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September 2012

Past Presidents Advisory Council reects on changes in chamber, county

Then and Now

tober 2002, and he inherited an organization that had been in dire nancial circumstances. He knew he would need the help of top business leaders to get the chamber back on its feet again, and he gured establishing a panel of past board presidents was the best way to kick-start discussion and fundraising. He got the idea from a similar committee at the Lawrence County Chamber of Commerce, which he had previously run. The committee turned out to be instrumental in the chambers recovery. In fact, Kosciuszko said the recovery happened much quicker than expected. Then, instead of disbanding, the committee started meeting quarterly for members to reect on the chambers overall direction, as well as past and future events and programs. The meetings also serve as a sounding board for new ideas. For example, Kosciuszko said chamber afliates such as the Butler County Young Professionals and the Slippery Rock Business Association have sprouted through members input. Kosciuszko said the groups biggest strength is its diverse makeup of professions and ages. Plus, he said the committee serves as a way to retain the expertise of past leaders because it does not require a lot of their time once they move on to serve other organizations or causes. Here is a look at four of the chambers longest-serving past presidents.

This article is the rst in a series that details the Butler County Chamber of Commerces Past Presidents Advisory Council and reects on the changes in the chamber and the county during the past 50 years. This months article focuses on the individuals who led the chamber in the 1960s and 1970s. The next two articles will feature the 1980s and 1990s and the 2000s and 2010s.

David Lloyd, 1961

David Lloyd is one of Butlers most accomplished businessmen, and he also is one of its most respected citizens. The 88-year-old Butler resident is a xture in the business community, and he doesnt want to slow down any time soon. After serving in the Army during World War II, where he earned a Purple Heart in the Battle of the Bulge, he attended Westminster College. A sales job with the National Cash Register Co. brought the Mercer County native to Butler County in 1950. Lloyd said he had recently been given more sales territory, and while familiarizing himself with the city of Butler, he was presented with the opportunity to buy a bookstore.

When you have numerous individuals with decades of leadership experience involved with your organization, why not draw from their expertise? Thats exactly what Stan Kosciuszko, president of the Butler County Chamber of Commerce, was thinking in early 2003 when he established the Past Presidents Advisory Council. Kosciuszko was hired in Oc-

Over several days, he negotiated with the owner until he got a price he was willing to pay, and he has remained here. Lloyd came to own many of the buildings downtown over the years. All my life I wanted to be in business for myself, he said. Lloyd said one of the rst actions he took while establishing himself was to join the chamber and become an active member. He admitted the chamber in the 1950s wasnt the most organized group, but by the end of the decade, the chambers activity started to pick up. In 1959, Lloyd helped found the Community Development Corporation of Butler County, which up to that point had been part of the chamber. Continued on Page 18

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He said the agency had outgrown its staff and space in the chamber ofce. Now, more than 50 years later, the CDC has helped attract numerous businesses that have created thousands of jobs and millions of dollars in tax revenue. Lloyd said when he became board president in 1961, his main goal was to push the organization to become more active and vibrant. I had monthly meetings, and I had committee meetings in addition to that, he said, explaining how he used the committees to help engage more members into service. Reecting on the chambers makeup now compared to then, he said there are a lot more small businesses. He added its been nice to see the owners of those businesses become some of the chambers most active leaders. Among his many business ventures and civic contributions over the years, Lloyd has continued to remain active with the chamber. Im so accustomed to being involved. I think its fun. I enjoy it, he said. Im always on a committee.

Past Presidents Advisory Council

The Butler County Chamber of Commerces Past Presidents Advisory Council is a committee comprised of past board presidents, the current board president, incoming board presidents and chamber ofcers. The group meets quarterly to discuss past and future chamber programs and to reect on the direction of the organization. Stan Kosciuszko, president of the chamber, said all chamber members are welcome to attend the meetings if they call ahead. Here is a list of past, present and future board presidents who make up the committee. David Lloyd, 1961 Chuck Fuellgraf Jr., 1968 Richard Miller, 1972 Lou Shapiro, 1975 Larry Berg, 1980 Carole Bitter, 1984 and Joe Davidson with Union Trust Bank quickly took him under their wing. Through the mentorship and guidance formed through those relationships, Shapiro ended up serving many civic organizations through the years. He explained the chamber continues to mold leaders, especially through the Leadership Butler County program, which introduces participants to the many ways they can serve their community. When Shapiro served as president of the chamber board in 1975, he said his main mission was to spend the year organizing an event to celebrate the countrys bicentennial in 1976. of a charity golf tournament hosted by the energy company each year in State College, where it is based. The companys main Appalachian region ofce is in Seven Fields, and its land ofce is in Butler. Money goes to a worthy cause in each of its three operational regions in Pennsylvania, Ohio and Illinois, Rogers said. Last years Butler area gift recipient was the LightD. Michael Hartley, 1986 Pat Bell, 1988 Warren Campenos, 1989 Larry Henry, 1990 Dick Musko, 1991 Jud Stewart, 1992 Jerry Johnston, 1993 Guy Travaglio, 1994 Peter Richdale, 1994-95 William Wilson, 1996-97 James Schaffner, 1998 John Lewis, 1999 Dave Crater, 2000 William Been, 2001 Alan Offstein, 2002 Tim Moses, 2003 Lisa Guard, 2004-05 Jay Shaffer, 2006 Sherry Kyne, 2007 Tom Graham, 2008 Jocelyn Howard-Sinopoli, 2009 Brenda Lemmon, 2010 Nicholas Neupauer, 2011 Joe Taylor, current president Tammy Schuey, rst vice chairman Brian McCafferty, second vice chairman

Tom Graham, Aubery Hulings, Brian McCafferty and Chuck Fuellgraf Jr. attend the Butler Chambers quarterly Past Presidents Advisory Council meeting in July.

Chuck Fuellgraf Jr., 1968

Chuck Fuellgraf, who served as board president in 1968, rst got involved with the chamber in 1955. He had just returned home after serving in the Marines and was working with his father at Fuellgraf Electric in Butler Township. He recalled the biggest difference then was the involvement of large companies such as Pullman-Standard, Armco Steel and Magnetics, which all supported many of the chambers activities. it? said Steven Green, director of community-based services for MHY, which is based in Adams Township and recently changed its name from Mars Home for Youth. They were impressed by the (independent living) program, and they embraced it. The program primarily is funded by Butler County Children and Youth Agency. Im passionate about the

In fact, he said the chambers annual picnic at Armco Park in Slippery Rock Township, which was held until the 1980s, was a major event for the entire community. He said another major difference is the professional leadership of todays chamber, which has helped attract many different types of businesses and widened the organizations geographical presence. Although he was not involved, he said one of the biggest successes of that era was the founding of Butler County Community College in 1965. While he said his two sons handle most of the day-to-day operations at Fuellgraf Electric, he remains active with the company at age 80. He said the Past Presidents committee helps him keep tabs on what is happening in the business community. Plus, he enjoys meeting and working with younger chamber members, many of whom are aggressive, community-minded people, he said.

not nearly as active in the 1960s and 1970s as it is today. He said the chamber then was much more focused on Butler and the immediate surrounding area. One of the projects he remembered working on while board president in 1972 was trying to raise awareness of a growing drug problem in the city.

Dr. Lou Shapiro, 1975

For Dr. Lou Shapiro of Butler Township, chamber membership has always centered around leadership development. Originally from Greensburg, Shapiro went to college to become an optometrist after serving in the Navy during World War II. It was during that time he also met his wife, Lucille, a Butler native. In 1953, they moved to Butler, and Shapiro started his practice. I always felt if I was going to establish myself, I was going to be a member of the chamber, he said, adding he joined the chamber almost as soon as he moved here. He said community leaders such as Gail Rose with Armco money is left over from the kitchen project, Green said MHY would like to add a handicapped-accessible bathroom to the building and a supervised visitation room to support its recent certication as a Pennsylvania foster care provider. According to Dave Rogers, director of land for Rex Energys Appalachia region, the donation came from proceeds

Richard Miller, 1972

Richard Miller of ThompsonMiller Funeral Home in Butler also agreed the chamber was program. We have a huge need of hands-on skills for these youth, Green said. He said work on the kitchen will start immediately after bids are received. It will expand the space from a countertop with a sink and miniature refrigerator to a full-service kitchen, complete with full-sized refrigerator, stove and other amenities. Depending on how much

With the help of many others, that event turned into the Butler 10K, which over the years has morphed into what is now the Butler Road Race. This years race in June marked the 37th annual running. One of the greatest assets is development of leadership, he said. Shapiro, now 85, said true leadership means engaging others to serve while allowing the next generation to take over. Butler County has a tremendous product, he said, explaining chambers must be like cheerleaders for their communities. If you remember the past, youre able to move on with the future, he said.

house Foundation. One of the best parts of the job is discussing which organization we can help and visiting people, Rogers said. He said MHYs tremendous efforts in the community made the 2012 choice a simple one. Were going to be in the area a long time, so we try to be the best corporate citizen we can be, Rogers said.

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BUSINESS MATTERS

October 2012

Even in tough times, chamber laid groundwork for success

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Staying THE Course

The Butler County Chamber of Commerce entered the 1980s in the middle of a long period of success in which membership and activity increased. However, just like any long-standing organization, the chamber was bound to experience some ups and downs. As the business community changed throughout the 1990s, the chamber experienced a steady decline that led to nancial hardships during the early 2000s. Here is a look at what four of the board presidents who served during the 1980s and 1990s experienced.
This article is the second in a series that details the Butler County Chamber of Commerces Past Presidents Advisory Council and reects on the changes in the chamber and the county during the past 50 years. This months article focuses on the individuals who led the chamber board in the 1980s and 1990s. The third and nal article in the November issue will feature the 2000s through the present with a look into the future.

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Larry Berg, 1979-80

Larry Berg, former owner of radio stations WBUT and WLER, came to Butler in 1964, and one of his rst decisions was to join the chamber. Then, he said, the chamber was making a big push to attract more members and raise its income. After longtime chamber executive Wendel Weihe retired in the mid-1970s, the chamber hired Barry Racey as its rst full-time employee. Berg said Racey helped usher in a new wave of accomplishments until leaving in the late 1970s. It was a very tight-knit business community, Berg said. It was a very young, active group of people. Berg eventually served on the board of directors and was board president

from 1979 to 1980. One highlight under his leadership was getting involved with Junior Achievement, a nonprot organization that teaches business principles to children. Another was participating in annual delegation groups that communicated businesses perspectives to state and national elected ofcials. Berg recalled some glowing remarks about Butler County from William Verity, who was chairman of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. Verity, whose grandfather founded Armco Steel, went on to serve as U.S. Secretary of Commerce under President Ronald Reagan from 1987 to 1989. An issue at the time is one the city of Butler continues to ght: competition with shopping centers outside of town. However, Berg said campaigns to preserve business in downtown were successful then and were the predecessor to what is now Butler Downtown. A trend Berg started to see in the business community of the 1980s and 1990s was the retail industry being taken over by chain stores. He

speculated that might have happened in part because successful store owners started sending their children to college. Slowly, the next generation wasnt interested or available to keep stores running, he said. Berg now devotes much of his free time to community organizations, but said he enjoys attending the past presidents meetings because the experience in the room leads to great ideas.

Mike Hartley, 1985-86

Entrepreneur Mike Hartley moved to Butler in 1979 for the opportunity to lead Hotwork and Zedmark Refractories, two manufacturing companies for which he had been chief nancial ofcer. He had been active in business organizations at his previous post in Kentucky, so when he came to Butler, he wanted to get involved. Hartley said government affairs was, and still is, one of his passions because meeting with legislators helps to make positive impacts on the business climate. That was reected in his main project while president.

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An Ohio native, Hartley advocated the adoption of revenue-boosting programs at Moraine State Park that had been successful at Atwood Lake Park, which is southeast of Canton. He and other business leaders wanted to allow the land to be leased for farming, gas and mineral rights, residential areas and commercial properties. Hartley said the idea never took off. I still think its a great opportunity for our state and state parks to generate revenue, he said. Hartley also recalled the closing of the Pullman-Standard plant in Butler in 1982 and the devastating impact it had on the county, both on unemployment and on the factorys many support businesses. The closing also had an impact on the chamber, as many key volunteers left the area. Hartley remained active in the chamber until buying Standard Bent Glass in 1993, when his many business ventures started requiring him to travel more. However, when Stan Kosciuszko, who took the reins as president of the nancially strapped chamber in 2002, contacted Hartley to see if he could lend his support, Hartley jumped back on board. I thought if my many years of experience could help with the turnaround, I was available, he said.

complished that was by hosting breakfast workshops that featured experts who focused on issues relevant to business owners. Similar programs continue to this day, she said. Also during that time, Bell and past board president Hartley laid some groundwork for what would eventually become the Leadership Butler County program. Bell also recalled a couple big controversies during that era. The rst had been a movement to build a large, outdoor amphitheater in Cranberry Township. However, road, lighting and residential concerns held back the plans that eventually led to what is now First Niagara Pavilion in Washington County. The other was the debate over how to best revitalize the former Pullman-Standard site in Butler, which had been idle since closing. Bell said her biggest highlight while in ofce was the success of a hot air balloon festival at the Butler Farm Show grounds in Connoquenessing Township that she helped organize. Bell remained active in the chamber until her career as a teacher blocked out her weekdays. For my part, I had an exciting, fun time, she said. Anybody who is a young business leader should get involved.

Dick Musko, 1990-91

Dick Musko was born and raised in Butler, but it wasnt until he went into business for himself in 1975 that he discovered the chamber. More than 35 years of chamber service later, the nancial services professional has a lot of perspective on the changes that have taken place. He said when he rst established his practice, R.P. Musko & Associates, the chamber offered lit-

Pat Bell, 1987-88

Pat Bell owned a dance company, Aerobic Expression, and was a radio personality when she led the chamber board. But even then, Bell, who has been a teacher in the Karns City School District since 1993, gravitated toward education. Bell said her main objective while in ofce was to support businesses. One way the board ac-

tle in the way of events or gatherings. Still, he said membership was a great way to show that businesses believed in each other. Musko served on the board for about eight years before becoming president in 1990. However, he said his term was full of turmoil as the chamber dealt with leadership transitions, location changes and membership drives that didnt sustain themselves. I would say that our efforts during my year were directed more at keeping the chamber together than growing it, he said, explaining the issues the chamber faced during that era are not uncommon from those many businesses face throughout a lifetime. By 2002, the chamber was deeply in debt. Musko said the late Butler businessman Bill Morgan Jr., who also was a past board president, was instrumental in getting other business leaders to personally pitch in to raise about $70,000 to get the chamber back on solid nancial footing. Many of those leaders came from the Past Presidents Advisory Council, which current chamber President Kosciuszko assembled when he was still fresh on the job in early 2003. Collectively they have experience and perspective that helps with current issues and programs, Musko said of the committee. So, when (current leaders are) bringing up ideas for now, we can critique them, he said. Musko said he feels the chamber is in more than capable hands now, adding the leadership training and involvement of young professionals will continue that success. We lost that for a while, he said.

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BUSINESS MATTERS

November 2012

Strong leaders served chamber well in tough times

Making A Difference
As the new millennium arrived, the Butler County Chamber of Commerce was facing its most challenging time. The organization was nancially strapped, membership was waning and leadership was transitioning. However, a mix of community stalwarts and fresh faces brought new energy to the organization. Through the past 12 years, chamber membership and services have surged, a string of strong women leaders have emerged, and the chamber has remained nancially sound through a poor economic climate. Here is a look at that period through the eyes of some of the chambers past board presidents.
This is the nal article in a three-part series that details the Butler County Chamber of Commerces Past Presidents Advisory Council and reects on the changes in the chamber and the county during the past 50 years. This months article focuses on the individuals who led the chamber board from 2000 to the present and those who are slated to lead it in the future.

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Build on our

experience

Bill Been, 2001

Bill Been moved to Butler County 15 years ago to be vice president of operations for ISM Corp.s East Butler production facility. Having been transferred around the country often while working for the Italian collated nail and staple manufacturer and supplier, Been said he wanted to use his opportunity here to get involved in the community. The rst organization he contacted was the Butler County Chamber, and soon he was serving on the board of directors. It had its challenges, he said of his years of service, which ended

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in 2002 after his term as board president expired. He said the chambers main concern then was just having the resources to handle its responsibilities. However, Been still recalled a few successes during that time, including the rst Regatta at Lake Arthur, the grassroots efforts that would lead to Butler Downtown and Butlers 2002 bicentennial parade. Also during that time, Been and some other chamber members collaborated with thenU.S. Rep. Phil English, R-3rd, on studies that would lead to the George W. Bush administration placing tariffs on Chinese steel imports. He recalled the chambers search for a new executive and how the committee unanimously agreed to hire current chamber President Stan Kosciuszko near the end of 2002. Been continued in business for a few years and then retired and remained in Adams Township. He continues to actively serve in the community and in politics. It was an honor and a pleasure to give back to the county, he said.

(Butler County) has a lot going for it that a lot of places in the country are struggling to accomplish.

Alan Offstein, 2002

Alan Offstein, retired owner of Furniture Galleries in Penn Township which is now in its third generation of family ownership, grew up in the business community. However, he didnt get involved in a leadership role until the late 1990s after serving on the Butler School Board and then running for a state representative position. He said the chamber at that time was out of ideas and money. Records were in shambles, and people would come to the chamber saying it owed them money. If we would have been a for-prot business, we would have bypassed Chapter 11 and went to Chapter 7, he said. He credited the board members during his tenure with sacricing so much of their time to pull the chamber out of the re and also with the hiring of Kosciuszko. There were a lot of key players, and everyone worked hard, he said, pointing to the late

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Butler businessman Bill Morgan and other past board presidents who led the fund drive to get the chamber out of the hole, revived the membership and developed a plan to remain successful. These days, Offstein said he likes to forget about the bad times and is just happy everything worked out. He attends past presidents meetings when he can and enjoys how they bring together different generations of leaders. He said the committee is an asset because the younger leaders help the older ones accept change, while those older ones can offer decades of experience.

when she was elected to serve on city council. When I got on the board, we were begging people to serve, she said. By the time I got off the board, there was a waiting list. It became dynamic, she said of the chamber, adding thats the best way to describe the entire business community during the past decade.

Past Presidents Advisory Council

The Butler County Chamber of Commerces Past Presidents Advisory Council is a committee comprised of past board presidents, the current board president, incoming board presidents and chamber ofcers. The group meets quarterly to discuss past and future chamber programs and to reect on the direction of the organization. Stan Kosciuszko, president of the chamber, said all chamber members are welcome to attend the meetings if they call ahead. Here is a list of past and present board presidents who make up the committee. David Lloyd, 1960-61 Chuck Fuellgraf Jr., 1967-68 Richard Miller, 1971-72 Lou Shapiro, 1974-75 Larry Berg, 1979-80 Carole Bitter, 1983-84 Mike Hartley, 1985-86 Pat Bell, 1987-88 Warren Campenos, 1988-89 Larry Henry, 1989-90 Dick Musko, 1990-91 Jud Stewart, 1991-92 Jerry Johnston, 1993 Guy Travaglio, 1994 Peter Richdale, 1994-95 William Wilson, 1996-97 James Schaffner, 1998 John Lewis, 1999 Dave Crater, 2000 Bill Been, 2001 Alan Offstein, 2002 Tim Moses, 2003 Lisa Guard, 2004-05 Jay Shaffer, 2006 Sherry Kyne, 2007 Tom Graham, 2008 Jocelyn Howard-Sinopoli, 2009 Brenda Lemmon, 2010 Nicholas Neupauer, 2011 Joe Taylor, current president Tammy Schuey, rst vice chairman Brian McCafferty, second vice chairman

Jay Shaffer, 2006

Jay Shaffer grew up in Butler but left the area to attend college and work in the hotel and restaurant industry. When he returned to his roots in the late 1980s, he started Shaffer Financial Services and joined the chamber, which he said remained strong until the transition period starting in the late 1990s. However, he said great leaders steered the group in the right direction, often taking on many of the administrative tasks before hiring Kosciuszko. By the time I became chairman in 2006, Stan really had the chamber humming, he said. Shaffer said a lot of positives surrounded the many events and good attendance as the chamber continued its recovery. He recalled one specific project in which board members conducted a highly successful telethon to sign up new members. Another highlight of his term was celebrating the 50th annual golf outing, which remains an important chamber fundraiser. Shaffer attends the council meetings regularly and most enjoys keeping up with the organization, providing input and seeing many of the members who have become his friends over the years.

Lisa Guard, 2004-05

Lisa Guard started Specialized Stafng and Industry Recruiters in 1997 and joined the chamber a couple years later after moving to a downtown Butler location. A term on the golf committee led to an opportunity to serve on the board in late 2002. One of the rst projects she recalled was Morgan leading the chambers capital campaign. It went through a whole transition, she said. There were a lot of new board members. It was almost like a rebranding. Guard was asked to ll the role of president a year early, and she said the new energy was apparent as the chamber experienced huge increases in membership, activities and participation. It was a cool time to be on the board. It was a very cool time to be president of the board because there was so much good happening, she said. Guard continued to remain very active in the chamber until last year Continued on Page 17

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Continued from Page 11

I think its good for the ofcers and for Stan to see there are people who were involved with the chamber in the past that do still come back and do still care about the chamber, he said.

happening with the organization now and in the future. Its a huge honor to be chairman of an organization that has been around since the 1800s, he said.

Tom Graham, 2008

Tom Graham had worked with the chamber going back to the mid-1990s, but when he started his Butler video production business Frames & Pixels in 2002, he ofcially joined. For me, it was the opportunity for small business networking, he said. Most of the chambers energy at that time was going into its nancial turnaround, and Graham gave credit to all those leaders who were responsible for that. The businesses that were on the board of directors were all established, long-term members, and I think that helped carry the chamber, he said. As Graham got more involved, he served on the Leadership Butler County and public relations committees. Soon, the executive board asked if he would be interested in joining. During Grahams term as chairman, he said the main focus was on membership development and retention. He said the chamber wanted to promote the benets of membership by showing the opportunities and assistance available. Graham has continued his active service to the chamber. He said the Past Presidents group is one of the most valuable to the organization because it consolidates many years of experience into one room. Those members experiences bring a wealth of knowledge to help the group reect on what is

Brenda Lemmon, 2010

Brenda Lemmon had worked in banking for more than 30 years when she bought Minuteman Press in Butler in 2007, and one of her rst actions as a business owner was to join the chamber. After about a year, the executive board asked her to join the board of directors. Then she served as chairman in 2010 when the organization was experiencing some of the impacts of the recession. We did a great job in retaining members, she said, explaining how adding to total membership was tough because every time the chamber added a new business, an existing one closed. She said the biggest impact of the past presidents committee is that it keeps the chamber focused. Its nice to have those extra eyes and ears in the community, she said, explaining how many new ideas and connections come out of the committee. Lemmon said it is humbling to attend the meetings because she is surrounded by business people who have accomplished so much in business and the community. Lemmon also praised Kosciuszko for what he has been able to accomplish as a leader, citing his role in the development of the Leadershiip Butler County program, Butler Downtown and the Unied Plan.

Future leaders
The Past Presidents committee not only

brings those who have served into one room, it also holds a place for those in line to take over. As rst vice chairman, Tammy Schueys term as board president will start Jan. 1. She said attending these meetings during the past year has been very benecial for many reasons. And while Schuey, technical director for the Butler Eagle, joked getting to know past board presidents makes her feel she has big shoes to ll, she said it has given her the opportunity to call upon those people for advice both now and in the future. She said the goals of her term are to keep the chamber nancially sound, continue to promote members and become more involved in southwestern Butler County. Brian McCafferty, second vice chairman, said it is still a little too early for him to say what projects the chamber might take on in 2014. However, he still would like to recruit more members. McCafferty, who took over ownership of Kenmac Rentals & Sales in Butler when his father, Ken, retired, said experiencing all the positives the chamber has accomplished during the past decade has led him to become more involved. He joined chamber afliate Butler Downtown and worked on city revitalization efforts before being appointed to the chamber board. Im just amazed at the knowledge sitting around the table, he said. Its not a generational gap, he said. Its everybody working together for the common good of the community, and thats what I believe it takes to get anything done successfully.

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