Sponsored by

Fiscal Progress
Each month, WHIRL brings you news including personnel, acquisitions, trends, and more, from our region’s financial community.

edited by katie mavrich

Stephen English

Huntington Finalizes Plans for Grand Opening
Plans are being finalized for the grand opening in March of a new Huntington Bank branch — The Village at Pine, in the Wexford area. This branch is the third for Huntington in the North Hills, in addition to banking offices at Cranberry and McIntyre Square. The new branch in Wexford is full service and features a contemporary internal design with a special community meeting room and a full-time business banker on staff.

Huntington Bank is finding ways to make a significant impact in its hometown. In December, the bank provided financing to help re-open the landmark Penn Brewery, and created 40 new jobs on the North Side.

In January, Huntington began speaking with its customers about the opportunities in 2010 to save tax-free retirement income by converting individual retirement accounts (IRAs) into Roth IRAs. According to Stephen English, Pennsylvania regional trust manager for Huntington, “We believe that talking to customers about new opportunities is a critical step in our commitment to help them plan, grow and protect their assets.”

Huntington also announced that it will launch a unique series on WTAE-TV, titled “Connecting with Community.” These stories will showcase the fabric of our local neighborhoods — the people, organizations and projects Huntington works with each day to make its communities special.

Several talented local bankers, with exceptional track records of success in various business lines, continued to join the Huntington team in the Pittsburgh Region. Interested candidates are invited to apply for both full-time and part-time positions at the new Wexford branch, and other banking offices throughout Huntington’s footprint by visiting huntington.com.


A rendering of Cambria Suites

Horizon Properties Brings Cambria Suites to the Region
Horizon Hospitality, an affiliate of the Southpointe-based Horizon Properties Group, is developing two Cambria Suites hotels — one located near the new Consol Energy Center on Center Avenue, scheduled to be completed this fall, and one near the Meadows Racetrack and Casino on Racetrack Road in Washington, which is expected to open in July. The luxury hotels will feature larger rooms with separate work and living areas, luxury bedding, wireless Internet, as well as a state of the art fitness center, coffee bar, and a sundry shop with healthy, organic foods. “We are pleased to team up with a respected local business and world-class sports team to add Pittsburgh to the list of cities that Cambria Suites can call home,” says Kevin Lewis, president of Cambria Suites. “Creating relationships with dedicated developers, such as Horizon Hospitality is paramount to continue to build the Cambria Suites brand. Horizon Properties Group CEO Rodney Piatt echoes his sentiments. “Horizon Hospitality has been afforded a great opportunity to partner with the Pittsburgh Penguins and continue the quest of changing the Uptown region of the City of Pittsburgh. The Cambria Suites arena hotel will be a great complement to the Consol Energy Center and hopefully be a catalyst for future development in the area,” Piatt says. For more information visit Horizon Properties and Cambria Suites.


Susan Baker Shipley

Citizens Bank Welcomes New Executive Vice President
The Royal Bank of Scotland Group, the parent company of Citizens Bank, has promoted Mt. Lebanon resident Susan Baker Shipley to Executive Vice President. As executive VP, Shipley is responsible for the business line’s corporate sales and product management functions for traditional trade, trade finance, and supply chain finance across the Royal Bank of Scotland Group, Citizens Financial Group, and ABN Amro franchises. Shipley also serves as the treasurer of the board of directors of the Children’s Institute of Pittsburgh, is a member of the board of the Wharton School Executive Education Advisory Board, and is a cabinet member of the Western Pennsylvania United Way Women’s Leadership Initiative. For more information visit Citizens Bank.

 


Recession Causes Wealthy Americans to Re-evaluate
A recent study by PNC Wealth Management has found that wealthy Americans have re-evaluated their lifestyles, and are getting back to basics. Eighty-eight percent of people surveyed believe that it is more important than ever to live within their means, and 66 percent have developed a greater appreciation for the non-material wealth in their lives. The survey also revealed that half of its respondents “feel more centered because the recession has given them an opportunity to re-evaluate their priorities.”

“For wealthy individuals, the recession has presented an ideal opportunity for a strategic analysis of their current lifestyle,” says Steve Pappaterra, senior vice president and managing director of PNC Wealth Management. “It is time to strip away the clutter, discern what is most important, and develop tangible action steps to ensure that key goals and dreams are accomplished and important values are passed on.” For more information, visit pnc.com. 


Sync Your Calendars

February 2
Western Pennsylvania Celebrates International Networking Day
On February 2, the Radisson Hotel in Green Tree will be packed with more than 500 movers and shakers of Western Pennsylvania’s business community as they join together to make new contacts and celebrate Greater Pittsburgh’s Fourth Annual International Networking Day. Networking experts Debby Peters, Michelle R. Donovan, Tom Renda, Peter Bruening, Anne Fleming, and Pam Peters will be on hand for break-out sessions, so that business owners, entrepreneurs, students, sales professionals, and more will be able to learn about the topics that most pertain to them. For more information, contact the Radisson Hotel Greentree at 412.922.8400, or visit indpittsburgh.com.

February 4
Pittsburgh Business Times sponsors BizMix Event
The Pittsburgh Business Times is sponsoring BizMix, a networking event with a twist, at the Mattress Factory Art Museum on February 4. In addition to an informal, open-house atmosphere to make new contacts, Business Times editors, reporters, and staff will be in attendance. The $35 reservation fee includes two complimentary drinks. Don’t forget your business cards! For more information, call Pittsburgh Business Times at 412.208.3845, or visit.

February 9
Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership Hosts Annual Meeting
The Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership welcomes keynote speaker Dennis Burns, CAPP, senior practice builder/regional VP for Kimley-Horn Associates, to its 2010 Annual Meeting at the Westin Convention Center Pittsburgh on the morning of February 9. Burns will address the crowd on “Leveraging Parking as a Critical Tool in Downtown Revitalization and Economic Development.” Other topics of discussion include the progress that Downtown has made in the past year, as well as exciting developments that will take place in 2010. For more information, contact the Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership at 412.566.4190.