An annual look at some of the businesses and people who are shaping Centre County’s economy

forwardbusinessTown&Gown’s

2015

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1357 E. College AvenueState College, PA 16081814.234.6000814.272.8000 fax

STATE COLLEGE’SNEWEST HOTEL• FREE Hot Breakfast w/ WaffleStation•FREEWi-FiAccess•FREEHBO&ExpandedCable•FREELocal&LongDistance•TheaterQualityMeeting Roomw/LargeScreenLCD, AV&SurroundSound•IndoorPool&HotTub•ComplimentaryAirport Shuttle• 100% Non-Smoking

132 Village DriveState College, PA 16083814.235.1900814.234.5530 fax

77 ALL SUITES HOTEL• FREE Hot Breakfast w/ WaffleStation•FREELocal&LongDistance•FREEWi-FiAccess•FREEHBO&ExpandedCable•IndoorPool&HotTub•Meeting&FitnessFacilities•ComplimentaryAirport Shuttle• 100% Non-Smoking• LocatedonProperty

111 Village DriveState College, PA 16083814.235.1020814.235.1388 fax

ALL NEW “DESIGN TO DREAM” GUESTROOMS• FREE Hot Breakfast w/ WaffleStation•FREELocal&LongDistance•FREEWi-FiAccess•FREEHBO&ExpandedCable•Meeting&FitnessFacilities•ComplimentaryAirport Shuttle• Smoking Rooms Available• LocatedonProperty

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For more information on the The Fraser Centre, please visit www.frasercentre.com

The Fraser Centre

to downtown State College:• Exciting new retail stores• Hyatt Place Hotel & Conference Center• Luxury residential condominiums

Coming soon

Northwest Celebrates Award-Winning 2014, Prepares for Expansion

A proud provider of financial services for more than 118 years, Northwest’s commitment to its customers, employees, shareholders and communities was demonstrated by a number of national accolades, product and service improvements, community support and plans for expansion.

Award-Winning Year

2014 stands out as a banner year for Northwest. In April, KBW named Northwest to its Bank Honor Roll, a list of 31 banks that significantly outperformed the industry in terms of stock performance.Shortly after KBW’s announcement, Northwest was listed by Forbes as one of America’s 50 Most Trustworthy Financial Companies. J.D. Power ranked Northwest “Highest Customer Satisfaction with Retail Banking in the Mid-Atlantic Region” for the fourth time in five years. “Today, customers have higher expectations of service providers,” said Steven G. Fisher, senior executive vice president. “It is our goal to continue to exceed customer expectations and build our brand as leaders in customer experience, serving our customers and communities as trusted financial advisors. This award confirms that we are on the right path.”Northwest was also recognized by Healthiest Employers as one of the Healthiest 100 Workplaces in America for achieving remarkable and sustainable success through a range of corporate wellness programs and employee initiatives.“We are pleased with the significant recognition Northwest received in 2014 as it demonstrates our company’s commitment to building loyalty, trust and value among our employees, customers, communities and shareholders,” said William J. Wagner, president and CEO. “We thank our employees for their dedication and our customers for their continued support.”

Improved Services for Customers

In July, Northwest made life more convenient for Mobile Banking customers with the launch of Mobile Deposit, which allows them to easily and securely deposit checks into their checking account using their mobile device.

“At Northwest, we adapt to the changing needs of our customers and we’re committed to providing flexible, convenient ways to bank,” said Kim Johnson, online and mobile banking manager. Committed to security, Northwest partnered with the experts at IBM to offer IBM® Security Trusteer Rapport™ to Online Banking customers. The software prevents financial malware infections and stops phishing attacks from stealing personal data.

Vested in the Community

Northwest supported the efforts of local and nationally-known organizations focused on education, health and welfare, public safety, financial literacy and community and economic development.“At Northwest, we encourage our associates to give back to their communities by donating time and raising donations to support local causes,” said District Manager Mike McAndrew. “I’m pleased to say that in Centre County, Northwest supported the efforts of organizations like the United Way, Child Development and Family Council, Habitat for Humanity, Housing Transitions, Leadership Centre County and March of Dimes.”

Plans for Expansion

Northwest ended the year with an exciting announcement about the growth of its organization. In December, the bank announced that it signed a definitive agreement to acquire LNB Bancorp Inc., the Lorain, Ohio-based holding company and parent of Lorain National Bank. The two companies expect to complete the transaction in 2015, which will add 20 branches to Northwest’s footprint across northern Ohio.Mr. Wagner commented, “LNB offers a great opportunity to address our strategic goals with a complementary blend of performance, size and location and a business model that is similar to Northwest’s. That said, we believe LNB’s customers and employees will embrace Northwest’s culture and values.”A full-service financial institution, Northwest offers a wide range of products and services, including checking and savings, loans and lines of credit, employee benefits, retirement services, investment management and trust and insurance.

Northwest Direct: 1-877-672-5678www.northwestsavingsbank.com

Member FDIC

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4 | Business Forward 2015

In its role as a state Department of Community and Economic Development PREP Partner, the CBICC/CCIDC works closely with the Governor’s Action Team and Office of International Business Development in the ongoing effort to bring new business opportunities to Pennsylvania generally and to Centre County specifically.

Business recruitment is a component of the chamber’s three-part economic-development strategy, along with retaining and strengthening the existing business base and fostering entrepreneurial development. This strategy seeks to accomplish the objectives of the 3B33 initiative — a more balanced local economy and a private sector that ultimately generates $3 billion in annual economic output.

Working with a growing group of 3B33 Economic Development Investor Campaign supporters, CBICC members, county and municipal officials, and Penn State University, the chamber devoted the past year to making sure Centre County was prepared to respond as a team to economic-development project inquiries and actively recruit new business and investment opportunities.

“As a result of our efforts working collectively and collaborative with our support partners over the past year, we are making tremendous strides in ensuring Centre County’s ability to seriously compete for national and international economic-development projects,” says Vern Squier, president and CEO of the Chamber of Business & Industry of Centre County.

As an example of this effort, Centre County recently was in the running for an economic-development project involving a major Fortune 500, multinational conglomerate corporation. Squier says the confidential nature of most economic-development projects meant the effort,

Collaborative EffortTeamwork prepares Centre County for competitive business recruitment

By Lesley Kistner

which involved weeks of time-sensitive work from CBICC staff, Penn State leadership, community, municipal, and county government leaders, and a two-day site visit by company officials — took place quietly and under the radar.

What started as a multistate, multi-Pennsylvania location decision for the company came down to a choice between just two Pennsylvania sites — Centre County and Allegheny County. While the project ultimately landed in a Pittsburgh suburb — primarily due to the concentration of existing businesses engaged in that particular industry — Centre County was under serious consideration until the end.

“Penn State’s leadership in the additive-manufacturing arena was of tremendous interest to the company and key to their potential interest in locating a facility in Centre County,” explains Neil A. Sharkey, PhD, vice president of research for Penn State.

Squier says the project demonstrated that the area can contend for a major economic-development project.

Follow-up with the company, after the location decision was made, reinforced this point. During that call, company officials also reinforced the importance of working together as a team and presenting a united front as a community.

Tim Boyde, director of administrative services for Centre County Government and a CBICC board

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member, says he was impressed with the way the community rallied around the project, particularly given the company’s short timeline for information.

“We had all facets of the county represented and putting their best foot forward in an effort to win this project,” he notes, stressing that the various parties involved in the effort worked well together and worked for the good of the county, not just for their own interests.

State College borough manager Tom Fountaine agrees.

“This project represented the best that Centre County can be. Municipal government, county government, the CBICC, Penn State, and others all came together on a very short time frame and worked together to develop a proposal that was very compelling,” he explains. “I think that we learned what can be accomplished here when we are able to work together for the benefit of the entire Centre County community.”

Fountaine has no doubt that the county is in a much better position to attract economic-

development activity as a result of this experience. “Each time we are able to participate in an

opportunity to attract a company to Centre County, we learn from the experience,” he notes. “I am very encouraged by the response and feedback that we received from the company. Even though [the company] ultimately selected a different location, State College and Centre County were very competitive, and I am confident that we can turn this experience into a successful effort to attract new jobs as we work to bring more diversity to the Centre County economy.”

Boyde adds, “While we did not win this project, we are on the radar screen of corporate recruiters seeking to start or relocate businesses. Continued collaboration and cooperation will help us land one of these opportunities in the near future. We are poised for success.” T&G

Lesley Kistner is communications director for the Chamber of Business & Industry of Centre County.

Continental Real Estate was founded in 1986 with the management of just one townhouse. Today, we manage 80 Condominium/Homeowner Associations and a significant number of rental units. Our steady steady growth continues, and we will be adding an additional 1,400 square feet to our offices in 2015. Continental’s clients know they can depend on us for professional property management around the clock. Our 12 office staff members and 14 full-time maintenance personnel have the knowledge and experience to handle everything from securing tenants to paying expenses to making emergency repairs in the middle of the night. As the Centre Region’s leader in Condominium/Homeowner Association management, we provide comprehensive services to support association boards. Our services include collecting fees, paying expenses, bidding contracts, performing maintenance, and more. We at Continental Real Estate look forward to continued growth in 2015 and beyond as we provide the highest quality management services to our clients throughout the Centre Region.

Continental Real Estate

www.continentalrealestate.net300 S. Allen St., State College(814) 238-1598

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6 | Business Forward 2015

Business recruitment is a highly competitive undertaking, with Pennsylvania’s cities and regions competing against each other for economic-development projects and states competing with other states and even the world.

As a component of the Chamber of Business & Industry of Centre County’s economic-development strategy, the chamber worked with its partners during 2014 to gear up for more robust recruitment activity in 2015. This is being done in an effort to bring new jobs and wealth into the county, which will ultimately better support the existing local economy.

The chamber’s plan includes, but is not limited to, increasing activity/commitment with the state (Department of Community and Economic Development) to market Centre County and the region as an attractive destination for business development and continuing to intensify regional efforts with counterparts in Blair and Bedford counties to promote development and investment within the I-99 Innovation Corridor. A marketing strategy for the I-99 Corridor is in the works, with the upcoming launch of I-99 Corridor Economic Development publication and Web site presence.

CBICC president and CEO Vern Squier says successful business-recruitment marketing includes identifying assets, selling points that make the county/region extraordinary, and targeting efforts to industries that are good fits for the community. In Centre County, this could be high technology, advanced manufacturing, Marcellus staging, or back office.

Understanding the competitive site-selection

Understanding site-selection process key to business recruitment By Lesley Kistner

process also is crucial to successful business recruitment.

Nationally recognized site selector Vickie Horton, director of SC&H Group, has years of experience in the corporate site-selection field. At a CBICC Economic Development Summit last summer, she offered behind-the-scenes insights into the process companies go through in deciding where to relocate and what the county needs to do collectively to attract new business investment and strengthen the private sector.

Some of the key takeaways include:1. Having a single point of contact for

economic development in Centre County.2. Approaching recruitment efforts from the

company’s point of view; understanding the company’s needs and critical location factors (labor force, transportation network, low-cost energy, etc.).

3. Understanding that time is of the essence! By the time a site selector has contacted a community, their client has already done extensive research. There is an expectation that the process will proceed quickly, particularly because project delays result in increased costs and lost revenues.

4. Knowing that confidentiality is a must. Disclosing the name of a company before it is ready to do so can kill a project.

5. Preparing flexible incentive packages and thinking “outside the box” in developing incentives.

6. Remembering that while important, “quality of life” is not always a key factor in business location decisions. See No. 2.

7. Playing to the community’s strengths. T&G

“We are pledged to the letter and spirit of U.S. policy for the achievement of equal housing opportunity throughout the nation. We encourage and support an affirmative advertising and marketing program in which there are no barriers to obtaining housing because of race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial status or national origin.”

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8 | Business Forward 2015

The future doesn’t just happen — it’s created, and the entrepreneurs at Innovation Park at Penn State are passionate about the creative process and willing to take the risks required by the enterprise in which they have invested their lives.

For many in the Centre Region, Innovation Park is simply a sign off of routes 99 and 322. For the men and women who work there, it is a bustling land of ideas that are producing jobs and hold the promise of future economic development. It is a place where intellectual property becomes a useful tool, technology, or service that will make the world a better place.

Today, Innovation Park is home to successful businesses and numerous startups that hope to succeed well beyond the incubation stage. It can be expected that with an entire ecosystem supporting their incubation, more and more startups will emerge in the coming years.

The Innovation Park ecosystem represents partnerships between Penn State, the Small Business Development Center, the Ben Franklin Technology Partners, Transformation Services, and more.

Dan Leri, park director, fosters collaboration between and among all the resident organizations. For example, he has established a mentoring program that pairs fledgling companies with experienced advisors. The Cool Blue Community offers numerous opportunities for all the park’s entrepreneurs to meet informally to share ideas and experiences.

What are current park companies up to? One of the most promising startups is Novasentis, a company that says it is contributing to the neosensory age.

The Future Is HappeningNew ideas, businesses are growing at Innovation Park

By Harry Zimbler

Novasentis CEO Ralph Russo served 14 years as the leader of Apple Computer. He had a distinguished career working with Steve Jobs and knows a thing or two about running a business.

Novasentis is working to increase human-machine interactions.

“It’s the result of haptics,” Russo says, “the science of touch.”

He believes that Novasentis can open the world to the wonders of an incredible new polymer that will transform industries such as consumer electronics, medical devices, and wearables such as fitness monitors.

“I knew that creating this company was going to require a lot of time and money,” he says. “But we received a great deal of help from Innovation Park at Penn State. The electro-mechanical polymer is the creation of Penn State professor Dr. Qiming Zhang.”

Russo feels that Innovation Park at Penn State offered his company the technology of Silicon Valley at half the cost.

Today, the company has investors with names such as General Motors and Samsung, among others.

“Haptics is a huge business that will continue to grow,” Russo says. “Right now, it’s about a $15 billion market.”

It’s not just startups that call Innovation Park home.HigherEdJobs.com is a company with a history

of astonishing growth. Founded in 1996, the company is an employment service for college instructors and administrators. It was modeled after Career Builder and Monster.com

It took a full three years for the company to show signs of success.

“We gave the service away for free for the first three years,” says John Ikenberry, cofounder. “We needed to get the word out about the site, and we focused on getting it listed on search engines.”

By the end of 1999, HigherEdJobs.com listed about 1,000 jobs with 30,000 visits each month. Today, the company lists an average of 26,000 jobs with nearly 2 million unique visits each month.

“What we used to get in a month, we now get by 11 a.m. on one day,” says Ikenberry.

HigherEdJobs.com currently employs 22

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people and generates income by charging a fee to advertising organizations. It also has added a great deal of job-hunting content to its site to stay competitive.

There are many other examples of successful businesses and startups that populate Innovation Park, including ChromaTan and Ascent Bio Nano.

The technology created by Oleg Shinkazh, founder and CEO of ChromaTan, is saving biotech companies — especially pharmaceutical producers — millions of dollars. Shinkazh is proud that his technology is contributing to real advances in the production of important medicines that save human lives.

“I have created a new chromatography method that eliminates many of the problems that are currently faced in the industries we serve,” he says. “It allows our customers to cut costs by at least 50 percent.”

Founded in Boston in 2008, ChromaTan started to experience success in 2012 from its new home in Innovation Park. The move to Penn State also provided the company the opportunity to work with Penn State professor Dr. Andrew Zydney, a world-renowned authority on separation membranes.

Shinkazh had considered moving his company to a university.

“Dr. Z called and he had me here at Penn State in a week,” he recalls.

“The great feature of being located in Innovation Park at Penn State is the cross pollination that goes on here,” Boris Napadensky, vice president of engineering, says. “That means we can inspire

and help each other — and we do.”Not far from the offices of ChromaTan, the

owners of Ascent Nano Bio are busy working on a new way to manipulate individual cells.

“We have a passion for the technology and for the business we are in,” explains Lin Wang, president and CEO of Ascent Nano Bio. Together with her partner, Tony Jun Huang, she sees the value of moving research and development from a university laboratory to the world of business and industry.

Huang has developed a technology that can manipulate cells and particles, using acoustic power to perform many operations.

“For example, we can separate cancer cells from healthy ones,” Wang says. “This can be used by health-care providers and pharmaceutical companies alike.”

She describes the technology as a filter that does not impact the cells.

“A centrifuge does this, but a centrifuge will damage the cells,” she says. “We do a very clean, safe manipulation or separation.”

Innovation Park has helped Ascent Nano Bio move forward in exciting ways.

“We think this is the best place for us,” Wang says. “We have received so much help. Here at Innovation Park, people are willing to help. We can find top-flight researchers and very experienced ultrasound people.” T&G

Harry Zimbler is a freelance writer who focuses on business issues.

Innovation Park is home to successful businesses and several startups hoping to succeed well beyond the incubation stage.

FOR THEIR FINANCIAL SUPPORT OF THE RECENTLY COMPLETED TRASPORTATION TRAINING CENTER

Chip AikensTerry AlexanderKody BairdRobert BalsamoGary BargerTimothy BeckenbaughLois BergamaschiYana Boyd�eresa BrickleyMolly BuchananAlan CapparelleRichard Carra, JrTerrance CherryScott ColpetzerSharon CookMimi U. Barash CoppersmithRobert CramerMary CreegerLinda DavisBenjamin DetwilerDavid DixEdward FinnefrockRobert Fike IIIDaniel FisherErin GearhartDr. Brian & Rita Gri�thBrian GroveAmy HaagenKeith HamiltonKenneth HassingerDr. Marianne HazelMargaret HerbstrittLinda Heverly-FerenchickMichael HoltzingerBrian HummelRonald IadarolaJane IrwinJune IrwinMerrel KellanderMark Keller

U. S. Congressman Glenn “GT” �ompson

U. S. Senator Robert Casey, Jr.

Senator Jake Corman III

Representative Kerry Benningho�

Representative Scott ConklinRepresentative

Michael HannaCentre County Commissioners Steve Dershem Chris Exarchos

Michael Pipe

We would also like to thank our local legislators for their

assistance & support of CPI

Andrew LaubJoseph LutherBill LutherDebra LyonsDr. Richard C. MakinShawna McClusickFrederick MooreHeather MooreMary MurrayLois ObrockDr. Cheryl PotteigerDavid PriesterJoseph ReederKrista and Zane RenzoHelen Rogers-KoonMelonie RomigCarl Schre�er, Jr.Chester Selfridge, Jr.Christopher ShirleyDenise ShultzTom & Sara SongerRoy StewartDouglas StimelyEileen StoverTodd TaylorMindi TobiasJe�rey TurnerDavid Van BuskirkRick VilelloMaryAnn VoldersJoshua & Kerry WallacePatricia WelshJanice WertMelissa WheelerKimberly WiesnerKeith WilsonDavid WitheriteRhonda WitheriteGuy WoodardDarrin WrightHenry Yeagley

WOULD LIKE TO THANK THE FOLLOWING

INDIVIDUAL SUPPORTERS

ABC Central PA ChapterAJAX Paving Industries, Inc.AnadarkoBellefonte Elks Garver FundBest Line EquipmentBlaise Alexander Chrysler JeepBlaise Alexander Hyundai MazdaBlaise Alexander Philipsburg, Inc.Campbell, Miller, Williams, Benson, Etter & Consiglio, Inc.Case EquipmentCleveland BrothersCPI Faculty Local 03361EXCO Resources, IncFirst National BankGlenn O. Hawbaker, Inc.Goodco Mechanical, Inc.Gro� Tractor & Equiptment, Inc.�e Hamer Foundation�e Hartman GroupKeystone Real Estate GroupLenwood, Inc.John Niebauer VolvoNorthwest Savings Bank�e Reschini GroupShaner GroupW.W. Engine & Supply

SUPPORTING BUSINESSES

And a special thank you to the Centre County Industrial Development Authority, BIACC, and CBICC along with Bob Jacobs and Sue Hannegan of the Centre County

Planning and Community Development O�ce for their help and assistance.

�e CPI Futures in Motion Campaign is a

community-wide campaign directed by the CPI Foundation to raise $4 million in private support for

Phase II of the campus expansion plan.

CPI Foundation, Inc. recently received approval as an

Educational Improvement Organization under the

Pennsylvania Educational Improvement Tax Credit

Program (EITC).

With the successful completion of Phase I, the Transportation Training Center (TTC), �e Central Pennsylvania Institute of Science & Technology is ready to move into the next phase of the campus expansion plan...

Phase II will allow CPI to address the growing need for skilled health care workers by expanding existing programs and o�ering new programs for both secondary and post-secondary students.

PHASE II - THE HEALTH SCIENCES BUILDING

THE HEALTH SCIENCES BUILDING

TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THE CPI FOUNDATION Contact Jean Gerber, Development Officer:

(814) 359-2793 ext. 253 or jgerber@cpi.edu.

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We are a person centered, non-profit organization serving the intellectually disabled and behavioral health populations in16 central Pennsylvania counties.

We believe in the dignity and worth of every individual. We operate according to the values of: Empowerment, Quality, Integrity, Learning, and Partnership.

Please help us to provide these programs for another 55 years.

Designate Skills for your donation during Centre Gives on May 5 and 6.

Skills by the numbers in 2013-2014:

Additional information on Skills’ programs and services can be found at:

www.skillsofcentralpa.org.

1,100 people served in all of our programs

10,000 volunteer hours

41 businesses provided contracts or employment opportunities

87 group homes serving 283 people

341 Science Park Road State College, PA 16803 814-238-3245

Skills of Central Pennsylvania, Inc.

Celebrating 55 years of service!

Also, join us on

Friday, April 10, for the 3rd Annual Trivia Challenge.

Details and registration can be found on our website.

Like us on Twitter: @Skills_of_PA

Follow us on Facebook: Facebook.com: SkillsofCentralPA

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Business Forward 2015 | 13

2610 Green Tech Drive, State College814-861-5050 | www.KishInsurance.com

Kish Insurance is a registered name of Kish Agency, Inc., Independent Insurance Agency. Property and casualty insurance services are offered exclusively through Kish Agency, Inc., a subsidiary of Kish Bank. Insurance products are not deposits or obligations of the Bank, not FDIC insured, not insured by any federal government agency, are not underwritten or guaranteed by the Bank, and may go down in value.

Lynette Bloom, Kish Insurance Specialist

Home • Auto • Flood • dwelling

Get the peace of mind you want and the coverage you need...

All with one simple conversation.

HealthSouth Nittany Valley Rehabilitation HospitalFor more than 30 years, HealthSouth has served the

region with the highest level of rehabilitation, helping people get back home and to the community after an illness, injury, or surgery.

HealthSouth offers advanced technologies and experienced rehabilitation teams, providing inpatient and outpatient physical, occupational, and speech therapy. HealthSouth is accredited by the Joint Commission and has earned Disease-Specific Care Certifications in four rehabilitation programs: Stroke, Brain Injury, Parkinson’s disease, and Heart Failure.

A recipient of the President’s Circle Award for the third consecutive year, the hospital is one of only 15 in HealthSouth’s nationwide network of 103 rehabilitation hospitals to receive this award. This distinction recognizes the hospital’s outstanding performance in development of clinical programs, quality of patient care services, employee retention, and overall operational excellence.

Moving forward, our focus continues to be high levels of patient satisfaction, quality patient outcomes, and ongoing collaborations with our community partners to improve transitions of care for our patients.

550 W. College Ave., Pleasant Gap, PA 16823 (814) 359-3421www.nittanyvalleyrehab.com

Susan Hartman, Chief Executive Officer

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14 | Business Forward 2015

Additive manufacturing — or 3D printing, as it is commonly known — has the potential to revolutionize light manufacturing and many other fields (not to mention the home and kitchen as user-friendly consumer-grade machines gain in popularity) and strengthen the competitive advantage for companies developing new products to market.

With the ramp up of additive-manufacturing technology occurring across multiple industries, some of the major advances in metallic materials 3D printing for land, sea, air, and space applications are taking place at Penn State’s Center for Innovative Materials Processing through Direct Digital Deposition (CIMP-3D), generally regarded to be in the top three leading additive-manufacturing R&D centers in the nation for metallic components.

Through its partnership with America Makes — the nation’s leading and collaborative partner in additive manufacturing — researchers at CIMP-3D are bridging the gap between research, application, and product development.

An upcoming competition seeks to encourage small- to medium-sized companies (SMEs) to adopt the technology for use in their own operations. CIMP-3D director Dr. Richard Martukanitz hopes that Centre County companies will be among the entities that submit proposals for the nationwide challenge.

The America Makes Challenge for SMEs was expected to be formally announced in February. Once announced, applicants will have six to eight weeks to submit “high-impact” proposals about their concept for additive manufacturing and how

Adding Fuel to the Research and Economic FirePenn State seeks to engage small businesses in additive-manufacturing technologyBy Lesley Kistner

the technology would benefit their businesses. Martukanitz says four or five winning teams will receive $40,000 and the vast technical and enterprise resources of Penn State’s CIMP-3D to assist them in proving out the technology for the application.

The focus on small- to medium-sized enterprises is due to their importance to additive-manufacturing technology and their roles in supply chains. Martukanitz says about 98 percent of manufacturing firms within the United States fall into this category, and SMEs hold 10 times more patents than large businesses. They also form a strong second- and third-tier supply chain for larger organizations as well as being naturally agile and responsive to market demands.

“The America Makes Challenge is timely because the nation as a whole is just ascending the learning curve for metals-additive manufacturing,” Martukanitz says. “However, smaller companies generally lag in advanced training in this type of manufacturing.”

Dr. Tim Simpson, codirector of CIMP-3D and professor of mechanical and industrial engineering, says that companies of all sizes see value in additive manufacturing but are struggling to understand the business case.

“We have given tours to more than 2,000 visitors in the two years that CIMP-3D has been operational, and the interest is only growing,

Martukanitz (left) and Simpson are hoping local companies compete in the America Makes Challenge for small- to medium-sized businesses.

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particularly in the Centre County region,” he says. Another hurdle is additive manufacturing of

metals tends to be capital intensive with today’s technology. Eventually, those prices will drop, but since most SMEs can’t afford huge risks, investments in product and market development for smaller businesses are usually focused within their comfort zones based on available resources.

“A company might have a good idea and they would like to have it tested or demonstrated, but they don’t have the money to evaluate it, and they don’t have experience in additive manufacturing,” Martukanitz says. “The competition is an opportunity to receive free support from a vast network of experts.”

CBICC president and CEO Vern Squier sees tremendous value in Penn State’s CIMP-3D facility beyond being a world-class research facility and the potential benefits of the SME Challenge.

“With Penn State University’s status as the leading research institution for additive

manufacturing/3D printing, Centre County has the potential to be an industry hub,” he says.

Martukanitz adds that Penn State’s new intellectual-property policy for industry-funded research is providing Penn State with a major competitive advantage over other universities.

Simpson has seen the same thing. “The interest from companies right now due to Penn State’s new IP policy has been a game changer for our work and our industry partnerships in CIMP-3D,” he says.

“From a business-recruitment standpoint,” Squier stresses, “to be located where cutting-edge research is taking place, where advancements are being made, and to be close to the talent coming out of the university is a strong selling point.” T&G

For more information about the America Makes Challenge, contact Dr. Richard Martukanitz at rxm44@psu.edu or (814) 863-7282.

2746 W. College Ave., State College814. 238.3756www.pbci-allen.com

PBCI-Allen Mechanical & Electrical

In 2015, PBCI-Allen is celebrating 20 years of providing top-quality HVAC, plumbing, mechanical, and electrical services to our Central Pennsylvania clients. Formed in 1995 from the merger of Allen’s Plumbing Heating & Air Conditioning and Peno Building Company Inc., we pride ourselves on innovation in new technologies and energy efficiency, with a

dedication to increased usage of clean and renewable energies. Most recently, our commercial clients have contracted with us for such

landmark projects as the Beaver Stadium scoreboard renovation at Penn State, the Geisinger at Gray’s Woods expansion, new Mount Nittany Medical Center facilities, and Orlando, Florida’s Citrus Bowl Stadium even turned to us for our expertise.

In addition to new construction, we offer 24-hour plumbing, heating, air-conditioning, and electrical service for both commercial and residential customers.

Beaver Stadium Scoreboard Project

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16 | Business Forward 2015

As researchers at Penn State’s CIMP-3D seek to help smaller- to medium-sized companies make a business case for additive manufacturing/3D-printing technology, some local companies already understand the value to their own operations.

Bellefonte-based Actuated Medical, Inc. has been turning innovation into commercial success since its founding in 2006 by CEO Maureen L. Mulvihill, PhD, and R&D director Roger B. Bagwell, PhD. The medical-device company focuses on state-of-the-art, minimally invasive instruments for clearing medical occlusions, penetrating tissue, and enabling the emerging MRI-guided surgical-procedure industry.

Actuated Medical began rapid prototyping in-house in 2011 when it purchased its first 3D printer in an effort to fast-track device development. The company has added three, more advanced machines since that time.

Mulvihill says the overall savings to the company in both time and money is huge, as is the ability to get products to market more quickly. Those products include TubeClear®, an in-patient tube-clearing system for feeding and decompression tubes, and GentleSharp™, a tool for low-force insertion of lancets and needles for more humane blood sampling. In fact, Mulvihill says rapid prototyping, lean manufacturing, and innovation are all key requirements to developing a medical device in today’s competitive market.

“In just a few hours, our engineers can take a concept to a fully tested prototype,” she says.

Local companies see promise of 3D printing for product development, business growth

By Lesley Kistner

“Previously, it would take several weeks to send a design to a machinist for fabrication, then test it in our facility.”

If the part wasn’t right as machined or the engineer changed their concept, the process was further delayed.

“It really extended the length of the development process,” Mulvihill stresses.

With the addition of 3D-printing capabilities, Actuated Medical’s engineers are able to design and create a part — or change or create a new prototype — in a matter of hours.

Actuated Medical’s 3D printers serve another beneficial purpose, as well — education.

Mulvihill says the original machine is now used for demonstration purposes. The company partners with Discovery Space Children’s Museum in presenting a one-week summer camp in which children learn about medical devices and 3D printing and can create their own objects using the technology. In addition, Bagwell takes the machine to Bellefonte Science Night and other activities within the Bellefonte School District so that students there can be introduced to 3D printing, as well.

For CBICC business-incubator company Solid Dynamics, 3D printing is its business — the company is engaged in computer-aided design and rapid prototyping.

Since setting up operations in the Technology Center incubator at Innovation Park, owner Joe Sinclair has found tremendous opportunity for additive manufacturing in the State College area. He has worked with multiple CBICC incubator companies, including ChromaTan, Lasers for Innovative Solutions, and Atoptix, as well as other start-up companies in the area.

Solid Dynamics, LLC also has been involved with multiple academic projects with Penn State students and researchers.

Since starting in January 2014, Solid Dynamics, LLC has seen great success and now has two offices in State College, a seven-person staff, a plethora of computer-aided design software, and 14 3D printers. T&G

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Business Forward 2015 | 17

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18 | Business Forward 2015

Enhance your listing in the special Business & Services section. Make your business stand out in your chosen category with a Display Ad, a Standard Listing ($100) or an Expanded Listing with logo or photo ($175)

Time is Running Out to Highlight Your Business in the

2015-16 CBICC Membership Directory

A complete A-Z listing of all CBICC members and a valuable business-to-business resource, with guaranteed circulation of more than 2000 copies. Distributed FREE to each CBICC member, key decision-makers, CEOs, business owners and managers.

Call Your Barash Media Representative Today at 814-238-5051!

2014 Official Guide

Centre County 2014-15 Official Guide

1 www.cbicc.org

Membership Directory2014-2015

Get noticed!

S T A T E C O L L E G E , P A

UniversityParkAirport

Business is taking off in Centre County.• Convenient business travel with global connections and daily non-stop flights to major hubs including Philadelphia, Chicago, Detroit, Washington, DC (Dulles), and Atlanta.

• Corporate and executive aviation services including high quality fuels, 24/7 access and conference rooms.

• Easy access to I-99 and I-80 and the region’s other major highways.

• The Pennsylvania State University and Innovation Park are located just five miles away.

• A comfortable, high tech terminal with a full array of amenities.

• Easy parking, convenient car rentals and 24/7 taxi/shuttle service.

University Park Airport. Centrally located. Central to your business success.

www.UniversityParkAirport.com

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Restek CorporationWhen Paul Silvis founded Restek in 1985, he envisioned not just a company that would make

world-class chromatography columns and accessories, but also a company where employees would look forward to coming to work as much as to going home. We grew from one room in a business incubator to a state-of-the-art facility with more than 140,000 square feet of custom-designed space by continually pursuing new product design and rewarding innovative employees.

On December 31, 2008, Restek achieved the long-planned-for goal of 100% employee ownership under an ESOP structure. As part of the transition to employee ownership, we spun off our Performance Coatings “RPC” division into an independent company, led by Silvis. Further spinoffs or acquisitions can occur as we continue to invest in technology and people.

Restek has grown into a company of more than 300 employee-owners. We continue to develop new chromatography products to meet the needs of end-users and agencies around the globe. Our offices in Japan, Germany, France, Italy, China, and the United Kingdom are only the beginning of our international expansion.

As we venture into new foreign markets, we remain dedicated to our hometown community. We support local organizations, and we encourage our employee-owners to volunteer with such local efforts as Centre Volunteers in Medicine, Central PA 4th Fest, Relay for Life, and many more. Our people and our products are always striving for even better performance and service to our customers and our community, both here and abroad.

And check out Town&Gown online at townandgown.com

and on Facebook & Twitter (@TownGownSC)!

As Town&Gown celebrates 50 years,

it also celebrates all the business

success stories in Centre County!

Be sure to pick up your FREE issue of Town&Gown each month to find the best

features, interviews, event listings, and more!

If it's happening in Happy Valley, it's in Town&Gown!

CBICC Membership Luncheon: Legislative and state

budget update Featuring PA Senate Majority

Leader Jake Corman

11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Thursday, March 19

Mountain View Country Club

Register today at www.cbicc.org

Mount Nittany Health’s mission is simple: to make people healthier. Consisting of 260-bed Mount Nittany Medical Center and Mount Nittany Physician Group — a multispecialty group of more than 120 providers — Mount Nittany Health provides primary and specialty care services at a growing number of offices throughout central Pennsylvania. In addition to providing the highest quality care throughout the region, Mount Nittany Health strives to improve the health and wellness of its community through its many education programs, events, and health screenings.

Mount Nittany Health’s commitment to a healthy community extends to caring about the condition of the local economy as well. As a 3B33 Platinum Support Partner, Mount Nittany Health is working in close partnership with the CBICC to strengthen Centre County’s private sector.

“Mount Nittany Health is proud to support and engage in the mission to boost private industry and create a thriving local economy,” said Steve Brown, FACHE, President and CEO of Mount Nittany Health and a member of the CBICC Board of Directors. “I believe the collective business community has a responsibility to work together to help grow our existing business base and pave the way for new economic development opportunities and job creation.”

Brown believes a diverse, strong economy that focuses on the needs of the entire region is ultimately good, not only for the community, but for the healthcare system as well.

“We are deeply grateful for our ability to serve the healthcare needs of Centre County and the surrounding region,” Brown added. “We are equally proud to assist in the economic needs of the region as well through our support of the Chamber’s mission.”

CBICC Membership Breakfast Four generations at work:

How can we all get along?

8 a.m. to 9:15 a.m. Wednesday, April 15

This is the first time four generations are working side by side in our

workplaces. Learn how your business can ensure that these differences and

dynamics produce positive results and a productive work environment.

Keynote speaker: Tina Welch, owner, Welch Performance Consulting

Register today at www.cbicc.org

Support Partner Profile

Steve Brown, FACHE, President/CEO of Mount Nittany Health