Erie magazine aug sept 2014

eriepa.comErie Regional Chamber and Growth Partnership

AUG/SEPT 2014

PROVIDINGPROTECTIONAroUnd ThE clock

Cyber Breach

BordertownProtecting the borders of our town.

If it happens, do you have a plan?

Safeguarding Our Streets

The people who protect us and what we can do to help

ErcGP STAffBarbara C. ChaffeePresident/CEO

Jacob A. RouchVice President, Economic Development

August P. SchiavaVice President, Chamber

Linda C. RobbinsFinancial Officer

Benjamin C. PrattExecutive Director, Growth Partnership Division

Nadeen M. SteffeyDirector of Marketing and Communications

EdiTorNadeen M. Steffey

conTribUTinG WriTErSMary BirdsongJohn ChaconaMichael S. Zavasky

dESiGnPAPA AdvertisingPAPAadvertising.com

AdvErTiSinG informATionBrett WilerAccount Executive(814) 454-7191 [email protected]

Sabrina ChircoDirector of Research

Douglas M. MasseyDirector, Business Action Team

Cathy NobleEvent Coordinator

Susan M. RontoMembership Coordinator

Brett WilerAccount Executive

ErcGP boArd of dirEcTorS

2014 officErSDr. Keith Taylor, CHAIRMarsha Marsh, VICE-CHAIRDavid Tullio, SECRETARYMike Weber, TREASURER.

boArd of dirEcTorSDr. Jay BadamsJoel BerdineDr. Donald BirxJohn BloomstineCarl CarlottiTerrence CavanaughGary ClarkJohn DillMary EckertScott EighmyJeffrey EvansJames FiorenzoCharles “Boo” HagertyTimothy HunterChuck KnightJohn Leemhuis, Esq.Jim E. Martin

Ken Nelson Bob MazzaMarlene MoscoJack MunchNeil ParhamJim RileyJim Rutkowski, Jr.Matthew SchultzNick Scott, Jr.Gretchen SethRon SteeleTom Tupitza, Esq.Russell Warner, Esq.Scott WhalenDr. Julie WollmanScott Wyman

fall member festThursday, September 25, 2014Shades Beach

Annual meeting Thursday, November 6, 2014Bel-Aire Clarion Hotel & Conference Center

Erie Regional Chamber & Growth Partnership 2014 Signature Events

SAVE THE DATE9-25

11-6

Sponsorships available; contact Brett Wiler at [email protected] for details!

new investors 2

FEATuRE ARTIClESbordertown 12Protecting the borders of our town.by John Chacona

cyber breach 16If it happens, do you have a plan?by Michael S. Zavasky

Safeguarding our Streets 20The people who protect us and what we can do to help.by Mary Birdsong

SPECIAl EDITIONS Summer JAm & Summer interns 4

Member Benefit Spotlight 4ondemand Energy Solutions

ribbon cuttings 24

IN EACH ISSuE

organizational Updates 6

regional initiative Updates 10

EriE MAgAzinE AUG/SEPT 2014

AUG/SEPT 2014

Erie regional Chamber and growth Partnership

new investorsbloom collaborativeBLOOM Collaborative provides a holistic approach to wellness recognizing the healing power of creativity, mindfulness, and environment. Through art, gardening, yoga and community collaboration we offer a creative wellness campus focusing on your well-being.

lee Steadman138 East 26th Street, Erie, PA 16504PH: (814) 878-3688 / FX: (814) 871-5115www.bloomcollaborative.org

body and balance chiropracticChiropractic office specializing in women’s health, pregnancy, pediatrics and family wellness care. We also treat back pain, sciatica, and headaches.

Elyssa lindenberger3823 West 12th Street, Suite A, Erie, PA 16505PH: (814) 836-4663 FX: (814) 836-2711www.bodyandbalancechiropractic.com

david J. Peck & AssociatesCybersecutiry consulting, response and investigative services.

david PeckPO Box 81, north East, PA 16428PH: (888) 202-3369 / FX: (888) 316-6658www.djpaa.com

ferralli StudiosFerralli Studios is a HD, Film and 4K production company with over 20 years of broadcast and commercial production experience.

Joe ferralli4999 Pittsburgh Aveune, Erie, PA 16509PH: (814) 528-5439 / FX: (866) 841-1219www.ferralli-studios.com

Gray matter media, inc.Gray Matter Media, Inc. is an innovative multi-media, full service advertising agency providing creative television, radio and print advertising services. Our in house HD video production team uses the latest advances in videography technology. We offer “Smart Advertising” services in web site design, texting campaigns, promotional products, creative script writing and campaign branding.

Eileen knightPO Box 227, north East, PA 16428PH: (814) 725-3888 / FX: (814) 725-3886www.graymattermediainc.com

SilvEr lEvEl networking TechnologiesNetworking Technologies offers superior data communications consultation and service; by providing high-end data communication consulting and technical support services, with a variety of customizable programs to design, implement, and support almost any technology.

Jim bahm3910 Caughey road, Erie, PA 16506PH: (814) 836-0000 FX: (814) 836-5228www.net-cloud.com

invESTor lEvElAerchArGEDevelopment and manufacturing of the AerCHARGE product line – serving the consumer electronic market.

chris Arkwright707 West 38th Street, Erie, PA 16508PH: (814) 314-9321www.aercharge.com

Ambridge rose Spa & Salon, inc.Day Spa serving Erie and Northwest PA. Massage, facial, body treatments, hairstyling, manicures, pedicures, gift certificates and gift baskets available.

rose cortes3344 West 26th Street, Erie, PA 16506PH: (814) 836-9898 / FX: (814) 836-8515www.ambridgerosespa.com

beechwood Golf clubThe Beechwood Golf Club is a public golf course and banquet facility located off I-90 at exit 18 and Sterrettania Road in Fairview, PA. The club has a full bar and grill that is open all year round. Whether it’s planning a special event, playing golf, or grabbing a bite to eat, we encourage everyone to come out and get a taste of the friendly environment!

Tony Arrigo6401 gorski road, Fairview, PA 16415PH: (814) 833-0527www.beechwoodgolfclub.com

blended Spirits ranchBlended Spirits Ranch offers equine assisted learning and equine assisted psychotherapy to youth, adults and families.

Sandra long7401 McCray road, Fairview, PA 16415 PH: (814) 449-5657www.blendedspiritsranch.org

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Green Seven TechnologiesGreen Seven Technologies provides managed IT service to Business Municipalities, and non-profit organizations on a full-time out-sources basis with fixed monthly fees.

Jay markeyPO Box 12791, Pittsburgh, PA 15241PH: (412) 224-1177www.teamgreen7.com

hudson Student housingPenn State Behrend’s premiere off campus student housing.

Paula Uden5720 Station road, Erie, PA 16510PH: (814) 616-2727 / FX: (814) 616-2728www.hudsoncompanies.net

in Progress, llcIn Progress, LLC is a professional training and development firm. Our experienced Certified Human Behavior Consultants create customized workshops to improve productivity, increase employee retention, enhance leadership skills and maximize team potential. Other services include executive coaching and keynote speaking.

maryanne ThorntonPO BOX 9490, Erie, PA 16505PH: (814) 580-1544www.inprogressonline.com

kress financial ServicesWorking together to help you achieve your financial goals. Specializing in communicating simple solutions to complex issues and concerns.

dan kress4603 Peach Street, Erie, PA 16509PH: (814) 866-5737 / FX: (814) 868-4226www.kressfinancial.com

les crago JewelerWe’ve been making and selling jewelry for 60 years and we’ve done it by offering innovative designs and great prices. Les Crago Jeweler services include: jewelry repair, custom jewelry, jewelry appraisals, bridal and engagement jewelry, watches and watch repair.

Stephen crago2626 West 8th Street, Erie, PA 16505PH: (814) 833-5311 / FX: (814) 835-1741www.lescragojeweler.com

mammoth restoration & constructionMammoth is Pennsylvania’s leading expert in the repair and restoration of water, fire, and smoke damage. We are also a full-service remodeling and construction firm with experience in both the residential and commercial arenas.

Joey fendone12664 South route 19, Waterford, PA 16441PH: (814) 796-9000 / www.mammothrestoration.com

mcbrier PropertiesMcBrier Properties owns and manages commercial real estate in Erie and Crawford Counties: Office, Retail, and Industrial.

michael lorei3939 West ridge road, Suite B-20, Erie, PA 16506PH: (814) 838-9762 / FX: (814) 838-7743www.mcbrierproperties.com

northEast Energy AdvisorsNortheast Energy Advisors is an electricity and natural gas supply consulting company. We provide objective and unbiased energy procurement, management and advisory services for commercial and industrial clients.

dave mikula1401 north Mill Street #100, north East, PA 16428PH: (814) 725-5713 / www.northeastenergyadvisors.com

Soap Effect StudiosMobile and internet marketing design firm.

James moelk946 West 9th Street, Erie, PA 16502PH: (814) 746-0735 / www.soapeffect.com

Socialution mediaSocialution Media is a full service digital marketing and social media agency.

lesley ridge3210 Westwood Estates Drive, Erie, PA 16505PH: (814) 470-4050 / www.socialutionmedia.com

The bair foundationSince 1967, The Bair Foundation has provided faith-based, quality care and services to foster children and families in crisis through a mayriad of child-centered, family-focused, and strength-based services.

kelly Quinn245 High Street, new Wilmington, PA 16142PH: (724) 946-2220 / FX: (724) 946-2213www.bair.org

Please note: New Investor, Paychex, phone number was listed incorrectly in the June/July issue. The correct phone number for Paychex is (814) 392-7070.

PROVIDING PROTECTION

AUG/SEPT 2014

S PE CIAL E D ITI O N S

Summer JAM & Summer Interns

This summer we welcomed 4 interns to the staff at the Erie Regional Chamber and Growth Partnership.

Danielle Barney is with us in the Chamber Division assisting with website updates, events, and various marketing initiatives. Danielle is a recent graduate of Edinboro University with a major in Communications.

Annie Walbridge is assisting the Economic Development Division with data entry and research. Annie is a student at Gannon University and studying marketing and business administration.

Emily Frigon is assisting the Economic Development Division in research and county reports. Emily is also helping with the Growth Partnership division on Destination Erie in their third phase of the project. Emily is a student at the University of Pittsburgh with a major in Economics and minor in Spanish. She also holds a certificate in sustainable development.

Dupree Husband is assisting the Economic Development and Erie Chamber in office related activities to help grow his knowledge of the Erie business community. Dupree is 18 and currently in cyber school.

If you happen to drop by the office, or see any of these young faces at our events, give them a warm welcome!

If you know of a student looking for fall internship possibilities, have them contact the ERCGP office at 454-7191 x139.

OnDemand Energy Solutions

Your Chamber still offers one of the most successful energy affinity programs through ChamberChoice, OnDemand Energy Solutions!

For the past three years, many of you have gained the benefits of the fixed electric rate that OnDemand Energy Solutions’ negotiated on your behalf. This exclusive ChamberChoice promotion has secured your energy rate through the chilling Polar Vortex to the heat of the summer, relieving your energy bill concern and allowing you to focus on your business.

With your current energy contract expiring in December, ERCGP has again worked with OnDemand Energy Solutions to provide discounted rates exclusive to ChamberChoice members through Guttman Energy, the chosen energy supplier that OnDemand Energy found best aligns with the needs of our chamber members. The discounted rate is available to all ChamberChoice members, regardless of previous participation.

You will be receiving a letter from OnDemand Energy for more information on this opportunity. Please take the time to consider the offer and learn about its benefits for your business. During the current period of low Penelec rates, OnDemand Energy encourages ChamberChoice members to lock in their fixed rate before rates begin to rise.

For additional information, visit http://www.ondemandenergy.com

Memb er B enef i t Sp ot l ight

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Aug/SEPT 2014

Organizational UpdatesCHAmBERby August P. Schiava,Vice President

Ahoy! The Chamber Division is influenced by our view of the activities near and on the waters of the Erie Bayfront and the Great Lake Erie. County history and community have been shaped by the continued development of this resource as well as the surrounding countryside. Now that we are past the midway point of 2014, it is time to review the plans and budget forecast for the remainder of the year.

Membership Events are a key component of the Chamber Division’s responsibility. Business After Hours is one of the most successful programs we produce. The concept is based on networking and marketing outreach to ERCGP members only, at a very reasonable price. Getting to know the right person can be just what your business needs. Hosting a BAH fosters a climate of growth and success that benefits all, connecting the sponsor business to member businesses and industry as well as community and civic leaders. The schedule for the remainder of 2014 is as follows:08/21/14 Hookah Café 09/11/14 Breakiron Jewelers & Joe Lombardo’s Barber Studio10/16/14 Edinboro University11/20/14 Gannon University12/11/14 Peek n’ Peak Resort & Spa

Our Internship Program will be available September through early November. ERCGP recognizes the importance of providing quality educational opportunities to students in our region. This program is based upon guidelines outlined by the Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency’s Community Service Work Study Program providing participating students the opportunity to work in an array of projects that strive to enhance and promote the Lake Erie Region while offering eligible students access to the opportunities

and work experience relevant to their education and career goals.

The Fall Erie Ambassadors training course will begin in late September with classes offered every Tuesday morning from 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM for nine sessions. The program is designed to train community professionals and citizens interested in the history and promotion of our region. The course examines numerous aspects of the community, providing in-depth information from some of Erie’s top civic leaders. The cost of the training is only $175 and space is limited.

Fall Member Fest is scheduled to take place on September 25, 2014 at Shades Beach Park Pavilion from 4:00 PM to 8:00 PM. Tickets can be purchased through the ERCGP office. This member only favorite Signature Event features a delicious menu, live entertainment, games, ticket raffles and more. This event serves as a great relationship building and team appreciation experience.

This year on November 6, 2014, the Annual Meeting will be held at the Bel –Aire Conference Center. We provide finger foods and refreshments as a member service as we address the current year’s highlights. Last year we introduced keypad polling to gage the pulse of the membership on key select issues.

Simultaneously in the fall the Erie Regional Chamber and Growth Partnership navigates best practice processes to chart a new course for 2015. Bon Voyage!

C O N T R I B U T E D C O L U M NO R G A N I Z AT I O N A L U PDAT E S

ECONOmICDEVElOPmENT by Jake Rouch,Vice President

Smokey Bear has one famous line: “Only YOU can prevent forest fires.” Well, the Erie Regional Chamber and Growth Partnership is borrowing from Smokey’s signature phrase to call you to action: “Only YOU can make PROJECT JOBS a success.”

PROJECT JOBS is an initiative essential to our region’s future – and the only people who can participate are businesses. Why? Because PROJECT JOBS is a questionnaire that wants to know specific information regarding present and future job openings at YOUR business. No one else has this information – only you.

So we need your business to take a few moments, go to our website, click on the PROJECT JOBS logo on the home page, and complete the survey.

We launched PROJECT JOBS two years ago and we only got 100 of our 900 members to participate. The poor showing was our fault. The survey was too long and confusing, you could not access the survey without a username and password, and we failed to recruit partners throughout the community to join us in owning and marketing this dynamic initiative. Lessons learned. Product improved.

Over the next few months, you will see commercials and be prompted by e-mails and colleagues to participate in PROJECT JOBS – to share your present and future jobs need via PROJECT JOBS. Your participation Your individual response will be totally confidential, but the collective response of all employers will be used to help inform citizens more specifically about what specific types of jobs are in demand, help guide education and training providers on what they need to offer to meet employer needs, and help our region secure a greater share of training dollars to meet our targeted needs.


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O R G A N I Z AT I O N A L U PDAT E S

Jim Clifton, CEO of Gallop, wrote a book called, “The Coming Jobs War.” The book focuses on one of the most important discoveries in the organization’s history. Clifton writes, “Humans used to desire love, money, food, shelter, safety, peace and freedom more than anything else. The last 30 years have changed us. Now people want to have a good job, and they want their children to have a good job. This changes everything for world leaders. Everything they do - from waging war to building societies - will need to be carried out within the new context of the need for a good job.”

Clifton goes on to say that kids in school need to see opportunity on the horizon. When they see opportunity (i.e., a job) on the horizon, then the pathway (education and training) becomes clearer and more relevant to them. However, when they do not see opportunity on the horizon, they see no purpose in taking the pathway, and they drop out – not just out of school, but out of life.

Job opportunities in your business are the points on the horizon our citizens need to see. They give them direction…they give them hope…and they give them a future.

Regardless of size, we need to know what positions in your business are presently open, may be created in the next two years, or may open up due to retirements in the next few years.

Only YOU can show kids that there is a future in Erie for them by sharing the opportunities on the horizon of your business.

Only YOU can make PROJECT JOBS a success.

GROwTH PARTNERSHIPby Barbara ChaffeePresident/CEO, ERCGP

The Council of University Presidents (COUP) met in mid-June; the COUP collectively agreed to focus their collective resources on two key focus areas from the white paper – “THE PATH FORWARD: A Statement on the Future of Our Region by the Leaders of Erie’s Universities”.

Within the final pages of the white paper, the COUP identified four key initiatives that they have agreed to continue to collaborate on to achieve their collective vision of our community:

“Erie is a center for creativity and innovation powered by entrepreneurship in education, business and the arts.”Each of the four universities assigned deans and faculty who will begin their collaboration this August on the following two key areas:

Initiative One: Collaborate to Develop New Industries

Goals: • Initiatestrategiestosupportthe growth of companies developed by faculty & students, and provide support to entrepreneurs in our region• Developjointand/orcollaborative incubators in cooperation with existing entrepreneurship programs to establish a seamless environment for growing new companies• PromoteErieasamagnetfor entrepreneurs seeking a supportive environment to grow their companies• Worktoconnectstudentsand faculty to opportunities for internships, and work with start-ups & existing companies seeking to “spin-in” innovation• MakeErieacenterfornewbusiness creation

Initiative Two: Partner to Build Strengths in the Emerging Technology Areas that will Generate Opportunity for the Region

Goals: • Exploreopportunitiesfor collaboration in fast growing areas that already have local programs in place such as: • Energy • Digitalmediaandarts • Intelligence,cybersecurity • Breakthroughtechnologiesin advanced manufacturing and health care • Developjointeducationandresearch projects• Createuniversity/industrynetworks in the targeted areas• Identifyexistingeducatorsand researchers at our four universities and attract leading educators in these fields to Erie • Development unified proposals for new regional investments in research and innovation capabilities in these areas• Identifyandengageotherresearch universities to develop test beds or incubators with Erie universities in the Erie region• Createnewstrategiesthatconnect our students to existing regional firms and collaborate with our elementary and secondary education partners to explore opportunities for developing STEM education and 2+2+2 programs that can develop education and career pathways for students

SAVE THE DATE: Friday, Sept. 12, 2014 The Neighborhood Centers will hold an evening fundraiser, more details to follow soon. We hope to have great business community support for this event.

Aug/SEPT 2014

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eriepa.com 9

August 215:00 – 7:00 PMHabibi Mediterranean Cuisine127 West 14th StreetErie, PA

September 115:00 – 7:00 PMBreakironJewelers & Joe Lombardo’s Barber Studio4026-4030 Pine AvenueErie, PA

october 165:00 – 7:00 PMEdinboro University219 Meadville StreetEdinboro, PA

Business After Hours is a members only networking event of the Erie Regional Chamber and Growth Partnership.

Contact Cathy at (814) 454-7191 x146 or [email protected] for more.

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Aug/SEPT 2014

R E G I O N A L I N I T I AT I V E U PDAT E S

Over the past year Bill Strickland and the Manchester Bidwell Corporation’s (MBC) “Bidwell Training Centers” has become a popular topic of conversation around the greater Erie community. You may have heard Bill Strickland speak as part of Destination Erie’s speaker series, or caught his presentation at the UPMC Hamot Auditorium on May 2nd of this year. It is hard to hear Mr. Strickland speak and not appreciate and value his passion for his life’s work. And, if by chance you were caught in a MBC conversation following the presentation or in general, most often the discussion turns to “I wonder if we could do that in Erie?”.

If you were to ask Bill Strickland what exactly a Bidwell Training Center is or does, he may respond that it “inspires others to dream bigger and achieve the extraordinary”, at least that is how he outlines it in his book Make the Impossible Possible (which is a great read I would encourage all of you to take a look at). However, a more technical approach would illustrate that

Pittsburgh’s Bidwell Training Center (BTC) attracts national recognition for its innovative and career-oriented training that changes the lives of adults in transition in southwestern Pennsylvania. BTC provides literacy and remedial education as well as partnering with leading corporations to design high-caliber, market-relevant career training programs that lead to entry-level employment. Several of these programs require externships with area companies. Externships enable students to combine skills learned in the classroom with on-the-job experience while providing an opportunity to begin the transition from school to employment.

Anything is possible in Erie Pennsylvania, whether it is feasible or not is another question entirely. Which is why, like any good business, the Erie Regional Chamber & Growth Partnership’s board of directors, along with many community partners, have approved the due diligence analysis that determines whether our community

Regional Initiative UpdatesIS IT FEASIBLE? Manchester Bidwellby Ben Pratt, Executive Director, Growth Partnership Division & Project Coordinator, Destination Erie

possesses the characteristics necessary to develop and open a Center for Arts and Technology based on the Manchester Bidwell Model. In July the Erie Regional Chamber & Growth Partnership sent out a letter to all of our members highlighting the opportunity to contribute to the Manchester Bidwell Feasibility Study Fund, to validate this process in addressing our community skills gaps through a Manchester Bidwell Center replication in the Erie community. For more information about the Manchester Bidwell Feasibility Study Fund or the National Center for Arts & Technology please contact me at [email protected].

Donations may be made to the fund through the Erie Community Foundation or directly to the Erie Regional Chamber and Growth Partnership re: the “Manchester Bidwell Feasibility Fund”.


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R E G I O N A L I N I T I AT I V E U PDAT E S

“Success does not happen overnight, it takes work and perseverance and above all, commitment.” While this quote is anonymous, it sums up the effort that was put forth by a number of organizations, businesses, individuals and ambitious youth who helped to make the first annual Erie Summer JAM (jobs and more) a great success.

Erie CareerLink sponsored several orientation sessions for both youth and employers interested in participating in Erie Summer JAM. The program was initially designed to accommodate 100 youth; 190 youth applied for the program and 122 followed up on their applications and were deemed eligible based on income and other guidelines. The Youth Entrepreneur Society provided job readiness training including career assessment, résumé writing, financial literacy and management, public speaking, proper appearance and behavior, accountability and career planning. On July 14, the student participants were ready to begin their jobs.

Erie Summer JAM was created as a community service initiative, sponsored

by The Erie Community Foundation, to help address crime and poverty among Erie County youth by creating access to jobs, job readiness training and “MORE” opportunities. Funding for Erie Summer JAM was provided by Erie County Council, the Erie County Gaming Revenue Authority and The Erie Community Foundation. The Venango Training and Development Corporation (VTDC), the youth services provider for the NWPA Workforce Investment Board, served as the fiscal agent, while Erie CareerLink took the lead in identifying potential employers and part-time employment.

Epic Web Studios developed a website where young people can look at job listings or MORE opportunities. Both are pinpointed on an interactive map along with a full listing including the business/organization logo, description and contact information. MORE opportunities focus around cultural, educational, athletic and enrichment activities. Many organizations stepped up and offered youth camps, basketball tournaments, college visits, community picnics, festivals and leadership programs.

ERIE VITAL SIGNSInaugural Erie Summer JAM Marks Successby Melissa Galbraith

Epic Web Studios also provided a social media campaign which included ongoing posts and advertisements on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn. The media partners, including the Manufacturer and Business Association, Erie Regional Chamber and Growth Partnership, Erie Times-News, GoErie and the Corry Journal, raised community awareness among various organizations.

“Erie Summer JAM is by no means the only answer to solving Erie County’s poverty and crime problem among youth, but is a good opportunity to provide guidance, support and the tools necessary to succeed for those teens who are at a disadvantage,” said Mike Batchelor, Erie Community Foundation president. As Erie Summer JAM’s inaugural year winds down and kids prepare to return to school, organizers are pleased to offer this glimpse into the creation, process, participants and outcome as we look toward making Summer JAM bigger and better for 2015.

Aug/SEPT 2014


eriepa.com

Deputy Patrol Agent in Charge Joseph Kruszynski describes the working what he called “the southern border” for the United States Border Patrol as “a must, because the action you get there is worth a year’s experience in a day. You learn what kind of behavior to look out for, things that look suspicious.”

So, when he came north from Yuma, Arizona four years ago, he says, “i thought the Erie station would be a piece of cake compared to the southern border, but i almost had to reinvent how i worked. i used to walk up to the border and touch the border fence. it wasn’t easy to work here because the border is far away.”

Adds his fellow agent E. robert Signorino, “And at this border, they don’t leave tracks.”

Even lifelong Erieites may have trouble thinking of their city as a border town, but it is exactly that. “People think Buffalo is the closest, but Erie is just as much of one as

Buffalo is,” Signorino says. That the border is an unseen abstraction miles into Lake Erie matters little. if you are lucky enough to live on lakefront property, the next house on the next block to your north flies a red Maple Leaf on the front yard flagpole.

At one time, crossing that border was a matter of weekend recreation, not international cooperation. Sailors from Erie would make the crossing from Erie to Port Dover, Ontario with little more thought than they might have given to making out-of-town dinner reservations.

Those days are gone.

by John Chacona

Protecting the borders of our town.

13

“People think Buffalo is the closest, but Erie is just as much of [a bordertown] as Buffalo is.”

Aug/SEPT 2014

“Even without a vessel, and as short as the summer is here, we logged 1001 hours on the water, which is pretty good,” Signorino points out.

“The border, Kruszynski says, is in the middle of the lake but the effective border is the bayfront, and that’s you’ll find Border Patrol agents who have responsibility for the nEXUS program.

Under the Western Hemisphere Travel initiative, the nEXUS program allows travelers with nEXUS cards to be quickly processed by U.S. and Canadian officers at designated northern border ports of entry. Erie is one of those, and you’ll also find travelers with NEXUS cards using them at kiosks at Canadian Preclearance airports, and at marinas.

it seems pretty benign, but the underlying mission of the Border Patrol and the Coast guard is to prevent terrorists and terrorist weapons from entering the United States.

it’s not a far-fetched notion.

As far back as the 1920s, the coastline of Lake Erie was the site of a thriving smuggling culture, which brought alcoholic beverages from Canada across the lake during Prohibition. The Border Patrol was created in 1924 as a response to Prohibition and the immigration Act of 1924.

“Our main mission is the safety of the U.S.,” Kruszynski says. “Anybody trying to come into the country to do harm, that’s someone we take very seriously.”

“We’re all components of the Department of Homeland Security, so we have a responsibility to defend the borders of the U.S.,” Pickard adds. “We have boats and the Border Patrol has Chevy Tahoes.”


in the aftermath of the Sept. 11 attacks, the Department of Homeland Security was organized, and several existing U.S. government agencies were brought under its direction, the Border Patrol and the U.S. Coast guard among them.

Things are little changed at U.S. Coast guard Station Erie says Chief Petty Officer Steve Pickard, the Station’s officer in charge.

“Every one of the 11 missions we have now are the same as they were before Homeland Security,” Pickard says. The Coast guard has always had the authority and the mandate to conduct operations with other law enforcement agencies.”

rescue is still a large part of the mission of the Erie Station, 65 to 80 of them a year, says Chief Pickard says. This mission will be made easier this year with the delivery in May of a new $2.4 million response Boat-Medium, the 157th in a fleet of 170 nationwide, two of which will be sent to Erie.

The faster, more maneuverable boats will give the Coast guard added capabilities, Pickard says. “We conduct boardings of vessels in the area to ensure that they’re in compliance with federal law for size and the number of passengers they carry to ensure that everybody’s operating safely.”

Occasionally, Coast guard vessels carry passengers of their own: Border Patrol agents based in Erie.

There are 13 of them here, and in addition to their duties patrolling some state game lands (“They’re wide open, wooded, and not highly traveled—an attractive place to illegally enter the country,” Kruszynski says). Yet, despite their responsibility for the shoreline from the Ohio state line to Silver Creek in Chautauqua County, new York, the Border Patrol does not have a boat.

“We have boats and the Border Patrol has Chevy Tahoes.”

“It wasn’t easy to work here because the border is far away.”


eriepa.com 15

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Aug/SEPT 2014

“Risk managers recognize that a cyber event to their company can often come

from areas outside of their sphere of control.”

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eriepa.com 17

A recent survey of corporate risk managers has revealed that their number one concern for 2014 is a cyber incident that adversely impacts their company. Fifty-six percent of the managers surveyed indicated that they are seeking protection against both the financial impact to their own company and the liability they may have to others from a cyber event. The financial impact of a cyber breach can be devastating to companies. Of the companies reporting cyber events in 2013; 49% indicated they had an interruption to their business activities, lost revenue, or both. Additionally, 44% indicated they lost critical information. Almost half of all companies that suffer a cyber event go out of business within six months.

So why are risk managers so concerned with cyber threats? First and foremost, risk managers recognize that a cyber event to their company can often come from areas outside of their sphere of control. The multiple replication of data, the inter-connectivity of systems, and the use of the internet to conduct business, all expose companies to a constantly evolving exposure to loss. They recognize that no matter how diligent you are in protecting your company from a cyber incident you could still be exposed through your customers,

vendors, and suppliers. in fact, most breach events are discovered by third parties that then report it to the company that was breached. Breached companies rarely discover the breach independently. The average discovery time for breaches is 8 months after the incident. it’s an incident when an unauthorized person gets into your system; it’s a breach when they take information out of your system.

The most common forms of cyber breaches actually come from within the company. Hackers are a major threat, but so is your own staff through human error or inadequate precautions. The chart below shows the four types of cyber incident origins.

by Michael S. Zavasky

If It happens, do you have a plan?

Accidental Intentional

Exte

rnal

Inte

rnal Lost devices,

AccidentalPublishing of Data

DisgruntledEmployees

Vendors, Suppliers,

Subcontractors

Hackers, Phishers, Terrorists

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Aug/SEPT 2014

think this is why insurance Management is positioned as a leader in risk Management.”

“great program today! Thanks for including us…very worthwhile, informative and interesting.”

An integral part of our seminar focused on what companies can do to monitor their web presence and how you can be alerted when things change within your web environment. Our speakers focused not only on how companies can protect themselves from direct attacks, but how you also need to safeguard yourself from naïve suppliers and vendors.

One of the most valuable tools our clients can get through the purchase of Cyber Liability insurance is a partnership that includes a virus scan of their systems and a free piece of hardware that constantly monitors your systems for the presence of hacker activity. Once your system is invaded by hackers they frequently and quietly plant bits of malware software within your system covertly. Their goal is to build a larger bundle by putting it together bits at a time so as to go undetected. The particular insurance coverage we reviewed at our seminar uses proprietary hardware to detect such activity.

At insurance Management we want our clients protected in such a way that they can remediate cyber incidents immediately upon discovery. As we stated earlier, it’s an incident when the hackers get into your system; it’s a breach when they get things out of your system. Containment is the new defense. insurance companies are becoming much more actively engaged in building the defenses to prevent losses.

We help our clients tailor their protections to how they do business. We analyze their internet usage, control methods and data management, and then we design protections around their exposures. if they do have an incident that results in a breach we know they will have a real chance of remediation and survival.

Ask yourself the question; “if you have a cyber incident today, what is your plan?” if you don’t already have the right partnerships and protections in place right now; you are more exposed than you think!

All data breaches start as a data incident, but not all data incidents become data breaches. The difference is how you respond and manage the incidents. You need to have plans in place to contain data incidents before they become a breach. You need to practice your response plans regularly through simulation or table-top exercises. Your goal is to discover incidents before they become a breach.

According to the director of the FBi, there are two groups of companies: those that have been hacked, and those that will be hacked. These two groups are quickly merging into one category: those that have been hacked….and will be hacked again!

How quickly can you identify you have had an incident? Are you using software and hardware tools to constantly monitor your systems? Have your systems been analyzed recently to determine if you have been invaded by hackers? ninety percent of the companies reporting a cyber incident in the past year have indicated they did not have a response plan in place. Do you?

At insurance Management Company we have access to specialized products and services that offer a wide array of solutions to effective manage cyber risk both before and after a cyber incident. At our recent seminar, “Data Mining & Cyber risks; Opportunities with Perils”, we presented valuable and timely information to over one hundred and sixty clients and partners regarding the wealth of information that is available on the web. There is far more information on the web than most people realize and it’s replicated in multiple locations. it’s not as well protected as you would think or like and with a little knowledge it is readily available.

Cyber liability is a timely topic; responses to the information provided at the seminar indicate that businesses want to understand how to manage these new exposures to loss associated with internet business transactions. Seminar attendees were highly engaged and we received an outpouring of feedback; “i found it very informative i


Incident Discovery Remediation Containment without Breach

Incident Breach Discovery Damages Survival? x


eriepa.com 19

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Aug/SEPT 2014

“The citizens are the eyes and ears of the community. They know what is going

on in their neighborhoods. This is why it is so important to have a good trusting

relationship between the police and the residents.”


eriepa.com 21

Everyone wants to be safe; everyone wants to protect loved ones. Sometimes, it’s not such an easy task. increase in crime is not reserved for major metropolitan areas. Erie and its environs have seen its share and, recently, criminal activity seems to be growing.

Law enforcement officials and others concerned with the deterrence of crime say that calling the police when you need them often isn’t enough. They advocate for an increased commitment to the community’s well being on the part of citizens. That might mean checking up on an elderly neighbor, becoming active in a neighborhood Watch group or improving the security of your home.

According to Trooper Stephen Oler with the Pennsylvania State Police, the most effective way to reduce crime is when the police department and citizens work together to keep our neighborhoods safe. He says “the citizens are the eyes and ears of the community. They know what is going on in their neighborhoods. This is why it is so

important to have a good trusting relationship between the police and the residents.”

To increase that trust, the City of Erie police department has instituted several measures to build rapport, such as having clergy members join officers in “ride-alongs,” where ministers cruise the streets in patrol cars as a show of solidarity.

“ride-along a very positive program,” says Police Chief Randy Bowers. “It displays unity between the officers and the clergy and it helps them develop relationships. The next time they see each other on the street, there’s more common ground.” According to Bowers, the program is well received by the clergy and the officers and they have had only positive feedback.

The Erie police department has stepped up its efforts to remove guns from the hands of criminals. in a press conference held in June, Major Joe Sinnott and Bowers

by Mary Birdsong

the people who protect us and what we can do to help.

Safeguarding Our Streets

Aug/SEPT 2014

reported that since January, Erie police have confiscated 105 illegal firearms, up from 49 during the same timeframe last year. They have also arrested and charged 56 people with gun-related crimes, compared with 38 during the same period of 2013.

new initiatives seem to be making a difference. With a federal Project Safe neighborhood grant they were able to add one officer each to the force’s Neighborhood Action Team and the Saturation Patrol Unit above and beyond normal staffing. “The grant money gives us the flexibility to arrange our work schedule to see what is the most effective for the needs of the community,” says Bowers.

The Millcreek Police Department has responded to an increase of drug-related criminal activity by instituting a three-officer unit dedicated to drug and vice investigations as well as assigning unmarked vehicles to places where car break-ins or burglaries have been a problem. “This is as manpower permits,” says Captain Carter Mook.

The department has also recently assigned a detective to work with neighborhood Watch groups on a part-time basis. This brings law enforcement closer to citizens and makes it easier for them to work together. The committed citizens of a watch group assist police more than people know. “We cannot be everywhere at the same time,” says Mook. “i can recall several crimes over the course of my career that have been solved by the initiation of a phone call by a citizen.”

“it’s a win-win situation when you can develop a relationship with law enforcement,” says Steve Simmelkjaer, Chair of the Erie neighborhood Watch Council.

The Council—the umbrella organization for most groups—had its beginning in 1992 when grass-roots watch groups began to meet to share ideas. now, it is

a 501(c)3 non-profit organization that’s funded primarily with a grant from Erie County.

The Council lists 72 Erie County watch groups, although some are inactive and others not connected with the Council, according to Simmelkjaer. “We are now in the process of reaching out to these groups and hope to have a solid number by the end of the year,” adding that five new groups are in the process of being established.

Simmelkjaer suggests that people engage their neighbors whether there is a watch group in their area or not. “get involved, reach out. Find out who your neighbors are and develop a relationship. identify what the strengths are in your neighborhood and understand and identify what the concerns are. Together, you can begin to understand the collective resources that exist to assist you in whatever need you have as a citizen.”

Like Simmelkjaer and the Council, law enforcement organizations stress the need to make sure you and your home are secure and ready for an emergency. basic measures that any one can take include:

• Make sure that there is proper lighting around your home• Keep your doors locked in your home and car• Stay alert and aware at all times• Know the emergency number and non-emergency for your local police department • Have boundaries for your children near your home that are clear and defined • Develop emergency procedures and keep handy phone numbers related to disaster preparedness • Report deficient street lighting within your neighborhood• report suspicious behaviors

While all of these things are common sense and bring a level of reassurance, sometimes homeowners want more guarantees.

“Protecting one’s home or property has come a long way since the days when barking guard dogs or the squawks of startled pet geese alerted people of a possible intruder,” says gregg Butala, owner of Whitetail Electronics, which specializes in custom security systems.


“I can recall several crimes over the course of my career that have been solved by the initiation of a phone call by a citizen.”


eriepa.comeriepa.com 23

streams can be viewed at any time or, if you are away, alert clips can be sent directly to your inbox.

He goes on to say that “today’s security systems don’t just set off alarms when you are away; they make it look like you are still right at home which is the best intruder deterrent of all.”

On the horizon is video verification at the monitoring station, which prevents emergency responders from being unnecessarily dispatched for a false alarm and the consumer being billed for the trip.

High-tech hardware and software are effective at securing a property, but a larger community issue still lingers. Chief Bowers knows that the police department is effective at its mission, buts says “crime is more than a police problem, it’s a cultural and sociological issue that has to be addressed by the larger community. The high local poverty rate and poor economy all play a part.”

So, check up on your neighbors, secure your home, join a neighborhood watch group, keep an eye out for the bad guys and remember, we’re all in this together.

Although a barking dog can still scare a potential trespasser away, much more sophisticated systems are now available. From the electro-magnetic alarm system developed by Augustus russel Pope in 1853 to the smart phone apps of today, there has always been a need and desire for security devices.

Butala says that the consumer has endless possibilities for complete interactive home security technologies. The home or business owner can utilize wireless security components, high-quality video surveillance systems, and many other products that work together to protect properties directly from a computer or mobile app.

“The owner can control door locks, lighting, HVAC systems, and many other components which can all be manipulated through pre-set programming or can be manually operated remotely with your phone or tablet,” remarks Butala. Depending on the system chosen, video

“Today’s security systems don’t just set off alarms when you are away; they make it look like you are still right at home which is the best intruder deterrent of all.”

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Join us for the Erie Regional Chamber and Growth Partnership’s

2014 Fall Member Fest ~ Thursday, September 25th Shades Beach Park Pavilion

7000 East Lake Road, Harborcreek

4PM to 8PM—Dinner served at 5:30PM

Tickets: $125 (includes tax & gratuity)

Order on line www.eriepa.com/fallmemberfest. Space is limited.

Catering by Petra’s featuring Lobster and Steamship of Beef dinner.

Live entertainment, cocktails, premium wines & craft beer, hookah & cigar bar, and raffle

drawings.

For information contact Cathy Noble, [email protected] or 814-454-7191 x146.

Thank you to our Signature Event Sponsors:

Fall

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2014

Erie magazine aug sept 2014

Documents

Transcript of Erie magazine aug sept 2014