Mercyhurst University President Shares Vision for Leadership

The role of women in top management and leadership positions has evolved. Today, women leaders have become rock stars, especially in areas of business, education, and entrepreneurship — a vital part of the economy. Here, Kathleen Getz, Ph.D., the 13th president of Mercyhurst University in Erie, Pennsylvania, explains what leadership means to her and the importance of empowering women to pursue leadership opportunities in their respective fields. Getz will be the featured speaker at the MBA’s Women in Leadership IMPACT Luncheon on March 23 in Erie. Visit mbausa.org to learn more.

As Mercyhurst University’s 13th president, you play a critical role in the University’s overall operations and furthering its mission. Describe your goals and what you want to achieve.

As we approach our Centennial in 2026, it calls to mind the incredible journey that brought us to this point in time. My goal is to prepare us for next 100 years. We have niche programs that have earned global reputations. We intend to strengthen and expand Intelligence Studies, our Autism Initiative, and our role as a center of excellence in arts and culture. At the same time, we are building programs in sustainability studies, in wellness, and in diversity, equity, inclusion and justice, all of which are consistent with our mission as a Mercy institution.

In many ways, a university president is always a leader first. How would you describe your approach to leadership?

I like to think I combine visionary leadership with collaboration, encouragement and openness to participation. I am not an autocratic leader, although I’m not afraid to stand alone and make the tough calls when necessary. My approach is more along the lines of transformational leadership and habits rooted in emotional intelligence. These so-called soft skills can be vital to running a business or, in my case, a university. Although, keep in mind, being an effective leader isn’t about having one “right” leadership style. Good leaders often adapt their approach based on the situation and the team they’re working with.

In your opinion, what makes a good leader great?

A good leader excels in a variety of traditional leadership skills — integrity, vision, strategic thinking, to name a few. I think a great leader is someone who is self-aware and authentic, who recognizes his or her strengths and his or her weaknesses and works with others to supplement those areas where he or she is less strong. I also think great leaders have a capacity for humility and aren’t afraid to add a little levity to the mix. I consider myself an optimist and, wherever I go, I like to keep this quote by Robert Brault close at hand: “Optimist: Someone who figures that taking a step backward after taking a step forward is not a disaster; it’s a Cha-Cha.” Great leaders know how to Cha-Cha.

Prior to Mercyhurst, you were dean at the Sellinger School of Business and Management at Loyola University Maryland, dean at the Quinlan School of Business at Loyola University Chicago, and senior associate dean for Academic Affairs at the Kogod School of Business at American University. What do you believe is the cornerstone of a great business school — one that will prepare students to thrive in the business world?

It is critical that many people in the school — leaders, faculty and students — be deeply connected with the business community. The purpose of that kind of connection is that the school is constantly aware of what businesses’ needs are and can adapt curricula and experiential learning opportunities accordingly to best serve students and businesses. In addition, the best business programs are built on a foundation of the liberal arts, and deliberately help their students understand how that foundation will make them better business leaders — who think critically, are comfortable with uncertainty, and are willing to take measured risks. This assures that students graduate with the skills, knowledge and character required to thrive in the business world.

While women represent nearly half of today’s workforce, they are vastly underrepresented in leadership positions. What are your thoughts on the importance of encouraging women to pursue leadership opportunities?

I think that as women in leadership, it is incumbent upon us to lift up others. That’s often best achieved through role modeling. We can also mentor, articulate common goals, prioritize personal development, act as sounding boards, all the while building a culture of allyship. I’ve heard it said that when there’s a leadership job opening, a man will apply when he meets just a few of the qualifications, while a woman will apply only when she meets most of them. So, there’s this sense that we need to get women to take greater risks, understanding that some competencies can be mastered on the job.

What is Mercyhurst University’s approach to empowering the next generation of leaders — students, faculty and staff?

I make every effort as president to encourage a wide array of participation in decision-making and, as that filters out to other levels of the institution, more people’s voices are heard. As well, I try to practice subsidiarity — assuring those closest to a problem make decisions. In this way, decisions are made more quickly and people become self-confident. This quote from Eleanor Roosevelt applies: “A good leader inspires people to have confidence in the leader; a great leader inspires people to have confidence in themselves.”

Mercy Center For Women To Celebrate 30th Anniversary Of Women Making History Event

The Mercy Center for Women will celebrate its 30th anniversary of Women Making History, which honors local women nominated by colleagues, friends and family — women who are worthy of recognition for the sometimes quiet achievements they are making.

The April 3 event, which will be held from 7 to 9:30 p.m. at the Mary D’Angelo Performing Arts Center at Mercyhurst University, 501 East 38th Street in Erie, is free and open to the public. Reservations are not required.

Among the 2023 honorees are: Cheryl Bates, Judge Susan Paradise Baxter, Darlene Bush, Jacqui Catrabone, Georgia Del Freo, Amy Eisert, District Attorney Elizabeth Hirz, Sarah Humphrey, Susan Kuligowski, Ph.D., Karen Morahan, Ph.D., Marva Keys Morris, Sister Margaret Pellerite, SSJ, Kelly Stolar, Carla Storrs, Ruth Thompson and Kathy Woodard.

Mercy Center for Women, founded in Erie, Pennsylvania, in 1994, is a sponsored ministry of the Sisters of Mercy and is committed to enhancing the dignity of each person we serve through healing of body, mind and spirit. The Center provides safe and supportive transitional housing, education and counseling for homeless women with or without children, as well as connections with social service agencies and volunteers to form a network of ongoing support, mentoring and education to its residents and women in the community. To learn more, visit mcwerie.org.

DOWNLOAD THE MBA’S FREE TIME-CHANGE POSTER

It’s time to spring forward! Daylight-Saving Time begins at 2 a.m. Sunday, March 12. Download the Manufacturer & Business Association’s FREE Time-Change poster from mbausa.org and display in a highly visible location within your workplace.

Cnb Bank Introduces Womenfocused Impressia Bank

Michael Peduzzi, president and CEO of CNB Bank, and EVP/Chief Commercial Banking Officer Angela Wilcoxson recently announced plans to launch a new bank division, Impressia Bank. Designed for women by women, Impressia Bank will be a full-service banking division of CNB Bank, headquartered in Clearfield, Pennsylvania, dedicated to the professional and financial development and advancement of women business owners and women leaders.

With plans to launch in early 2023, Impressia Bank will be the sixth bank division of CNB Bank. This women-focused commercial bank will begin within the existing geographic footprint of each of CNB Bank’s five other divisions, then strategically expand beyond those borders utilizing an online presence. Impressia Bank’s online approach will be complemented by regional relationship managers and support managers, as well as specialized services such as SBA and grant advisory services, treasury management, wealth management and private banking.

“This is a perfect opportunity to deepen relationships and support the already high, yet growing, number of women-owned businesses,” said Wilcoxson. “A prioritization of women-owned businesses would complement other divisional growth activities and allow the Bank to provide even better banking options for more businesses in our communities.”

Extending beyond traditional business banking offerings, Impressia Bank clients will have access to resources related to accelerating their business, developing appropriate business strategies, and establishing a community of women who support one another. The Bank will connect financial and other identified resources to cultivate and support the business acumen of women business owners.

“We’re looking to move beyond the scope of offering traditional banking services. Our goal is to provide an entire banking and financial support network for current and prospective women leaders,” said Peduzzi. “We recognize that access to capital remains the largest barrier to market entry and success for female founders and women-owned businesses. Impressia Bank will strive to propose solutions pertaining to credit access, financial literacy and business development to promote and encourage the small business spirit and career development of women.”

CNB Bank recently launched a search for the position of division president for Impressia Bank. Eighteen full-service offices operate as CNB Bank throughout northwestern PA, while 10 full-service offices operate as ERIEBANK, a division of CNB Bank. Seven full-service offices operate as FCBank, a division of CNB Bank in Central Ohio, and 10 full-service offices operate as BankOnBuffalo, a division of CNB Bank. Ridge View Bank has two offices in the Roanoke Valley and Holiday Financial Services has ten offices centrally located in the CNB Bank and ERIEBANK market areas.

For more information, visit cnbbank.bank.

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MBA BOARD CHAIRMAN, FORMER BOARD MEMBERS NAMED TO FAMILY BUSINESS CEOS TO WATCH CLASS

Manufacturer & Business Association (MBA) Board of Governors Chairman Jana Goodrich of Seaway Manufacturing and former Board members

Colleen Moore Mezler of Moore Research Services and Phil Katen of Plastikos, Micro Mold and Plastikos Medical were recently recognized as Family Business magazine’s Family Business CEOs to Watch Class of 2022. The 23 members of the Family Business CEOs to Watch Class of 2022 included non-family and family, blood descendants and married-ins from across the United States plus Canada and Colombia.

Prior to becoming president and CEO of Seaway Manufacturing, Goodrich served as vice president. In that role, she had responsibility for several key areas, including operations, engineering, information technology, administration, sales, marketing and retail sales.

Seaway, founded in 1959, specializes in windows, doors and sunrooms. The company began by making custom aluminum storm doors and windows and then developed a diverse line of vinyl and aluminum products.

Before joining Seaway, Goodrich earned numerous honors in each of her professional ventures. She worked as a territory marketing representative for Xerox and as a systems engineer for IBM. In 1994, she founded and served as president of Executive Education Services, a management consulting firm, which she ran for many years.

Shortly after completing her MBA, Goodrich accepted a full-time position as a college professor at Penn State Behrend, teaching management and marketing. During her tenure there, she also worked with the School of Engineering as part of a small team that developed a product development and realization course and the interdisciplinary business and engineering studies program. In addition, Goodrich directed several initiatives in the Sam & Irene Black School of Business.

Goodrich is a member of the City of Erie Mayor’s Advisory Council. She serves as chairman of the Penn State Behrend Sam & Irene Black School of Business advisory board and chairman of the Manufacturer & Business Association Board of Governors. She is a past member of several advisory boards for national organizations associated with the fenestration industry, including the executive boards of both the National Glass Association and the National Sunroom Association as well as the Window and Door Dealers Alliance. Moore Mezler has been with Moore Research Services Inc., a marketing research firm, since she joined her mother in 1987. Moore Research serves a variety of organizations throughout the United States and globally, from small start-up companies to Fortune 500 corporations.

Mezler is a past chairman of the Insights Association, which promotes the role of intelligence, analytics and insights in driving business impact. She is certified by the association as an expert in market research. She has received many honors from the association, including the Lifetime Achievement Award and the Distinguished Service Award.

She also has been honored by ATHENA International, a nonprofit organization dedicated to building a global pipeline of women leaders. She has served on the ATHENA International board of directors. In addition, she has received recognition for service to her local business community.

Katen, president and general manager of Plastikos Inc., leads Plastikos, Micro Mold and Plastikos Medical, along with his brother Ryan, at the family’s advanced medical injection mold-making companies in Erie.

The Katen brothers founded Plastikos Medical in early March 2019, on Plastikos’ 30th anniversary, and completed construction on Plastikos Medical’s advanced medical molding facility in August 2019. The new facility quickly reached full capacity, and a major expansion recently was completed.

Katen holds an MBA from Duke University and a B.S. degree in industrial engineering and economics from Northwestern University’s McCormick School of Engineering.

STUMPF JOINS THE LAW FIRM OF MACDONALD, ILLIG, JONES & BRITTON

The law firm of MacDonald, Illig, Jones & Britton, LLP in Erie, Pennsylvania, recently announced that Colleen R. Stumpf has joined the firm as a partner in its Trusts & Estates and Business Transactions Practice Groups.

According to the law firm, Stump’s goal is for clients to have peace of mind — through the development of a complex estate plan aimed at obtaining asset protection, the creation of a long-term care plan that enables an elderly loved one to remain in their home through their senior years, or a business succession plan that provides for the continuation of a family business for future generations.

As counsel to both for-profit and nonprofit entities, Stumpf supports her business clients throughout the organizational lifecycle. She lends her expertise in entity formation to first-time entrepreneurs, passion for corporate governance to nonprofit organizations engaged in board development, and mergers and acquisitions experience to entities prepared to invest in the growth of their business.

Stumpf received her Juris Doctor degree from Pennsylvania State University Dickinson School of Law and her bachelor’s degree from Grove City College.

ONEX APPOINTS LASKEY AS PRESIDENT, TROYER AS VICE PRESIDENT

Onex, Inc., a leading Pennsylvania original equipment manufacturer of furnaces supporting the forging, die casting, nonferrous foundry, graphitizing, and heat treating industries, announced changes in its executive team. Onex has announced that its Board of Directors has elected Patrick Laskey as president and Kyle Troyer as vice president, effective since January 1, 2023.

Former President Ashleigh Walters and former Vice President Drew Walters have joined Onex’s Board of Directors to provide strategic direction and guidance to the business. Laskey succeeds Ashleigh Walters as president and will report to the Board of Directors. Walters has served as president since 2013 and has been part of the board since 2013.

Founded in 1966, Onex was a family owned and family run champion for heat-intensive industries as well as the Erie, Pennsylvania community. For over 40 years, the Walters family grew the company and created a thriving business. When the leadership baton passed within the family and Ashleigh Walters became president, she and her husband, Drew, made changes to grow the business.

“In 2020, Drew and I created a 100-percent employee-owned company,” stated Walters. “We wanted to ensure that Onex would remain a viable part of the community for generations to come at the same time rewarding the hard work of our employees.”

Laskey started with Onex in July of 2020 as the company’s Business Development manager. Prior to joining Onex, he had held various positions within engineering, sales, account management and corporate strategy with several multinational companies. Laskey holds a degree in mechanical engineering technology from Penn State University and an MBA from Rice University, The Jones Graduate School of Business.

Onex, Inc., headquartered in Erie, specializes in building and repairing industrial furnaces. Its expert OEM team will design, build, and install refractory and combustion equipment for die casting, forging, and heat treat applications; combustion and refractory services also include tune-ups, repairs, and retrofits. Additionally, Onex provides contract or tolling services for refractory manufacturers.