Read more in the June 2013 Business Magazine.

To address this Vital Sign, The Erie Community Foundation’s Early Childhood Advisory Panel, in partnership with United Way of Erie County, Success By 6, members of the Early Learning Investment Commission and Erie Together, created Erie’s Future Fund in 2011 under the umbrella of Erie Vital Signs and under the direction of Early Connections Executive Directior Nancy A. Kalista.

For the 2012-13 school year, Erie’s Future Fund provided 230 scholarships, valued at $2,100 per child. These scholarships allowed children to attend a high-quality early childhood education program at ages 3 and 4. Families selected from area public and private early childhood education programs that met the STARS* criteria of Level 3 or 4.

“Next year, we hope to serve 285 children; however, there are still many more children who are in need of a scholarship,” notes Scholarship Director Michelle Harkins. “For the coming year, we are able to provide approximately 40 program locations, covering a large area in Erie County. In fact, early childhood programs are now contacting Erie’s Future Fund because they have improved their standards becoming a STARS 3 or 4 program.”

Read more in the June 2013 Business Magazine.

Winners were: Matthew Washburn, Erie County Technical School; Carley Unger, Crawford County Career & Technical Center; Ashley Johnson, Mercer County Career Center; Stephanie Puckly, Corry Area Career & Technical Center; and Austin Walls, Central Career and Technical School.

A $1,000 scholarship has been awarded to winners to assist them in future academic endeavors. Awards also were presented to nominees during the event.

Nominees included: Todd Goss, Vitaliy Koblyuk, Jesse Bean and Anthony Visalle, of Erie County Technical School; Eric Brocious, Adam Riddle and Charlotte Roxberry, of Crawford County Career & Technical Center; Zachary Rushwin, of Mercer County Career Center; Garrett Shields, Justin Messenger, Evan Melnichak and Jeremy Palmer,
of Corry Area Career & Technical Center; and Joshua Bowersox and Onjane Goodwin, of Central Career and Technical School.

“We’re honored to recognize these students and their achievements in scholastic and technical skills acquisition, and to assist them in their future academic endeavors,” said John Cline, chairman of the Association’s Board of Governors and president and CEO of Sunburst Electronics and Bliley Technologies. “Technical education is vital to our regional manufacturers and the economic welfare of our community as a whole.”

The Locco Awards were created by the Association to recognize outstanding high school students who distinguish themselves in pursuit of technical and academic excellence. Students must apply and be nominated by a teacher to be considered. Each school narrows the nominees to their top five candidates. These students are then interviewed by local businesspeople who choose the winners.

In addition to unemployment and the economy, Senator Wiley will address key legislative topics affecting the 49th District, including payment for area in-home health-care attendants, Medicaid expansion under the Affordable Care Act, privatizing of liquor sales and others.

Senator Wiley was elected in November 2012 and has been appointed as the Democratic chairman of the Intergovernmental Operations Committee. The committee was created to consider proposals for streamlining government, including the potential consolidation of agencies. Wiley also serves on the Labor and Industry, Public Health and Welfare, Communications and Technology, and Community, Economic and Recreational Development committees.

To register for this briefing, contact Terry Nunez at 814/833-3200 or 800/815-2660, or visit www.mbausa.org.

Cost is $30 for members and $60 for nonmembers.

To learn more about this year’s special guests, see the May edition of the Business Magazine at www.mbabizmag.com.

During Fiorina’s widely reported tenure, she led the reinvention of the legendary company, steering it through the dot-com bust, the worst technology recession in 25 years and the controversial merger with Compaq Computer, now acknowledged to be the most successful merger in high-tech history. Sources say the merger laid the foundation for HP to become the first $100-billion info tech company, creating leadership positions for the company in every product line and every country.

Read more in the May 2013 Business Magazine.

For 60 years Russell has plied his intensely funny, intensely sharp wit at theaters, auditoriums and campuses across the nation. In 2010 he announced his retirement before fans and family at Chautauqua Institution. But, to paraphrase Mark Twain, the news of his departure was greatly exaggerated. Last year he returned to the stage with his signature American-flag themed piano and his delightful, irreverent political humor.

Read more in the May 2013 Business Magazine.

Read more in the May 2013 Business Magazine.