Susquehanna Business Life

From Where I Sit

Dear Readers,

I was bitten by the entrepreneur bug as a result of watching my father work hard to make his first business, Sibany Manufacturing Corp., a success. The company invented products in the 1960s that were ahead of their time, including a pocket telephone and an early version of an ATM, and sought manufacturers to bring them to market. Ironically, he was fired at a meeting of his board of directors, probably for his bullheadedness. He was not the easiest person to get along with; my impression is he was not able or willing to "play nice" with those he worked with and, ultimately, they got fed up with him.

My father was smart, stubborn and a hard worker, and spent the rest of his short life trying to recreate the success he had with Sibany with his second business, Risers Fitness. Risers was at the forefront of the employee wellness field in New York City, and sought to educate corporate America about the connection between fit employees and productive ones. My father convinced some of the nation's leading businesses, including Pfizer, Memorial Sloan Kettering Hospital, and American Express, to hold exercise classes on-site to improve employee health and, by doing so, his client-companies' bottom lines.

Entrepreneurship is a tricky row to hoe. The very attributes—tenacity, the desire to lead and a "big" personality—that help some entrepreneurs become successful are the same characteristics that making working with one, and even being one, so difficult.

A curiosity about what makes entrepreneurs tick inspired WVIA's Bill Kelly to chronicle the struggles and triumphs of regional entrepreneurs to educate viewers about the people who have endured to take some of the region's most successful businesses to the top.

I was thrilled to be chosen as one of the interview subjects. The segment, Citizen Erica Shames, aired in March. I was gratified to be able to communicate the reasons for starting our flagship publication, Susquehanna Life Magazine, and to share the struggles involved in making the magazine successful. I have used that magazine's achievements to fuel the start-up of Susquehanna Business Life, a magazine that seeks to recognize the high quality business climate that exists in Central PA, and help business owners and managers improve operations with informational columns on all aspects of running a business.

No one operates in a vacuum, and I have been blessed to work with some incredibly dedicated, talented and hard working people. Thirteen years ago, Victor Koons Graphic Design took over layout and design of Susquehanna Life Magazine and, last year, designed Susquehanna Business Life. Over the years, Victor has helped improve the visual quality of my first "baby," and bring to fruition my dream of starting a business magazine. Maureen Gruss started selling advertising with me six years ago. Her energy, enthusiasm, insightful marketing ideas and belief in our products are what make working with her so enjoyable. At the end of 2008, Tamsen Ercole started working with us in business development. Her hard work, intelligence, and innovative ideas will help take both Susquehanna Life and Susquehanna Business Life magazines to the next level.

The Susquehanna Life family of magazines wouldn't exist without the support of the businesses that that put their advertising dollars behind us. A special thank-you for "getting" the idea behind this new magazine from the start and supporting us with your advertising.

In this tough economy, we all must be more creative about what we do and how we do it. Remember that some of the greatest advances have resulted during times of economic strife. When the going gets tough, it's the fighters and innovators who will prevail. I know you can do it. Stay tough.

Erica Shames
Founder and Publisher