Consultant honored as year's innovator
The IMC's innovation and market development consultant received an "Innovator of the Year" award, highlighting her work on behalf of regional industries, during the recent Manufacturing Innovation 2012 event in Orlando, Fla.
Katie Bell was honored at the conference for her development of modern practices to help reinvent America's industrial base and/or to further the Manufacturing Extension Partnership system, a news release said, Specifically, she contributed to three original service offerings Greenovation, SaleSurge and the first Manufacturers' Video Directory that promote innovation, market development and sustainability.
IMC, one of Pennsylvania's seven Industrial Resource Centers and one of the nation's 70 MEP organizations, is based at Pennsylvania College of Technology's Center for Business & Workforce Development in Williamsport.
"Greenovation has been used as an annual competition to promote entrepreneurship and to support the development of green products in the IMC region," noted nominator W. Alan Gehringer, IMC executive director and CEO. "Katie has presented this model at the MEP Conference the past two years and has put in place partner agreements to roll it out to several other MEP centers nationwide."
Greenovation, which has been adopted well beyond Pennsylvania, includes competitions offering prizes of services and cash to encourage companies and entrepreneurs to develop environmentally friendly products.
SaleSurge was developed to help showcase manufacturing companies and launch new products by combining the power of video with Web marketing, a service that led to creation of the first Manufacturers' Video Directory online.
"The IMC has had great success rolling out these services to the marketplace, as it helped companies bring their operations and products to life to enhance their marketing and product-launch capability," Gehringer wrote. "Everyone we speak to about these services within the MEP system and within our manufacturing community are extremely excited about these offerings. We believe this has created one of the most exciting new products to be offered in some time."
A former small-business owner in downtown Williamsport, Bell holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in business-marketing/finance from Lycoming College.
For more about Penn College, visit www.pct.edu, email admissions@pct.edu or call toll-free 800-367-9222.
City resident now
a saleswoman
Mirisha McCaffrey, of Williamsport, has become an independent consultant with Tastefully Simple Inc., a national direct sales company featuring more than foods.
As an independent business owner, McCaffrey, a news release said, offers food samples at home taste-testing parties, along with ideas for everyday meals, recipes, serving suggestions and fun. All of Tastefully Simple's products are open-and-enjoy or can be prepared by adding only one or two ingredients.
"In today's world, 'staying in' has become the new 'going out!' You don't have to leave home to enjoy wonderful food, fun and laughter with your family and friends," says Jill Blashack Strahan, Tastefully Simple Inc. founder and CEO. "That's why we're proud to offer great experiences, easy-to-prepare products and an exciting business opportunity for people who are looking for something more."
For more information about Tastefully Simple products, taste-testing parties or starting your own Tastefully Simple business, contact Mirisha McCaffrey at justcallmemommy1224@yahoo.com.
About Tastefully Simple Tastefully Simple is the original national home taste-testing company featuring easy-to-prepare foods and gifts. The company's unique, high-quality products are offered through independent consultants across the U.S. For more information about Tastefully Simple, visit tastefullysimple.com.
