The Bradford Area Chamber of Commerce is proud to announce the recipients of their 2017 awards, which will be presented on April 20 at the Chamber’s Annual Meeting and Awards Presentation.
The Allegheny Bradford Family of Companies – which includes Allegheny Bradford Manufacturing, Top Line Process Equipment Company, Allegheny Surface Technology, and ABC Actini – has been selected by the BACC Board of Directors as the 2017 Exemplary Business Award recipient. The Exemplary Business Award is awarded to a for-profit business that demonstrates a well-planned, commendable and thorough approach to business development. They must also exemplify the unique “hometown” charm of Bradford in their manner of administration, customer service and quality of product or service.
The Allegheny Bradford Family of Companies are all experts in manufacturing and marketing stainless steel, sanitary/hygienic products to the pharmaceutical, biotechnical, cosmetic, food, beverage, dairy, and electronics processing industries. Allegheny Bradford Corporation provides work for 243 employees through its companies in Lewis Run. The latest release of data from the Center for Workforce Information and Analysis ranked Allegheny Bradford Corporation as number 10 for largest employers in McKean County and number 5 in manufacturers.
To aid in employee development, Allegheny Bradford Corporation works with the North Central Pennsylvania Advanced Materials and Diversified Manufacturing (AMDM) Industry Partnership, the University of Pittsburgh at Bradford Continuing Education, and the Workforce & Economic Develop Network (WEDnetPA) training programs. In addition ABC is an active member of the Bradford Area HR Local Network Meeting, the Bradford Area School District Career Tech Advisory Committee and the Bradford Area Chamber of Commerce. The campus has 150,000 plus square feet of manufacturing, office, and warehouse space.
Every year ABC hosts students and instructors from the Triangle Tech Dubois Welding & Fabrication Technology program, and Cattaraugus BOCES Center at Olean. By taking the time to assist in educating the students and instructional staff, Allegheny Bradford hopes to better prepare area students for the workforce while assisting area schools as they educate tomorrow’s workers.
In addition to its state-of-the art manufacturing processes, continuous improvement initiatives, and on-going training on safety and environmental issues, ABC’s leadership and employees are involved in numerous charitable activities throughout the community. The leadership has been involved in boards such as Bradford Educational Foundation, Bradford Area Alliance and Bradford Hospital Foundation for the past couple decades. Management is currently involved in the Upper Allegheny Health System Board, YMCA Board and the Bradford Sanitary Authority Board. And the employees of Allegheny Bradford donate as a group in a variety of ways including CARE for Children, Olean and Bradford Hospitals, American Red Cross, Beacon Light Behavioral Health System, Bradford Ecumenical Home, Meals on Wheels, YWCA, Futures Rehabilitation Center, Friendship Table, The ELF fund, and others.
The 2017 Community & Spirit Award will be presented to Bradford Ecumenical Home. The Community & Spirit Award is given to an individual or organization that has made a significant, positive impact in the Bradford area through volunteer, civic, religious, cultural and/or business activities.
Bradford Ecumenical Home provides a vast array of activities for not only their residents, but to engage their families, guests, and the community. In 2016 alone, some of these events included a Mardi Gras celebration, Easter Extravaganza, Kick-Off to Summer, Grandparents’ Day activities, and a Veteran’s Day Celebration.
During Older Americans Month, in May of 2016, Bradford Ecumenical Home partnered with the YMCA, the City of Bradford, and United Way of the Bradford Area to host the “As I Age” Wall, highlighting issues of ageism as well as identifying opportunities to enhance services within the community based upon the needs and observations that community members transcribed. In June, the 7th Annual Senior Wellness Fair welcomed the return of more than 30 health and human service related vendors and 100+ participants who were able to complete interactive health screenings and gather information on social services available to the community.
Bradford Ecumenical Home has partnered with resources throughout the region and state, with “Artful Aging” – offered as a quarterly program in collaboration with the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts – as one example. They have also been selected as one of 25 candidates from across the state to participate in “Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful” with a community improvement project. BEH has chosen a trail beautification project, providing seniors with serenity and safe passage to enjoy nature’s benefits. The formal unveiling of this project, which includes ADA-approved handrails on the walking trail, weatherproof benches and planter boxes, stocking the stream with assorted fish, and provision of fishing poles, will occur on Earth Day.
Bradford Ecumenical Home’s Wellness Committee continues to partner with the Tuna Valley Trail Association and has adopted the White Pines Trail at Marilla Reservoir to provide trail maintenance from April through November. They have a long-standing relationship with several area civic organizations, including the Salvation Army, United Way of the Bradford Area, 50+ Club, and Rotary Club, among others.
Bradford Ecumenical Home is the reality of a vision founded by the Baptist and Presbyterian Churches of Bradford. Their ecumenical (non-denominational) roots are heavily integrated in the spiritual needs of their residents and community population. BEH is proud of their long-standing relationship with the Bradford Ministerium, through which weekly mass, church services, Bible studies, and visits are routine, scheduled activities on the monthly calendar.
Bradford Ecumenical Home’s business activities are all designed to meet the needs of the aging adult in a loving and supportive environment. They also place significant value on partnerships and on strengthening Bradford and surrounding communities. Some examples, to name a few: high school nursing scholarships, the In-House Tuition Reimbursement Program, intergenerational programming in collaboration with Bradford Area School District, and collaboration with the Pitt-Bradford and JCC nursing programs for clinical rotations.
As their nomination stated, “Bradford Ecumenical Home has proven to be a leader in the industry of Continuing Care Services and has successfully collaborated with many community partners to ensure the well-being of the Bradford community.”
Craig Hartburg, owner and president of Servco Services, has been selected as the 2017 recipient of the Directors’ Award, designed to be chosen by the BACC Board of Directors and awarded to an individual or organization who has earned special recognition. The award is presented only in those years where a nominee has achieved superior philanthropic status in volunteering, participating and promoting community events as well as engaging the community.
Hartburg, who attended Pitt-Bradford from 1973 to 1975, went on to graduate with his bachelor’s degree from the University of Pittsburgh. The year of his graduation, he began working for Servco Services as an operations manager, serving successively as sales manager, vice president of operations, and executive vice president before assuming the presidency in 1995.
Hartburg’s selection as the Directors’ Award honoree is based, however, on much more than his professional career. He has been a member of the Pitt-Bradford Advisory Board since 2000, where he has also served as vice chair, chair of the board’s Communications and University Relations Council, a member of the Development Council, Governance Council, and Executive Committee. He was elected chair of the Advisory Board in 2005, and also has served as Vice President of the Bradford Educational Foundation and as a member of the University of Pittsburgh’s Board of Trustees.
In addition to his committed service to the University of Pittsburgh at Bradford, Hartburg has also been active in many other organizations throughout the Bradford community. He has served as a member and chair of the Beacon Light Behavioral Health Systems board and chair of its Development Committee; as president of the United Way of the Bradford Area and chair of its annual fund drive; and as a board member of Control Chief Corporation, the Bradford Civil Service Commission, Stairways Behavioral Health Systems, and Bradford Regional Medical Center.
Kara Kennedy, Executive Director of the Bradford Area Chamber of Commerce noted, “Craig has dedicated himself to making a difference in the Bradford community, and has taken advantage of every opportunity to do so, demonstrating his commitment as a leader in the realms of business, education, and human services. Our Board is proud to recognize him with this year’s Directors’ Award.”
BACC’s 2017 Legacy Award will be presented to Rev. Leo Gallina. This award was first presented in 2016, and honors a business, organization, or individual that has a longstanding tradition of making extraordinary contributions to the local community.
Gallina, a Bradford native and former pastor of St. Bernard Catholic Church, is known throughout the Bradford community and beyond for his commitment, generosity, and enthusiasm. He has been a long-time inspiration to others, and his legacy will continue for generations to come through the direct and indirect impact he has had on Bradford’s families, students, and a wide variety of community organizations and institutions.
Ordained in 1965, Gallina attended seminaries at Gannon University in Erie, Christ the King in Allegany, N.Y., and Catholic University in Washington, D.C. His career in the priesthood took him to Cathedral Prep in Erie, where he taught; St. George’s Church in Erie and St. Tobias Church in Brockway, where he was an assistant pastor. He served as pastor of St. Theresa Church in Shinglehouse, Sacred Heart Parish in Genesee, St. Boniface Church in Erie and St. Bernard Church in Bradford. Gallina retired in 2011 after 46 years of service to the church and currently lives in Erie, but returns frequently to visit Bradford.
Gallina’s community involvement throughout the years has included support for numerous organizations, including the Bradford Area Public Library, Bradford Hospital Foundation, the University of Pittsburgh at Bradford, Gannon, and St. Bonaventure University. He has also served on the boards of Beacon Light Behavioral Health Systems, Futures Rehabilitation Center, the Bradford Family YMCA and the Bradford Hospital Foundation.
“While he has been retired for several years, Fr. Leo always stops in to the Chamber office during his visits to Bradford, with a warm smile and encouraging word,” said Kennedy. “His unfailing enthusiasm is what led us to choose the following quote by Ralph Waldo Emerson for this year’s awards event: ‘Nothing great was ever achieved without enthusiasm.’”
The 2017 BACC Annual Meeting and Awards Presentation will be held on Thursday, April 20 at the Pennhills Club. The social hour starts at 6 p.m. followed by the awards presentation at 7 p.m. The evening will feature heavy hors d’oeuvres, desserts, refreshments and a cash bar.
All BACC members, their employees, and their guests, are invited to attend. For tickets and sponsorship information, contact the Bradford Area Chamber of Commerce at 814-368-7115.