Men and women who were born to be entrepreneurs start businesses in our area every day. Some folks have the entrepreneurial spirit in their DNA. Others develop this spirit by examining their options and deciding that being the boss makes sense. And still more find themselves with a talent or craft that they attempt to monetize. All three groups produce both successful businesses and business
Read the Full Article →We’ve all heard the saying “use it or lose it.” It’s most often applied to physical health and exercise, but that saying is also apt when it comes to a community’s health and the exercising of rights, particularly the right to free speech. Pittsburgh Community Television’s mission is to encourage the residents of the city of Pittsburgh and local nonprofit organizations to exercise their right
Read the Full Article →Whether by choice or from necessity, more seniors are working in their retirement years. According to CareerBuilder’s 2015 annual retirement survey, “54 percent of senior workers (age 60+) say they’ll work after retiring from their current career, up from 45 percent last year. Of this group, 81 percent say they’ll most likely work part-time, while 19 percent plan to continue working full-time. Customer service, retail
Read the Full Article →The places where we work change with time. In centuries past, the workplace was primarily the home or farm. With the onset of the Industrial Revolution, workers moved into factories, and as the shift moved to administration and service-based economies, much of the workforce flocked into office towers where mazes of cubicles flourished. Transitions such as these are often times subtle. Today, where we work
Read the Full Article →What do transparent tape, fishing lures, surf boards, and antihistamines all have in common? They are just some of the 6,000 or more products made from oil and natural gas. When most people hear the words oil and natural gas, they think of the fuel that powers their car or keeps their home warm. That’s a correct if limited idea. Our modern life depends on
Read the Full Article →We all know what a game changer the Marcellus Shale play has been for our local economy. What you may not know is that the oil and gas industry may also be the golden ticket for financial independence and career satisfaction for women. Presently, and in the coming decades, the American Petroleum Institute sees vast employment opportunities for women: well-paying, life-long careers. API recently conducted
Read the Full Article →All banks deal in numbers, but it’s the great banks that don’t treat their customers like one. While everyone is familiar with the mega-banks in the area, you may not know about some of the smaller banking institutions, some of which have roots right in your own backyard. The following is a list of local banks with local ownership. Allegheny Valley Bank of Pittsburgh Founded
Read the Full Article →My buildings will be my legacy… they will speak for me long after I’m gone. ~ Julia Morgan Pittsburgh’s iconic skyline is as distinct as a human face. Our cityscape features an eclectic mix of historic, functional, and state-of-the-art buildings and bridges that have been erected over many decades. But who are the masters responsible for creating this skyline, what amounts to Pittsburgh’s face? They are
Read the Full Article →By now, the story is well known of how the Pittsburgh area economy went from riches to rags, back to riches after the collapse of the steel industry in the 1980s, and then reinvented itself as a health care and service-based economy. The impact of UPMC, PNC, BNY Mellon and a host of other health care, financial, and service-based businesses has been studied and touted for
Read the Full Article →Congratulations! You’ve graduated from high school and will be furthering your education in the Pittsburgh area. You’ve been bombarded with collegiate brochures. There are dozens of questions bouncing around your brain: “What will my roommate be like? How hard will the classes be? Will I gain the cursed ‘freshman 15’?” There may be another question on your mind: “What is it like to attend school in the Pittsburgh region?”
Read the Full Article →