Economic Insider — April 24, 2009

Director's Focus
Annual Meeting of Alliance Corporators

The annual meeting of Economic Progress Alliance Corporators was held last evening at the William J. Douglass Conference Center. About 50 supporters joined us as we reviewed 2008 accomplishments and summarized priority projects for this year. Among the initiatives mentioned for focused effort during 2009:

  • completion of Acutec project at the Crawford Business Park
  • completion of water system construction at the Keystone Regional Industrial Park
  • secure Keystone Opportunity Zone Extensions for the Keystone Regional Industrial Park and the Crawford Business Park
  • reconstruction of Broadway at the Crawford Business Park
  • construct east entrance and new parking at the Crawford Business Park
  • acquisition and utilization of Linesville property (formerly Tel-O-Post)

Those in attendance were treated to a presentation by Mr. Rob Smith, President and CEO of Acutec Precision Machining, who reviewed Acutec's evolution from a small machine shop to a $50 million aerospace manufacturing business.

Rob also shared four key philosophies important to Acutec, and probably the rest of us as well:

  • always be lucky
  • wake up paranoid every morning
  • there will be change, get used to it
  • life is unfair, learn it while you are young

Many thanks to Rob for his presentation and for his outstanding leadership in building a company committed to Crawford County.

Until next time . . .

Mark Turner

2009 Shafer Award Recipient

Ellie Davies was awarded the 2009 Gov. Raymond P. Shafer Award for Distinguished Community Service at the recent Meadville-Western Pennsylvania Chamber of Commerce's annual dinner. The Shafer Award, co-sponsored by Allegheny College and the Shafer Law Firm, is presented annually to someone who has made a singular contribution to the quality of life in Crawford County. In presenting the award, Allegheny President Dr. James Mullen stated "We honor a person who has brought immeasurable joy to each of our lives; a person who by her example has inspired us to be better citizens of the workd; by her example inspired each of us to be better and more loving spouses and parents; and by her example has inspired each of us to be better and truer friends to those around us."

Ms. Davies has been a very active leader of the community, involved in numerous organizations and causes, truly concerned about the residents of Crawford County. Over the years, the capacities in which she served the community include being a member and past president of the Meadville Medical Center Auxiliary, instigating the Reach to Recover program and serving on numerous fund drives for the hospital; serving four years on the Meadville Area Recreation and Park Board when the Meadville Area Recreation Complex was planned and built; and chairing the Meadville Area Youth Baseball Committee that organized activities for Meadville's bicentennial.

Davies also participated weekly for ten years in Meals on Wheels, helped organize the D.O.V.E. volunteer program at what is now the Wesbury United Methodist Retirement Community, supporting the Meadville Area Industrial Commission, and actively fund raising for the Crawford County Heritage Foundation.

In 2004, Ellie and her sons established the Davies Community Service Leaders program at Allegheny College, funded by the Davies family in memory of her husband and Allegheny alumnus Lew Davies. Through this program, Allegheny students provide project-driven services to local agencies that play key roles in the community. Not only does the Davies family provide the funding but Ellie takes a very personal approach to the program, hosting regular gatherings with the students involved, providing support and guidance, and showing by example the difference one person can make in their community.

With this award, the Davies are the first members of the same family to win the Shafer Award, Lew Davies, a 1940 graduate of Allegheny College who became a Meadville area business leader, received the award in 1996.

The Davies family has made a definite and beneficial impact in Crawford County, supporting the community and the college in ways too numerous to name. "You have to use your energy for some kind of good," Ellie Davies said. "I love Meadville, have wonderful family and friends, my life is very enriched."

Around the County . . .

It is not only industry that drives our economy and brings recognition to our area. Other businesses impact our region in ways we sometimes don't think about. One of those businesses is Lynhill Kennels in Saegertown. Its not just a kennel with cute puppies and beautiful dogs.

Lynhill is the leading, largest breeder of Llewellin Setters in the world. They ship dogs not only throughout the United States and Canada, but to many other countries worldwide. While Llewellin Setters may be found all over, they are field dogs and the most popular places for them are in grouse hunting areas like Pennsylvania, Michigan, Ohio, New England, Wisconsin and Canada in North America and countries like Turkey and Greece to name a few. They are not a breed recognized by the American Kennel Club as they are not bred for show dogs but are popular field dogs recognized by the Field Dog Clubs.

Keith and Tessa Smith, owners of Lynhill, were born in Derbyshire, England and moved to the United States in 1968 when Keith acccepted a position with Greenleaf as marketing director, retiring from there after 25 years. Even while growing up, Keith admits dogs have always been a part of his lifestyle, from Terriers, Springer Spaniels, and German Shorthairs to Irish and English Setters before centering his attention on the Llewellin Setter, also known as the Field Setter.

The Smith's started building their kennel in Saegertown shortly after moving here, growing their business to 40 breeding dogs at their highest point, developing a state registered dog training area and offering training services. Today they are starting to downsize as both Keith and Tessa are in their 70s. While still thoroughly enjoying their dogs and remaining very active in the business, they are down to 15 breeding dogs and, while the training area is still available for use, they do not train the dogs themselves.

While it is time consuming, can this really be called a business when one so thoroughly enjoys what they are doing with the companionship of animals they truly love?

Workforce Education and Training Forum

A Focus on the Future: Workforce Education and Training Forumwill be held from 9:00-11:45 a.m. on Thursday, May 7, 2009 at the Days Inn Meadville to provide business owners with information about available workforce training programs, resources and contacts.

Attendees will learn about what is being done to prepare students for today's workforce and how to get involved as well as what training opportunities are available and how to access them. They will have the opportunity to provide feedback about what their business needs are for education and training. if requested, they may also complete an education and training survey and receive meeting follow-up information.

Keynote speaker for the event is Dr. Ken Borland, northwest PA S.T.E.M. (science, technology, engineering, math) Initiative. Other presenters will be Lance Hummer, Keystone Community Education Council; and Tracey Larson, Crawford county K-12 Career Education Alliance.

The event is free but please register by April 30th to the Chamber of Commerce by email or by calling 814-333-8030.

This forum was brought together through a partnership of the Crawford County K-12 Career Education Alliance, Meadville Area Chamber of Commerce, Pennsylvania CareerLink of Crawford County and Precision Manufacturing Institute.