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Chamber favorite Adolph named a Chamber favorite By Kathleen Carey Adolph has been a chamber member for 25 years and he's operated his own public accounting firm since 1971. Adolph, who faces Democrat Tom Quinn in the November election, has been a multiple recipient of the Legislator of the Year award. "I think it's an honor," Adolph said, adding that the chamber's government relations committee is a valuable resource for him. "The last thing I want to do is introduce legislation that's adverse to what we want to do here." For the chamber, choosing Adolph was a no-brainer. "It's pretty appropriate with all he's done over the years," Jeffrey Vermeulen, chamber president, said. Vermeulen said the representative has been particularly accessible to the business community and has maintained an understanding of job creators' role in society. He even said Adolph would call the chamber from the Assembly floor for clarifications of the impact a law could have on business. In fact, Vermeulen added, Adolph has had an open dialogue with the Delaware County business community dating to the days of Jack Holefelder's reign. It was during that time, about 10 years ago, that Adolph worked with business officials to craft home-based business legislation. Back then, those with home businesses had to be rather secretive about their operations, Adolph explained. So, working with the chamber and local governments, he crafted language to allow for these to exist. Parameters were set. "We're not looking to put a manufacturer in a house," Adolph said, adding that common sense was a barometer. "It would be no impact on the residential community." Chamber board Chairman Michael Brady said 20 percent of the chamber's 3,000 members are sole proprietors, who usually start their businesses in their home during the first crucial years in an attempt to reduce costs. And as technology has evolved, Vermeulen said, people working at home in Delaware County have the same advantage as working in an office. Adolph said the legislation, H.B. 411 that became law in 2002, had the added benefit of allowing stay-at-home moms to generate a second income by starting their own businesses. Adolph explained other business-friendly measures he initiated such as the creation of the taxpayers' advocate office six years ago and the community access requirement for various technological upgrades, such as broadband. The representative was also praised for his work as chairman of the Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency as Vermeulen stated that access to education is integral to workforce development. In addition, Adolph, whose wife is a nurse, spoke of his work to address the nursing shortage. "The average age of nurses five years ago was 52-years-old," he said. So, he spoke with members of the hospital association, including Delaware County hospitals, and determined that students didn't have the funds to attend nursing colleges. In response, he set up a loan forgiveness plan in exchange for staying in Pennsylvania for five years. Then, he added, a shortage of nurse educators was recognized so funding was designated for higher education institutions to apply to PHEAA for nursing educators. His goal, Adolph said, is that, in a decade, the nursing shortage no longer exists.  |
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 Chamber Newsletter: Business Connections UPCOMING EVENTS 9/14/2010 Tuesday 3:30 PM Membership Orientation Sponsored by Sphere 9/16/2010 Thursday 5:00 PM Business After Hours @ Penn State Brandywine 9/23/2010 Thursday 5:30 PM DCYP Mortgage Seminar 9/28/2010 Tuesday 11:30 AM Knowledge @ Noon - Knowledge is Power: Is it Safe to Get Back in the Water?
IN THE NEWS
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