April 17, 2008
Pike Chamber Encourages People to Sign up for "Leadership Pike"

Milford, PA – Leadership Pike, a comprehensive leadership development program that focuses on developing and sharpening skills of upcoming leaders in Pike County, is seeking individuals who are interested in developing their leadership skills.

Entering its third year as the premier organization for developing leaders in Pike County, Leadership Pike classes run on the second Friday of each month from September through April from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. By graduation in May, Leadership Pike graduates have sharpened their leadership skills, met many existing and prospective leaders, and learned about important issues and challenges facing Pike County in the future.  Leadership Pike topics include an overview of Pike County, the future of Pike County, government and public services, education and public information, heath and human service, quality of life/environment, project planning, and business and economic development. There is also a field trip tour of Pike County and Leadership and project planning. Classes encourage students to work on their leadership skills. In addition, Leadership Pike participants develop and implement a class project with the goal of improving the community.

According to a survey given to previous Leadership Pike participants, Leadership Pike especially aided students in adapting their leadership to be more effective throughout a variety of situations. Out of ten participants, eight said that Leadership Pike helped them develop skills to manage conflict, resolve conflict, delegate responsibilities, work more effectively in a group, communicate more clearly with others and motive and inspire people to work together! The same eighty percent also believe that Leadership Pike helped them to understand their leadership strengths and weaknesses.

Including program materials such as books, continental breakfasts, and lunches, the tuition for Leadership Pike is $450.00. Students who meet the pre-requisites are eligible to apply for scholarships.

For more information about Leadership Pike, applications, scholarship information, or scholarship donations, please contact the Penn State Cooperative Extension at 1-570-296-3400, or log onto http://www.pike.extension.psu.edu/Programs.html.

For more information about the Pike County Chamber of Commerce, call 570-296-8700, or visit their website www.PikeChamber.com.

For more information on the Women In Business workshops or joining the Pike County Chamber, please call 570-296-8700.

March 27, 2008
Women In Business Committee Donates to
Pike County Humane Society

Photo caption: Barry Heim of the Pike County Humane Society receives donation from Susan Hines, Pike Chamber Director, Maureen Caska, owner TLC Salon & Spa, and Amy Bridge, Milford Magazine

The Pike County Chamber Women in Business Committee held their first workshop of the year at TLC Salon & Spa in February with Co-Hosts Enchantment Massage & Bodywork and Nancy’s Biscotti. Area women were invited to stop by and get their choice of free salon techniques from massage, reflexology, anti-wrinkle treatments or a hair consultation. It was so popular they had to schedule a second day in March with twice as many women eager to participate and make a donation! Any donations that the guests made were then donated to the Pike County Humane Society; which totaled $225.00.

For more information on the Women In Business workshops or joining the Pike County Chamber, please call 570-296-8700.

March 11, 2008
Pike Chamber Board Retreat inspires creative thinking!

Photo credit: Jerry Reganess leads discussion at Chamber retreat.

Pike County, Pennsylvania – Recently, the Pike County Chamber of Commerce board of directors attended a retreat to discuss and determine a new creative vision and direction for the chamber in 2008.

A mediator guided the directors through a series of creative thinking exercises intended to stimulate positive, creative and energetic thoughts. These exercises helped the participants enhance the Chamber’s marketing direction and vision.

This year, the Chamber is looking to increase its membership, increase board and member diversity and expand its member benefits through creative marketing and inventive business practices.

So what is the Chamber doing that works?

The Pike Chamber works hard to broaden awareness of businesses in Pike County, and not only in Milford. The Chamber creates opportunities for businesses to network by planning business card exchanges, meet and greets and signature events. These various events are held throughout Pike County and are highly attended. The Pike Chamber will also continue to hold grand openings and other special events intended to promote and stimulate business in and around the county.

The Chamber also provides opportunities for group discount advertising, member to member, and member to consumer, discount programs, as well as advertising opportunities in the Visitor’s Guide, which is distributed to over 10,000 annual visitors. Members can also take advantage of discounted advertising opportunities available through the Chamber of Commerce website www.pikechamber.com such as banner and premium placement ads. Each month, the Chamber publishes a newsletter, which provides an opportunity for a business to be spotlighted, both in the newsletter and on its website.

The Chamber also distributes press releases announcing upcoming activities, marketing statistics and other topics of community interest. The Chamber’s website, www.pikechamber.com, receives approximately 5,600 unique hits per month and is used as a vital tool and resource for business people, tourists and residents alike.

The Pike County Chamber of Commerce continuously works on ways to improve their communication with their members, such as the website, email, media and e- Newsletter. The Chamber has plans to broaden their collaboration with other chambers and business organizations through networking and marketing initiatives.
Pike Chamber is also working on bolstering their already strong connections with builders associations, IDA/PIDCO, local, state and federal government, and members of the local and regional media. The Chamber will continue having a working relationship with area organizations such as Pennsylvania Chamber of Business and Industry and Pocono Mountains Visitor’s Bureau. “The Pike County Chamber is growing,” stated Scott J. Weiland, Executive Director.  “Our goal is to grow our local economy, and we are pleased to partner with so many organizations and volunteers to do so.”

What will start to improve?
Moving forward in 2008 the Pike County Chamber of Commerce will explore new avenues for growth, which may include broadening their access to more people by expanding the distribution of their publications and informational kiosks around the county.  The organization will continue to grow traffic to www.pikechamber.com, establish e-blast software and marketing lists to send out information to its members, and to continue Grand Openings and Meet and Greets.

The Chamber plans to study and disseminate marketing results about the demographics and psychographics of Pike County. Additionally, the Chamber will survey members and potential members to get feedback as to what is working best for people as well as to find out what is missing.

Members of the Chamber can enjoy enhanced benefits like insurance, advertising and networking. Being a Chamber member allows you to participate in group health and workers compensation programs.  Also, members can take part in events that draw great numbers of people from throughout the region. Many events are planned for the upcoming months and are available at www.pikechamber.com, These events promote Pike County’s #1 industry, tourism.

For more information about the Pike County Chamber of Commerce please call 570-296-8700.

February 29, 2008
Spa Night Returns for Women In Business

Milford, PA – Due to the overwhelming response for the February 25th Spa Night, the Women In Business committee of the Pike County Chamber of Commerce has scheduled another Spa Night to be held at TLC Salon & Spa in Milford, on Monday, March 10th from 4:30pm till 7:00pm.

TLC Spa will provide free sample treatments to all of the ladies that attend, and all women living and working in Pike County are welcome. Participants will relax during a chair massage, enjoy a reflexology treatment on their hands and feet and explore the pleasure of an aromatherapy facial treatment. Participants will also receive an anti-wrinkle skin demonstration that reduces 50%-90% of fine lines and wrinkles. For those who wish to update their look, TLC experts will be on hand to show attendees how to enhance their best qualities and natural beauty through hair styling techniques and overall image.

Pastries and sweets will be provided by Nancy Caska. Door prizes will be awarded and donations will benefit the Pike County Humane Society.

“The February spa night was such a great success and an amazing experience for woman to pamper themselves, escape for a little while and de-stress” said Susan Hines, Women in Business Committee’s Chairperson. “The March spa night offers an opportunity for women who may have missed the first one to experience an invigorating night at the spa and feel renewed.”

TLC Salon & Spa is located at 801 Broad Street in Milford, PA. They can be reached by telephone number 570-409-1171. Appointments are necessary, and reservations should be made no later than March 7th by calling the Pike County Chamber of Commerce office at 570-296-8700.

The Women in Business Committee of the Pike County Chamber of Commerce is a woman-based committee providing networking and educational opportunities. The committee is dedicated to enhancing, educating and empowering its members with both personal and professional growth.

For more information about Women in Business or the Pike County Chamber of Commerce please visit www.pikechamber.com or call 570-296-8700.

February 25, 2008
Pike Chamber Welcomes New Executive Director

Milford, PA – A dynamic leader, known for his accomplishments in the Scranton and Northeastern Pennsylvania business community, is about to take Pike County by storm. Scott J. Weiland accepted Pike County Chamber of Commerce’s offer to become the new Executive Director. He brings with him a multitude of experiences and ideas that are certain to carryout the Chamber’s mission; including accelerating business growth, enhancing the community’s quality of life and providing value-added programs and benefits to promote membership.

“We are very excited to have found such an experienced and qualified individual to help lead our Chamber into the future,” stated Pike Chamber President, Paul Brislin in a recent letter to current chamber members.

Mr. Weiland has been the Communications Director with The Greater Scranton Chamber of Commerce since 1998. At the Scranton Chamber, he has developed and implemented programs to grow the chamber, the community, and improve the area’s quality of life. His impressive performance record includes building membership as well as dues and non dues revenue. He has also developed efficiencies to improve the operations of the chamber. He also developed a monthly reporting process that resulted in increased workflow and saved hundreds of hours of staff time per year.

Mr. Weiland has identified and developed highly targeted marketing initiatives with the Scranton Chamber. He’s measured and evaluated marketing efforts through quantitative and qualitative techniques, and he’s used the analysis to create, design and executive the marketing initiatives. In addition to the traditional advertising methods, Mr. Weiland also has a knack for exploring effective, nontraditional marketing techniques.

Mr. Weiland has been able to secure partnerships among more than 40 regional organizations. He has overcome complex challenges by relying on his experience-based judgment, innovation, humor, and a strong work ethic. His experience has led to developing strong relationships with regional leaders.

As a marketing consultant to The Scranton Plan, economic development staff and local and state officials, Mr. Weiland has been able to attract new companies and real estate investment.

Mr. Weiland has experience as a mentor, motivator and leader of staff and volunteers. He has played a vital role in the efforts to grow the northeastern Pennsylvania business community, and he intends to use his skills and experience to do the same for Pike County.

The new Executive Director has identified the need to raise non-dues revenue in addition to growing membership and dues related revenue. With the Scranton Chamber, Mr. Weiland was successful in developing a non-dues annual fund raising program.

Through collaboration with hundreds of businesses, Mr. Weiland fostered their shared buying power through his implementation of a “Member-to-Member Discount Program” which saves thousands of dollars for local businesses each year. Additionally, Mr. Weiland harnessed the buying power of 2,000 businesses to develop a successful “Buy Local” campaign.

Mr.  Weiland is enrolled with Marywood University’s Doctor of Philosophy program where he anticipates earning his PhD in the Interdisciplinary Program in Human Development this coming May. His dissertation is titled: “What is the relationship among infrastructure, business climate, and workforce and the growth of northeastern Pennsylvania’s businesses?”

Since 2004, Mr. Weiland has been an Adjunct Professor at Penn State Worthington Scranton, PA campus, and he taught for four years at Marywood University.

Mr. Weiland is associated with many business organizations: Penn State Worthington Scranton Information Sciences and Technology (IST) Advisory Board; National Congressional Committee, Business Advisory Council; Board of Directors, Northeast Pennsylvania Advertising Club, Inc.; chair of ADDY® committee; American Chamber of Commerce Executives; Work & Play in Northeast PA; Great Valley Technology Alliance; American Marketing Association; Public Relations Society of America; and
International Economic Development Council.

Mr. Weiland has received several awards including the Northeast Pennsylvania AdClub “Certificate of Excellence”, for both, the Scranton Chamber and the WorkNEPA web sites, and he has earned the Council for Urban Economic Development "Silver Promotion Award" Scranton Chamber’s website. Mr. Weiland earned the American Chamber of Commerce Executives "Merit Award" for Leadership Conference and for a digital newsletter.

Mr. Weiland has been described by his professional references as a motivated, hard working person and a visionary thinker with tremendous entrepreneurial spirit. He comes to the Pike County Chamber with a great deal of experience, enthusiasm and positive energy.

“I am honored to be part of the Pike County Chamber of Commerce team,” stated Mr. Weiland.  “The Chamber has a long history of growing our community, and I am looking forward to collaborating with volunteers and community leaders to continue our growth.”

February 11, 2008
Women in Business Offers a Spa Night

Milford, PA – Ease your stress and tackle the winter blues with a relaxing and invigorating night at the spa. Pike County Chamber’s Women in Business Committee will be hosting a spa night at TLC Salon & Spa in Milford, on Monday, February 25th from 4:30pm till 6:30pm.

TLC Spa will provide free sample treatments to all of the ladies that attend, and all women living and working in Pike County are welcome. Participants will relax during a chair massage, enjoy a reflexology treatment on their hands and feet and explore the pleasure of an aromatherapy facial treatment. Participants will also receive an anti-wrinkle skin demonstration that reduces 50%-90% of fine lines and wrinkles. For those who wish to update their look, TLC experts will be on hand to show attendees how to enhance their best qualities and natural beauty through hair styling techniques and overall image.

Pastries and sweets will be provided by Nancy Caska. Door prizes will be awarded and donations will benefit the Pike County Humane Society.

“The spa night is a great opportunity for woman to pamper themselves, escape for a little while and de-stress” said Susan Hines, Women in Business Committee’s Chairperson. “It promises to be an invigorating experience that will help us all feel renewed.”

TLC Salon & Spa is located at 801 Broad Street in Milford, PA. They can be reached by telephone number 570-409-1171. Appointments are necessary, and reservations should be made by calling the Pike County Chamber of Commerce office at 570-296-8700.

The Women in Business Committee of the Pike County Chamber of Commerce is a woman-based committee providing networking and educational opportunities. The committee is dedicated to enhancing, educating and empowering its members with both personal and professional growth.

For more information about Women in Business or the Pike County Chamber of Commerce please visit www.pikechamber.com or call 570-296-8700.

February 4, 2008
Pike Chamber to Host Speed Businesses Event

Milford, PA – The Pike County Chamber of Commerce is planning a new type of business event which has been inspired by the concept of speed dating. “1-Minute Marketing - A Quick Pitch” will take place at Cliff Park Inn on Wednesday, February 27th. Unlike the usual networking experience, where participants only get to speak with a handful of people, that they approach themselves, this event will be like speed dating because participants will get the chance to speak to virtually everyone that attends.

The goal of speed networking is to end up with new marketing relationships that will benefit Chamber members and local business people that attend.

How does it work? When the business professionals first arrive, they will register, be assigned a letter and let loose to mingle at the bar until the formal portion of the event begins. Once everyone is ready, participants will start off at a station where one person from each table will get sixty seconds to speak. When a bell rings, the next person will speak. After each person at the table has given their pitch, the bell will signify the start of an open discussion minute. When the bell rings again, the designated “movers” will go to their next tables, and the process will be repeated.

Those attending should come prepared with sales literature and an “elevator speech” about their company, products or services because they’ll have one minute to let nearly everyone know about it. Participants should also not forget to bring plenty of business cards, promotional items and a bag to carry the goodies they’ll receive that night.

Space for Pike Chamber’s “1-Minute Marketing – A Quick Pitch” is limited and expected to sell out, so reservations are required. Chamber members will be charged a fee of $5.00, and the Chamber welcomes and encourages non members to attend. Non members arriving on their own will be charged $10.00. However, the Chamber is offering a 2-for-1 special for members that bring a non member guest. The Pike Chamber has put a limit of 2 people, from any one firm, being allowed to participate. This rule is so businesses won’t be pitching to themselves.

Cliff Park Inn is located just outside of Milford Borough off of Route 1. The February 27th event will begin with registration, promptly at 5:30 pm. The speed networking is expected to begin by 6:00 pm and run for approximately an hour to an hour and a half.

After the event, Cliff Park Inn has invited participants to head downstairs to the Cross-Eyed Cricket and continue to network in the informal pub setting. This is an excellent opportunity to find new marketing partners who can help you do more business.

The Pike County Chamber of Commerce is a nonprofit organization consisting of over 450 area businesses, professionals and civic organizations.  Incorporated in 1962, the membership continues to grow and diversify, all with one common goal: to strengthen the business environment and enhance the quality of life in Pike County.

Make your reservations today by calling the Chamber office at 570-296-8700. Find out more about this event or the Pike County Chamber of Commerce by calling the office, or by visiting www.pikechamber.com.

January 29, 2008
Over 55,000 E-Visits to Pike County in 2007

Milford, PA – More than 4,300 people working in Pike County rely on tourism to generate an income. In 2007, the Pike County Chamber of Commerce’s website recorded over 55,000 unique, electronic visitors, and total sales generated by traveler spending for 2006 in Pike County was an estimated $189 million – according to the 2007 Annual Report published by the Pocono Mountains Visitor’s Bureau. These figures are expected to grow in 2008 as travelers are predicted to take several short getaways throughout the year as opposed to one long vacation that includes a flight. Located within a two hour drive from New York City, Pike County falls within the perfect distance for travelers looking for a weekend getaway.

How are people finding out about Pike County? The Internet. The Pike County Chamber of Commerce tracks electronic visitors to their website, PikeChamber.com. More than 55,000 unique e-visitors checked out the county’s offerings of outdoor activities, shopping and dining choices and selection of places to stay the night.

Nearly half of all the website visitors came to the Pike Chamber’s site through organic keyword searches using Google. This is where a person types a word or phrase such as “Milford” in Google, and then they click on a result that brings them to the Chamber’s website.

Just less than 10,000 visitors, or approximately 18%, have originated from Pike County. Out of the remaining 45,000 U.S. visitors, the overwhelming majority, almost 48%, come from the New York City metro area or northern New Jersey. Manhattan alone accounted for more than 5,300 visitors.

Other markets that showed a significant concentration in traffic include Orange County, New York, Scranton/Wilkes-Barre and the Philadelphia marketplace.

While tourism related visits were among the top reasons that people used the site, other segments of the website also showed a significant number of visitors. Relocation services, realtors, and builders saw at least 15,000 unique visitors.
The Membership directory in 2007 received over 19,000 page views. With locals and out-of-town visitors, alike, looking at the events calendar constituted nearly 14,000 unique page views.

No matter what the reason for visiting the Pike Chamber’s website in 2007, the statistics show that PikeChamber.com has become a resource for a variety of groups to gain information about doing business in Pike County. In 2008, the Chamber plans to continue to enhance information found on the site and to become an even better tool for people to learn about, visit and live in Pike County. In the larger sense, the Chamber’s website is becoming so much more than just another Internet webpage, but instead, it is an online community that represents Pike County.

For more information about the Pike County Chamber of Commerce, call 570-296-8700, or visit their website www.PikeChamber.com.

January 23, 2008
Pike County Chamber Installs New Directors

Milford, PA – Pike County has been in a state of fantastic growth for nearly ten years, and keeping ahead of those changes is the Pike County Chamber of Commerce. On January 8th, the Chamber installed five new, innovative and forward-thinking people to become members to the Board of Directors.

The ceremony and breakfast was held at Mount Haven Restaurant. John Stieh, Esquire re-installed the Executive Committee: Paul Brislin, Paul Brislin, President; Kathleen Hummel, Woodloch, 1st Vice President; MaryAlice Petzinger, Wayne Bank, 2nd Vice President; Dr. Candis Finan, Delaware Valley School District, Secretary; and David Stone, Stone Financial, Treasurer.

Roy W. Hart, Roy W. Hart Insurance Agency, Jaqueline Frosco, Orange and Rockland Electric, Patty Magie, Patty Megan Realty, Bill Cohen, Viamedia, and Christina DiBlase, A. Bridal Company, were installed as new Directors.

The new Directors join the existing board of directors who represent a broad range of local businesses and community representatives: Ken Chergosky, Happenings Magazine; Mary Decker, Bon Secours Hospital; John Drake, North Hampton Community College; Susan Hines, GMAC Mortgage; Niki Jones, Niki Jones Agency; Linda Kidney, Furniture Find; Carol Markwalter, Pike County Dispatch; Ed Nikles, Sr., Nikles Custom Builder; Lee Oakes; Phyllis Petrillo, Citizens Bank; Jerry Reganess, Clarion Safety Systems; Jim Rienhardt, Pocono Environmental Education Center; John Shewchuk, East Stroudsburg University; Ken Winters, Eastern Propane; Commissioner Harry Forbes; Barbara J. Buchanan; Davis R. Chant; Beth Nikles and Arthur Ogden.

The Pike County Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors is charged with carrying on the Chamber’s mission of accelerating business growth in Pike County, Pennsylvania. They will represent local business in promoting economic development, while preserving and enhancing the community’s quality of life, by providing value-added programs and benefits to promote membership and to help members achieve success. By encouraging the building of partnerships and coalitions for businesses to effectively work with community, government and educational organizations, the Pike County Chamber of Commerce will lead in the shaping of public policy and ultimately foster greater opportunity for all who live and work in the county.

The Chamber continues to search for ways to provide more, complete and up-to-date information, services, and benefits to the community and Chamber members.   Becoming a Chamber member will provide an individual or business with benefits and advantages only offered to members. The annual investment fees of members provide the funding necessary to continue and expand the many programs and activities that, in turn are designed to benefit local business and the community.

For more information about the Pike County Chamber of Commerce, call 570-296-8700, or visit their website www.PikeChamber.com.

January 7, 2008
Cabin Fever Getaway-Giveaway

Pike County, PA – When was the last time you won more than $500 worth of prizes just for visiting Milford, Pennsylvania? This winter, you might be able to say you were that lucky. Simply browse Milford’s many delightful shops, galleries and restaurants through February 8, 2008, and you can enter the Cabin Fever Getaway-Giveaway.

Several members of the Milford Business Council have come together to give one lucky winner several prizes. The Cabin Fever Getaway-Giveaway will award a single winner the chance to experience Pike County’s wide selection of offerings from unique shopping and galleries to distinct dining and an overnight stay. One person will win it all.

The prize package includes several meal vouchers from popular Pike County hotspots such as Apple Valley Restaurant, Bar Louis, Fretta’s and the Water Wheel Café. The winner will also receive gift baskets containing a tea sampler, candles, compact discs, wine, toiletries, chocolates, cookies, coffee, t-shirts and a plush black bear. In addition, the winner will receive a free stay at the Hattree Inn, located in downtown Milford.

There is no charge to enter. Simply visit one of the following Milford businesses and fill out an entry form: Hare Hollow, Just Add Sugar Café, Carol Ann’s Linen Closet, The Craft Show, Kaffiene & Kitsch, American Living, Born to Be, Firefly Toy Shop, and Denim or Lace.

Contestants must be 21 years of age or older, and participating Milford business owners, employees and their relatives are not eligible to enter.

The single winner will be chosen by a blind drawing held on February 9, 2008, and they will be contacted by the committee. The package will be mailed to the winner and will contain the various gifts and vouchers, including any expiration dates and special instructions.

The concept for the Getaway-Giveaway was brought up at a Milford Business Council meeting by Kelly Wilson of Hare Hollow. Instantly, many other business owners got involved, and the idea became a reality.

“Milford has so much to offer,” said Kelly Wilson, “and this is a great way to promote our community and encourage others to experience it for themselves.”

For more information about Milford’s Cabin Fever Getaway-Giveaway, contact Kelly Wilson from Hare Hollow at 570-296-5757.