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Pittsburgh Business Times
Northwest promotes Pittsburgh exec to chief sustainability officer
Northwest Bank announced that Brenda Yurick has been appointed chief sustainability officer. <\p> Yurick will work closely with the executive team, including Northwest’s chief inclusion officer, to champion the bank’s growing cultural and sustainability efforts. In this role, Yurick is charged with spearheading the bank’s sustainability initiatives, driving efforts to integrate environmental, social and governance principles into the core business strategy. <\p>
Health systems applaud Pennsylvania's new telemedicine law
Pittsburgh's two big regional health systems hailed a bill signed last week by Gov. Josh Shapiro that is designed to improve access to telemedicine care.<\p> SB 739, sponsored by state Sen. Elder Vogel, R-Beaver County, puts into place guidelines for telemedicine delivery, as well as requires payment and insurance reimbursement for telemedicine care. It requires insurance coverage if a standard of care is met.<\p>
Freedom Transit gets $15M for new CNG terminal
The Washington County Transit Authority will receive $15 million in federal funds to help it build a new compressed natural gas refueling and maintenance facility.<\p> The authority, which does business as Freedom Transit, was among 117 public transportation projects that will receive a total of $1.5 billion in funding from the U.S. Department of Transportation's Federal Transit Administration.<\p>
Here's why First Commonwealth just closed its Philly branches
In January 2023, one of Pittsburgh's largest banks established a beachhead in Philadelphia's retail landscape via acquisition. A year and a half later, First Commonwealth has nixed having traditional locations in the competitive metro area and pulled the plug on both of its branches there.<\p> First Commonwealth closed its offices at 105 Lancaster Ave. in Devon and 2003 Easton Rd. in Doylestown, which are part of the Philadelphia metro, the Philadelphia Business Journal, a sister publication, reported.<\p>
Highmark Health names Buffalo exec to lead provider-partner relations
Highmark Health named Dr. Michael Edbauer, its market president for its New York operations, to a new post and named a veteran BlueCross BlueShield executive to replace him in New York.<\p> Edbauer's new role is SVP of markets, which Highmark Health described as being responsible for provider-partnership strategy in Highmark's multiple-state footprint. He'll continue to be based in Buffalo and will report to Highmark Health Plan President Thomas Doran. Edbauer had been chief of strategy and growth at HealthNow New York before being promoted to the president in 2021 with the Highmark Health affiliation.<\p>
Sheetz expands partnership to deliver beer to customers
Need a drink, but don't want to go out? Sheetz might be able to help.<\p> Sheetz, the convenience store and made-to-order eatery, announced Tuesday that it can now deliver beer in Pennsylvania because of an expanded partnership with DoorDash.<\p>
CMU, Meta announce collaboration to research wearable tech
Carnegie Mellon University and Meta Platforms Inc. announced a collaborative project today to make computer-based tasks accessible to individuals with different motor abilities.<\p> Research conducted by Douglas Weber, a professor in the Department of Mechanical Engineering, as well as the Neuroscience Institute, has shown that individuals who have suffered complete hand paralysis still maintain the ability to control muscles in their forearms, even if these muscles are too weak to produce movement. Additionally, Weber's research team found that individuals with spinal cord injuries still produce muscle patterns when asked to attempt to move a specific finger. <\p>
New CFO for Lanxess North American operations
Findlay Township-based chemical company Lanxess Corp. announced Simon Berheide as its new regional CFO for North America.<\p> Berheide is a 14-year veteran of Lanxess at its global headquarters in Germany and was most recently head of business development and integration as well as head of global controlling and strategy. He'll be in charge of the financial operation of Lanxess' 28 locations in the U.S., Canada and Mexico.<\p>
Pennsylvania unveils new license plate, highway welcome signs
Pennsylvania on Tuesday unveiled a new license plate tied to the commonwealth's new tourism initiative and the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence in Philadelphia.<\p> "Pennsylvania: Let Freedom Ring" plates will be available to be ordered in the spring of 2025 and be distributed after the current stock runs out as well as being able to be special ordered.<\p>
Airport to add 15 new stores and restaurants
Pittsburgh International Airport will add 15 new stores and restaurants when its new terminal opens next year.<\p> Shake Shack, breakfast eatery Bad Egg, Wexford's Cafe Conmigo and Mi Casa Cantina are among the new food options that will be located in the new terminal. Also coming are Sambazon Acai Bowls, Camden Food Co., Stack + Press Delicatessen, Champion City Sports, Jimmy Johns, and Hudson News. Other stores include makeup and cosmetics retailer MAC and Duquesne & Co., a store that will feature items from local artists.<\p>
Hudson pushing forward with conversion project for third Melwood plan
With one new high-rise on the way toward completion and a second starting through the public approval process, Hermitage-based Hudson Cos. is moving forward on its third residential project on Melwood Avenue in Oakland.<\p> In a Zoom development activities meeting Monday evening hosted by Oakland Planning & Development Corp., the development team of Hudson explained what is motivating the company to move forward with converting an office property that UPMC is gradually moving out of at 450 Melwood into 42 apartments as it tees up a second high-rise across the street.<\p>
Cozen O'Connor hires K&L Gates partner in Pittsburgh
Cozen O'Connor has added David Garraux as a shareholder based in its downtown Pittsburgh office, part of its Labor & Employment practice.<\p> Garraux previously had been a partner at K&L Gates for the past five years and, before that, was at Fox Rothschild, also in Pittsburgh. K&L Gates is the region's second-largest law firm, more than double Cozen's firmwide size and has a worldwide footprint.<\p>
Pitt football trailblazer and business leader dies at 91
Robert "Bobby" Grier, who made history as the first Black player to play in the in Sugar Bowl, died on June 30. He was 91.<\p> Grier played fullback, linebacker and defensive back for the University of Pittsburgh football team, lettering in three consecutive season, between 1953 and 1955.<\p>
Personalities of Pittsburgh: Jeff Garner, Pittsburgh Riverhounds
Two years ago, Jeff Garner left behind a job as president of the Orange County Soccer Club — and the California sun — to move back to his native Pennsylvania. As president of the Riverhounds, Pittsburgh’s professional soccer club, Garner has steered the organization through a whirlwind of changes and initiatives. In March, the ownership group requested a $10 million state grant through the Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program to renovate Highmark Stadium. In April, it announced the addition of a professional women’s league team. In May, plans for a new multifield sports complex in Westmoreland County were unveiled. Garner oversees...
Acclaimed chef and restaurateur Toni Pais of Baum Vivant dies
Toni Pais, long one of Pittsburgh's most acclaimed chefs who retired last year after his restaurants had captivated local diners for more than 30 years, has died, according to a posting on social media.<\p> A native of Portugal who first opened his restaurant Baum Vivant in the Baum-Centre corridor in 1992, Pais' fine dining destination grew into a local culinary landmark, named "restaurant of the year" for the rest of the decade by Pittsburgh Magazine, helping to spur other companion restaurants Cafe Zinho in Shadyside and Cafe Zao in the Cultural District in the Penn Avenue location now occupied by Meat & Potatoes. <\p>
UPMC receives most permits for UPMC Presbyterian work
Work at the new UPMC Presbyterian tower that had been delayed after a spat between the City of Pittsburgh and UPMC is getting back online with the granting of each of the permits required.<\p> UPMC and its partners received the mechanical permit it required over the last week or so, according to UPMC and the City of Pittsburgh.<\p>
New PIT terminal will alleviate passenger capacity, screening concerns
The recent long lines at TSA checkpoints at Pittsburgh International Airport highlights two reasons for the $1.5 billion new terminal under construction: the growth of the airport over the last several years and the lagging infrastructure.<\p> There have been weeks of early-morning lines for the TSA checkpoints, since before Memorial Day and through Independence Day weekend, two traditionally heavy times for air travel. That's even more so this year, with TSA logging two record number of total passenger screenings nationwide, June 23 and then July 7. That record travel's portion in western Pennsylvania caused long lines at the airport's main and alternate checkpoints in Pittsburgh.<\p>
Specialty Group markets LGBT landmark bar for sale
As a gay person, Sidney Sokoloff isn't exactly totally impartial when it comes to his hopes for his new listing even as he realizes the potential for new ownership could mean a different plan for 3315 Liberty Ave.<\p> It's the kind of traditional urban commercial building dating to the early 20th century whose current ownership has steered the Brewer's Hotel and Bar from the 1980s AIDS crisis to a renovation amid the Covid-19 pandemic for what is now considered to be Pittsburgh's oldest gay bar.<\p>
FTC noncompete ban suffers setback
The Federal Trade Commission’s broad noncompete ban suffered a legal setback after a federal judge in Texas ruled against the agency on July 3.<\p> U.S. District Judge Ada E. Brown of the Northern District of Texas, said in a ruling that the agency “lacks substantive rulemaking authority” on the matter and granted a preliminary injunction on the controversial rule that could affect employers in a broad range of industries. <\p>
Here's what's next with BNY's renovation at 500 Ross Street
Amid continued speculation on the status of its longtime regional headquarters in downtown Pittsburgh, BNY gave an update on its nearby building where extensive renovation began last fall.<\p> It starts with the name. Referred to for years as the client service center, that's no longer being used. The financial giant said it's calling the project by its address, 500 Ross.<\p>
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