Eastern Pennsylvania Down Syndrome Center’s medical clinic is now known as LCPG Down Syndrome Medical Clinic after being acquired by Lehigh Valley Health Network – PHOTO/PROVIDED
Eastern Pennsylvania Down Syndrome Center’s (EPDSC) medical clinic is now part of Lehigh Valley Health Network (LVHN) and will expand access to treatment for people with Down syndrome.
EPDSC, now known as LCPG Down Syndrome Medical Clinic, will continue to provide resources, education, advocacy and programs to patients and families in the region.
“We are thrilled to provide comprehensive, multidisciplinary and holistic care to people with Down syndrome and their families and we look forward to expanding care options in the near future,” said the clinic’s Medical Director Dr. Donald Levick.
Located in the Health Center at Trexlertown, LVHN plans to dd doctors and clinicians, therapists, and family support specialists to the existing team. Since 1999, LVHN has been providing doctors to patients seeking care at EPDSC’s clinic and current patients will be able to keep their same team.
“LVHN has been a wonderful partner for more than 20 years and this new partnership will allow our patients and families to receive world-class, specialized care from doctors and therapists they already know and trust,” said Kerri DiDario, EPDSC executive director.
The clinic currently provides care for more than 250 patients
U.S. Congresswoman Susan Wild, D-7; Ralph Marquardt, chief innovation officer of Evonik; Ute Wolf, CFO of Evonik, Pa.Gov. Tom Wolf; and Bonnie Tully president of Evonik North America; cut the ribbon on the new Evonik Innovation Hub in Trexlertown. PHOTO/STACY WESCOE –
German chemical company, Evonik, held a ribbon cutting Thursday at its new state-of-the-art Innovation Hub in Trexlertown.
Located on property Evonik purchased from Air Products about 6 years ago, the 30,000-square-foot space will be the centerpiece of growth at the two-building site said Tracey Mole, vice president of the Business & Innovation Center.
“This the first major milestone in our modernization project,” he said.
The space will be the center of the company’s global research and development efforts and will serve as a collaborative space where researchers, marketing and financing staff can all work together on innovation.
Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf noted that the state helped fund the development of the center, which he called an important addition to the state and the Lehigh Valley.
“Evonik’s new, state-of-the-art space will build on Pennsylvania’s strength as a center for advanced manufacturing,” said Wolf. “I’m proud to have invested $2.5 million in this Innovation Hub that will bring new, good-paying jobs to the Allentown region.”
According to Evonik, the company employs 300 at the Trexlertown facility. The project is helping to retain more than 200 of those employees as well as adding 50 high-paying jobs in advanced manufacturing.
Ute Wolf, CFO of Evonik said having the center in Trexlertown will help the Lehigh Valley become the center of Evonik’s global growth.
“Innovation is very important. What we really brings us forward is new ideas and education,” she said.
To express the importance of innovation to Evonik, Ute Wolf noted that the company spends about $500,000 per year on research and development.
Jean Vincent, senior vice president of R&D, specialty additives, said the company’s research into high-performing plastics, used in applications from medical implants to football cleats, is the centerpiece of the company’s work at the facility, but the company also researches other things such as additives to insulation used in refrigerators to products that help make paint brighter.
“We research new chemistry applications of technology right down to the molecular level,” she said.
The Innovation Hub project was managed by Boyle Construction, and Mole said it won’t be the last new construction the company will have at the site.
“I would like to see the site continue to grow,” he said, noting the space to add new building was one of the features that attracted Evonik to purchase the property.
What attracted the company to locate in the Lehigh Valley in the first place, he said, was the region’s education landscape. He said with the large number of universities in the region, Evonik has a sizeable pool of highly educated and skilled talent to recruit from.
In fact, the company recently donated $100,000 to the Da Vinci Science Center in Allentown to help promote STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) education for young women.
Like many companies, Mole said Evonik was also drawn to the Lehigh Valley because of its geography. He noted it’s close to other innovation hubs like New York and Boston but has the affordability of living that offers a better quality of life for employees.
Members 1st Federal Credit Union President & CEO George Nahodil, Trexlertown Branch Manager ChristyLee Kuchack and other credit union representatives commemorate the opening of its first branch in the Lehigh Valley – PHOTO/PROVIDED
Cumberland County-based Members 1st Federal Credit Union opened the first of five branches planned for Lehigh Valley in Allentown today.
The credit union’s Trexlertown branch is located at 5605 Hamilton Blvd.
“Establishing a presence in the Lehigh Valley reinforces our commitment and dedication to strengthening and investing in the communities we serve,” President and CEO George Nahodil said. “This multi-branch opening has been planned for quite some time. We are grateful for the opportunity to grow in a new region and are confident that our offerings meet the personal and financial needs of the Lehigh Valley.”
Three additional branch locations will open this summer, including the Macungie branch, 201 West Main St., Macungie, on June 27, Whitehall branch, 2693 MacArthur Road, Whitehall, on July 5, and Emrick Boulevard branch, 2200 Emrick Blvd, Bethlehem on July 11. A fifth Lehigh Valley branch is scheduled to open this fall in Fogelsville.
The addition of five Lehigh Valley branches expands the credit union’s total branch locations to 61 in central Pennsylvania.
Each branch will offer a drive-thru, drive-up ATM, lobby service, coin counter and drop box. In addition, Members 1st offers financial and investment services and products including mortgages, credit cards, and a personal concierge as part of Members 1st’s MyConcierge service and more.
“Whether members are in one of our branches or using our digital banking tools, we pride ourselves in continuing to provide the same, great personalized member service across all channels,” Chief Experience Officer Mike Wilson said. “For years, we have perfected the in-person service in our branches, and we are excited to continue that tradition in Lehigh Valley while simultaneously enhancing our digital tools. This is a really exciting time to become a member.”
A multi-branch grand opening celebration for its Trexlertown, Macungie, Whitehall and Emrick Boulevard branches will be held Saturday, July 16.
Since its start in 1950, Members 1st Federal Credit Union has grown to a full-service financial institution with more than half a million members and over $6.5 billion in assets.
Air Products is teaming up with World Energy to build a $2 billion expansion at World Energy’s Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) hub in Paramount, California to produce renewable fuel.
The Los Angeles County production and distribution facility, the world’s first commercial scale and North America’s only SAF production facility, will expand its total fuel capacity to 340 million gallons annually.
Seifi Ghasemi, chairman, president and CEO of Air Products and Chemicals of Trexlertown, a leading global industrial gas supplier. (Contributed Photo) –
Trexlertown-based Air Products said that the long-term, take-or-pay agreement with World Energy includes Air Products’ construction and ownership of a new hydrogen plant to be operated by Air Products and renewable fuels manufacturing facilities to be operated by World Energy.
The project is scheduled to be onstream in 2025 and continues Air Products’ leadership in driving the energy transition through world-scale projects.
“This project is another pioneering moment in Air Products’ commitment to help support the energy transition,” said
. “We are already building the world’s largest green hydrogen facility with our partners in Saudi Arabia and the world’s largest blue hydrogen facility in Louisiana. Now we are teaming up with World Energy to build North America’s largest SAF facility.”
As part of the agreement, Air Products has extended its Southern California hydrogen pipeline network to supply hydrogen to the existing World Energy facility and to further increase supply reliability for all of Air Products’ hydrogen pipeline network customers in Southern California.
The expanded pipeline network will also enable Air Products to provide low-or-zero-carbon hydrogen in the future, the company said.
Air Products and World Energy will collaborate on innovations to transition to green hydrogen inputs, further reducing the carbon intensity of the fuels it produces.
“We are very pleased to be working with World Energy, enabling another U.S. megaproject that will provide measurable sustainability benefits and advance California’s decarbonization goals by producing a renewable fuel to meet the growing demands of the aviation industry,” Ghasemi said.
“Getting real about net-zero aviation is going to require the mobilization of resources unlike anything that has ever come before,” said Gene Gebolys, CEO, World Energy.
“We are pulling together the very best companies in the world with the expertise, experience, commitment, and focus on collaborating to push the frontier of what can be done to decarbonize aviation today while building a platform for what needs to be done to decarbonize flight by 2050.” he said.
“This is an immense undertaking. But it must be done, and it requires that we move with speed, collaboration, and determination befitting the problem we aim to tackle,” he added.
The SAF produced by World Energy is a 100 percent sustainable fuel made entirely of renewable resources and contains no fossil-based feedstock.
It is not co-processed with fossil fuel in traditional oil refineries, and its carbon attributes comply with all state and U.S. federal regulations for advanced biofuels.
Its lifecycle carbon emissions are currently up to 80 % lower than conventional jet fuel. It is currently approved at a 50/50 blend level with conventional jet fuel for commercial use.
“This is another world-scale, history-making energy transition project for Air Products ― one that showcases our onsite offerings and will again demonstrate our large project construction capabilities,” said Dr. Samir Serhan, Air Products CEO. “It will also enhance the value of our existing hydrogen pipeline in Southern California as we increase our supply capacity with the connection to the new hydrogen production facility we will build in Paramount.”
World Energy is collaborating with other industry leaders to gain approval for pure 100 percent renewable SAF use in regular commercial aviation to enable a future of carbon net-zero fossil-free flight. SAF allows aviation to be powered by the sun’s energy, captured by organic materials, and converted into high-energy-density liquid fuels.
By 2050, the facility will produce fuels that will displace over 76 million metric tons of carbon dioxide, the equivalent of 3.8 million carbon-net-zero flights from Los Angeles to New York, according to World Energy. It will also significantly reduce the fine particulate emissions in the trucks, trains, and planes powered by World Energy’s fuels.
Air Products of Trexlertown reported 2021 GAAP Earnings Per Share (EPS) from continuing operations of $9.12, up 7% over last year; and GAAP net income of $2,12 million, up 10% over last year.
For the year, on a non-GAAP basis, adjusted EPS from continuing operations of $9.02 increased eight% over the prior year, and adjusted EBITDA of $3,89 million was up 7% over last year, as favorable pricing, currencies, and equity affiliate income more than offset higher costs to support growth.
Full-year sales of $10.3 billion increased 17% over last year, on 6% higher energy pass-through, 5% higher volumes, 4% favorable currency, and 2% higher pricing.
For its fiscal fourth quarter 2021, Air Products reported GAAP EPS from continuing operations of $2.51, up 15% over last year, and GAAP net income of $619 million, up 25% over last year, as favorable volume, pricing, currencies, equity affiliate income, and a discontinued operations related tax reserve release more than offset higher costs.
GAAP net income margin of 21.8% was up 50 basis points over prior year, primarily due to higher energy cost pass-through, which negatively impacted margin by about 150 basis points.
An example of a store that has already had the renovations that are being made at the Trexlertown Giant. PHOTO/SUBMITTED –
The Giant Co. is renovating its Trexlertown store as part of a $114 million investment in company updates announced last year.
The company is creating a Giant Direct ecommerce fulfillment center, opening two new stores and remodeling 35 existing Giant stores in Pennsylvania by the end of this year.
Part of the renovation is bringing a newer, more modern look to the store, but Giant is also making changes to accommodate the different ways people are now shopping and eating. When complete, the Trexlertown store will have more options for meal solutions with enhanced prepared food offerings including soups and salads from Saladworks.
“This remodel is really focused on simplifying the shopping experience for our customers by providing fresh ideas and solutions to help today’s families spend more time connecting together over a meal,” said Steven Bowlby, GIANT store manager. “From an updated look and feel to increased product variety, our store team is excited to re-introduce the Trexlertown GIANT to our customers.”
Fresh offerings will be completely updated from an expanded farm fresh produce department and all new meat, seafood, and bakery departments. Other renovations include the store’s Starbucks as well as refreshing the store’s floral and pet area.
The company is also adding a healthy, natural and organic department and a designated plant-based product area.
First Commonwealth’s new corporate headquarter campus on Hamilton Blvd in Lower Macungie Township boasts an 81,000 sq ft headquarters facility and new flagship 5,000 sq ft two-story financial center featuring a dedicated small business center. PHOTO/SUBMITTED
The new corporate headquarters for First Commonwealth Federal Credit Union is now open on Hamilton Boulevard in Lower Macungie Township.
The corporate campus features an 81,000-square-foot headquarters facility and a new flagship 5,000-square-foot, two-story, full-service financial center, which features a dedicated business center.
The credit union said the building, dubbed the “Trexlertown Financial Center” is the largest of its 11 financial centers in the Greater Lehigh Valley.
“We’re proud to continue to invest in the Lehigh Valley and enhance our presence in the communities we serve and where our employees live, work, and play. Our new corporate headquarters allows us to offer an exceptional work environment for our growing workforce,” said Donna LoStocco, president and CEO of First Commonwealth in a release. “Our project is unique in that every aspect of our new headquarters came from input from our employees. We wanted the facility to be ‘for employees, by employees’ and that’s the approach we took through every phase of the project.”
She said the new headquarters was designed to be a high-functioning, friendly, and safe environment that offers an enjoyable and healthy “home at work” experience for its 220 employees.
The credit union consolidated two corporate operations centers in Bethlehem and Allentown into the Lower Macungie facility.
Both of those properties were sold in 2020.
The corporate campus was designed by MKSD Architects of Allentown and was constructed by Boyle Construction of Allentown.
FCFCU owns the 81,000-square-foot mixed-use building, occupying 61,000 square feet of the space.
The building also includes a 13,000-square-foot and a 7,000-square-foot commercial/retail tenant space, which both have exterior first floor entrances. FCFCU has already secured tenants for both spaces.
Urban Air Adventure Park in Trexlertown. PHOTO/STACY WESCOE
The former Bon-Ton store in the Trexlertown Mall has had some fresh life breathed into it…a breath of Urban Air.
The former department store is now home to an indoor adventure park known as Urban Air.
The facility, which had a soft opening this weekend, features more than 64,000 square feet of space filled with entertainment such as wall-to-wall trampolines, go-carts, a climbing wall, a warrior obstacle course, a Sky Rider coaster, a battle beam and tube playgrounds with multi-level climbing ropes and twisting tubes.
Many of the attractions are patented by Urban Air and can only be found at the chain’s facilities. There are features for both adults and children.
There is also a café for families to get food and snacks.
The chain, which was founded in Dallas in 2011 and currently has more than 260 locations operating or in development, bills itself as the largest indoor adventure park operator in the world.
The new Trexlertown location, at 6900 Hamilton Boulevard, will be having its official grand opening Dec. 5.
Hours are Monday – Friday from 3 p.m. to 8 p.m., Saturday from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m., and Sunday 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.
There is a lot to be learned from Target, which recently underwent a huge cash-register outage that reportedly caused the company to lose out on nearly $100 million in sales over a two-day period.
On a Saturday afternoon, for roughly two hours, Target cash registers across the country stopped working, preventing customers from making purchases in stores. The next day, a similar outage occurred, causing registers to go down for 90 minutes. The problem, the company said, was not caused by Target’s software but by a third-party that provides its point-of-sale system.
Disgruntled customers, some of whom only learned of the issue as they got in line to check out, left stores and shared their dissatisfaction across social media.
This is a prime example of how businesses can be impacted by downtime. Not only does it affect the hard sales from customers unable to make their purchases, but it also leads to brand damage, data loss and lost productivity as employees stand around unable to work.
Downtime can cause more than an inconvenience; it could drive a company out of business altogether, especially the smaller businesses that have fewer resources behind them. According to a report on data center outages, unplanned downtime costs $8,851 per minute in 2016, up from $7,908 in 2013.
So what can we learn from Target’s recent mishap?
– Don’t panic if an issue occurs. Document everything and work towards a solution.
– Know who to contact if technology fails.
– Notify customers of the issue right away. Be upfront with what’s going on and provide a timetable for fixing the problem (but don’t lie if you are not sure!) Apologize and sympathize.
– Offer coupons, snacks and beverages to customers for the inconvenience.
– Prepare for backlash from disgruntled customers.
– Once the problem is resolved, examine your system for internal and external weaknesses and find out where the problem originated. (Did someone trip over a power cord or was it a more widespread failure?)
– Moving forward, monitor your IT system so that you know about an issue before your customer does.
– If you are using a lower-grade hardware system, upgrade to an enterprise-level network infrastructure. Higher-grade equipment helps maintain reliability so that productivity will not be lost.
– Have a plan B/backup system in place, as well as a backup power supply in case weather is the culprit. Businesses can invest in an uninterruptible power supply, or UPS. A UPS provides backup battery power to your IT systems and it kicks in the moment regular power goes offline. Through a UPS, any loss of power will immediately transfer to the battery supply, without any noticeable interruption for the user.
– Consider using cloud servers, which are housed in colocation centers. They are more convenient and reliable due to their easy accessibility, but they’re also safer since they create automatic backups to prevent data loss for the client.
Follow these tips and don’t let downtime take your business down.
Murtaza Jaffer is the co-owner of EBC Printing of Trexlertown. He can be reached at [email protected]
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