Contact:
Jane T. Roche
yep! Vice President
(814) 664-4661
Roche.JT@EriePlastics.com

Young Erie Professionals to Host Pennsylvania Young Professionals 2008 ImPAct Conference in Erie; Team PA Supports Event with $10,000 Contribution "Young Erie Professionals is an organization dedicated to making Erie an even better place to live, work, and enjoy many of the social, cultural, and civic opportunities our community provides. yep! is committed to enhancing the economic, cultural, educational, and professional resources of our region. Our organization is thrilled to be hosting the PAYP 2008 ImPAct Conference in Erie," said Fasy Greevy, yep! President.

Team Pennsylvania (Team PA) Foundation, the primary sponsor and supporter of PAYP, is contributing $10,000 to the 2008 ImPAct Conference Committee to kick off the Conference fundraising campaign. The Conference Committee has established a goal of raising $150,000 to make the 2008 Conference the largest in the history of the event.

Rich Hudic, President and CEO of Team PA Foundation stated, "Pennsylvania's future truly rests in the hands of these emerging leaders. Team Pennsylvania Foundation is proud to support young professionals across the Commonwealth as it is their involvement and investment that ensures our state and our economy remains thriving, vibrant, and diverse. As a former resident of Erie, I am particularly pleased to support yep! as they partner with PAYP to host this Conference."

Tom Tredway, yep! Co-Vice President, and Matt Wiertel, yep! Civic Engagement Committee Chair, have been selected as Co-Chairs for the 2008 ImPAct Conference. As regional host committee, yep! will be responsible for developing the Conference program and showcasing the Erie region to its attendees. According to Wiertel, "The 2008 ImPAct Conference provides yep! and the Erie community with a great opportunity to showcase everything that this region has to offer." The Conference will feature several networking and informational sessions each day.

2008 marks the first year the ImPAct Conference visits Northwestern Pennsylvania. Founded in 2001, the first ImPAct (Innovative Minds Creating Pennsylvania's Tomorrow) Conference was held in Pittsburgh to enlighten attendees on issues of public policy, recreational activities, and networking. Since its origin, the
Conference has been hosted in various cities around the Commonwealth including Philadelphia (2003), Harrisburg (2005), and Pittsburgh (2001 and 2007).

The 2008 Conference is expected to engage the more than two dozen young professional groups from throughout the Keystone State. For information about the 2008 ImPAct Conference, visit www.impacterie2008.com.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

ERIE, Pa. (October 18, 2007) – History buffs in the worldwide radio, microwave and wireless communication industries undoubtedly encounter the name of one of Erie’s most well regarded entrepreneurs, Frank Dawson Bliley (1906 – 1955), who was recently recognized as a “Microwave Legend” by Microwaves & RF, a Penton Media magazine (www.mwrf.com).

Bliley’s great passion was the development and advancement of two-way communications using quartz crystal technology, and within a decade of founding Erie-based Bliley Electric Company in 1930, his organization had become one of the most successful companies in the crystal industry.

Driving Bliley Electric’s success were unmatched R&D breakthroughs in crystal technology addressing frequency control, manufacturing methods, and communication failures caused by both temperature and aging effects on crystal units.

Frank Dawson Bliley, an Electrical Engineering graduate of the University of Pittsburgh (1929), led his company forward to become a major military supplier helping to ensure the dependability of mission-critical communications equipment for the U.S. Armed Forces during WW II. Bliley Electric Company was recognized four times during the war with the Army-Navy “E” award for its war effort contributions and outstanding production efficiency.

Today, Bliley’s legacy lives on in Erie through Bliley Technologies, Inc., a leading provider of crystal-based frequency control solutions, which has gained worldwide recognition for crystal oscillator advancements and its 45-year history of space technology contributions.

Frank Dawson Bliley also was the original founder of the Radio Association of Erie, a non-profit organization with over 100 current members and comprised of radio enthusiasts.

Now recognized as a Microwave Legend, he has been honored by Microwaves & RF (a publication reaching high-technology design engineers around the globe), for innovation and invention that has shaped the microwave industry as we know it today.

Microwave technology has numerous applications, some of which include: broadcasting, telecommunications, radar, Wireless LAN protocols (such as Bluetooth and IEEE 802.11), WiMAX (Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access), mobile broadband, cable television and medical technology.

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

PREMIER NETWORKING AND EDUCATIONAL EVENT FOR WOMEN BUSINESS OWNERS RETURNS TO PENNSYLVANIA IN OCTOBER

October 10, 2007 – ERIE – The national 2007 Women’s Economic Development Outreach (WEDO®) Tour – a unique opportunity for women business owners to glean strategic business growth, advice and information from experts – is coming to Pennsylvania the week of Oct. 15. During this event, which is celebrating its seventh year in Pennsylvania, women business owners in Pennsylvania will gain access to information and resources to help enhance their businesses.

Registration for the event is $35, with $10 benefiting the ATHENAPowerLink program, which connects women business owners to expert advisers. Interested women business owners can register at www.we-do.net. Space is limited and registration will be granted on a first come, first serve basis.

This regionally touring conference began in Pennsylvania, and now reaches women in six states: Pennsylvania, Ohio, Illinois, Indiana, Missouri and Michigan. This year’s fast-paced, information-packed program provides women business owners with resources and contacts to generate top and bottom-line growth.

“A woman running a business often finds there aren’t enough hours in her day, and with the WEDO conference, she gets high-caliber information and advice close to home,” said Linda Stevenson, WEDO state coordinator for Pennsylvania and senior vice president of the Women’s Business Development Program for National City. “Expert resources in a convenient location make it easier for these women and give them the tools they need to grow their businesses and prosper.”

The event offers women the chance to meet experts and women entrepreneurs who have achieved success across a wide range of business disciplines. This year’s tour will focus on how to use online services, successfully outsource business solutions, develop strategic partnerships and analyze financial statements to ensure a secure financial future.

WEDO is composed of an influential group of women leaders including business owners; local, state and federal representatives; bank officials and representatives of economic development institutions and other women-focused organizations.

Tour Schedule:

Monday, October 15, 2007 – Westmoreland, Fayette and Indiana counties
Seton Hill University, One Seton Hill Drive, Greensburg, PA 15601

Tuesday, October 16, 2007 – Washington and Greene counties
Waynesburg College, 51 West College Street, Waynesburg, PA 15370

Wednesday, October 17, 2007 – Allegheny and Beaver counties
Westinghouse Research & Technology Park, 1382 Beulah Road, Churchill, PA 15235

Thursday, October 18, 2007 – Erie and Crawford counties
Manufacturers’ Association of Northwest Pennsylvania, 2171 West 38th Street, Erie, PA 16508

Friday, October 19, 2007 – Mercer, Lawrence and Butler counties
Grove City College, 100 Campus Drive, Grove City, PA 16127

National City is the lead sponsor of the 2007 WEDO Tour. Additional sponsors include Lamar Outdoor Advertising, Entrepreneurship Program, Grove City College, Seton Hill University’s E-Magnify®, eBizITPA, Faro Enterprises, Classic Printers, SMC Insurance Agency, Inc, Waynesburg College, Manufacturers’ Association of Northwest Pennsylvania, SCORE® Counselors to America’s Small Business, National Association of Women Business Owners Pittsburgh Chapter Dominion, ADP Small Business Services, Presque Isle Downs & Casino, Women’s Independent Press, the Center for Women’s Entrepreneurship at Chatham University, McCrory & McDowell LLC, Greene County Industrial Development Corporation, Aramak, Amani International Coffee, Sabio Springs, Total Learning Center (TLC), Pittsburgh Professional Women, Impactiv, Inc., Gannon University Small Business Development Center, 84 Lumber Company and many more.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

ERIE, PA (July 2007) – HBK Sorce Financial LLC, an independent advisory firm, is pleased to announce the nomination of Christopher (Chris) Sorce, Managing Principal, for Registered Rep’s Top 100 Independent Broker/Dealer Financial Advisors.

Chris, a Certified Financial Planner™ since 1983, has extensive experience in the areas of personal financial planning, succession planning, business consulting and finance. He is the Managing Principal of the Naples office of HBK Sorce Financial. Currently, HBK Sorce Financial’s assets under supervision exceed the $1 billion mark.

Chris, a registered representative with Securities America Inc., currently manages approximately $200 million of client assets. His investment/business philosophy is to have a thorough knowledge of his client’s needs, offer various financial planning options and prudent asset management. He is a member of the Financial Planning Association and is a member of the Board of Directors of the Erie Philharmonic.

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Testimony of Jeffrey A. Ludrof
President & CEO, Erie Insurance Group
And
Chairman, Erie Regional Chamber and Growth Partnership Board of Directors

Good evening. My name is Jeff Ludrof, and I am the president & CEO of Erie Insurance Group and chairman of the Erie Regional Chamber and Growth Partnership Board of Directors. On behalf of the Chamber board and the 800 local businesses comprising the Chamber’s membership, I thank you for the opportunity to address you tonight on the distribution and use of gaming revenues in Erie County.

The projected influx of approximately $11,000,000 annually into Erie County is a “once in a community lifetime” opportunity that can significantly change this region and impact a large cross section of our residents. As such, we must make every effort to seek the highest and best use of those funds, including developing and supporting transformational projects, strengthening existing community assets, and where possible, leveraging additional funds into the region.

As part of this process, we believe it is very important for Erie County government to implement a strong framework and policies under which the gaming revenues can be distributed. That framework is what I would like to focus on this evening.

The Chamber has devoted a significant amount of time to understanding Pennsylvania’s gaming statute and its implications for Erie County. Although portions of the legislation are not fully clear, we believe that the roughly $11,000,000 projected for Erie County government annually will be divided into two equal parts: $5,500,000 for unrestricted use, meaning that the County can use it for whatever it chooses, and $5,500,000 that is restricted to “municipal grants” as defined by the statute, and for economic development purposes throughout Erie County.

With that in mind, the Erie Regional Chamber and Growth Partnership Board of Directors unanimously adopted a Proposed Conceptual Framework for Distribution of Gaming Revenues in Erie County which I present to you tonight. This framework takes into account both the unrestricted and restricted funds, and identifies four broad categories for spending: Transformational initiatives, Governmental Regional Assets, Non-Governmental Regional Assets and Discretionary/County Uses. Each broad category includes sub-categories (designated by the letters “A”, “B” and “C” on the chart), and in some cases, examples. The Chamber endorses the broad categories and sub-categories of the framework, but the examples shown are for illustrative purposes only.

We have identified the categories and sub-categories in the manner shown because we believe that the gaming revenues must be used in such a way that in ten, fifteen or twenty years, the community will be able to readily and easily identify what we accomplished from the use of the funds. The Erie region needs to ensure a visionary stewardship of these revenues.

An important aspect of the framework is the creation of permanent endowments for Governmental and Non-Governmental Regional Assets. The Chamber believes it is necessary and appropriate to use a reasonable amount of the gaming revenues to provide operating or programmatic support to our assets; however, the long term future of these assets must not be dependent upon government subsidies which may or may not be there in years to come. The creation of endowments for these important regional assets provides an opportunity for them to obtain, at least over time, some measure of financial independence from government subsidies.

The framework goes on to identify forms of funding, including bond issues, multi-year commitments, annual grants and/or annual appropriations that would support the broad categories and sub-categories, as well as the source of funds (unrestricted or restricted) that would be allowable under the gaming statute.

The next step in the Chamber’s process will be to identify funding parameters and amounts that could be allocated to the broad categories and sub-categories shown in the framework, as well as identifying specific priorities for funding. We would like to present our specific funding recommendations to you at the town meeting scheduled for May 17, 2007 at Union City High School.

In closing, the Erie Regional Chamber and Growth Partnership respectfully requests that Erie County government consider, adopt and implement the Proposed Conceptual Framework for Distribution of Gaming Revenues that I am presenting to you. We firmly believe that this framework will provide a solid and effective means to allocate gaming funds in ways that will have a tremendous, positive, and lasting impact on the region for the people who choose to live, work and visit here.

Thank you.