How AIRWALK (and Central PA) missed out on being a $5 billion company
By Jodie Dello Stritto If you were a 90s kid, you probably know AIRWALK shoes. Staple footwear for skaters, even Tony Hawk was a brand ambassador. But did you know that in its heyday in the 1990s the company’s world headquarters was in the Greenwood Shopping Center on old Route 220 in Altoona? AIRWALK was […]
Disruptive Tech: Meet the company that’s making researchers rethink possibilities
By Cara Aungst Magnitude Instruments founder Eric Kennehan. Photo: Provided. A few years ago, before Magnitude Instruments was formed, a renowned professor at a major research university published an article decrying the use of transient absorption spectroscopy (TAS) in research. The professor concluded that transient absorption, which generally used very high-intensity lasers to record chemical […]
Request, respond, record: How Mission Critical Partners is there during every step of an emergency
By Stephanie Kalina-Metzger A Mission Critical Partners employee provides assistance during a time-critical incident. Photo: Provided. Mission Critical Partners began with just three people: Kevin Murray, Brian Bark and Len Kowalski, working in makeshift offices above their garage and in their basements. Today, the company is known as the top public safety, courts consulting advisory […]
Penn State was a clear choice for Gorilla Glass inventor, no pun intended
By Cara Aungst Dr. Mauro and Brittney Hauke (Ph.D. student) performing a calorimetry experiment on a glass sample. Photo: Provided. If glass and ceramics had a hall of fame, there’s a good chance that there would be a lifesize (glass, of course) statue of John Mauro at the entrance. The co-inventor of Gorilla Glass has […]
Sustainability pioneer EnergyCAP started in Happy Valley 40 years ago. Why they are choosing to stay here, and what’s next.
By Stephanie Kalina-Metzger “The EnergyCAP Team shares information on their business at an industry tradeshow.” EnergyCAP became a pioneer in energy and sustainability enterprise resource planning (ERP) software before energy conservation was high on everyone’s radar and while PCs were in their infancy. The company was created to help users track their energy usage, and […]
Identifying small problems before they turn big
By Stephanie Kalina-Metzger (Left to right) Bruce Pellegrino, VP Marketing; Jim Barshinger, CTO; and Jeff Anderson, President/GM; Photo: Provided. Happy Valley-based Sensor Networks Inc. is helping companies protect their assets by equipping them with products that identify small problems before they turn into large ones. The company was born from a relationship between two coworkers, […]
The hybrid workplace: pandemic band-aid or enduring solution?
By David Rockower When the pandemic hit, there was no time to weigh the pros and cons, listen to employee opinions or create a balanced schedule; Covid-19 necessitated physical distancing and, as a result, many businesses made the switch to remote work. Soon, many employers started asking questions: Do we really need all that office […]
Local leaders on the current state and future of manufacturing in Happy Valley
By Timothy Kelly An article published by Bloomberg in July focused on the accelerating reshoring trend in manufacturing and noted that companies aren’t just talking about reshoring — they’re taking action. Some companies are moving their supply chains, including primary production facilities, out of China and relocating to the U.S. According to the article, the […]
Happy Valley remains a bright spot in a darkening economy
By Timothy Kelly The home of the CIMP-3D Lab. Research at Penn State has been the foundation of many local high tech and deep tech start-ups. Photo: T. Kelly The S&P 500 is down 8.5% in the last six months. The gross domestic product percentage change from the preceding quarter was negative in the first […]
