Insider Info
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Highlights from the Annual Meeting (page 2-3)
TCDC Loan Closings (page 4 )
Upcoming Events & Happenings (page 5 )
Leadership Tioga County Update (page 6)
 PREP Partners Update (page 7)
 From The President (page 8)
August 2016
2016 Board Meetings
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TCDC praises retiring CEO/Hires Replacement
It was a bittersweet evening for directors and
board members of the Tioga County Development
Corp. Monday as they celebrated 25 years of the
organization's history, and at the same time said
good-bye to a big part of it. Longtime president and
CEO Bob Blair will retire at the end of August after
more than two decades with the economic
development organization and over 40 years in the
business. Blair's replacement, John Bry, of Auburn,
Longtime president and CEO of the Tioga County Development Corp.
Bob Blair, left, received a plaque honoring him for his years of service Indiana, also was introduced to those in attendance
from chairman David E. Cummings
at the organization's 23rd Annual Meeting. Board
of directors chairman David E. Cummings said that one of the TCDC's primary programs is its
leadership program for both high school students and adults, the year Blair was hired on as
executive director of the fledgling organization. "In 1991 we knew it needed a director and our
selection was told that we only had enough funding for one
year and if he wanted to stay on he would have to figure out
how to get the funding to do so," Cummings said. "It only
took him 35 days to secure that funding," he added.
Cummings applauded Blair, calling him a "friend to Tioga
County." "There could not be a better leader, or friend to the
county," he said as he introduced Blair one last time and
presented him with a plaque in honor of his many years of
service. Blair, who was visibly emotional during his remarks,
said he has thoroughly enjoyed his job with TCDC in the
capacity of helping others to succeed. "It is nice to see when
John Bry, TCDC’s new President/CEO
someone gets a new job, or a company expands or a school
gets tax credits to supplement their budgets," he said. "It's been a great ride, I really appreciate
it, thank you," Blair said. ( article excerpts reprinted with permission from the Williamsport Sun-Gazette).
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September 9, 2016
Board Work Session
October 14, 2016
Regular Public Meeting
December 9, 2016
Regular Public Meeting
Plan Ahead…
TCDC’s 10th Meet Our Member Mixer
September 21, 2016
Tioga County Visitors Bureau
5:00PM
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23rd Annual Meeting Sponsors
We thank Our Corporate sponsors for making our Annual
TCDC Meeting a Success
Gold Sponsor; PenTeleData
Diamond Sponsor; Shell
TCDC Chairman David
Cummings (far right) and TCDC
President/CEO Robert Blair (far
left) pictured with Al Quimby
TCDC President/CEO Robert Blair
pictured with Steve Craig; Hondo
Blakely and Deb Sawyer
Gold Sponsor; Sherwood Motel
Gold Sponsor; Northwest Savings Bank
Photo Not Available
TCDC President/CEO Robert Blair (far left)
pictured with Kim Miller & Blake Maxson
Celebration Of Economic Success in Tioga County
The Tioga County Development Corporation’s (TCDC) 23rd Annual Meeting, held on Monday, July 25, 2016 at the Penn
Wells Hotel, was an evening of recognition and honor for individuals and businesses.
The Corporation planned its Program to celebrate our Members, give brief presentations on TCDC Programs, and finally
honor a leader from Tioga County with the presentation of the prestigious Rod C. Kelchner Award for Excellence in
Community Service & Leadership. This year’s recipient was Jim Weaver, Tioga County Planner. Jim has been the
County Planner for the past 12 years, a driving force for our County’s environment and a member of several local boards
and organizations.
The David W. Rundell Directors Award, which is presented to a director with perfect attendance for a year, was given to
Brenda Abplanalp and Ray Kaminski, was honored as a long time TCDC Director. Finally, Chairman David Cummings
introduced new President John Bry and retiring President/CEO Bob Blair was honored for his 25 years of service.
Event sponsors were Diamond corporate sponsor Shell Appalachia and three gold corporate sponsors: Sherwood Motel,
Northwest Savings Bank & PenTeleData. Each sponsor was recognized and presented with a framed photograph taken by
Robert J. Blair.
The evening concluded with TCDC’s famous Door Prize extravaganza, with 4 packages worth $4,000.00 in goods and
services were donated by TCDC Members Larson Design Group; Owlett & Lewis P.C; Indigo Wireless; First Citizens
Community Bank; Citizens & Northern Bank; First Heritage Federal Credit Union; Fulton Bank; Northwest Savings Bank
and The Tapco Group. Thank you to all who attended our Annual Meeting and joined us for our Celebration.
https://www.northwestsavingsbank.com/
www.ptd.net
www.sherwoodmotel.org
http://www.shell.com/eandp-en
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Snapshots from Our 23rd Annual Meeting
Linda Williams & TCDC Director Bill
Williams Catch up
Above: Commissioner Erick Coolidge &
NTSD Superintendent/TCDC Director
Diana Barnes
Left: Jim Weaver, retiring County
Planner, accepts the Rod C.
Kelchner Leadership Award from
TCDC President/CEO
Robert J. Blair .
Above: Brenda Abplanalp, accepts the David
W. Rundell Directors Award from TCDC
Chair David E. Cummings.
TCDC looks forward to
continued service in
helping retain and
create jobs in Tioga
County!
Above: Ray Kaminski, accepts the
David W. Rundell Directors Award
from TCDC Chair David E.
Cummings.
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Rakoski Utilizes TCDC Loan For Computer System
Geoffrey Rakoski, Rakoski Enterprises, Inc. closed on a
$37,000 Tioga County Enterprise Loan Fund, Commercial
Loan on Tuesday, July 26, 2016 with the Tioga County
Development Corporation. The $37,000 loan will be used
to help purchase and upgrade the computer subsystem for
his three locations in Blossburg, Mansfield and
Lawrenceville.
Geoff Rakoski is no stranger to the TCDC Loan
programs; Geoff has used the Tioga County Loan
Programs three times. The first loan was in 2005. Rakoski
owns the Blossburg, Mansfield and Lawrenceville NAPA
stores. There are currently ten (10) employees shared
between the stores.
For more information, applications
or assistance on the Tioga County
Loan Programs or other financial
assistance, contact John Bry at
(570) 723-8232 or eMail to
[email protected]
TCDC is an equal opportunity lender.
Jodi & Jeff Rakoski; Robert J. Blair, TCDC President/CEO and Samantha
Wilcox, Owlett & Lewis P.C.
TCDC Loan Helps Fund New Roastery
Thad Compton, dba Lone Pine Roastery, closed on a $25,000
USDA loan with the Tioga County Development Corporation. The
$25,000 loan will be used towards the purchase of machinery &
equipment for his new coffee Roastery.
Thad has operated Lone Pine Roastery from his home for the
past 6 years and has a strong client base. As a hobby and avid
coffee drinker, Thad began roasting coffee in his home for family
and friends. Soon Thad branched out and began offering his coffee
to local businesses. Currently he sells his coffee to four (4) local
businesses.
The project was made possible with funding from Tioga
County Development Corporation and First Citizens Community
Bank. The total Project cost is $95,000. For more information
contact John Bry, TCDC President/CEO, at (570) 723-8232 or
eMail to [email protected].
Lone Pine Roastery will be located at
11 West Wellsboro Street in Mansfield.
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Art Gallery Coming to Cowanesque Valley
EBCC To House Community Gallery
The Elkland Business Community Center (EBCC) will be home to a
new Art Gallery for the Cowanesque Valley Artists thanks to a community
donation from Tapco (formerly Metamora Products).
The Tioga County Foundation (charitable arm of the Tioga County
Development Corporation) is developing the project. TCDC Staff are
coordinating with the Northern Tioga School District and its Art Teachers
for the project. A local Arts Committee has been formed. The Valley
Gallery will feature monthly exhibits featuring artists and their works.
NTSD art students will have an opportunity to display their work along
with local artists from the Cowanesque Valley. There will be a Reception
for each Exhibit where the Artist will talk about the exhibited art and
attendees will enjoy refreshments.
Local artists are encouraged to contact any of the NTSD art teachers or
TCDC.
The Exhibit Hanging System has been ordered, the Committee will be
selecting the first artist and working toward the first exhibit at the Valley
Gallery . . .stay tuned
Tioga County Visitors Bureau Hosts Member Mixer
On Wednesday, September 21, 2016, the Tioga County
Visitors Bureau (TCVB) will host the Tioga County
Development Corporation’s (TCDC) Meet Our Member Mixer.
The Tioga County Visitors Bureau was incorporated in
1993. In 23 years, our mission to promote Tioga County as a
destination for visitors has grown to include a full service
visitors center staffed year-round in addition to a multi-faceted
marketing strategy that includes various advertising mediums
to keep Tioga County top-of-mind for potential visitors seeking
world-class outdoor recreational experiences, charming downtowns and relaxation.
“It is our pleasure to host a mixer for the Tioga County
Development Corporation members and our partners in
economic development for Tioga County” states Lori Copp,
Executive Director.
Please
contact
Carolyn
at
570.723.8232
or
[email protected] if you are interested in attending. This is a
FREE event for our Members!
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Youth Leadership Program Kicks Off Class of 2017
On Wednesday, August 17, 2016, the Tioga County Development
Corporation Leadership Tioga County Youth Leadership Program kicked
off our 19th year with the annual Summer Event held at Woodland Park in
Wellsboro. The Youth Leadership Program Class of 2017, along with
nearly 80 family and friends, received an overview of the Youth
Leadership Program and had an opportunity to meet other students
participating in the program.
The YLP Class of 2017 consists of 35 students from the Northern Tioga
School District, Southern Tioga School District, Wellsboro Area School
District and New Covenant Academy.
The Orientation & Team Building Session will be held in September
at the W. M. Tokishi Training Center, Wellsboro, PA (NYPUM Building).
Where Are They Now?
YLP Alumni Highlight
You hear a lot about TCDC and the success of our Leadership Programs. But have
you ever wondered where are all of our graduates now? Are they out conquering the
world? Have they come back to Tioga County to make a difference? In a new newsletter
series we have reached out to some of our Alumni to find out what they are up to.
This quarter we feature Nichole (Hall) Lefelhoc, a YLP Class of 2001 graduate. She
is currently the Director of the Career Center at Mansfield University, a position she has
held since 2007.
Nichole is a graduate of North Penn High School, holds a BS in Social Work with a
minor in Leadership Studies from Lock Haven University and an MS in Social
Administration with a concentration in Community Development & Management from
Case Western Reserve University.
Nichole partners with students and alumni to explore and define professional goals
and identify resources and tools to reach those goals. Her areas of expertise include, but
are not limited to: resume and cover letter development, job searching, interviewing,
internships, graduate school, career/major exploration, and professional image.
Her professional passion stems from an intense desire to help others find their own
passions in life. She is also responsible for fostering and expanding the base of
organizations offering internship and employment opportunities to Mansfield University
students and alumni. She credits the Youth Leadership Program with broadening her
understanding of the opportunities and resources available in the region. It also kick-started her fascination with all things leadership development, which has continued well into her professional career.
She resides in Mansfield with her husband and young son.
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From The President
114 Main Street
Wellsboro, Pennsylvania 16901
Voice: 570.723.8232
Fax: 570.723.8441
E-mail: [email protected]
www.tcdc-pa.com
Chairman of the Board
David E. Cummings
First Vice Chairman
Karen Russell
Second Vice Chairman
Ronald J. Butler
Treasurer
Alan J. Quimby
Secretary
John Bry
Board of Directors
Brenda G. Abplanalp
Diana L. Barnes
Roger C. Bunn
Rob Carleton
Dr. Brenda Freeman
Thomas Freeman
H. Russell Hastings
Francis L. Hendricks
Raymond Kaminski
Karl Kroeck
Ronald J. Minnick
Leo Parchesky
Andrew S. Rohrer
William W. Roosa
Sam A. Rotella, Jr.
Deborah L. Sawyer
Aneurin J. (Bill) Williams, Jr.
The past 22 years here at TCDC have gone by so fast. It seems like we were just forming the
Tioga County Development Corporation putting together from scratch all our organizational
and personnel documents, our By Laws, Articles of Incorporation, establishing our 1 st Enterprise
Zone and developing our Revolving Loan Fund.
From our humble beginnings with a $35,000 year grant in place we have grown to become a
premiere county wide economic development corporation coming up on $5 Million in
operational funds over the past 20 plus years. Cash flow for a small economic development
organization is ever present but we have always made budget. We could not survive if it weren’t
for our Members and Contributors who believe in TCDC and our Mission.
Many programs have been implemented from Leadership Tioga County to Buy Tioga County to
the Educational Improvement Tax Credit Program. We have been involved in many projects
such as the Tioga County Welcome Center, Mill Cove Recreation Center, the 49 CORRIDOR
Enterprise Zone and the Tioga County Enterprise Loan Program , Development of US
Route 15 and now the push to be designated as I-99.
My children Kaleb, SanBee and Anthony always wondered what I did for a living. How do you
explain what an economic development professional does. Looking back I hope I have been a
good one.
Upon my retirement I plan to keep my Membership and be eligible for our massive door prizes at
our Annual Meeting. I will NOT miss any night meetings, but I will miss all of the people I have
worked with over the years. A special thanks to Chairman Cummings and our Board of
Directors.
None of this could have been accomplished without Carolyn and Christie. Carolyn and I have
worked together for 17 years and Christie is working on her 11 th year. And a special thanks to
Jim Davis, a wonderful volunteer and friend. I wish John all the best as he takes TCDC into the
future. Thank you all for making my job a joy.
Don’t worry I am not going anywhere I plan to continue on my next stage of life right here where
President &
Chief Executive Officer
John Bry
[email protected]
I was born, grew up, worked and raised my family in Tioga
County . . .
a place to call
home!
Vice President/Development
Christie L. Blackwell
[email protected]
Administrative Assistant
Carolyn E. Conte
[email protected]
Robert J. Blair
President/CEO
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