Impact

Shenango collaborates with Primary Health Network on new business venture

Penn State Shenango students completing their business internships at The Nittany Connection speak with Penn State Bookstore staff and Shenango Campus Director Dr. Jo Anne Carrick. The Nittany Connection is a store inside of the Cravings--a new cafe in downtown Sharon. From L to R: Jen Guyer, assistant general manager/general merchandise, Penn State Bookstore (UP); Nancy Thompson, regional manager, Penn State Bookstore (Altoona); Mark McCullough, junior business student completing internship at The Nittany Connection; Ashley Mauser, junior business student completing internship at The Nittany Connection; and Dr. Jo Anne Carrick, campus director, Penn State Shenango. Meredith Cesare (on the ladder) and Carly Quiggle, from Penn State Bookstore (Behrend) also supported the new store. Credit: Penn StateCreative Commons

“Cravings” is the new buzz word around town, and Primary Health Network Charitable Foundation (PHNCF) and Penn State Shenango’s collaboration is the reason for the excitement.Cravings Café and Creamery is PHNCF’s new, 5,000-square-foot eatery located on Shenango Avenue in downtown Sharon in the former Civic Center building. The mission of the new business venture is to support the local community by providing quality food items from local businesses, including Penn State Berkey Creamery ice cream, O’Neill Coffee, Philadelphia Candies and Mr. D’s Fresh Foods, in a comfortable, state-of-the-art setting. That means seating for nearly 70 people, two large screen televisions and free Wi-Fi.The idea for Cravings originated from PHNCF’s goal to establish a fashionable eating and meeting place for its increasing number of employees and visitors to downtown Sharon, as well as Penn State Shenango’s goal to have a stronger presence in the community.“Soon after I was hired at Penn State Shenango, one recurring comment that I heard from members of our community and the campus was our need to be more integrated into the community, especially in downtown Sharon,” said Jo Anne Carrick, Penn State Shenango campus director. “It was when our Advisory Board President Tom Burich introduced me to Jack Laeng, PHN’s, then-CEO, that the idea of a collaboration between our two entities began.”Following that first meeting, Carrick and Penn State Shenango business faculty, including Georgia Macris, Lisa Bertin and Michael Wachter, began meeting regularly with Laeng and Drew Pierce, PHN’s new CEO, and Mark Marriott, facilities administrator, to discuss and plan the new business from concept to creation.“It has been such a wonderful experience for us, as faculty, to help with this project,” Macris said. “We have been involved in everything from the design, layout and logo, to providing advice on marketing and building visibility for this new business. My business strategy capstone class worked on an overall business plan, while my human resources class created an actual employee handbook, and my marketing class created a storyboard for a proposed television commercial. It has truly been an integrated learning experience for our students.”In addition to a section for food, Cravings will have an area where Penn State Shenango business students will operate “a store within a store” called The Nittany Connection. The Shenango campus has been working with Barnes and Noble Regional Director Nancy Thompson and Penn State Shenango Bookstore Manager Patty Bobbie to create a student run business that will sell Penn State spirit wear apparel and other University items that are not available at the current campus bookstore.The Nittany Connection will be managed and staffed by Shenango campus business students who will be completing internships under the supervision of the campus’ business faculty with oversight from Bobbie. The goal of this initiative is to engage students in running a real business operation of their own. They will choose the products they sell, design the marketing, and decide on hours and staffing. More importantly, they will be using what they’ve learned in the classroom, while assuming the accountability for the success of the business.“We are very excited about being a part of this new venture,” Thompson said. “It’s been a great opportunity for us to work with the folks at PHNCF and with Dr. Carrick and Shenango faculty members to see this project come to fruition. Michael Wachter and his marketing students have been instrumental in providing some critical research and information resulting in a dramatic conceptualization of space based on customer flow patterns. They have also helped with recommendations on a number of store amenities not found in other Penn State bookstores, including private dressing rooms. One of Wachter’s students even crafted the name of the store, The Nittany Connection.”While Cravings is a for-profit business, partial revenues will support the Primary Health Network Charitable Foundation to further its mission of providing access to healthcare for those in need as well as assisting students in the Primary Health Network service areas through scholarships and mentoring workshops.“The arrival of Cravings to downtown Sharon is extremely exciting for the community, as well as Penn State, participating local vendors, and the PHN Charitable Foundation,” said Cheryl Goldstone, director of programs at PHNCF. “This is a positive step toward revitalizing the local area, which coincides with PHNCF’s efforts to bridge the gap between community and healthcare. We are looking forward to building a relationship with our new neighbors and everyone involved with this project. I can’t complain about having Penn State ice cream next door, either!”Cravings will be managed by Julie Byer, a Slippery Rock University graduate who has several years’ experience as a manager in the retail and food service business. She, along with Ian Kelly, a Penn State Shenango business student who was chosen to complete his internship with Byer, have been working with all those involved in the project for the last several months to get ready for the business’ grand opening, which is slated for Monday, May 4.“It has been a wonderful adventure opening this business, and I am excited for the public to experience the entirety of what we have to offer,” said Byer. “We imagine Cravings as an oasis for the community, especially for PSU students, staff and alumni. With our variety of food and beverage options, it’s a one-stop shop for high-quality products that we are very proud to serve.”Store hours are 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday and on weekends for special events. For more information, contact Cravings at 724-981-1473, www.cravingsspa.com, or Facebook, Instagram, Twitter @cravingspa.

 

Last Updated May 5, 2015