It’s been a business year at UBCC!

We watched the Eagles win Super Bowl LII on February 4, and we’re wrapping up the year like a sure bet outside shot; rooting for the 76ers to take it all this time around.

This summer was wetter and warmer than usual and by now, most of us know what a pestilence the Spotted lantern fly has become.

In August we heard from the next crop of young entrepreneurs fresh from Pennsylvania Free Enterprise Week, and how they learned operating a business isn’t easy.

We co-hosted the first ever networking mixer with three regional Chambers of Commerce in September at Altek Business Systems, with a great turn despite more rain and lots of conversation and business card sharing.

We watched – sometimes with giddy excitement (if your stocks were performing well) and at other times catching our breath (if they weren’t) at a volatile stock market’s rise and fall, and rise and fall... and rise.

We marveled at a 3.7 percent unemployment rate in September - unheard of since 1969.

Throughout the year we supported new business owners with ribbon cuttings, with education, with networking opportunities and with a seat at the table and strong collective voice that is Upper Bucks County.

We shared in your delight and we felt your pain when things didn’t go according to your business plan.
Alongside our manufacturing communities we’re striving to expand professional and workforce development, during a time moment when skilled talent is hard to come, by and critical jobs remain vacant.

Like them we wonder, how can this be? What can we do to fix it?

We realize a skilled talent shortage is a bigger problem. It’s facing employers and educators throughout Pennsylvania and across the country. It needs to change.

We want to help change the perception that manufacturing is a dead end, or temporary career choice: Nothing could be further from the truth.

Closer to home and our collective heart, we bid long-time executive director, mentor and friend Tara King goodbye. We wish her nothing but the best in her retirement and fresh journey along the shores of Delaware.

We welcomed with open arms, and a big place in our hearts our next chief, Danielle Bodnar.

Danielle’s talents, strength and courage, along with her contagious energy and enthusiasm move us forward into 2019 and beyond.

And while 2018 slips into our rear view, we count our many, many blessings.

We wish you all the happiest of holiday seasons and a healthy, prosperous and invigorating New Year.

Cheers!

We’re taking a moment and looking at 2018 as the year rounds to a close.

DASH is making the rounds to area businesses – and bringing smiles, too.

We’re looking at what works and what we want to do better.