Cambria and Somerset County Technology News Posted to Your Inbox

March 26, 2008 

TPI Feature:

eBizITPA has funding availability for small and medium sized businesses for implementing IT programs.  Funding is available to any company, not just IT companies.   For more info visit ebizITPA or  contact Ron May at 814.898.6532 or ron.may@ebizitpa.org.

Tech Post-Its vs. New Coke?  The Tech Post-Its will cocoon over the coming weeks and re-deploy with a new look, an enhanced focus, and expanded distribution.   An additional audience to be targeted will include expatriate alumni of our local colleges, universities, and high schools, as well as current undergrads.  The intent is to generate enhanced national interest in technology-based employment, business startup amenities, and business capabilities available in the Greater Johnstown region.  

Existing TPI subscribers will continue to receive the new emailing.  New, free subscriptions are available by providing an email address (or addresses) to Amy Noon at anoon@jari.com or 814.535.8675.

Johnstown Jobs:  In step with TPI, JARI's Web portal at http://www.jari.com/ is continuing it's development as the region's premier, one-stop, on-line economic development site.  The latest addition is the "Job Locator," which provides a comprehensive electronic resource of job availability in the Greater Johnstown region.

The Job Locator is a compendium of links to numerous job compilation Web sites (e.g., Monster), regional company human resource pages (e.g., Concurrent Technologies Corporation), and career services pages for local colleges and universities (to be used by alumni of those institutions).  Links to compilation sites are "hardwired" specifically to Johnstown area job lists to the greatest extent practical.

JARI Web portal affiliates are the Greater Johnstown KIZ, JMSAToday, and PA PTACs.  In addition to the Job Locator, other features include the Business Capability Locator (a searchable database of local companies and their products, services, quality certifications, and capabilities), the Building/Site Locator (listings of available commercial space, GJKIZ maps, HUBZone search capability, etc.), links to JARI's economic development partners, a calendar of JARI events, and various publications and news stories.

For inclusion in the Job Locator, Business Capability Locator, or Building/Site Locator, contact JARI at info@jari.com or 814.535.8675.  

JARI Celebrates Another Year of Successes:  Congressman John P. Murtha joined other elected officials and business professionals in saluting Linda Thomson and JARI for the organization's 2007 economic development results during the JARI 2007 Progress Report Luncheon on March 24th.  Read the Tribune-Democrat story here.  The JARI 2007 Annual Report is available on the JARI Publications Page.

Congressman John P. Murtha delivers the Keynote Address at the 2007 JARI 2007 Progress Report Luncheon.

World Class Workshops:  JARI hosted a business Financing Expo on March 18 that featured speakers from various organizations describing the numerous means of funding support for business development in Pennsylvania.  Representatives from  JARI, Ben Franklin Technology Partners of Central and Northern Pennsylvania, Catalyst Connection, the Greater Johnstown KIZ, the Idea Foundry, Pennsylvania Angel Network, Southern Alleghenies Planning and Development Commission, and other groups outlined their services and expertise to an audience of over 90 attendees.  For your business financing needs, contact Michele Clapper at mclapper@jari.com or 814.535.8675.

John Johnston of Ben Franklin Technology Partners of Central and Northern Pennsylvania explains BFTPCNP services at the JARI Financing Expo.

JARI hosted an AS9100 workshop on February 28 to generate awareness about aerospace quality system standards and certification required of manufacturers planning to compete for work in the aerospace industry.  The workshop was one of many ongoing JARI initiatives to assist local businesses in the federal and state government marketplaces as contractors and subcontractors.  To learn how the region's leading Procurement Technical Assistance Center (PTAC) can work with and for your business, contact Bob Shark at bshark@jari.com or 814.535.8675. 

Heather Reis (standing), Business Development Manager and Certified Quality Auditor from BSI Management Systems, explains the AS9100 quality standard.

Upstarts and Innovator Series Continues:  The Greater Johnstown KIZ launched its first event in conjunction with the AIM@Johnstown program at the University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown by hosting a UPJ grad guest speaker at Blackington Hall on March 24.  Barbara Duryea (UPJ '84), Director of Research and Development at the John P. Murtha Neuroscience and Pain Institute, discussed the formation and growth of that organization and its reliance on UPJ.  Fifty percent of JPMNPI employees are UPJ graduates.

Shawn Piatek (right), business writer for The Tribune-Democrat, interviews Barb Duryea prior to the Upstarts and Innovators event on March 24.  This is the second year for the program sponsored by The Tribune-Democrat and Greater Johnstown KIZ.  Read the March 31 Johnstown Business Weekly for coverage of this event, or visit the JARI Publications Page after April 1st.

Thelma Dribble was the featured Upstarts and Innovators entrepreneur at Pennsylvania Highlands Community College on February 28.  Dribble spoke to the students about her unique experiences as an entrepreneur in Greater Johnstown as the co-founder of Community Nursing and Home Health, Inc. 

A Leader to Be Missed:  Dan DeVos, the only President and CEO that Concurrent Technologies Corporation has known over its 20 year history, announced his retirement effective at the end of 2008.  Read related Tribune-Democrat coverage here and here.

Among his numerous community service accolades, Dan DeVos is the current Chair of the JARI Board of Directors, the current Chair of the JARI Defense Business Council, and the current Chair of the Showcase for Commerce.  Dan was also one of the first staunch supporters of Tech Post-Its during its launch phase.

Upcoming Events:  Mount Aloysius will host its Undergraduate Research Symposium on April 22.  Students will highlight their research projects and compete for monetary awards.  Click here for more info.

Saint Francis University will host its Job/Internship Fair Extravaganza (JIFE) on April 10 from 11:00 AM to 3:00 PM in Stokes Athletic Center.  Local companies will provide information on internship and/or employment opportunities.  Students from all majors, alumni, and community members are invited.  Attendance is free.

The Small Business Development Center at Saint Francis University will host "Human Resource Basics for Small Businesses" on March 27th from 9:00 AM to noon, "Technology in the Workplace" on March 27th from 1:00 PM to 4:00 PM, and "Doing Business with the Commonwealth" on April 9th from 9:00 AM to Noon.  Call 814.472.3200 for info.

Johnstown Association of Information Technology Professionals will meet on March 27 at the Saint Francis University's JFK Center.  Larry Rogers, senior technical staff / CERT Program of the Software Engineering Institute at Carnegie Mellon, will present "Home and Small Business Network Security."  Dinner at Frankie's Campus Restaurant at 6:00 PM,  presentation at 7:00 PM.  Click here for more info.

Energy and Environment News:  The Saint Francis University REC (Renewable Energy Center) is compiling a Renewable Energy Installers Directory, which will provide a listing of Pennsylvania installers of solar, small wind, biofuel and geothermal heat sources. More info here.  Subscribe to the REC newsletter by emailing cwyland@francis.edu.

CJL Engineering is relocating its corporate headquarters to the Hornerstown section of Johnstown.  The new facility will be the city’s first Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design-certified (LEED) building, a "green" designation.  Read the Tribune-Democrat story here.

New Training Available in Nanofabrication:  Pennsylvania Highlands Community College has introduced a new option for those pursuing a career in electronics.  Included is a fourth semester at the Nanofabrication Facility  in Penn State's Research Park.  Students have access to the class-10 clean room and state-of-the-art equipment.  For more information, contact Bob Wolf at  wwolf@pennhighlands.edu or 814.262.6470.

Export Assistance Available:  PA DCED is now accepting applications for MAG grants.  Up to $5,000 in matching funds are available per company to help boost capacity as an exporter.  For more information, program guidelines, and an application, click here.

Wednesday April 9, from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM,  Catherine E. Thornberry, author of "Export Procedures: An Interactive Guide to Export Documentation,"  will present Export Documentation: Avoid Compliance Mistakes.  505 Rockwell Hall, Duquesne University.  Sponsored by Southwestern PA Commission Export Development Department.  To register, click here.

Mark Your Calendar:   18th Annual Showcase for Commerce.  Johnstown, PA.  May 28 - 30.  The premier defense contracting expo in the U.S. Registration and Information at http://www.showcaseforcommerce.com/.

Featured among this year's educational workshops is Understanding ITAR on
Wednesday, May 28 1:30 - 4:30 pm at the Frank J. Pasquerilla Conference Center.  International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) experts will discuss U.S. Government regulations that control the export and import of defense-related articles and services.  To register for this and other Showcase workshops, visit http://www.showcaseforcommerce.com/.

National Veteran Small Business Conference and Expo:  July 7-10 in Las Vegas, NV.  Meeting, marketing, and information services for Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Businesses.  Registration and Information here.

Job Postings has been replaced by the new JARI Job Locator.

Submit your resume for a technology or related position to info@jari.com for posting in Tech Post-Its.

Tech Post-Its is a free news aggregation publication for leaders in technology innovation throughout Cambria and Somerset Counties, delivering information and links regarding items about the Greater Johnstown area's technology economy.

Tech Post-Its is produced by Johnstown Area Regional Industries and the Greater Johnstown Keystone Innovation Zone. Send news, news links, press releases, job postings, resumes, or links to national or trade coverage about your organization to info@jari.com.

Tech Post-Its gathers content from third-party sources, but is not affiliated with those sources in any way. Tech Post-Its is not responsible for the accuracy or content of information gathered from third-party sources.

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