Patriot Federal Credit Union is proud to be the first sponsor of the Conococheague Institute’s school programs, contributing $3,000 to support hands-on educational experiences. This sponsorship will help cover costs for large school field trips, including in-person medical programs for over 200 Greencastle Antrim Middle School students and a special 911 program for Tuscarora Elementary students in April.
By partnering with Conococheague Institute, Patriot is investing in immersive learning opportunities that inspire and educate local youth.
 
Visit our website for additional information.   https://www.patriotfcu.org/blog/patriot-federal-credit-union-sponsors-school-programs-at-conococheague-institute/

No business can stand the test of time unless its operations are running smoothly and efficiently. And as a small business owner, you must also be able to attract customers and build your online presence. This means knowing about the different services that can help streamline your operations, expand your online reach, and keep your customers happy. Today, we take a closer look at some of the most popular free and paid services to help you do just that.

 

Adobe Acrobat’s PDF Signature Tool

 

Business owners should embrace e-signing for contracts, which offers convenience and efficiency in the modern business landscape. Adobe Acrobat provides a user-friendly tool that enables you to sign and fill out PDF forms online, eliminating the need for physical document printing. This not only saves time and resources but also promotes environmental sustainability. E-signatures through tools like Adobe Acrobat are legally recognized, secure, and provide a seamless way to manage contracts while reducing paperwork. This approach not only streamlines operations but also enhances overall productivity and document management for businesses. Click for info about this game-changing tool.

 

Marketing Automation Tools

 

A marketing automation platform can be invaluable for marketing and sales teams, allowing them to automate mundane tasks and free up time for more critical work. With such a platform, you can:

 

• Segment your customers into different categories;

• Customize campaigns based on new segments;

• Track emails and web visits in real-time;

• Optimize customer profiles with detailed data collection;

• Conduct A/B testing of your campaigns and emails;

• And gain insight into your customer base.

 

By leveraging the power of the right automation platform with digital marketing software, your team can streamline its processes while improving overall efficiency.

 

Social Media Management Tools 

 

It’s critical to build a robust online presence, and social media management is a key element of doing that. Fortunately, there are many tools that allow you to post updates across multiple social media platforms simultaneously, giving you more time to focus on the other aspects of your business. Popular free options include Hootsuite and Buffer, while Sprout Social and Sendible are some of the best-paid options. Take time to research the range of social media management tools that will let you set goals and objectives for your campaigns, create content calendars, utilize analytics, and integrate other marketing channels.

 

Project Management Software 

 

If you want to manage projects from start to finish more effectively, find a software solution that facilitates it! The right platform will let you track progress, assign tasks, manage deadlines, and organize communication among team members (both internal and external). Trello and Asana are excellent free platforms, but Basecamp and monday.com can prove well worth the investment.

 

Customer Relationship Management (CRM) Software

 

CRM software helps businesses better understand their customer base by collecting data such as purchase history, contact information, customer service inquiries, and more. You can then use this information for your marketing campaigns or sales initiatives. Look into free platforms like HubSpot CRM as well as paid options like Salesforce CRM and Zoho CRM.

 

When using CRM software, gather and leverage information to segment customers into different categories and customize your marketing messages based on their interests. Then, track customer activity over time to send personalized emails at the perfect time. You’ll also want to adjust your CRM settings regularly according to shifting customer preferences and market trends to keep your campaigns relevant and effective.

 

Website Builders

 

If you don’t have the resources or budget for custom website development, website builders can help you get a professional-looking website up quickly without any coding knowledge or experience. Wix and Weebly are reputable website builders with free plans, while Squarespace and Shopify Plus are some of the most popular paid solutions.

 

Off-the-shelf solutions can provide a quick and easy way to launch your website. Custom services offer the opportunity to tailor your site precisely to your unique needs.

 

Consider factors such as cost, scalability, user experience, compatibility, and support when making your decision. Don’t forget to take into account any special requirements like accessibility or performance.

Streamlining your small business operations has never been more feasible with the wealth of technologies and services available today. The key is to research all your options and evaluate your budget to determine how much you can spend on marketing automation, social media management, website building, and other business areas. You’ll likely discover that using a combination of free and paid services is ideal. Just be strategic in creating the right mix to get the customer satisfaction, online presence, and operations you’re looking for!

Join the Cumberland Valley Business Alliance to get the resources you need to build a winning business in our community!

Paper’s out, people.

 

Award-winning comedian, writer, and producer Hasan Minhaj has partnered with Adobe Acrobat to celebrate 30 years of PDFs and to promote the power of paperless creativity and collaboration in today's digital age. The partnership highlights the importance of using digital tools to streamline workflows and enhance productivity, especially in the current work-from-home era.

 

As part of the partnership, Minhaj is featured in a series of videos showcasing how Adobe Acrobat can help professionals across industries to create, edit, and share documents seamlessly — no paper needed. The videos also provide tips and tricks for using Acrobat's features to improve collaboration and communication among team members.

 

Adobe Acrobat is a leading software solution that enables professionals to create, edit, and sign PDF documents securely and easily. The platform offers a range of features, including the ability to convert documents to PDF format, edit text and images, and add comments and annotations. It also integrates with other Adobe tools, such as Creative Cloud, to provide a seamless workflow for creative professionals.

 

The partnership between Hasan Minhaj and Adobe Acrobat kicked off with a range of digital and social media activations. Paper’s out, people, so stay tuned for more updates on how Acrobat is empowering creativity and collaboration in today's digital landscape.

 

Whatever PDF tool you need to streamline workflows, Acrobat’s got it. Learn more here.

Many entrepreneurs have found that our corner of Pennsylvania is an ideal locale to start a business. We’re home to a number of successful businesses, and there are plenty of opportunities for entrepreneurs who are willing to put in the hard work. If you're thinking about starting a business, here are a few tips from the Cumberland Valley Business Alliance to help you get started on the right foot.

Coming Up with a Profitable Business Idea

A profitable idea is the first logical step in starting any business. What are you passionate about? What skills do you have? What needs does your community have that aren't being met? Once you've come up with an idea, it's time to start planning your business.

Writing a Business Plan

A business plan is a roadmap for your business. It outlines your business goals, strategies, and how you plan on achieving them. Your business plan should also include a financial analysis, so be sure to do your research before you start writing.

The Benefits of Forming an LLC for Your Business

One of the best ways to protect your personal assets is by forming an LLC for your business. As you learn more about this business structure and how to start an LLC in Pennsylvania, you’ll see that an LLC shields your personal assets from debts and liabilities incurred by your business. LLCs are also relatively easy and inexpensive to set up.

Using a DBA for Your Business

If you're doing business under a name other than your own, you'll need to register that name as a DBA (doing business as). DBAs are relatively simple and inexpensive to set up, and they offer some legal protections for your business name. You can learn more about using a DBA for your business here.

Hiring Freelancers For Your New Business

There are a number of tasks that need to be done in order to get a new business off the ground, but you don't have to do it all yourself. MoneyQ&A.com notes that hiring freelancers can help you save time and money while still getting the job done right. When hiring freelancers, be sure to ask for samples of their work, check references, and agree on deadlines and payment terms upfront.

Using Accounting Software to Manage Your Business's Money

Keeping track of your finances is crucial for any business owner. Fortunately, there's no need to hire an accountant or bookkeeper when there are plenty of accounting software programs available that can do the job for you. When choosing accounting software for your business, be sure to compare features and prices before making a decision.

Marketing Your Business

Once your business is up and running, it's time to start marketing it. Entrepreneur Handbook points out that there are numerous ways to market your business, both online and offline. You can start by creating social media accounts and developing a marketing strategy that works for you.

Whatever type of marketing you decide to do, you’ll need eye-catching images that promote your products or services. A graphic designer is a great resource for this task, since you can collaborate on ideas and they can bring your vision to life. Keep in mind that if you’re emailing images back and forth, large JPG files can be difficult to send, but compressing them reduces their quality. Going from JPG to PDF is a good idea so you can more easily send high-quality files, and you can even use a tool to transfer multiple JPGs into one PDF file. 

Starting a small business can be a daunting task, but with careful planning and execution, it can be done successfully. If you're thinking about starting a small business in the Cumberland Valley, use these tips as a guide to help you get started on the right foot. And remember, even if things don't go exactly as planned at first, don't give up – success takes time, patience, and perseverance!

Join the Cumberland Valley Business Alliance to connect with local entrepreneurs and resources that can help your business grow. Contact us today for more information! 717-264-7101

Adobe Acrobat is a versatile software suite that offers a wide range of benefits for small and local businesses. From document management to collaboration and security features, Acrobat is an indispensable tool for organizations of all sizes for many reasons:

 

Efficient Document Management: Acrobat provides robust document management capabilities, allowing businesses to create, edit, organize, and archive documents seamlessly. With features like merging, splitting, and indexing PDFs, businesses can streamline their document workflow and reduce paperwork clutter.

 

Cost Savings: Acrobat offers cost-effective solutions that eliminate the need for expensive printed materials, courier services, and physical storage space. By going digital with PDF documents, businesses save on printing and shipping costs, reduce paper waste, and lower their overall operational expenses.

 

Enhanced Collaboration: Collaboration is key in today's business landscape, and Acrobat facilitates this through features like commenting, annotation, and real-time co-editing. Small businesses can collaborate with remote team members, clients, or suppliers, allowing for seamless communication and feedback on documents. This collaborative approach can significantly improve productivity and the speed of decision making.

 

Professional-Looking Documents: For small and local businesses trying to make a mark in a competitive market, the presentation of documents matters. Acrobat offers a wide range of formatting and styling options to create professional-looking documents. From customizing fonts and colors to adding watermarks and headers, businesses can enhance their brand identity and create visually-appealing materials.

 

Secure Document Handling: Acrobat provides robust security features, including password protection, encryption, and digital signatures. Small and local businesses can ensure the confidentiality and integrity of their documents, especially when handling sensitive information like customer data and financial information.

 

Mobile Accessibility: In today's fast-paced business world, being able to work on the go is crucial. Acrobat offers mobile apps that allow small businesses and local businesses to access, edit, and share documents from their smartphones or tablets. This mobility ensures that critical tasks can be addressed promptly, even when employees are not in the office.

 

Compliance and Legal Benefits: Acrobat helps businesses maintain compliance by providing tools for digital signatures and document tracking. This is especially valuable for businesses that need to meet stringent regulatory standards, like healthcare and financial institutions.

 

Streamlined Workflows: Acrobat integrates seamlessly with other popular software applications, including Microsoft Office and various cloud storage services. This integration streamlines workflows, making it easier to convert documents to PDF format, collaborate on documents, and access files stored in the cloud. Small and local businesses can save time and reduce errors by using these integrations.

 

Electronic Forms: Acrobat allows businesses to create interactive electronic forms that can be filled out online, reducing the need for paper forms and manual data entry. This simplifies the customer experience and ensures accurate data collection.

 

Just take a look at how Acrobat revolutionized the way The J. Morey Company runs its business. As an insurance agency, J. Morey handles a lot of paperwork — all of which was physical documentation until 2015, when president Joshua Morey digitized the firm’s paperwork with Acrobat. Because they no longer rely on wet signatures that have to be scanned into the computer system or sent via snail mail, the process of signing, password protecting, and sending signed documents takes only a minute instead of 20 minutes, freeing up as much as 10 hours a month per employee.

 

Acrobat’s features and tools allow The J. Morey Company and more than 500,000 other organizations worldwide to reduce costs while scaling their businesses. In fact, when Joshua took over the company in 2015, it had four offices with a total of 18 employees. After just three years of implementing Acrobat into its workflows, the company grew to 150 employees across 11 offices.

 

Acrobat offers a wide array of benefits for small and local businesses. From efficient document management and cost savings to enhanced collaboration and security, Acrobat empowers these businesses to operate more effectively and competitively in today's digital age. Its user-friendly features and mobile accessibility make it a valuable tool for businesses looking to streamline their operations, improve productivity, and deliver professional-quality documents to their clients and customers. Learn more about how Adobe Acrobat can help your business here.

In a world dominated by industry giants, small businesses often find themselves struggling to carve out a niche and make their mark. But what if the key to outshining these titans lies in cleverly crafted strategies that leverage your unique strengths and local presence? From boosting your brand’s visibility through community engagement to adopting cutting-edge technologies, the path to leveling the playing field is at your fingertips. Imagine your brand becoming a beloved staple in your community, capturing the hearts of conscious consumers, and staying ahead by predicting market trends with precision.

Amplify Your Brand with Community Involvement and Sponsorships

Engaging in local events and sponsorships can significantly enhance your brand’s visibility within the community. By participating in activities such as sponsoring local sports teams or funding community projects, your brand gets showcased to a wider audience, creating positive associations and memorable interactions. For instance, participating in local sports events can lead to a noticeable increase in weekend sales. Furthermore, aligning your brand with local causes or events demonstrates your commitment to social responsibility, fostering loyalty and a stronger emotional connection with your audience. 

Organize Efficiently with Streamlined Document Management

Maintaining your business documents in an organized manner is crucial for operational efficiency. Implementing a systematic filing system, such as sorting by name or date, facilitates quick access and reduces time spent searching for documents. Furthermore, this may help: saving documents as PDFs offers unparalleled advantages, such as preserving formatting across devices and enhancing information security. You can effortlessly convert various file types to PDF by using user-friendly online drag-and-drop tools.

Crafting Magnetic Content to Outshine Big Competitors

To effectively compete with industry giants, you must prioritize developing engaging content marketing strategies. Begin by deeply understanding your audience to ensure your content resonates with their needs and interests. Utilize a mix of evergreen, topical content and personalized material, which can drive consistent engagement and build brand loyalty. Leveraging analytics to refine your strategy continuously allows you to improve over time, ensuring your content remains relevant and impactful. By implementing these strategies, you create a strong, competitive presence in the market, distinguishing your brand from larger competitors.

Win Over Conscious Consumers with Sustainability and Ethics

By prioritizing sustainable and ethical sourcing, you can significantly attract the growing segment of environmentally and socially aware consumers. Ethical sourcing practices not only help protect human rights and promote community development but also enhance your brand image, making your products more appealing to modern buyers. Many consumers regard a sustainable lifestyle as important and prioritize purchases from companies that demonstrate ethical sourcing. Moreover, research shows that businesses adopting these practices can see revenue increases and enjoy a boost in brand value. 

Boost Email Engagement with Visual and Interactive Elements

When you’re aiming to compete with industry giants, incorporating visual content and interactive elements in your email campaigns can significantly boost engagement. Using videos, GIFs, and image carousels not only makes your emails more dynamic but also more appealing to your audience. However, remember to balance these elements to ensure quick load times and smooth user experiences. Additionally, advanced features like interactive quizzes or real-time data updates through AMP technology can make your emails more engaging and personalized. 

Create Buzz with Exclusive Offers and Influencer Partnerships

By providing influencers with exclusive offers or early product access, you can foster genuine and enthusiastic promotion of your brand. When influencers receive early access to your products, it allows them to explore and create content that resonates authentically with their audience, which ultimately builds trust and credibility. Furthermore, exclusive offers, such as discount codes, incentivize influencers’ followers to take immediate action, thereby increasing conversions and serving as a tangible measure of the influencer’s impact. This strategy not only engages the influencer but also drives a sense of urgency and exclusivity among their audience.

Outpace Rivals with Predictive Analytics for Inventory Mastery

By leveraging predictive analytics, you can forecast demand trends and optimize your inventory management, effectively competing with industry giants. Predictive analytics employs sophisticated techniques such as data mining, statistics, and machine learning to analyze historical and current data, providing deep insights into customer demand. Companies implementing these methodologies have reported significant reductions in non-performing inventory and declines in inventory holding costs, freeing up valuable working capital. This strategy not only ensures you have the right products in stock but also improves operational efficiency and customer satisfaction.

 

By embracing these strategies, your small business can turn challenges into opportunities and overcome obstacles. Engaging locally and leveraging technology fosters resilience and innovation. Your size is an advantage, offering agility and a personal touch that larger companies may lack. Incorporate these insights into your operations to not only compete but thrive in the industry. Each strategic move will guide your business from small to mighty, paving the way for lasting success.

Discover the many different resources and connections you need to grow your business with the Cumberland Valley Business Alliance!

Ookla’s latest Speedtest Intelligence^® research credits Xfinity Mobile’s PowerBoost for delivering customers 150 percent faster speeds since the innovative feature launched in 2024. PowerBoost delivers speeds of up to 1 Gigabit per second (Gbps) over WiFi at home or at millions of WiFi hotspots across the country. The feature is free to all Xfinity Mobile customers.
 
"Xfinity Mobile combines its WiFi network resources, 5G capabilities, and PowerBoost technology to enhance the connectivity experience for its customers,” said Kerry Baker, Industry Analyst, Ookla. “The integration of these technologies reflects the ongoing industry focus on creating better solutions for evolving user demands."
 
PowerBoost provides Xfinity Mobile customers with more than enough speed to stream, game, video call, or browse and have a high-quality experience. Xfinity Mobile is one of the fastest growing mobile services in the industry with more than seven million customers and counting since the service launched.
 
“From the very beginning Xfinity Mobile has delivered an unparalleled wireless experience for the way consumers use mobile today, to get online,” said Kohposh Kuda, senior vice president, Xfinity Mobile, Comcast. “The superfast speeds delivered by PowerBoost are the latest in a long line of game changing features that our customers can enjoy, whether that is saving hundreds of dollars¹ by switching from the Big Three mobile providers, customizing their account to fit their unique household needs, or keeping loved ones safe from cyber threats with our advanced cybersecurity features.”
 
Nearly 90 percent of Xfinity Mobile smartphone data travels over WiFi and because Comcast delivers the best WiFi experience, now with speeds up to a gig, that is the primary reason why the service consistently ranks faster than competitors in Comcast markets². Xfinity Mobile customers with the latest devices automatically connect to millions of WiFi hotspots across the country and receive up to gig speeds delivered by PowerBoost. And, as the Ookla report notes, Xfinity Mobile speeds will continue to get even faster as consumers upgrade to new devices capable of taking advantage of the faster speeds.
 
PowerBoost is another innovation made possible by Comcast’s state-of-the-art network, designed to provide an exceptional Internet experience to more than 63 million homes and businesses and across more than 23 million WiFi hotspots. It represents years of research, technological advancements, and significant investments, including over $20 billion in the past five years, in development and infrastructure.

.— Wilson College is excited to announce plans to install a new state-of-the-art artificial turf field with the goal of having it ready for the Fall 2025 athletic season. The new turf field will be over 100,000 square feet and will upgrade the existing Rhonda Brake Shreiner Soccer Field in Kris’ Meadow.
“The artificial turf field installation will elevate campus amenities at Wilson College, especially the Phoenix athletic facilities. We are excited to take our athletic facilities to the next level for greater competitiveness on the field, and stronger overall student-athlete recruitment and retention,” said President Wesley R. Fugate, Ph.D.
Wilson will install the new turf field in the 28-acre parcel of land known as Kris’ Meadow, where the College’s soccer and softball fields are located. The turf field will replace the grass soccer field, home of the Wilson College women’s and men’s soccer teams and women’s lacrosse and the new home for the field hockey team.
"Converting our grass field to artificial turf is a game-changer for the Phoenix. This marks a significant investment in the future of our programs, ensuring that our student-athletes have access to a safe, durable, and high-quality playing surface for years to come," said Tina Hill, director of athletics. "The project also demonstrates Wilson’s commitment to providing the best possible environment for student-athletes to train and compete. It will enhance their athletic performance and overall experience, helping to drive the overall growth and success of our sports program."
The new artificial turf will provide a quality field comparable to competitive intercollegiate programs in the region and allow teams to play more often and be less impacted by adverse field conditions because of weather.
The fields in Kris’ Meadow have been in use since 2000, when Kris Rodger Sammons ’64 and her husband, William Sammons, donated funds to purchase land for use by the athletics program. The College constructed and dedicated the Rhonda Brake Shreiner Soccer Field in 2002, in memory of the daughter of Harold and Dolores Brake, and sister of Randall Brake (a Wilson College Everett-Pomeroy Trustee, having served from 1996 to 2005), whose company The Charles E. Brake Co. donated an additional piece of land to the College. The softball field was constructed in 2003.
About Wilson College: Founded in 1869, Wilson College is a private coeducational liberal arts college offering undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral programs. Bachelor’s degree programs include 34 majors and 40 minors in high-demand and innovative fields including education, nursing, equine studies, veterinary nursing, and sport management. Graduate degrees include master’s level programs in education, fine arts, the humanities, nursing, and organizational leadership, and a hybrid, accelerated doctoral program in occupational therapy. With classes available in person and online, the College achieved the highest total enrollment in its history for Fall 2024, as it makes higher education accessible and affordable for today’s students. Visit www.wilson.edu for more information.  

Adams County Winery has once again demonstrated its commitment to the community by supporting the Adams County SPCA in its efforts to care for a recent influx of rescued Chihuahuas. The winery donated
$1,000 to aid in the SPCA’s rescue and rehabilitation efforts, ensuring these small but mighty dogs receive the care they need.
In addition to the initial donation, Adams County Winery launched a customer-driven fundraising campaign, encouraging visitors to contribute to the cause. Through the generosity of its patrons, the winery raised an additional $329.33, which it proudly matched, bringing the total second donation to $658.66.

“We are always eager to support our local SPCA and the incredible work they do,” said General Manager, Dan Baumgardner. “When we heard about this urgent rescue, we knew we had to step in, and we were thrilled to see our customers rally behind such an important cause.

Pictured here is Manager Sean Bockstie presenting a check for $1,658.66 in total donations to Adams County SPCA board member Pam Curley. Joining them is Goldie, the winery’s beloved golden retriever, who added a touch of charm to the occasion.

Adams County Winery’s partnership with the Adams County SPCA continues, with the next scheduled fundraiser set to take place this fall on October 26th during the annual Haunted Wine Run. This event continues to grow each year and invites participants to enjoy a scenic run or walk through the vineyard with a pour of wine at the finish line, while supporting local animal welfare efforts. Registration will be open this summer.

Adams County Winery opened its doors in 1975 in Orrtanna, PA, and is currently Pennsylvania’s fifth- oldest operating winery, as well as the Gettysburg area’s original winery. The Farm Winery location sits on more than 75 acres of rolling hills and farmland while operating out of an 1860's registered historic PA bank barn. In 1988, Tears of Gettysburg was first bottled at the winery, and to this day, it remains one of their most popular wines, as well as one of the oldest continually made wines in Pennsylvania.