Peggy Shields Honored As 2007 Volunteer of the Year
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Peggy Shields was tapped as the chamber’s 2007 Volunteer of the Year. At left is Maria Culp of the chamber. (Photo by Jeff Shaffer)
Chamber presents annual awards
By Jeff Shaffer, Standard-Journal
Fri Feb 29, 2008
Reprinted with permission.
WATSONTOWN — Good food, good company and some shiny pieces of recognition made up another year of the Central Pa. Chamber of Commerce’s annual meeting and awards ceremony.
“It’s the culmination of a year that’s been incredibly productive,” said Maria Culp, president and CEO of the chamber. “We can show the Valley we have incredible community members.”
Some of those people were recognized Thursday at the event, held at Norman’s Watson Inn.
A highlight included the 2007 President’s Award, given to an emotional Jim King (at left with Bruce Smith), the executive director of the Northumberland County Industrial Development Authority who has provided more than 20 years of outstanding leadership, service and mentoring.
“Mr. King puts more mileage on his vehicle within the borders of Northumberland County than any other county resident,” said Culp. “His extensive knowledge of existing buildings and properties that are available within the county borders at any given time makes him the ‘go to’ guy for all things Northumberland County, yet he understands the importance of working in a regional manner with his counterparts (in other area counties).”
A surprised King said it was a great honor.
“You do what you can and when someone recognizes it, it’s special,” he said.
The NCIDA leader said he does what he does because he cares and gets the opportunity to meet the kind of people who attended the awards ceremony.
“It’s an honor to work with these kind of people,” King said.
Also lauded for its efforts as a strong business of 50 or more employees was Kuhns Bros. Enterprise. It received the 2007 Business of the Year Award based on its staying power, innovation of products or service, response to adversity, chamber involvement and involvement in the community.
“It’s an honor to receive this recognition,” said Brian Elsasser, CFO (left). “It’s really a reflection of the employees; they are our assets.”
Netting the 2007 Small Business of the Year Award, for firms with fewer than 50 employees, was Lewis Barlett Klees. Notably, the business is celebrating its 25th anniversary. It has offices in Milton, Lewisburg and Bloomsburg.
“I’m very surprised, but pleased,” said Mike Klees (left), who runs the Bloomsburg office. “It’s good to be recognized, especially since we try to help (other businesses) grow.
“If they grow, we can grow. It’s a win-win.”
Jilline Bond was awarded the 2007 Business and Education Award for demonstrating the vision of the chamber’s business and education committee. The unique looking award has a significant meaning. The three points of the triangle represent business, educators and the workforce of the future, supported by the chamber.
“I was in shock, I’m honored,” said Bond (left), who is a senior pastor with her husband, James, of Revival Tabernacle, West Milton. “I believe in the Susquehanna Valley, I enjoy being with its people and putting forth the effort.
“They should know you don’t have to leave the area to find a great place to live and work.”
Last and certainly not least among the major awards was Peggy Shields of Projects by Peggy, who was the recipient of the 2007 Volunteer of the Year Award. The chamber depends a lot of volunteers and Shields has been up to the task, officials said.
“It’s fun to get rewarded for doing what you enjoy,” said Shields, who re-designed the chamber’s Web site and continues to work extensively maintaining it.
As for volunteering, Shields said she just likes to give. “If I could do my job and give it away I would,” she said.
Retiring board members were recognized at the meeting as well. They included Vell Holcombe of Milton Steel, Amy Moyer, publisher of Standard Journal, and Greg Trautman of Trautman Associates/On Fire Promotions. The new members include Steven Beattie of Herbert, Rowland & Grubic (HRG), Ann Hilliard, a realtor, and Rich Sands of Weis Markets.
Story and photos by
Jeff Shaffer: 570-742-9671
jeff@standard-journal.com
Website Horror Stories - Part 3 … Selecting a Web Developer or Web Designer
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“A business without a website is like a house without a door. Whether customers, suppliers, or partners, people expect to learn about you through your website.
And if you don’t have a website, then they’ll probably look elsewhere …”
PC Magazine May 23, 2000.
As a web developer working in the area, I am often approached by businesses and individuals who have spent hundreds of dollars for a website and the result has been anything but adequate. This article concludes the three-part series and shares advice for selecting a firm or designer to create your website.
The Common Sense Approach
- Get referrals from trusted business associates and friends.
Everyone knows somebody who has a website. Ask your friends/associates about their experience in the planning and implementation process. Were they happy with the design and designer? Would they use the same person again, if doing it over? What would they do differently and why? - Assess the education, skills and experience of the designer.
There are many faces in the web industry and levels of education vary. Don’t discount someone just because they don’t have a formal education. Self-taught individuals show a level of discipline that is needed to stay current in this business, which changes rapidly. The self-taught individual could also, however, be missing some important training and skills. What experience and skills does this individual or firm possess? Do these skills support the type of website you want for your business? - Review the designer’s website and portfolio.
Do you like it? Does it look professional? Are there broken pages or missing pieces? Is the website easy to use? Can you find the information you are looking for? Does it make sense? Does the designer’s style match what you envision for your website? If you like what you see, you will likely be happy with their work. If not, keep looking. - Contact the designer’s clients.
Would they recommend this designer? Were there any problems? If so, how were they resolved? Would they choose the same designer? Why or Why not? - Assess the Communication
Contact the designer and assess their response. Send a follow up email. Do they reply promptly? Are they helpful and courteous? Do you think you can work with this person? - Listen to your instincts.
If you have doubts, keep looking!
Warnings
- Whose Website Is It Anyway?
Make sure you own the domain name. It should be registered in the company name with the CEO/owner listed as the site owner. - Who Is In Control?
You approve the design style (look and feel of the website) and control the content included on the website. Get a written agreement that includes terms and fees. - Will Your Site Adhere to Web Standards?
Web standards, which are approved by the World Wide Web Consortium (WC3), are important to assure that your website will work in a variety of browsers. Additionally, they help increase web traffic, create a faster website, and improve search engine rankings. It makes good business sense and it’s the right thing to do. - Will It Be “search engine friendly”?
Search engine friendly websites are created with search engine optimization in mind. Good developers are aware of how search engines work and create content and designs that allow the business to be indexed by web crawlers used by Google and other search engines. - Does the Designer Have the Necessary Skills To Do the Job?
Do your homework! Check references. Ask to see website examples. (Even a beginner will have some sample work completed as a volunteer or educational projects.) Were the examples done alone or with the help of others? If others worked on the project, which part of the site did the designer actually do? - What about Backups?
Ask how often backups are done. Request a copy of the completed website after the project is finished. This will ensure you have the original work and content should any problems arise. - What Happens if your Webmaster Goes Missing?
Be prepared! Request access to the website control panel where you can update information. Be sure to get passwords and login information for all web features, including licenses for software purchased on your behalf. Get FTP settings, email information, database setups, etc. - Keep it close to home.
A local designer is accessible when needed. It is easier for someone from another state or region to avoid or ignore your attempts to communicate when problems arise. If you do work with someone outside the region, be sure you do your homework, check credentials and obtain referrals or references. Be diligent.
Conclusion
Getting online may seem like a daunting task to those who have little or no online experience. There are many options and resources available to assist you. The most important resource is your web designer, who should guide you through the process and provide helpful instruction along the way.
For more information about creating a web presence, download my Free Website Planning Guide.
If you are interested in developing a website, contact Peggy by phone 570-966-2470 or email peggy@projectsbypeggy.com.
Website Horror Stories – Part 2
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As a web developer working in the area, I am often approached by businesses and individuals who have spent hundreds of dollars for a website and the result has been anything but adequate. This article continues the series and shares additional problems local business owners have encountered with their websites.
Aren’t Redesigns Supposed to Improve a Website?
Two years ago, Chamber staff wanted to redesign the outdated website and selected an Information Technology (IT) student from a local 2 year college to do the job. He assured them that he could handle the task and went to work rebuilding the website. Unfortunately, IT professionals and IT students, while awesome at fixing computers and network problems, are not usually skilled in design and lack the required knowledge to create a professional website. It was soon apparent that the student had gotten in over his head and the redesign was a complete disaster.
The new site created a bad first impression. The color scheme (black background with red highlights) was unappealing and lacked professionalism. Download time was very slow due to large oversized images. In addition, the images were distorted and poor quality. The site navigation overlapped content in some browsers. It was a great example of what NOT to do when redesigning and building a professional website.
Does the Designer Have the Necessary Skills To Do the Job?
I received a telephone call from a family friend’s sister, who needed help with her website. She had selected and purchased a Flash template design. She had a designer work on the site, assuring her she could do the job. She loved the website and everything was great … well, almost.
When the site was almost done, the developer quit working on it. Repeated attempts to reach her went unanswered and six months later the image gallery still boasted the original images that came with the design instead of the owner’s content. After many phone calls to try to resolve the problem, the developer quit answering and never returned calls when messages were left. An added problem in the owner’s eyes was the fact that the former developer never shared the search engine limitations that came with Flash content.
While Flash is cool and can provide lots of robust animation, it is not search engine friendly. A good developer will inform the client of the limitations of technology, recommend alternatives let the site owner decide whether or not that technology is appropriate for their needs.
Using the same visual look, the site was redesigned using XHTML and CSS with a bit of Flash for some components of the site.
What about Backups?
A local company had a website created by a young friend of a friend. The site was online and they were happy with it. After a few years, the hosting company had a server failure and the content on the site was lost. For most designers, that’s not a major issue as backups should be a normal part of the routine. However, no one had a back up of the information on this website. The young friend of the friend had grown up and moved away and the information on the website was gone.
There is nothing wrong with getting help from creative young people. It provides real world experience and helps you financially if your budget is limited. However, you should request copies of the website content and images used in building the site. And if you like the design, you should request a copy of the complete website on a CD that can easily be re-installed if data is lost as was the case with the company in question.
What Happens if your Webmaster Goes Missing, Moves Away or Dies?
Life happens. Changes occur. Are you prepared if something goes wrong? While not the most pleasant thing to consider, companies should have contingencies in place for problems that can arise due to life changes or difficult circumstances. This is especially true if you are working with a lone professional rather than a design firm.
If your web designer is no longer able to work for you, what will happen to your website? Do you have access to your website’s control panel and do you have the settings required to transition the site into the hands of the next web professional? Do you have login information and required passwords for program scripts and other website features? Do you have copies of the original working files? If not, can you get them?
If you don’t know the answers to these questions, why not ask your designer? And while you’re at it, ask him (or her) what happens if you decide to take your business elsewhere? A professional should be willing to assist you in transitioning the site to another firm if you choose to do so.
… to be continued …
Next month, I will share some tips in choosing a web developer.
This article was published in the February issue of the Central PA Chamber’s newsletter, “The Chamber Report.”
Website Horror Stories - part 1
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“A business without a website is like a house without a door. Whether customers, suppliers, or partners, people expect to learn about you through your website. And if you don’t have a website, then they’ll probably look elsewhere …” PC Magazine May 23, 2000.
As a web developer working in the area, I am often approached by businesses and individuals who have spent hundreds of dollars for a website and the result has been anything but adequate. The success of the Internet has made it easy for unqualified individuals to market their services and dupe clients into giving them their business.
Unfortunately, an inadequate web site can have a detrimental effect on business, resulting in wasted dollars and lost revenue. Clients who need a website often don’t know what questions to ask when evaluating a developer.
In this series, I will share some of the problems businesses have encountered and how others can protect themselves from getting into similar situations.
Whose Website Is It Anyway?
A few years ago, I stumbled upon the website of a local Mennonite owned business. I was surprised that they had a website and mentioned seeing it when I next visited the store. Much to my surprise, the owner had never even seen the website. It was a “package deal” he received with some type of advertising or associated membership. Along with creating a website for the business without the owner’s input, the developing firm registered and owned the domain name. This resulted in three major problems for the company.
- They had no control over the design and content included on their website.
- They had no way to update the pages when information changed.
- They could only use their domain (website address) with this developer because he owned it.
A similar situation occurred when a local restaurant was approached by a developer who wanted to create a website on their behalf. After repeated pushy sales tactics, the owner finally agreed verbally. The company did the work and promptly billed the restaurant for the website. However, the owner had never seen or approved the website as promised, and refused to pay for it. This resulted in attempts to collect payment including late notices and eventually the unpaid bill was placed with a collections agency. After a long battle, the developer finally gave up.
Who Is In Control?
A small local business owner worked with a local web designer to create a website. The website was perfect for her business and she was happy with the design. Although she loved her website, there was a still a problem. She wanted to be able to update the site herself and had made this clear from the beginning. The web designer failed to follow through on that request, charging the client for every update as well as a monthly fee for maintaining the site. The owner came to me asking for help. We added a Content Management System so the owner could update the site.
Does Your Site Adhere to Web Standards
The owner was not aware of two additional problems with the website.
- The site was not compliant with current web standards, and
- it was not “search engine friendly.”
Developers who create sites that lack these two important elements are usually more concerned with the visual appearance of a website. A good developer will find a balance between the visual design and functionality.
Web standards, which are approved by the World Wide Web Consortium (WC3), are important for increasing potential web traffic, creating a faster website, and improving search engine rankings. It makes good business sense and it’s the right thing to do. Search engine friendly websites are created with search engine optimization in mind. Good developers are aware of how search engines work and create content and designs that allow the business to be indexed by web crawlers used by Google and other search engines.
In addition to adding content management to the website, we replaced the table design with an XHTML/CSS based design that adheres to web standards.
… to be continued …
This article was published in the January issue of the Central PA Chamber’s newsletter, “The Chamber Report.”
Identity Theft … online email account vulnerability
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A friend of mine has used Hotmail email for a long time and yesterday her identity was stolen and an email was sent to everyone in her address book asking each person to send $700 via Western Union to an address in Reading, PA (see complete message below). The message included her email signature and looked legitimate.
My friend had to close her Hotmail account, losing a lot of information she had stored there, AND they got hold of account information for Amazon.com and Ebay, wreaking even more havoc. She had to alert the State Police and Attorney General.
Lesson Learned: Do not save account information and passwords in an online email account!
**************** EMAIL MESSAGE *****************
SUBJECT: Urgent Need!!!
Hi…how’re you doing, please I need an urgent help from you, I’m at the moment in need of a loan which I will pay back on Monday when I get back in town. I am presently in Reading. I need you to help send $700 through Western Union Money Transfer to Name, Full Address (in Reading, PA). As soon as you’ve done that get back to me with the following information:
1. MTCN NUMBER
2. TOTAL AMOUNT SENT
3. SENDER’S FULL NAME, ADDRESS AND PHONE NUMBER.
4. SECRETE QUESTION AND ANSWER (IF NECESSARY).I want you to note that I need this done as soon as you get this mail, and I promise to pay you back as soon as am back by Monday.
Thanks.
Friend’s Name
Friend’s Address
Friend’s Home Phone and Cell**************** END EMAIL MESSAGE *************
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