News

Philly doctor awarded patents for medication study

April 20, 2020 - Dr. Steven Baranowitz, President of Epitek, and a member of the World Trade Center of Greater Philadelphia, was awarded two patents by the United States government on March 31, 2020 and earlier in August 20, 2019 for the study of broad-spectrum anti-viral medications, including COVID-19, Pandemic Influenza and Zika. “These broad-spectrum antiviral drugs include some medications currently marketed as prescription drugs (such as MMF/MPA) for other diseases, as well as a pipeline of drugs, some of which have been in clinical trials for other conditions,” says Dr. Baranowitz. Dr. Baranowitz is seeking partnerships with doctors, hospitals, private companies, or government agencies in emergency clinical trials for the treatment of coronavirus patients. With the help of World Trade Center of Greater Philadelphia (WTCGP) trade specialist, Dale Foote, Dr. Baranowitz has been working with PA Authorized Trade Representatives, in Germany (covering Italy, Austria and Switzerland), South Korea, and India to locate health and hospital officials who will want to learn more. “There are medications currently available by prescription in the US which are documented to kill most coronavirus strains in the laboratory. The medications are sold for a different use but could be clinically tested in the US to treat patients. They are anti-viral in a dose smaller than the dose for the current use,” says Dr. Baranowitz. The medications have been demonstrated by Baranowitz to be broad spectrum antivirals, in collaboration with the National Institutes of Health (NIH), over the last 4 years. Dr Baranowitz has 28 years of drug development experience in the pharmaceutical industry, and believes that physicians, hospitals, state and federal government could use these medications rapidly in new emergency clinical trials. Epitek focuses on two drugs documented to kill most Coronaviruses. The drugs are CURRENTLY MARKETED for a completely different use. One is widely available and inexpensive. For anti-viral effect, Epitek believes that the drug can be used at 10% or less of the dose for the currently marketed indication. The drugs inhibit inosine monophosphate dehydrogenase (IMPDH), which is a critical enzyme for increasing the body's pool of the nucleoside guanosine. Guanosine is indispensable to the virus for replicating its RNA. “A COVID research paper was published a few weeks ago by a different research group, saying that mycophenolic acid (MPA), which is the active ingredient in mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) is a good candidate for clinical testing,” says Dr. Baranowitz About Steven A. Baranowitz MD MS MBA President The President of Epitek is Dr. Steven Baranowitz. Dr Baranowitz is a successful Pharmaceutical/Biotech Scientist, Physician, and an entrepreneur with many patents to his credit. Having served as Medical Director at several major Pharmaceutical companies, as well as Biotechs, Dr. Baranowitz brings a wealth of industry experience with both large and small companies. He is a recognized expert in pharmaceutical Drug Safety and Clinical Trials and has consulted for many well known companies in these areas. He worked ensuring the safety of Vaccines, both marketed and in development, as a consultant to Sanofi-Pasteur in the past. Dr. Baranowitz is an inventor with over ten US and International patents on new potential treatments for a variety of diseases in fields including virology, oncology, ophthalmology, and regenerative medicine. A graduate of the New York University School of Medicine, Dr. Baranowitz completed specialty training in dermatology at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York. He obtained research expertise in Developmental Biology while earning his Master of Science degree from the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor and his Bachelor of Science degree at Brooklyn College. His business training included the M.B.A. he obtained from Fairleigh-Dickinson University and his licensing and product evaluation experience at several pharmaceutical companies. Dr. Baranowitz was honored by the University of Oxford in England when its Center for Mathematical Biology sponsored him as a visiting scientist. As a guest of the University, he lectured and collaborated in original research. During his stay, he also gave an invited guest seminar at the National Institute for Medical Research in London.He continues actively collaborating in research with the National Institutes of Health, the Armed Forces Radiobiology Research Institute, and Temple University; he has in the past conducted research at U.S. Oak Ridge National Laboratory. Dr. Baranowitz has presented papers at international symposia and his research has been published in several scientific journals including the Journal of Theoretical Biology, Macromolecules, and the New England Journal of Medicine.Dr. Baranowitz continues active research at his office in Philadelphia, which is adjacent to Drexel University. Over 35 Drexel undergraduate and graduate coops (interns) have been trained by him in the last five years, and this educational and research collaboration in ongoing. Dr. Baranowitz is a resident of Wyncote, PA. About the World Trade Center of Greater Philadelphia The World Trade Center of Greater Philadelphia (WTCGP) is one of over 320 World Trade Centers in 89 countries around the globe. A non-profit and membership - based organization, the WTCGP accelerates global business growth for companies in Southeastern Pennsylvania and Southern New Jersey by providing customized, one-on-one trade counseling, market research, educational programs, trade mission and trade show support, business networking events, and powerful connections to customers and partners worldwide. Since 2002, the WTCGP has served as a catalyst for regional economic growth and job creation, helping area companies generate over $2B in incremental export sales, supporting over 26,000 jobs. Media Contact: Graziella DiNuzzo, gdinuzzo@wtcphila.org, 609.680.7670 Read More

Maintaining unity and creating value, virtually

April 1, 2020 - The novel coronavirus forced a global halt to major international, regional and local events. From the NBA season to networking conferences, all gatherings of any size stopped abruptly in an effort to flatten the curve and prevent COVID-19, the disease caused by the coronavirus, from spreading further. However, as the population at large becomes accustomed to social distancing, stay at home orders and self quarantining, many events went from a hard stop to full speed ahead virtually. As the business community adjusts to the challenges of the disruption caused by the coronavirus, many institutions are building value and maintaining relationships by maximizing the use of webinars, online classes, video conferences and even virtual happy hours. In Philadelphia, World Trade Center of Greater Philadelphia, an organization dedicated to accelerating global business growth for companies in Southeastern Pennsylvania and South New Jersey, has turned to virtual meetings to stay connected with its members. “We understand how important it is to remain connected with our members and client companies during this challenging time,” Spokeswoman Graziella DiNuzzo told Invest: Philadelphia. “Like many other organizations, we are using Zoom meetings.” The center has maintained rapport with its members as it made the transition to work remotely. “We are handling this transition quite smoothly. We are a staff of seven professionals and have always maintained close contact with our clients via phone and email and working remotely doesn’t slow us down,” DiNuzzo said. Bringing members together in this time of uncertainty is among the center’s main goals. “Our member-company meeting is our “Member Conversations,” which we started last year as a way to bring our members together, informally, in our conference room to meet each other, talk and share stories,” DiNuzzo said. “This will be the first time, obviously, that we will hold our Member Conversations virtually and we are looking forward to it. The bottom line is that we have to continue to communicate and support each other during this time. We are all eager to get back to business as usual and we don’t know what that will look like. We are hopeful that it will be a rebirth of ideas and opportunities.” Read more. Read More

Dr.Baranowitz to Docs: Consider MMF/MPA for COVID

April 1, 2020 - Philadelphia Scientist and President of Epitek Inc., Dr. Steven Baranowitz, urges doctors to pay attention to current prescription medication (MMF/MPA) that can be clinically tested against COVID-19 Media Contact: Graziella DiNuzzo, gdinuzzo@wtcphila.org, 609.680.7670 Philadelphia, PA….March 31, 2020….Dr. Steven Baranowitz, President of Epitek, and a member of the World Trade Center of Greater Philadelphia, is eager to work with physicians, hospitals, state and federal officials across the United States to clinically test a specific prescription medication for treatment of patients with COVID-19 . With the help of World Trade Center of Greater Philadelphia (WTCGP) trade specialist, Dale Foote, Dr. Baranowitz has been working with PA Authorized Trade Representatives, in Germany (covering Italy, Austria and Switzerland), South Korea, and India to locate health and hospital officials who will want to learn more. “There are medications currently available by prescription in the US which are documented to kill most coronavirus strains in the laboratory. The medications are sold for a different use but could be clinically tested in the US to treat patients. They are anti-viral in a dose smaller than the dose for the current use,” says Dr. Baranowitz. The medications have been demonstrated by Baranowitz to be broad spectrum antivirals, in collaboration with the National Institutes of Health (NIH), over the last 4 years. Dr Baranowitz has 28 years of drug development experience in the pharmaceutical industry, and believes that physicians, hospitals, state and federal government could use these medications rapidly in new emergency clinical trials. Epitek focuses on two drugs documented to kill most Coronaviruses. The drugs are CURRENTLY MARKETED for a completely different use. One is widely available and inexpensive. For anti-viral effect, Epitek believes that the drug can be used at 10% or less of the dose for the currently marketed indication. The drugs inhibit inosine monophosphate dehydrogenase (IMPDH), which is a critical enzyme for increasing the body's pool of the nucleoside guanosine. Guanosine is indispensable to the virus for replicating its RNA. “A COVID research paper was published a few days ago by a different research group, saying that mycophenolic acid (MPA), which is the active ingredient in mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) is a good candidate for clinical testing,” says Dr. Baranowitz About Steven A. Baranowitz MD MS MBA President The President of Epitek is Dr. Steven Baranowitz. Dr Baranowitz is a successful Pharmaceutical/Biotech Scientist, Physician, and an entrepreneur with many patents to his credit. Having served as Medical Director at several major Pharmaceutical companies, as well as Biotechs, Dr. Baranowitz brings a wealth of industry experience with both large and small companies. He is a recognized expert in pharmaceutical Drug Safety and Clinical Trials and has consulted for many well known companies in these areas. He worked ensuring the safety of Vaccines, both marketed and in development, as a consultant to Sanofi-Pasteur in the past. Dr. Baranowitz is an inventor with over ten US and International patents on new potential treatments for a variety of diseases in fields including virology, oncology, ophthalmology, and regenerative medicine.A graduate of the New York University School of Medicine, Dr. Baranowitz completed specialty training in dermatology at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York. He obtained research expertise in Developmental Biology while earning his Master of Science degree from the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor and his Bachelor of Science degree at Brooklyn College. His business training included the M.B.A. he obtained from Fairleigh-Dickinson University and his licensing and product evaluation experience at several pharmaceutical companies. Dr. Baranowitz was honored by the University of Oxford in England when its Center for Mathematical Biology sponsored him as a visiting scientist. As a guest of the University, he lectured and collaborated in original research. During his stay, he also gave an invited guest seminar at the National Institute for Medical Research in London. He continues actively collaborating in research with the National Institutes of Health, the Armed Forces Radiobiology Research Institute, and Temple University; he has in the past conducted research at U.S. Oak Ridge National Laboratory. Dr. Baranowitz has presented papers at international symposia and his research has been published in several scientific journals including the Journal of Theoretical Biology, Macromolecules, and the New England Journal of Medicine. Dr. Baranowitz continues active research at his office in Philadelphia, which is adjacent to Drexel University. Over 35 Drexel undergraduate and graduate coops (interns) have been trained by him in the last five years, and this educational and research collaboration in ongoing. Dr. Baranowitz is a resident of Wyncote, PA. About the World Trade Center of Greater Philadelphia The World Trade Center of Greater Philadelphia (WTCGP) is one of over 320 World Trade Centers in 89 countries around the globe. A non-profit and membership - based organization, the WTCGP accelerates global business growth for companies in Southeastern Pennsylvania and Southern New Jersey by providing customized, one-on-one trade counseling, market research, educational programs, trade mission and trade show support, business networking events, and powerful connections to customers and partners worldwide. Since 2002, the WTCGP has served as a catalyst for regional economic growth and job creation, helping area companies generate over $2B in incremental export sales, supporting over 26,000 jobs. www.wtcphila.org Read More

KOB Studio: One-of-a-kind, Hand-painted Textiles

February 4, 2020 - By Graziella DiNuzzo Hand-painting designs on textiles is a craft that dates back thousands of years to Asia and parts of Europe and this highly specialized technique continues to thrive in Philadelphia at Kevin O’Brien Studio (KOB). Artist and painter, Kevin O’Brien, began his career as a painter with the goal to “add beauty to the world.” When O’Brien had an idea for a design, he went directly to an old fashioned sketch book to hand draw his idea – not a computer. That was over 20 years ago and its still where KOB designs begin. O’Brien opened his first studio in old city Philadelphia in 1997. Angela Romano-Vosburgh, a graduate of Moore College of Art and Design, joined O’Brien that year as an intern – today she is Studio Manager and Lead Designer. “The way I remember it, there was this huge loft in the oldest part of Philadelphia. It was filled with the most splendid shimmering fabrics hanging everywhere . . . from the ceiling drying, against the walls being painted, even from the fire escape.” A few years ago, O’Brien custom renovated an old movie theater on Broad Street to house his new studio. O’Brien and his team design, print, paint and dye all of their fabrics to produce pillows, quilts, duvets, rugs, and a variety of other items for the home furnishings market – “all under one roof and in Philadelphia.” Angela leads a tour through the modern, bright studio. The first-floor area is set-up for their annual end of year Sample Sale, “We used to primarily make fabrics for designers and one-of-a kind scarves that were sold in museum shops and upscale retailers like Neiman Marcus and Bergdorf Goodman,” says Angela as she holds a silk-velvet infinity scarf. In addition to scarves, the floor is also filled with beautifully appointed upholstered chairs and ottomans (upon which your dog should never sit), beds, rugs, pillows, and stuffed animals. Stuffed animals? In order to reduce fabric waste, KOB decided to commission craft artist Carolyn Cook to create adorable plush “art,” pieced together from various fabrics. “Meant as a display piece.” The display beds are dressed in KOB duvets and heaps of down and feather stuffed pillows. The pillows are encased in a variety of designs, which include silk, velvet, and cotton. Some pillows are crafted with hand-embroidery and velvet mixed with cashmere.The detailed embroidery is hand stitched in Kathmandu, Nepal. “After visiting Kathmandu, and seeing how artists continue the ancient practice of fine embroidery, Kevin decided to open a studio,” says Angela. “Nepal has embroidery skills we don’t have and Kevin was also able to teach them how to paint on fabric and burning out techniques. We have a fair trade relationship and love that we provide jobs for such beautiful people,” says Angela. “They can hand weave a single blanket if we need it.” How long does it take to make one pillow? Sometimes a few days. “We start with white fabric and only use natural fibers,” says Angela as we walk toward the room where the painting takes place. We watch as the artist handpaints the white fabric with natural dyes. With a steady hand and laser focus, the artist applies just the right amount of paint – a technique taught by O’Brien, “its very labor intensive.” John Loughney, Dye Specialist, has been working with KOB since 2003, “Once the painting is complete, the fabric is steamed for about an hour and a half in a “steam room.” O’Brien and Loghney built the steam room, “its large enough to steam about 32 yards at a time.” “The fabric leaves the steamer and then needs to go a washing machine to be washed with fabric softener, and then goes to the dryer,” explains Loughney. Back in the production room, the fabric is then ironed to enhance the color. “We would love to bring our fabrics and products to other parts of the world especially those countries that have a culture of appreciating fabrics and handmade things. Japan comes to mind, so does Italy and England. But really there are people everywhere who appreciate fine and beautiful things and my goal is to get to these people so they are not without KOB products,” says O’Brien.The wheels are in motion. O’Brien has attended the World Trade Center of Greater Philadelphia Bringing the World To PA events in 2018 and 2019 and met with several Authorized Trade Representatives who are researching for buyers in Germany, Canada, Australia and the United Kingdom. Clearly, hand-made fabric production and the products made with such rich coverings take talent and time. Angela laughs, “No one is as crazy to produce the way we do, that’s what makes us different.” Read More

Philadelphia’s Bassetts Ice Cream, Now in Taiwan

January 23, 2020 - By Graziella DiNuzzo Taiwan has now joined the growing list of countries who have fallen in love with Philly’s own Bassetts Ice Cream. “One of their top executives had tasted Bassetts Ice Cream while traveling and had been trying to get it ever since,” says Michael Strange, President, Bassetts Ice Cream, referring to an executive at Hi-Lai Foods, the parent company of Harbour Buffet Restaurants.Harbour Buffet Restaurant, Taiwan’s all-you-can-eat restaurant chain will now include Bassetts Ice Cream on their menu at seven locations starting January 2020. Strange explains that Bassetts has been pursuing Hi-Lai foods since 2011, “thanks in a large part to Pennsylvania’s Authorized Trade Representative in Taiwan, Irene Tsai, we were able to navigate our way through it all finally and find a way to get our ice cream to Taiwan.” Quoted in a recent article in Taiwan’s Savor Life Style Magazine, Tsai says, “The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is the US state with the most representatives in the world, and has established their presence in Taipei for 15 years. I have had the good fortune of having tasted Bassetts every time I go back to Pennsylvania for meetings.” Zemin Liu, Hi-Lai’s Chief Brand Officer tells Savor Life Magazine, “Considering the needs of the Taiwanese consumers, we will introduce 12 flavors including Peanut Butter Swirl, Cookies and Cream and Pomegranate Blueberry.” At a press conference, Roning Wu, Director of Marketing for Hai-Lai Foods was pleased that the Taiwanese will be getting the “exact same product as in the US,” since the brand is so “wildly popular in the States and Korea.” In 1861, using a mule-turned churn on his farm in Salem New Jersey, Lewis Dubois Bassett invented what would become America’s oldest ice cream – Bassetts. By 1885, Bassetts Ice Cream was sold at fifth and Market Street in Philadelphia and by 1892 moved to its current location inside Reading Terminal. Ice Cream production was also moved into the basement of the Reading Terminal location.“I am certain that my great, great grandfather would be both amazed and proud that Bassetts Ice Cream is now available on the opposite side of the world,” said Strange. Exporting Ice Cream takes some strategic logistics planning. “When we were first approached by them we needed to make sure that our product would be handled correctly and that we wouldn’t be limiting our brand’s potential growth within the market. About four years ago, we were very close to agreeing on a sale, but could not quite get to the final step. Since then Hi-Lai’s distributor for meats, Mayfull Foods Corporation, added a huge, brand new storage freezer that would make for the perfect environment for our ice cream and the capabilities of delivering to a broad array of clients all while maintaining the cold temperatures needed to maintain the quality of our ice cream door to door. All of that being said, what kept the conversations alive was the superior taste and quality of Bassetts Ice Cream. One of the reasons for our success in Asia is that our ice cream is less sweet than many of our competitors,” says Brian Bebee, Vice President, Sales and Marketing, Bassetts. “From our experience it seems it’s something the Asian palate prefers. “ Bassetts manfuctures its Ice cream in Pennsylvania using the highest quality ingredients including fresh butter, non-fat milk, and fresh and dried fruits. Tourists and Philly-area locals traditionally line-up at Bassetts’ only brick and mortar store at Reading Terminal on North 12th Street in Philadelphia. President Barack Obama is said to have enjoyed a cone. With the help of the World Trade Center of Greater Philadelphia (WTCGP) international trade specialist, Dale Foote, and the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Office of International Business Development, Bassetts began exporting to China in 2008 and on June 7, 2017, opened its first store in South Korea. Today, consumers in South Korea can get their scoop at one of over 31 Bassetts stores, called Bassetts Ice Cream Café. The cafes also serve sandwiches, beverages, coffee and ice cream cakes. Bassetts Ice Cream is planning to export to additional countries “we are in the early stages of conversations with prospects in Malaysia, Chile, Bermuda and the Middle East,” says Strange. It may not be long before everyone on the planet gets to fall in love with America’s oldest ice cream. Read More

Pacproinc® For Safe, Efficient Food Packaging

December 20, 2019 - By Graziella DiNuzzo Ever wonder how the piece of paper you find in between beef patties gets there? Most probably not. At one time, human hands painstakingly placed the paper, one at a time, to separate each patty in an assembly line, until engineer Lawrence Ward had an idea that would revolutionize the meat industry. In 1989, Ward invented the Arc’Tronic Hole Perforator - Packaging Progressions Inc. was born. Dante Pietrinferni was working as a Production Manager at Mechtronics Industries, a machine building company, when Mr. Ward discovered him and offered him a job. It was 1992 and with only six employees, Pacproinc® was designing and manufacturing automatic, high-speed interleavers and stackers, eventually obtaining a patent for their “Inline Foldover” method in 1995. Pietrinferni became President of Packaging Progressions in 2011. “Our machines operate at the highest speeds, we have superior customer service and the most industry expertise. We were first to market and consider ourselves number one in the world,” smiles Pietrinferni. Applications for Pacproinc® began with philly steaks and now include bacon, cheese, cookie dough, puff pastry, empanadas and tortillas, pasta sheets, burger patties, flatbreads and pizza bases, and sliced deli meats. “We are able to take our core technology and adapt it to many products.” Popular brands packaged on Pacproinc® machines include Domino Pizza, Subway, and McDonald’s. “As we grew we were able to develop other packaging solutions within the food industry.” Today, Pacproinc® has expanded its line of hole perforators, interleavers and stackers to include custom and standard conveyors, value-added services, and a full range of interleaving materials. “Our biggest domestic sellers are bacon and burger packaging machines.” Pacproinc® began exporting in the mid nineties, but not without some challenges and lessons learned. “We learned the hard way that a handshake deal is not a good idea. We worked with a man named Mr. Sleegers, whom we met at a trade show and eventually became our European representative. We knew we needed a local presence in order to provide the level of service our customers are used to.” “We had various levels of success in Europe through 2000, until Mr. Sleeger decided to reverse engineer our machines and make his own version. He essentially took over our European market.” In July 2019, Pacproinc® was acquired by Middleby Corporation, a global leader in the foodservice industry. “The benefit that excites us the most is being able to leverage Middleby’s international assets to help us sell our products all over the world. Our biggest challenge to selling internationally was our lack of service and sales support within a territory. International customers were reluctant to buy from a company that did not have a local presence and provided support from the U.S.” In 2019, Pacproinc® sold their machines into Canada, Malaysia, Peru and the U.K. “We have sold parts, materials and machines to Australia, Thailand, Israel, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Germany, France, the Netherlands, Denmark, Sweden, Poland, Canada, Peru, Mexico and the U.K.“ Pietrinferni recalls a meeting organized by WTCGP and the Korean PA Authorized Trade Representative, “We were meeting with a South Korean company, in a Greek restaurant in Germany. The South Koreans seemed angry. By learning some cultural awareness from our WTCGP contact, we understood that was just their communication style.” As the food industry grows to changing consumer demands, Pietrinferni understands that Pacproinc® will need to adapt. “We have a lot of discussion about using paper versus plastic, and are looking for more sustainable methods. Some clients require a heavier wax coating on the paper. We are always working on different formulations.” During a tour of the plant, Mr. Pietrinferni demonstrated a robotic arm that the engineers are looking to integrate with their machines. “We have developed new designs that work with our core technologies and created about 8 to 10 patents over the years.” Today, Packaging Progressions (Pacproinc®) has 65 employees and during the last three years have consistently recorded 15% growth each year. The future looks bright for Packaging Progressions. “We not only provide a safe and sanitary solution to packaging fresh and frozen food, we also have superior 24/7 customer service. No one else can do what we do.” Read More

Visual Software Revolutionizing Health & Education

October 8, 2019 - By Graziella DiNuzzo In Swaziland (now officially eSwatini) Africa, a man with AIDS walks many miles through precarious terrain to arrive at the nearest clinic. If he is lucky to be seen that day, the clinic attendant will need to conduct testing to determine a diagnosis – testing alone may kill him, the attendant, or any number of people who might mishandle his infectious blood. The clinic does not know this man’s history – no computer, no database, no medical record. The narrative is the same in a mountainous village in Lesotho, Africa where a young child’s already limited education, anchored in a primitive one-room schoolhouse, makes him virtually invisible - no computer, no school record, no access to the world. When Robert Hutchison, President and CEO of Visual Software, attended a networking event hosted by the World Trade Center of Greater Philadelphia, US Commercial Service and Bucks County Community College, he met Victoria Senome, President of the African and Caribbean Business Council. “Victoria said our software would be revolutionary in Africa,” said Hutchison, “and I am learning firsthand that she’s right.” Two weeks later, in October 2018, Hutchison found himself on his first trip to Lesotho, Africa, with a mission group from the National Baptist Convention and meeting with the minister of education who welcomed him with open arms. Since then, Hutchison has made four trips to six countries in Africa, Jordan and the Kurdistan Region of Iraq…and he’s getting ready to leave for Africa again next month. “Globally, we had already worked in Australia and England, but what led me to Africa was a desire to use the software we developed to maximize impact, not profit.” Hutchison is now on a mission. “I had been praying about how to use our products to make a significant contribution to the world, and then opportunities in Africa opened up.” IT has always been Hutchison’s calling. His 40 years in the computer / software industry includes working at Bell Laboratories on the UNIX Operating System project, and developing advanced mathematical modeling software for internationally known clients. He also created an advanced warning system for one of the largest telephone systems in the world and written three textbooks. Hutchison and his team at Visual Software created Sustainable Applications and Solutions optimized for use in rural settings and large communities. Using a private cloud-based system, the software can maintain basic and advanced information for healthcare and education sectors. “From building databases and providing individual IDs to e-based learning and more, lives will be improved and saved. In some places, 14 out of 100 women now die in childbirth. Technology will make a huge difference and improve that statistic.” Since 2001, Visual Software has served millions of students and companies in the US, Canada, Europe, Africa and Australia. With close working relationships with Microsoft, Oracle and many regional systems integrators throughout the US, UK and Australia, they are able to provide custom, integrated platforms. Visual Software has been a Microsoft Certified Partner since 2003 and an Oracle Gold Certified Partner since 2014. They are also members of the international security group OWASP. So with no electricity, how does a poor village power up computers? “We are working with solar equipment providers to create a low-voltage solar energy package that supplies the needs of schools and clinics without generating the heat normally associated with such systems,” Hutchison explains. “By eliminating the solar inverter, the heat generated is far less and the system runs more efficiently. By reducing the heat, the need for cooling fans is eliminated, thereby reducing the amount of dust making its way into the equipment. By reducing dust, the equipment lasts longer.” Robert Hutchison wheels out a black metal rolling cart with several shelves. He places a laptop on top of the cart and lifts it to point out the encased heavy rubber covering. “Students will use hardened laptops, tested to the Military standard 810G for durability and resistance to moisture and dust. The carts will hold the equipment inside and the outside will be fitted with solar panels. Wireless networking will connect to the Internet. The cart can be wheeled between rooms. Having all components pre-packaged eliminates much of the work of deploying the solutions in these remote locations.” And what about wireless connectivity? “Having nearly universal wireless connectivity throughout Africa was initially one of the factors that opened the door for opportunities such as these. Much of Africa is still hard to get to via typical transportation methods, but at least in terms of information, connecting these rural communities has become much easier. It’s surprising how well-connected Africa is – in some countries, they even have 5g connectivity." The Visual Software team had to re-write the software for low bandwidth, in consideration of markets like Africa with high internet access costs. “In Africa, Internet customers pay for their wireless internet data by the gigabyte; there are no unlimited data plans as is common in the US. As of May 2019, data rates for 10GB of data range from USD $8.37 (Egypt) to $279 (Equatorial Guinea). “ In Sierra Leone, there is a hospital called Emergency, established by an Italian NGO in 2001. To date, Emergency has treated 798,496 patients and was a critical resource during the Ebola crisis – all without technology. “Outside the hospital in Sierra Leone there are extreme environmental challenges, like dirt, mud and flooding from monsoon rains but inside the hospital is spotless. They even have white PVC encased doors so they can be wiped down. But they still log all of their patient blood tests in big ledger books.” Since 1994, Emergency has opened its doors free of charge to victims of war, refugees and the sick at its hospitals located in Afghanistan, Central African Republic, Iraq, Sicily, Sierra Leone and Sudan. As the son of a refugee, Hutchison has a deep understanding of the long lasting affect of humanitarian aid. His mother and aunt were part of the massive child refugee evacuation called “Los Niños”, during the Spanish Civil War”, cramming nearly 4,000 children into a steamship to England, who were also come to be known as the “Basque Children.” His mother was eventually adopted by a family in Northern England. His grandparents were captured by Franco’s forces, put into slavery and then moved to concentration camps. After the war, his grandparents lived out the remainder of their lives in Mexico. Hutchison is paying it forward. “I have been donating my time and resources to this project in Africa. The best part of Africa is the people.” Once the technology is implemented, the goal is to create jobs and set up the project to be self-sustaining. Visual Software will provide support when needed. “Within the first year of our education deployment, we intend to deploy classroom technology to 1,000 schools with an eventual target of over 30,000 schools in the first five years.” Hutchison smiles. What’s next? “Visual Software recently connected with several of the PA Overseas Authorized Trade Representatives ATRs during our recent September 19 and 20, 2019, Bringing the World To PA (BTW2PA) events in Philadelphia during their one-on-one ATR meetings to discuss market expansion in the UK and Australia, as well as market entry strategies for Scandinavia, the Czech Republic, Jordan and the United Arab Emirates (Arab Gulf region). Visual Software has already done some great work in Australia with many more opportunities to expand upon their initial success,” said Dale Foote, International Trade Specialist for the World Trade Center of Greater Philadelphia. In Iraq, Hutchison’s team is currently working on software that will be used to reconnect families dispersed by war and chemical weapons attacks. Robert Hutchison and his team are transforming lives, one byte at a time. Read More

VHM provides the right ingredients customers need

August 5, 2019 - By Graziella DiNuzzo Have you ever looked at the interior of a car and wonder how it was made, or why the paint is so shiny? Most likely not. After visiting with member company Van Horn, Metz & Company (VHM), I look at these things differently. “Take a walk through Home Depot,” says President Barry Fisher. “It is safe to say that at least one or more of the raw materials we sell was used to make just about everything in the store.” From Pigments like Iron Oxides and Titanium Dioxide to Additives like UV Stabilizers and Hyperdispersants and Resins like Epoxy Esters and Low VOC alkyds to Dyes like Lake Pigments and FD&C, and Extenders like Attapulgite Clay and Barium Sulfate…whew…VHM has everything the Industrial markets need to formulate their products. Anamaria Tanase, Market Development Manager for Van Horn, Metz & Co. agrees that sorting through their vast product line is overwhelming for folks outside the industry. “Think of baking a cake,” she says. The ingredients the customer may need are some Pigment, Additive, Resin, Extender, etc. …mix it all or some together and the end result might become a bio-based sealant or paint for your deck. Navigating through VHM’s product line may also be daunting for new and established customers as well, which is why VHM has a team of 18 specialized technical experts with vast industry experience, training, and education, to assist with product development every step of the way from production to placement. The VHM team is located across the central and eastern US, and their logistics and warehouse capabilities include 12 warehouses and six sales offices. “We bring value with the products we sell,” says Mr. Fisher. “Our team develops long-standing relationships with our customer’s team to ensure they get it right the first time.” The VHM story began in 1950 when Harold Van Horn and Donald Metz joined forces to form Van Horn, Metz. The idea for their business came about while the men were working on camouflage paint formulations for the US government during World War II, beginning the journey for VHM to become the leading specialty raw materials distributor in North America. As distributors for over 25 renowned companies including Chemours, Evonik, Cargill, Lubrizol, and others, VHM maintains its position to provide the most advanced products – safely. “All personnel are required to complete Hazmat training. Handling chemicals is taken seriously,” adds Mr. Fisher. VHM is a long-standing member of the National Association of Chemical Distributors (NACD) and recently passed its sixth NACD Responsible Distributor verification. VHM also belongs to the American Coatings Association (ACA), Society of Plastics Engineers (SPE), the Federation of Societies for Coating Technology and the World Trade Center of Greater Philadelphia (WTCGP). “It was six years ago that we began exporting,” Mr. Fisher explains. “We are currently doing business in Canada, Germany, Brazil, Mexico the UK and China.” Mr. Fisher is a member of the WTCGP Advisory Council. “WTCGP has been a help for VHM, most importantly, it was our introduction to White and Williams law firm that has given us the critical legal advice we need to continue our work internationally.” Mr. Fisher also credits a Temple University intern who joined the VHM team almost a year ago. “Fresh eyes are helping us with our inventory management and our supply chain challenges.” The Greek Philosopher Plato once said that necessity is the mother of invention. Each year thousands of products are invented and for those that succeed, VHM may have a little something to do with it…not to mention the ink to print this article. https://www.vanhornmetz.com/ Read More

Dave DeLizza Appointed President & CEO of Pennoni

June 13, 2019 - It’s not surprising that Dave DeLizza chose to major in engineering at Drexel University. “I remember dad would take me to his job sites while the bridges were under construction to show me how they were built,” says DeLizza. “The two I remember the most are the Girard Avenue Bridge (completed in 1972), and the Spring Garden Street Bridge over the Schuylkill (completed in 1965).” DeLizza was nine years old when his dad, who spent 30 years working for the City of Philadelphia as a Civil Engineer, took him to the ribbon cutting ceremony for the Spring Garden Street Bridge. “Dad also had a drafting board set up at our house. I enjoyed watching him prepare house plans for side renovation projects,“ recalls DeLizza. Born and raised in the Port Richmond section of Philadelphia, DeLizza learned to respect hard work while helping at his family’s neighborhood sandwich shop. Today, photos of children and grandkids line the shelves of Dave DeLizza’s office at Pennoni in Philadelphia. On July 1st, DeLizza will officially begin his role as the fourth President and CEO of Pennoni, succeeding Tony Bartolomeo who held that position for the past 20 years. DeLizza sits comfortably in his chair to talk about his career at Pennoni, which technically began in 1976 when he worked on the survey crew as a Drexel University co-op student. He would continue to complete all three of his co-op periods at Pennoni. “I love my job,” smiles DeLizza. Upon graduating from Drexel University in 1979, DeLizza asked founder and then President, C.R. “Chuck” Pennoni for a full-time job and was told there weren’t any immediate openings. However, a few days later, DeLizza received a phone call that would place him on his successful career journey. “When I met with Mr. Pennoni he told me one of the engineers had resigned and he offered me the position of staff engineer.”“Dave has a proven track record of demonstrating our goals of excellent reputation, profit, and growth through strong leadership, as well as expressing Pennoni’s core values of honesty, integrity, and service in all business dealings with both external and internal clients,” said Chuck Pennoni, in the recent press release announcing DeLizza’s appointment. DeLizza has held various roles at Pennoni from Haddon Heights Office Director to New Jersey Regional Manager, Director of Strategic Growth and most recently Chief Operating Officer. Founded more than 50 years ago, Pennoni is an ENR Top 500 consulting engineering firm with 35 offices across the United States. “When I worked out of the Absecon Office in New Jersey, working with the Casino Reinvestment Development Authority in Atlantic City, it was like an engineer’s dream. We had so many challenges."DeLizza eased into global business for Pennoni after accompanying then President of the WTCGP, Joanna Savvides to the World Trade Centers Association General Assembly in Barcelona Spain. Chuck Pennoni was one of the founders of the WTCGP and first Board Chairman. DeLizza also attended the General Assembly in Pescara Italy. “I met Joanna in 2004 when we were looking at international opportunities,” says DeLizza. “Joanna helped us make some great connections.” DeLizza credits the WTCGP for “doing all the leg work.” He attended several trade missions between 2007-2008 with Dino Ramos, then Director of Trade Services. “We went to Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and Panama. I learned so much watching Dino navigating his way in these countries. Dino was a wealth of knowledge and has so much international experience.” DeLizza has been a Board Member of the WTCGP since 2014 and has served on the Advisory Council from 2010 through 2014. He has also helped lead the WTCGP International Design and Engineering Consortium (IDEC) since 2008. As President of Pennoni, DeLizza plans to use Pennoni’s 5-year Strategic Plan as a guide for the company’s future. “We are a 100% employee-owned company. I want to focus on the growth of the firm—both organic growth as well as M&A opportunities.” DeLizza is grateful for his co-op opportunity at Pennoni, which helped fuel his long career with the firm.His advice to recent college graduates, “Just get into the workforce and find something that you like to do. Get involved in organizations like the WTCGP where you can expand your network of contacts which will help you throughout your career.”In his acceptance speech, DeLizza remarked, “I follow in the footsteps of Chuck Pennoni, Rick Piccoli and Tony Bartolomeo. To say I have some big shoes to fill would certainly be an understatement.”While pointing at family photos, DeLizza wants me to know, “Pennoni is like my second family.” Read More

World Trade Centers Day was a grand celebration

May 24, 2019 - It poured for days before our biggest event of the year, but on May 15, the sun shined its light over historic Fairmount Waterworks in Philadelphia and our 2019 World Trade Centers Day honorees. The stage was set, videos cued, food and bar stations opened, and we were ready to celebrate. See photos Ian Bush, broadcaster, KYW 1060 Newsradio, opened the Award Program with his recollection of 9/11 and the significance of why each year the WTCGP pays homage to those individuals and organizations who define our mission. After introducing President Linda Conlin and Board Chairman Gary Biehn, the Arpeggio Jazz Ensemble played Barrett Strong’s “Money (That’s What I Want).” Conlin, laughing, reminded the over 250 people in attendance, that yes, it was their only fundraiser of the year and thanked all of the sponsors, especially title sponsor, Independence Blue Cross. Chairman Biehn reminded the audience of the work that the WTCGP does, including signing an MOU with Tianjin China, and how the dollars raised will help WTCGP increase global trade for the Greater Philadelphia region. Family, friends and the who’s who of the Greater Philadelphia business community listened attentively as Ian Bush cued up each of the Tribute Videos. The jazz band played Michael Jackson’s “Got Me Working Day and Night” as Phenom People’s Keca Ward, Sr. Director Talent Acquisition and Mohan Gunti, VP Technical Operations were handed the award for the inaugural Drexel University Charles D. Close School of Entrepreneurship Award by Dean Donna DeCarolis. Bachman Turner Overdrive’s “Taking Care of Business,” was the walk-up/down music for the family business, Sandmeyer Steel Company, who received the Member Company of the Year Award. On stage to accept the award for the almost 70-year-old company, were Ronald P. Sandmeyer, Jr., President and CEO, Rodney C. Sandmeyer, Executive Vice President, John M. Curley, III, Vice President International Sales and Global Marketing, and R. Paul Sandmeyer, III, Manager, National Inside Sales and Materials Procurement. Ronald Sandmeyer thanked the audience and gave a special shout to Walt D’Alessio who was instrumental in helping Sandmeyer secure funding for its facility in Northeast Philadelphia. Sandmeyer had never exported until they met with WTCGP in 2007. Tony Rastelli, President and his son, Vice President, Anthony Rastelli accepted the Global Business Leadership Award following the music of Motown’s, “Get Ready.” With a majority of their exports to the Middle East, Rastelli spoke of his fearless determination to get high quality food into the hands of US military and people who appreciate his family’s commitment to quality. Dan Hilferty, CEO Independence Health Group thanked the band for playing “Peter Gunn,” and set the tone for the evening’s grand finale by saying, “If we need an example to follow in doing more, I am here to honor the perfect role model. Walt D’Alessio is a mentor, a colleague, and a dear friend.” The tribute video to founding WTCGP board member Walt D’Alessio, winner of the Legacy Award for Lifetime Achievement, featured colleagues who reminisced on how D’Alessio’s 50 years of work and vision helped improve the infrastructure and neighborhoods of Philadelphia. D’Alessio, known to many for being humble and funny is revered for growing not only the city of Philadelphia but also executive careers. Before inviting D’Alessio to the stage, Dan Hilferty, added, “Walt’s goal has always been to build something lasting that improves people’s lives. That’s the driving force behind his 17 year commitment to the World Trade Center of Greater Philadelphia and probably a hundred other projects that those of us in this room have worked on with Walt.” The audience rose to their feet for a standing ovation, while the band played “Theme from Superman.” As soon as D’Alessio made his way to the stage, he immediately redirected the attention from himself by saying it was his wife Barbara’s birthday, and the evening was her birthday party. Read More

Made in America: American Cable Company

January 15, 2019 - President, Carlos Gonzalez Jr., walked past the stacks of unwrapped Christmas presents towering in the corner of the conference room, a few floors above the American Cable Company warehouse in Northeast Philadelphia. “I still have to wrap my grandkids presents,” he smiles. “Welcome to American Cable Company.” “None of this would have happened if my dad hadn’t won the lottery to leave Cuba with me, my sister and mom in the late 60’s,” Gonzalez says with outstretched arms pointing to the shelves lined with toy sized John Deere and Caterpillar trucks and cranes. “When we got off the plane in Miami, the person greeting us asked my dad where he wanted to go and he said, north. We ended up in Queens New York. I still remember the milk crate on the fire escape we used as a refrigerator and how our laundry would get frozen stiff on the outside clothesline.” Six months after arriving in New York, Carlos Sr. accepted a job as a painter, and relocated his family to North Philadelphia. It wasn’t long before Carlos Sr. was supervising 50 people. “He was a leader,” Gonzalez says. “He worked so hard, had an idea, and made it happen.” After a day of painting, Carlos Sr. would hand make replacement auto battery terminals– a part sought after by area mechanics. “I would go around Philly collecting scrap metal.” “We would melt down the lead from scrap in a homemade 55-gallon drum furnace - in our garage. Back then we piped the exhaust through our home chimney,” laughs Gonzalez. No, we weren’t afraid.” “My dad would go door-to-door selling to mechanics from the trunk of his car.”Carlos Sr. eventually quit his day job and dedicated the rest of his life to growing his idea into a business. “I was in high school in 1976 when we first started the company,” Gonzalez recalls. “The lead would be dumped into our yard and we would hand lift every bar. Friends and family would help. It was hard, but we did it.” Orders were coming in fast. “Harry” was their first distributor – one of the first in a series of instrumental people who would become like family. “We didn’t have a contract, just a handshake, just our word.” Quality Control Manager, Daryl Greene recalls, “I remember Carlos Senior’s strength, in character. And physically, he was a strong man. A good man.” Matthew Tretter, Plant Manager adds, “This is a nice family run company. They treat everyone like family. Carlos Senior would tell us to get it done and get it right.” In the 1980’s Edgar Huertado saw a man driving a forklift in the parking lot of American Cable’s first warehouse. He asked the man for a job and the man, Carlos Sr., told him to come back the next day – he’s been working with the family for 38 years. “He was like a father to me,” says Huertado, now an Engineer. Gonzalez slaps Huertado on the back “And I remember my mom asking what Edgar wanted for lunch.” Today, American Cable Company, Inc. comprises five manufacturing divisions, which include battery cables, wiring harnesses, assemblies, components, and contract manufacturing. All products are made in America from its 170,000 square foot manufacturing facility located in Northeast Philadelphia, PA. American Cable sells their products to Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEM), defined as manufacturers who resell another company's product under their own name and branding. American Cable customers also include John Deere, Caterpillar and small to medium-sized businesses requiring customized parts. In 2005, American Cable began to export. “Approximately 30% of our sales are export,” says Henke de Vos, Global Sales Manager. “We export to the UK, Poland, Germany, India, Canada, Mexico, China, Japan, France, Brazil, Italy and most recently, Australia.” With the support of Dale Foote, World Trade Center of Greater Philadelphia International Trade Specialist, American Cable has set up distributors in Italy, Australia, and Poland. “Our company is well known for delivery and flexibility and superior engineering support,” adds de Vos. In addition to its highly skilled, trained staff, American Cable hires and trains through IMPACT Services Corporation, a community organization that helps economically disadvantaged, as well as veterans and ex-prisoners find meaningful employment. Carlos Gonzalez Jr. has been President of American Cable since 1990. Although retired, Carlos Sr. would start his day at the factory at 5 am every morning. In 2010, Carlos Sr. celebrated his last birthday, his 82nd - at the warehouse. “I know what the American dream is – it’s real. If you can make it anywhere, it’s here. I know what it took for my dad to get here,” says Gonzalez. http://www.americancableco.com Read More

NDRI provides biospecimens for biomedical research

September 26, 2018 - Bill Leinweber, President and CEO of National Disease Research Interchange (NDRI) admits that NDRI’s work is complicated, because medical research is complex. For nearly 40 years, NDRI has accepted the challenge of meeting the increasing demands of the medical research community, who rely on high-quality, healthy, and diseased biospecimens to conduct lifesaving research. “There is not another organization that does everything we do, “explains Leinweber. “We serve researchers across the full spectrum of the life-sciences and provide everything from brain to miniscule tissues that scientists may need.” The phone rings daily at NDRI, and trained call center staff work 24 hours per day, 7 day per week, 365 days per year to screen offers for tissues and organs from donors ranging from cadaveric to those being evaluated for transplant. The requests are quite specific and follow strict protocol. “We screen all protocol criteria until we have a match. This includes the volume, type of medium, how the biospecimens is preserved (fresh, fixed, or frozen), how it should be shipped, the day the lab will accept it- and the age, sex, and the medication the donor was taking. ” Leinweber describes. NDRI partners with a nationwide network of over 130-tissue source sites, including organ procurement organizations, tissue banks, eye banks, hospitals, and individual donors. As the liaison between procurement sources and the research community, NDRI is supporting major advances in the treatment and cure of human diseases. “In the US there are 58 organ procurement organizations and we work with 56 of them,” emphasized Leinweber. “All deaths that occur in an acute healthcare setting in the United States by law have to be referred to an organ procurement organization for screening, so if someone passes away, even if they are not registered as a donor, their death has to be reported.” Recently, NDRI received an $800,000 National Institute of Health (NIH) grant to support research for Alzheimer’s Disease, Autism, and HIV/AIDS; this in addition to a $6.5 million five-year NIH award given in August 2018 for recovery and distribution of human organs on behalf of the Research resource for Human Tissues and Organs (RRHTO). A unique element of NDRI’s work supported through this agreement is provision and distribution for neurological research supported by the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS). In the last five years, NDRI has provided 884 neurological biospecimens to 79 researchers, including normal and pathological tissues for diseases including ALS, Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, muscular dystrophy, pure autonomic failure, Lewy body dementia and spinal muscular atrophy. The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute also provides funds for tissue collection, storage and distribution in support of research into rare lung disease lymphangioleiomyomatosis (LAM), and other heart, lung, and blood tissue research. “For a researcher, acquiring human specimens can be costly.” Leinweber reminds me, “The fees that are a charged to a researcher by NDRI are about passing on the cost for the procurement of the tissues. Our support from the NIH allows us to provide this service at a discounted rate to scientists supported by the NIH.” NDRI employs 45 full-time staff, which includes PhD scientists, a 24/7 call center and executive management. Every order is customized, and some may require additional consultation from NDRI’s expert scientists. “We provide both normal and diseased tissue. Surprisingly, about 60% of what we provide is normal tissue. There may be breast cancer tissue that is removed and the scientist is also interested in the normal tissue that surrounds the cancer that was excised,” Leinweber says. NDRI has supported select research projects including one in partnership with the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation and Vertex Pharmaceuticals. “There is no animal model for cystic fibrosis,” says Leinweber. Using its extensive national network, NDRI provided suitable human biospecimens to support the development of several therapeutic compounds by industry partners that are now helping Cystic Fibrosis patients lead more productive lives. “We continue to work with the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation on the procurement of explanted lungs which were used to support the development of the first and second drugs to treat specific mutations of cystic fibrosis,” adds Leinweber. Identifying therapeutic targets for neuropathic pain is another research project, which investigates alternatives to using opioid-based treatments for pain. Scientists at pharmaceutical companies and academic institutes reached out to NDRI’s dorsal root ganglia (DRG) program which provides researchers with a human model system to study both pain and non-pain neurons. The result? The investigators can experiment directly on human neurons leading to peer-reviewed published medical articles in Nature Medicine and Neuron. For the past 25 years, NDRI has been partnering with Japan’s non-profit organization, Human and Animal Bridging Research Organization (HAB) to facilitate research using non-transplantable tissue from post mortem human donors, which have been extracted for research use in the US and Europe. At one time, extraction of human organs for research and implant was forbidden in Japan. Navigating diverse, global cultural ethics in medical research is challenging. Nevertheless, NDRI remains eager to increase its entry into international markets. Dale Foote, International Trade Specialist for the World Trade Center of Greater Philadelphia (WTCGP), has been assisting NDRI to investigate opportunities in, the UK, Canada, South Korea and Singapore. NDRI has already shipped some biospecimens to China. When asked what obstacles NDRI may have, Leinweber replies, “Science is constantly changing and it becomes both a challenge and an opportunity. It requires us to be able to adapt. We have learned over time that researchers are doing more with less. There was a time when a researcher may have needed a whole liver to conduct a study, maybe now he or she may just need a little bit. Also, 60 to 70% of tissue we provide is fresh tissue v. frozen.” Leinweber paints the picture, “The researcher may be from Phoenix, we may end up getting the eyes from Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston, and the donor may have come from somewhere in New Hampshire. Then, we have to get the courier involved, and it’s all happening in real time.” At the end of the day, the entire NDRI team has each had a hand in advancing medical research. From their downtown office in Philadelphia, NDRI is navigating the complex web of delivering the organ and tissues entrusted by donor families. Once the package arrives, there is another team waiting to maximize the use of its precious contents to conduct research in hopes to ultimately extend and save lives. Read More