The value that trusted accountants bring to businesses and nonprofits of all sizes cannot be overstated. Changes to federal and state filing rules, new tax regulations, and any flux in the economy see many business leaders turning to their accountants for guidance. We talk with Kathy Wileczek, shareholder with Umbreit, Wileczek & Associates, to learn about how she leads a small, highly-respected accountancy firm based in Kennett Square, Pennsylvania. We explore the challenges Kathy faces and the joy she experiences in running her firm, including balancing business management, client work, and other life priorities.

LINKS

Umbreit, Wileczek & Associates

• Umbreit, Wileczek & Associates: uwacpa.com
• Umbreit, Wileczek & Associates on Facebook: facebook.com/uwacpa
• Kathy Wileczek on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/kathleenwileczek

Chambers of Commerce

• Southern Chester County Chamber of Commerce
• Greater West Chester Chamber of Commerce

Transcript

The full transcript will be posted as soon as it is available.

Farmers markets and craft and artisanal markets are popping up in more and more communities across Chester County, Pennsylvania, as farm-to-table and shop local grow in popularity with consumers. We sat down with Christy Campli of Growing Roots to learn more about how she delivers and produces a series of markets and community events across the region. We speak with her about supporting local farmers, producers, artists, and makers – all while working to build community.

OUR PARTNER

Southern Chester County Chamber of Commerce

LINKS

Growing Roots

• Website: growingrootspartners.com
• Newsletter sign-up: growingrootspartners.com/newsletter-signups

Farmers Markets

• Downingtown: growingrootspartners.com/downingtown
• Eagleview: growingrootspartners.com/eagleview
• Malvern: growingrootspartners.com/malvern
• Instagram: instagram.com/growingrootsfarmersmarkets

Crafts & Mercantile

• Instagram: instagram.com/craftandmercantile
• Newsletter sign-up: growingrootspartners.com/craft-mercantile-newsletter

Good Food Fest

• Website: goodfarmsgoodfood.com
• Instagram: instagram.com/goodfarmsgoodfood

Additional Links

• Sundry Mornings Spice Co.
• Seoul Mates Korean Kitchen
• Chester County Food Bank
• Fighting Food Insecurity Locally with Andi Youndt
• Kimberton Whole Foods
• Joe Casabona’s podcast: Streamlined Solopreneur

TRANSCRIPT

The full transcript will be published here as soon as it is available.

Today’s libraries play a significant role in the life of the community. The programs, services, and happenings at our local libraries might surprise those who have not visited one recently. We catch up with Chris Manna, Executive Director of the Kennett Library, to walk through all things library. We learn how this wonderful library – and others across Chester County – are meeting the needs of their communities in innovative, exciting, and engaging ways.

OUR PARTNER

Southern Chester County Chamber of Commerce

LINKS

Kennett Library

• Kennett Library website: kennettlibrary.org
• Facebook: @KennettLibrary
• Instagram: @kennett_library
• YouTube: youtube.com/channel/UC0S-xlaN4XGo-oErL7XkVQA
• Employment opportunities: kennettlibrary.org/employment
• Volunteering opportunities: kennettlibrary.org/volunteering

Chris Manna

• LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/christopher-manna-675a32272/

Additional Links

• Fluxspace
• Freedom to read: ala.org/advocacy/intfreedom/freedomreadstatement
• Censorship: ala.org/advocacy/intfreedom/censorship

TRANSCRIPT

The full transcript will be published here as soon as it is available.

The lack of educational and employment opportunities experienced by disadvantaged folks in Chester County presents significant challenges to their well-being. To learn more, we speak with Javonna Wylie, President and CEO of Chester County OIC. Javonna explains how CCOIC works to enable access to economic empowerment through the delivery of free educational and related services. She also highlights the exciting opportunities happening in Coatesville, Pennsylvania, where CCOIC is now based.

OUR PARTNER

Southern Chester County Chamber of Commerce

LINKS

Chester County OIC

• Website: ccoic.org
• Work Enclave project: ccoic.org/programs/workenclave
• Volunteer opportunities: ccoic.org/get-involved
• Careers: ccoic.org/jobs
• Twitter: @ChesCoOIC
• Facebook: facebook.com/ChescoOIC
• Instagram: instagram.com/chestercountyoic
• Javonna Wylie on LinkedIn

Rev. Leon Sullivan

• Rev. Leon Sullivan on Wikipedia
• Book: Build, Brother, Build

Additional Links

• Alliance for Health Equity
• Witmer Public Safety Group
• Chester County HR Association
• 2nd Century Alliance
• nth Innovation Center
• Investing in your local community with Susan Springsteen
• Pennsylvania Department of Education

Transcript

The transcript for this episode will be posted as soon as it available.

We spend time with Kirstin Downie, Director of Development and Communications with Canine Partners for Life (CPL), as she explains how the organization works to improve quality of life for people with disabilities or other challenges by pairing them with professionally trained service or companion dogs. Kirstin takes us for a long walk through the extensive training that service and companion dogs undergo to be able to assist their assigned companions. We learn how CPL provides these highly trained dogs to folks of all ages from across the USA. And we hear about some uniquely wonderful volunteer opportunities.

Southern Chester County Chamber of Commerce

LINKS

Canine Partners for Life

• Website: k94life.org
• Facebook: facebook.com/CaninePartnersforLife
• Instagram: instagram.com/k94life
• LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/canine-partners-for-life
• Fall Festival featuring Cow Bingo
• Volunteer with Canine Partners for Life: k94life.org/volunteer
• Kirstin Downie on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/kirstindownie

Additional Links

• Brian’s House
• Valley Forge Educational Services
• Assistance Dogs International

Transcript

A transcript will be posted as soon as it is available.

Now in its 27th year, the Kennett Brewfest is a leading beer festival held yearly in Kennett Square. Arguably the oldest beer festival in the Philadelphia region, the Brewfest provides support to the Kennett Collaborative. We speak with the founder and long-serving lead organizer of the festival, Jeff Norman. An architect by trade, Jeff has lead efforts to organize and deliver the famed Kennett Brewfest since its inception. We talk about the history of the festival, its evolution over time, and of course, all things beer.

OUR PARTNER

Southern Chester County Chamber of Commerce

LINKS

Kennett Brewfest

• Website: kennettbrewfest.com
• Instagram: instagram.com/kennett.brewfest
• Facebook: facebook.com/KennettBrewfest
• Jeff Norman on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/jeffrey-norman-5004382

Other Kennett Square Festivals

• Kennett Winterfest
• Kennett Summerfest
• Mushroom Festival

Kennett Collaborative

• Website: kennettcollaborative.org
• Instagram: instagram.com/kennett.collaborative
• Facebook: facebook.com/kennettcollaborative

Additional Links

• Waywood Beverage
• Victory Brewing
• Braeloch Brewing
• Two Stones Brewing
• Jeff’s favorite beer: Avec Les Bons Vœux from Brasserie Dupont
• Dressler Estate (Ciders)
• Excursion Ciders
• ServPro of Kennett Square/Oxford
• Kennett Run
• Ales for ALS

Transcript

The transcript will be posted as soon as it is available.

With a unique nonprofit business model, Handi-Crafters employs, trains, and encourages people with intellectual and developmental challenges to enable them to find meaningful and engaging opportunities in the workplace. Focused on the individual skills and needs of the community it serves, Handi-Crafters has been delivering employment-centered programs for more than 60 years from its facilities in Thorndale, Pa. We speak with the Executive Director of Handi-Crafters, April Ennis-Pierson, to learn more about the organization and its innovative approach to its work.

OUR PARTNER

Southern Chester County Chamber of Commerce

LINKS

Handi-Crafters

• Website: hcocenter.org
• Facebook: facebook.com/HCOpportunity
• LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/handi-crafters
• April Ennis-Pierson on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/april-ennis-pierson-32b33127/

Additional Links

• Section 14(c) Subminimum Wage Certificate Program
• PA Office of Developmental Programs
• ARC of Chester County
• Herr’s
• Victory Brewing
• CTDI
• Crazy Aaron’s Thinking Putty
• Chester County Commissioner Eric Roe

Transcript

The transcript for this episode will be posted as soon as it is available.

Green or clean energy regularly garners press coverage and is often a topic of vigorous public debate. We speak at length with Ron DiSabatino about sustainable and fossil-fueled energy to better understand the factors and considerations around the debate. Ron is the VP of Nuclear Engineering with Constellation, the largest provider of carbon-free energy in the US. We also explore employee recruitment, engagement, and retention, discussing how Constellation works to attract top talent to its nuclear power plants.

OUR PARTNER

Southern Chester County Chamber of Commerce

LINKS

Constellation

• Constellation Energy website: constellationenergy.com
• Twitter: @ConstellationEG
• Linked In: linkedin.com/company/constellation-energy
• Instagram: @constellationenergy
• Facebook: facebook.com/ConstellationEnergy
• YouTube: Constellation – YouTube

Nuclear Energy Information & Statistics

• US Department of Energy: Multimedia Resources | Department of Energy
• Nuclear Energy Institute: Nuclear Energy Institute – nei.org
• Yucca Mountain

Additional Links

• Thaddeus Stevens College of Technology
• Cybersecurity & Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA)
• Tick Tock Early Learning Center

Transcript

The transcript will be posted as soon as it is available.