Nov 26, 2017 6 min read

A commercial real estate broker with longtime experience in leasing at Southpointe is seeing a wave of activity from large square-footage users over the past few months.

Kelley Hoover Heckathorne, director of brokerage for Burns Scalo Brokerage said last week the firm’s office building The Fountainhead, is 100 percent leased thanks to a recent 50,000 square-foot signing by Crown Castle. According to Heckathorne, Crown Castle, the manager of cellular telephone towers across North America, which is one of the largest tenants in Southpointe, leased 25,000 square feet on the top floor of the building and subleased another 25,000 square feet on another floor.

Heckathorne, who places companies for landlords of 10 different buildings in the park, was also able to place natural gas exploration and production leader EQT in 30,000 square feet at 400 Woodcliff Drive in Southpointe II. The space was formerly Rice Energy’s office.

EQT, which earlier this month completed its merger with Rice Energy, now occupies all of the space in Southpointe previously held by Rice, including Rice’s former headquarters building in the Zenith Ridge development in Southpointe II.

“Southpointe is seeing a lot of activity for large users,” Heckathorne said. “This absorption of space is a positive for the real estate market.”

While oil and gas companies were leading the rush for space in the Cecil Township business park a few years ago, then cut back their space requirements with the downturn in natural gas, Heckathorne said last week that the demand for space is coming from across the spectrum of companies, including energy companies that are now appearing as the industry has experienced a turnaround.

“I do see companies (seeking space) from all different industries,” she said, adding that the three-building Zenith Ridge campus that Burns & Scalo built a few years ago has only one 30,000 square-foot floor remaining, with four different companies currently expressing interest in it.

Heckathorne also reported that several technology companies are also looking for space in Southpointe.

“There’s more to come,” she said.

Deb Keefer has announced her plans for retirement as executive director of the Mon Valley Regional Chamber of Commerce effective April 6. The announcement was made during a retreat of the Mon Valley Regional Chamber of Commerce board of directors held Nov. 15 at the Charleroi Alumni Center

According to a press release from MVCC, Keefer has worked at the chamber since April 1, 1997, first as an administrator for the Greater Charleroi Chamber of Commerce and was promoted to executive director later that year. Under her watch, the board made a historic move in 2001 to regionalize the organization, and the name was changed to the Mon Valley Regional Chamber of Commerce. The membership in 1997 was 123 members, Keefer recalled, and now stands at 340. In addition to Chamber member activities, the MVRCC also embarked on several economic development projects that Keefer coordinated, most notably the acquisition and development of the former Montgomery Ward space after the retailer closed in 2001.

The chamber also purchased dilapidated properties in downtown Charleroi and partnered with Threshold Housing to create a $1.3 million senior housing project which earned a Townie Award from the Pennsylvania Downtown Center in 2002.

“I have worked my entire adult life,” she said, “and this job by far was the most fun, diverse and rewarding. It has been quite the journey and I navigated it with some remarkable people.”

The board has formed a reorganization team to meet staffing and transitional needs at the MVRCC for the next five months. Keefer will most likely be involved after the April 6 date in a consulting role to mentor new staff and for the management of chamber properties, including Chamber Plaza and the Trustees Community Park.

“We expect a seamless transition and our membership will not experience any interruption in service,” said Jim Protin, chamber president. “(Members) will receive the same great benefits and programming they are accustomed to.”

Jerry Zahand, Sr. of Highway Appliance interviewed and recommending the hiring of Keefer back in 1997.

“We didn’t know each other at all,” she said. “And he continues to be a good friend and mentor to me. He gave me a chance to grow personally and professionally when I really needed it, and the rest is history.”

The Mon Valley Regional Chamber of Commerce serves the business community of the Mid Mon Valley Region of Southwestern Pennsylvania. It is a fully staffed, full-time chamber of commerce with its office located in Charleroi.

Jonymyeong Lee M.D. has joined Cornerstone Care and is seeing patients at the Community Health Center of Greensboro at 7 Glassworks Road, and at the Community Health Center of Rogersville, 140 Church St.

“She provides a great blend of top-notch clinical education and knowledge with a strong passion for patient care,” commented Dr. Edward Foley, medical director. “I also expect that she will be an active member of the community and that will be evident over the course of the months and years to come.”

Lee received her Bachelor of Science in Nursing in 1998 from the Armed Forces Nursing Academy in Daejeon, S. Korea; in 2001 she received her Masters of Science in Nursing from Andrews University in Berrien Springs, Mich. and her Doctor of Medicine in 2013 from the University of Science Arts & Technology in Montserrat, U.K.

“I want the families who visit me here at Cornerstone Care to know that they are seeing a physician who cares about the whole person, and for them to become active decision-makers in their own care,” Lee said. “I will always place their best interest first and provide them with the best care possible.”

Cornerstone Care is a network of community health centers serving Southwestern Pennsylvania with health centers in Waynesburg, Rogersville, Greensboro, Mt Morris, Uniontown and Burgettstown. It provides comprehensive healthcare services; including family medicine, dental, counseling and psychiatry, chiropractic and podiatry. Cornerstone also operates pediatric centers in Waynesburg and Washington and a mobile medical/dental unit.

Cornerstone Care provides a sliding fee scale that allows the uninsured and people with high deductibles to access care at a significant reduction in fees based upon their income.

To schedule an appointment with Dr. Lee call 724-943-3308.

The American Red Cross has moved its office to the North Strabane Public Safety Building, 430 Johnson Road.

“For the past 100 years the American Red Cross has served the people of Washington and Greene Counties,” noted Dan Tobin, American Red Cross Western Pennsylvania director of marketing and communications. “We look forward to continuing our commitment to area residents from our new office location, which will enable us to more efficiently deliver our mission.”

As with the previous facility, office hours are by appointment. The Red Cross can be reached at any time by calling 724-350-1827.