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# Leadership Westmoreland Kicks Off 10th Anniversary Year
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November 1, 2024
lindsay@westmorelandchamber.com
**Leadership Westmoreland Kicks Off 10th Anniversary Year!**
Ten years ago, then Westmoreland County Chamber of Commerce President and CEO, Chad Amond, had a vision to relaunch Leadership Westmoreland. The once vibrant program had been dormant for several years and he saw the need to provide means of developing future Westmoreland County leaders. He assembled a committee consisting of Mike Storms, Director Operations EBARA ELLIOTT ENERGY; Dr. Jamie Piraino, Superintendent of Franklin Regional School District; Jim Smith, President and CEO Economic Growth Connection and Jason Rigone, Director of Planning & Development, Executive Director of the WCIDC. This group brought Grace Markum on board as the facilitator. She was tasked to bring the vision to life. Today, nearly 200 Westmoreland County professionals representing sixty-three companies, organizations and non-profits have experienced Leadership Westmoreland. Alumni have assumed leadership roles in their organizations and communities.
The 9-month program features over 40 guest presenters from Westmoreland County. In monthly, full-day sessions that include site visits and dialogue with key decision makers, participants hone their leadership skills, learn how the county operates, and gain access to resources that can be used throughout their careers. Participants immerse themselves in community projects, working in teams to study challenging issues and develop solutions. Through these relevant projects and the development of working relationships with team members and others, they learn how to affect real change.
The tenth anniversary year kicked off in September with a two-day retreat hosted by Westmoreland Conservation District. The event welcomed this year’s cohort and laid the foundation for the next eight months. Past participants were invited back to meet the new cohort and catch up with other alumni.
“We continue to strengthen the program by reviewing comments and suggestions offered by the previous nine cohorts. It promises to be another great year to Learn, Grow and Lead,” explained program facilitator, Grace Markum.
The curriculum includes sessions on Building a Business Acumen; Cultivating a Learning Culture; Understanding Community Caregiving; Living an Accountable Life; Being an Informed Citizen; Navigating an Information-Rich Culture; and Embracing a Work/Life Balance.
Throughout the past ten years, our sponsors have enabled the program to remain robust through their tireless support. Please consider if your company or organization would like to play a role in developing the next generation of leaders. If this idea resonates with you, please contact Grace Markum at leadership@westmorelandchamber.com for information on a number of available sponsorship opportunities. Each level offers visibility while demonstrating your support of this important initiative. We thank this year’s sponsors: Ebara Elliott Energy, The Community Foundation of Westmoreland County, Katherine Mabis McKenna Foundation, Williams and SCORE Westmoreland.
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# November 2024 Non-Profit of the Month: Private Industry Council of Westmoreland/Fayette, Inc.
**Non-Profit of the Month: Private Industry Council of Westmoreland/Fayette, Inc.**
The Westmoreland County Chamber of Commerce is thrilled to recognize the Private Industry Council of Westmoreland/Fayette, Inc. (PIC) as our Non-Profit of the Month for November. For nearly four decades, PIC has been a critical resource in southwestern Pennsylvania, providing a foundation for employment, education, and workforce training. As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit headquartered in Greensburg, Pennsylvania, PIC works diligently to empower residents of Westmoreland and Fayette counties, equipping individuals and families with tools for educational achievement, career advancement, and self-sufficiency.
PIC’s reach and impact are significant, thanks to its strategic locations throughout Beaver, Fayette, and Westmoreland counties. From these offices, the organization offers diverse programs targeting youth, adults, dislocated workers, and economically disadvantaged individuals. Through an extensive network of services, PIC fosters growth and opportunity, embodying its mission to "educate, encourage, and empower" the people it serves.
Operating through three primary divisions—Early Childhood Development, Education, and Workforce Development—PIC has built a comprehensive program lineup that addresses the needs of the region’s residents at every stage of life. From early education initiatives to adult literacy programs, PIC ensures that each program is tailored to foster success. The organization is governed by a dedicated 15-member Board of Directors and supported by over 300 committed professionals who work tirelessly to deliver on PIC’s promise of community development and quality-of-life improvement.
PIC's Early Childhood Development programs, which include administering Head Start and Early Head Start in Fayette and Beaver counties, are essential in setting a solid educational foundation for the youngest community members. These programs are widely celebrated for their comprehensive approach to early childhood education and their positive long-term impact on both children and their families.
In the Education division, PIC operates its own licensed school, the Education and Technology Institute (ETI), where a broad range of educational services are offered, including GED® testing as an official Pearson Vue testing center. PIC also provides valuable in-school, out-of-school, and after-school youth programs that encourage educational achievement and career readiness, preparing young people for success in their future careers.
The Workforce Development division is a hallmark of PIC’s service. This division offers everything from job search assistance to career counseling, job training, and placement services. The Westmoreland-Fayette Workforce Investment Board has named PIC as the Title 1 provider of services for the region, highlighting its role as a leader in workforce development. PIC is also the primary provider of welfare-to-work programs and case management services, helping individuals transition from public assistance to sustainable employment.
Additionally, PIC operates the Pennsylvania CareerLink® centers in Westmoreland, Alle-Kiski, and Fayette counties, providing critical resources for job seekers. These centers offer labor market information, job listings, and skills assessments that give job seekers the guidance and support they need to navigate today’s job market.
As the premier provider of adult literacy programs in Westmoreland and Fayette counties, PIC is a lifeline for many in the region. Through its extensive programming, PIC directly impacts the local economy by improving employment rates, reducing poverty, and creating opportunities for self-sufficiency. We at the Westmoreland County Chamber of Commerce are proud to honor PIC as our Non-Profit of the Month for its outstanding contributions to our community. PIC’s unwavering commitment to improving lives and strengthening the regional workforce is an inspiration, and we look forward to seeing the organization continue to make a positive difference in Westmoreland and Fayette counties.
# Federal Legislative Platform
The Westmoreland County will lead, educate, engage, inform and advocate to advance a federal policy agenda that serves as the voice for business. Our members want to advocate for workforce development and economic growth. Our member driven federal policy agenda is outlined below
1.     **PROVIDING + ATTRACTING A SKILLED WORKFORCE** - Economic viability and long-term prosperity for Westmoreland County depends upon a well- educated and skilled workforce, paired with a healthy talent pipeline that addresses the growing skills gap identified by our companies. Federal programs should prioritize existing jobs, retention efforts, skills shortages, and talent retraining for jobs of the future. Funding for educational institutions should be tied to the employment of graduates in the local community. Federal legislators should prioritize programs and funding to states experiencing population decline or stagnation.
2.       **BALANCED LABOR + EMPLOYMENT LAWS** - Changes to labor relations and employment policies are necessary to facilitate a fair work environment and address abuse. Employers oppose excessive mandates that unnecessarily increase the cost of doing business and efforts that seek to disrupt functioning employer/employee relationships through the PRO-Act or other regulatory overreach.
3.    **MODERN, SAFE, EFFICIENT AND RELIABLE INFRASTRUCTURE** - Ensure our infrastructure is adequately funded to enable construction and maintenance of our aging transportation and utility systems along with other infrastructure. Modern, safe, reliable, and efficient Transportation Infrastructure Systems are a core function of government. Transportation systems and utility infrastructure is vital to attract and retain quality businesses to grow the economy, increase regional and PA competitiveness, and retain/create jobs. This includes Transportation, Transit/Mobility, Energy, Broadband and Water/Wastewater. The Chamber supports continued regulatory reform due to current impediments on improvements and skyrocketing costs.
4.       **ENERGY INDEPENDENCE + ECONOMC GROWTH**– The Chamber supports a responsible development of all US energy, fossil and renewable. We oppose policies that lead to the sourcing of energy from non-domestic sources, forcing our nation to rely on other/outside governments to supply energy that could be produced here. The Chamber supports policies that seek to achieve net energy independence, reducing energy market volatility which negatively impacts all Westmoreland County businesses. The Chamber supports investments in programs that expand economic development opportunities that will help grow existing businesses and attract new businesses to the county.
5.    **RETAINING A COMPETITIVE BUSINESS TAX STRUCTURE/ RESPONSIBLE BUDGET + GOVERNMENT SPENDING** Comprehensive reforms of and reductions in specific business taxes remain necessary to help stimulate economic development in recovery. The Chamber encourages Congress and the Administration to work collaboratively towards passing annual budgets and away from continuing resolutions while understanding that all opportunities for cost-savings and efficient spending should be exhausted before new or higher taxes are considered to address deficit spending, entitlement programs, or new initiatives.
6.       **AFFORDABLE + ACCESSIBLE BENEFITS** - Westmoreland County employers want to be able to offer workers quality, affordable health care options. We will continue to advocate for reforms to the heath care, insurance and medical liability that will improve the system, providing flexibility to encourage (rather than mandate) and promote competition.
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