GRCA_CommerceQuarterly_Winter2018 - 3

Greater Reading Chamber Alliance

10 Cover Stor y

Sarah Hunter-Lascoskie, Editor

shunterlascoskie@greaterreading.org

Downtown Reading:
Historic Foundations,
New Beginnings

201 Penn St., Suite 501, Reading, PA 19601
greaterreadingchamber.org * 610.376.6766

FEATURES:
The opinions expressed in this material
are for general information only and are
not intended to provide specific advice or
recommendations for any individual.

5

Spotlight On: New Staff

14

75-Plus Year Members:

16

Tompkins VIST Bank

As the business voice of Greater Reading,
Greater Reading Chamber Alliance leads the
business community, as the economic driver,
to a vibrant community.

30

Your Greater Reading
Chamber Alliance...

A Sound Investment in Berks:
Oswalds Mill Audio

32

2017 Rising Stars

34

Focus On: Nonprofit Giving

» Partners with all other economic
development organizations in creating an
environment for growth.

18

DEPARTMENTS:

» Enables all businesses to take deliberate and

decided action on issues affecting their welfare.

» Helps small business thrive and
entrepreneurs strive.

UGI Utilities, Inc.

Entrepreneur's Corner
38

A Conversation with Jeremy Freymoyer
and Marcelo Morales

Business & Community
Advocacy
40

Workforce Development

Advocacy Educates, Advocacy Promotes,
Advocacy Supports

In Your Community

» Develops employees through training and

19

Preparing Students for Both College
and Career

48

Reading Royals Rumble On and Off the Ice

» Prepares tomorrow's workforce with our

21

Building Bridges Between School and
Work: A Call to Action

50

Campaign Review Board of Berks County

22

Career Pathways: What the Community
is Saying

52

Think Globally, Act Locally: Starting
a Movement in Berks County

53

It Will Take Us All: Fighting the
Spotted Lanternfly

54

Main Street Programs

educational programs/alliances.

involvement in education partnerships.

» Operates as a model business and pursues
best practices.

» Maintains a five-star rating as one of the
best chambers in Pennsylvania.

» Reflects our multicultural community at large.
©2018 All rights reserved. No portion of this
publication may be reproduced electronically
or in print without the expressed written
permission of the publisher.
Commerce Quarterly Magazine
is published quarterly by
Hoffmann Publishing Group, Reading, PA
HoffmannPublishing.com * 610.685.0914

Small Business Matters
26

Small Business Spotlight:
Sarai Variety Flower Shop

28

GRCA Small Business Roundup

IN EVERY ISSUE:
4

Letter From the Editor

58

Upcoming Events

7

A Message from
GRCA President/CEO

60

New Members

46

Member News

61

Member Anniversaries

62

Member Spotlight

For Advertising Opportunities:
call 610.685.0914 Ext. 1

COVER:

Read Commerce Quarterly
Magazine Online
at GreaterReadingChamber.org

A beautiful day at the 2017 Penn Street Market, which ran for 18 weeks on the
north side of the 400 block of Penn Street. The Market features local produce,
breads, dairy products, and other artisan crafts and goods, in addition to
lunch vendors and live entertainment. The Market will resume this spring!

http://www.greaterreadingchamber.org http://www.HoffmannPublishing.com https://www.twitter.com/HoffPubs/ https://www.facebook.com/HoffPubs/ https://www.linkedin.com/company/1134033/ https://plus.google.com/b/103204256682789156238/+Hoffmannpublishing http://www.GreaterReadingChamber.org

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of GRCA_CommerceQuarterly_Winter2018