March 26, 2018 • Vol. 29 • No. 13 • $2 SERVING BERKS, LEHIGH, NORTHAMPTON & SURROUNDING COUNTIES www.LVB.com Unplug for better health Too much tech is harmful
By MELINDA RIZZO Special for Lehigh Valley Business Is your iPhone your alarm clock? Do you get the jit- ters if you’re away from technology for more than a couple of hours? Is going on vacation and leaving your lap- top behind unthink- able? Your tech might be ‘Screen time toxic, so look for red and tech flags such as being unable to be without use has it. Or ignoring people become an when you’re physically with them. Or feelings urgent issue.’ of restlessness, agita- — Dr. Kolin Good, psychiatry, IMAGE COURTESY OF A-TREAT tion or depression. A special logo developed for A-Treat’s centennial by Klunk & Millan Advertising of South Whitehall Township. “We know that Reading Hospital screen time and and tech use has become an urgent MORE INSIDE issue,” said Dr. Kolin HEALTH Good, chair of the CARE & REVIVEDrefreshing department of psy- WELLNESS chiatry at Reading INITIATIVES Hospital in West Once down to its last sip, iconic A-Treat soda celebrates centennial INSIDE TODAY CELEBRATE OUR FEATURES INDEX MEETING & EVENT RISING YOUNG STARS Behind the List ...... 19 Join us April 10 in honoring 40 of Briefs ...... 4 PLANNER 2018 Calendar ...... 19 Meeting & Event Planning an off-site meeting or event? the region’s rising young stars in Planner Classi eds ...... 22 2018 Our annual 20-page supplement business and other industries at our Focus ...... 9-17 examines the region’s hotel revival Forty Under 40 awards celebration at For Your Information ...... 19 STEEPED IN SLEEP and offers valuable advice for hosting Bear Creek Mountain Resort. For ticket Greater Lehigh Valley sees a dramatic revival Off The Clock ...... 22 in hotel openings, renovations and expansions an event, such as must-have apps, information and the list of honorees, visit www.lvb.com/events and see our Opinion ...... 6-8 ways to trim costs, and other dining The List ...... 21 MORE INSIDE announcement on Page 24. Make a great impression when networking | End of the rubber chicken circuit | Must-have apps to help with planning | Organizing a small event on the cheap options besides, yes, chicken. 2 Lehigh Valley Business • March 26, 2018 LVB.com Strong economy, many buyers – but few homes to sell By KATHY RUFF Special for Lehigh Valley Business MODEST DECLINE IN SALES A lack of inventory led to a 3.5 percent drop in home closings in February in the Greater Lehigh Valley. A closer look: Low inventory continues to affect the housing market in the Greater Lehigh Valley. Homes sold in Homes sold in Average days on Average days on market, Percentage difference in February 2018 February 2017 market, February 2018 February 2017 number of homes sold According to Realtors in the region, Lehigh Valley* 421 451 48 63 -6.7% February’s residential inventory fell by 9.6 percent when compared to February Berks County 269 266 86 89 +1.2% 2017. Carbon County 35 38 101 96 -7.9% That undoubtedly contributed to a 3.5 Schuylkill County 52 48 101 135 +8.4% percent drop in the number of closed sales Warren County, N.J. 72 81 75 108 -11.1% and a 2.4 percent fall in pending sales. Pocono Mountains** 186 189 134 176 -2.23% “It’s nuts,” said Sam Ruta, associate THREE-YEAR RESIDENTIAL REPORT CARD broker manager of Prudential Choice that, that is a little reflective. I think we’re NEW TOTAL PENDING AVERAGE SALES MEDIAN SALES AVERAGE DAYS Properties, Nazareth. “We don’t have certainly going to catch up once the weather LISTINGS SALES SALES PRICE PRICE ON MARKET enough inventory.” breaks up a little bit.” Berks County Industry professionals hope the 7.8 per- Tillman has seen good inventory moving February 2018 384 269 409 $161,779 $139,900 86 cent price growth – an average $11,140 more steadily for the past two years, a trend he February 2017 457 266 455 $154,692 $135,000 89 than homes sold in February 2017 – and expects to continue. February 2016 459 267 433 $149,846 $133,635 102 high buyer demand will entice potential “We still have foreclosures and things that sellers to list homes this spring. are getting cleaned up slowly, but we still Lehigh Valley* “We do have quite a few buyers out have a ways to go,” he said. February 2018 721 421 646 $212,530 $175,000 48 there but just no properties to really sell to Tillman expects home sale prices to begin February 2017 821 451 639 $208,197 $170,000 63 them,” said Kristen Obert, associate broker to appreciate in spring and throughout sum- February 2016 866 453 589 $190,705 $165,000 79 and office manager with Hugh Dugan Real mer. Estate, Palmerton. BIG JUMP IN PENDING SALES Carbon County The biggest problem remains good inven- Activity remained brisk in Carbon February 2018 67 35 53 $124,440 $120,000 101 tory, said Rich Tillman, broker/owner of Re/ County, which saw a 51.4 percent spike February 2017 62 38 35 $ 97,176 $ 88,500 96 Max Town and Valley in Hackettstown, N.J. in pending sales and an 8.1 percent boost February 2016 71 27 43 $116,722 $ 83,500 132 “Houses that are in good condition and in new listings, even though closed sales Schuylkill County priced reasonably well, when they come on dropped 7.9 percent in February. February 2018 101 52 84 $102,295 $ 75,450 101 the market, they get a lot of activity,” he said. “We’re still seeing low inventory,” Obert MONEY TO BUY said. “We’re still hoping that this spring will February 2017 114 48 89 $ 77,129 $ 57,500 135 In Lehigh and Northampton counties, the bring some sellers into the market. We are in February 2016 95 76 88 $ 84,752 $ 68,750 144 lack of good inventory may have contributed multiple offer situations. Some of the prices Warren County, N.J. to a 6.7 drop in closed sales. A 12.2 percent are going higher than asking price.” February 2018 201 72 146 $182,332 $152,000 75 decline in new listings predicts more inven- Obert sees those factors negatively affect- February 2017 205 81 133 $197,958 $187,450 104 tory challenges, but strong buyer activity ing first-time homebuyers who need sellers’ February 2016 182 69 108 $200,304 $186,725 101 continues. assist as sellers opt for better deals. “The economy is roaring right now,” Ruta “Interest rates have gone up, so buyers Pocono Mountains** said. “People have money. They have been can’t buy as much as they had been able February 2018 292 186 275 $140,012 $132,700 134 on the fence for a while. There’s a lot of to the past few years,” she said. “Carbon February 2017 295 189 302 $121,394 $ 95,000 176 competition now. It’s a good market.” County is a different animal. Things aren’t February 2016 372 218 316 $107,792 $ 88,500 166 Ruta remains optimistic for replenish- quite as aggressive as it is in the Lehigh *-Lehigh and Northampton counties **-Monroe County ment of the low housing stock as interest Valley. Things don’t seem to move quite as SOURCES: Trend Multiple Listing Service (Berks and Schuylkill counties), Garden State Multiple Listing Service (Warren County), Greater Lehigh Valley Realtors reductions realized under restructured loans quickly.” and Pocono Mountains Association of Realtors. Note for Warren County and Lehigh Valley: This representation is based in whole or in part on data supplied such as the Home Affordable Refinance MULTIPLE OFFERS by the Garden State Multiple Listing Service LLC and the Greater Lehigh Valley Realtors. GSMLS and GLVR do not generate nor are in any way responsible for its accuracy. Data maintained by GSMLS and GLVR may not re ect all real estate activity in the market. Program begin to expire. HARP was created Things aren’t moving as quickly in Berks by the Federal Housing Finance Agency. County, either. Despite a 1.1 percent bump cent growth in February’s closed sales. The declines of 1 percent in new listings, 1.6 per- “As the word gets out that the market’s in homes sold, the county saw a 16 percent county also saw an 11.4 percent drop in new cent in closed sales and 8.9 percent in pend- good for [sellers], we’ll probably see more drop in new listings and 10.1 percent fewer listings and 5.6 percent decrease in pending ing sales in February. inventory,” he said. “Some of [the HARP pending sales February over February. sales. “I can show you a house in the rain; I loans are] coming due now, so you’re going “There are a lot of buyers in the market- “There’s a lack of inventory, and there’s a can’t show you a house in an ice storm,” said to have people whose monthly mortgage place looking for suitable housing, but we lot of buyers who I believe are feeling secure Thomas R. Wilkins, CEO with Better Homes payments were $1,000 may be going back are experiencing a shortage of inventory,” at their jobs, feeling secure in employment & Gardens Real Estate/Wilkins & Associates, to $1,500. You’ll start to see those kinds of said Jaime Perez, Realtor manager with and having some money who want to pur- Stroudsburg. “The number of units was properties go on the market.” Berks Realty Group, Reading. “So when the chase maybe another home and move up,” down, but the money that we transacted The possible increase in short sales and houses go onto the market, they are generat- said Kent Hatter, broker with Re/Max 5 Star was up. That’s because we’re selling a high- foreclosures also may help the weak housing ing multiple offers within days, usually over Realty, Orwigsburg. “At the same time you er-priced home.” stock. asking price. have an undersupply of homes, we have According to Wilkins, sales prices rose HARSH WINTER “I do think there will be more new con- an oversupply of buyers, which tends to about 5 percent, in part fueled by the lack of Inventory woes may have contributed struction, but I don’t think that it’s where it increase the price, which makes it almost a inventory. to an 11.1 percent drop in closed sales in should be.” seller’s market.” “It’s still a good market,” he said. February in Warren County, although a 9.8 Perez expects the area’s low inventory Throw in rising interest rates, expected “Inventory will still impact us in the percent jump in new listings holds promise and little new construction to affect the mar- higher gas taxes and the continued price Poconos, whereas it’s plaguing other mar- for improvement. ket going forward. growth in health insurance, and Hatter sees kets. It’s definitely plaguing the Lehigh “Some of those statistics reflect the harsh “What it’s doing is increasing demand for an economy all over the place. Valley. winter around the holidays,” said Tillman housing, which in turn is causing a little bit “I don’t see anything on the horizon eco- “It’s impacting it in that before we had the said. “The beginning of January only had of inflation in the pricing of properties,” he nomically that shows any signs of growth,” exact green house that you wanted and had those single-digit type days, and it was the said. he said. maybe three of them to choose from. Now better part of two weeks was very tough. The ENIGMATIC ECONOMY HIGHER PRICES I’ve got the green house and it’s not quite the last two or three weeks around here with Housing demand remained high in Signs in the Pocono marketplace mirror green you’re looking for and I only have one storms and power outages and things like Schuylkill County, which saw an 8.3 per- those across the region. The Poconos saw of them. … Inventory will be a challenge.” LVB.com Lehigh Valley Business • March 26, 2018 3 Diverse, nimble and growing for 40 years in tech services By STEVE REINBRECHT Special for Lehigh Valley Business WEIDENHAMMER He’s had a four-decade surfboard ride The Best Bank for Your Buck… and Your Business
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UNPLUG RECLAIM YOUR LIFE continued from page 1 While technology is an ever-evolving part of work and daily life, when does too much of it spell trouble for your health? Consider this advice from the region’s mental health professionals: Volume 29, Number 13 anxiety, impatience, anger and even rage. Pennsylvania: Schuylkill Pennsylvania. Any suggestion written in material published by this lineup, Yuengling Golden Pilsner, its rst year- newspaper is not to be regarded as advice (legal, tax, County and Harrisburg. It will be available Sean Bleiler of CBRE Inc. said markets are investment or otherwise), and Lehigh Valley Business round beer to debut in 17 years. assumes no liability for actions taken by any group or in the Lehigh Valley in July and across the strong. individual based upon such material. The company describes Golden Pilsner as “We’ve seen a strong focus on deals that We welcome your opinion on issues. Write to Lehigh a crisp, smooth modern pilsner crafted with company’s 22-state market by year’s end. Valley Business at the address listed above, c/o Editor. You want to service the New York market,” he also can email your comments to [email protected]. the perfect balance of hop and malt. said. “Overall, the Valley is very strong, but Report signals demand Published by BridgeTower Media Yuengling Golden Pilsner, which has 4.7 I think the interesting thing is these deals percent alcohol by volume, is part of an for even bigger logistics centers have grown in building size. One million emerging refreshment category in the market Demand for ef cient, modern logistics square feet is getting too small for the where beers are distinguished by lighter, space in the Interstate 78/I-81 corridor has market.” brighter and less bitter characteristics. led to an increase in warehouse/distribution Retailers are driving some of those large “We spent over 18 months developing building size. deals, and in some buildings, employee head this beer and believe it is a great choice for This conclusion is one of several CBRE counts are falling because of automation, he outdoor, social and active occasions,” said released in its biannual logistics report, added. LVB.com Lehigh Valley Business • March 26, 2018 5
sive party at its Orefield headquarters A-TREAT in August 2015. continued from page 1 Fans could taste A-Treat’s reincarnation before the bottles and cans hit the store But A-Treat nearly died three years shelves in September. ago, surviving only through the resourc- Thousands of people showed up, es and savvy of a new owner, the Jaindl including hometown celebrities such as Companies of Orefield, another well- Easton boxing great Larry Holmes. known name in the Lehigh Valley. It was clear the soda was getting a warm But rebound it did, and this year welcome back from soda drinkers from A-Treat celebrates its 100th anniversary throughout the region. and a new era under Jaindl. The soda STRONG SALES brand boasts 18 flavors – some iconic Sales of the soda were strong right out such as cream soda and birch beer of the gate. After being out of production – sold in limited distribution outlets for about eight months, there was a pent- throughout Pennsylvania, Maryland up demand and a grateful public excited and New Jersey and available online. to once again sip on its favorite A-Treat Yes, A-Treat is not only celebrating its flavors. history but a new life. The Jaindls gradually increased their “It’s a feeling of happiness, helping to offerings both in flavors and in contain- save a brand that has impacted so many ers. The soda can now be bought in cans, lives,” said Luke Jaindl, general manager 2-liter bottles, 20-ounce bottles and cer- of the A-Treat Bottling Co. FILE PHOTO/STACY WESCOE tain flavors in specialty glass bottles. THE DAY THE SODA DIED A-Treat held a party in August 2015 at the Jaindl Companies’ Ore eld headquarters to Luke Jaindl has his sights set on the reintroduce the brand to the public. A-Treat was founded in 1918 by next challenge – keeping sales strong now brothers Jack and Joseph Egizio in their “My first thought that the initial burst of buying is over. family’s Allentown garage. was that I would Although Jaindl declined to give sales The company opened a manufactur- never get to drink soda figures, he said sales are up. ing plant in 1932 on Union Boulevard again, because I don’t “They’re in a good place,” he said. in the city, where it produced as many like Coke or Pepsi,” NEXT FRONTIER as 25 varieties and grew to become a Capobianco said. Jaindl noted that the territory is gradu- strong regional brand and also was RUSH TO BUY ally expanding. After getting into the available in pockets throughout the Capobianco imme- Maryland market, A-Treat is working to country. diately went out to buy establish sales in Florida and Ohio. But A-Treat fell on hard times in the all of the remaining His goal is to expand into even more last decade or so, and its plant was A-Treat sodas that he states, and he knows nostalgia won’t help abruptly shuttered in January 2015. could, as many fans in those new markets. Then-owner Thomas Garvey cited did. “We think about what’s going to keep financial reasons for its closure – most “I remember getting them coming back, and that’s consistency likely a result of lagging sales and out- to Redner’s and it was and quality,” he said. dated equipment. already cleared out of He said the company is marketing the PHOTO COURTESY OF A-TREAT For a while, it looked like Allentown’s a lot of the flavors that Late last year, A-Treat released four avors in special edition, soda as “pure,” made with flavor extracts hometown soda would be no more. same day,” he said. “I nostalgic glass bottles. and sugar cane. BAD DAY IN SOFT DRINK ANNALS couldn’t believe it.” It’s the kind of product that hipper Faust Capobianco, who grew up in In the ensuing weeks, about 20 prospec- It had the knowledge of the food young soda drinkers, always on the look- Roseto, is a lifelong fan of the A-Treat tive buyers emerged for the A-Treat brand, industry, the network of distributors out for something different, might give a brand and remembers well that day in with Allentown businessman Paul Eifler and the finances to make it work. try. 2015. briefly obtaining an agreement of sale, but The Jaindl Companies bought the A HIT WITH HIPSTERS? “The news spread like wildfire when that didn’t go through, prospects for soda brand name, trademark, flavor Jaindl said A-Treat has a leg up with the through my family,” he said. “It was one the brand again began to look grim. formulas and related intellectual prop- old-fashioned look of the cans that sets it of the worst days in soft drink history.” TO THE RESCUE erty and began the work to bring the apart. All of his family members were fans, Then the good news. The Jaindl family, brand back to its glory days. “People eat with their eyes for that ini- and every picnic or family event meant which runs a large turkey farm in Orefield, FOR THE FANS tial purchase,” he said. cases of A-treat for everyone. It wasn’t and land development and real estate Jaindl used social media to poll its That – and having a lineup of unusual just their beverage of choice, it was their operations, was going to take over the fans on what they wanted as far as flavors such as orange cream and blue only beverage of choice. brand. flavors and styles and listened to the razz, most of which are still produced audience to ensure it was properly bot- using formulas that evolved from the tling people’s memories, along with the Egizios’ original recipes – should make it a soda. good seller at smaller boutique shops that At the time, David Jaindl, patriarch of specialize in craft products with interest- the Jaindl family, said that while he saw ing stories. buying the brand as a good business WORTH THE RIDE opportunity, the nostalgia for the soda And A-Treat certainly has an interesting was a big part of his decision to get into story, from its humble garage beginnings the soda game. to its complicated, but ultimately trium- “I’m a fan,” he said. “My mother has phant return. been drinking A-Treat for 80 years and Even after the Jaindls took over the she’s never felt better, so we think it’s a brand, they had to find another manufac- good thing.” turer when the Coca-Cola plant ceased THE BIG RETURN making beverages last year. The new man- After re-creating the recipes and ufacturer is in the Northeast at a location labels and contracting with the Coca- the Jaindls have declined to disclose. Cola Bottling Plant of the Lehigh Valley “It might have been nice without those
FILE PHOTO in Bethlehem to bottle the soda, the trials and tribulations, but it wouldn’t be The Union Boulevard A-Treat plant shortly after it closed in early 2015. It had been operating since 1932. Jaindl Co. relaunched A-Treat at a mas- as interesting,” Jaindl said. 6 Lehigh Valley Business OPINION March 26, 2018 LVB.com Redo resolutions: Be clear, write them down, set deadlines How’s that New Year’s resolution going? plished. Congratulations if you are right on tar- Goals with accountability get accom- get. Don’t feel too badly if you dropped plished. Those who write their goals your New Year’s resolutions. accomplish significantly more than those According to U.S. News & World Report, who do not. 80 percent of resolu- A study at Dominican University in tions fail by mid- California found that you become 42 February anyway. Life percent more likely to achieve goals and gets in the way, we get dreams simply by writing them down. stressed and we go The likelihood that you’ll transform back to old habits that your desires into reality goes up even keep us in our comfort further if you share written goals with zone. someone who believes in your ability to For most people, succeed. PHOTO/BRIANAJACKSON Carol-Anne January is a good time You can begin to make changes on any date, not just Jan. 1. What’s important is that you are