The Coffee With Show
The Coffee With Show featuring Rosedale Technical College and President Dennis Wilke. Host Christopher Evans. Dennis Wilke – President and Director of Rosedale Technical College, Dennis Wilke values a student-centered approach in everything he does. Dennis began his leadership at Rosedale Tech in 2005 and has since increased revenue by 400 percent, doubled the number of employees, and educational offerings have nearly tripled. Dennis serves on the Executive Board of Directors for the PA Association of Private School Administrators and recently won the 2015 Pittsburgh Smart 50 Impact award. Under the leadership of Dennis, Rosedale Tech was named the #1 Best Places to Work in Pittsburgh for both 2014 and 2015 according to the Pittsburgh Business Times. Currently, Dennis is writing a book focusing on the value and need for additional support for career centered education in America. As a Pittsburgh native, Dennis lives in South Fayette with his wife and three children. Dennis also likes long walks on the beach and moonlight dinners accompanied by the soft sounds of Barry Manilow. Mission The mission of Rosedale Technical College is to enable students to obtain employment in positions related to the trade industries using hands-on training programs aligned with industry needs and effective student services designed to promote student success. Vision We are the engine of our regional economy by providing genuinely valuable hands-on training which adapts to meet the needs of employers. We unlock the energy of our students and provide the spark of knowledge which gives our students the confidence to change their lives. Values RTC values a student-centered approach in everything we do. We also value continuous improvement and self-development along with honesty, humility and...
read moreUnited Way – Approval
Building Bridges for Business has been approved by the United Way of Allegheny County. Donate to 12453437 to support education programs across the State. When you support United Way, you become part of a local movement of thousands of donors and volunteers with a common goal: To address critical issues for people in need—that makes our community measurably better for everyone. YOU make change happen. Your involvement makes every other contribution more meaningful and impactful. Together we can accomplish...
read moreParticipation in EITC – Tax Credits
Building Bridges for Business Announces Participation in PA Educational Improvement Tax Credit (EITC) Support education while helping your company’s financial position. What is EITC? A PA Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED) program that provides state tax credits to eligible businesses for charitable contributions made to Building Bridges for Business and their teaching program U can B. Is my business eligible? If you do business in Pennsylvania and pay any of several corporate taxes, the answer is Yes. How can I make EITC work for me and my business? Visit the PA DCED website for EITC Guidelines and access to DCED’s electronic Single Application system. Once you are approved* by DCED, make your contribution Building Bridges for Business. What’s the bottom line? Tax credits equal to 75% of your contribution up to a maximum of $750,000 per taxable year; can be increased to 90% of your contribution, if your business agrees to provide the same amount for two consecutive tax years. *Applications are approved on a first-come-first-served basis by date received, and approved until available tax credits are exhausted. EITC – Tax Credits Email us at...
read moreU can B at Girls Rock Science
Girls Rock Science℠ Weekend Cost: Free with Admission Date: Oct 3, 2015 Daily until Oct 4, 2015 Women make up about 50% of the workforce in the United States but hold only 25% of STEM jobs. Carnegie Science Center is working to reverse this disturbing trend through a wide range of programs, including Girls Rock Science℠ Weekend on Saturday, Oct. 3 and Sunday, Oct. 4. Carnegie Science Center is partnering with KDKA TV for a weekend designed to get girls excited about science and technology and to acquaint them with a wide range of STEM careers. Throughout the building, STEM professionals from a wide range of organizations will staff tables of interactive demonstrations and hands-on activities. On Oct. 3 only, “NCIS: Los Angeles” star Renee Felice Smith, who plays Nell Jones on the hit TV show, will headline the event and will meet and talk with families. Girls who have participated in our STEM competitions, like our Pittsburgh Regional Science & Engineering Fair and the Future City Competition, will bring their projects to display and discuss with visitors. A STEM Chat feature is being planned to foster conversations between girls and STEM professionals. STEM Chats will take place in the Works Theater, Body Stage, Planetarium, and Omnimax theaters before and after featured shows. These conversations will allow girls to talk about careers and interests with women in STEM...
read moreJoin U can B at Girls Rock Science
Women make up about 50% of the workforce in the United States but hold only 25% of STEM jobs. Carnegie Science Center is working to reverse this disturbing trend through a wide range of programs, including Girls Rock Science Weekend. Carnegie Science Center is partnering with KDKA TV for a weekend designed to get girls excited about science and technology and to acquaint them with a wide range of STEM careers. Throughout the building, STEM professionals from a wide range of organizations will staff tables of interactive demonstrations and hands-on activities. Girls who have participated in our STEM competitions, like our Pittsburgh Regional Science & Engineering Fair and the Future City Competition, will bring their projects to display and discuss with visitors. A STEM Chat feature is being planned to foster conversations between girls and STEM professionals. STEM Chats will take place in the Works Theater, Body Stage, Planetarium, and Omnimax theaters before and after featured shows. These conversations will allow girls to talk about careers and interests with women in STEM professions. Two Omnimax films will spotlight some amazing women in science. Jane Goodall’s Wild Chimpanzees will illuminate her life and work, and Born to be Wild tells the heartwarming story of Dr. Biruté Mary Galdikas, who rescues orphaned orangutans in the rainforests of Borneo, and Dame Daphne M. Sheldrick, who cares for orphaned elephants in Kenya. Both women nurture, rehabilitate, and return these incredible animals back to the wild. Participating organizations include: Aesynt ANSYS Building Bridges for Businesses, U can B The Campus School of Carlow University Carnegie Mellon University City of Pittsburgh Chartiers Valley School District Dental Works Edgar Snyder Federal Bureau of Investigation Giant Eagle La Roche College Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine LECOM MBM Contracting MBM Partner JP Phillips MBM Partner McKamish Mine Safety Appliances Montour School District Oakland Catholic High School SAE Society of Automotive Engineers SDLC Society of Women Engineers Thermo Fisher Scientific Thiel College Trinity School District Peters Township School District Verizon Foundation Washington & Jefferson College Westinghouse Williams Young Women in Bio...
read morePinterest for B2B
How to Leverage Pinterest for B2B – Happy Pinning Pinterest is a visual social media platform. You can find the latest and greatest wedding ideas and recipes. You can search decorating tips, up-to-date fashion and vacation spots. Not to mention hair-dos. But if you are a B2B company, how do you leverage Pinterest to your advantage? • Start by creating a business account. This will give you tips on how to succeed with Pinterest. It will also give you a board widget, follow button and Pin It button for you to use on your blog or website. • Design an infographic. They are very popular on Pinterest. Design one with any relevant company information you might have. The more information you can add, the better chance someone will repin it. Make sure you have a link back to your company website on your infographic. • Have a “People” board showing those who work at your company. Start with a headshot and description of the person. You can add photos of those people at company functions or community events. Any type of community involvement will show how your company impacts the community. • If you have a blog, make sure you post to Pinterest as well as Facebook. Add graphics that connect to your blog information so those viewing Pinterest will be interested in clicking on the picture to see what else in included. • Are you a service provider? Why not have a “Testimonials” board. If you have satisfied clients, they will gladly provide you with a picture of themselves to include with a testimonial about your services. Keep in mind that Pinterest is social media. The main goal of social media is to build relationships. As a B2B you don’t want to sell on Pinterest, you want to get your company in front of as many people, or other businesses, as possible. You need to find a way to put your company out there so others will have interest in finding out more about it. Hopefully these suggestions will get you started. Happy...
read moreGrow your Facebook Reach
Three Ways to Maximize Your Facebook Reach You’ve had your Facebook brand page for months, invited your friends and received some initial Likes, filled in your About section and started posting here and there – but after that first couple months when your total Likes and overall reach started to taper, you began to wonder – What is this doing for my business? The truth is – if you aren’t doing anything with Facebook, it probably won’t do anything for you. A hammer purchased and then left in the tool box won’t drive any nails, after all. But rest easy – these three simple tips can help you boost your online image, spur your Facebook growth, manage your relationships, heighten your visibility and – ultimately – drive your sales. 1. Reward Your Audience – Whether you offer a coupon or simply just mention your audience members, a little reward can go a long way. Try creating a ‘Fan of the Week’ or ‘Fan of the Day’ to create interpersonal engagement that drives Likes to your page. If people see their friends are getting rewarded, odds are they’ll want a free slice of pie too! You’ll also want to make sure you’re providing your audience with a mix of information they can use in their daily lives, in addition to promotions for your business. If you make it about THEM, they’ll make it about YOU. 2. Keep Your Content Fresh – If you don’t update your content regularly, your page will fall by the wayside and people will have no reason to check on it, aside from never being reminded about your presence on their newsfeed. How often you post a photo, status, link or event may depend on how busy things are for you, but don’t forget that the social space is all about sharing. Ask your audience how they are, share industry news, and talk about current events with a spin that ties your business into the equation. The Web is near infinite, so you should never really have an excuse not to have something to say. At the very least, post 2-3 times a week – but not more than 2-3 times a day (people don’t like to be bombarded either). 3. Be Proactive – Many argue that the social media space is a new public relations function – and PR is all about establishing and maintaining relationships. Keep in mind that it’s highly likely that no one is looking for your page, which means you have to invite them in. Ask your friends to give you a Like and connect with other local non-competing businesses and non-profit organizations by Liking their page and sharing their content. Facebook is all about taking the initiative to start a conversation and then making the effort to keep it going! These three tips should help you get your Likes up, improve your reach and boost traffic to your page – but it’s important to have realistic expectations and to be patient. If you keep yourself focused and have a daily or weekly social media plan that utilizes all of these ideas, keeps you focused, and efficiently maximizes your gains by minimizing your time spent, you can expect realistic growth in your numbers and carry that over to your...
read moreSchools, and the Future of the Job Market
Americans have always taken pride in having the best-educated workforce in the world, but now that is no longer true. In Tough Choices, Tough Times, the New Commission on the Skills of the American Workforce reports that over the past 30 years one country after another has surpassed the United States in the percentage of its population entering the workforce with the equivalent of a high school diploma, and many more countries are on the verge of doing so. Thirty years ago, the U.S. could lay claim to having 30 percent of the world’s population of college students. Today that proportion has fallen substantially, to 14 percent, and continues to decline. American students place anywhere from the middle of the pack to the bottom in all three continuing comparative studies of achievement in mathematics, science, and general literacy among advanced industrial nations. Students from low-income families are six times more likely not to finish high school than those from high-income families. Dropouts face severe obstacles to employment, livable wages, and civic participation; instead, many drift into crime. This situation means a loss of opportunities for the individuals, substantial cost to the govern¬ment and taxpayers, and a decline in productivity for businesses. Even those students who do graduate may not be well prepared. According to the National Reading Panel, American companies lose nearly $40 billion annually due to il¬literacy. A survey by the National Occupational Information Coordinating Com¬mittee and the National Career Development Association found that a majority of students report feeling unprepared in skills, knowledge, and attitudes upon entering the...
read moreThe Coffee With Show on CBS
The Coffee With Show on CBS Host Christopher Evans Featured Guests – Ed Gainey, Mary Beth Wilson – CEO and Senator Camera Bartolotta The Coffee With Show on CBS, is filmed on location at the Wyndham downtown. Do you want to join us as a guest or Coffee With Show partner ? email us at Info@BuildingBridgesforBusiness.org Host – Christopher Evans.State Rep Past guests include State Representative Ed Gainey. Edward “Ed” Gainey is a Democratic member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives, serving since 2013. In 2012, Gainey defeated his former boss, Joseph Preston, Jr., in a Democratic primary. Mary Beth Wilson studied Biomedical Engineering at Carnegie Mellon University, Innovesca’s Founder Mary Beth Wilson came across an alarming fact that launched the idea behind Innovesca. Science has shown that when you eat a carrot up to half of the vitamin A goes waste. This is because the human body has a difficult time breaking down the rigid cell walls of plant-based foods. As a result, much of the nutrition remains physically trapped inside of the plant’s cellular structure, inaccessible for the body to absorb during digestion. Senator Camera Bartolotta – . Senator Bartolotta serves as the guest in the latest edition of “Coffee With…”, a program hosted by Christopher Evans and produced by Building Bridges for Business. During the program, Bartolotta shares her story as a small business owner and perspective on how the Commonwealth can stimulate job and economic growth. She also provides a legislative update on efforts underway in Harrisburg to address a number of issues important to her constituency. Additionally, she discusses the benefits of Act 13 of 2012, otherwise known as the “Impact Fee”, and why imposing a severance tax on the natural gas industry would be detrimental to...
read moreDo online videos help my business ?
Do Videos Help Grow my Business? Five things to remember when considering online videos to brand and market your image, products or services: The digital age makes a TV quality video possible without the extraordinary investment in infrastructure such as large crews, lighting trucks and so on. It’s a simpler and more direct process that can achieve high definition and very polished and professional results simply by sharing your information and goals with the right people. Buy the people, not the equipment… The bill for production and post-production can be sizable and the results may not produce any greater return (and may prove off-putting). Your director, editor and crew who will work with you on a one-on-one basis and steer you through the process of incorporating your sales pitch and brand with an image and tone that supports those elements is key. Hire technically qualified and experienced people. Online video triggers the emotional centers of the brain… and elicits action from the viewer at a far, far greater ratio than printed matter or audio. Your short and efficient branding video can enjoy a life on social media networks, email and your website that outlasts the capacity and range of impact from any print or radio or static image collateral piece. Plus, it’s “greener” by far. You are your online image in today’s marketplace. .. be sure your still photography is updated regularly and that you have or plan to initiate an online video your site and in your marketing and sales planning, as a static website is out of step with your consumers and will not compete with the multiple moving images they process and to which they respond on daily, and hourly basis. By placing video on your website, you can increase your search engine optimization by 53 times! It’s that simple… and that important. Your video company should be a comfortable and integral extension of your marketing strategies and will be invested in moving your brand forward. You should be looking for a company and crew you are excited to work with again. Let every detail to your professional video company… if you feel you cannot after interviewing them and viewing their prior work , move on. Share examples of video work you like and be sure the company has the capacity and talent to produce it. Obtain a firm quote, signed contract and guarantee on delivery and distribution of your final product. Without those commitments, your enterprise can be delayed or your campaign compromised. You may even have the video you desire, but be lost to incorporate if effectively and maximize your return on investment. A very simple, commercial quality video, or video advertising element, can be produced for less than $5,000, depending on the length, degree of sophistication, necessary equipment, voice over and specialized editing requirements. In many cases, much...
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