Employees honored, new businesses open, hospital honored

Roof Garden Biz is a monthly roundup of business happenings in Somerset County. To submit an item, email [email protected].

Here are some recent business-related news items from the Somerset County region.

Larett Weaver, RN earns DAISY Award

Conemaugh Memorial Medical Center announced Larett Weaver, RN, is the winner of the DAISY Award for extraordinary nurses. Weaver is the first to receive the recognition since its inception at Conemaugh Memorial. He was nominated by a coworker who shared that Larett’s care for patients is exceptional.

“His selfless actions for the patient and their families never go unnoticed. He embodies what every new and experienced nurse should be,” read his nomination. “In addition to providing great care for his patients, he always finds ways to help his coworkers. When a nurse gets up to help a patient, Larett gets up to help his fellow nurse. He clearly loves his job!”

Valedictorian of his class, Weaver is a 2022 graduate of Conemaugh School of Nursing. He is working to complete an internship at Conemaugh Memorial’s Intensive Care Unit.

“Larett was recognized for being compassionate, kind, sensitive, responsive, and providing professional patient-focused care. He is a valuable member of the care team, and he exemplifies the standard of care we strive to provide for all our patients” said Kris O’Shea, Chief Nursing Officer at Conemaugh Memorial Medical Center. “Recognizing our staff members for their outstanding commitment to their patients and our health system is the absolute best part of my job.”

The DAISY Award is an international program to recognize the outstanding work of our nurses across the health system.

Curious Creations Studio opens in Uptown Somerset

A modernized space in the historic 118 W. Main St., building has become a home to Uptown Somerset’s first pottery studio.

The new brick and mortar, Curious Creations Studio, founded by local artist and entrepreneur Rebecca Frola-Biss, has been a developing dream for two years. Frola-Biss started her foray into pottery in high school. Since then has premiered her work in local markets and artisan events, all while developing a concept to invite more people to explore the art of pottery-making.

The newly painted and designed interior has been transformed by creative displays, wall art, and six pottery wheels. Frola-Biss aims to offer classes for date nights, groups of friends, events, and experiential recreation for anyone looking for something creative and new.

“Art has always been an integral part of my life,” Frola-Biss said. “In the past few years, this art form has helped me form connections with local artists and community members, forge a bond with Laurel Arts, introduced new opportunities and built in me a passion for this craft that I want to share.”

Curious Creations LLC was founded in 2022 by Frola-Biss. In the spring of 2022 she was able to purchase her first kiln and started selling her wares at local vendors and art shows. After being approached multiple times about classes and workshops, she decided to take a leap and open a community pottery studio.

Leapfrog Top Safety Grade awarded to UPMC hospitals

UPMC hospitals received an “A” Hospital Safety Grade, the highest achievable safety mark, from The Leapfrog Group, a national organization that aims to improve healthcare quality and safety for consumers and purchasers. They include for fall 2023: UPMC Somerset, UPMC Altoona, UPMC Bedford and UPMC Western Maryland.

The Leapfrog Group is an independent national watchdog organization that assigns letter grades to general hospitals throughout the United States, based on a hospital’s ability to prevent medical errors and harm to patients. Hospital Safety Grade results are based on more than 30 national performance measures and are updated each fall and spring.

Conemaugh Physician Group ― OB/GYN welcomes Mary Toth

Conemaugh Physician Group ―OB/GYN welcomed Board-certified Family Nurse Practitioner Mary Toth, DNP.

Toth attended the University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown, where she received dual Bachelor of Science degrees in nursing and business administration. She continued her education at Wright State University in Dayton, Ohio, where she earned her Master of Science degrees in Allied Health and Illness and Family Nurse Practitioner. She earned her Doctor of Nursing Practice from Wright State University in 2011.

Toth has more than 35 years of nursing experience, including 24 years as a family nurse practitioner. She has specialized training in family medicine, OB/GYN, dermatology, medical aesthetics, and urgent care. Toth provided critical women’s health services, including managing the care of pregnant women and high-risk OB patients, providing prenatal care, and providing gynecological care, including contraceptive management, urogynecology, and dysplasia care. Toth specializes in various aspects of obstetrics and gynecology including annual checkups, problem visits, disease management, cervical and vaginal colposcopies, endometrial biopsy, birth control management, and intrauterine insemination.

She is now accepting new patients at Conemaugh East Hills Outpatient Center. Appointments can be made by calling Conemaugh Physician Group – OB/GYN at 814-534-9230.

Conemaugh Physician Group – Cardiology welcomes Syed Raza Shah

Conemaugh Physician Group – Cardiology welcomes preventative cardiologist Syed Raza Shah, MD. Dr. Shah earned his medical degree from the Dow Medical College in Pakistan. He completed his residency program at the University of Central Florida in Gainesville, Florida, and pursued advanced fellowship training at the University of Louisville in Louisville, Kentucky.

His primary focus lies in mitigating the risk of heart disease development, as well as preventing the occurrence of initial heart attacks or strokes in his patients. His areas of expertise include heart attack, heart failure, arrhythmia (irregular heartbeat), high blood pressure, elevated cholesterol levels, and the management of obesity.

Shah is now accepting new patients and appointments can be made by calling Conemaugh Physician Group – Cardiology at 814-475-8600.

East Hills Engineering welcomes 2

Patrick Kishlock joined East Hills Engineering Associates in Windber in October 2023 after working several years in electrical and mechanical repair and troubleshooting for commercial and residential entities. His background brings a unique perspective to building design which he will use to help the team with electrical building design.

Kishlock graduated from Pennsylvania Highlands Community College with two associates in science degrees; one in computer science and one in liberal arts. He also completed his NOCTI degree in carpentry and has worked as a carpenter/woodworker.

Kishlock works in the electrical department as a Systems CAD Technician 1 working on electrical design for multi-family housing buildings, religious organizations, local government and educational institutions, as well as site visits to assess existing conditions.

Jared Roberts joined East Hills Engineering Associates in October 2023 after working several years in mechanical design; testing, programming, and troubleshooting various machines and controls. He has worked closely with mechanical and electrical design teams and brings a strong Computer Aided Design (CAD) background to East Hills Engineering’s mechanical team. He graduated from Penn State University with a Bachelor of Science Degree in electro-mechanical engineering technology.

Roberts works in the HVAC department as a Systems Designer 1 working on creating load/balance charts and equipment selection for multi-family housing, commercial, industrial, and institutional facilities.

East Hills Engineering is led by Brett N Yonish and Christopher G. Albright, and specializes in Commercial & Residential HVAC, plumbing, electrical and fire protection system design.

Realty One Group Landmark opens

Realty One Group Landmark opened in Uptown Somerset at 101 W. Main St. Lee Hoffman and Renee Eash are experienced real estate agents who decided to bring a new real estate option to town. The office provides full-service real estate services assisting with buying, selling and investing of all property types. Both are very involved with various community organizations and events so the opportunity to be open and participate in all the happenings Uptown is very exciting and welcomed.

Two other seasoned agents, Whitney Edwards and Connie Weyant, have come aboard at this location. The goal is to continue to grow the office and welcome other new and experienced agents to help them grow and prosper in their career.

Realty One Group is an international real estate franchise. Licensed agents are able to assist with any property in Pennsylvania. With the varied nature of the real estate profession and schedule, the office is open by appointment. It serves as a home base for all the agents. Contact 814-408-6495 (office) or 814-279-1733 (Hoffman) to discuss all your real estate needs.

Red Silo Events under new management

Now under new management, Red Silo Wedding and Events, 206 Calvary Church Road, Champion, a remodeled barn originally built in 1931, is now an event space.

The venue celebrates the vision of Dick and Bernadette Barron, who revitalized this historic barn and silo. Boasting an ash floor and windows that fill the space with natural light, the venue offers a setting with a 35-foot ceiling.

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