Roof Garden Biz is a monthly roundup of business happenings in Somerset County. To submit an item, email news@dailyamerican.com.
The following are some of the business-related news from the month in the Somerset County area.
Windber GYN Associates welcomes Mandy ElBayly, CRNP
Chan Soon-Shiong Medical Center at Windber welcomed Mandy ElBayly, CRNP, to Windber GYN Associates. The new practitioner, who began seeing patients in April, joins Greg Whorral, MD, FACOG, and Nicole Enedy, CRNP.
“I’m excited to be expanding my experience as a nurse practitioner working at Windber GYN Associates," Elbayly said. "I am eager to help women navigate all stages of life and any concerns or natural changes that present themselves through the decades.”
ElBayly completed the Family Nurse Practitioner Program through Chamberlain University and has more than four years of nursing experience and more than three years of nurse practitioner experience. To schedule an appointment with a practitioner at Windber GYN Associates, call 814-467-3176.
1889 Foundation president named to Nonprofit Female Leaders list
1889 Foundation President Susan Mann was nominated and named to Pennsylvania Business Central’s sixth annual Women in Business 2024 Top Nonprofit Female Leaders.
“It’s an honor to be recognized as a nonprofit female leader, especially amongst such a great group of strong and successful women who are making an impact and lasting difference in our communities and beyond,” Mann said. She has been with the foundation since its inception in 1993, originally established as Conemaugh Health Foundation, and rebranded as 1889 Foundation in 2015.
The Top Nonprofit Female Leaders are nominated by local business leaders, chambers of commerce and readers. Each organization and cause represented in the list covers a wide and diverse range of services, institutions and advocacy. 1889 Foundation’s mission is to support innovative programs and initiatives that improve and transform the overall health and wellness of the region.
Family Hospice volunteers
April was Volunteer Recognition Month, and Family Hospice, part of UPMC, acknowledged the dedicated volunteers who support patients and family members.
“Volunteers make all the difference to the patients and families that they serve,” said volunteer coordinator Daun Boyle. “Their caring, compassion and willingness to give of their time and talents is such a pure and powerful gesture. Volunteers are simply giving from the heart anything that they have to give, whether it be when visiting patients or helping in the hospice offices. They are angels.”
The Somerset County Family Hospice team includes Sally Ware of Friedens; Reba Caton, Veil James and Carol Wagner of Stoystown; Margaret Charney of Rockwood; Molly Baker, Evan Garland, George Illar, Sue Illar, Karen McKalips, Pam Miller, Beverly Mostoller, Jodi Shaffer and Donna Yoder of Somerset; Daisy Henry of Garrett; Alexa Lucas of Johnstown, and Mickie St. Clair of Boswell.
Family Hospice volunteers embrace the opportunity and privilege to support patients and their caregivers through a significant and inevitable season of life. Hospice volunteers make an impact in various ways, such as visiting with patients, providing relief for caregivers, assisting with clerical tasks as needed, making phone calls, communicating with grieving family members and more. Family Hospice is recruiting additional volunteers.
Volunteer involvement is determined by the individual’s skills, desires and schedule. Volunteers are good listeners who display flexibility, understanding and empathy. The time commitment for a volunteer can vary from several times per month to weekly. There are differing volunteer opportunities to match the strength and availability of volunteers. Specialized training is provided for new volunteers.
For information or to apply, contact Boyle at 814-515-6056 or email at boyledm@upmc.edu.
Pennsylvania Propane Gas celebrates 100 years
Pennsylvania Propane Gas Co., 1789 Garrett Road, Rockwood, is celebrating its centennial. In 1912, propane gas was discovered in western Pennsylvania. In an effort to capture and stabilize flammable hydrocarbon gases from gasoline, a scientist and entrepreneurs in Pittsburgh discovered propane gas.
In 1924, Pennsylvania Protane, a bottled gas company in Somerset, was founded by Robert Boyd Picking. In 1950, Pete Pucci and Tony Bonadio were the primary employees of Pennsylvania Protane. The company specialized in bottled gas delivery, as well as sales and service of gas appliances.
Tony and Millie Bonadio purchased the company in 1963 from Robert Boyd Picking and changed the name to Pennsylvania Propane Gas Co. Bonadio, George Dively and a secretary were the primary employees. In 1964, Bonadio became a Maytag distributor, selling not only washing machines, but dryers, stoves, refrigerators, dishwashers, and eventually microwaves. Joe Bonadio, son of Tony and Millie, joined the company in 1974.
Pennsylvania Propane purchased Stoner Gas in Rockwood in 1979. Pennsylvania Propane moved the offices to Somerset Avenue, Rockwood. In 1986, Pennsylvania Propane moved into its current location at 1789 Garrett Road. The new plant provided a customer showroom, as well as 30,000 gallons of propane storage. It added an additional 60,000 gallons of propane storage in 1997. In 2005 the company added an additional 2,000 square feet to the showroom to showcase a wider range of gas fireplaces and heaters.
Wendy Kelly Team earns Berkshire Hathaway Homeservices award
Wendy Kelly Team was honored by Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices The Preferred Realty with the Small Team Award for 2023 at the Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices’ annual sales convention in New Orleans.
Out of the network of more than 50,000 sales professionals, there are about 2,250 small teams consisting of more than 6,500 team members. The Wendy Kelly team was recognized as the No. 1 small team in the network and with the Chairman’s Circle Diamond Award. Team members are Wendy Kelly, Michele Haschak, Jenny Sheredy and Olivia Kretchman.
“Their team has an unbelievable drive for success. This drive has made them a top producer in our Somerset region, and the Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices network, year after year,” said Tom Hosack, CEO & president of Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices The Preferred Realty. “It comes as no surprise the real winners are the clients to whom they work so diligently to provide the best real estate experience possible.”
New additions to Patriot Park Foundation
Capt. Brenda Keitzer joined the Patriot Park Board of Directors in February. She is a veteran of the Air Force where she navigated the RC-135 for eight years. Her primary deployments were Japan, Greece and three times in the Middle East. She moved home and purchased a 34-acre farmette.
The Patriot Park Foundation approved Daniel Zalewski Jr. as executive director. He is a 32-year nonprofit professional with expertise in administration, fundraising, planning and project management, as well as local, regional and national campaigns and projects. Zalewski is the founder of DAZA Development, which is a Harrisburg-based administration and fundraising firm assisting nonprofits through the United States for 20 years.
Conemaugh Physician Group welcomes Dr. Vinod Kudagi
Conemaugh Physician Group―Cardiology welcomes Vinod Kudagi, MD, an interventional and structural cardiologist with more than 20 years of experience in specialized cardiac care. He served as an interventional cardiologist at Mohawk Valley Cardiology PC in Utica, New York, where he initiated a transcatheter aortic valve replacement program and performed groundbreaking procedures, including minimally invasive aortic heart valve replacements for patients diagnosed with severe aortic stenosis and experiencing symptoms commonly known as heart valve failure.
Kudagi contributed to St. Luke's University Health Network in Bethlehem, achieving the fastest door-to-balloon time in the network for ST-Elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) cases. Since August 2019, he has led interventional and general cardiology practices at Excela Health (currently Independence Health System) in Greensburg. While there, he played a key role in establishing a successful TAVR program.
Kudagi specializes in complex coronary interventions, transcatheter aortic valve replacements, percutaneous ventricular assist device placements, left atrial appendage closures, WATCHMAN device implants, and cardiac imaging. He earned his medical degree from J.J.M. Medical College in Davangere, India, and completed his internal medicine residency at the University of Connecticut in Farmington, Connecticut.
Additionally, Kudagi completed fellowships in cardiac imaging at Saint Francis Hospital in Roslyn, New York, followed by a three-year cardiology fellowship at Ochsner Clinic Foundation in New Orleans. He continued his fellowship training in Interventional Cardiology at NYU Langone Hospital―Long Island (Winthrop University Hospital) in Mineola, New York.
Kudagi is accepting patients at Conemaugh Medical Park, 1 Tech Park Dr., Suite 2100, Johnstown. Appointments can be made by calling Conemaugh Physician Group―Cardiology at 814-475-8600.
Hunter Wood is new member of American Angus Association
Hunter Wood, Rockwood, is a new junior member of the American Angus Association, said Mark McCully, CEO of the national organization headquartered in Saint Joseph, Missouri. Junior members are eligible to register cattle in the American Angus Association, participate in programs conducted by the National Junior Angus Association and take part in association-sponsored shows and other national and regional events.
UPMC Somerset again awarded Leapfrog Top Safety Grade
This spring, UPMC Somerset once again received an “A” Hospital Safety Grade from The Leapfrog Group, a national organization that aims to improve healthcare quality and safety for consumers and purchasers. “A” is the Leapfrog Group’s highest possible rating. It reflects teams’ efforts and achievements on measures like infection and fall prevention, hand hygiene and surgical outcomes. UPMC Somerset has achieved straight “A’s” for five consecutive cycles.
"This recognition from Leapfrog Group reflects a deep commitment to safety and quality on the part of the physicians, nurses and staff members across our system,” said Tami Minnier, UPMC’s chief quality and operational excellence officer. "Our teams bring excellence to the communities we serve, with compassionate care as our guiding North Star."
Highlands Health's Danchanko recognized
Rosalie Danchanko, executive director of Highlands Health Clinic, has been selected as one of the Pennsylvania Business Central’s Women in Business Top 2024 Nonprofit Female leaders. Pennsylvania Business Central said these women were selected by the editorial team. The organizations and causes they represent cover a wide and diverse range of services, institutions, and advocacy.
Danchanko has more than 45 years of experience in nonprofit administration. She graduated with honors from Geneva College with a degree in Community Outreach Ministry and an associate degree in leadership technology from Penn Highlands College. For the past 12 years, Danchanko has served as executive director for Highlands Health: Laurel Highlands Free & Charitable Medical Clinic. She is responsible for the day-to-day operations and ensures that the low-income, uninsured, and underinsured receive quality, compassionate medical, pharmaceutical, and wellness services.
She was the founder of Victim Services in Cambria and Somerset County. She is an entrepreneur who started several for-profit businesses locally, was the founder and president of the state coalition for Victim Rights, and served on the board of the state association of free and charitable medical clinics. She has been married to Daniel for 54 years and is the mother of Michael and Matthew, as well as seven grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren. Danchanko loves to ride her horse, walk the dogs, read, occasionally substitute for pastors, and deliver the Sunday message.
1ST Summit Bank celebrates 100 years
1ST Summit Bank is celebrating 100 years in business this May.
“Our customers are the driving force behind making 100 years in business possible, and we are delighted to invite them into our offices to celebrate with us,” J. Eric Renner, president and CEO, said. “1ST Summit Bank has built a reputation for retaining a strong presence within the communities we serve, and we look forward to continuing these relationships for the next 100 years.”
Celebrations began April 29, and include weekly giveaways, the chance to register for prizes, account specials, and nomination-based charity donations. Customers have the opportunity to win on the first four Fridays in May, a $500 six-month CD giveaway. They can also win Pittsburgh Pirates tickets and an Igloo Trailmate cooler filled with summer gear.
On May 24, festivities will continue with refreshments at each of the community offices. The theme of the bank’s 100th year is “For the Community. For Brighter Tomorrows,” which highlights the bank’s consistent commitment to engaging with its customers and helping families, businesses, and local organizations reach their goals.
1ST Summit Bank will donate $1,000 total to two local charities, based on nominations submitted by customers in any Community Office or online. Nominees will explain the charity’s impact on the community.
Madolin Edwards has been a journalist at the Daily American for 37 years, covering school boards and borough councils. She was the Home and Family editor for 20 years, and was the primary editor and reporter for a variety of special projects, features and tabs.
Local News
Comments / 0