October 20, 2023

I'm Retiring October 31

Valued members and friends,

During the Annual Awards Gala earlier this month I announced that I am retiring as President/CEO at the end of this month. I will work a limited number of hours through November as I train my replacement. This decision is bittersweet since I’ve really enjoyed serving the business community for the last 24 years. I plan to remain active in the Chamber as a volunteer committee member of both the Event and Government Affairs Committees. My last day as President/CEO will be October 31. If you need to reach me for anything prior to that date you may email me at ymartin@huntingdonchamber.com

In next week's Enews, I will announce who the new President/CEO will be.

Yvonne Martin, IOM, PaCCE

Now That the Secret is Out.......

In October of 2022, Chamber staff met with Demetri Patitsas to discuss an exciting new restaurant that he and his brother, Paul, will be opening in Huntingdon in the Spring of 2024. Some of you may remember Demetri from his ice cream truck business from 2007 to 2009. Further discussions began with Chamber staff in June of this year. Demetri and Paul will be opening The Greek Souvlaki Shack in Huntingdon to “expand on the culinary tradition of our family and most notably our mother who passed away a few years ago from breast cancer.” Demetri mentioned this during our initial conversation.

Upon joining the Chamber in June, Demetri asked that we not promote the restaurant until he is ready. So now we would like you to join us in welcoming our new member, The Greek Souvlaki Shack! We can’t wait to try the delicious food!

Membership Investment Renewal Last Call!

Membership renewal invoices were mailed in July and reminders have been sent. Centre Publications is working on our next Membership Directory and Community Profile. Memberships need to be paid by October 31 to be included in the publication. If you have not yet paid yours, you can log in to your account online, or contact Lorena at Lorena@huntingdonchamber.com or 814-643-1110.

Employee Benefit Cost Control Strategies

In a constantly evolving economic landscape, employers continue to seek effective strategies to optimize their operations, including the various aspects of employee benefits. Since ensuring the well-being and satisfaction of their workforce is central to their concerns, they seek cost-saving measures that can be implemented without compromising the overall value of benefits.

As employers approach 2023 year-end benefit planning, there are a series of steps that can be taken to fine-tune their employee benefit offerings in order to achieve financial savings. By utilizing any of the methods outlined below, business owners can successfully counter the pressures of today’s evolving business and economic forces to stay within their budgetary restraints while crafting an effective and robust benefit portfolio, all while maintaining a positive work environment.

Perform an Evaluation of Benefit Plans

To maximize cost savings, employers should conduct a comprehensive evaluation of their existing benefit plans. Analyzing the utilization rates, employee feedback and cost data allows employers to identify areas of potential improvement or redundancy. By eliminating underutilized or ineffective benefits, employers can redirect resources toward more impactful offerings that align with the needs and preferences of their employees.

Read the entire article here.