Brown bag lunch

MARCH 10—Volunteers of American will host their Brown Bag Lunch and Disability Resource Breakfast from 12-1 p.m. at 1650 Main St., Sharpsburg. This is for new and existing business owners who are looking to expand their business. The topic is “Taking Emotions Out of Your Financial Decisions.” Lee Wagner of Waddell and Reed Financial Advisors, will discuss his personal mission to help people navigate the frustrating path to financial literacy and will motivate attendees to become educated and change their behavior in a positive manner. They will leave with a better understanding  of the financial planning needs of the average American. For more information, call 412-782-5344 or e-mail This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Joined by several local state representatives at Borders Books in East Liberty, Gov. Edward G. Rendell put forth five proposals he said would head off the bulk of a looming budget crisis that could leave the state with a $5.6 billion deficit in two years.

“There is a storm coming,” he said. “Only about $5 billion in the $26 billion budget is discretionary spending. The rest, including Medicaid, pensions and corrections cost, we’re mandated to pay. In 2012, we’re going to have another $2 billion in pension costs and another 62,000 people eligible for Medicaid.”

NOT BUSINESS AS USUAL—Joined by state Rep. Joe Preston, D-East Liberty, Governor Edward G. Rendell pushes for lower business and sales tax rates and fewer tax exemptions to head of a projected $5 billion deficit in 2012.

Doris Carson Williams, president and CEO of the African American Chamber of Commerce of Western Pennsylvania said at least one city of Pittsburgh department is limiting access to contracts for Minority- Women- and Disabled-Business Enterprises by bundling contracts.

DORIS CARSON WILLIAMS

“Bundling several contracts into a package and awarding it to one large firm retards economic development, job creation and retention,” she said. “It all but eliminates small firms, not to mention MBE firms.”

More than 200 people in the Pittsburgh area joined thousands of people throughout the world in celebration of the key role that networking plays in the development and success of businesses. Events were held globally to celebrate International Networking Week.

Sponsored by BNI Western PA, the city’s Fourth International Networking Day featured keynote speaker networking guru, Debby Peters, a Certified Networker and contributing author of the bestseller Masters of Networking and Masters of Sales, and Founder of Sales. Peters showed participants how to transition “From Network Dating to Network Dollars.”

MAKING CONNECTIONS— Deborah Lanier and Tracy Baulding network with Roosevelt Dalton, one of many vendors during the area’s Fourth Annual International Networking Day.