planningstages of a large expansionproject, he said.

The company recentlypurchased ground nearBattery Warehouse on MileLevel to build a 13,000square-foot facility, wherehe hopes to continue toexpand the business. Hesaid a new facility is slatedto open on Mile Level in2017.

“We are going to growand add more staff,” saidKevin, who added that heis always “keeping an eyeout” for youth looking toenter the IT field. “We

want to create a job basehere so they don’t have tolook at moving to a big cityto get a job in the ITworld.”

Kevin said his goals forthe company are to offerthe best possible computerservice to everyone,whether it be a personneeding basic help withtheir computer to large cor-poration.

“We are who we arebecause of our county andthe people in it,” Kevinsaid. “Our local people arewho made us. We alwaystry to make sure we havethe same service across theboard.”

To be successful in start-ing your own business,Kevin said it is importantto evaluate the industryyou are looking to enter.“You have to make sure itis viable. You also have tomake sure your heart andsoul is it and that you havethe support and encourage-ment you need to getthrough the tough times.”

———Contact Erin Thompson at

[email protected]; 623-1151, ext. 150. Fol-low on Twitter @ethompsonbedgaz.

By Harry ZimblerThe Omni Bedford

Springs Resort and Spa hasbecome a centerpiece oftourism, business meetingsand events in Bedford Coun-ty. Since its re-opening in2007, the Bedford Springshas laid claim to being oneof America's grandest histor-ical hotels.

This grand dame is theresult of the vision of JohnAnderson, an entrepreneurand medical doctor.

A historical marker at theresort states, “The medicinalvalues of the springs werediscovered about 1796. Itsoon became a leading resortvisited by numerous nota-bles. President James

Buchanan used BedfordSprings as the summerWhite House.”

It was John Anderson whohad the vision for the prop-erty when Native Americansintroduced him to the cura-tive powers of the springs.

A native of Bedford,Anderson was curious if thesprings could provide treat-ments for his patients. Heclearly saw in the springswhat others missed — agolden opportunity. By suc-cessfully treating patientsfrom a multiple-stateradius, he soon realized thatthere was demand for a newhotel.

In 1798, Anderson pur-chased the land and beganwelcoming customers to thesprings. In 1803 a Pitts-burgh newspaper reportedthat the “extraordinarycures of the springs arebeginning to excite very gen-

eral attention.” The Stone Inn, the first of

the hotel's buildings, wasbuilt in 1806.

Eventually Anderson gotinvolved in local businesses,acting as president of theAllegheny Bank of Pennsyl-vania and President of theChambersburg and BedfordTurnpike Road Company.When he died in Bedford in1839, he had amassed con-siderable wealth.

In 1895, Bedford Springsopened the first golf coursein America and in 1905 anindoor pool was added.

In 2007, owing to a deter-

mined developer and thepassion of the political andeconomic development com-munities, the hotel under-went a $120 million restora-tion.

With more than 200 yearsof historic significance,including visits by 13 presi-dents, the Omni BedfordSprings Resort and Spalooks to the future withgreat optimism and a brightfuture.

The entrepreneurial spiritthat inspired Dr. JohnAnderson in 1796 continuesto be alive and well in Bed-ford County today.

We don’t just build buildings...We’re building your Future.

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We understand that completing a successfulproject requires more than simply buildingthe structure - we must maintain an interactive relationship with our customersto ensure the job is done right. This commitment enables us to develop a long-standing relationship of trust and confidence with our customers. When the Clark name is on a project, you know the job is done right.

145 Clark Building Road Suite 7 Bedford, PA 15522 814.623.9400

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Bedford County Proud

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“We want to create a job base here so theydon’t have to look at moving to a big cityto get a job in the IT world.”

—Kevin Diehl, Aerial Communications

This grand dame is the result of thevision of John Anderson, an entrepreneurand medical doctor.

—Bedford Springs Resort, today part of the Omni

Hotels and Resorts family

Dr. Anderson, an early Bedford County entrepreneur

Gazette Photo/Erin ThompsonKevin Diehl, owner of Aerial Communications, in Bedford, poses at his desk.

Diehl is a third generation self-employed Diehl and says he decided to start hiscompany when he saw a need for more IT services in Bedford County.

—Photo SubmittedGuests enjoy the Mineral Springs pavilion, circa

1890s. In 1798, John Anderson purchased the landand began welcoming customers to the springs,which were found to be medicinal.

Bedford Springs arises from the musings of a doctor

By Lucille KentnerGazette Staff Writer

MANNS CHOICE — Nomatter the need for homeimprovement projects, it isalways nice to say, “I have aguy to do that. ”

For Bedford County resi-dents, however, they havemore than just “a guy” tohelp — they have Guy’sHardware.

The business, which is cel-ebrating its 50th anniver-sary this year, is bestdescribed as a neighborhoodhardware store with theinventory to rival the biggesthome improvement chain. Itis located at 6231 AlleghenyRoad, Manns Choice, andsells a wide range of itemsfor many different needs.

Some of the things Guy’sHardware sells are qualitydiscount building materialsand hardware, automotiveneeds and lawn and gardenitems. In addition, they area Husqvarna dealer, dosmall engine repair and theyemploy six technicians thatdo plumbing, heating andair conditioning repairs.

Stanley Ferguson, one ofthe business’ three owners,says his staff is friendly andextremely knowlegable,especially for the do-it-your-self enthusiasts.

“We have many do-it-your-selfers come in here, but we

are always happy to helpout,” Ferguson said.

Guy’s staff welcomesapproximately 500 cus-tomers per week, a signifi-cant number considering itsrural location.

When setting foot intoGuy’s Hardware, it is easy tosee why so many localschoose this as their premierhome and business construc-

tion project site. The shelvesare densely lined with in-stock products and theworkers greet each personas they walk through thedoor.

The inventory and know-how rivals the “big box”stores many miles away.

The store’s motto is, quiteaptly, “If Guy’s doesn’t haveit, you don’t need it!”

More than just a ‘guy’ to helpGuy’s Hardware celebrates 50 years

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“We have many do-it-yourselfers come inhere, but we are always happy to helpout.”

—Stanley Ferguson, Guy’s Hardware

Gazette Photo/Lucille KentnerStanley Ferguson, one of the three owners of the

50 year-old Guy’s Hardware business, stands behindthe counter on June 4, ready to greet customers,answer questions and make suggestions. Guy’s Hard-ware is located at 6231 Allegheny Road/Rt. 96, MannsChoice.

‘Naturally compelled’ to operate a businessBy Harry Zimbler

You might say that JeffCrist was destined to ownand operate his own busi-ness.

“It wasn't that I didn'twant to work for someoneelse. I simply found myselfnaturally compelled to pushtowards owning and operat-ing a business,” he said. “Iviewed it as a challenge andas a path to implement myown ideas.”

Crist and his wife dis-cussed business opportuni-ties and started working ona business plan together,over time.

Crist, a professional engi-neer, is president of Gatter& Diehl, a firm that special-izes in professional construc-tion related design, engi-neering, management andcommissioning services.

Now a successful businessleader, Crist had a detailedplan to deal with the anxi-ety of taking the risks neces-sary to run a company.

“You must totally under-stand your industry andhow to market relevantideas,” he explained. “Makeyourself acutely aware ofthe upside and the down-

side. Plan well to positionyourself against what couldgo wrong. Start with a busi-ness plan and strategy,including options. If optionA doesn't work, move tooption B.”

Crist noted that it isimportant to reach out toprospective clients/cus-tomers to test their willing-ness to do business withyour company. “If you arelooking for a 'no failure sce-nario' you will never get offthe ground,” said Crist,“Accepting some level of riskis what all businesses do.”

To finance his enterprise,Crist said he went to severalbanks and reviewed hisbusiness plan with them. “Iconfidently explained howmy plan would work. Fromthere, I obtained the initialfinancing to allow me to pro-ceed. Be prepared to go toseveral banks. Some willreject right away. Otherswill consider and one or twowill be excited to assist you.”

Crist explained that hehad to use his personalassets as collateral to securea business loan. This is usu-ally the case with new busi-nesses. “Remember, banks

are in the business of mini-mizing risk also.”

When considering themany challenges that con-front any new business,Crist noted that the corebusiness is the easiest part.“The non-technical portion iscertainly the most challeng-ing. There is no single great-est challenge. It is a combi-nation of clear communica-tion, accepting industrychange, contracting, collec-tions, employee benefits, costcontrols, and controlling lia-bilities are some of the chal-lenges we face.”

One thing that everystartup business leader willhear is this piece of advice:Having a great idea is notenough. You must also buildthe infrastructure that willsupport and sustain thebusiness.

“Surround yourself withquality, positive thinkingpeople,” Crist advised.“Strive to build relationshipswith decision makers. Ignoreand separate yourself fromthe negative thinkers. Adopta 'can do' attitude and expectthat you are going to workharder and longer than any-one else in the company.”

—Photo SubmittedJeff Crist, shown here in a submitted photo, president of Gatter & Diehl, said

he started the business to implement his own ideas and reach his own goals.

By Elizabeth CoyleGazette Managing Editor

Mari-Pat Beene took theleap to open her own busi-ness in downtown Bedfordas a venture that, for her,didn’t have a lot of risk.

In fact, buying the build-ing that formerly housedLambert’s Custom Framingon Juliana Street withplans to reopen a framingbusiness and adding studioand classroom space forestablished or burgeoningartists, was a low-risk ven-ture for basic reasons, shebelieves.

“It was a risk but it wasa safe risk,” Beene saidfrom inside her yet-to-berenovated building thatwill house her Pigeon HillStudios.

The front of the buildingwill house BackstageAlpaca Shop which willmove from its current loca-tion at 148 E. Pitt St. to115 Juliana St. once thefront of the building is ren-ovated. Beene expects thatto be in early August.

Beene originally thoughtabout putting up a newbuilding but the fees andcosts didn’t seem any morereasonable than buying thestructure that is as famil-iar as most buildings intown.

“We’ve got the prettiestbuilding, I think, in townand it’s right in the primeshopping district of Bed-ford,” she said.

Beene thinks she will fillseveral needs with her ownspace, which will have anentrance at 115 Juliana St.

She will continue to offercustom framing. She is alsorenovating to create studiospace that will provideopportunities for artists topaint, draw and work inceramics and other media.She also said workshopsand classes may be held ather studios.

Beene, who has herthumbprint as a graphicdesigner around BedfordCounty, said she’s beenasked if she would teachclasses, but she didn’t real-ly have space. The newlocation now fulfills thatneed.

She also has plans torent out space for thosewho want to create art butdon’t have their own facili-ties.

“Say you have potteryexperience but you don’thave any supplies or equip-ment. Or, if you want topaint but you don’t havethe space in your ownhome,” she said. Customerswill be able to rent thespace and not only takeadvantage of the facilities“but also get critiques andsome constructive criti-cisms,” she said.

Another plan is to offerworkshops that cater to

children, namely theyoungsters of those visitingthe Omni Bedford SpringsResort.

“They can bring kids into keep them occupiedwhile they shop aroundtown,” she said.

Beene has been a graphicdesigner, obtaining adegree from Indiana Uni-versity of Pennsylvania,and then, in the mid-1980s,heading out to Californiaright after graduation. Shelanded a job with a consult-ing firm, working for 5 1/2years there before taking aposition as senior graphicdesigner from 1993 to 1995in a studio, designing pack-aging for the toy and gam-ing industry and somegiants in the business —Sega and Nintendo, toname a couple.

Since she’s lived in theBedford area the past 11years, her work is in blackand white and metal. Shedesigned the giant quarterthat is part of the LincolnHighway Heritage Corri-dor’s Roadside Giantsproject in the front ofDown River Golf Course,Everett, and assisted withthree sculptures outsideBedford Elementary. She

also designed the BedfordHeritage Trust’s logo andmost of the design workfor Downtown BedfordInc., for whom she servesin several volunteer roles.

Beene said she’s hadhelp from other artists asshe goes through the reno-vation process. It’s howthe artistic communityworks, she said.

“Artists help each otherbecause we love craftingthings. We do it for thelove of it, not money.”Although, she is hopingfor success financially.

Beene hopes to open theframing shop in late Sep-tember and have the stu-dio spaces ready for mid-winter. The website is dueto be up soon atwww.pigeonhillstudios.com

The building, its loca-tion and the downtownarea helped Beene to sayyes to a new project. Shethinks it will also be anasset to the economy.

“I think it will benefitthe downtown as a retailspace,” she said.

———Contact Elizabeth Coyle

at [email protected]; 623-1151, ext. 105.

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“We’ve got the prettiest building, I think,in town and it’s right in the prime shop-ping district of Bedford.”

—Mari-Pat Beene, Pigeon Hill Studios

Familiar location to bebase for classes, crafts

Gazette Photo/Elizabeth CoyleBedford artist Mari-Pat Beene stands in front of

the building on Juliana Street, Bedford, which willhouse her Pigeon Hill Studios as well as BackstageAlpaca Shop, which will soon relocate from East PittStreet.

Bringing authentic Italian food to Bedford

By Lucille KentnerFor the Gazette

In the middle of down-town Bedford, there is asmall piece of Milan,brought to you by Italiannatives, Stefano Ferrariand Luca Fanni, co-ownersof LIFeSTYLE, a high-endstore that sells artisanproducts from Italy andserves up delicious five-course meals at its tratto-ria on Friday and Saturdayevenings.

The name of this gastro-nomic establishment, itself,and the “odd” capitalizationtherein, gives a hint at theexperience patrons share:Living Italian Food e (and)STYLE, and has beenlocated at 108 East PittStreet for the past nineyears, and has been dish-ing up all the best in quali-ty cuisine.

Ferrari and Fannidescribe food as their “pas-sion.”

“We learned to cook fromour mothers and ourgrandmothers, mostly,”Ferrari said. “Our concept

was to open with only thebest products from Italy. Somany ‘Italian’ things soldin America are not trueItalian. We import every-thing directly from Italy.”

An example of itemspatrons may see on theshelves include dry pastas,coffee, vinegars, oils andsauces, directly from thefinest regions of theMediterranean nation.

Much like in an Italianhousehold, the mealsserved at LIFeSTYLE arereminiscent of Nonna’sSunday table: Family style.

“We have one table thatcan seat up to 32 people,”Ferrari said. “At first, peo-ple are quiet and shy, butwhen the food and winecome out, people warm upand start talking,” he con-tinued.

Patrons of LIFeSTYLEshould make reservationsprior to their gastronomicexperience. They areserved a five-course prixfixe menu, which Ferrariand Fanni create at “lastminute to keep everything

as fresh as possible.” An example of a typical

menu will include the fol-lowing:

— Appetizers, usuallycrostini, prosciutto orsopressata;

— A pasta or risotto dish(the only choice given);

— Meat course (chicken,pork, lamb or freshseafood);

— Cheese;— Dessert, usually

tiramisu, homemade gelat-to or fresh fruit.

“We will call our cus-tomers a few days beforetheir reservations to tellthem what’s on the menuso they know what toexpect. We also give themwine suggestions,” Ferrarisaid. “We make it a point toget to know all our cus-tomers so we can accomo-date their dietary needs inadvance,” he continued.

Price per person is $55,and it is BYOB. Reserva-tions may be made by call-ing 623-2703 or by visitingthe website at www.italian-foodandstyle.com.

Gazette Photo/Lucille KentnerCo-owner of LIFeSTYLE, Stefano Ferrari, shows a variety of imported Ital-

ian products sold in his eatery, located on West Pitt St., Bedford, June 18. Fer-rari sells authentic, "high quality" Italian products that match the quality ofthe delicious meals he and co-owner, Luca Fanni, serve to their guests.

Walton’s vision succeeds beyond his dreamBy Harry Zimbler

One of Bedford County'stop employers is the Wal-Mart Distribution Center.Year after year it is anaward-winning facility thatranks among the best inthe Wal-Mart system. Itreaches many excellentmilestones due to its excel-lent workforce, a hallmarkof Bedford County and thesurrounding region.

Wal-Mart and Sam'sClub are now rankedamong the top retailers inthe world. It all started inthe mind of Sam Walton.

Walton didn't invent thechain department store. Ashe once stated, “In businessit is wise to take the bestideas from someone else.”

Woolworth opened itsfirst “Five and Dime” storein 1878. Sears and Roebucktransitioned from a mailorder platform to storesales in 1926 when Waltonwas only 8 years old andliving on a farm in Okla-homa.

Walton's vision was sim-ple: bring Big City dis-counting to small-townAmerica.

To launch his first store,Walton mortgaged his homeand borrowed money. Theyear was 1962 and the firststore opened in Rogers,Arkansas. The store offeredrural customers productspriced to meet their budg-ets. As a result, Wal-Martwas able to competeagainst the leading depart-ment store chains in Ameri-ca.

Sam Walton, like manyentrepreneurs, thrived onhis belief that he could do itbetter than the otherstores. “If I had to singleout one element in my lifethat has made a differencefor me, it would be a pas-sion to compete,” he oncestated.

In 2015, Wal-Martearned nearly $132 billionin profits, having supplant-ed much — if not all — thecompetition. By 1994, forexample, Woolworth hadsold most of its Canadianstores to Wal-Mart andclosed its remaining Ameri-can stores three years later.Sears has lost $7.1 billionover the last four fiscalyears and was recentlyforced to borrow $750 mil-lion to keep its flounderingbusiness afloat.

“You can make a lot ofmistakes and still recover ifyou run an efficient opera-tion,” Walton said. “You canbe brilliant and still go outof business if you are tooinefficient.”

Much of Wal-Mart's suc-cess can be attributed to itsefficient supply chain andstrategically located distri-bution centers. And that'swhere Bedford County fitsin.

The local workforce iscommitted to continuousimprovement and consis-tently meets or exceeds

company goals. This DChas enabled Wal-Mart tosupply the company's con-tinued expansion in theMid-Atlantic Region.

By combining Sam Wal-ton's entrepreneurial visionand Bedford County's dedi-cated workforce, hundredsof jobs in Bedford Countyhave been created.

Oh, how sweet it is Bedford Candies continues expansion

By Andrew CarrGazette Associate Editor

Bedford Candies, found-ed in 1929 by George B.Sotirokos in the heart ofhistoric Bedford, continuesto thrive after nearly 87years in the community,while opening a secondlocation in the Altoonaarea and looking toexpand with a manufac-turing facility in thefuture.

The store was ownedand operated by three gen-erations of the Sotirokos

family, before it was pur-chased by long-timeemployee Tammy Wiley in2010.

After moving to a newlocation in 2011, the site ofthe old Fisher’s Pharmacybuilding at 106 E. Pitt St.,Bedford, the businessadded a gourmet popcornline, which was the brain-child of Wiley’s son, Adam,who created it as a seniorproject. The new productline debuted in July 2013,and has continued tobecome incredibly popular,

according to Wiley.In the fall of 2015, the

business added a kiosk tothe Logan Valley Mall,before opening up a tem-porary storefront in themall from February toMay 2016. Wiley said asecond location wasopened on June 27, at thePleasant Valley ShoppingCenter, offering opportuni-ties for regional cus-tomers, as far as StateCollege, “bridging the gap”between the originalstorefront and those cus-

tomers. “We felt that Altoona

customers were regularscoming to downtown Bed-ford,” she said. “We triedit out at the mall to see

reception, and people werereally thrilled to have uscoming to town.”

She said the businesshas begun searching for amanufacturing facility and

warehouse in the Bedfordarea, with the hopes tohave those facilities openby the summer of 2017.

Although a lot haschanged for Bedford Can-dies, including the newlocation and the additionof gourmet popcorn, theclassic family recipes andgreat chocolates are stillhandmade daily on-site.

———Contact Andrew Carr at

[email protected];623-1151, ext. 130. Followon Twitter @acarrbedgaz.

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“If I had to single out one element in mylife that has made a difference for me, itwould be a passion to compete.”

—Sam Walton, Wal-Mart founder

“We felt that Altoona customers were reg-ulars coming to downtown Bedford. Wetried it out at the mall to see reception,and people were really thrilled to have uscoming to town.”

—Tammy Wiley, Bedford Candies

Gazette Photos/Andrew CarrAbove, Tammy Wiley, and son Adam, are show behind the counters of

some of the confections offered at Bedford Candies. At right, the store-front of Bedford Candies is shown.

—Photos submittedPictured, above, is Wal-Mart Distribution Center

6047, located in Bedford. The award-winning Wal-Mart Distribution Center is one of Bedford Coun-ty’s top employers. At left, pictured is Sam Walton,the founder of Wal-Mart. Walton grew Wal-Martfrom a small business in Roger, Arkansas to a busi-ness that earned nearly $132 billion in profits in2015.


One local construction businessis paving the way for green con-struction and resource manage-ment in the local community,using their resources to construct“green buildings” and electric carchargers.

Clark Contractors Inc., which islocated at 145 Clark BuildingRoad, Bedford, has been movinginto the future, according toClifton Clark, current owner andoperator.

Since 1951 Clark Contractorshas performed commercial andindustrial work for a wide rangeof clients throughout the cen-tral/western Pennsylvania andnorthern Maryland area, accord-ing to the company’s website.

Clark said the business is mov-ing into new territories of greenconstruction and electric carcharger installation, while stillfocusing on their existing com-mercial and industrial projects.

“We are continuing with ourexisting customers, which are gov-ernment agencies, commercialand industrial, and we are lookingto do more work in the field ofgreen building, energy savingsand new technologies,” he said.

Clark said under a Departmentof Environmental Protection pro-gram, the company has installedsix electric car chargers to date,five on the Pennsylvania Turnpike

and one at the Harrisburg Air-port. These are electric car charg-ing stations, using two differenttypes of chargers, which cancharge an electric vehicle any-where from within an hour toeight hours, he said.

Clark said the company plansto install four or five more ofthese chargers at other stateproperties as well.

He said the company has alsobeen doing a lot of LED retrofitsfor existing facilities, which isreplacing all the old light fixtureswith new high-performing, ener-gy-saving LED lights, and hascompleted two “green building”facilities, which are designed tocut energy savings and help man-age resources.

“It’s the future because of sus-tainability,” Clark said. “Thegreen building has every aspect init. We do recycling, we do energysavings, and it all improves theenvironment through the reuse ofresources and cutting the energycost in use in a building by over50 percent in some cases.”

Locally, Clark said the companyrecently completed an expansionfor the Holiday Inn Express inBreezewood as well as are in theprocess of a 35,000 square footexpansion for Central Hydraulics.

Clark said the company followsthe entire process from the initialexcavation to the final install ofHVAC and plumbing components.

From high-efficiency fixtures thatsave money on monthly utilitybills and specialized plumbingand HVAC for supermarkets, carwashes or other businesses tointegrated communications sys-tems that improve workflow,Clark Contractors has the innova-tive solutions to enhance bottom-lines, according to the company’swebsite.

Clark said the business wasstarted by his grandfather, PaulClark, with his first major project

in 1952, being the Howard John-son in Breezewood. Clark said hisfather then took over the businessin 1982 and developed the head-quarters at the Clark Buildingwhere the business currentlyoperates.

Clark said in 1998 he took overoffice operations, and the businesshas continued to grow. As a third-generation in a family business,Clark said it is important to con-tinue the family tradition andkeep the business growing.

“My motivation is to be able toexpand the company into thefuture and continue the growth ofthe company that occurred in thepast 45 years before my arrival,”he said.

The business currently has 65full time employees and islicensed in 10 states, reaching asfar north as Maine and as farsouth as South Carolina.

Clark said customers rangefrom state government agencies tothe federal government, the U.S.Postal Service and many commer-cial and industrial businessesthroughout the region.

For more information on thecompany, visit their website atwww.clarkcontractorinc.com.


[email protected]; 623-1151, ext. 130. Follow on Twitter@acarrbedgaz.


Steve Miller started outin recycling after he want-ed a career change fromthe trucking industry, toget off the road and spendmore time with his family.

Millers’s Quality Recy-cling, located in Bedford,started more than 30 yearsago and has since growninto a family venture,which includes his wifeKim, daughter CrystalPredix and son-in-lawJason, daughter TiffanyTice and son-in-law Gar-rett and his grandchildren.

Specializing in metals

and waste paper recycling,Miller said the businessbuys all grades of metal,plastics and paper, whichare processed by the com-pany.

Miller said he had a con-versation with a friend,who told him about a recy-cling opportunity from alocal business and hebegan picking up bales ofcardboard from GiantEagle in the early 1980s.

“We just started growingfrom there,” Miller said.“Back in the early ’80sthat wasn’t a big thing likeit is now, and we havegrown with it ever since.”

The Millers then part-nered with a Marylandhauler in another recyclingventure, Penn Mar Recy-cling in Cumberland, Mary-land, before becoming soleowners of the facility, hesaid. Miller said the compa-ny handles all the recyclingneeds of Allegany County,Maryland, and the majorityof the baling and process-ing now occurs at theirCumberland facility.

Today, the business alsooffers roll off services, balepickups, installs balers andother recycling needs, offerscompartmentalized boxesand recycles used pallets.

“We try to be creative andfind new ways to recyclethings,” Miller said. “We arepretty versatile with whatwe do.”

He said the Penn Marfacility has grown from a10,000 square-foot facilityto a 150,000 square-footfacility.

He said the companyemploys nine individuals inBedford and 14 individualsin Cumberland. Miller saidhe prides himself with help-ing other businesses “gogreen.”

“We kind of pride our-selves on being a one-stopservice. We like going intobusinesses and consultingthem and teaching themhow to recycle,” he said.

For more information or

for estimates, call 623-2100.———

Contact Andrew Carr at


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“My motivation is to beable to expand the com-pany into the futureand continue thegrowth of the companythat occurred in thepast 45 years before myarrival.”

—Clifton Clark, Clark Contractors, Inc.

Clark Contractors looking to the futurePaving the way for green construction

Miller’s Quality Recycling: From the road to recyclables

Gazette photo/Andrew CarrSteve Miller, owner and operator of Miller’s Quali-

ty Recycling, is shown in front of several cardboardbales the company handles.

—Photo SubmittedShown is the construction process of one of the “green build-

ings” built by Clark Contractors at the Carbon Township WasteWater Treatment Plant.

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Small Business Development Center(SBDC) at St. Francis

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ness plan development.

Pennsylvania Industrial Development

Authority (PIDA)Low-interest loans and

lines of credit for eligiblebusinesses that commit tocreating and retaining full-time jobs. The funds can beused for land/buildingacquisitions; construction/renovation costs; machin-ery /equipment purchases;working capital andaccounts receivable lines ofcredit.

Eligibility: Manufactur-ing, industrial, agricultur-al, research and develop-ment, hospitality, defenseconversion, recycling, con-struction, child day-care,retail and service, export,and computer-related serv-ice enterprises.

Southern AllegheniesPlanning and Development Commission

SAP&DC's Loan Pro-gram helps businessesmaintain and increasetheir markets and createnew jobs. The loan pro-gram is available to eligiblebusinesses in variousindustry sectors for land/building costs, machinery/equipment, and workingcapital limited to inventoryand new personnel costs.Special programs are alsoavailable for businessesengaged in internationaltrade.

Small Business Administration (SBA)Funding available for

expanding business needs;provides growing business-es with long-term, fixed-rate financing for majorfixed assets, such as acqui-sition, construction, reno-vation, land/site improve-ments, acquisition/installa-tion of machinery/equip-ment.

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TechnologyLoan Fund (MTLF)

The MTLF is a privatefund available onlythrough Catalyst Connec-tion. This program assistscompanies in the purchaseof capital equipment suchas: computer hardware/software, computer-aideddesign and computer-aidedmanufacturing, andnumerically controlled andcomputer numerically con-trolled equipment.

The Progress Fund(TPF)

The Progress Fund pro-vides loans to tourism-related businesses.

Eligibility: bed andbreakfasts, lodges, and cab-ins; family-style andupscale restaurants andbanquet facilities; printingcompanies, manufacturers,camping supply store,smokehouse, financial advi-sor, blacksmith, grist mill,arts center, medical build-ing, natural health prod-ucts store, clothier, andcandy-making business.

See www.bcda.org orContact BCDA for moreinformation at [email protected] or 814-623-4816.

• Holding the line on taxes while

being fiscally responsible

• Improving operation efficiency through

innovative technology

• Promoting economic development through

collaborative marketing efforts

• Supporting County trail projects

• Increasing community outreach

through town halls

• Supporting the County correctional facility

programs to reduce recidivism

• Develop program initiatives to increase

Veteran outreach

S. Paul Crooks, Secretary

[email protected]

Joshua Lang, Chairman

[email protected]

Barry Dallara, Vice-Charman

[email protected]

Bedford County CommissionersThird Floor, Suite 301, 200 South Juliana Street, Bedford, PA 15522

Voice: 814.623.4807 • Fax: 814.623.0991

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They say one man’s trashis another man’s treasure,and for a local family, haul-ing either away hasallowed them to continue toexpand their business intothe surrounding counties.

Weaver’s Sanitation Ser-vice Inc. has been a local,family-owned business formore than 50 years. RobbieWeaver, current co-ownerand operator, said the busi-ness began in 1965, withhis grandfather, WilliamWeaver.

Robbie’s father, RobertWeaver Sr., also known as“Bob,” took over the busi-ness in 1969. He went doorto door handing out cardsto grow the customer base,Weaver said. It began withonly one truck and Bob andhis wife, Shirley, as employ-ees. After Robert Sr. waskilled in a traffic accidentin 2000, Robbie continuedthe family tradition, run-ning the business alongsidehis mother.

“Eventually we continuedto grow in customer base inBedford and Fulton coun-ties,” Weaver said.

The business started intothe commercial dumpsterservice and in 1990 beganroll-off service. Today,Weaver’s employs 30 peo-ple, runs 19 trucks andservices more than 5,000customers with residential,commercial dumpsters androll-off service in Bedford,Fulton and parts of Blairand Franklin counties aswell as Somerset, Cambriaand Huntingdon countiesand in Maryland and WestVirginia.

“We travel quite a bitwith the roll-off side of ourbusiness,” Weaver said.

In March 2012, the busi-ness opened a new facility,the Breezewood TransferStation, where individuals,contractors and othergarbage haulers can bringin loads of trash in pickupsor cars, trailers andgarbage trucks to unloadand it is then transportedby tractor-trailer to land-fills. The station also

accepts co-mingled recy-cling for plastic bottles, alu-minum cans, glass bottles,newspapers, cardboard andother recyclable materials.

Weaver said the businessplans to stay in the familyin the next generation aswell, with his son planningto take the business overafter obtaining a businessdegree from Penn State.

“We are just continuingto try to serve our cus-tomers well in the commu-nities that we have andlooking forward to continu-ing to grow as we can,” hesaid.



County campground blossoms from dream to realityBy Harry Zimbler

It took several summersfor Dick and Sandi Wrightto come to the decision thattheir retirement wouldinclude the creation of anew campground in BedfordCounty. Several trips east,and armed with the knowl-edge of what makes a Bedand Breakfast facility a suc-cess, the Wrights decided topurchase property onRaystown Lake. The Her-itage Cove Resort was born.

“Our plan was to deliverthe same service we knewwe wanted to receive,” saidSandi Wright.

Though neither of themhad experience in the hospi-tality industry, they weredetermined to take the nec-essary risks to create a newcompany.

As the details for the newresort moved forward, theyreceived help in writing abusiness plan from theSmall Business Develop-ment Center. They secureda loan from the SouthernAlleghenies Planning &Development Commission

(SAP&DC) that they couldleverage for bank loans.

Unfortunately, a loanfrom a small local bank lan-guished in a financialnetherworld due to theacquisition of the smallbank by a larger bank. As aresult, the viability of theHeritage Cove project wascalled into question.

“At stake was not onlythe business, but all of ourpersonal assets,” said SandiWright.

As with the formation ofany new enterprise, theWrights knew they were infor many challenges.“Although we were aware ofthe risks, we never experi-enced fear during the devel-opment of the business,”Sandi said “Our passion forthe project was so strong,and we felt we were well-prepared to take on thechallenges, many of whichwe could never have antici-pated.”

The Wrights are happywith the progress they havemade up to now. “We feelwe are beginning to see suc-

cess,” Sandi Wright noted.“And the positive feedbackfrom our guests is reassur-ing. It has been an adven-ture, and we are happy wetook the risk. If we did itagain, we would be moreconscious of the role thatlocal authorities play in thesuccess or the lack of suc-cess of a business.”

The greatest challengefacing Heritage Cove isaccess to its idyllic locationamong the verdant rollinghills at the southern end ofRaystown Lake.

Life before Heritage Coveincluded experiences thatthe Wrights were able toincorporate into their newbusiness. “There were les-sons learned along the way.But other campground own-ers in the region haveshared their experiencesand for that we areextremely appreciative. Wewere often able to learnfrom their mistakes.

Building on a vision iswhat being an entrepreneurand creating Heritage CoveResort is all about.


“We are just continuing to try to serveour customers well in the communitiesthat we have and looking forward to con-tinuing to grow as we can.”

—Robbie Weaver, Weaver Sanitation Service Inc.

—Photo submittedPictured are Dick and Sandi Wright, owners of the Heritage Cove Resort. The

resort, located on Raystown Lake, was started with the desire to provide hospi-tality for campers in Bedford County. “Our plan was to deliver the same servicewe knew we wanted to receive,” said Sandi Wright.

From trash to treasure, making a familybusiness grow with hard work

Gazette Photos/Andrew CarrAbove, Robbie Weaver, right, stands with his son

Brice, left, and mother Shirley, middle, in front of oneof the many trucks they use to haul trash for the localcommunity.

At right, trucks from Weaver’s Sanitation standready to pickup refuse from the local community.

Expanding an already popular businessJuli’s Wearable Art keeps a familiar location

By Elizabeth CoyleGazette Managing Editor

Jim Gonsman has spentmuch of his career assessingbusiness and industry rep-resentatives looking to startor expand a business.

As vice president in com-mercial banking for FirstNational Bank, he’s lookedat business plans, gonethrough the projections andgauged whether to lend themoney and give that busi-ness a chance at a newstart or an expansion.

But, Gonsman, who hasbeen a banker for 21 years,was on the opposite side ofthe desk in recent months,pitching his new venturewith fiancee Juli Dull: Juli’sWearable Art.

He and Dull wentthrough the PennsylvaniaDepartment of Communityand Economic Developmentfor financing, which Gons-man said is a highly com-

petitive process.“Going through the

approval process was aneye-opening experience,” hesaid. First they had to pitchthe business proposal toSouthern Alleghenies Plan-ning and DevelopmentCommission which gives itsrecommendation to thestate. They gave the busi-ness plan and other infor-mation to Southern Alleghe-nies, which fortunately,gave its approval.

Having been on the otherside of the lending processhas given Gonsman newinsight to business, particu-larly, smaller businesses.

“I think it’s going to makeme a better lender,” he said.

He and Dull had littledoubt that their businesshad a solid foundation.They purchased the busi-ness from Elaine Housel,who sold Elaine’s WearableArt, including the mailing

list and other proprietaryinformation that is invalu-able.

Another asset that is bothmeasurable and immeasur-able is the location of thestore — at the corner ofJuliana and Pitt streets. It’sarguably the busiest, mostrecognizable intersection inthe county — maybe themiddle of Breezewood isbusier and more familiar totravelers — and the build-ing itself has been a popu-lar stop in downtown forshoppers for decades.

Dull first bought theDeepwood Gallery store in1994, from Housel afterhaving worked in the storeas a teen and then a collegestudent at Elaine’s. Dull, a1993 business administra-tion and management majorat the University of Pitts-burgh, had the store from1995 to 2005.

After Dull sold Deepwood,

it traded spaces withElaine’s Wearable Art.

In 2004, Dull obtainedher realtor’s license. In2008, she took on the addedposition of Main Streetmanager after the first,Sharon Turkovich, left theposition.

After leaving DBI, Dullbecame a personal and com-mercial account executivefor Reed, Wertz and Road-man.

But there was somethingabout operating the smallbusiness that drew herback. For starters, shereturned to work forElaine’s in October of 2015.

“Juli was selling insur-ance at Reed, Wertz andRoadman, and althoughthey were great to her, thatwasn’t really her passion,”Gonsman said.

Housel was contemplatingretirement and went toGonsman to talk about hernext step.

“I knew he dealt with alot of different clients anddid a lot of commercialloans. I said I would love tofind the right person to takeover the business,” Houselsaid.

She didn’t want the busi-ness to close after she

retired. She and Dull hadnot only worked as employ-er-employee when Dull wasin high school and college,then side-by-side as down-town merchants and then,as catalysts for the forma-tion of Downtown BedfordInc. They had a real appre-ciation for each other and arelationship that Dull com-pared to as mother-daugh-ter.

“Juli has always beengood at retail,” Housel said.“Juli came back to work inthe store and she went withme on some buying trips.Juli just has an eye for it.”

Dull had to get approvalfrom fashion companiessuch as Vera Bradley andBrighton, which Elaine’shad sold, before the newbusiness could put it on theshelves. Brighton made Dullgo through a customertraining program beforethey would approve her as avendor.

Gonsman said as a newbusiness owner he’s had tolearn QuickBooks and paythe many taxes for which anemployer and businessowner is responsible.

“There’s so many taxes. Ididn’t realize how manytaxes you have to pay,” Gon-

sman said, smiling.And, he got to go on one

of the buying trips Houseltalked about. He jokedabout how quickly the costof the products adds up.Dull said that’s the busi-ness.

From here, the couple ishoping to continue to devel-op the online site,http://juliswearableart.com,and expanding to an onlinecatalog from which cus-tomers can order. They havechanged the look of the shopoutside and inside, upgrad-ed to a computerized inven-tory system and, with Gons-man’s influence, added amen’s section. Juli’s hasseven employees, some ofwhom were with Elaine’s.

The couple hope to keepthings interesting and fresh.

Gonsman, who is still afull-time lender at FirstNational Bank, said he’sworking long hours afterwork and on weekends atthe shop.

He has no complaints.“I love it,” he said. “I

think you have to love it toown a small business.”

———Contact Elizabeth Coyle at

ecoy le@bedfordgaze t t e .com; 623-1151, ext. 105.

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“I love it. I thinkyou have to love itto own a smallbusiness.”

—Jim Gonsman,

co-owner,

Juli’s Wearable Art

—Photo SubmittedAt right, Juli Dull and

fiance Jim Gonsmanstand outside Juli’sWearable Art, which thetwo purchased this year.Gonsman, a vice presi-dent of commercial bank-ing for First NationalBank, said the experi-ence has given him a newperspective on banking.

Gazette Photo/Elizabeth CoyleBelow, Juli Dull and

fiance Jim Gonsmanstand inside the store,Juli’s Wearable Art, thatthe two purchased thisyear. Formerly Elaine’sWearable Art, the storehas undergone somechanges inside and out,including adding a men’ssection.

Locally grown, locally served, locally eatenHorn O Plenty takes farm fresh to a new level

By Erin ThompsonGazette Staff Writer

For Mandi Horn, what startedas a plot of farmland in MannsChoice within a few years devel-oped into a farm-to-table restau-rant, Horn O Plenty in Wolfsburg,where about 70 percent of thefood is grown on site, while therest is purchased from local farm-ers.

Just 10 years ago, Mandi andher husband, Jeff, were living inAltoona, which she refers to asthe “rat race,” and coming to Bed-ford every weekend to tend to herhusband’s family farm.

“At the time, I was buying a lotof expensive organic produce totry to feed myself,” which is whenshe decided to start farming forherself.

Meanwhile, the couple wantedto live closer to family and to helpkeep up her husband’s familyfarm.

“The farm needed work, so wedecided to quit our jobs inAltoona to become full-time farm-ers,” she said. “Before long, I

noticed I was making way toomuch stuff, so I started sellingit.”

Soon after, Mandi said shestarted receiving notes from buy-ers saying how much theyenjoyed her offerings. Then, in2006, she began her communitysupported agriculture program,through which she offered a sub-scription service to provide pro-duce to people in the community.

“I just surrendered myself todoing it because no one else (inthe area) really was,” said Mandi,who said she had previouslytaken on numerous odd jobs rang-ing from selling cars to courtreporting. “They were boring jobsto me. I didn’t want a desk joband didn’t want to stare at a com-puter screen. Farming was greatbecause I was outdoors. I reallycould connect and felt reallyalive.”

At one time, Mandi said shehad about 50 families that sub-scribed to her CSA, some of whomshe said needed some tips on howto prepare the vegetables she pro-

vided.“That’s when I decided there

need(ed) to be a way people couldsee what they can do with thefood,” she said.

At that time, she had been con-sidering opening up a bakery onthe farm to subsidize income, butsaid when the building becameavailable on Wolfsburg Road, sheenvisioned customers eating thereand decided to switch gears.

To do the cooking, Mandi built awood-fire concrete and brick oven,which was inspired from a trip toGermany.

The restaurant now offers avariety of unique dishes on anever-changing menu that is deter-mined by what produce is in sea-son at the time.

“Life’s way too short to eat thesame thing over and over. Youwant to take the time to eatsomething that’s tasty,” she said.

———Contact Erin Thompson at

[email protected];623-1151, ext. 150. Follow on Twit-ter @ethompsosnbedgaz.

Gazette Photo/Erin ThompsonMandi Horn, owner of Horn O Plenty, a farm-to-table restau-

rant, poses with freshly-baked loaves of bread in the kitchen ofHorn O Plenty restaurant on June 21. Horn started her restau-rant in 2012 following the success of her community supportedagriculture program.

Briar Valley Winery sellslocally made vintages


For one local couple,making wine is a veryhands-on experience.

Tod and Jean Manspeak-er, owners and operators ofBriar Valley Winery, 107 E.Pitt St., Bedford, havetaken their passion forwine and translated it intoa locally-sourced business,where the grapes aregrown locally, the productis made locally and thensold locally.

Tod Manspeaker said thewinery began in 2006 withthe planting of their firstvineyard in Dutch Corner,with 2,300 vines, “to kindof learn how to not plant avineyard I always jokinglysay.”

“We learned whatworked and what didn’t,”he said.

The couple then opened atasting room in 2007,before moving to their PittStreet location in 2010.

Manspeaker said thecharm of the historic build-ing where the tasting room,as well as its central loca-tion in the heart of down-town Bedford, is nice forboth locals and visitors tothe area.

He said several privatefunctions are held at thelocation every year, includ-ing fundraisers, privateparties, bridal showers andother events. The tastingroom also features livemusic the first Friday ofthe month, and the BedfordCounty Arts Council has arotating art exhibit fea-tured at the location,which is changed everyquarter.

In 2011, the couple thenplanted a second vineyardin Everett, which features10,000 vines. He said theproperty was purchased inthe 1950s by his parents,where they raised quarterhorses before the propertywas repurposed for thevineyard.

Manspeaker said he andJean fell in love with vine-yards after vacationing inthe Finger Lakes, anddecided to make a go ofrunning their own winery.He said Jean’s grandfatherhad grape vines and soldgrapes while he was raisedon a dairy farm.

“So we both kind of hadthe feeling for agriculture,”he said.

Manspeaker said Jean isthe winemaker for thebusiness, which is unusual,as “there is only a handfulof women winemakers inPennsylvania.”

The couple and theirworkers do much of thework by hand, from theplanting to the pruning tothe harvesting, which“makes a very niceapproachable wine.”

Manspeaker said prun-ing the vineyard begins inFebruary, when workersprune the vines seven daysa week until the middle ofJuly.

“The vines need constantattention, pruning, tweak-ing, cutting and fine tun-ing,” he said. “We cut thegrape clusters by hand.There are ways to auto-mate and speed things up,but the more you do byhand, the better quality ofthe wine. And from dayone, our vision and ourmission statement for thewinery is its about thewine. Whatever is best forthe wine is what we do.”

He said there is a lot of

science and tradition thatgoes into making the winesthey feature, includingchardonnay, Pinot Gris,Riesling, Lemberger,Cabernet Franc, Merlotand Malbec grapes.

The grapes start to ripenand then are picked fromAugust to October. Fromthere, they are crushed,processed and fermented,before the couple bottlesthem to feature at the tast-ing room.

“We do all the bottlingourselves. We apply thelabel, the cork, the cap-sule,” he said.

The red wines are agedin French oak barrels andthe whites in stainless steelcontainers for 18 to 24months before being bot-tled. Then the wines agefor another eight to 10weeks before beingreleased.

“You could easily have aMerlot grape that is grow-ing right now, not released

for two, 2 1/2 years,”Manspeaker said.

The winery is a labor oflove for the couple, whopride themselves on thehand-made products thatthey feature.

For more information onthe products they offer,visit their website atwww.briarvalleywinery.com



By Lucille KentnerFor the Gazette

Hometown Bank ispreparing to open its thirdbranch, about nine yearsafter it launched its firstone in Everett.

The bank has purchasedland at 13174 DunningsHighway, Claysburg, inresponse to the successthey’ve experienced at theirEverett and Bedford loca-tions, bank officials saidrecently

Elaine Barfield, seniorvice president and chieftechnology officer, said shehoped the branch couldopen in late 2016.

In the spring of 2006, sev-eral local professionals,including Don DeArment ofFriends Cove Mutual Insur-ance; Barry Ressler ofRessler Inc.; Todd Roadmanof Reed, Wertz & Roadman;Merle Helsel, professor atAllegany College of Mary-land and former presidentof First American NationalBank; Ted Chwatek, formerpresident of First AmericanBank of Pennsylvania; Dar-rell Dodson of DodsonBrothers; Bob Appleby ofEverett Foodliner and JohnCorle of Corle Constructionformed the organizationalgroup and set about obtain-ing regulatory approval andlaunched a campaign toraise capital through thesale of stock.

“We founded the bankbecause of the belief thatthe residents of BedfordCounty and other areas ofrural America are special.They are special becausethey treat others with con-sideration and expect to betreated with consideration.They are people, not num-bers,” Helsel, chairman ofthe board of directors, said.

The first branch wasopened at 306 West MainStreet, Everett, and theBedford branch, whichbecame the bank’s head-quarters, was opened threemonths later at 638 EastPitt Street, July, 2007.

In the years immediatelyfollowing the opening, finan-cial institutions across thecountry went bankrupt andsome, out of business, in thefinancial meltdown of 2007-08.

Hometown was able toweather the storm, Barfieldsaid.

“Our lending decisionswere more carefully consid-ered than some of the largerbanks that failed. We have amore conservative approachto our banking,” she said.

Through “sound manage-

ment and prudent decisions,Hometown Bank gainedprofitability and began pay-ing its shareholders a divi-dend,” Helsel said.

When it came time toexpand, Claysburg was seenas “an opportunity to us, inthat it is very similar toEverett and Bedford,”Chwatek said. “We are inthe process of finalizing ourdrawings and getting ourapproval and we hope tobreak ground soon.”

Barfield compared theresidents of Claysburg tothose of Everett and Bed-ford.

“All of these communitieshave the same small-townatmosphere with the sametype of customers with simi-

lar work ethics,” Barfieldsaid.

“We’ve actually beentraining and hiring addi-tional staff at our existinglocations for the past coupleof months. Once the Clays-burg branch is opened, theywill be able to jump right inand take care of our cus-tomers,” Chwatek said.

The bank has 29 fulltimeworkers and one part-time.

Additional informationabout the services offeredfor personal, commercialand mortgage options byHometown Bank may befound on www.hometown-bankpa.com. The Everettbranch may be contacted at652-6093. The Bedford officecan be reached at 623-6093.

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“ There are ways to automate and speedthings up, but the more you do by hand,the better quality of the wine. And fromday one, our vision and our mission state-ment for the winery is its about the wine.”

—Tod Manspeaker, Briar Valley Winery

Hometown Bank planson opening third branch

—Gazette File PhotoAbove, Hometown Bank’s Bedford office is shown

along East Pitt Street. The bank, with a branch inEverett, is planning to expand to Claysburg, in thenear future.

Gazete Photo/Elizabeth CoyleBelow, Hometown’s first bank branch in Everett is

located along Main Street. The bank started as thevision of area entrepreneurs to bring local control tolending and deposits

Gazette photo/Andrew CarrTod and Jean Manspeaker stand in front of the racks of wine bottles at the

tasting room of the Briar Valley Winery, 107 E. Pitt. St., Bedford.

Gazette photo/Andrew CarrTod Manspeaker, who owns and runs Briar Valley

Winery with his wife Jean, inspects the leaves of agrape vine in the company’s Everett vineyard.Manspeaker said 10,000 vines were planted, withseveral varieties of French-style grapes, which willeventually ripen and be turned into wine.

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PA #019553


Hearing better, only a doctor’s appointment awayBy Lucille KentnerGazette Staff WriterAccording to the Better

Hearing Institute, thereare various signs of hear-ing loss. If someonerequires frequent repeti-tion, keeps the televisionturned up to a high vol-ume, appears to have diffi-culty in noisy situations oranswers inappropriately inconversations, it may betime to consider a consulta-tion with a board certifieddoctor of audiology.

Susan Parr, a doctor ofaudiology, with an officenear UPMC BedfordMemorial Hospital, hasmore than 25 years of clini-cal diagnostic experience

and served on the board ofdirectors for the Academyof Doctors of Audiology andon the State Leaders Com-mittee for the AmericanAcademy of Audiology.

Parr was previously theowner of a multi-officepractice inHuntingdon/Lewistown,but has brought her state-of-the-art diagnostic test-ing and hearing aid fittingequipment to BedfordCounty.

Parr’s Pro Hearing islocated at 202 MemorialDrive, Suite 3, Everett, andoffers a diagnostic examand selection of hearingaids which are best suitedto an individual’s hearing

loss, lifestyle and personalsituation.

Currently, Dr. Parr offershearing aids in sizes thatwill produce better amplifi-cation and a custom fit forminimal visibility, includ-ing IIC (Invisible-In-The-Canal); ITE (In-The-Ear);RIC (Receiver-In-Canal);ITC (In-The-Canal); CIC(Completely-In-Canal): andBTE (Behind-The-Ear)options.

In addition to the exami-nation and expert fitting ofa hearing device, Dr. Parroffers professional servicesfor all ages from infants toadults. The servicesinclude video otoscopyexamination of the ear

canal and eardrum, outerhair cells analysis, dizzi-ness and balance testingand therapy, tinnitus eval-uation treatment and coun-

seling, as well as customhearing protection formusicians, shooters andswimmers.

Further informationabout Parr’s Pro Hearingmay be found atwww.ParrsProHearing.com,

or by calling 814-623-5007.For appointment conven-ience, there is also anotherlocation in Fulton Countyat the Fulton County Med-ical Center, 214 PeachOrchard Road, McConnells-burg.

University looks to invest in business minds‘Invent Penn State’ encourages entrepreneurs

By Harry ZimblerWhy would one of the

nation's greatest researchuniversities get into thebusiness of creating entre-preneurs? Perhaps becauseit will accomplish severalmain goals for Penn State:First, it will increase andmaximize the transfer ofPenn State research andtechnology from academic toindustry. And second, it willhelp fight the “brain drain”that has plagued the Stateof Pennsylvania for years.

By encouraging studentsto explore entrepreneurialavenues, new companiesand jobs will be created.Many of them will stay herein Central Pennsylvania.

In order to get the ballrolling, Penn State Presi-dent Eric Barron outlined —and funded — a new pro-gram titled “Invent PennState.” This, he noted,would include the creation ofa new culture across theentire campus, including thestaff and faculty of the Uni-versity. In addition to specif-ic programs, including fund-ing competitions, the entirecurriculum will be retooledto encourage and incorpo-rate entrepreneurship.

Clearly, the idea of entre-preneurship, of creatingstartups, has become amajor initiative for PennState. The emphasis on cap-turing and licensing tech-nology and intellectualproperty will surely have animpact on the surroundingregion, including BedfordCounty.

Taking a fresh look atPenn State's curriculum isRobert Beaury, interimdirector of the EngineeringEntrepreneurship Minor. Henoted that great progresshas already been made.

“There is an incredibledifference between whatPenn State did five yearsago and what it is doingtoday,” Beaury said. “It'snight and day. Then, therewas little support for facultyand students who wanted tostart a business. Now, thereis real, concrete change tak-ing place. The movement topromote and foster thosewho are entrepreneurial isgetting stronger every day.”

One example of theprogress that is being madecan be found in the entre-preneurship classes beingoffered by the College ofEngineering.

At one time, entrepre-neurship classes and experi-ences only touched the livesof a small group of students.Now, instead of 40 students,the program is assisting 175students. “The program wasrestructured to supportmany more students,” Beau-ry said.

To expedite the creation ofnew businesses and entre-preneurial activity, PennState has established clus-ters of entrepreneurship.There are seven such clus-ters each with a differentbusiness focus. Theseinclude: tech-based entre-preneurship in the Collegeof Engineering; the social-based cluster in the Collegeof Engineering; New Ven-tures cluster in the SmealCollege of Business; TheHotel and Hospitality Man-agement cluster in the Col-lege of Health and HumanDevelopment; The DigitalInnovation cluster in theCollege of Information Sci-ence and Technology; theFood and Bio-Innovationcluster in the College ofAgricultural Sciences; andthe New Media cluster inthe College of Communica-tions.

More clusters will be cre-ated as the universitymoves further into theimplementation of theInvent Penn State pro-gram.

In addition to the revi-sions being made to theundergraduate curriculum,

University administratorsare providing guidance forpeople working in largeorganizations. They canhelp their companies suc-ceed by applying an entre-preneurial attitude to theirpositions within the compa-ny.

A master's level programin leadership and entrepre-neurship has been intro-duced. “This providesemployees in large organi-zations a new way to act asan entrepreneur withinthose organizations,” Beau-ry said.

—Photo SubmittedAcross the campus, including students, staff and faculty, entrepreneurialism is

a high priority at PSU.

—Photo SubmittedAudiologist Susan Parr, Au.D., with an office near

UPMC Bedford Memorial Hospital, has more than 25years of clinical diagnostic experience.

In addition to the examination andexpert fitting of a hearing device, Dr. Parroffers professional services for all agesfrom infants to adults.

—Susan Parr , aduiologist, is located in Everett

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—Photo SubmittedThe Hess Business Center (HBC) is a Keystone Innovation Zone center (KIZ)

with space available to foster innovation and create entrepreneurial opportuni-ties. KIZ is an incentive program that provides tax credits to companies lessthan eight years old operating within specific targeted industries. For moreinformation, see Page 14 or contact [email protected] or (814) 623-4816

Entrepreneurship can start here

Bedford County Development Associa-tion recently started marketing its fullypermitted 80-acre pad in Bedford Town-ship.

The association said its tract in Busi-ness Park II is fully permitted by local andstate agencies and engineering, design,permitting and earthwork are complete.“We moved forward with this projectknowing that it will eliminate months insite preparation for future buyers,” noted

Bo Pratt, BCDA chair. “This is a tremen-dous opportunity given that the site ispad-ready, permitted and designed as aKeystone Opportunity Zone. Available util-ities are in place including an abundantand reliable electric supply.”

This project is funded by the Business InOur Sites loan program (BIOS) adminis-tered by the Commonwealth of Pennsylva-nia’s Department of Community and Eco-nomic Development.

Marketing for business park is underway

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