Women’s Independent Press

By Dottie Coll
412-881-1111

Pittsburgh, PA — Gifts are given, treats are eaten and, before you know it, another holiday season has come and gone. It’s time to pack it all up until next year.

Preparing for future holidays can be made easier with a little thoughtful planning when packing at the end of the season.

“Carefully packing and organizing items can prevent damage or even worse, breakage,” said Dottie Coll, franchisee of the Pittsburgh locations. “Take the time to make sure the job is carefully done in order to preserve decorations for next year.”

Here are some tips from TWO MEN AND A TRUCK® when packing away seasonal decorations:

Delicate items
• Wrap breakables in tissue or packing paper. Do not use newspaper –- the print may wear off on ornaments. Shred used paper run and recycle it as packing filler.
• Decorations with photographs or food should be sealed in a bag to keep them intact and prevent insects or mice getting to them.
• Boxes with dividers are best to pack ornaments. Check with local moving companies for these kinds of boxes with adjustable inserts.
• Keep extra hangers, hooks and ornament parts in a labeled bag or box.
Lights
• Wrap lights around empty wrapping paper tubes to keep them from tangling.
• Leave the plug accessible by taping the ends of the light strands to the end of the tube. That way you can quickly test the lights before unwinding them next year.
• Store colored lights in a dark place to prevent fading, especially blues, greens and purples
Wrapping paper
• Hanging garment bags provides good storage for wrapping paper rolls. Use outside pockets for gift tags, cards and tissue paper.
• Cut an empty wrapping paper tube from end to end and slide it over a used roll to protect it until next year.
• Save ribbons and bows by packing them loosely to keep their shape.
Miscellaneous
• Wrap holiday candles individually in cellophane. Store in a cool place so they don’t melt.
• Pack an “open first” box for the decorations needed right away, like extension cords.
• Take special care if items are stored in a damp area, such as a basement. Keep boxes away from sources of heat and moisture.
• Most importantly, label every box. The more detailed the description, the easier it is to find. Use different colors to distinguish different holidays, such as orange for Halloween, brown for Thanksgiving, and red or green for Christmas.

TWO MEN AND A TRUCK® is the largest franchised moving company in North America. It includes more than 200 locations and more than 1,400 trucks on the road. Each location is independently owned and operated, and sells boxes and packing supplies. Locations complete both home and business moves, as well as packing and unpacking services.

For more information, call) TWO MEN AND A TRUCK® at 412-881-1111 or 412-259-8777 or visit www.twomenandatruck.com.

For Immediate Release
October 09, 2012

For Information, Contact:
Stephen Cohen
stephenr.cohen@gmail.com
412-421-3999

{Pittsburgh, PA} The Pittsburgh Chapter of SCORE is pleased to announce HRV Conformance Verification Associates, Inc. (HRV), a SCORE client since 2003, was named Ernst & Young Western Pennsylvania and West Virginia Region Entrepreneur of the Year for 2012 and is in contention for the National Award to be announced in November. Rochelle Stachel, Founder and President of HRV, accepted the award in the Construction Category.

When Rochelle Stachel decided to start her own business, she did not go it alone. Very analytical by nature and an engineer by training, Rochelle first sought out the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA). The SBA referred her to SCORE (formerly Service Corps of Retired Executives). Over the course of the nine year relationship with SCORE, Rochelle has worked with a series of counselors, each contributing different skills and talents to HRV from the initial launch of the business through their phases of explosive growth.

HRV sought assistance from SCORE to support their start-up based on the pragmatic understanding that SCORE counselors knew things about business that Rochelle did not. While her background in engineering, accounting and consulting served as a springboard for the possibilities of HRV, Rochelle knew she needed practical advice and mentoring that she could not get from her extensive reading and research into entrepreneurship. SCORE counselors brought the real world experiences of having addressed and overcome the challenges that she knew she would be facing.
“They saw in us what we didn’t see in ourselves”, said Rochelle. “Howard Martin and later, Dick Fitzgerald and Bill Mariotti, gave us moral support and acted as a sounding board. They were our cheerleaders. They affirmed what we were doing and helped us see that what we thought were mountains were actually hills that we could easily cross. The added validation was that in their own careers and business endeavors, they had often overcome the same obstacles we were facing, so they were coming from a position of familiarity and experience.”

HRV was launched in 2003 from a home office. They landed their first contract in early 2004, a mere 9 months after start-up. Growing from two employees to the current count of 120, HRV has enjoyed sustained year over year growth. Throughout, HRV continued to turn to SCORE.

Both Dick and Bill built their own businesses so they understand firsthand the challenges of the course upon which HRV was embarking. As volunteer SCORE counselors, they are available to mentor companies. “We wore all the hats in our own businesses so we understand the breadth of the issues that HRV would face. We offer the added value of being objective and like teachers, our reward is the hope that our clients will do well and listen to our counsel. We receive no economic benefit as counselors, so we have no ax to grind,” Bill said.

Dick and Bill are quick to point out the benefits of working with SCORE. “We have tangible evidence that SCORE has helped to create jobs and improve businesses in Western PA. As mentors, we recognize that what our clients need more than anything is an unbiased, objective sounding board; that is the role that we are happy to fulfill. We are happier still when we can help them celebrate their success.”

The success that HRV has enjoyed has garnered significant recognition, awards and accolades. Her SCORE counselor, Bill Mariotti, nominated her for 2012 Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award.
Bill explains why he chose to nominate HRV for this prestigious award, “HRV fit the profile. The firm grew every year in all facets that could be measured: revenue, personnel, etc. They have a great opportunity to compete on the National level and share the stage in November with the likes of LinkedIn.” In addition to the E&Y Award, HRV has been recognized by the Pittsburgh Business Times as one of the fastest growing companies in the area every year since 2007. Ms. Stachel was also recognized as one of the top 10 CEO’s in Pittsburgh and was awarded the Pittsburgh Business Times’ Diamond Award. The Pittsburgh Airport Area Chamber of Commerce honored HRV with a Small Business Excellence Award.

About SCORE
SCORE is a business counseling/mentoring organization. SCORE provides free counseling, resources and advice to people who are in business or want to start a business. SCORE also provides free or low cost Workshops on Business Topics. Volunteer counselors are experienced owners or managers of businesses that volunteer their time to help small businesses succeed.
www.pittsburgh.score.org

About HRV Conformance Verification Associates, Inc.
HRV, established in 2003, has become a recognized leader in the construction management and materials and construction inspection industry. From its inception, HRV has expanded its services, serving various industries in the private and public sectors including: the bridge and highway, water and wastewater, rail, power and commercial construction. Building a corporate foundation based on a passionate commitment to quality service and employee excellence, HRV strives to have each and every client trust that when they turn their projects over to HRV, they can be assured that the work will be performed by qualified individuals and at a level that exceeds their expectations. HRV’s mission is to become an eminent leader in the construction management and quality assurance, quality control industry through proven excellence, commitment to clients and employees, and use of technologies.
HRV is a certified WBE/DBE and their corporate office is located in Pittsburgh, PA. www.hrvinc.com
About the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year Program
The Entrepreneur of the Year Program honors entrepreneurs regionally in June, leading up to the national awards in November. The US Entrepreneur of the Year Overall Award winner then moves on to compete for the World Entrepreneur of the Year Award.
Now in its 26th year, the Entrepreneur of the Year Program has expanded to recognize business leaders in more than 140 cities in more than 50 countries throughout the world. Awards are given to entrepreneurs who demonstrate excellence and extraordinary success in such areas as innovation, financial performance and personal commitment to their businesses and communities.

By Patricia Thibault
Social Security Manager in Pittsburgh, PA

The summer of 2007 felt like a bad dream for Terry Anderson. Reeling from a recent cancer diagnosis, she was downsized from the company where she’d worked for 11 years. “There was no severance. I had no insurance,” she said. “I was terrified.”

Terry began receiving Social Security disability benefits and took an extended period of time away from work. Later, Terry learned about ‘one-stop career centers’ that provide free employment-related support services through Social Security’s Ticket to Work program to people receiving Social Security benefits. She decided to see what the Iowa Workforce Development Center, her local one-stop, had to offer. There are more than a thousand one-stop career centers across the nation.

The one-stop staff explained that the Ticket program is designed for people who receive Social Security disability benefits and are committed to achieving self-sufficiency through eventual full-time employment. Through the Ticket program, Iowa Workforce helped Terry coordinate her career preparation and job hunt. She updated her computer skills and built confidence in her prospects for long-term success. “They offered workshops on interview skills,” she said. “I had my resume refurbished. I learned fresh strategies. At first, I was too proud to ask for help. I’m glad that I did.”

While Terry was eager to move on, she was apprehensive about finding work and losing her benefits. Terry learned about special Social Security rules called “work incentives,” that help people who receive disability benefits transition to the workforce and become financially self-sufficient.

For example, people receiving disability benefits can keep their Medicare coverage and their cash benefits while gaining work experience during the Trial Work Period. Terry was relieved to learn about another Work Incentive called ‘expedited reinstatement,’ allowing her Social Security cash benefits to restart without a new application if she has to stop work within five years because of her disability.

Another helpful Work Incentive, known as a Plan to Achieve Self-Support (PASS), allows Social Security disability recipients who meet the income rules for Supplemental Security Income (SSI) to set aside money to pay for items or services they need to reach a specific work goal. These can include educational expenses, training, job-related transportation, business startup costs, tools and equipment, child-care costs and even the cost of job interview clothes. By approving a PASS, Social Security agrees to exclude certain income that would normally lower an SSI payment amount. At the same time, the person agrees to go to work, with the goal of eventually leaving disability benefits behind and becoming financially self-sufficient.

In 2009, Terry found work as a Loan Servicing Specialist and a second job in retail where she trains cashiers and enjoys interacting with customers. Terry was grateful that Social Security helped her “get through the storm.” She built a better life through work. She no longer receives Social Security disability benefits. “Now I’m healthy. I have two jobs. I love both of them. Life is good.”

With support from Ticket to Work and Iowa Workforce Development Center, Terry found her path to self-sufficiency. To learn more about the Ticket to Work program, call the Ticket to Work help line at 1-866-968-7842 (TTY/TTD, 1-866-833-2967)or visit www.socialsecurity.gov/work.